APPLAUSE
Thanksgiving came early at St. Francis Diner in New Iberia when, after a week of being shuttered in early September due to a decreased supply of canned goods, the soup kitchen was able to once again open its doors to the public. It was an outpouring of generosity from various entities and ca…
While, for many of us, putting the recyclable trash can at the road is our contribution to reducing our carbon footprint, one down-to-earth girl is recycling in a down-to-earth way with the help of some wiggly friends. Taylor Lyons Vaughan, owner of Worm Lady Recycles, has been lowering wast…
We've got our ears to the ground hand have picked up quite a few tidbits of community news this month. Read on to find recent news on the people, places and happenings throughout Acadiana.
For Rhyan Shea Wheeler, job satisfaction has everything to do with the happiness and promising futures of children. A good day for the newly appointed CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is one filled with smiling faces on the students who come through the Clubs’ doors from 3-7 p.m.
In one of the most successful fundraising initiatives facilitated by Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA), millions of dollars have been raised in three Acadiana parishes – generating discretionary dollars that will be invested directly into communities – all thanks to a group of generous …
It’s 11 a.m. on the second Friday of the month, and Mike Tarantino is sitting in the studio of New Iberia’s KANE radio doing what he does best: enthusiastically talking about Iberia Parish and the positive plans that are in the works for it.
In true New Iberia fashion, organizers of a ceremony celebrating native daughter Kathleen Babineaux Blanco put on a lively, well-planned and thoughtful tribute to the former governor of Louisiana.
New Iberia has long enjoyed the notoriety and tourism generated by former resident and best-selling mystery writer James Lee Burke, whose books have featured much of Iberia and whose fan base has helped put the area on the tourism map. The city provides tours of places Burke frequented and l…
It’s been a rough year for New Iberia, Louisiana and the world, especially in terms of the economy. The coronavirus pandemic has hit many industries hard. Many businesses that seemed unstoppable are struggling to make ends meet, and many have been forced to close their doors.
The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged most industries in the United States and the performing arts are no exception.
The Acadiana Division of the Naval Sea Cadets, an organization that teaches youths discipline and various life skills through Navy training, just found a new home at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Building in New Iberia.
New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt recently unveiled his plans for the future of New Iberia, which he said comprises almost 100 shovel-ready projects.
South Louisiana has a litter problem and many of us don't even see it. We often ignore it, letting it breed and multiply. Litter steeps its way into our culture, making it second nature for a citizen to throw out a cigarette or two. Because this has gone on for decades, litter can sadly begi…
You can hear a smile in Maurice Songy’s voice, happy that he’s back in Louisiana now working as the new executive director of Acadiana Regional Airport, after the year-and-a-half- long search to fill the position ended with his hiring in late May. For him, it’s right up there with having sat…
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in October, Southern Mutual Help Association (SMHA), has not wavered from its mission to help people develop strong, healthy, prosperous rural communities in Louisiana. Based in New Iberia, the not-for-profit has evolved into a nationally-recognized, award-wi…
At the Old School is a 40,000 square-foot facility that is now divided into four adjoining areas: the banquet hall (capable of accommodating 200 wedding or party guests), the courtyard (great for family reunion outdoor activities), the living room (perfect for a Saints or Super Bowl get-toge…
There are actually scientific studies behind rooting for the home team. One Yale psychologist says that favoritism of a home team is a behavior triggered by a sense of belonging. Another psychologist reports that when we’re cheering for our team with family and friends, the feel-good chemica…
Raising Cane's was founded on the premise of serving communities in five key areas: education, feeding the hungry, pet welfare, active lifestyles and business development and entrepreneurship. At the New Iberia Admiral Doyle location—nicknamed “Da Berrie”—this means partnering with local sch…
Even though BoxDrop recently opened in February, this new business has already given back to the community in the form of mattresses and monetary donations. “We look at it as you have to give to receive,” says Billy Hulin, who owns the business with his wife, Rebecca. “If we can give and hel…
It has been reported that the biggest issue, nationwide, hindering businesses’ growth is the inability to find qualified applicants to fill the job. Research shows there is a considerable gap between the skills needed for the job and those possessed by the individuals hired to do that job. I…
History: After his service in the US NAVY, Richard Allain returned to his home town where he worked for another local jewelry store in 1947. He later opened his own store sharing a building with Paul’s Flower Shop in 1960. As the business grew, he relocated in 1965 on to Main Street in New I…
Back in 1982, Khai and Ngoan Tran emigrated from Vietnam to the United States. Khai started out as a fisherman, with a goal of opening his own business one day. In 1991, the Trans launched Jane’s Seafood and Chinese Restaurant located at 1201 Jane Street in New Iberia.
The Grub: Preservation without refrigeration. The specialty of the kitchen employs old-world style methods of smoking, curing, pickling and fermenting. House-made components accent hand-selected cuts of meat and fish to create unique, ecologically responsible and tasty dishes.
About the Couple: Burt Cestia III is the owner of Cestia Wealth Management, a full service financial planning firm, and Angela is the Office Manager. The Cestias have been married for 16 years. They were living in St. Louis when they got married, but soon decided to return to their hometown …
Many baby boomers may still remember the jingle, from the 80s and 90s, for Fremin’s Food and Furniture: You’ve got a friend at Fre…min’s. The Fremin family has been in business in New Iberia since 1941, when Wilton ad Bertha Fremin opened a general merchandise store. In 1952 their son Rayw…
At the chamber’s annual board retreat in late January, members outlined strategies for supporting the positive momentum in Iberia Parish.
Upon entering the exhibit, there will be a kiosk that will show archival and new videos on loop.
The room was percolating with energy at the annual Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce banquet in January. Nearly 500 businessmen and women gathered to hear accolades and accomplishments of a good chamber year and plans to continue New Iberia’s stellar growth and development trajectory. For…
Gulotta’s western store is one of the oldest businesses in New Iberia, with a history that began when Paulo Gulotta transplanted from Sicily in 1890 and opened a grocery and shoe repair store in 1906. From then, the shoe repair business evolved and was handed to Paulo’s son Henry and then t…
1. Already in place is the three sided, eight-foot tall Blue Dog sculpture inspired by Rodrigue’s most iconic work. It will be poised on a large round base with beautiful lighting.
It’s no secret that Youngsville is rapidly growing. So much so that it can be hard to keep up! Here are a few ways to make sure you don’t miss a beat in Youngsville. Some are newer on the scene while others are faithful staples.
The concept of Louisiana as a cultural and creative hotspot is nothing new. However, the folks down in St. Landry Parish have found new ways to capitalize on those assets through the use of strategic processes they call creative placemaking. Kicked off with the use of local arts and culture …
In many ways, 2018 in a quintet of Acadiana Parishes contained some common threads:
In the formerly vacant building at 254 West Main Street, the beep of forklifts echo across a 14,000-square-foot warehouse. People, a few of them in T-shirts emblazoned with “Pecans Are Cool,” busy themselves, leaning over computers, carrying boxes and checking blueprints. The skeletal system…
