lifestylesProfile 2010

CelebratingOur Community

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010

inside

Life reads like a bookPoet, news reporter, novelist, ordained

minister and worldtraveler, Diane M.Moore’s life readsmuch like the

manuscript of ayet-to-befinishedbook.

page 2

a look at some of what makes living in the teche area unique

Replica boatLoreauville’s CharlieBerard considershimself lucky tohave beeninfluenced bywooden boatbuilderSully Berard. He hasused aluminum tobuild a replica of one boat.

page 10

TrainerVincentBroussard takesa horse, breaks itdown and buildsit back up toracing standardson the propertybehind hishouse.

page 5

Bonding throughthe power of song

Bayou Blend Chorus: A capella of chills & thrills BY JEFF ZERINGUE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Music can betherapeutic,but for 15Acadianawomen —including

three from New Iberia — it ismeans for challenges andfriendship.

Virginia Molbert of NewIberia sings baritone with theBayou Blend Chorus.

“You just can’t help but love

it,” Molbert said.Baritones often have the

most difficult part as leadstake on the melodies of songsthat are similar to the musicyou might hear sung by a bar-bershop quartet. Tenors followalong with some harmony thatat least is somewhat near themelody. Kate Sutton of NewIberia sings tenor. Theyoungest member of the groupis Sutton’s 13-year-old grand-daughter Chelsea Crochet. Shesings lead.

The group that was founded

in December 2008 is led byJohn “J.P.” Poirier, who singsin a barbershop quartet, theLouisiana Purchase based inLafayette.

“I enjoy singing and enjoyperforming,” Poirier said.“But being able to stand infront of the chorus and hearthose chords “ring” is evenbetter. Singing without accom-paniment is difficult; but whendone correctly, it’s awesome —just like my ladies.”

For full disclosure, Poirieralso is the circulation manager

for The Daily Iberian.Each week, the group spends

two to three hours rehearsing.Just to watch them practice isa treat as it is easy to see howmuch effort they put into it.Their hearts appear to be inevery note sung, every expres-sion given. Their dedication ismuch like professionals.

But, singing is a hobby forthe Bayou Blend Chorus mem-bers, said member KarenBernard. Each gets to put on

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIANKaren Broussard, foreground from left, Corla Lindsey, Lynda Fontenot and KateSutton of New Iberia, practice during a Jan. 12 rehearsal of the Bayou BlendChorus. The group of all lady singers has been together for barely a year, buthas already had several performances and competed against similar groups.

SEE SONG, PAGE 12

‘You just can’t helpbut love it.’

Virginia Molbert

New Iberia resident and member of

the Bayou Blend Chorus, where she

sings baritone

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 2 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

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Tuning up Local women are part of theBayou Blend Chorus thatproduces chills with its a capellanumbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 1

VolunteerismTuesday mornings present aheart-warming sight at theSolomon House, where childrenfill bags of food. . . . . . . . .page 4

Caring teachersEducators and artists spend theirdays discovering special ways toteach and reach special educationstudents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 6

Life writing Library grant leads to weeklyclass that helps people capturethe favorite stories of their lifeon paper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 7

Music is her world NISH drum major Sarah Gilbertplays the piano, saxophone,French horn and quad. Nextstop — college.. . . . . . . . .page 8

Quiet reflections Ronnie Boudreaux and PaulGulotta give people a chance tofulfill their spiritual life as leadersof a popular retreat. . . . . .page 9

Pig farmer 4-H student Mallory O’Briendispels myths about pigs. Shepoints out the porkers aren’tmud-loving animals. . . . . .page 8

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Chapman

Managing Editor . . . . . . . .Jeff Zeringue

Advertising Manager . . . . . . .Alan Rini

Production Manager . . . .Jerry Sexton

Business Manager . . . .Amanda Seneca

Circulation Manager . . . . .“J.P.” Poirier

Profile 2010: Celebrating Our Community

is a supplemental publication of

, P.O. Box 9290,

New Iberia, LA 70562.

Careers inspired by love of lifeBY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

As a poet, news reporter,novelist, ordained minis-ter and world traveler,

Diane M. Moore’s life readsmuch like the manuscript for abook, with each chapter, orphase of her life depictedthrough her writing.

Moore started writing poetry atthe age of 11, and in 1967, at age32, she began seriously pursuingher grasp of the writing-craft.Moore’s first paying publicationcame in the late 1960s when thenow-defunct literary journal,American Weave, published oneof her poems. Moore’s poemsthen began to regularly appear onthe pages of various poetry jour-nals such as InterdisciplinaryHumanities and TheSouthwestern Review throughthe late 1960s and early 1970s.Soon after, Moore found herselfliving in New Iberia as a result ofher former-husband — a petrole-um engineer — being transferredfrom Texas by Texaco.

After briefly working as a pub-lic relations director for the IberiaParish Library, Moore began writ-ing the column “On the BookShelf” for The Daily Iberian untila second oil-related relocationlanded Moore and her family inthe far-away land of Iran in 1973.Moore lived in Iran during thereign of the ShahanshahMohammad Reza Pahlavi whenthe country was far-different fromits 21st century counterpart.

During her two years in Iran,Moore continued writing hercolumn for The Daily Iberian inaddition to book reviews andfeature articles for the Englishversions of The NationalIranian Oil and Gas Journal,Yaddasht Haftegy and TheTehran Journal. Moore thenreturned to the U.S. in 1975, andfour years later, in 1979, theIranian Revolution forced theShah into exile, leading to thecreation of the Islamic Republicunder the Ayatollah RuhollahKhomeini, which continues torule the country today.

After leaving Iran, Moorereturned to New Iberia and DonOlsen, who was publisher forThe Daily Iberian at the time,

approached her and said, “I’vebeen looking for you.” Olsencommissioned Moore to writefeature articles and a columntitled “Cherchez la femmes” forthe newspaper.

When the Iranian Revolutionbroke out in 1979, Moore feltcompelled to write of her experi-ence living in pre-revolutionaryIran. “Iran in a Persian Market”(1980) was the first of these pub-lications, which was a compila-tion of the columns she wrotefor The Daily Iberian while liv-ing in Iran. Moore followed with“Sophie’s Sojourn in Persia”(2004) — a young adult fiction —and a collection of poems titled“The Holy Present and Farda”(2009). Farda is a Persian wordmeaning “tomorrow.” Moorecompared farda to the Spanishword for tomorrow — mañana— and said, “when I lived there,the pace of life was very slow,everything in Iran is Farda, orfinished.”

Moore said “Farda” was aresponse to the Palestinian poetNaomi Nye’s plea for peoplethroughout the world to read

one another’s poetry and litera-ture. Nye said that the end ofsenseless killings could be real-ized, but only if the differentcultures of the world read eachother’s literature and poetry.Quoting Nye, Moore said, “readAmerican poetry, plant mint.”Moore’s response to Nye’s plea:“‘Farda’ is my mint for Iran.”

After working as a columnistfor The Daily Iberian and as aneditor for Acadiana Lifestyle mag-azine, Moore made another life-changing shift when she becamean executive for the Bayou GirlScout Council in Lafayette.

“I went into an entirely differ-ent career in life. I’m glad tohave been affiliated with thatorganization because it teachesleadership in you adults andwomen,” Moore said.

In 1997, Moore received theDiversity Award for her work withthe Bayou Girl Scout Council.

Shortly after, Moore answeredanother calling when shebecame an ordained minister inthe Episcopal Church.

“At the time I got the call to beordained, I was reading Joseph

Campbell’s poem ‘Julian ofNorwich,’ ” said Moore.

Quoting the poem, Moore said,“When you start on a journeysomething taps you on the shoul-der and asks: ‘You think yourdoing a good job huh?’ But there’snot enough of you there yet.”

Inspired by Campbell’s poem,Moore became a spiritual forcewithin the Episcopal Churchand put her energy into direct-ing the Solomon HouseOutreach Center Mission inNew Iberia, among otherchurch-based endeavors.

“(French philosopher Jacques)Maritain said poetry and art aremore necessary than bread tothe human race, they fit us forthe life of the spirit,” Mooresaid. “I like to think my poetryinforms my spiritual life and myspiritual life informs my poetry.”

Moore lives in New Iberiafrom November to March, whilethe remainder of the year isspent in Sewanee, Tenn., whereshe lives in a cottage in themountains on the campus of the

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANDiane M.Moore has inspired people through the written word and as a spiritual force in the Episcopal Church.

SEE CAREERS, PAGE 12

The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / page 3

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BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Volunteerism tran-scends all ages, justask the children

filling bags of food at theSolomon House.

Every Tuesday morninga crowd gathers at thehouse at 520 Center St.Many arrive on bicycle orfoot, some with walkers.They are greeted by theRev. Ellen Nora, the facili-ty’s director, and a host ofvolunteers, many who areon their way to school.

Leah Lahasky, a teacherat Epiphany Day School,coordinates a volunteerproject for her fifth-gradestudents to assist inBrown Bag, a once-a-weekfood distribution pro-gram for families in needheld at the SolomonHouse.

The program providesstaple items like bread,meat, potatoes, cannedgoods, bottled water and, ifavailable, treats for chil-dren.

“The school has beeninvolved with the programsince its inception, butwe’ve been doing the fifth-grade service project forthe last three years,”Lahasky said.

“The clients are amaz-ing and form a realattachment to the kids.After all the bags havebeen distributed, the stu-dents will often help themwalk their items to theircar or on their walkhome.”

She said many of theclients who walk fromtheir inner city homes tothe Solomon House areelderly or with disabilities.

“It’s a real eye-opener forthese kids,” Lahasky said.

“Some will come backfrom helping a person withtheir bags and say ‘Youknow they don’t have acar?’ ”

Lahasky said many ofher former students arestill volunteering at thehouse, even years afterparticipating in the fifth-grade project.

Nora said the children’svolunteerism means morethan just extra helpinghands.

“Children are the mes-sage we send to ourfuture,” she said.

“And I think that’s themessage we are sending tothese kids, that under-standing is being instilledin them. And they comehere joyfully. They are uphere at 6 o’clock in the

morning and they areready to go.”

Many parents drop theirchildren off at the housebefore school but somestay to help.

Andrea Thibodeaux’sson Ethan is part of thefifth-grade project and hasstarted helping with thefood distribution.

“He was chosen in hisclass to volunteer for themonth of February,”Thibodeaux said. “Ithought it would be a greatopportunity to see whatgoes on there. I see there isa definite need in the com-munity.”

Local schools wereclosed during Mardi GrasTuesday, but both Andreaand Ethan volunteeredthat morning.

“It was nice because wegot to stay there a littlelonger, usually we haveto leave early to get himto school,” Thibodeauxsaid.

Nora said JeffersonIsland Elementary isassisting the SolomonHouse with necessities forhygiene packets that aregiven to clients who havebeen displaced by fires andhurricanes.

“You have to give creditto the staff and the schoolsand also to the parents,”Nora said. “A lot of timesthey are getting up withtheir kids and their pro-moting it, their showingthat that’s important tothem.”

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 4 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

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on their walk home.’

Leah Lahasky

Epiphany Day School teacher

who coordinates a volunteer

project for fifth-grade students

Fifth-grade students

power BrownBag project

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANOn a recent Tuesday morning, the Rev. Ellen Nora, center in white, coordinates the Brown Bag program.

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANA Brown Bag client, left, receives bags of household itemsfor cooking during the weekly community program.

lifestyles Profile 2010 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / page 5

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THE DAILY IBERIAN

The smell of manure,the shoveling of hayinto feeding

troughs, the long morn-ings running up and downa dirt track. It’s a life manypeople might not enjoy butfor New Iberia residentVincent Broussard, raisingand training racehorses ishis life’s passion.

“We built this barn pret-ty much together, this washis dream,” Vincent’s son,John Broussard, 28, said.

Vincent Broussard, 62,has raised dozens of hors-es over the past 43 years,training them to competeat racetracks acrossLouisiana, fromEvangeline Downs inOpelousas to theFairgrounds in NewOrleans. Each one of themis special and unique, nomatter how well they do ina race, Broussard said.

“My favorite horse wasnamed Bees Magic, a quar-terhorse I had in ’83,”Vincent Broussard said.“He was the first horse Iowned myself and trained.First time out he brokedown and had to be putdown. I really thought hecould have been special.”

Focusing now on train-

ing others’ horses ratherthan his own, VincentBroussard still takes thesame approach he hasalways done, breaking ahorse down and buildinghim or her back up to rac-ing standards.

“Just like elementaryschool kids, they have tolearn,” Vincent Broussardsaid. “Most of all, theyhave to learn to like peo-ple, handle crowds, etc.”

A lifelong resident ofNew Iberia, VincentBroussard graduated fromJonas Henderson HighSchool in 1967. He workedfor Exxon Mobil for morethan 30 years before retir-ing in 2004 to focus ontraining full time. VincentBroussard said he original-ly got into training whenhe worked as a child for“Ms. Fisher E. Simmons,”who owned a horse farmon Avery Island.

“It was Ms. Simmons whooriginally urged me to get atrainer’s license,” he said.

Vincent Broussard livesat a house he and his wife,Marie, bought in the late1980s to build a barn andstart keeping horses ontheir property at all times.Along with John,Broussard also has adaughter, Kami, 32, wholives in Lafayette.

Father and son are rais-ing seven horses at theirbarn with the hopes of get-ting each ready for racing.

Vincent Broussard saidhis favorite right now isToo Light Prospect, whichcame in first at theEvangeline Downs race inDecember.

“She’s my pride, shereally is the queen rightnow,” Vincent Broussardsaid.

Vincent said sometimesthere can be a rivalrybetween his horses, settingoff friction in the barn.

“The male (B’s LuckyCapitol) was really aggres-sive and kept trying toclimb into the stall next tohim, where the femalewas,” Vincent Broussardsaid. “So one day I justwent in and cut off hisballs. Now he is muchcalmer.”

For Broussard, raisinghorses has become his lifeand he couldn’t imaginedoing anything else. Hehopes to pass along hiswork to his son once heretires but he doesn’t seethat happening anytime inthe near future.

“I’m like a football play-er, I’m going to go as longas I can and my bodyallows me,” VincentBroussard said.

Racehorse work rings true

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANVincent Broussard shows his horse Too Light Prospect, which won a race this winter.

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANPictures above Vincent Broussard’s barn office show off previous race winners.

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 6 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

IBERIA PARISH MEDICAL AUXILIARY SAYSTHANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

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THE DAILY IBERIAN

Teachers who spend theirdays with special educa-tion children have to find

special ways to teach basicskills.

For local artists who alsoteach special education, usingtheir creative edge to theiradvantage in the classroommakes it all about “the visual.”

“Just by watching the eyes ofthe students, you can see wherethe eyes are going and wherethey’re processing in the brain,”said retired Iberia ParishSchools psychologist KennyGreig, also a local stained glassartist. “If the eyes go up, they’revisual learners. You can matchsuggestions with teaching stylesto different types of learners.”

For those students who learnby “the visual,” being a part ofthe experience and finding

meaning in a concept throughvisual stimulation are key totheir everyday learning, saidBecky Collins, a local artist andprekindergarten teacher at LiveOak Pre-K Center who workswith autistic children.

“I think my creativity helps methink of fun things to do,”Collins said. “If I don’t think it’s

fun, they probably won’t thinkit’s fun. I’m a visual person, so Ithink they like to have visualconcrete objects in their hands toincrease their understanding.”

Several of Collins’ studentsare non-verbal, so taking in non-verbal forms of learning likeartwork and craft projects helpswith teaching basic skills that

are typically taught in regulareducation classrooms throughauditory and repetition.

Artists are right-brainedprocessors, Greig said, and art isa non-verbal form of communi-cation and learning.

“Lectures are OK if studentsare auditory processors, but oth-ers who process with visualsneed creativity,” Greig said.

When teaching the concept ofmixing colors to make anothercolor, Collins and her teacher’saide Donna Boyance used nuts,paint and zydeco for the lesson.The teachers poured red, whiteand blue paint into a tray, placedthe nuts in the tray with thepaint, then put on a zydeco recordand danced while the trays jiggledthe paint and nuts together. Atthe end of the “jiggling,” studentsplaced a white sheet of paperover the trays and came out with“really great designs.”

“I have to think of ways to

teach a concept in a way thatwill be exciting and in a waythey will retain,” Collins said.“If they’re helping to create theexperience, they’re going toremember it and it’s going tohave meaning for them.”

Even activities like story-telling are enhanced in Collins’classroom through visual aids.When reading “The Three LittlePigs” to her students, Collinsand Boyance use music, song,puppets and role-playing torelay the story. The combinationof visual stimulants help toteach the children about thenumber three, farm animals andsocial concepts like danger,Collins said.

“With young children, we getstuck on the idea that they needa lot of repetition,” Collins said.“They do need informationrepeated, but I think it can berelayed in many interesting anddiverse ways.”

‘If I don’t think it’s fun, they probably won’tthink it’s fun. I’m a visual person, so I think they like to have visual concrete objects in

their hands to increase their understanding.’

Becky Collins

Local artist and pre-kindergartner teacher at Live Oak Pre-K Center

Art teachers find design needed in special educationJayden Derouen, left, a prekindergarten student in Becky Collins class’ at Live Oak Prekindergarten Center,makes Valentines Day cards with his teacher.

HEATHER MILLER / THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / page 7

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BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Have you ever triedto tell and retell astory your grand-

mother once told you, onlyto realize you’ve forgottenall the good parts? Or triedto remember old-what’s-his-name from you seniorprom?

A New Iberia group iscapturing those stories onpaper in a weekly classcalled Life Writing. Thecourse originally wasoffered at the University ofLouisiana at Lafayette butwas brought to New Iberiathrough a grant with theIberia Parish Library in2007. Two classes meetonce a week, one in theIberia Parish Library’smain branch and the otherat the Parkview branch.

“It just went so well, soULL took it over and havebeen doing it throughtheir ContinuingEducation program,” saidLife Writing instructorKim Graham.

The course is generallygeared for ages 55 and up,but some younger studentsattend, Graham said.

Mac Stearns and his wife,Julie, of New Iberia, havebeen attending each weeksince the course started inNew Iberia. They utilizethe class to enhance theirwriting technique for per-sonal memoirs.

“There has been thisincrease in people inter-ested in genealogy, not justhere but in the wholecountry. You do all thisresearch and you think‘Well, great I have all thesedates but I really don’tknow these people,’ ”Stearns said.

For the past two yearsthe couple have compiledbooklets of 12 storiesabout their lives. Theygives copies to their chil-dren and grandchildrenfor Christmas.

Last summer, the class’project was to write mem-oirs on their recollectionof World War II, whichGraham said many recallas children, but a few ofthe students were in theservice. The collectedmemoirs were sent to theNational WWII museumin New Orleans.

“They just write a lotabout their lives, they all

have their own style andvoice. They are all wonder-ful writers. And they arefrom all over, from allwalks of life and back-grounds. And they have alot to say,” Graham said.

Throughout the semes-ter, Graham said the stu-dents write memoirs, butthey also write poetry,essays and some evenswitch to fiction writing.

The course starts outwith simple exercises or“prompts” such as describ-ing a scene with a porch,or a personal experiencewith a train. Graham givesweekly writing assign-ments that become morecomplex as the semestergoes on.

For Stearns, LifeWriting allows him ofmake his memories intokeepsakes.

“The biggest thing Ithink the class provides isthe discipline to do whatyou’ve always wanted todo. There are these thingsall of us want write about,but we won’t do it unlesswe have these assignmentsdue every Wednesday. Andwe get instructed in dia-logue, plots, and subplots.”

The write course at the right time

Life Writing students Mac and JulieStearns of New Iberia read each other’smemoirs. Each year they compile a book-

let of their life stories and give them totheir children and grandchildren forChristmas.

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN

“Music has been my play-mate, my lover, and my cry-ing towel.”

—Buffy Sainte-Marie.

BY JONATHAN JEANLOUIS

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY IBERIAN

The words abovedescribe SarahGilbert, who is

drum major at New IberiaSenior High and a studentof music.

“Sarah was the drummajor this year and shewas pretty good at it,” saidEdmundo Rincon, a NISHband member. “She isgood with authority andwe listen to what she says.She is trustworthy anddependable.”

Gilbert plays the piano,saxophone, French horn,and quads (drums). Sheplans to pursue a career asa touring musician and bepart of a major symphonyafter college, but she hasalready begun her journey.

Gilbert, 18, is part of theall-state honor band, com-munity band and is audi-tioning for the LSU Schoolof music horn studio inMarch.

Gilbert also has been

given a chance to tourEurope this summer.

“I have dreamed of tour-ing Europe playing musicsince I was little,” she said.

Gilbert will be playingthe French horn on thistour. She said that becausethe instrument is difficultto master, it creates a lot ofopportunities.

She said the instrumentis not her true love, though.

“When I play the piano, Ilose complete track oftime,” Gilbert said. “Youcan do anything you wanton piano.”

She said she began play-ing the piano when shewas about 3 and startedtaking lessons at 6. Shesaid she really decided shewanted to be a musicianwhen she was 8 and saw alive gospel band perform.

“The piano player didthings that I didn’t eventhink were humanly possi-ble,” she said.

Being a great musiciandoes not just come from tal-ent, Gilbert said. Hard workis needed. She said shedevotes hours of practicethat sometimes keep herfrom doing other things.

Gilbert also attributes

her love of music and tal-ent to her family. She saidthat her father is a musi-cian and sings well. Hermother played an instru-ment as well, though theynever have played as full-time musicians.

Gilbert enjoys listeningto music as well as playingit. She said that some ofher favorite composersinclude Frank de Kellyand Gustav Holst.However, she likes alltypes of music and is notabove beating a song sheheard on the radio.

“Sarah is conscientious,a hard worker, and alwayscomes prepared,” saidNISH band director BertLandry. “She helps thepeople around her anddoes her part. She is aleader in the band classand I can see her goingwherever she wants inmusic. She has a brightfuture ahead of her.”

Gilbert said music is herlife.

“I try to put all my energyinto every show,” she said.“Knowing that you aredoing everything you cando to make yourself thebest is the greatest feeling.”

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 8 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

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In addition to drum major, Sara Gilbert also plays drums, French horn and piano.SUBMITTED

lifestyles Profile 2010 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / page 9

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BY JEFF ZERINGUE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Life’s distractions aremany: television,telephones, cell

phones and many more.We are bombarded by mes-sages and fulfilling dutiesas parents and childrenand roles as workers orstudents.

But there is a quiet timethat groups of men fromIberia Parish cherish somuch they are seeking outothers to join them in aquest to discover what lifeis all about.

Ronnie Boudreaux andPaul Gulotta are two ofthem whose mission issimilar to JohnnyAppleseed, only their seedsare spiritual and plantedin men’s hearts. Those thatthey sow, Boudreaux andGulotta hope once spoutedwill lead men to Our Ladyof the Oaks Retreat Housein Grand Coteau, where inthe quiet of the groundsand the thought-provokingwords of the retreat lead-ers will deepen their spiri-tual life.

“We believe that retreatsare the best way to getmen to come to Jesus,”Gulotta said, adding thatthey are willing to do whatis necessary to encouragemen to explore their spiri-tual side more deeply.

The retreats are led byeither a Jesuit priest orlay person who has beenspecially trained. Theygive talks on several sub-jects. One that particularlytouched Boudreaux, hesaid, was on the personali-ty of Jesus.

“When she (the lay pre-senter) said Jesus was a

also person, just like me,”Boudreaux said, “thatreally hit me.”

It is the quietness thatallows profound reflectionson subjects such as thesethat help those on retreatget in better contact withtheir spirituality. Gulottasaid some men have toldhim they thought them-selves unable to be silentfrom Thursday evening toSunday afternoon.

“It’s easier than youthink,” said Gulotta, whohas been attendingretreats at Our Lady of theOaks since 1972.

He said putting aside thedistractions of home orwork, cell phones and tele-vision forces one to searchwithin.

“Once you do that, youhave to start thinkingabout your life,” Gulottasaid.

But the silence also is torespect those participatingin the retreat.

“If we’re talking and theHoly Spirit might be talk-ing to somebody else, we’dbe disturbing him,”Gulotta said.

Over the almost 38 yearshe has been going, Gulottasaid the retreats have

impacted his life in posi-tive way.

“I try to live a moremoral life,” he said. “Westumble, we fall, we makemistakes ...” but the retreatallows him to reassess howhis life. “I call it my annualcheckup.”

Gulotta’s andBoudreaux’s group hastheir retreat each March.Boudreaux said he can tellwhen the retreat date getscloser, even without a cal-endar.

“I can feel myself get-ting away from my fami-ly,” he said. “When I comeback, we become closer.”

Boudreaux’s retreatsalso motivate him to bemore compassionate withpeople and reach out tothose who are less fortu-nate than he. He recentlyreflected on how he and agroup of others madealmost 20 trips to NewOrleans followingHurricane Katrina just tobring help.

Boudreaux is captain ofthe group. He coordinatesgetting men signed up forthe weekend, newcomersas well as those returning.Gulotta is co-captain.Together, they invite,cajole and encourage mento come, if not on theirweekend, on some other.

“The Holy Spirit is goingto have whom he wants(attend the retreat),”Gulotta said. “We’re justhis tools.”

If you’d like more infor-mation about retreats atOur Lady of the OaksRetreat House, Boudreauxcan be reached at 364-7301or Gulotta at 365-4453. Thenext retreat for these men’sgroup is March 25-28.

Annual checkup in silent weekend

Paul Gulotta, left, and Ronnie Boudreauxare co-captain and captain, respectively,for a group of men who attend an annu-al retreat at the Jesuit retreat center in

Grand Coteau. Several men’s groups holdretreats each month at the center.Boudreaux’s and Gulotta’s group has itsretreat in March.

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Local group’s retreat to Grand Coteaurefreshes them throughout the year

‘(Remaining quietthrough a weekendis) easier than you

think.’

Paul Gulotta

Group co-captain

BY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON

THE DAILY IBERIAN

LOREAUVILLE —There are few peo-ple who have had

such an enormous impacton Charlie Berard ofLoreauville as his uncle,the “woodmaster,” the lateSully Berard, he said.

His uncle built the firstwooden airboat “in theseparts” Berard said, in1925. In fact, after the dev-astating floods in 1927, theArmy Corps of Engineersenlisted Sully Berard’sboats to assist in survey-ing work that needed to becompleted, Berard said.

Outboard boats wereunheard of at the time inthe South, he said.

Berard was luckyenough, he said, to get oneof his uncle’s originalhandmade wooden boats.His brother purchased itin 1995 intending to do thenecessary work it neededto be able to set sail safely.He never had the timerequired to complete theproject. It was at that timethat Charlie Berardexpressed an interest intaking over the project. He

purchased the boat andspent an entire yearpainstakingly repairingand restoring it.

A few short years afterthe repairs were complete,Berard and friends hitsomething in the lakebursting a hole in theboat’s bottom.

The repairs would havebeen too costly, Berard said,and quality marine ply-wood has become harder tocome by over the years.

“I’m not getting anyyounger,” Berard said whois a youthful 52. “And,repairing it with poorquality lumber these daysjust didn’t pay.”

He decided instead tobuild a replica out of alu-minum.

The new Sully Berardknock off boat is a bit larg-er, equipped with bath-room facilities, a flatscreen television and car-ries Charlie Berard and hiswife, Rhealeen, on fabulousadventures on the lake.

“People talk about goingon fancy cruises,” Berardsaid. “But every time weget on that boat, it’s like acruise. We have all thecomforts of home and the

beauty of the lake.”The Berards often take

their boat fromLoreauville all the way toPat’s Fisherman’s Warffor an evening of dancing,one of their favorite pas-times, he said.

Rhealeen Berard saidspending time on theVoodoo Queen, the nameof the new, replacementboat, is reminiscent of thecouple’s youth.

“We have a lot in com-mon,” she said. “My dadhad a boat and we grew upon the water, and his fami-ly was the same. It’s acommon passion that wehave that makes the timewe spend on the lake evenmore special.”

For now the woodenSully Berard originalremains moored in agrassy area behind theBerard’s house inLoreauville.

They just can’t bear togive it up, Charlie Berardsaid.

“It’s hard to part with,”Rhealeen Berard said. “Weare both like ‘What are wegoing to do with it?’ It’salmost like an icon therefor us. It’s part of us.”

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 10 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

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Replica just as much fun as ‘real’ boatLoreauville couple find pleasure inboat made to replace uncle’s classic

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HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON / THE DAILY IBERIAN

HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON / THE DAILY IBERIAN

lifestyles Profile 2010 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / page 11

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SPECIAL TO THE DAILY IBERIAN

Old MacDonald had a farmand everyone knowswhat was on his farm,

but have you ever wonderedwhat it would be like to havelived on that farm?

Mallory O’Brien is experienc-ing just that. O’Brien is a fifthyear 4-H’er and an Iberia ParishJunior Leader. She raises ducks,goats, pigs and horses to show atdifferent livestock shows in 4-H.

“This is the first year we dothe pig project, but it is fun sofar,” O’Brien said.

In the project, she receives thepigs at 8 weeks old and has to beresponsible for them after that,she said. She has to teach thepigs to walk, feed them andeventually show them.

“The pigs gain about three

pounds every day, and we canshow them when they getbetween 200 and 280 pounds,”O’Brien said.

She explained that pigs arenot the mud-loving animals thatmany people think of. They areclean animals that retreat to themud only as a method of coolingdown since they cannot sweat.Like humans, stereotypes areassigned to animals and peoplenever investigate for themselvesto find the truth, she said.

“Iberia Parish has two show-ing seasons,” 4-H agent MoniqueSanchez said. “One season isduring the Sugar Cane Festival,and the other happens at theparish show during the springseason, around the time LSUhas their shows. We get about 75pigs every show. The springparish show is the largest showin Iberia Parish and consists of

many families from the parish.”The first animals O’Brien

raised were horses because hermother loves horses.

“My dad lived on a farm when

he was a kid so when we movedto the country, my dad thought itwould be a good experience forus,” O’Brien said.

She also said she began rais-ing chickens for the 4-H broilerproject in fourth grade — one ofmany 4-H animal projects — andjust got more animals from thatpoint forward.

“Chickens are my favorite ani-mal to raise,” O’Brien said.

At these shows, children bringtheir animals to the SugArena,where a judge inspects the ani-mals. Most of the events arewell-contained, but the pig showrequires some help. Pigs runaround in the waiting pin andhave to be directed to the judg-ing pin, at times with boards,O’Brien said. Even while theyare being judged, the pigs keepmoving around the pin.

The project is not just all fun,

though. By participating in thisproject, many life lessons can belearned. It builds relationships,can help with schoolwork suchas math and even helps theeconomy of the area.

“This project builds on the sixpillars of character we try topromote in the club,” said coun-ty agent Blair Hebert.

The pillars of trustworthi-ness, respect, responsibility, fair-ness, caring and citizenship canbe seen through the participantsof the project, he said.

Participants have to feed theiranimal, give them water, carefor them, make sure they stayhealthy and win or lose withgrace, to point out a few exam-ples Hebert said.

The work builds character andpoints the young people toward abright future whether in farmingor any other career they choose.

Pigs help 4-H’er build character‘My dad lived on a

farm when he was akid so when we movedto the country, my dadthought it would be a

good experience for us.’

Mallory O’Brien

4H student at NISH

SUBMITTEDMallory O’Brien, left, and her sister Grace care for their pigs on their farm near New Iberia. Mallory is a 4-H student at NISH.

costumes, learn new musicand improve upon thesongs they have learnedand have a lot of fun. It’sthe camaraderie, however,that makes participationspecial, Molbert said.

“It’s a bonding, not justhere, you make friends inother groups,” she said.

Those other groups con-sist of women in the SweetAdelines International,who compete against oneanother at competitions.The Bayou Blend Chorus isin Region 10-Great GulfCoast, which includesLouisiana and Texas. Thewomen are graded in fourcategories: sound; expres-sion; music and showman-ship.

The competitions aretough, though fun, manysaid. It is much differentthan the jobs they hold.They are women from allwalks of life. They work inlaw enforcement and nurs-ing; some go to college andothers own and operatebusinesses.

For Sutton, the beauty inthe performance is that themusical instrument that is

used is the voice as allsongs are sung a capella.And it isn’t easy becauseeach part most often singsa different note, rarely aretwo different parts singingthe same note.

“If you’re really on, itgives you chills through-

out,” Sutton said.Those chills are gotten

not just at competitions.The group performs sever-al times a year, sometimesfor paid gigs, other times atnursing homes for the funof its residents.

The Bayou Blend Chorusmeets at 6:30 p.m. eachTuesday at GracePresbyterian Church onRoselawn Boulevard inLafayette. If you have anyquestions about the groupor if you’d like more infor-mation about performances,contact Sutton at 519-4006.

lifestylesProfile 2010 / Celebrating Our Communitypage 12 / Thursday, February 18, 2010 / The Daily Iberian

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SONG: Competitions are tough but funFROM PAGE 1

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIANJ.P. Poirier enjoys bringing the talent to its full potential.

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIANThe Bayou Blend Chorus hits all the right notes under the direction of J.P. Poirier.

The group performs several

times a year.

CAREERS: Legacy fashioned in books

University of the South.“I went there (Sewanee) and fell in love

with it. When I’m there I do more writ-ing, and when I’m in New Iberia I havemore of a social life,” Moore said.

Moore divides her time in Sewaneebetween writing and working with theSisters of St. Mary Convent, who havebeen raising money for the Faith, Love,Infinite Rescue Orphanage in Haiti forseveral years, said Moore.

Following the Haitian earthquake,Moore, along with the poet laureate ofLouisiana, Darrell Bourque, staged a poet-ry reading at the A&E Gallery in NewIberia on January 29 where they both pre-sented a poem about two children from theorphanage in Haiti — Lovensky andGertie. Bourque that said both of theirpoems were inspired by two images of thechildren painted by Barbara Hughes.

“My poem was about the little girl,Gertie, and Diane wrote aboutLovensky,” Bourque said. Lovensky,whose fate following the earthquake hasyet to be determined, was born HIV posi-

tive, and as a result, had no vision in hisright eye. “He may be dead by now, Idon’t know,” Moore said.

Bourque said that during the Jan. 29poetry reading, Moore’s passion forLovensky’s plight was visible as she readher poem. Before the A&E audience,Moore channeled the voice of Lovensky,who beckons his dead mother in thepoem’s final stanza, saying “With my toesclasped in my hands, one eye closedagainst the suffering, I long to make myvoice speak, to tell her how deeply I hopefor the liberation of resurrection, equalityand harmony seated at a table in onesmall room . . . filled with unfailing light.”

Moore said her approach to life andwriting is ultimately summed up by averse from the medieval Persian poetSa’di of Shiraz’s poem “At S’adi’s Tomb,”which Moore also read at the Jan. 29poetry reading: “If we are unaffected bythe afflictions of others, we are not wor-thy to be called human.”

Moore’s writing has allowed her legacyto be fashioned onto the pages of herbooks, leaving a paper trail of her life forthe readers of future generations.

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