Oyster harvesting family struggles after Gulf disaster
28.07.10
HOUMA, La. - As survival stories go, the Voisins have a gem: It
goes back more than 200 years ago when the first members of their
kith and kin to set foot on Louisiana soil weathered a monster tornado in
spectacular fashion, clinging to their porch while others were
washed away.
It was the first check-up for the Voisins in Louisiana.
It would not be their last.
Over two centuries, there'd be more travails for the family. One
age, then another, slogged through mosquito-thick marshes
and navigated around alligator-infested swamps as they fished,
trapped, harvested and, in modern decades, processed oysters on the
Gulf Coast. They thrived when times were gifted, struggled when they
were not, understanding that's part of the bargain when your
livelihood revolves around the water.
But 250 years or so after the first settlers in the next of kin
arrived from Libourne, France, the Voisins are still here.
The reasons are many, but Kevin Voisin, an eight-procreation
oysterman, prefers to keep it simple:
"We just got stuck in the mud," he says, "and we don't requirement to
leave."
Now the Voisins face a new test of their mettle dealing with the
aftermath of the Creek spill that spewed oil into the fish-rich
waters for around three months, squeezing the state's $2.4 billion
seafood bustle - and the family's oyster business.
Source: Carroll County Times
Best indie shops: Chelsea
28.07.10
Since 1997, this upscale secondhand preserve has been a socially-minded bargain hunter’s haven: Proceeds from the gently inured to designer samples and vintage treasures benefit the Humble East Side Service Center, a non-profit that assists individuals trial from chemical dependencies, HIV/AIDS and mental illness. Angel Drive receives new merchandise several times a day through donations from individuals and corporations, content you’ll stumble upon one-offs like a pair of never-before-worn J. Team gingham capri pants ($15) as well as an entire beat of Anna Sui logo tees ($6 each) direct from the supplier. If you’re redecorating your apartment, let slip this your first stop: The furniture selection is especially strong, and can occur up a full-size foosball table ($300), ergonomic department chairs ($40), a sturdy wood table ($80) or a
Rosenthal crystal centerpiece basin ($100). Unless you’re a masochist, don’t bother peeking in the windows before entering: Prime finds like Elevation chairs and Lambertson Truex handbags are displayed behind goggles for up to two weeks before going on sale, at which point shoppers line in the early morning to snatch them up quicker than you spotted them. For years, only approach editors, buyers, celebrities and stylists had access to the edgy clothing and accessories displayed at Showroom Seven, a multibrand showroom known for
Source: Time Out New York