Eno Lirette
February 12, 2007Broadcasters enjoy a boon market in Tri-parishes
February 14, 2007
Nearly 30 students out of New Jersey had the opportunity to participate in their first Mardi Gras experience, after their local Chamber of Commerce set up a humanitarian effort for Houma hurricane evacuees.
The initial sister relationship between the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce and the Bernards Township Chamber of Commerce out of New Jersey formed when Bernards’ chamber executive director Al LiCata contact the local chamber executive director Kandy Theriot asking what they could do to help.
“As the hurricane’s tracking became more predictable, I went to my chamber president and told him it looked like the storms were going to cause major damages in the Southeast Louisiana area. I wanted to somehow form a relief effort to get supplies to the people because I knew they would need them,” LiCata said.
LiCata said the Bernards Township chamber established 70 drop-off sites in five of the New Jersey counties.
After searching the Internet for local chambers in Louisiana, LiCata said he knew that he would need an entity large enough to distribute the supplies to the community. He said he came upon the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, which had one of the only working phone lines in the area.
LiCata said he was initially impressed with the local chamber because it had received an accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its service to the community.
“Anyone who knows anything about Chamber of Commerce’s knows that an accredition from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is big business,” he said.
Theriot said once a week for nearly six weeks, an 18-wheeler came down bringing personal care items for the Katrina evacuees in the Houma-Terrebonne area. After the storms, Theriot and some of the chamber members went to New Jersey to show their appreciation to the Bernards Township Chamber and the community.
In return, several Bernards Township chamber members came down around this same time last year for the opening weekend of the Mardi Gras festivities in Houma. Once, the sister relationship between the two chambers was built, they decided to keep it going.
The New Jersey tourists enjoyed the parades so much that they asked if their local high school band could participate in the festivities. The two executive directors said they felt it would be a great opportunity for a cultural activity for the Jersey students.
The Somerset Hills School District’s school board gave its approval and so did the krewe captains of Hercules and Aquarian in Houma.
Only a portion of the band came down for this year’s Mardi Gras festivities.
The high school students toured places in New Orleans and Houma learning about the Southeast Louisiana culture. When asked about all the attractions they were experiencing a few of the students said it was a lot different from being in New Jersey.
Bernards High School senior Dan Depodwin, 17, said Houma is more relaxing and refreshing. He said he wants to come back next year and years to come to see more of what Louisiana has to offer. Seventeen-year-old Taryn Swadva said the atmosphere in New Orleans was lively. She said driving through the towns and seeing all the damage Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused put the whole experience into prospective.
“It’s a lot different when you see the damage up close and personal than when you see it on the news,” Swadva said.
Only a few of the students had heard stories about what goes on during Mardi Gras. Senior Allison Cembrook, 17, said she definitely knew that this was an experience she would never forget.
Students may have an opportunity to experience Louisiana again. The chambers are trying to start a cultural exchange program. Bernards High School Principal Dr. Lynn Caravello and her staff visited several local high schools to set up future band service projects.
“We were so impressed with the people in Houma. People went out of their way to thank us for our support. Everyone was touched by the experience,” Caravello said during a telephone interview Monday.
“It would be a great idea for the local bands to come to New Jersey for the chambers annual Holiday parade,” LiCata said.
Staff photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN • Tri-Parish Times * Band students from Bernards High School in Bernardsville, N.J., were among those participating in the Krewe of Hercules and Aquarius in Houma over the weekend. The students, school administrators and chamber members came to celebrate their first Mardi Gras. Pictured are seniors Dan Depodwin, Taryn Swadva and Allissa Cembrook.
