The first real cool front came through this past week but brought no rainfall with it. Many lawns and landscapes are in dire need for rainfall or other irrigation methods due to the dry weather since hurricane Rita came through. September and October have been dry months up to the writing of this column as we have only received 4.15 inches of rainfall since September 1st at the Houma USDA ARS Sugar station located on Bull Run Road just outside Houma. More weather information can be found at: ww2.lsuagcenter.com/weather/index.asp

United Way for South Louisiana received a 27,000 lbs. shipment from Crayola which was distributed to various elementary schools in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary Parishes.

Trees and Arbor Day

January is a very important time in planting many types of ornamentals and trees. We have discussed fruit trees in a previous column and this week we will discuss planting trees. This is a great time to plant trees in the landscape, especially with Arbor Day being celebrated on January 20, 2006 in Louisiana. Find out more about Arbor Day at www.arborday.org.

Placing trees in the appropriate location in your landscape is one of the most critical steps for success. Keep in mind that trees will be there for a very long time so proper selection and type of tree is important. Some common mistakes people make are:

Auxiliary (JA) of Houma presents – Bayou Breezes Tour of Homes. The annual event showcases some of the Houma area’s most outstanding examples of southern living. Guests will enjoy refreshments from the JA Bayou Breezes cookbook and enjoy the hospitality at various local homes including the Burguires home at 4523 Hwy. 311, the Castalano home at 218 Central Avenue, the Marceaux home at 223 Bellingrath Drive, the Melancon home at 319 Wilson Avenue, and the Small home at 4111 Hwy. 311.

The tour will take place Saturday, March 18 from 1-5pm.  Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased in advance at Outside and In, Shoe Fits, or from any JA member.  Tickets may also be purchased at the homes on the day of the tour.  Call 209-2060 for more information

The Nicholls Players will present Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at 7:30 on March 16, 17 and 18 and at 3 p.m. on March 19 in Talbot Theater.

William Shakespeare is known as one of the best-known playwrights of the Elizabethan period. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is different from many of William Shakespeare's other works including "Romeo and Juliet" and "Julius Caesar" because the plot is formed purely from Shakespeare's creative imagination. However, the play's character names are taken from Greek mythology, English country fairy lore, and various works known in Shakespeare's time.

Elementary school educators can learn to integrate art lessons into the classroom with the help of the Inter-Disciplinary Art Workshop for Elementary Educators being offered Saturday, Feb. 4 and again on Saturday, March 4 through the Office of Continuing Education at Nicholls State University.

The workshop will provide educator with inter-disciplinary art lessons that can be used to reinforce concepts taught in mathematics, science, language arts and social studies. Participants will receive three lesson plans, logistical planning for implementing the lessons, supplies and hands-on experience. The daylong course will include a review and pointers on how to use a ruler, gluing, cutting and tracing; strategies for managing the physical and logistical aspects of an art lesson; and creation of a set of stencils and three art projects.

Perhaps they had three inches of water. Perhaps they had three feet of water. Perhaps they had none. Perhaps they lived in lower Dulac. Perhaps they lived on the west side of Houma. Does it really matter? When a person says they are from southeast Louisiana, an address doesn’t really exclude you from that look; the look of despair.

An estimated 2,500 people from all areas of Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche and other outlying parishes gathered at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center to get some answers from elected officials and representatives of involved organizations. Ultimately, the goal was to receive some much needed action. Less than one week after Hurricane Rita’s tropical storm forced winds caused breaches in levees, which flooded the five fingers of Terrebonne Parish, Martin Folse of Folse Productions (HTV) and some much appreciated sponsors put together a public forum.

Ethel Knobloch of Thibodaux and Verna Landrieu of New Orleans are two of the four women who will be honored by the Louisiana Center for Women and Government at Nicholls State University when it holds its annual luncheon honoring women who have made contributions to the state, nation and world. This year’s event, to be held in New Orleans, will feature Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco as keynote speaker. All proceeds will benefit scholarships for students displaced by last year’s hurricanes.

The 2006 ceremony, which will take place Saturday, May 6 at the Wyndham New Orleans at Canal Place, will feature the induction of the late Mari Ann Fowler of Hammond, Bunnatine “Bunny” Hayes Greenhouse, a native of Rayville and resident of Reston, Va., Ethel Knobloch of Thibodaux and Verna Landrieu of New Orleans into the Louisiana Center for Women and Government Hall of Fame. Former U.S. Congresswoman Lindy Boggs is honorary chair of the event.

In celebration of Flag Day, and as part of the Flags Across America program, Woodmen of the World Lodge 308 and the Terrebonne Historical & Cultural Society invite the public to a patriotic ceremony at Southdown Plantation on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at 9:00 a.m.  All local residents are encouraged to join with community leaders, military servicemen, veterans, public officials, and fellow citizens to honor our country and its symbol of freedom.  The event will include a flag-raising, reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, gun salute by the United Veterans League, and brief remarks from civic representatives.  The free event will be held outdoors at the Buquet Pavilion at Southdown Plantation, 1208 Museum Drive near Hwy 311 and St. Charles Street.  For more information, contact Carol Collins at 985-872-5147.

Soil Sampling

Proper soil sampling will be a critical issue for many South Louisiana residents due to coastal flooding caused by high salinity water coming into many areas. This is definitely not a high priority at this time but will be critical in re-establishing lawn and landscape areas in the long term. Next week I will discuss the appropriate soil sampling techniques recommended for Louisiana residents.

Fall Mums

Garden mums have become a popular choice for the fall home landscape, as they will add color during a transitional season. You may want to try them in a landscape bed combined with the low growing Wave series of petunias or French varieties of dwarf marigolds.

As we progress more into the New Year, now is the time to begin preparing our landscape trees and citrus trees for the upcoming growing season.

The hurricanes that blew through this year have taken their toll on landscape trees and citrus trees.  We need to begin to rejuvenate them and get them back to a healthy growing condition.

Late January through February are ideal times to fertilize healthy landscape trees.  If the trees have been severely damaged and are unhealthy, wait until March or April to fertilize.

Two L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College faculty members recently received the Excellence Award recognizing individuals for outstanding contributions to teaching, leadership, and learning. Gina Fanguy, Drafting and Design instructor, and Donna Estrada, Developmental Studies instructor attended the 2006 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) conference May 28 to 31, 2006 in Austin, Texas to receive their awards. Pictured from left to right are Gina Fanguy, Drafting and Design instructor, and Donna Estrada, Developmental Studies instructor.

Pictured from left to right:  Jay Young, Vice Chair Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross presents 70 year service pins to Miss Marion Waguespack and Miss Annie Waguespack of Lockport. Also pictured is Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the National Board of Governors.

The Waguespack’s have been associated with the American Red Cross, Lafourche Service Center, and Southeast Louisiana for 70 years and were honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Program on June 3, 2006 aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

Make plans now to catch “Discarded Views: Photographs of the South” Art Exhibit by Crystal Sanderson.

Presented by The Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society, Sanderson’s works will be on display at Southdown Plantation House/The Terrebonne Museum, 1208 Museum Dr, Houma March 31 – May 31, 2006.  Free opening reception with the artist Friday March 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Admission fee of $1.00 per person is charged to view only the art show during regular museum hours.  Full admission fee of $5.00 adults and $2.00 children is charged for a complete museum tour. 

Thibodaux Playhouse Inc. presents "Murder Most Fouled Up" A Comedy by Nikki Harmon and directed by Ronee Bourgeois. Performances are  October 6 & 7, 2006 & October 12 - 15, 2006

Performances are 7:30 except for Sunday the 15th, only 2:00 pm on that day at the Jean Lafitte Cultural Center Theater, 414 St. Mary Street Thibodaux.

            Nicholls State University President Stephen T. Hulbert announced that official enrollment figures for the fall 2006 semester are available and reflect a slight decline in total enrollment, but they show that students are coming to Nicholls better prepared for the academic rigor of university studies

            A total of 6,814 students are currently enrolled which is a decrease of 72, or one percent, from fall 2005. (This figure does not include students displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita who enrolled at Nicholls.)  “The exciting news is that average ACT scores have increased by 0.41 to 20.92,” Hulbert said. “This continues the trend over the last three years of Nicholls having the greatest increase in average ACT scores among University of Louisiana System institutions.”

I am a teacher at Caldwell Middle School located in Schriever off of Highway 311. This is the fourth school I have had the privilege to teach in. The students and staff here at Caldwell have truly impressed me and I believe the giving spirit of this school needs to be shared with the community.

The community should know what these students from a pre-dominantly low socio-economic background have done to do their part in helping one another, their community, and the world around us. It has been such a joy seeing how the many different school organizations, students, and staff have all worked together to do so much with so little.

 Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne announces its third annual one act playwriting competition, which is open to playwrights of any age, experience, or location. 

 The play should be unpublished and no longer than 30 typed pages, or 30 minutes running time.  It should also be the original work of the author or authors and should be suitable for general audiences.  The top three finalists will be required to present their plays as a staged reading for final judging in late fall on a date to be announced. Cash prizes will be awarded for the places.

The Arts Council will present its second annual College Inn Reunion concert November 17, 2006 at the Nicholls State University Cotillion Ballroom, Leighton Drive on the NSU campus, Thibodaux, Louisiana from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Guests can come to remember the College Inn in Thibodaux, a place where friends would get together and have a good time with Chippy, Tibby, Smoky and Sweet Pea!

      It is that time of year again when the Christmas holidays are over, and it is season cleaning time. Since the new year is over, you are starting to more and more Christmas trees along side the road. However, what if these trees could be put to a better use than going into the dumpster?  

      The answer is they can! Central Lafourche's FFA Chapter, with the help of Thibodaux's and South Lafourche's chapters, are heading their annual effort for Christmas tree collections. SWDI has donated dumpsters to hold Christmas trees near the school's location, where they will then transport them to Fourchon. In march, Central's FFA's member's will do their part to help save our coast.    

The seventh annual Franklin Harvest Moon Fest will be held Saturday, October 28, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Festivities will take place along Franklin’s Main Street in the downtown historic district. There is no admission fee.

Harvest Moon Fest is a community-based downtown street festival celebrating the sugar cane harvest and the return of fall. Events for this year’s festival include live entertainment, children’s activities, arts & crafts, a 5k Run/Walk, an Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, trolley rides, food and more.

An agenda has been set for Black History Month festivities in February at Nicholls State University.

The events will begin Thursday, Feb. 1 with an opening ceremony beginning at noon in the snack bar area of Bollinger Memorial Student Union. Guest speakers will address the Nicholls Civility Campaign, the national “N” word campaign that seeks to end the use of derogatory or offensive speech and the national Black History Month theme of “From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas.”

LSU AgCenter


June, July and August are the most stressful months for growing roses in our area. Roses are one of the most popular landscape plants in the United States.  Care of these plants through the summer will go a long way in making them perform ideally when growing conditions are more favorable for their optimum performance.

Proper maintenance includes regular watering, mulching, dead-heading and insect/disease/weed control. During droughty periods when there’s no rain for 2-3 weeks, start watering roses every 5-7 days at the rate of 0.5-0.75 inch per irrigation. Water should percolate the soil to a minimum depth of 4-6 inches. Avoid water contacting the foliage to lessen blackspot disease occurrence. Heat stress increases roses vulnerable to

blackspot.

In order to help get the news out about “mental retardation”, a FAQ has been put together for the public knowledge. This information has been very helpful to give the public information about the activates and possibilities for “mental retardation.”

What is mental retardation?
The definition used most often in the United States is from the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR). According to AAMR, mental retardation is a disability that occurs before age 18. It is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. It is diagnosed through the use of standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior. AAMR points out that both functioning and adaptive behavior are affected positively by individualized supports (AAMR, 2002).

Newsarticle by

Barton Joffrion

County Agent, LCES

LSU AgCenter

Landscaping your home is a big decision and can cause stress if you are not trained in the recommended practices for planning, installing and maintaining a landscape. Finding the right landscape professional is a major decision to make when you're looking for someone to work on your home grounds, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

"The strong economy, new home construction at an all-time high and gardening as the No. 1 hobby in the United States have all combined to greatly increase the desire of homeowners to obtain professional landscape contracting and horticultural services," Owings says. "But finding the right landscape professional for your needs is essential to your success and satisfaction."

There are two types of professionals licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to do such work - landscape contractors and horticulturists. Landscape contractors are those qualified to install a landscape. They also can maintain the landscape until it is considered established. A horticulturist is a person qualified to maintain landscape plants - including fertilization, pruning and other cultural practices needed for plant health and aesthetics.

            This is another good oak tree that should be planted in our area.  It is a much better oak than the water oaks that are widely planted in the area.

            The scientific name is Quercus phellos.  Some people mistakenly call this the pin oak.  Its leaves are two to five inches long and one half to one inch wide.  They are willowlike with bristle tips.

            This tree averages about 60 feet in height and 40 feet wide.

            Brief Recognition Factors

·           Outstanding shade tree.

·           Fine texture for an oak.

·           Adaptable to a wide range of conditions.

·           Touted as street plantings, plazas, parks, malls, etc.

·           Longer lived than water oaks.

South Louisiana Center for the Arts presents a limited engagement – 6 shows only – of Bermuda Avenue Triangle : an adult comedy at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center August 11^th, 12^th, 13^th , 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th.  The show is directed by Bernadette Dugas, and includes an all star cast of Sue Peace, Brian Chiasson, Rene Rhodes, Tiffany Vice, Elizabeth Holcomb and Lorna Farrar.

The play concerns the adventures of a Baptist widow and a Catholic widow whose successful daughters move them to Las Vegas, where they share a retirement village condo.  On an excursion, they are saved from a mugger by a charming if not quite sober gambler who is short on cash.  They allow him to curl up on the living room floor, and he manages to sweet talk his way into both ladies’ lives.  Each situation is rife with outrageous, excessive comedy that endears this play to audiences everywhere.

THIBODAUX – Students with musical talent can hone their skills this summer in the second annual Chamber Music Camp hosted by the Nicholls State University School of Fine Arts, Division of Music. Students will participate in small ensembles ranging from trios, quartets and quintets, directed by music faculty members Paula Van Goes and Cristina Mendoza.

There will be two sessions this year. Session I is open to students entering grades 6 through 8 and will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 4, to Friday, June 8. The camp will close with a concert held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in LeBijou Theater in the Bollinger Memorial Student Union. Admission is free and open to the public.

THIBODAUX – The Nicholls State University Alumni Federation recently held its annual Awards for Excellence reception to honor those who have most helped to advance the university and the Nicholls Alumni Federation. Among the awards presented were the James Lynn Powell Award, to honor the top alum, and the Corporate Mark of Honor, to recognize a top corporate supporter.
 

            The James Lynn Powell Award, the Federation’s most prestigious award given to a Nicholls graduate, was presented to C.R. “Rusty” Cloutier of Lafayette, a 1968 Nicholls finance and economics graduate who is president, CEO and director of MidSouth Bank of Lafayette and its parent company, MidSouth Bancorp, a publicly traded company with total assets of $800 million.

The Morgan City native began his banking career in 1964 in his hometown as a cashier at First National Bank, which was later purchased by Whitney Bank. Twenty years later, in 1984, he was executive vice president and secretary to the board of directors. Along the way, he was instrumental in the bank’s expansion to Franklin, he managed the bank’s $75 million in investments, and instituted a master charge department, a small business loan division and a government loan program.

LSU AgCenter

We are in a transitional period with landscape beds as unwanted plants (i.e. weeds) are popping up at this time of year due to heavy rainfall, thinning or washed away mulch, or other reasons. Now is a great time to re-mulch your landscape beds as you transition for the fall season. You will be dividing daylilies and Louisiana irises as well as pruning your shrub roses in the coming weeks so take advantage and multi-tasking by adding fresh organic mulch at the same time.

The major weed problems now are yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) in numerous landscape beds. You have several options and hand-pulling is one that will have no negative environmental impact plus give you some hands-on exercise that can also have a therapeutic value to the home gardener. According to LSU AgCenter weed scientist Ron Strahan chemical control is another option but remember to read, understand, and follow label directions:

Newsarticle by

Barton Joffrion

County Agent, LCES

LSU AgCenter


The LSU AgCenter and La-Terre Master Gardeners have partnered with Sharon Alford of the Houma Area Convention and Visitors center in Gray to implement a Louisiana Iris landscape bed that will be used to educate the public regarding proper bed development, planting, and care of Louisiana Irises. Rusty and Bud McSparrin are volunteering their time and expertise in growing irises commercially in Terrebonne Parish to the project.

Over 25 La-Terre Master Gardener™ and other volunteers showed up with tillers, shovels, and rakes to kick off the initial component of the project on September 19, developing a raised bed and tilling in sand to improve the internal drainage of the area. By raising the bed, this will help prevent root diseases plus make it easier to maintain these beds. The next step is to let the rain break up larger soil particles and settle the bed. Once that is done, one more tilling will be done prior to transplanting the irises into the bed in the next few weeks.

The project will culminate with an educational program open to the public on Louisiana Irises at the visitor’s center in Gray in April, 2008.

NEW ORLEANS - Make Merry with Music this holiday season by joining the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for a fantastic Holidays in Houma concert at 7:00 p.m., November 30, 2007 at the Harvest Cathedral in Houma, Louisiana. This holiday classic has a few surprises plus all your favorite songs of the season including "Toyland," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "Oh Holy Night" and an unforgettable performance of "Sleigh Ride."

Tickets are very affordably priced at $15.00 per person. Proceeds will benefit Messiah Montessori School in Houma. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the HCM box office at (985) 851-3000.

Newsarticle by

Barton Joffrion

County Agent, LCES

LSU AgCenter

Many residents in our area have had successes and some failures growing a fruit trees in the back yard. The success of a home fruit orchard is influenced greatly by the site selected. This is the most critical step for success! A deep, well-drained soil with good surface and subsurface drainage is important.

Fruit plants will not grow well on water logged soils. This is a definite challenge with our heavy, poorly drained soils. I would suggest taking a soil sample before you make any decisions on planting. The location should also provide enough sunlight for proper growth and development of the plants. You may have to build a pitcher’s mound to provide adequate drainage for the root system.

Newsarticle by

Barton Joffrion

County Agent, LCES

LSU AgCenter

We have encountered several freezing weather events in the last few weeks so it is important to know the correct measures to take in your landscape regarding removing dead foliage as well as other plant parts after freeze events. This research-based information will help you be a better gardener as well as help your plants recover from these cold weather events.

According to LSU AgCenter Horticulturalist Dan Gill, if gardeners used only plants that are hardy in our area, we would never have to cover them or be worried about them when it freezes. Gardeners trying to minimize maintenance, and those who consider covering and uncovering plants a major hassle, certainly should consider reducing or eliminating tropicals in their landscapes.

THIBODAUX – Nicholls State University will offer the following, non-credit activities for youth throughout the upcoming summer months:

Academic Enrichment Program

This program encourages learning in a creative environment and focuses on science, social studies, language arts, mathematics, art and physical education. There will be no promotions or failures. Nicholls education majors will utilize these classes for observation and participation activities under the direction of credentialed supervising teachers. A mandatory parent orientation will be held Wednesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. in Peltier Auditorium. This program will meet five days a week for seven weeks.

Earl P. King, Jr., owner and operator of King Trucking, Inc., is a multi-sponsor for this year’s Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival presented by Shell. As a sponsor of the Historic Blessing of the Fleet and co-sponsor of the Children’s Village, Fireworks on the River and the U.S.C.G Foundation Golf Tournament, Mr. King has made a major investment in the festival and tradition that propels the community.

Mr. King is married to the former Linda Dudley.  He is the father of Earl III, William, Darla King Chiasson and Sharla King Gallagher. Born in Dublin, Texas, King moved to Houma as an infant and lived there through his high school years.  He attended the University of Southern Mississippi as a student/athlete, graduating in 1967. As a means of giving back in a way that he was assisted in his youth, King has endowed the Earl King Scholarship at Mississippi Gulf Coast College. 

Nicholls State University is offering numerous youth activities over the summer months. They include: Academic Enrichment Program (youth entering kindergarten through sixth grades) June 4 to July 20 (Monday through Friday), 8:30 to 11:50 a.m. Cost: $215

Art Classes
Session 1: ages 6 to 8, June 18 to 22, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Session 2: ages 9 to 12, June 18 to 22, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Session 3: ages 9 to 12, June 25 to 29, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Session 4: ages 6 to 8, June 25 to 29, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $90 per session (registration deadline two weeks prior to first day of camp)

Chip Durham Baseball Day Camp (boys entering kindergarten through eighth grades)
May 30 to June 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: $100 (includes daily lunch and T-shirt)
Call (985) 381-9008 to register.

It happens to almost every parent – your child brings home a report card that is less than satisfactory in your eyes. How do you handle it? Do you blow a gasket? Or ignore it, hoping it will go away?

LSU AgCenter family and child development expert Dr. Diane Sasser advises to think the situation through before you react in any manner. Resolve to handle it in as positive a manner as possible.

First, ask yourself if you have a reason to be disappointed. Sometimes grades are not the best way to judge performance. In some cases, a "C" or worse may be cause for celebration if the subject was challenging, and they really did give it their best. If you feel justified in your disappointment, consider the best way to respond. Don’t just ignore the problem, because that sends the message that you don’t care. Some problems don’t just go away by being ignored.

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr., Ph.D.

The LSU AgCenter will hold a “Tomato Field Day” on Wednesday, June 11 at 5:00 PM at the Waterproof Ridge Farm located on 3719 Bayou Black Drive in Houma. Registration will begin at 4:00 PM and the program will begin at 5:00 PM and conclude by 7:00 PM. This educational program is free and open to the public.

LSU AgCenter experts will discuss traditional tomato varieties as well as those more disease resistant, using plastic mulch and drip irrigation, tomato disease prevention as well seeing what variety of tomato tastes the best.  According to Area Extension Agent Bobby Fletcher, Jr. a largest vine ripened tomato contest will be held in conjunction with this field day so residents can bring in their largest vine ripened tomato to be weighed between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. This is open to anyone and we are really trying to involve school students from the area plus adults as we have in the past.

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr. Ph. D.

 As our landscapes languish in the Louisiana heat, a wonderful group of plants called gingers thrive and delight us with bold foliage and attractive flowers. Native to tropical or semitropical regions, gingers flourish in the heat, rain and humidity. Despite their tropical origins, many gingers are hardy throughout the state and make excellent, permanent additions to the landscape. Gingers produce a thick, fleshy stem that grows at or just below the soil surface called a rhizome. With a good, thick mulch of leaves or pine straw, the rhizomes are easily protected during the winter. And if the top is killed by hard freezes, the rhizome will re-sprout in the spring.

The plants we call gingers actually include many genera with many different sizes, growth habits and flower shapes. Low-growing gingers, like Kaempferia pulchra, smaller species of Curcuma or Globba, make great groundcovers or clumps at the front of shady borders. Medium-size gingers 3- to 6-feet tall include species of Curcuma, Hedychium and Costus, and the shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) grows 10- to 12-feet tall. These larger gingers are excellent choices for accent, screens or at the back of a border.

Organizers with the event are currently promoting sponsorship levels, which ensure table seating and program recognition. They are as follows:

            This is a very pretty evergreen tree that should be added to the landscape planting more often.  American holly comes into its own, covering itself in bright red, berry-like drupes in the winter.

            Like all hollies, American holly is dioecious, so both a male and a female plant are needed for fruit production.  Only female trees produce berries.

            It generally reaches a height of between 30-40 feet here and can be pruned as an upright conical form.  Planted in full sun, they tend to stay very symmetrical. 

By David A. Bourgeois

Recreational fish ponds or farm ponds can serve many purposes. They offer a great sport fishing opportunity, a good swimming area, provide valuable soil to elevate other portions of your property, aesthetically enhance your landscape, provide valuable habitat for wildlife and can serve as a reservoir for livestock, irrigation or firefighting needs. Properly managed, ponds can be a beautiful addition to your lifestyle, but when they are neglected, they can become a weed-infested eyesore. Springtime in South Louisiana is a time for growth, especially for the aquatic weeds in a fish pond. Controlling these weeds is essential to maintaining the health of your pond.

By: Bobby Fletcher, Jr., Ph.D.

TARC, an affiliate of the nation's largest volunteer-based organization dealing with life-long issues of mental retardation, marks National Mental Retardation Awareness Month in March. During March, TARC joins chapters of The Arc around the country in engaging in a media awareness campaign aimed at brigning issues conecerning people with mental retardation and their families to the pbulic for the 28th consectuvive year.

Each year, National Mental Retardation Awareness Month provides our community with the chance to learn more about issues affecting people with mental retardation and their families, and to become aware of the positive contributions of people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. We invite the people of Terrebonne Parish to learn more about The Arc and its mission during March and during every month of the year.

Newsarticle by

Barton Joffrion

County Agent, LCES

LSU AgCenter

Buddleias, known by most home gardeners as butterfly bush, are becoming an increasingly popular plant in the home landscape, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings. These perennials are highly regarded by butterflies as a nectar plant.

"Butterfly bushes are becoming available in an increasing array of sizes, flower colors and foliage," Owings says, adding, "They can be used as cut flowers and have fragrant blossoms."

Buddleias are winter hardy in Louisiana but also can be used for annual color in the landscape if desired. "The recent resurgence in buddleias at retail garden centers can partially be attributed to new varieties being released over the past 10 years," Owings says, adding, "Many more new varieties are in the works."

Written By:  Robert Barrilleaux, Jr.

            On Friday June 29, a different feeling throughout the city of Houma arrived. Over 3000 teens from throughout the country were flooding into our area for a weekend church conference. Steubenville on the Bayou, one of the many Steubenville conferences across the country, was about to start. The theme of the conference was All Access. Teens and adults accepted this theme by opening their hearts to Christ. The weekends presenter Bob Lesnefsky, otherwise known as Righteous B, lead the crowd with much enthusiasm. Other speakers included: Paul and Gretchen George, Kelly Pease, Fr. Jose Robles-Sanchez, Fr. Dave Pivonka, Kristen Harakal, Charlie Cantrell, and Bishop Sam Jacobs. This weekend was capped off Saturday night with an emotionally moving Adoration, and ended Sunday by Bishop Jacob presiding over mass and issuing final farewells. As Sunday concluded, the groups left Houma heading back to Colorado, Illinois, Texas, etc.

It has been the scene of fun-filled summer days for many generations of Louisiana youth. And on Oct. 27, the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Camp Grant Walker will celebrate its 85^th birthday with an open house.

Anyone who has attended the camp, which is in Pollock, or participated in 4-H is invited to participate in the event. Activities will include tours, games, a silent auction and lots of opportunities for reunions.

In addition, participants will have the chance to enjoy many of the same activities that were part of their camping experience, including archery, canoeing and shooting sports.

The Houma-Terrebonne Community Band is pleased to announce its annual Big Band Bash. It will be held at the Houma Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, October 13th, 2007, from 8:00pm until midnight. The Houma-Terrebonne Community Stage Band will provide its awesome “big band sound” for your dancing and listening pleasure. Dance contests will award prizes for the best couple in waltz, cha-cha, and jitterbug. Door prizes graciously donated by local supporters will be part of the fun.

Big band music will highlight your evening. The classic selections from smooth waltzes and ballads, lively cha-chas and jazz, and driving rock and Latin of this semi-formal event is calculated to appeal to all ages.

Dance lessons by local dance studios will be offered before the start of the Big Band Bash and during the Big Band Bash.

THIBODAUX – The Petroleum Services and Safety Technology program at Nicholls State University has received a financial boost from the ConocoPhillips Company.

Dr. John Griffin, associate professor of petroleum services, said the $15,000 contribution would be used to fund a crane-safety simulation package for the petroleum program’s computer lab in Gouaux Hall – along with DVD players, projectors and streaming video capabilities.

“This will go a long way to facilitating a state-of-the-art computer lab,” Griffin said.

Ryan Vaccarella, a Houma-based representative of ConocoPhillips and Nicholls alumnus, presented the check to Griffin and Dr. Rebecca Pennington, assistant vice president for development and university relations. Vaccarella said he is grateful to be working for a company with the means and willingness to provide support to his alma mater.