Author: Emily Gautreaux

Spots to Vacation Near Southeast Louisiana

Need a getaway from southeast Louisiana but don’t want to go too far these days?  These great vacations within driving distance don’t involve flying or cross-country driving – so pack up and hit the road to explore new sights for the summer vacation you deserve.  Below are some spots within a four-hour drive of southeast Louisiana that offer your family an reasonably priced vacation that you won’t soon forget.

Toledo Bend, LA/TX

Located on the Sabine River between Texas and Louisiana, the Toledo Bend Reservoir is the largest man made body of water in Texas.  It is also the largest in the South. There are over 1,200 miles of shoreline offering limitless opportunities for outdoor entertainment.  There are both private and public facilities available for swimming, boating, picnicking, fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, biking and sightseeing.

Avery Island

Avery Island is the home of TABASCO® Sauce, the famous hot sauce sold around the world.  The McIlhenny family has made the sauce on Avery Island, Louisiana for more than five generations.  The island and factory was built on a salt dome.  It is a beautiful world of wonder where the red peppers grow, the factory churns away, and wildlife inhabits the nearby Jungle Gardens.

The island’s top attractions include the visitor center and the sauce factory, but there is much more to do on the island – “Dine at 1868!” at the home of TABASCO® Sauce, build your own bloody mary drink, and try all of the TABASCO® Family of Flavors®.  You can also take a guided bird tour or a self-guided tour through Jungle Gardens.

Biloxi Vacation

Biloxi is one of the oldest communities in the country, having first been settled in 1699.  Nestled on the shores of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, Biloxi has remained a favorite vacation destination for generations.  Biloxi’s sandy beaches and serene waters are perfect for water skiing or deep-sea fishing.

While a day at the beach is guaranteed to be fun, there are lots of other great experiences like a riverboat tour of the Biloxi Lighthouse, entertainment and shows at a casino, and a host of museums that your family will love.  On your way in, be sure to check out the Biloxi Visitors Center, north of the Biloxi Lighthouse and west of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, on U.S. 90.

Fairhope Vacation

Located another 90 minutes past Biloxi lies another vibrant town that rests on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.  Fairhope is known for its lovely parks and sweeping panoramic views of Mobile Bay. You’ll want to make it a point to visit all of the cafes, art galleries, gift shops and seafood restaurants in Fairhope and the surrounding area.  This is a great destination to just kick back and relax.  The locale offers golf, shopping, fishing, and exceptional seafood – to name a few.  There truly is something for everyone there. We recommend strapping your bike onto your vehicle when you check this place out.  You’ll want to check out all of the biking trails with amazing views of the coastline and historic neighborhoods of Fairhope.

Mobile Vacation

Across Mobile Bay from Fairhope is Mobile, Alabama.  Whether you’re coming through as a tourist, visiting family, or there for a brief stay for business, you’ll find plenty of ways to occupy your free time.  Mobile is one the oldest cities on the Gulf Coast and offers visitors exciting, entertaining and educational experiences year-round. There are loads of things to do when you visit – be it art, Mardi Gras, southern history, good food spots and a surprisingly active nightlife.

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First Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida Completed at Yale

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut’s Yale School of Medicine has completed its first fetal surgery for Spina Bifida.

Co-Directors of the Yale Fetal Care Center, David Stitelman, MD (Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery) and Mert Ozan Bahtiyar, MD (Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; Director,), together with Michael DiLuna, MD, FAANS (Associate Professor and Chief, Pediatric Neurosurgery), and a world-renowned team of maternal fetal medicine specialists, including anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and nurses, made history on March 21, 2020, when they performed the first fetal surgery to correct a form of spina bifida, known as myelomeningocele.  This specific form has a limited window for correction in an unborn child’s development.

According to Dr. David Stitelman, “It is a delicate procedure to begin with, and then there’s COVID. If any one of us had gotten sick, we would have had to cancel. It makes you value ‘the team’ even more. In a multidisciplinary case like this, we have to depend on each other.”

Further, Dr. Stileman stated, “It’s not typical to plan for a case like this on Zoom, that’s for sure,” said Dr. Stitelman. Due to the ongoing pandemic, there is an added level of challenge with social-distancing being a priority.  This feat was even more remarkable due to the fact that the consulting, planning, and simulation for the surgery all took place primarily via video-conferencing platforms.

After an ultrasound and fetal MRI confirmed the birth defect, the mother and child were referred to the Yale Fetal Care Center to undergo the procedure on March 21st, which was in the 3rd trimester of the pregnancy (the 25th week). After the preparation and simulations, the in-womb operation was completed in under 90 minutes and both spent around two weeks of bed rest under close monitoring in the hospital.

“Mom is doing really well, and the fetus is kicking like crazy, which is a great sign,” said Dr. Stitelman.

There are approximately 10 cases a year of this type of spina bifida in the state of Connecticut annual, while fewer than 50% of those are candidates for surgery, according to Dr. Stitelman. The success of this current in utero procedure offers a new opportunity for Yale.

Spina bifida is a birth defect to the spine and spinal cord that occurs when the they do not form properly. It’s an example of a neural tube defect.  The neural tube is the structure in an embryo that is developing.  The neural tube eventually becomes the baby’s brain, spinal cord and the tissues that encapsulates them.

Typically the neural tube is formed early on in pregnancy and closes by the 28th day after conception. With babies afflicted by spina bifida, a portion of the neural tube either doesn’t close or doesn’t develop properly, causing defects in the spinal cord and in the bones of the spine.

Spina bifida ranges from mild to severe, which really depends on the type, size, location and complication of the defect. Early treatment for spina bifida involves surgery, when necessary, although such treatment doesn’t always completely resolve the problem.

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Foolproof Your Dinner with Casseroles

There’s not much better than a hot dinner casserole straight from the oven.  Especially one that you didn’t have to spend hours prepping!  Plus, some of us view casseroles as comfort food, and who couldn’t use some comfort food right now? Thankfully, Daily Living has scoured the internet and put together a list of the best casseroles of all time. These are all inexpensive and easy to make, and they all look so delicious.  We can’t wait to try these out.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

This may just be the perfect dish – creamy, cheesy, and BACON-y!  This casserole is loaded with alfredo sauce, ranch seasoning, chicken, bacon, and baked with cheese.  You can make the sauce yourself if you have time, or jarred sauce works just as well.  This recipe also works well with leftover chicken and bacon – whip it up and put it baking!  We’re certain the whole family will devour this one.

Beef Noodle Casserole

This delicious beef noodle casserole is sure to become a regular on our dinner menu.  It starts with ground beef in a robust tomato sauce – yum!  Then you toss in some egg noodles and top with plenty of cheese before baking it to perfection.  Comfort food at it’s finest, this one is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese

Everyone loves a good baked mac and cheese mashup. If you love jalapeno poppers, you’ll love this creamy, spicy take on mac and cheese.  Combining a blend of four cheeses, bacon, jalapenos and a crispy topping, this could be the best macaroni and cheese recipe of all time!

Chicken, Mushroom, and Spinach Lasagna

This fresh take on lasagna is a serious time saver!  The secret is the no-boil noodles. Loaded with mushrooms and fresh baby spinach, just layer the noodles in between the chicken and the veggies, and bake for 40 minutes for a creamy yet light comfort casserole.  Serve it to your family and watch the compliments roll in!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

If you’re missing the comfort of mom’s chicken noodle soup, this is the recipe for you.  This one has all of the classic chicken noodle flavor you’re lacking and is perfect to serve on a cold winter’s night.  Looking for an added bonus?  This one takes 30 minutes or less to bake.

Spinach and White Bean Enchiladas With Pepper Jack Sauce

You may have heard of using black beans or lentils in the place of beef in recipes, but how about using white beans in place of chicken?  Neither had we!  It’s time to find out what we’ve been missing out on, so this dish is next on the list.  If you have the time, consider serving this one with some Spanish rice.  We’re going to top this one with fresh avocado slices.

Cheesy Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Who doesn’t love stuffed peppers?  This cheesy stuffed pepper casserole looks so easy to throw together, we can’t wait to try it out.  Packed with flavor and topped with cheese, this one is going to be a hit with the whole family.  The recipe also shows you can prep these ahead of time, vary the spice levels, use different colored peppers, and you can even use a pressure cooker in one variation.  We can’t wait to try them all!

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Joe Burrow Calls Lowe’s Employees in Hometown

On Thursday, April 23, 2020, LSU’s national championship-winning quarterback Joe Burrow partnered with Lowe’s Home Improvement to call several employees in his hometown of Athens, Ohio to surprise them and show appreciation for them working during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These calls were conducted in advance of him becoming the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. See the video here.

With each call made, Burrow surprised each worker he spoke to with an offer to host them at one of his future games, no matter which NFL team he ended up playing for.

The Cincinnati Bengals have landed Burrow as their next franchise quarterback. The night after the calls to the Lowe’s employees, speculation that had gone for months ended when the Bengals, of Cincinnati, Ohio (Burrow’s home state), chose him the LSU powerhouse as their first overall pick in the NFL draft. This year’s draft happened virtually due to the ongoing pandemic, and clips of Burrow were shown as he celebrated with his family from his home in Athens County, Ohio and adorned a Bengals hat.

Shortly after being added to Cincinnati’s roster, Zac Taylor (head coach), stated that Joe Burrow would be expected to compete for the position of quarterback. Although current quarterback Andy Dalton is entering the final year of his contract, Taylor wouldn’t go so far as to name Burrow as the team’s starter in week one. One of the biggest challenges, Taylor Said, for Burrow and other incoming rookies is adapting to the speed in the NFL. Even players like Burrow who played college ball at the highest level can struggle to adapt to the breakneck speed.

This audition to be starting quarterback position was an understanding that Burrow shared, stating, “That’s exactly how I expect to do it as well. I’m going to come in and compete and try to be the best player I can be.”

Coming off a historic season at LSU, during which he threw for an record 60 touchdowns, he captained the Tigers to a national championship. He also won the Heisman Trophy and completed 76.3% of his passes .

The Cincinnati team made it clear before the official draft that they intended to officially draft Joe Burrow. According to reports, Burrow was officially welcomed to Cincinnati by Bengals’ president Mike Brown on Wednesday when he sent a letter that said, among other things, that he is anticipating “building championship football teams with (Burrow) for many years to come.” In addition, Burrow and his parents were sent No. 9 Bengals jerseys by Mr. Brown. This will be the number that Burrow will be wearing in Cincinnati, and this was also the number he was wearing during his recorded breaking year at Louisiana State University.

Joe Burrow said he will have to adjust to missing the mental prep he would’ve gained during minicamps for rookies and other such events that would’ve helped him prepare to compete for the starting position. These events have been postponed because of the pandemic. Instead, Burrow has revealed the off season process for him will include studying the playbook and getting comfortable with calling plays in the huddle.

“You have to be stern in your voice, because if you are in there wavering and wobbling and fumbling over words, all the guys are going to be like, ‘What is this guy doing in here, Coach? Get him out. Get someone else in,'” Burrow said. “So, that’s something I’m going to be really focused on.”

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“Hope” Comes to Audubon Nature Institute

In Lower Coast Algiers at Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC), life is anything but on hold in the current climate humankind is experiencing as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  On Monday, April 6, 2020, the facility’s middle-aged giraffe, Sue Ellen, gave birth to her second calf– a beautiful female reticulated giraffe calf.  Coming in at 6-foot-tall, which is standard newborn height in females giraffes, and weighing 189 pounds, which is a substantial weight for the newborns of the species, she is the most recent addition to the Audubon Nature Institute.

“Things can feel very overwhelming right now,’’ said Michelle Hatwood, curator of the Species Survival Center. “But life does go on, and we have essential staff coming to work, so our animals receive the best care every single day.’’

A giraffe’s gestation period can be between fourteen and sixteen months, so the due date for the giraffe calf’s likely delivery has been anyone’s guess.  Curator Hatwood and her staff have been at the ready for some time to welcome the giraffe calf into the world.

The FMASSC’S Species Survival Plan, administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, ensures healthy, genetically diverse animal populations throughout its accredited facilities, of which Audubon Nature Institute is included.  Accordingly, Sue Ellen and her new calf, named “Hope,” are part of this program.

Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman said of their newest miracle, “What name could be more fitting than ‘Hope” in these challenging times? Hope is what has sustained our community through seemingly insurmountable crises in the past and what we must hold onto as we continue on in the coming days and weeks. May we all take comfort in the reminder that, even in the darkest of days, life continues, undaunted.”

While the species occupied much of the African continent decades ago, giraffes unfortunately now face a number of serious threats to their survival.  Such factors as habitat loss, poaching, human encroachment, and disease are among these threats.  The Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center is now home to 13 giraffes, with the addition of Hope.  She is the eighth giraffe born at the center in Lower Coast Algiers.  The giraffes at FMASSC’s location have access to a sprawling 46 acres of forested landscape on which they can roam and forage for their favorite greenery.

Unfortunately, the Audubon Nature Institute has been forced to close its facilities to the public since the COVID-19 health crisis began in the state of Louisiana. They have been requesting federal officials for assistance with funds to larger nonprofits like zoos and aquariums.  They are also asking supporters of their facilities, and animal lovers in general, to reach out to the White House and Congress to request assistance with securing funding for these types of facilities (zoos, aquariums, and museums) in upcoming legislation for economic assistance. The recent CARES Act was focused on supporting individuals and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the legislation does not provide support of any kind for zoos, aquariums and museums that employ more than 500 people, such as Audubon.

A press release from the FMASSC is available for additional information.

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Nicholls’ Online History Degree Program Among Best in Nation

In a recent ranking from GetEducated.com, the Nicholls Online history degree program was ranked as one of the most affordable online history degrees in the country.  The program ranked No. 10 in their Top 25 Best Buys list. GetEducated.com is a resource for online students. They publish university and college ratings, focusing on affordability and credibility. Their stated mission is to educate, advocate and protect.

GetEducated.com’s ranking site describes the Nicholls online history degree offerings in this arena as an online Bachelor of Arts in History degree where students will learn an array of knowledge within history.  This knowledge includes the study of modern America, Europe, and Asia, while also teaching students to think critically, write coherently, and identify significant issues that impact the modern world.  Nicholl’s online history degree is flexible and student-oriented, preparing students for various careers or for graduate and professional schools.  Graduates can apply for a wide range of jobs, including that of teacher, advertising executive, analyst, archivist, broadcaster, campaign worker, consultant, congressional aide, editor, foreign service officer, foundation staffer, information specialist, intelligence agent, journalist, legal assistant, lobbyist, personnel manager, public relations staffer, researcher and law enforcement officials.

During their extensive evaluation of more than 55  online history degree programs offering bachelor’s degrees, from a total of 50 different universities and colleges, GetEducated.com measured the school’s overall quality as well as the cost-of-attendance to determine the rankings of the programs. Nicholls’ online tuition currently stands at $35,600, which is approximately $10,000 lower than the national average online program.

Over the next eight years, entry-level historian positions are expected to grow by six to nine percent, according to workforce projection forecasts. Such jobs as museum tech, archivist and educator are among examples of these opportunities.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these entry-level positions should boast salaries ranging from $40,000 to $48,000.

Nicholls Online and its affiliated degree programs are no stranger to recognition for their achievements.  Nicholls ranked as one of the fastest rising online programs in the country and third-best in the state according to U.S. News & World Report.  Last year, both collegesrank.com and intelligent.com ranked Nicholls Online history program as the No. 8 program in the country, and tops in the state of Louisiana, respectively.

History Department head, Dr. Paul Wilson, said, “This is yet another national award for our online history program and Nicholls. It’s more evidence that Nicholls is recognized as a gem of a university in the bayou region of South Louisiana.”

Per the Bachelor of Arts in History page on Nicholls’ website, according to two recent studies, graduates with history degrees stand to have the highest earning potential of most liberal arts and social science majors, while also boasting mid-career earnings similar to graduates with degrees in general business or nursing.

For more questions on the online history degree program, History Department Head, Dr. Paul Wilson, can be reached at paul.wilson@nicholls.edu or (985) 448-4463.

Interested parties can learn more about the various degree programs offered by Nicholls Online by visiting www.https://www.nicholls.edu/online.

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