Author: Emily Gautreaux

International Delegates Visit UL Lafayette for Research and Development Opportunities

When the Acadiana area presented itself to international business representatives as a part of the Americas Competitiveness Exchange, research and development from various disciplines at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette was front and center, according to this news release from the school.

Senior officials across the Western Hemisphere and other nations toured Louisiana between March 26- April 1 as the state hosted the 14th Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE), an event that brings together over 60 global leaders who represent 21 countries and multiple international organizations in order to share best practices for economic development and to explore partnership opportunities.

According to Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, this visit of over 75 economic development, industry, and political leaders to the ULL campus was a vital part of the Americas Competitiveness Exchange. The visit served as an opportunity for the ACE Program to forge business relationships and explore trade investment opportunities in Louisiana.

Dr. Kolluru said of the visit, “delegates will see firsthand and hear from our faculty about the high-quality public impact research that is conducted at our Carnegie Research 1 University. Being able to engage with this group is a wonderful opportunity to grow research partnerships within the Western Hemisphere. The University prides itself in conducting research that is both locally relevant and globally prominent.” Dr. Koluru noted that this historic visit would ideally signify the start of “conversations between potential partners, including partners who might invest in Louisiana or who might partner with UL in their native countries. At least one deal involving informatics seemed possible.”

At the ACE delegates’ visit to the UL Lafayette’s Student Union Ballroom, university faculty presented research from various disciplines campus-wide, with each related to the topics of climate change; computing and security; energy and sustainability; human, community, and economic development; and life sciences.

When Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced the historic visit to the school in his March press release, he called the opportunity of hosting the Americas Competitiveness Exchange both “an extraordinary honor and a unique opportunity for Louisiana business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, and policymakers.”

Governor Edwards attributed the ACE Coordinating Committee’s decision to tour Louisiana for its 14th visit to “Louisiana’s diverse culture and economy command the attention of decision-makers from around the world seeking to learn from our example. And it raises awareness about the natural resources, infrastructure advantages, and business climate that have made Louisiana a national leader in per capita foreign direct investment for the past 10 years.”

Standing as one of the core initiatives of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC), the ACE program is organized in partnership with the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the International Trade Administration, and the U.S. Department of State.

Across their tour of Louisiana, the ACE delegation explored over 30 sites in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the greater Acadiana region, focusing on areas of bioscience, entrepreneurship, film production, healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism. The delegation visited with EDA grantees, which included the Claiborne Corridor Cultural Innovation District, GNO, Inc, New Orleans BioInnovation Center, The Water Institute, and the World War II Museum, as well as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The visit to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette offered delegates an opportunity to take an inside look at research and various higher education workforce partnerships that support economic development. Additionally, when ACE delegates visited the area, they toured LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge in order to see the school’s labs in which innovative research into chronic disease triggers and treatment are actively creating hope for those suffering from obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia.

For more education-related information, click here.

Delicious Crawfish Cream Sauce to Heighten Any Dish

Especially in the south, it’s always a great idea to have one tangy, creamy, and seafood-based dip recipe in your back pocket, and with this outstanding recipe from Cristy Irene for Crawfish Cream Sauce, you’re always supplied with a delicious addition to any dish.

The culinary beauty of this classically cajun crawfish cream sauce is that it’s made with authentically fresh or thawed crawfish tails, delicious cream, melted butter, and the cajun combination of sautéed onion, garlic, and bell pepper. The key to knocking this recipe out of the park is to have all of your cooking utensils and ingredients on hard, in place, or“mise-en-place,” throughout the process. This is true of many cajun, creole, or seafood recipes, but it’s especially important for this crawfish cream sauce, which comes to fruition in only a matter of minutes. Be diligent and proactive in your cooking processes, as you will not want to add butter to the pan if you haven’t chopped all of your ingredients yet. For the best results, have everything chopped ahead of time and “at the ready” near the stovetop you’ll be cooking on.

This sauce is perfect for many different seafood-based dishes, such as blackened or fried catfish, especially in the Lenten season. Consider making this crawfish cream sauce alongside your next Friday afternoon fish dinner. For instance, if you blackened catfish filets in a skillet ahead of time, the remnants that are left in the pan afterward will add outrageously decadent flavor to the sautéing of the vegetables. Speaking of the vegetables, when you’re busy chopping them ahead of time, you’ll want to chop or mince the onion and bell peppers in a comparatively smaller size than the crawfish. The recipe’s author suggests that they were in big chunks that, while still distinguishable, don’t detract from the crawfish themselves.

Ingredients for Crawfish Cream Sauce:

Directions for Crawfish Cream Sauce:

  1. You’ll begin this recipe by heating your pan over medium heat and melting your butter in it.
  2. After the butter melts, add in your crushed garlic cloves, chopped onion pieces, and chopped trinity of bell peppers. Sauté these ingredients until your onions are translucent and fragrant. This will take approximately four to five minutes.
  3. Next, pour your two cups of half & half into the pan, and stir the sautéed ingredients into the creme until the creme mixture has thickened.
  4. After the half and half thickens, add in your freshly squeezed lemon juice, crawfish tails, and stir everything together until it’s well combined. You’ll want to gently porn your lemon juice over the crawfish tails in order to coat the tails in the tangy flavor. By adding the lemon juice to the cream sauce, you’re adding a nice and light balance to the heaviness of the cream. This adds a flavor and perks up the overall taste of the cream.
  5. Cook the skillet’s contents for an additional 2 minutes, and then remove this skillet from the heat.
  6. Serve & enjoy your meal!

Notes:

This crawfish cream sauce recipe pairs extremely nicely with either fried or blackened fish, especially catfish, but it’s also a good addition to any meal consisting of a seafood entree and vegetable side dish, such as asparagus. If you find yourself preparing this dip on a whim, consider serving it alongside a rice, pasta, or other grain-reliant dish. Alternatively, it’s great with grits or biscuits, as the creamy flavor is complementary to many types of food.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Nicholls Hosts Awards For Excellence

Recently, the many achievements of Nicholls State University alumni and other members of the Nicholls community were honored by the Nicholls Alumni Federation at the annual Awards for Excellence ceremony, as per the school.

Held on March 23, 2022, in the Bollinger Memorial Student Union’s Cotillion Ballroom, this year’s ceremony served as an opportunity for the Nicholls State University Alumni Federation to bestow its four Awards for Excellence to high-achieving supporters of Nicholls State University, be they graduates or not. In addition to the four winners of this year’s Awards for Excellence, the Federation honored the 2022 Hall of Fame recipients, which were made up of outstanding graduates from each of Nicholls’ colleges.

Preceded by a cocktail reception, the evening’s awards program saw the bestowing of the James Lynn Powell Award, the Harvey Peltier Award, the Corporate Mark of Honor, the Honorary Alumni Award, and several Outstanding Alumni awards to a member of each of Nicholls’ colleges.

Katherine Mabile, the director of Alumni Affairs for the Nicholls Alumni Federation, said of the evening, “we are so blessed as a university to have men and women such as these who have contributed so much to this institution and our community over the years. his university would not be here today without the passion and commitment of our remarkable alumni. It is an honor to recognize them through our awards ceremony.”

The James Lynn Powell Alumni Award is the single highest recognition given to a graduate of Nicholls State University. This year Michael J. Hebert, Jr, a native of Houma, was the recipient of this honor. Hebert is the chief of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as well as the National Jones Act Division of Enforcement (JADE). Hebert has spent over three decades in federal service, including nine years in the military, and in 2016, CBP charged the 2-time Nicholls Graduate with defining, establishing, and leading the newly-formed JADE division.

Today Hebert is responsible for the CBP’s coastwide trade enforcement strategy,, but he’s never forgotten his collegiate roots. Hebert returned to Nicholls from 2015 to 2018 to serve as an adjunct instructor of Petroleum Engineering and Safety Technology Management and criminal justice. Hebert had also contributed to the development of the criminal justice program’s curriculum.

The Harvey Peltier Award is the highest award given to a non-graduate of Nicholls. Similar to the criteria for receiving the James Lynn Powell Award, the recipient of this honor must be considered to be outstanding in their chosen field, contribute to the university and the community, and cannot be a Nicholls Graduate. This year’s Harvey Peltier Award was given to Mr. and Mrs. Salvador M. Brocato, III, two Nicholls supporters whose support began in 2017 when their son, Dominic Brocato, joined the Nicholls Football team.

Members of both the Nicholls Foundation and the Huddle Up Club, the Brocatos’ support for the university is felt across the campus. Not only were they the first to donate to 2020’s Boucvalt Family Athletic Complex Naming Campaign but they have also made remarkable contributions to the Nicholls Police, the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, and the maritime management program, among many others.

The Corporate Mark of Honor is an award that’s typically awarded to an organization that has proven to be a strong supporter of Nicholls and its mission. This year, Nicholls State University President Dr. Jay Clune awarded the Corporate Mark of Honor to the Giardina Family Foundation, which has given to the Dyslexia Center, Nicholls Foundation, and other organizations across their years of service.

The Honorary Alumni Award is an honor bestowed to a non-graduate of the university who has shown a special interest in the school and who has given their time to Nicholls over the years. This year, Maria B. Cruse, MD., received the Honorary Alumni Award, as she has been highly involved with the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. Dr. Cruse was named an honorary culinary faculty member in 2011 and had a key role in the creation of the Culinary Guild.

For more education-related information, click here.

Surplus Funding for Louisiana Coastal Restoration and Protection

Alongside the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced a proposal to allocate $150 million in surplus funding toward coastal restoration and protection projects, as per the governor’s office.

During the April press conference, Governor Edwards announced his proposal by saying, “at this moment, we are reaping the rewards of over a decade and a half of planning and implementation efforts. We have invested in the science and directed every available dollar toward projects that deliver real benefits to our people. Our track record of investment and implementation has allowed CPRA’s program to grow steadily into the success story it is today. The confidence we have in our coastal program has now been reaffirmed by an even larger investment from the federal government. I am now asking the Legislature to help us recover further from the devastating hurricanes of 2020 and 2021 by dedicating $150 million of state surplus to projects that will make us safer and more resilient well into the future.”

At the press conference, Col. Stephen Murphy, the commander of the USACE New Orleans District, commented on the Governor’s office’s push toward coastal restoration. Col. Murphy said, “coastal Louisiana’s importance to the Nation is underscored by the Administration and Congress’ recent investment of more than $2.6 billion under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs acts. We look forward to our continued partnership with the State of Louisiana in delivering their commitment to support the area’s recovery and improve its resiliency to future conditions.”

The $150 in surplus funding will be allocated to fifteen total coastal projects, with $84.5 million being directed toward restoration efforts and $65 million toward hurricane and flood protection projects across 13 parishes. The many projects range from $200,000 allocated for the LSU Center for River Studies in Baton Rouge to $38 million being allocated for the design and construction of the Northwest Little Lake Marsh Creation in Lafourche Parish.

The full list, which can be viewed here, includes $30 million for construction of the Pailet and Crown Point Basin polders of the Lafitte Tidal Protection project in Jefferson Parish, $12 million for construction of the LaBranche Shoreline Protection project in St. Charles Parish, $2 million toward funding the Atchafalaya Basin Program for environmental restoration efforts and enhanced recreational opportunities, and $10 million toward the Southwest Coastal Project in Cameron, Calcasieu, and Vermilion parishes. Additionally, $5 million will be allocated toward various Vermillion Parish projects, including funding for shoreline protection and ridge restoration projects at Cheniere au Tigre as well as an increment of the North Vermilion Bay Shoreline Protection Project.

The mandate of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is to develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. As per its website, the CPRA’s 2023 Coastal Master Plan “will build upon previous master plan efforts and strive to ensure that the collective effects of project investments reduce storm surge-based flood risk to communities, provide habitats to support an array of commercial and recreational activities, and support infrastructure critical to the working coast. This will be achieved by harnessing natural processes, focusing protection on key assets, and adapting to changing coastal conditions.”

As revealed by CPRA Chairman Chip Kline, the 2023 Annual Plan is the largest in CPRA history. Chairman Kline stated, “this is a pivotal moment for the coastal program. Our 2023 Annual Plan is the largest in CPRA history, with over a billion dollars allocated for construction and major investments in hurricane protection, sediment diversions, and 23 dredging projects across our coast. We are excited to see the prioritization of vital coastal restoration and protection projects in this year’s surplus funding.”

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

Must Do List When Visiting Portland

Whether it’s for an outdoor adventure or to experience a vibrantly unique culture that’s all its own, it’s always rewarding to make a trip to the Pacific Northwest haven that is Portland, Oregon. Luckily, this detailed travel guide from Travel + Leisure outlines everything you need to know whenever you’re considering venturing out to the sustainable, cultured, and community-driven city.

When planning a trip to Portland, the time of year in which you travel should be at the forefront of your mind, as the city of Portland has many can’t miss events and festivities year-round. For instance, you should consider checking out the Waterfront Blues Festival, the city’s largest and longest-running music celebration every summer. Additionally, one of the biggest draws to the city is an event known as the Big Float, a massive undertaking by the city to popularize the local river. Each year, approximately 70,000 people make it out to Portland’s waterfront for a city-wide flotilla and beach party.

In general, the best time to visit the city of Portland is in the summer months, specifically from June to August, as the weather is vastly more consistent than it is at other times of the year, making it more “in tune” with the city’s outdoors-based culture. After all, you don’t want your vacation to be hampered by a weather advisory on the morning of your trip to Mount Hood or the city’s International Rose Garden, especially because the roses are in full bloom in the summer months.

If you’re making your way out to Portland, you might find that you need to book your accommodations a little bit in advance, but the city has many traditional and unique options for you to consider. One such location is the Black Elephant Hostel, which is Portland’s first hostel. Complete with sleek and decadent rooms, this rentable accommodation is ideal for those solo-travelers and those looking for an especially social atmosphere. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood to stay somewhere with an unforgettable view, you should consider the beachside escape known as the Inn by the Sea, which not only gives you a stunning view of the coast, but the rooms are warmly decorated with soft lighting, colors, and comforts.

If you want to stay in a building full of history and style, then look no further than the grand turn-of-the-century building known as The Society Hotel. This hotel was first known as The Mariners Building, a boarding home dedicated to keeping Portland’s sailors “on the straight and narrow,” but it was later renovated in 2013 while keeping its upper floors untouched, resulting in the unearthing of a Portland time capsule. Book a stay at The Society Hotel today, and see why so many cost-conscious travelers, history buffs, high-end hostelers, and young adventurers  cite this as their favorite spot in the city.

Once in Portland, you might find yourself overstimulated by the offerings of “must-try” experiences to be found around the city. Though a lot of these are valid and truthful in offering you wild adventure and unforgettable experiences, none shine a light on making a trip out to the Lan Su Chinese Garden. These gardens stand to offer you the unique chance to find respite in an often bustling city while also giving you the opportunity to celebrate Chinese culture at a Suzhou-style garden that’s found right in the heart of Portland. Stop by this garden to peruse the tea gardens that are filled with plants native to Asia, magnificently decorated patagonia, or simply a chance to breathe and find clarity on your trip.

As always, before you purchase roundtrip airline tickets or hit the open highway on your way to the Pacific Northwest, you should double-check the latest CDC and local travel recommendations to ensure safety above all.

For more travel-related news and information, click here.

 

Proposed Revitalization of Lake Charles Region

With long-term recovery aid from the federal government on the way to the city of Lake Charles, many are looking to revitalize the storm-stricken area with projects that rebuild the community stronger and better than it was before, according to this article from The Advocate.

Mike Nodier, the head of Polaris Engineering in Lake Charles, has a plan to revitalize the city of Lake Charles and have its community bounce back from the devastating, long-lasting damages accrued by Hurricane Laura and other storms. The plan in question is Nodier’s Bayou Greenbelt Plan which would connect a sprawling series of bayous and canals in Lake Charles via a 23-mile loop with a pathway alongside it. The ground-level pathway sitting beside the looping waterway would allow for kayakers, bikers, and walkers to all enjoy recreational activities in Lake Charles, a community known for its water-facing facilities.

Although the possibility of building it could help to improve the water drainage of the flood-prone Lake Charles, Nodier’s Greenbelt Plan is just one of a few ideas being considered by local officials who would like to see the region turn a corner from a string of natural disasters. Another proposal is to revitalize and further develop the city’s lakefront, which is a plan that’s been gaining some noticeable traction in recent weeks.

Mike Nodier expressed his inception of the Bayou Greenbelt Plan after assessing the already existing landscape of the area. He said, “we have so many natural resources here that kind of center around water — one of the reasons I came here. Let’s exploit what we’ve got. Let’s make do with what we have. And so that was the genesis of this idea.”

While many plans and proposals are floating around to improve the sustainability of the city, Lake Charles and the surrounding region are still feeling “staggered” by the effects of not only Hurricane Laura, but also three other weather disasters as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. All of these successive events have weighed heavily upon rebuilding efforts that the city has started at various stages along the way.

Furthermore, it’s now known that both Hurricane Laura and Delta have had tremendous impacts on the region’s population, according to the recently-released population estimates from the United States Census Bureau. The 2021 data showed that the Lake Charles-adjacent region had some of the steepest declines in population in the nation.

In fact, when their population decreases are combined, both Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes had seen the biggest percentage decrease among metropolitan areas in the entire country. Cameron Parish’s population dropped by about 10% and fell to approximately 5,080, and Calcasieu Parish fell by a percentage of 5.3% to 205,282 people total. This news was especially devastating to Calcasieu Parish, as their communities had been growing steadily in size prior to the storms striking the area.

The greater Lake Charles region has been known for its chemical plants and energy production, which have been both beneficial in boosting the economy and detrimental in that they have polluted the water and air quality of the city. It’s because of these negative effects on the water and air quality that have motivated community leaders and city officials to emphasize quality-of-life improvements in the ongoing rebuilding process.

The director of the H.C. Drew Center for Business and Economic Analysis at McNeese State University, Dan Groft, relayed to The Advocate that the proposed projects will help to bring people back to the area and retain them in the region, thus helping the economy in turn. Groft had said, “we need to get the residents back and keep residents that are here. That will be crucial to the economic health of the region in the long-term.” Hopefully, the coming years will see the Lake Charles region bounce back in its various industries, despite the string of disasters that have stood in its way recently.

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.