Discover Lafayette

Seth Ransonet joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the third annual NOMAD Music Festival to be held on September 21, 2024 at Warehouse 535. NOMAD is a wholesome music event emphasizing family-friendly values and aiming to promote truth, goodness, and beauty through music. It’s mission is to glorify God and inspire people to find their true home, spiritually and emotionally, through the power of music and community. The name “NOMAD” was selected because the event strives to inspire all wanderers to find their true home. A graduate of UL-Lafayette and a theology teacher at Teurlings Catholic High School, Seth Ransonet co-founded the NOMAD Music Festival with Jude Lecompte. The two were roommates when they attended a performance in Houston by Caamp, an American folk band from Ohio, which Seth calls a “top 10” band. They had so much fun it inspired them to start their own music festival here in Lafayette LA. Seth recalled Jude saying, “We need to start an event that’s wholesome, family-friendly, and a nice hang out.” The young men were 22 and 23 years old at the time of NOMAD’s inception. The third annual NOMAD Music Festival will be held on September 21, 11:00 a.m to 9 p.m. at Warehouse 535 in Lafayette, and features a variety of local and visiting artists, providing them with a platform to grow and reach a wider audience. Working to create a vibrant community experience, the event kicks off with a Catholic mass which is open to the people of all faiths. Games for the kids will be provided and anyone who loves dancing is sure to enjoy NOMAD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eLZLYAhwms&t=64s The headliner band is Happy Landing, and NOMAD 2024 also includes artists such as Zach Edwards and the Medicine, Kaleb Oliver, Swampland Stringband, Amis Du Teche, Mia Montero, Crosby & Ellender, Gabe Parsons, and Eden. General admission tickets are $39.99 (with family discounts provided to families attending with their children) and food trucks will be onsite offering meals for purchase. Parking is available onsite. To find out more, visit https://www.nomadmusicfest.com/. Discover Lafayette would like to thank Seth Ransonet, as well as NOMAD co-founder Jude LeCompte, for endeavoring to bring wholesome family entertainment to Acadiana. Seth is now only 24 years old and has taken on not only full-time teaching at Teurlings Catholic High School, but learning entrepreneurship as a festival organizer trying to break even, if not make a profit. An eagle scout who grew up singing Irish folk songs around the campfire, Seth has always been a person of faith who wanted to serve his Catholic church. Best wishes on a successful 2024 NOMAD Music Festival!

Michael Soileau, Director of LUS Fiber, joins us to discuss his vision for the organization. A native of Mamou, Michael graduated from Mamou High, and then earned a degree in International Business from UT in Austin and an MBA from LSU – Shreveport. He took over the reins at LUS Fiber in May 2024. Before this appointment, Michael had worked exclusively in private enterprise. His past employers include Comcast NBCUniversal, specializing in the broadband and cable television business, as well as Toffler Associates, O3, Viya, Comcast Cable, AT&T Broadband, and Optel. He’s a proven business leader in sales, business development, and strategic planning in the telecommunication and fiber-optic industry. Michael’s first work experiences in broadband came about through his work with Optel. The company was first acquired by AT&T Broadband, which was then acquired by Comcast Corporation, making it the largest broadband and cable subscription business provider in the U. S. Then, Comcast purchased 49% ownership of NBC, and several years later bought the remaining ownership in the broadcast network. These mergers resulted in Michael moving into the entertainment and distribution side of the business. “I worked with Comcast NBC Universal for twenty years, in every operational role you can imagine….sales, marketing, finance, strategic planning on how to grow the business. With the Time Warner acquisition, affordabiIity came up. We started off offering programs for low-income households, and expanded it to sectors such as seniors, Veterans, students…different sectors of the community that can find broadband expensive. I learned so much.” Advocate staff photo by Leslie Westbrook. Michael retired from Comcast and then dedicated his life to studies, earning an MBA from LSU. “I admit to being a lifelong learner. When I retired from Comcast, I went to school to get my Master’s degree. I had considered working in academia as I had guest lectured at UT for a while. I earned the degree to gain the needed credibility to lecture on international business. But I was reinvigorated by school to get back into the ‘business of the business.'” He then spent a year and a half as CEO of O3, a digital experience consultancy based in Philadelphia. At O3, he focused on digital customer experience, strategy, and innovation, bringing the organization a fresh set of eyes on how to position it to tap into new markets and create innovative solutions. Michael had maintained a residence in Lafayette in order to be close to his parents who still reside in Mamou. One day, his neighbor was visiting and they started talking about the open position at LUS Fiber. Rachel Godeaux, LCG’s Chief Administrative Officer, met with him and Michael then met with Lafayette Mayor Monique Boulet, who inspired him with her vision for Lafayette and the role fiber could play in attracting companies and driving economic development. “Her overarching belief in the importance of transparency in government was compelling.” He wasn’t looking for a position, but couldn’t say no. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYsXM71kDIw “I love the business of broadband. I’ve seen the power of broadband and what it does to change communities across the country, so I was excited about the opportunity to come back.” Familiar with the history of LUS Fiber, having watched it from its inception back in 2005 when the citizens of Lafayette voted to make it a reality, he remembers having a conversation with the President of Comcast’s cable division, saying at the time, “This is a model that will hurt us because it drives community engagement and loyalty with in the community.” He further added during our interview, “Those are the values that we are all a part of by living here in Lafayette.” “LUS Fiber has had 17 years of operations. We have the opportunity to rethink our marketing and ask what do we stand for, what is our brand, what is our promise to the community, how to reintroduce LUS Fiber to the the citizens who voted it in. They are my boss. I work for everyone in Lafayette and I want to make sure we are doing what they need us to do. Twenty years ago LUS Fiber made the promise that we would provide the best, most reliable, fastest speeds to the most homes possible.” Advocate staff photo by Leslie Westbrook. There are still a few pockets in the city of Lafayette where LUS Fiber hasn’t built out. Multi-dwelling units (MDUs) have presented a challenge in adding the technology as building infrastructure limitations (lack of conduits and limited space to accomodate new lines), older electrical systems, and having to drill through walls and ceilings present hurdles to overcome. Michael says, “New construction is always easier. You don’t have to rip out walls to get to the wires. We haven’t had the best technology to provide our service to all. This is one of my biggest priorities, to find the technology solution that is scalable. I want something that is standardized and scalable. We hope to roll that out sometime next year.” LUS Fiber has expanded its services outside the parish of Lafayette as a participant in the GUMBO Grant Program (Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities), a Louisiana initiative funded by federally- funded grants, designed to expand broadband access to underserved and unserved areas in the state. Its goal is to help bridge the digital divide by providing high-speed internet access, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged areas in Acadiana. Towns such as Ville Platte, Mamou, Pine Prairie, and Reddell now have operational services, with Church Point next on the list of towns to have access to true broadband services. Acadia, Vermilion, and Iberia Parishes are also included in the grant funding that LUS Fiber will participate in to build out its broadband network. Michael says, “This doesn’t mean our eye isn’t on the ball in Lafayette. It absolutely is. We can do both things at one time,” referencing the priority of building out its fiber network to unserved areas in Lafayette. “I want to retake the mantle of the most innovative provider in the country within the next three to five years. We will do that by pushing more innovative products, such as with Connected TV. More in-home innovation is another area that can be improved, to help ensure that customers experience the same level of service at one end of the house as the other. We also want to provide innovative services to people at all income levels. There are ways to offer a good broadband choice at an affordable level, so people don’t have to make a choice about paying their utility bill or their broadband bill. I want us to stay above the curve as the future evolves.” LUS Fiber still offers cable tv services, and as well as a streaming product. They are currently testing a new application that will organize programming across multiple apps for easy search and discovery, which Michael projects will come out in the next 90 to 120 days. In closing, Michael shared his love for our area and for LUS Fiber. “I love championing LUS Fiber. I want to remind people that we actually have the most reliable broadband in the area every time I can and educate people on our upcoming products, along with our team who will do the same thing. We are homegrown and employ people that live here and spend their dollars here. I’ve never seen a more impassioned group of employees than I have seen at LUS Fiber. There’s nothing but good stuff coming.” We thank Michael Soileau for taking the time to share his experience and vision for our community through his role at LUS Fiber. For more information on services offered, visit https://www.lusfiber.com/.

Frank Randol of Randol’s Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, joins Discover Lafayette in partnership with Eat Lafayette, a yearlong celebration of our locally owned restaurants, to share news of the revival of his unique Cajun restaurant and dancehall concept, a longtime staple in Lafayette. Breaux Bridge is only 15 minutes from Lafayette and is part of a corridor surrounding Lafayette Parish that is ripe for growth. And Frank is a young 78 years old, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who still exudes energy and a passion for being a changemaker. Frank is a force of nature who works nonstop to promote the beauty of our local culture. Frank has been in the seafood business for 53 years, and is renowned for his contribution to sustaining and promoting our Cajun culture. As part of that dedication, Frank currently serves as Secretary of the Gulf Seafood Foundation and has always been an avid supporter of Eat Lafayette. He focuses on wild-caught seafood with no additives, only South Louisiana seafood, with a bent toward crawfish, softshell crab, and other seasonal specialties. Hamburger steak is also a popular dish craved by Randol’s longtime patrons. His experience in the seafood business defines Frank Randol. In 1971, he opened a seafood processing facility in Henderson and operated it for nine years before opening the original Randol’s Restaurant in 1980 when he moved operations to his family property on Kaliste Saloom Road. Over the years, he welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world to his restaurant and dancehall who were looking to experience authentic Cajun culture. To learn more about Frank’s historic career, please listen to our original interview on Discover Lafayette here. In 2021, the owners of Superior Grill offered Frank a price for his Kaliste Saloom property that he couldn’t refuse. The money afforded him the opportunity to take off two years to consider his future, and he kept his general manager, Jimmy LaGrange, employed alongside him as they contemplated their next move. “It takes two people to do nothing well for two years,” Frank jokes. But in reality, Frank had not only wealth in money, but also wealth in ideas, creativity, love of Cajun food and culture, and a desire to continue in the restaurant business. “When you throw yourself into something for so many decades, you can’t just go cold turkey. People need to embrace the Cajun Culture. It’s already branded and known worldwide.” Randol’s menu is patterned after the former Randol’s choices, repurposed and retested to ensure perfection for today’s market. A mini-market for fresh seafood purchases is in the works and will be open soon. Today, the restaurant’s success is Frank’s main priority. Not one to stay retired, Frank envisioned a revival of his original Randol’s concept, and purchased the land where the former Mulate’s Restaurant was located at 325 W. Mills Avenue, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, resurrecting his successful Cajun food/Dance Hall concept enjoyed by people for so many decades. Frank says, “Mulate’s was the perfect spot. It needed work, but it polished up well! The building is 80 years old on high ground and survived the storms in May of this year. We patterned the bathrooms after the high end facilities at Superior Grill, with glass walls that you can’t see through, with 400 square feet of space.” Many of acclaimed mural artist Robert Dafford’s works are on the walls at Randol’s, and Frank says “It’s a historical setting where you can feel the spirit of our culture. It’s alive.” Frank Randol is just as passionate about sharing his love of Cajun food and culture as he when he took his “Cajun Fest” on the road across the U. S. so many years ago. The World’s Fair held in New Orleans in 1984 ignited an interest in all things Cajun and Frank Randol ensured that accurate information on its heritage was shared. Frank was glowingly written up by the Chicago Tribune on October 25, 1989, where he joked he had earned his “masters in crabology.” Today, trucks still deliver fresh produce and seafood from all over South Louisiana to Randol’s in Breaux Bridge each day, ensuring that every meal starts with the best ingredients available. Our area’s finest Cajun and zydeco musicians play on Friday and Saturday nights at Randol’s, and keep the spirit of our culture alive and flourishing. One such musician that the crowds still enjoy is Terry Huval, who was a mainstay at Mulate’s and later, at the original Randol’s. You can still find Terry Huval and his Jambalaya Cajun Trio performing each Friday night at Randol’s in Breaux Bridge! As part of the celebration of Eat Lafayette, you can receive a free bread pudding at Randol’s until September 8, 2024 when you mention Eat Lafayette’s celebration of locally-owned restaurants. For more information and to view the menu and events, please visit randols.com. Randol’s also offers catering and can assist in making your events memorable. We thank Eat Lafayette for making this podcast possible and for all they do in promoting our locally owned restaurants.

Julie Rabalais, founder and Director of For the Birds of Acadiana, joins Discover Lafayette to share her love of birds and commitment to rehabilitating wild songbirds, waterbirds and waterfowl. For the Birds of Acadiana is Louisiana’s only State and Federally permitted facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of federally protected songbirds, Waterfowl, and Waterbirds. Located in Lafayette, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization cares for nearly 1,000 wild birds annually, working to ensure the eventual safe return of the birds to the wild. The organization also raises awareness and inspire others to join in safeguarding our precious avian species. The work is truly a labor of love for Julie Rabalais and the volunteers who assist her with transporting birds and keeping the facility clean. People who find injured wild birds can bring them in to For the Birds of Acadiana at no charge. For years, local fashionistas knew Julie as the proprietor of Jewelie’s Boutique, located on Rena Drive. Educated as a graphic designer, Julie is creative and brings a touch of beauty to all the things she touches. When she sold the shop after 14 years in business, she wanted to do something that would keep her home where she could enjoy nature. First, she became a Master Gardener. She says “Then, I figured, why not do something that has a purpose and I can stay busy at the same time?” Hence the creation of For the Birds of Acadiana. “Birds have always been a love of mine, since my childhood days in Michigan. I’ve always enjoyed birds as a hobby. I’m just a bird lover, not trained in ornithology (the scientific study of birds), but I’ve always had a knack for caring for birds. But just because I’m a bird lover by no means made me qualified to do what I do today. A colleague in Youngsville who rehabilitates avian raptors, Letitia Labbie, took me under her wing in 2019 and mentored me. It took a great deal of time to learn nutrition, how to care for the wild birds, how often to feed them, how to triage, how to properly cage them. In order to even apply for a license, you have to have adequate shelter space that meets the requirements of the National Wildlife Federation.” In order to become a certified avian rehabilatator, you have to mentor under another licensed rehabilitator and complete the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Rehabilitation Basic Skills Course, have a letter of support from a veterinarian, pass a facility inspection, and much more. Veterinarian partners prescribe needed medications for the birds being rehabilitated. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, it is illegal for individuals who are not certified to care for wild birds that they find, something most of us are not aware of. Julie says, “It is illegal to possess the birds, their nests, their eggs, or even breed them, because they are a federally protected species. Most people, when they see a little baby bird with its beak open, want to feed it and give it water. Unfortunately, that is not advisable. Julie says, “Water can kill a bird, as it can aspirate a stressed bird very easily. An injured bird can not metabolize food and liquids when it it stressed. Feeding is the last thing you want to do. We encourage people not to “Google” what to do as there is a plethora of misinformation online.” If you find an injured wild bird, please call Julie Rabalais/For the Birds of Acadiana at (337)501-4523, and you will be asked to take a photo of the bird and send it in with a description of the bird’s condition. This information will provide guidance to Julie as to whether or not the bird requires assistance or may be able to survive on its own. “I live For the Birds of Acadiana 24/7. Little did I realize how big a step it was going to be. I really thought it would be a part-time thing. But I go all in. There’s no sense doing something halfway.” For the Birds of Acadiana is a total non-profit endeavor, with no state or federal funding. Getting a grant is few and far between. Julie relies on donations from the public and pays for many expenses with personal resources. “We rely on donations from people. It costs between $100 to $300 to rehabilitate one wild bird. We couldn’t do what we do without them.” Julie takes in birds from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but you must call first and send a photo so that the true situation of the injured bird may first be assessed. People bringing in injured wild birds are advised to drape a towel over the bird to protect it, and place it in a shoebox or other such receptable with holes poked in the lid. “It’s a myth that the parent will reject the baby bird if a human touches it. Warmth is the key. Avoid cold air conditioning, and put the bird in a space away from kids and pets. The more stress the bird experiences, the greater chance it will not make it.” Once Julie has possession of the injured bird, she says, “Our goal is not to cuddle with them so as not to imprint on them, because we want them to remain wild, especially water birdss. Many times we put a cover over our face when feeding them so that they don’t associate their food source with humans. We even have puppets so that the birds will associate food with adult birds.” “Our part of the country is considered the Gateway of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major corridors where birds migrate from South America. our coastal area is considered the Welcome Center, the birds’ first resting place. They travel through our area as they migrate.” The three greatest causes of bird mortality in the U. S. and Canada are attacks by domestic, free-roaming cats, collisions, and habitat loss. Up to 1 billion birds are killed annually in the United States by collisions withvehicles, buildings, windows, power lines, communication towers, and wind turbines. Most will die at night, as that is when birds migrate in the Spring and Fall, staying at low altitudes, at the height of a 4-floor building. Just last October during migratory season, this crisis was vividly displayed when thousands of birds were killed in a 24-hour period after colliding with Chicago’s McCormick Place skyscraper, when the building’s lights were left on at night. Lights disorient the birds, and tragically, 54 to 76% of window collisions are fatal to birds. The building’s owners have taken steps to avoid further tragedy by installing window film to reduce bird collisions. Julie says, “The pattern deters birds, but is virtually nondetectable to humans.” Similar decals may be purchased for installation on the outside of your home or office building windows. For more information, visit https://abcbirds.org/blog/truth-about-birds-and-glass-collisions/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE1qr5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHV4eF2JLgSI_MODPtuIY31QTpY7NQi9_OsJs7GEVVykIxMt2yEk0DI_pVg_aem_0e8gqYbzbAfOHPSJN18rCg. To learn more and to donate, please visit https://www.forthebirdsofacadiana.com/donate. Thank you, Julie Rabalais and For the Birds of Acadiana, for your selfless, lifesaving work!

Rob Perillo has decades of experience in forecasting Acadiana’s weather and has tracked hundreds of tropical storms and hurricanes during his career. He celebrated 20 years at KATC this January and is one of the most beloved meteorologists in the country, particularly well-known for his expertise in covering hurricanes and severe weather events. Last year, Rob Perillo extended his contract with KATC for another five years. He’s pictured here in November 2023 celebrating the occasion. Rob has enjoyed Lafayette since moving here 36 years ago when he was recruited by KLFY. Married with two children, he enjoys exercising every day for an hour, either riding his bike (on Lafayette’s roads!) or swimming. His children are both artists and live in Lafayette; he expressed his joy in being able to be present while supporting Joe and Olivia in their endeavors. He has been with KATC since 2004. A native of New York, Rob Perillo became interested in thunderstorm activity as a young boy, four or five years old. His family had just moved out of the Bronx into the suburbs and a severe thunderstorm rolled through. He remembers how scary it was, but it triggered his interest in learning more about the weather. “Fear grew less, and curiosity grew more. By the time I was in third grade, I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist”, says Rob. During that third grade year, Rob built a kite for a project and while he called the endeavor a ‘big flop,’ he wanted to know more about what creates the wind and how we can use it. He started buying weather books written for school-age children and they are still with him in the KATC weather room today. When he was in sixth grade, there was a snowstorm forecastedfor the Northeastern U. S. Meteorologists were projecting the snow would turn into rain, but Rob had a different feeling about it. He told his friends….”No, we’ll just have snow. 1 1/2 feet.” Well, the storm produced two feet of snow and school was cancelled for the rest of the week. Rob said, “I was the school hero when we returned to school on Monday.” His intuition had been right on. Always interested in science, since his days of watching Jacques Cousteau on television, Rob earned a degree in Meteorology (with an emphasis on Math) from the State University of New York in Oswego in 1983. He selected that school not only for its meteorology program, but because it had the highest amount of snow in New York averaging 144 inches of snow per year. Rob began his career managing research at the State University of New York Research Foundation, while also serving as an Emergency Planning Meteorologist for several nuclear power plants in Upstate New York. He developed emergency procedures in case of nuclear leakage. He then moved to Houston and served as an Aviation Forecaster for Air Routing International, and a Marine and Industrial Meteorologist for Wilkens Weather Technologies, in Houston, Texas. Rob Perillo had never thought about television as a career but a friend at Wilkins Weather Technologies encouraged him to make a tape and apply for positions. A year later, in 1988, KLFY reached out to him. He had the opportunity to work with greats such as Maria Placer, Dick Faurot, and Jim Baronet. Rob joined KATC in 2004, when he was offered a fifteen-year contract, a feat unheard of in television circles. Becoming a tv meteorologist was a reach for Rob, as he was “confident in my forecasting skills, but a bit anxious about talking in front of other people. But you learn if you’re a master of your information, it will be okay.” One thing he did have to work on was conquering his New York accent to deliver the news in a way that was more readily accepted locally. Rob is passionate about meteorology and studies trends in climate and weather. About 16 to 17 years ago, he became aware that warming trends were coming upon us worldwide and he wanted to know how that impacted hurricanes. While we used to have five days per year that averaged 95 degrees, now there are 40 to 50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqfzA5gAorE Rob Perillo explaining what ‘heat index’ is. It’s all about your body’s ability to cool itself. You don’t want to go outside when the heat index is 115. Over the past ten years, summer days can average in the upper 90 degrees, with an average low in the lower 80 degrees. “The trends of warming are increasing exponentially. Warmer atmospheres hold more moisture, so when it rains, it’s a larger event with more rainfall. Rainfall intensity has increased by 405, and the frequency of heavy rain has increased by 30 to 40% over the past few years. A typical summer thunderstorm will push 2 inches easily in one hour. Now more systems push 3 to 4 inches per hour. While there is no net change in the number of systems, hurricanes are going through rapid intensification cycles more frequently. Look at Harvey, Michael, Barry, Laura, Delta, Ida, Zeta, and Sally in the last several years. “The number of 95 degree days has gone off the charts. This year we are more prone to hurricane activity.” Tropical systems also move more slowly, leading to heavier rainfall in areas. “2016 was one of the wettest years on record. It was definitely a climate footprint. In the Northeast, theyre going to see much more activity than in the past. The average return period (for hurricanes) was once every 75 years for a Category 3 hurricane; now it is down to once every 25 to 30 years. Increased heat causes hurricanes to travel farther.” Rob would get up in the middle of the night to film Space Shuttles coming in: “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.” Unfortunately, on February 1, 2003, he was filiming the Columbia Space Shuttle as it was re-entering the earth’s orbit. He say parts flying off, disintegrating mid-air. He shot the film, then called NASA as a trained spotter to report the disaster. He ended up being interviewed by CNN, CBS, and others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NIwofLKmL0 For people who choose to stay home and ride out a Category 3 hurricane, Rob says, “You want to get the heck out of Dodge” for these events. Sustained winds of up to 111 to 129 mile per hour winds are not to be taken lightly. Wind damage and tornadic activity are just as deadly as rising waters. Rob Perillo’s days are long. Appearing each day on the 5, 6, and 10 pm KATC newscast, he doesn’t get home until after 11:30 pm. and during hurricane season he takes the time before bed to look at computer models. He is devoted to keeping up with his industry, and listens to weather-related podcasts while exercising, recommending Dr. Hal Needham’s Geotrek podcast and Weather Geeks. He keeps up with the latest research on climatology and meteorology. Closing words from Rob Perillo: “Follow your passion. Don’t follow the money, follow the passion. Be good at it, be enthralled with it. If it gives you joy, do something with it. Be a master of it. If you can put food on the table doing it, you are truly a rich person.” We thank Rob Perillo for his dedication to meteorology and for his engaging and informative broadcasts! Check him out at https://www.katc.com/ and on air each weeknight at 5, 6 and 10 p.m, or on special weather coverage events.

Tammy Theriot and Bryant DeLoach of Home Bank, Member FDIC, join Discover Lafayette to discuss how banks can assist business owners achieve their financial goals, along with treasury management solutions. Bryant Deloach serves Home Bank as a Senior Commercial Relationship Manager. He has lived in Lafayette his entire life, graduating from Lafayette High and USL, and raising his family here. Starting out 23 years ago in financial services Bryant has spent 12 years in commercial lending. Tammy Theriot started out with Home Bank in 1985 as the 28th employee of the bank when she was 21 (now there are over 400 employees) and has dedicated her entire professional career to the bank, starting out as a teller at the Oil Center branch, then moving into opening new accounts and handling IRA administrative services, and the Deposit side over the past twenty years, currently serving as Treasury Management Officer. “I’ve grown into that position.” She joked that she’s been married to her husband for the same length of time: 39 years! Both bankers stressed the importance of building a relationship with their clients. Bryant shared that “as a commercial relationship manager, our #1 priority is to provide service to our client. We have to understand their borrowing needs, if any. You meet a lot of great people and help businesses grow. You’re involved in decision making, helping a client take their business to the next level. It’s important for the client to be matched with a banker that understands their specific needs. At the end of the day, you want your client to feel comfortable with you.” “It’s important to know your customers and their needs. We can make the collection and payment of funds easier and more efficient,” says Tammy Theriot. Her role in Treasury Management starts on the front end of the banking relationship, putting systems in place to optimize financial management and planning. Managing payables through Direct Deposit and ACH payments, handling receivables via Remote Deposit Capture, optimizing liquidity via account management services for optimal cash positions and maximal returns, and safeguarding against fraud and risk by employing tools such as Positive Pay and account monitoring, are all services offered by Home Bank. With check fraud running rampant, Positive Pay is an important risk-management tool to consider for your business. How does it work? The client submits a daily file to the bank that includes details about each check issued, such as the check number, date, payee, and amount. When a check is presented for payment, the bank compares the details of the presented check against the check file provided by the client. If the check details match what is in the file, the bank processes the check for payment. If it doesn’t, the bank will flag the check and notify the company to determine if the check will be approved or rejected. Originally chartered as a savings and loan association known as Home Building and Loan in 1908, Home Bank is the oldest financial institution chartered in Lafayette Parish. Home Bank has experienced incredible growth over the years, currently having assets of $3.34 billion dollars, and locations across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.   Bryant DeLoach assists business owners get working capital needed to fuel their business. Small businesses and startups can apply for a Home Bank loan guaranteed by the U. S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) loan program. The 7(a) loan can be used for various purposes, including Working capital, equipment, real estate, refinancing existing debt, expansion or renovation, starting a new business, or inventory purchases. He also advices his clients to ask for advice from their banker to avoid exposure to unnecessary loss. “Customers don’t always realize the importance of getting advice from the bank. An example given was one client who had provided debit cards to all employees; the safer route was to issue credit cards so that the client’s bank account would be better protected. Tammy advises clients to always look at their bank account and monitor activity. “The sooner the bank can address issues, the better. Use your online banking to keep up to speed. You can also sign up to get alerts from the bank if suspicious activity is detected. Dual controls are also an effective way to prevent fraud. Set limits on the amount of money that can be expended at any one time to reduce exposure. Tammy Theriot and her husband have a commercial cattle farm which keeps her busy in her spare time. Married for 39 years, Tammy has been with Home Bank her entire professional life and loves her career. Pictured is Tammy celebrating her 30th anniversary with Home Bank in 2015. If you are interested in moving to a new bank, there are several steps involved. First, the bank will request a government issued I.D. to verify personal identification for anyone using the account; the Articles of Organization/Incorporation/Partnership, etc. that the business operates under; the business’ Employer Identification Number; any Operating Agreement or Bylaws; and an initial deposit. Tammy assists her clients in getting all paper work gathered, ordering checks, setting up online banking, direct deposit and remote deposit services, and discusses risk-management recommendations. “In every conversation, we talk about fraud and how to prevent it.” It will be necessary to keep the old account open for a few weeks, while checks and scheduled payments from the prior account clear. Home Bank works closely with its clients to ensure a smooth transition. We thank the team at Home Bank for its commitment to excellence in customer service, as well as its involvement in our community. Discover Lafayette is also grateful for Home Bank’s loyal support of our podcast, allowing us to shine the light on our region’s people and rich culture. For more information, visit https://www.home24bank.com/ or call 337-237-1960. Home Bank’s headquarters are located at 503 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette LA 70508.

Discover Lafayette’s sound engineer, Jason Sikora, has a voice many of you are familiar with, as he’s participated in our interviews over the past seven years, ensuring a finely-tuned, professional podcast. Jason Sikora pictured with Butch Roussel during a recording of Discover Lafayette Podcast. But many of you may not know his interesting back story, or how he came to live and work in Lafayette LA. A native of Detroit, Michigan and graduate of the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Jason has a rich collection of memories to share and insights into how rock concerts are orchestrated. Jason’s dad worked for Ford Motor Company in Detroit, but when Jason and his two brothers were young, the family moved to Hartland, Michigan to be able to escape the city life and its accompanying declining socio-economic factors in the 1980s. Describing Hartland as “basically a truck stop,” it was much more. Jason graduated from Hartland High School, playing drums in its marching band and eventually serving as the Hartland Eagles’ mascot. Sadly, Jason’s younger brother, Kris, died when he was 11 years old, from a blood disorder. Kris’ life and death had great meaning, however, as researchers were able to study his condition. Jason stated that today, people with Kris’ condition would survive. Upon graduation from high school, Jason hightailed it to Hollywood, California to attend the Musicians Institute (“MI”), a college that was known as a ‘player’s school,’ meaning that students were taught the skills to make a sustainable career in the music industry. While many young people could qualify to be a guitar tech based upon their self-taught abilities, Jason credited MI for a valuable education and teaching him guitar repair and cable management. ” I started playing guitar in 6th grade, so I had six to seven years of experience with signal flow, how to solder microphones back together. I learned a lot in high school with my band, messing with pedals and guitars and amplifiers. I did learn guitar repair, cable management and how to get tone while in college at MI.” Andy Brauer hired Jason right after graduation from MI, to work at his shop that specialized in instrument and musical gear rentals. Jason had the good fortune to work with Faith Hill in his very first gig, being hired to work at Skywalker Ranch to assist in recording track sessions. “I got to hang out with the best musicians in the world for a week: Mike Landau, Dean Parks, Paul Bushnell, and Vinnie Calaiuta are monster players!” Jason also got to witness the regular lives of performers such as Faith Hill, her husband, Tim McGraw, and their children, and realized how fortunate he was to be a part of this experience in the ordinary lives of superstars as the album was being cut. Jason then met Michael Lockwood, a guitarist who hired him to be a touring guitar tech for Aimee Mann, performing sound checks and restringing guitars, ensuring that all would go well during concerts. Jason would continue this type of work for several years, working with greats such as Lisa Marie Presley, Britney Spears, and the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as other acts during what he calls his ‘lost years from 2004 to 2006’, such as Hanson, Gerard McMahon, Puddle of Mudd, and the recording of “A Mighty Wind,” an album accompanying a movie of the same name, featuring Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Jennifer Coolidge and many other staples of comedy culture of the time. “The work ethic is very different when you’re on the road. You’re not allowed to be sick. The show must go on. If there is a half million dollar guarantee and there are 10,000 people out there, your rig has to work. There was always a doctor out there with water, vitamins, and oxygen. You have to do the show. There’s no back-up. No one else would know my rig,” says Jason Sikora. Asked if he missed traveling on the road for months as a time as a guitar tech, Jason says, “It is not so much about the job but the people you get to work with. I do miss putting on a show, but not all the other things such as pushing heavy equipment, the long days, or the stress.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2RFlZKjzc Jason reminisces about the time in 2004 when he worked with Britney Spears and her band. “She was super nice, as was her band.” Jason Sikora remembers with fondness the time he worked with the principals behind “A Mighty Wind,” a mockumentary comedy film starring Christopher Guest who according to Wikipedia, “co-stars and reunites many of Guest’s company of actors from This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and Best in Show, including Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr., Jennifer Coolidge, John Michael Higgins, Jane Lynch, and Parker Posey. “The album accompanied the movie of the same name, Jason moved to Lafayette in 2010 after meeting Lafayette native Scott Olivier, another music technician, who had been working for Michael Jackson before the musician’s untimely death. Jason had been working for the Goo Goo Dolls, and would work in a warehouse where other musicians such as Scott Olivier, as well as Credence Clearwater Revival, Van Halen, and others had space. “Touring was so far behind technology with no technical data backup, no security, no central management of data.” So Scott and Jason saw the opportunity to create Laptop Roadie, and they headquartered in Lafayette LA where Scott hailed from. Jason says, “I knew I didn’t want to live in a forty-foot bus at that point in my life. And I knew I didn’t want to live in a big town like New Orleans.” While Laptop Roadie didn’t survive as a company, many good things came from the endeavor. Jason met Chris Rader, through Chris’ banker, Craig Duplechin. Chris ended up hiring Jason, along with others who had been a part of Laptop Roadie. Jason says, “I was the number 6 employee of RADER, along with numbers 7 and 8, John and Joseph, (who came along from Laptop).” “I certainly don’t miss unloading a 53’ truck every morning at 7 a.m. or loading it back up at 11 p.m. that night. I do miss the amazing people. After 10 years of working with artists like Faith Hill and Britney Spears, I swapped my job, music, with my hobby — computers. I moved to Lafayette with my girlfriend, jumped into the computer business and ended up at Rader. It’s tough and it’s full of great people, who like me, played with computers as a hobby and liked it enough to make it their job of choice.” Pictured is Jason Sikora with Chubby Carrier, at a recording of Discover Lafayette podcast. Jason is now a Technology Specialist with RADER’s project team. “I take on onboarding, offboarding, special projects. I work with domain names and email integration, as in merging information from one platform to another. You have to know how to trouble shoot. Things change daily so you have to keep up. Just as when I was on the road handling things daily.” Jason is a valued member of the RADER team, and takes his profession seriously, while thanking Chris Rader for the opportunity he provided him. “I always wanted to do something in music. I’ve always enjoyed music and wanted to be surrounded by music somehow. Whether its working in a studio, working for an artist, or playing. I knew I would always play. I always have a guitar here in the podcast room. Anywhere I go there is always my guitar and gear around. But only one in a million make a living playing music. It wasn’t in the cards for me. I basically switched my hobby and my job in working at RADER. On the road, I was the guy who could fix computers. Now my job is fixing computers and my hobby is music. I still play guitar. Here at RADER, Brandon Daigle and I got together in 2014 to write music. Two hours per week, every Thursday night. After five years, we finally had 10 songs! Happily, Jason is still pursuing his love of music, and has published a double EP with his band, “Cancel the Sun.” His coworker, Brandon Daigle, and Jason, can be listened to on Spotify, where you can enjoy beautiful extended play music as “Zero Point” and “Neutrality.” Enjoy music by Jason Sikora’s Cancel the Sun band at Spotify, which he created with RADER team member Brandon Daigle. In closing, we’d like to include Jason Sikora’s comments about his boss, Chris Rader. “Chris is very smart in his mindset. He asks, ‘What does the user need to get their job done and make their life less of a headache? Let’s do that thing.’ We are as proactive as possible. If your internet goes out or if you get hacked, we probably know it before you do.” We cannot thank Jason Sikora enough….for his professionalism, his commitment to Discover Lafayette, or the joy he brings to each podcast interview. Thank you, Jason! And thanks to Chris Rader and the team at RADER for supporting our podcast for the past seven years. What a gift, what an opportunity to share stories such as that which Jason Sikora shared with us on this episode.

Jason Redmon, proprietor of the iconic Hub City Diner at 1412 S. College Road in Lafayette, joins Discover Lafayette to celebrate Hub City Diner’s longevity and popularity, as well as his support of Lafayette Travel and Eat Lafayette, a yearlong celebration of Lafayette’s locally owned restaurants. Hub City Diner’s ambiance is akin to the famous tv show, “Cheers,” where everyone knows your name. It is a real ‘”Hub” of activity in Lafayette, where locals meet, greet, and share their lives while enjoying their favorite comfort foods. The diner was established originally as Stansbury’s Café in 1965, in the early days of the Oil Center, the commercial neighborhood that surrounds Hub City Diner. Thereafter, Lafayette restaurateur Charlie Goodson, Chef Pat Mould and advertising executive and local foodie George Graham, opened Hub City Diner in the space. Their intial concept was a 1950s diner, but with more of a Louisiana twist. Jimmy Guidry, who has years of food and bar experience throughout Lafayette, purchased the restaurant in 1998. Jason is 46 years old and has worked at Hub City Diner for more than half of his life. This is only the 4th job he has held in his life. A Bunkie native, his first job was working for his uncle on his sweet potato farm in Evergreen where he “caught the skips,” making sure that the sweet potato roots were properly placed in the ground. Jason recalls his uncle saying to him, “You hot boy? You got to get hot with it!!” Jason still thinks about the lessons he learned from his uncle about having true grit and has maintained that strong work ethic to this day. “You’ve got to have grit and push through to get to the other side.” Jason worked at McDonald’s and Subway in Bunkie before he moved to Lafayette in the late 1998 to study Hospitality Managment at USL. His boss at Bunkie’s Subway, Al Mahfouz, encouraged him to call upon the Hub City Diner manager at the time, Danny Fontenot, who hired Jason to serve as host and waiter. Jason first met Jimmy Guidry a few months after he started working at Hub City Diner, and the two became fast friends and colleagues. “People think that Jimmy Guidry and I are father and son. We have a synergistic relationship. We’re not related by blood, but I guess we are now related through all of our time together. He’s been a tremendous mentor and I’m very fortunate to have him in my life. I’ve been blessed with two dads. Jimmy told me, “If there is anything you’ve learned from me, I hope it is to be generous,” Jason Redmon shared. And Jason did learn from Jimmy, still putting community first when he is asked to support local causes. He asks before he gives, “Will this help our community?” On January 1, 2022, Jason Redmon, Hub City Diner’s longtime manager, took over ownership from Jimmy Guidry. The ambiance in the diner remains the same, with vinyl booths and chairs, checkered floors, nostalgic photos on the wall, and even a ceramic Pelican that’s dressed like Elvis. Hub City Diner offers All-American comfort food, where there is something on the menu for everyone; people of all ages enjoy the diner’s fare, from tiny tots enjoying meals offered in paper containers resembling classic cars to adults enjoying Mimosa’s for $5 anytime of day. There is truly something for everyone who walks in and is greeted kindly. Meatloaf, salads, and eggs rule the offerings, while there are also specials on weekends which include smoked salmon, avocado toast, and fried green tomato spinach florentine meals. The hamburger steak is the most popular item on the menu. The feeling of community at Hub City Diner is palpable, as its staff cordially welcomes first-time visitors along with long-time regulars who frequent the diner after church in the early morning hours each weekday or who are always seen sitting in their favorite booth each weekend. With a staff that experiences very little turnover, Hub City Diner’s employees know their clientele, which makes for a feeling of home when you enter the door. “This is the beauty of the diner. It’s not just me. My staff acknowledges the community of patrons and meets their needs. One customer loved Peeps and shared that with us, so we went out and bought Peeps, and later that week when his pancakes came out, we piled all the Peeps on top of his pancakes and sent it out to him without a word. We also are prepared for Mother’s Day and hand out about 275 fresh Carnations (supplied by Champagne’s in the Oil Center) to all women spending this special day with us. Those kinds of things make the diner special.” “I don’t look at other locally owned restaurants as competition. I’m excited that they’re here, and opening in the Oil Center. I love to see everyone have success and am always willing to help others, and sometimes it is vice versa, where I’ll be short on something and they help,” says Jason Redmon. Photo by Leslie Westbrook of the Acadiana Advocate. Approximately 600 people are served each day, and the mainstay favorite menu items such as Hamburger steak or the “2 x 2 x 2 of eggs, bacon, grits and pancakes” are served to patrons. Jason is partial to the Diner Club Sandwich. Hub City Diner is open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 6:30 a.m to 3 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.hubcitydiner.com/. For a listing of all local restaurants participating in Eat Lafayette, visit https://www.lafayettetravel.com/food-drink/local-restaurants/

Edie Couvillon Aymond, Executive Director of 232-HELP, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss her organization’s mission “to help those in crisis return to being healthy and productive members of the community and to empower and strengthen individuals and families by connecting those in need with community and social services that address their needs.” Edie joined 232-HELP on June 5, 2024, bringing rich experience and the ability to make community connections from her five years working on behalf of Maddie’s Footprints, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families cope with miscarriages, stillbirths, or the loss of an infant. It was through her prior experience with Maddie’s Footprints that Edie realized that while our area has many nonprofits organized to help people in need, most of us don’t know who they are or what they do. “I attended every nonprofit meeting in the sector helping young families. If I hadn’t attended, I wouldn’t have known what they did, what services they provided.” When Edie was contacted by a recruiter looking to hire her to run 232-HELP, she was intrigued by the scope of the help the organization provided and also realized that she was not fully aware that they still existed as she remembered. “I remember seeing Marie Placer on television pitching for them when I was younger. I was excited to be able to help more people in Acadiana.” Pictured above is Edie Couvillon Aymond, in June 2024. Photo by Alena Maschke of the Acadiana Advocate. Since 1965, 232-HELP has assisted more than 10 million people and has had an estimated economic impact of more than $170 million throughout Acadiana, and reaches over 800,000 people in ten South Louisiana parishes. With over 1400 nonprofits in 232-HELP’s database, the organization’s service areas range from Terrebonne to Acadia to Avoyelles parishes. Headquartered in Lafayette LA at 1005 Jefferson St. across from Keller’s Bakery, Edie oversees a staff of twelve. Her team operates 24/7, rendering aid to those who walk in during daytime hours and who call in at all hours. Accommodating persons of all backgrounds, there is a bilingual staff member who can help people who don’t speak English. Many don’t realize the scope of services offered by this small, yet dedicated staff. Many of those in need will call 211 before they reach out to 911 or other resources, not wanting to get law enforcement involved in their troubles or have sirens coming to their house announcing a problem. Everyone is offered assistance, from those suffering from elder abuse, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, or needing help with utilities, housing, or transportation. 232-HELP averages 1400 phone calls per month on average, but has exceeded 12,000 calls per month during crises such as hurricanes or COVID. Edie credits the “dedicated, solid staff for stepping up at all times to handle the situation, no matter how difficult.” And for the record, 211 works nationwide; you can call it from anywhere, even from your car, and the operator will route you to the nearest organization available to offer relief. 232-HELP was the first organization in Louisiana to offer a statewide call-in number for those in need. A national call-in number, you can call it from anywhere in the U. S. and you will be routed to the nearest available resource, even from your car. Jewell Lowe’s life was devoted to charity, leadership, influence, and advocacy, improving the lives of the people of Acadiana. In 1965 Jewell, her husband Bob Lowe, and other community leaders, founded the Southwest Louisiana Education and Referral Center (SLERC) – now 232-HELP. Jewell served as Executive Director of 232-HELP for over 40 years. Each year, 232-HELP selects a humanitarian who exemplifies the example that Jewell set for service and generosity. Outstanding leaders such as Richard Zuschlag, Dr. Mary Neiheisel, Bo and Jerry Ramsay, Richard D’Aquin, and many more pillars of our community have been selected. Edie spoke of Jewell Lowe’s commitment to address issues that were previously taboo, such as mental illness or treatment of STDs. “Jewell was a champion of mental issues in the 1960s when no one spoke about it. today people are comfortable saying they have a therapist, but not then. In 1972 she created a program to treat sexually transmitted infections. There was a surge but no one would speak about it. Volunteers from USL were trained to meet with people and take calls, and then encourage them to see their doctor. They received 144 calls in the first week. Jewell would broach taboo subjects and people went along with her,” says Edie Aymond. “There are a lot of unmet needs in Acadiana. While there are a lot of great nonprofits here, if people don’t know what they’re doing, they are not able to assist them. That’s where 232-HELP fills the gap, to get the resources to people needing to be assisted.” Edie Aymond speaking on the critical importance of 232-HELP’s mission to get aid to those most in need. 232-HELP’s annual fundraiser has been rebranded as the “Diamond Gala” in honor of Jewell who would have been 100 years old on December 4, 2024. The organization is working to raise awareness of its 59-year commitment to connecting those in need with services needed. The fundraiser will be held on October 9, 2024, at La Pavillon in River Ranch. 232-HELP’s biggest fundraiser; the proceeds pay for call center operations as well as a small budget to help in cases when no other relief is available. Sponsorships and tables are available and may be obtained by visiting https://e.givesmart.com/events/DKw/ Edie is dedicated to bringing fresh, young voices into the fold of volunteers and donors. An example of such a need is for its Donated Dental program. Currently, 232-HELP is down to nine dentists on its volunteer list; there used to be thirty. Organized to assist the elderly or disabled with their dental health, the demand is huge. Dentists who volunteer can pick and choose their cases while helping improve the dental health of our most vulnerable. On a personal note, Edie Couvillon Aymond loves Acadiana, grew up in Scott, and graduated from Carencro High School and LSU. She loves festivals and says she and her husband attend all local festivals from start to finish. Of particular interest is her love of running, having completed ultra-marathons of 130 miles. One such race, known as the “Fat Ass” group, is a race that started at the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge and completed at Audubon Park in New Orleans, for a total of 36 hours with no rest. Edie brings that same ‘can-do’ spirit to her new role as Executive Director of 232-HELP. We wish her and her organization the best of success as they forge new paths in helping our community. On December 4, 2024, 232-HELP will host an open house at their headquarters at 1005 Jefferson Street to celebrate Jewell Lowe’s 100th birthday with a ribbon cutting and meet and greet. It will celebrate its 59th year of operation on December 14, 2024. We hope you will join them to learn more about their mission and sign up to support 232-HELP’s efforts. Donations may be made online at https://232-help.org/donate.

Our guests are Priscilla and Floyd LeBleu, Lafayette residents and owners of the world’s largest collection of artwork by the renowned Edna Hibel. Priscilla and Floyd are looking for a permanent home to publicly display their beloved Hibel collection, hopefully in Lafayette LA. Edna Hibel, an American artist, was revered for her paintings of people expressing emotion or contemplation, which were painted on ceramic, canvas, or etched on Bavarian limestone. She created over 6000 works during her lifetime, including 600 different lithographs. Born as a native of Massachusetts in 1917, she had a fulfilling career promoting peace through her exhibitions and artwork all around the world. Using her artistry, Hibel was able to raise money for charity across the globe. She passed away in her home at the age of 97 in December 2014, right before her 98th birthday. Her work was inspired by Mary Cassatt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir and sought by royalty, collected by museums, commissioned by the United Nations and National Archives, and awarded the Medal of Honor and Citation by Pope John Paul II. The World Cultural Council presented the 2001 Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts to Edna Hibel, who is often referred to as the USA’s most versatile artist, as well as its best colorist. The Award acknowledges those who endeavour to create different expressions of art and whose work constitutes a significant contribution to the artistic legacy of the world. Priscilla and Floyd became close friends with Ms. Hibel, after Priscilla won a trip to the Edna Hibel Museum of Art in Florida in 1992. She was accompanied by Floyd, who went along just expecting to hang out on the beach. While Floyd had never been a person that was bent to studying art, he immediately became enamored with Ms. Hibel and her captivating art, especially “Russian Mother and Two Children,” an oil painting Ms. Hibel had painted in 1990. Floyd bought the piece, his first of some 500 Hibels, and was hooked thereafter. Floyd says, “It was almost like a religious experience when you met her. She captured me….the artist herself and her art. She captured people’s dignity.” The LeBleu family befriended Ms. Hibel and would visit her in Florida and she would travel to Lafayette to see them. Hibel enjoyed Lafayette and attended a benefit for the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and Floyd recalled her saying, “There is just a feeling of comraderie in Lafayette. I think this is my favorite place.” While traveling on a Hibel Society cruise with Priscilla, Floyd asked Ms. Hibel why she never painted men. She replied, women wear pretty hats and dresses that give them a lot of color and flair and make them more interesting subjects.” As a joke, Floyd dressed up in a straw hat and toga as he headed to a demonstration Hibel was giving. She laughed and told Floyd he would be the subject of her demonstration that day and she turned him into an Arabian prince in a painting aptly called, “Floyd in a Turban.” The LeBleus became owners of a great deal of her works which had previously been displayed at the Hibel Museum of Art on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Florida. “ Floyd and Priscilla LeBleu own the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville and have 127 pieces of Edna Hibel art displayed throughout for visitors to enjoy. They call it their “Hibel addiction” when describing their huge collection Lafayette is now home to the world’s largest collection of Edna Hibel’s artwork, some of which is on exhibit at Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Building at 705 W. University Avenue for the remainder of 2024. Pictured above are Priscilla and Floyd LeBleu, in current times, and the original pose that Edna Hibel utilized to depict the LeBleu family in her own special way. Priscilla and Floyd are reaching out to our community, public officials, and art lovers in the quest to find a permanent home for Hibel’s works so that everyone may have the chance to view her art. The Lafayette Art Association has volunteered to manage the collection once a site is selected. The LeBleu will donate the Hibel pieces at no charge, which are valued in the millions of dollars. Hibel, The Life and Art of Edna Hibel explains the beautiful journey of this beloved artist as she grew in her talent, and shares photos of her works. It also documents the many people who followed her career, including Priscilla and Floyd LeBleu. This book is available for purchase locally at Lafayette Art Association, Auburn Avenue (behind Abacus), Lafayette, LA, 70503. (The cover photo of the book is Kristina and Child, oil, circa 1970. For more information on Edna Hibel, visit https://ednahibelstudio.com/ Floyd and Priscilla have lived in Lafayette their entire adult lives, except for a brief stint in Baton Rouge when Floyd was in law school. Floyd was an assistant coach at Lafayette High and Priscilla was a speech therapist. Married for 59 years, they love Lafayette. “There is no better place than Lafayette LA to live!” To contact Priscilla and Floyd LeBleu if you would like more information on their efforts to locate a permanent location for Edna Hibel’s works of art, email priscillalebleu@gmail.com.