Twin city discussed in Eunice

The French flowed like, well, more like iced tea as about 20 people met Tuesday over lunch to discuss twinning the city of Eunice with Jouars-Pontchartrain in France.
Jouars-Pontchartrain is in north central France and has a population of about 5,000 people.
Marianne Hastir, of Brussels, Belgium, acted as translator during the meeting at Ruby’s. She described the role of Claude and Pierrette Grajean, of Jouars-Pontchartrain, as “scouts” for the French city’s mayor.
Grejean said the city has been twinned with Hammond, but there is a lack of French speakers there.
Former Eunice Mayor Curtis Joubert may have been reassuring as he spoke to Marianne, her husband, Michel Levay, and Claude and his wife, Pierrette.
“The great thing about twinning cities has always been about grass roots diplomacy,” Joubert said. “In this world it is very hard to get to know people, but it is hard not to like somebody when you know them well.”
Jack Burson, current alderman at-large, said a majority of the council was present -- himself, Jason Bertrand and Marion “Nootsie” Sattler — and they “would be supportive of that kind of effort.”
Marianne Hastir said she was on her sixth trip to Louisiana.
“We love Louisiana. We love your culture. We love everything, otherwise we wouldn’t come back. And, we have a lot of friends everywhere,” she said.
This was her third or fourth trip to Eunice, she said.
She pointed out her family comes from La Roche-en-Ardenne in Belgium, a city Eunice twinned with in 1989.
Eunice also twinned with Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1999.
Tuesday’s connection occurred through Jean-Robert Frigault of Codofil.
Musician Geno Delafose is to perform in France within the year. He attended Tuesday’s meeting.
“I think it is very important that we twin up with this city,” he said. “It is great to get some of our folks out there and get some of theirs over here.”
Lynn Lejeune, former Eunice mayor and now president and chief executive officer of the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce, said the possible twinning is wonderful.
“What an opportunity for us to welcome citizens from another country to visit us, to taste the food, enjoy the music and the culture and the wonderful people we have in our community,” she said.
For Dwight Jodon, an organizer of October’s Experience Louisiana Festival in Eunice, said, “The possibilities culturally are just really neat. And having Curtis and Sharon (Fontenot), who have been involved in that process in the past helps.”
Jodon added, “I think this is just another sign that things are starting to dial up culturally for Eunice again.”
Speaking of tourism and Joubert, Lejeune said, “When Curtis was in office he was before his time with all of that.”
The four travelers were introduced at the Eunice Board of Alderman’s meeting Tuesday evening.