Belle Chasse senior will represent 2009 festival

Sept. 12 was a milestone in the life of Belle Chasse High School senior, Sophia Perlander, who won the title of 2009 Orange Festival queen.

The following weekend, she was off to one of the many festivals in the state where she will represent our parish and teach others what Plaquemines has to offer.

She said she didn't think she would win because she was one of the youngest to run. When I found out she doesn't have a driver's license yet, I asked, "How are you going to get around to the different festivals?" She simply replied, "My aunts and friends have volunteered to drive me wherever I need to go. I don't think it will be a problem." I am pretty sure too that it won't be long before she applies for her license.

She enjoys arts and crafts and proudly showed me some things she made. She especially enjoys pottery. It could be an inherited gift. Her father, Jason Perlander, who has raised her alone since she was 2, is a film art creator. Look for an upcoming column on him sometime in the future.

Sophia plans on attending Louisiana State University next fall and is interested in studying biology. At this point, she thinks she wants to be an orthodontist.

Sophia, all the best to you in life's endeavors. I know that the coming year will be the busiest of your life; I also know it will probably be the most memorable year of your life.

Royalty is all around Belle Chasse. This year's Orange Festival King is none other than Bill Bubrig, our local insurance agent who has been involved in the festival for 10 years, chairing the Run for the Oranges as well as working on many other projects. As he got older he took on many other roles and has served on the board of directors for a long time.

It must run in the family. After all, his dad, former District Attorney Darryl Bubrig, served as king in 1989. He must be really proud. Bill's mother is Reba Buras Bubrig, and he has three daughters with his wife, Gena. Their names are Eden, age 15; Olivia, age 13; and Julianna, age 9.

Bill graduated from Tulane University in 1988 with a bachelor's in economics and immediately went to work selling insurance for Prudential. He is a successful businessman who now owns Bubrig Insurance Agency. He and Gena are active in the community and in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, where they served as fair chairmen from 2003-2006.

Congratulations to both Sophia and Bill. We all hope you both have an exciting year ahead of you.

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Anyone who knows the location of a time capsule buried on the grounds of Port Sulphur and Buras High Schools is asked to contact Alberta Cousson at 504.595.6340 as soon as possible. They are hoping to relocate them before demolition is completed.