The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Nicholls State University is assisting business owners in applying for disaster loans.

Business owners who suffered property damage or a loss of revenue from Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita may be eligible for federal disaster assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program.

Late autumn is a popular time for charity fundraisers as the holiday season approaches.  Event organizers are contacting businesses, seeking monetary donations, prizes, gift certificates and sponsorships to help ensure a successful fundraising effort.  Fortunately there are many reputable companies that generously support worthy causes.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, many of us found ourselves out of place and most definitely uncomfortable. Well that is certainly an understatement for the staff and students of Grand Caillou Elementary. The entire school had anywhere from four inches to over five feet of murky water that spilled into the 80 year-old-school from Lake Boudreax and/or Bayou Grand Caillou.

Having flooded at least four times in at least 20 years, the staff and students would find themselves once again bouncing back with resilience; and with much appreciated help from many, some without recognition for thanks. “It was like everything suddenly appeared on our stage…we don’t even know where some of the donations come from,” said Principal Peggy Marcel.

More than $1.56 billion in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans have been approved for almost 23,000 residents and business owners affected by the devastating hurricanes that struck earlier this year. Loan approvals are averaging approximately $37 million per day in December, with $500 million approved in two weeks time.

“The steps we have taken thus far to enhance our loan processing capabilities are beginning to pay off, and the SBA is approving disaster loans at a near-record pace, despite the substantial hurdles caused by the damage and dislocation of these storms,” said SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto.

A hurricane relief fund from contributions made by employees, and friends of Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) was established in conjunction with the United Way to benefit TGMC employees.  The United Way/TGMC Hurricane Katrina/Rita Employee Relief Fund raised over $15,000.00 and benefited sixteen employees who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita.

Employees received debit cards to assist in their cleaning and rebuilding efforts and some also received vacation time that was donated by their fellow co-workers. 

Houma Reprographics & Map, Inc. (HRM) is proud to announce the inclusion of award-winning design work by on-staff graphic designer, Philip Toups, into the nationally published book, LogoLounge, Volume III. The judging for LogoLounge was extremely competitive, showcases only exceptional logo designs, and is selected by an international panel of judges. Philip’s award-winning logo was designed for John Butler, a creative copywriter based in Hollywood, California. John hired HRM last Spring to design a corporate identity and stationery package for his new company.

The region is experiencing a critical blood shortage and is in need of blood donors,

Please consider donating blood.  It is 100 % safe, will take about 40 minutes and one pint could save up to 3 lives.  Blood donors can donate at The Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) Blood Donor Center which is open Monday – Friday, 7:30 am until 3:30 pm and on Tuesday until 5:30 pm. 

To donate and avoid waiting please call 873-4025 or 873-4029 to schedule an appointment. 

All donors will receive a complimentary Blood Donor T-shirt or cholesterol screening. 

The TGMC Blood Donor Center is located on Belanger Street across from the parking garage in the Annex Building and convenient parking available.

Edison J. Foret, MD

Edison J. Foret, MD, Obstetrician and Gynecologist has been appointed to the active medical staff at Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC). 

“We are pleased to have Dr. Foret as a member of our medical staff,” said Phyllis Peoples, President and Chief Executive Officer at TGMC.   “His knowledge will be very valuable as we prepare to expand our women’s service capabilities to meet the needs of the women in our community.”

Dr. Foret received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Nicholls State University.  He completed his doctorate of medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine

Internship applications will be accepted through Friday, March 3 from university and college students who want to work at government agencies while earning college credit during the 2006 summer and fall semesters through the Louisiana Center for Women and Government at Nicholls State University.

Interns will be assigned to work four days a week in a public sector office, usually in Baton Rouge. Recent assignments have included the Republican Legislative Delegation, the Attorney General’s Office, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Center is always searching for new government offices to place interns.

Community-minded businesses and organizations from the area are co-sponsoring three “Keep the Beat for the Bayou Region” bystander CPR training events free to the general public in March. An event will be held at the Cotillion Ballroom at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux on March 4 with sessions at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. There will be two additional events on March 11. The first will be at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center with sessions at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The second event will be held at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium, with sessions at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

“Keep the Beat” is a not-for-profit effort and is open to everyone 12 years and older. Certified CPR instructors will teach the sessions that will last approximately two hours each.

By Kenny Boudreaux 

When Ted Falgout took over as Fourchon's port director in 1978, the region was home to just two companies. Not many people knew about the land in lower Lafourche Parish off the Gulf of Mexico's coast.

Now, nearly 28 years later, the Port of Fourchon has become a world-class, internationally-known port with more than 150 tenants.

Houma Police Chief Patrick Boudreaux on behalf of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police, accepts a check for $1250 from Bobby Nelson and Leland Robichaux of Oil States Industries, Inc.

Bobby Nelson, General Manager of Oil States Industries, said that his company, a local oilfield manufacturing business, supports the local community and affirms its commitment by supporting the police department and other law enforcement related causes. “Oil States Industries supports the effort of the LACP to enact meaningful legislation that helps our police officers and makes our community safer,” said Nelson.

The road toward recovery in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishs just got easier to travel, thanks to Nissan North America’s generous donation of two full-sized Titan trucks to Bayou Area Habitat for Humanity. The new trucks will provide another valuable tool in the rebuilding effort.

“We are proud to represent Nissan and grateful for their donation to our affiliate…we are so blessed to have so many volunteers from all over helping families get into their new homes, “ said Jeanne Autin, Executive Director.  The truck donation is part of a larger gift to Habitat for Humanity International’s Operation Home Delivery program. Nissan is presenting 50 Titan trucks to Habitat and its affiliates in hurricane-affected areas. The retail value of the donation is more than $1 million.

Area business, economic development support agencies and others from the Bayou Region are scheduled to participate in the second annual Entrepreneurship Day at the Legislature, sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development (LED).  The annual gathering of Louisiana's entrepreneurs will take place on Tuesday, April 18 on the steps of the state capitol. The event will begin at 10 a.m.with LED Secretary Michael J. Olivier and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) President Dan Juneau will address the group. Governor Blanco has also been invited.

Dr. Peter Fail, an interventional cardiologist with Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) in Houma, served as a member of the expert faculty for the second annual CT Angiography for the Cardiologist course held April 6 – 8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This international conference was attended by more than 900 physicians and is the largest conference in the world to focus on computed tomography angiography (CTA).

ES&H Consulting Services, Inc. will sponsor a Replacement Blood Drive with Ochsner Blood Bank for employee Keith Long who is awaiting liver transplant surgery. 

The drive will be held on Tuesday April 18, 2006 from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM.  It will be held in the main parking lot of ES&H’s Corporate Office located at 1730 Coteau Road in Houma. 

Long has been diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the Liver and is awaiting liver transplant surgery.  The surgery will require a major amount of blood replacement.  On behalf of Long, ES&H is asking the community to please help by donating the gift of life. 

Flood of Book Drive Collects 97,000 Books!

The Santa Clarita Valley Disaster Coalition sent 97,000 elementary school library books on a Camelot Moving Truck on Friday, headed for Houma, Louisiana, a town hit hard by Hurricane Rita. The books will restock six elementary school libraries in Houma.

The drive, spearheaded by KHTS Radio, The Santa Clarita Senior Center, The City of Santa Clarita, The Sulphur Springs Elementary School District, College of the Canyons, The Signal, The Santa Clarita Interfaith Council, Remax and others was a phenomenal success

DONATION TO BENEFIT PETROLEUM SERVICES PROGRAM AT NICHOLLS

Nicholls State University recently accepted $10,000 from the American Association of Drilling Engineers in support of the seven-days-on and seven-days-off  petroleum services program, announced Dr. David Boudreaux, vice president for institutional advancement at Nicholls.

            “The donation was given to the petroleum services program because it is a unique program that represents the oil industry of the Bayou Region,” Johnson Hale, director emeritus of the AADE board, said.

Nicholls State University was recently awarded more than $290,000 in grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents of higher education to enhance undergraduate academic programs.

            Nicholls received funding for nine proposals for the 2006-2007 fiscal year from the Board of Regents Support Fund. More than $21 million was distributed this year to colleges and universities statewide to fund educational and research programs.  

In another effort to recognize outstanding employees, Terrebonne General Medical Center’s Customer Service Council has implemented the Employee of the Month program.  This program recognizes employees that exemplify the kind of person patients, family members and fellow employees distinguish as role models. This employee shows dedication, outstanding work ethics, has as a positive attitude that is reflected in their day-to-day work and focuses on meeting both internal and external customer service goals. 

The August TGMC Employee of the Month is Shawn Franklin, CNA, from Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Recovery. Shawn has been part of the TGMC team for 16 years working in the PACU or Recovery room and on the Skilled Nursing Unit. She stated, “I am honored to be a part of the TGMC team and I appreciate being recognized along with my work being recognized.”

Gary Palmer, Local Sales Manager for Charter Media in Thibadaux, LA was named Local Sales Manager of the year for Charter Media, Tennessee/Kentucky/Louisiana divisions.  “Gary does a tremendous job for our company and I am honored to give him this award”, says Audrey Wiseman, Vice President of Ad Sales for Charter Media.  “He truly deserves this award. He and his team of professionals preserved given the adversity they faced this past year.”

Cathy Bice, Daina Borne and Sheri Broussard, Account Executives for Charter Media, received 2005 Budget Buster Awards.

Cathy Bice and Daina Borne were also recognized as Charter Media Top Performers.  Only five Account Executives were given this honor from the Tennessee/Kentucky/Louisiana ad sales team.  This award was based on their % budget increase (2004 vs. 2005).  Both also joined the Half-Million Dollar Club which means their annual billing was over $500,000.

Charter Media Ad Sales is a division of Charter Communications.

 The St. Louis Catholic Church bible school staff chose to implement service this year with the Vacation Bible School children to try and teach them that all of us are called to serve no matter how old or young we may be. Each day an activity was created in recognition of service that others do for us or to cheer up those who are elderly or homebound. The children created all activities planned for the week. 

The LCTCS Conference Day took place on August 13 – 14 at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center.  The theme of this year’s conference was “Recovery and Resurgence:  Two Year Colleges for the 21^st Century.”   Over 400 system employees took advantage of the opportunity for professional development and to learn about new LCTCS initiatives.

Three Fletcher Technical Community College faculty and staff received awards at the conference banquet on Sunday, August 13. The award recipients are as follows:

The Electrician program and the General Education – Science and Math program recently received notification of awards for competitive Carl D. Perkins Leadership grants. The Electrician award of $49,269, submitted by project director, Mike Fanguy, proposes to provide students with a multi-sensory enhanced learning experience in the electrician program through the intensive use of computer software applications and relay logic trainers. The Anatomy and Physiology classes of the General Education program received an award of $49,695 submitted by project director Steven Lee. The project proposes to provide physiology students with an enhanced laboratory experience through the intensive use of Biopac data acquisition units, transducers, electrodes, and dedicated software to target muscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary function, and neurophysiologic aspects of human physiology.

Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) offered sneak previews of the new women’s center.  “Before the facility was open to serve patients we wanted to allow the opportunity for our team of health care professionals as well as past and future board members who made this project possible to view the new state-of-the-art facility,” said Phyllis Peoples, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

The Women’s Center broke ground and began construction in March of 2004.  Total building cost was $15.9 million and equipment cost totals $ 5 million.

By Walter Broussard

It was on March 10, 1999, when Synergy Bank opened its door to Houma area. The bank has grown continuously over the years and opened its second branch on January 2, 2002. They are also looking forward to opening their third on Martin Luther King BLVD in September.

Synergy Bank has quickly out grown their main office located on West Tunnel Blvd. They are proud to announce the moving of their main office when their new location opens. The new site will cover over 17,000 square feet and will be a full service office housing all banking services including the investment division.