Author Archives: Dane Thibodeaux
Please join us at
House Concert – celebrating Valentines Day – benefiting The TECHE Project
Sat Feb 18th. 6:30 pm
304 Gordon Crocket Dr, Lafayette, LA. 337-780-1187
Music by Jeff Case with special guests.
“The Lady in Red Concert”
Featuring love songs and other music, poetry readings, champagne and a chocolate fountain.
Donations will be accepted to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lafayette with ALL donations to go to the TECHE Project.
We are proud to announce our 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Chad Markerson. Chad was born and raised on the Bayou Teche in Franklin, Louisiana. He has many fond memories growing up on the Teche. Since he was 5 years old he would crank up his grandmothers 2 horse Evanrude and go for boat rides. As he got older, the boat engines got a little bigger as Chad began to enjoy fishing and hunting. Chad is currently fixing up that same boat to give to his nephew.
When his mom and dad were not particularly getting along, Chad’s dad would put him in the boat to go and stay at the camp. The next day at school, wearing his mud boots, Chad would puff out his chest and brag about getting to school by boat. It was a long time before Chad understood that “being in the dog house” was a bad thing. To this day Chad, wearing his mud boots, will puff out his chest and slide up to a bar stool at Lil’s because it’s still more fun when you get there by boat.
Chad has found his way back to the Bayou Teche and lives between Breaux Bridge and Parks. Chad owns his own Pest Control Company where he is a dedicated beekeeper. Chad has a great appreciation for living on the Bayou and it doesn’t take much to coax him into a boat ride. In fact, anyone who has been on a boat ride with Chad knows his dedication to “keeping it clean”. If approaching a floating tire, refrigerator, or bag of trash he gives an impromptu rant on the lackings of humanity. In the small spaces between explicatives there is no room for doubt that Chad is passionate about keeping the Bayou Teche clean. So don’t wear your good shoes in the boat with Chad. You may be sharing the boat with old bottles, broken ice chests, and slimy trash.
-From all of us at the TECHE Project Thank you for everything you do to keep our beautiful Bayou Teche Clean!
Saturday, January 28th
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Sliman Theater
129 East Main Street
New Iberia, Louisiana
BOATS of the BAYOU
Presentation by Dr. Ray Brassieur and a short film entitled In The Mind of the Maker by C.E. Richard
Local wooden boats including Teche Craft will be on display. An aluminum pirogue crafted by Jimmy Gravois will be raffled.
All Current Members Free
Not a Member? Join at the door!
Food, beverages, and entertainment provided
Watch this heartfelt video of on of our own Jimmy Gravois reunite with the paramedics that saved his life after a near fatal boating accident. We are so grateful for the men that found him and their quick action to call 911. We appreciate the hard work by the paramedics to make sure that Mr. Jimmy was okay and comfortable on the way to the Air Med. We love you Jimmy! We wouldn’t be the same without you.
***BREAKING***
Due to heavy rains causing Bayou Teche to swell, the boat part of procession is now cancelled. The Bishop will be in Leonville for Mass at 8 am as long as roads are open which they are expected to be. Exposition and Rosary as normal at scheduled times along with confessions as planned, but in the Churches (St. Francis Regis, St. Joseph, Borel Center, St. Joseph in Parks, Notre Dame, Etc. Foot procession at end in St. Martinville pending no rain.
Fr. Michael Champagne, CJC
Community of Jesus Crucified
First Trailhead on the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail
The first Bayou Teche Paddle Trail trailhead will be opened to the public on August 18th, at 11:00 a.m. during a Dedication Ceremony at Parc du Ponts in downtown Breaux Bridge (100 St. Bernard Street).
The paddle trail is the centerpiece of The TECHE Project’s EXPLORE It, one three facets of TECHE Renaissance vision that builds a nature-based economy on the Teche corridor. “The trailhead is the beginning of infrastructure that supports the paddle trail and builds heritage tourism through low-impact recreation,” says Brent Miller, Grant Administrator and Council Member with The TECHE Project, the organization managing the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail. “We are working hard to put a trailhead in each Trail Town along the Bayou Teche and Lower Atchafalaya River.” In January 2015, the non-profit organization successfully applied to get Bayou Teche Paddle Trail added to the National Water Trails System, a first for Louisiana. Designation as a national water trail placed the Teche in an elite group of rivers across the nation.
The new trailhead increases access for paddlers and provides such amenities as restrooms, water fountains, and places to lock up boats. By situating the trailhead in the downtown area, paddlers have walking access to provisions, lodging, restaurants, and dancehalls. “This trailhead facility is a welcome addition to the City of Breaux Bridge, and we are excited to be a partner in building the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail”, says Breaux Bridge Mayor Ricky Calais.
The trailhead was supported by a grant from the Federal Highways Administration’s (FHWA) Recreational Trails Program administered through the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism (DCRT). According to Michael W. Domingue, the FHWA Recreational Trails Program Administrator for Louisiana, “This outstanding National Paddle Trail provides a unique opportunity for recreationalists to explore the beauty and culture of south Louisiana by way of a water trail. The TECHE Project has done a great job of showcasing Bayou Teche and providing access to it for the people of Louisiana and our many visitors.” Other partners that worked to make this trailhead a reality include St. Martin Parish Tourism, Angelle Architects, Edward Cazayoux, The City of Breaux Bridge, TRAIL, and Nature’s Link.
More information about the dedication and the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail can be found at www.techeproject.org or by calling 337-441-BYOU(2968).