KEEPING THE ORCHESTRA AFLOAT PERFORMING ON FLOATING STAGE WITH HELP OF A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN
April 30, 2007Jessie Darcey
May 2, 2007
Houma will compete in the State’s cleanest city competition on May 4, after beating out New Iberia for the District E title in March.
Houma is competing under the sponsorship of the Terrebonne Garden Club, which is a part of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, the organization that started the competition nearly 50 years ago.
The competition is aimed at promoting civic pride in communities. Houma will be competing against seven similar sized cities from the southeast area.
Mary Jane Peters, the Terrebonne Garden Club president, said state garden federation was the first organization to show concern about Louisiana’s appearance.
“Houma has not always competed in the Cleanest City competition,” she said. However, at one point, Houma was considered the cleanest city in the whole state. Will it earn the title again is the question.
“[The district win] signifies that we can do it. If we can do it for a competition, then we can continue to keep the city clean,” said Juana Woodard, the local competition chairwoman.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office and concerned citizens have made it their mission to keep the area clean during the competition. However, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said his agency sends crews out to clean Houma every day, whether it’s for a competition or not.
Woodard said that is the type of attitude all citizens should have all year round. She said the club needs more support from the parish government and residents alike.
Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kandy Theriot said it is an honor for Houma to be competing and hopes the effort continues.
Drawing businesses and workers to the area requires a good first impression, Theriot said. And a trash-free city helps.
Woodard said some of the main problem areas are near Highway 311, at the corners of intersections in the parish and around the civic center. “I wish the parish would come up with a plan to keep the city clean,” she said.
Improving communication, Woodard argues, might be the starting point.
“If the sheriff’s office could clean up the trash before the city mowers mow that would make it a lot easier on the sheriff’s clean-up crew because the mowers cut up the trash into little pieces making the sides of the road look worse than before they mowed,” she said.
But Peters is still optimistic, noting the parish has made tremendous strides in cleaning up its act. “Hopefully, in years to come the city will be a cleaner place year-round,” she said.
