Christmas Extravaganza in Jeanerette

The Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce will hold a December Market Christmas Extravaganza from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 14 at the Jeanerette City Park. This event will be held to celebrate the success of the Chamber’s Farmers Market while providing shoppers an opportunity to purchase handmade, home grown and homemade gifts. The market will focus on supporting local and independent artists, designers, crafters and growers while giving shoppers a unique holiday experience complete with entertainment, food and a visit from Santa.

“There will be something for everyone,” said Phaedra Stockstill, the Chamber’s market manager. “This event will be one of the biggest market’s Jeanerette has seen. We are focusing on Christmas and are putting together this event to show our thanks and support for the vendors that have made our market a success throughout the year.”

           Besides Christmas tags, ornaments and Christmas items, shoppers will be able to find handmade dolls, plaques, jewelry, bath and body products, seafood, preserves, cakes and a large variety of homemade one of a kind gift items.

            The celebration will include entertainment, food and a visit from Santa. Photos with Santa will be available for a small fee.

“We hope that people will meet with old friends and make new ones while enjoying a great community atmosphere and gathering of Jeanerette and the community,” Stockstill said.

Vendors wishing to reserve FREE booth space may do so by contacting the Chamber before December 9. Limited space will be available for food vendors.

For more information on the Jeanerette December Market Christmas Extravaganza, contact the Chamber online at www.jeanerettechamber.org; by email at jeanerettechamber@gmail.com; like them on Facebook or call 337-335-0721. This event also sponsored by Iberia Parish Parks and Recreation.

New First National Bank Building Ready

The First National Bank, facing a shortage of office space, is moving some of its staff into the new building next to its current location.

Damon Migues, president of First National Bank, said that the employees are looking forward to the move.

The employees are looking forward to the new meeting area for training, Migues said.

"With almost 70 employees, no room can accommodate us," he said. The new meeting area will also be used for customer seminars and community functions, he added.

With online banking opportunities available for customers, the bank plans to host seminars for its customers to better understand these new services, Migues said. The meeting room has been designed with audio and visual equipment to be able to host the seminars and can seat from 75-80 people.

The other areas of the building will be used for office areas for many of the non-customer contact personnel and will include a new computer room that is fireproof, secure and upgraded, Migues said.

The bookkeeping department of the bank will be housed in the front portion of the building and customers can access this area from the Main Street entrance.

"We designed the building to be asthecially pleasing to Main Street," Migues said. The building itself sits on an angle but is actually squarred to the property line, Migues added.

The building being on an angle allows for a better view for customers exiting the drive through and gives customers more room when entering the building. The entire building is handicap accessible, he added.

The lots the building sits on became available through landowners piece by piece. The lot next to the current Main Office location was rented out for two years before construction began.

Construction on the new office building began last June and has taken a little over a year to complete but was well worth the effort, Migues said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Hangars at LeMaire Memorial Airport

Iberia Industrial Development Foundation (IDF) Executive Director and CEO Mike Tarantino, welcomed guests at the ribbon cutting cveremony of the new box hangars at the LeMaire Memorial Airport in Jeanerette.

The 13 new hangars were built at a cost of $1.2 million with funding from the Louisiana DOTD and the Iberia Parish Council said Jason Devillier, Airport Director for the Iberia Parish Airport Authority.

LeMaire Memorial Airport features a 3,000 foot lighted asphalt runway and serves mainly single engine planes, small muti-engine aircraft and helicopters.

While some of the hangars have been rented, some are still available.

For more information, contact IDF.

Museum Honors its Founding Members

A surprised Teletha Duchane is honored

Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum honored two of its original board members from 1976 on July 10, 2013.

A crowd of about 100 gathered to honor the two ladies that have given so much to the museum and the community.

Honored were Teletha Davis Duchane, who served as the first secretary of the museum board, and Anna Joyce Breaux.

 

Andre Rosamond presents the plaque to Anna Joyce Breaux

Both were pleased to celebrate the museum and this honor with family, friends, and the public.

The names of the original board of directors and the names of the original museum committee were read during the event shortly before the two ladies were recognized with plaques for their accomplishments.

"Little did I realize that in 1976 that an evening such as this would occur," said Teletha Duchane. "Our museum is a beautiful place."

Mrs. Duchane was the first secretary of the museum board and helped to write the first By Laws of the organization. She also worked as a commissioner of voters for many years.

Mrs. Anna Joyce Breaux thanked the audience for working hard to support the community.

"We want the best for Jeanerette and I think this museum and its addition is wonderful and I think so many people will enjoy it," she said.

Mrs. Breaux served as a teacher and librarian for 50 years n the community and has been active in many organizations, one of which she has served in for more than 60 years.

Mrs. Breaux encouraged school groups to continue to visit the museum to learn about Jeanerette's past.

 

 

​

​

 

Museum Annex to Expand

The Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum will expand its Harry Peterson Museum Annex to almost double its current size. Construction on the annex will begin this summer and should be completed by fall.
Funding for the expansion of the museum was received through Louisiana's Visitor Enterprise Fund in 2010. After plans were drafted and the bid process began, the museum became one step closer to realizing its dream of a larger building.
"Construction is not expected to interrupt the everyday use of the museum," said Andre Rosamond, museum board chair."​Programs will continue to be offered to the public during this time."
The new open layout of the museum addition will allow the museum to have the space it so badly needs to host traveling exhibits and special events, Rosamond said.
"The museum has hosted two Smithsonian exhibits along with several local exhibits," said Gail Garcia, museum board vice chair.
"We are looking forward to the expansion to be able to comfortably seat larger crowds for important history talks and programs," she said.
The museum is already planning for its annual Jeanerette Museum Day Live! which will take place on Oct. 19 and several history talks which will be held from August through November, she added.
 Jeanerette Museum Day Live! will host arts and crafts on the museum grounds, live music, free admission and free tours of the museum.
 For more information on the museum or its programming, visit them online at www.jeanerettemuseum.com; email them at jeanerettemuseum@yahoo.com or call 337-276-4408.
The museum is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Parks are Busy This Summer

Jeanerette Parks will host a variety of activities this summer for children.
The King Joseph Center is currently hosting a Back to Basics Summer Camp from June 3 to July 19. This camp is open to boys and girls ages 6-12. Weekly rates are available. For information on this camp, call the King Joseph Center at 276-6414.
Ward Eight Recreation Center is offering Week Long Summer Day Camps. Please call the Willow Wood office at 337-365-6197 for information and availability. The cost of a week at camp is $50 per child per week or $15 per child per day (drop-in). Summer Day Camp is open to boys and girls ages 5-12. Camp will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14; Monday, June 24 to Friday, June 28 and Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 19.

Remembering Macoine's Store

Marie Macoine was one of the operators of Macoine's store. Many residents still have found memories of the store and the sisters who operated it. The store has long since closed, however, the memories have lingered. This photograph is from 1987.

Jeanerette residents enjoyed visiting the vibrant Macoine's store on Main Street next to the current Iberia Bank. The store was filled with the tangy smell of fresh red, juicy apples but the favorite of many residents was the sight of the old fashioned candy jars stuffed full of tempting sweets.
Macoine's was a tradition for well over 70 years. It began as a fruit stand when Carlos Macoine arrived from Italy with his family. Following his death in 1932, Mrs. Macoine and her 12 children took over the family business.
The last of those children to operate the business were Therese and Marie.
Marie still sold candy by the piece allowing children to select different types from the large jars. She loved seeing children come in to purchase candy.
The store itself had an old fashioned appeal as Marie preferred to keep things as they were in the past instead of buying modern displays. It is that old fashioned decor that people looked forward to at each visit.
Once the store carried staples like bread, milk, onions and potatoes but it was the large selection of candy that appealed to most customers.
​Marie had many memories of the store's past including selling bread for a nickel during the Great Depression.
​She remembered her mother shucking oysters and struggling to raise the family. While there were other jobs for women, Marie never was interested in working anywhere other than the store she grew up in.
​She and her sister still lived in back of the store in the 1980s and enjoyed talking to all of the people that came by.
Macoine's store was a true asset to the community and is fondly remembered as well as its owners, by many of the citizens of Jeanerette.

Anniversary of Jeanerette's Role in the Civil War

One hundred and fifty years ago, on April 14, 1863, Jeanerette was in the middle of the Civil War. The role Jeanerette played during this war was discussed in a history talk led by well known historian, Roger Busbice, at the Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum. By the morning of April 14, both the Union and Confederate armies were in position. The patched up gunboat Diana was in Bayou Tehce ready to support Conferate commander General Richard Taylor, Busbice said. The Union army, consisted of fresh troops while the Confederates were outnumbered and near exhaustion. As the Union troops advanced towards Nerson's Woods near Franklin, they found the Confederates ready to fight. Union troops fired at the Confederate line. The Confederates responded as the Gunboat Diana's shells began to strike the Union troops, Busbice said. Casulaties were high on both sides.Confederate forces led by Colonel Tom Green near Centerville tried to slow the advance of Union troops coming from the east. Despite success at Irish Bend, General Taylor knew that Yankee troops would soon surround his army so he gave the order to begin a retreat to New Iberia using the Yokely Bridge. The bridge was burned by the Confederates after they passed. The Gunboat Diana was destroyed by the crew near the courthouse in Franklin.The Confederate hospital boat, the Carnie, was tranferred to Union control, Busbice said. "General Taylor's army, having eluded Bank's newly designated Army of the Gulf, spent the night near Jeanerette camped on the grounds of Albania Plantation," Busbice said.This was the role that Jeanerette played during the war. On Grand Lake, the next morning small Confederate and Union gunboats entered into a battle which resulted in the loss of the Confederate vessel, Queen of the West.The Confederate army, facing a lack of food and medicine as well as desertions from some of the country troops struggled through New Iberia towards Vermilionville (Lafayette), Busbice said. On April 16, Union troops marched into New Iberia terrorizing residents and looting much of the town. The next night the salt works at Avery Island were destroyed and Union General Nataniel Banks, ignoring the protests of the Moore family, established his headquarters at the Shadows.

 

 



Bayou Teche Residents May See Changes

Residents of Jeanerette living on the Bayou Teche could be affected by new regulations if Bayou Teche is included as a Historic and Scenic River into the Scenic River System overseen by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
The river system was created by 1970 legislature to preserve, protect, develop, reclaim and enhance wilderness qualities and scenic beauty. Bayou Teche was nominated as a Historic and Scenic River in during the 2012 legislative session. The LDWF has studied the stream and finds that it meets the minimum qualifications to be considered for inclusion, said Keith Cascio, Scenic Rivers Coordinator for LDWF.
A series of public hearings were held to receive comments from the public on Bayou Teche's possible inclusion into the system as a Historic and Scenic River.
The designation of Bayou Teche as a Historic and Scenic River would increase restrictions on commercial activity and increase permits for residents living on the bayou wishing to build structures, boat docks, wharfs and other items. Permits would still also be required through the Army Corps of Engineers for any items that change the shores of the bayou.
 In St. Mary Parish, officials and residents were strongly against this inclusion.
"We thought we made it clear that we wanted to opt out of this for Iberia and St. Mary Parish," said Senator Brett Allain. "I will pledge that if they try to include the lower part of the Teche that we will kill any legislation that goes through. We live and work on Bayou Teche. There's no reason to change it now."
Representative Sam Jones agreed. "On this part of Bayou Teche we have commerce and are already regulated by the (Army) Corps of Engineers."
St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin also made it clear that he was against the designation for Bayou Teche.
"Everyday we have people on the Bayou Teche. We are strictly against this. We don't want more regulations," he said.
The designation of Bayou Teche as a Historic and Scenic River would prohibit activities which alter the natural and scenic qualities of the bayou. Those activities include channelization, channel realignment, clearing and snagging, and commercial clear cutting within 100 feet of the low water mark. Activities would require a permit by the LDWF and must be reviewed by the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Office of State Planning. Activities which must be permitted include but are not limited to bridge, pipeline and power line crossings, bulkheads, piers, docks and ramps, waste water discharges, land development, and aerial application of pesticides and fertilizers adjacent to the bayou, according to an online overview from the Louisiana Dept. of Natural Resources on Louisiana's Natural and Scenic Rivers.
During the public hearing held in Iberia Parish, attendees both in favor and opposed to the inclusion of Bayou Teche, had many questions concerning the project.
Cascio of LDWF stated that the benefits of the designation would protect fish and wildlife and preserve the view.
Patty Hall of the Teche Project spoke in favor of the designation. "We see this as an opportunity not a detriment. The Teche is rich in cultural history," she said.
Harold Schoeffler of the Sierra Club agreed. "The people who live on the bayou have an enormous commitment to the bayou. This is a way we can preserve the beauty of the waterway."
Additional restrictions and permits through the plan, however, were not welcomed by other attendees.
"It seems like a lot of duplications of processes," said one attendee.
Jim Simon of the American Sugar Cane League was concerned about the affect of the regulations on farmers and other industries.
"The Louisiana Sugar Industry has done a tremendous job of cleaning up our act," said Simon. We think this is another bureaucratic layer. We see something that seems good for people but the administration changes. For a number of reasons we as an organization think that an additional layer (of government) is something we wouldn't be in favor of."
The public has until April 5 to make comments on the proposal of Bayou Teche as a Historic and Scenic River. Comments are accepted online at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/webform/scenic-rivers or by writing to Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, Scenic Rivers Program, P. O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Jeanerette's Farmers Market Growing

 

     The Jeanerette Farmer's Market adds new vendors each month since it first began in the fall. The project, sponsored by the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce, is held at the Jeanerette City Parks from 8 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month.
​     "The Farmer's Market began as a collaboration of a lot of people in the community and the board. We did everything possible to get it together," said Chamber Coordinator Katheryne Landry. The event allows for backyard gardeners and crafters to sell their produce and homemade items free of charge, however, they must reserve their space with the Jeanerette Chamber in order to set up.
​     "The response has been very positive," Landry said. "People are pleased and they keep coming back." She added that items popula items sold included produce, jewelry and candles.
     "The support from the community has been really great," Landry said. At the February market, five new vendors were added.     Kevin Boutte was one of the new vendors exhibiting at Farmer's Market. His booth, named The Garden Salad, features fresh vegetables, fruits, potted plants, herbs, and canned goods. He began his garden project after he moved back home to help his parents. Almost every day he spends four hours or more tending to his 80 x 200 foot garden and his home green house. While weeds can present a problem, especially in the warmer months, Boutte says that it doesn't hurt the plants.
     "In the fall, mirltion and beets are the big sellers," Boutte said. But added that summer was one of his busiest times.
​     "People love fresh tomatoes and cucumbers," he said.
​     For Lula Hobbs, being at the Jeanerette Farmer's Market has offered her the opportunity to enjoy being able to see people from the community.
     A native of Jeanerette, Hobbs has returned after living in San Francison for 48 years.
​     "I always wanted to come back," she said. Adding that there is nothing like the sunshine and the beauty of being home.
​     Hobbs originally came back home to take care of her mother and was looking for something to do when she discovered she enjoyed making jewelry. She has been making jewelry for over a year and has been enjoying the peacefulness it gives her.
​    "It's my quiet time at night when I sit and let the designs flow. I think the angels may help me," she said.
​     Hobbs has been displaying her jewelry at Farmer's Market since it began in Jeanerette and plans to continue.
     Trent Broussard is one of the younger vendors to exhibit at the Farmer's Market. He began baking at age 7 when he entered 4H contests. He continued to compete during the years and won reserve champion for his syrup cake. He sells that cake now at the market. He said that he learned his skills from his mother and grandmother.
     He also grows the produce that he sells on three acres of land at home. What began as a bet and way to raise funds to go on a trip has turned into a money making hobby for Broussard.

Business seminar

The Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce will host a Business Seminar on Public Relations and Facebook at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 at the Ward Eight Recreation Center located at 803 Hubertville Road in Jeanerette.
This hour long seminar is sponsored by the First National Bank of Jeanerette. The first topic will focus on public relations opportunities your business may be missing.
Gail Garcia, an award winning public relations and program coordinator, will discuss the numerous opportunities to acquire free press for your business with little or no budget allowance. Attendees will receive tips with practical solutions they can put to use right away to keep their business name on the mind of customers.
To build your business presence in the digital world, Phaedra Stockstill, the CEO/Founder of South Louisiana eConsulting, will discuss how to ‘do’ Facebook for your business.
Stockstill, a nationally recognized keynote speaker, has over 15 years experience in online marketing, social media marketing and eCommerce. She is a certified inbound marketing professional and educator and has a long track record of proven ROI in social media for her clients. With close to 77,000 Facebook accounts of individuals located between Baldwin and New Iberia, businesses have the opportunity to build their customer base. Stockstill will show businesses how to market their brand and attract customers using a Facebook page, whether they are Main Street or global, to get that cash register ringing.Tickets for the business seminar are $10 each and can be acquired by contacting the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce office at 337-276-4293; visiting their Facebook page or their website at www.jeanerettechamber.org. You may also contact the Chamber by e-mail: jeanerettechamber@gmail.com or stop by their office at 1407 Main Street, Jeanerette

Civil War Talk

The Jeanerette Bicentennial Park and Museum will present a history talk on the local Civil War battles at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 at the museum. Blood on the Teche, 1862-1863, will be the topic of the talk led by local historian, Roger Busbice.
​
Busbice is a retired principal, supervisor, and personnel director for St. Mary Parish School Board. He later served as Chief Historian for Louisiana's Old State Capitol and was a longtime adjunct instructor of history for Nicholls State University and for the LSU Lagniappe Program. He has written numerous articles on history and education.

For more information on this program, contact the Jeanerette Museum at 337-276-4408, visit their website at www.jeanerettemuseum.com; or email jeanerettemuseum@yahoo.com.

Jeanerette Chamber to Award Achievers

            Gail Garcia has been named as the Outstanding Citizen by the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce. She will be honored along with winners in several categories at the Chamber’s Outstanding Achievers’ Awards Banquet to be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8 at the Ward Eight Recreation Center in Jeanerette.

            Other achievers selected to receive awards during the banquet include Freddie Migues as Outstanding Senior Citizen; Barbara Rogers as outstanding Professional; Heath Hulin as Outstanding Educator; Acqueline Arnold as Outstanding Public Servant; Tommy Louviere as Outstanding Farmer; Mary Martin as Outstanding Youth Worker; Rosalie Migues as Outstanding Volunteer; and Wilfred and Betty Edwards as Outstanding Couple. Also to be recognized as Outstanding Students are Anthony Berry, John Boudreaux Jr. and David Provost.

            For information on acquiring tickets to attend the Chamber banquet contact the Chamber office at 337-276-4293; visit their Facebook page or their website at www.jeanerettechamber.org. You may also contact the Chamber by e-mail at jeanerettechamber@gmail.com.