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When Maxie Pierce Grocery in Intracoastal City closes on Sept. 30, it will be for the last time after 65 years for this family business. If you want one last shrimp po-boy or fishing tackle on sale, you better get there soon.
The Boffys are hoping to sell the lot and building as a camp or office in the coming months.
The family business first opened as Maxie Pierce’s Restaurant in 1955.
Maxie and Estelle Pierce capitalized on the growing industries in Intracoastal City in the 1950s and 60s by also opening a filling station, boat launch, and grocery store in 1962.
They built a new bar and restaurant near the current public boat launch in 1969. Many locals enjoyed the restaurant through the 1970s into the early 1980s and have continued to patronize the grocery store for nearly six decades.
Becky Boffy started working weekends in the family businesses for her parents at the age of 12.
Along with her husband Denis, Boffy bought the grocery store from her father, Maxie Pierce, in 1992. When the Boffys took over, much of the business included supplying groceries for the oil and gas industry.
When the Boffys rebuilt the business after Hurricane Rita, they added a deli to provide breakfast and lunch to customers.“We want to thank our loyal customers in Vermilion and the surrounding parishes for many wonderful years. We will miss seeing our friends every day but are looking forward to spending more time with our grandchildren,” agreed Denis and Becky Boffy.

The Abbeville Lady Wildcats’ volleyball team opened the 2020 season in front of no fans or students cheering. Instead, the Abbeville gym had players, managers, two referees, Principal Brett Darby, coaches and the clock operator.
While the gym was not as noisy as it could have been, there was cheering going on.
For the Lady Wildcats, Thursday’s game was a season-opener against West St. Mary. Abbeville had only a handful of practices leading up to Thursday’s match.
This year’s Lady Cat team did not have much time to mesh with the departure of seven seniors. No scrimmages were leading up to the first match. Instead, the first game of the year was the first time these AHS girls played someone other than themselves.
The bad news is that the Lady Wildcats lost in three sets, 25-15, 25-19 and 28-26.
The good news is that each set they played, they improved.
In the first set, they lost by 10. In the second, it was only six points. And the third set Abbeville had a chance to win but ended up losing by two points.
It was positive showing for head volleyball coach Ashly Boudreaux.
“We only had three or four practices because of COVID-19,” said Boudreaux. “All you could do is work to get better. We came out nervous and the rotations were not right. We can fix those things. Today’s match was more like a scrimmage. It showed us what we need to work on.”
After dropping the first set, Abbeville rebounded in the second set and jumped out to a 6-1 lead. The lead went to 7-3 on Abbie Mouton’s serve.
But then Abbeville blinked and saw its big lead shrink to 8-6. West St. Mary tied it 9-9 and then the Lady Wildcats tied it again, 11-11 on Karina Patel’s serve.
Abbeville retook the lead 18-16 on a dink shot by Mouton. But after that, West St. Mary rallied and out scored Abbeville 9-1 to secure the win.
In the third set, Abbeville stayed close and tied it 20-20 and then got behind 23-20. Abbeville’s Makayla Lopez found a hole and Mouton smashed a serve that was not returned to make it a 23-23 game.
The Lady Wildcats took a 26-25 lead thanks to two West St. Mary errors with Alexis Stelly serving. Unfortunately, Abbeville could not finish off West St. Mary. They scored three straight points to hold off Abbeville (0-1).
Stelly led Abbeville in serving with five aces. Emma Reynolds and Abbie Mouton had each three aces. Payton Brown and Makayla Lopez both had one ace. Lopez led with three assists. Stelly, Lopez and Mouton had each a kill.

Whether in business, within civic organizations, or as part of government entities, there are women in leadership roles throughout Vermilion Parish.
As the 100th president of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Megan Landry-Lalande wanted to help create an event that would not only recognize those women leaders but would help encourage other women to take a step to become leaders in the community.
That event came to fruition Thursday as the Vermilion Chamber played host to the first-ever women’s leadership luncheon, which took place at L’eglise.
More than 30 women in attendance heard the event’s theme, “Energize. Inspire. Celebrate. Women Leaders!”
“We are so grateful to be able to bring this kind of event to our members and guests,” Lalande said. “When I became president earlier this year, one event I felt so led to initiate was a summit for women. In Vermilion Parish, I feel our women are always seeking growth, always looking to network. There are several businesses and organizations that have women leading the way.
“We thank you, and we encourage you to continue to help our parish flourish.”
Attendees heard Thursday from three women who have flourished in leadership roles. Ashley Mudd, executive director of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana, Dr. Phyllis Dupuis, former chancellor of South Louisiana Community College, and Dr. Tina Chargois, supervisor of Distance Learning for the Vermilion Parish School System, each spoke on different aspects of leadership.
Chargois, who served as the keynote speaker, spoke about her life growing up in Kaplan, being a mother of three and all the work she put into becoming the leader she is today.
“I know each of us here today has a story about our journey to leadership,” Chargois said. “Looking at my bio, I’m sure it seems unusual for a person to list primary caregiver of her 81-year-old mom and being mother of three in a professional bio.
“Those are the very things that make us the unique leaders that we are.”
Chargois said leadership is not about separating a career from home.
“We multitask at work,” Chargois said. “Then, we go home for our second shift and start multitasking all over.
“This is one of the many things that make women uniquely qualified to be great leaders.”
Chargois said the home is where strong leaders can begin to grow. She said she received inspiration from her mother, Delores Broussard, the first woman elected to the Kaplan City Council.
“I bet most of you come from a line of strong women,” Chargois said.
Volunteering can strengthen one’s ability to become a better leader. Mudd, a graduate of Abbeville High, said community service is essential to her.
“I have built my entire career around this,” Mudd said. “My first job was as the office manager of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Acadiana. I really got to see the importance of having dedicated citizens who want to make the world a better place by volunteering their time.”
Volunteering can bring you in contact with people you may never otherwise meet.
“I would say that 90% of my profession and personal circle today,” Mudd said, “comes from relationships that were built through giving back in the Acadiana area.
“I would say that the friendships and bonds you can make through this type of work can be so much stronger.”
Mudd said it is no small thing to bring little ones along when volunteering.
“If you have an opportunity to bring your kids along,” Mudd said, “bring them. My mom, Annette Mudd, is in Rotary. She has always done those sorts of things. That is the message she always sent to us.
“If you care about the community you live in, you are going to go out to try to make it a better place, whether you’re paid to do it or not.”
Having a better understanding of strengths is something Dupuis said can help make a better leader. Dr. Dupuis is a certified Emergenetics associate for Enspire Consultants.
“Many of you have been in our workshops before,” Dupuis said. “We want people to understand their strengths and preferences. We want people to understand what they do well.”
Dupuis said that listening to opposing views and ideas is vital to leadership.
“A successful leader is one who understands their preferences,” Dupuis said, “and then surrounds themselves with people who are different from them.”
Women take different paths to leadership. Chargois said the key for all of them is always to press forward.
“Like most women,” Chargois said, “I know what it’s like to be overlooked and underestimated. Change is hard. We love predictability and consistency. Change is the catalyst for great things. If I had said no to quitting a job to pursue my doctorate, I would not be the person I am today in the name of predictability and consistency.”
Lalande said she hopes Thursday’s event can be something that has an impact well into the future.
“My hope is that as women, we can continue to create opportunities for ourselves,” Lalande said. “I want us to flourish, not only in our homes but to expand that into our communities. Let’s work together to mold a greater future for those who are going to follow the groundwork that we are leaving today.
“I look forward to seeing many of you become a bigger part of our Parish.”

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Sally Intermediate Advisory Number 11A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL192020
700 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2020
...SALLY A LITTLE STRONGER AS IT MOVES SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD
OVER THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO...
...LIKELY TO PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, HURRICANE-FORCE
WINDS, AND FLASH FLOODING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN GULF COAST
STARTING LATE TODAY...
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.4N 87.4W
ABOUT 115 MI...185 KM ESE OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM SE OF BILOXI MISSISSIPPI
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB...29.35 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Port Fourchon Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida Border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
* Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New
Orleans
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama Border to Indian Pass Florida
* Intracoastal City Louisiana to west of Morgan City
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Indian Pass to Ochlockonee River Florida
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction
of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm
Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas
should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from
rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Sally was located near latitude 28.4 North, longitude 87.4 West. Sally is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). This general motion is expected today, followed by a decrease in forward speed and a turn to the northwest tonight and a northward turn sometime on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Sally will move over the north-central Gulf of Mexico today, approach southeastern
Louisiana this afternoon, and make landfall in the hurricane warning area on Tuesday. Afterward, Sally is expected to move slowly
north-northeastward near the northern Gulf Coast through Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)
with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected over the next day or
so, and Sally is forecast to become a hurricane by tonight, with
additional strengthening possible before the center crosses the
northern Gulf Coast.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km)
from the center. NOAA buoy 42039, located about 130 miles (215 km)
south-southeast of Pensacola, Florida, recently reported peak
sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) and a gust to 58 mph (94 km/h).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.35 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Sally can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC,
and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml(link is external)
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs including Lake
Borgne...7-11 ft
Ocean Springs to MS/AL Border...5-8 ft
MS/AL Border to AL/FL Border including Mobile Bay...4-6 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...4-6 ft
Port Fourchon to Mouth of the Mississippi River...3-5 ft
AL/FL Border to Navarre including Pensacola Bay...2-4 ft
Navarre to Chassahowitzka including Choctawhatchee Bay and Saint
Andrew Bay...1-3 ft
Burns Point to Port Fourchon...1-3 ft
Overtopping of local levees outside of the Hurricane and Storm
Damage Risk Reduction System is possible where local inundation
values may be higher than those shown above.
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
damaging waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning area starting late today. Tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area during the next few hours, and are
expected within the warning area beginning this morning.
RAINFALL: Sally is expected to be a slow-moving system as it
approaches land producing 8 to 16 inches of rainfall with isolated
amounts of 24 inches over portions of the central Gulf Coast from
the western Florida Panhandle to far southeast Louisiana through the
middle of the week. Life-threatening flash flooding is possible. In
addition, this rainfall will likely lead to widespread minor to
isolated major flooding on area rivers.
Sally is forecast to move farther inland early Wednesday and track
into the Southeast with rainfall of 6 to 12 inches possible across
portions of inland southeast Mississippi and Alabama. Significant
flash and urban flooding is likely, as well as widespread minor to
moderate flooding on some rivers.
Further heavy rain is then anticipated across portions of eastern
Tennessee, northern Georgia and western North Carolina Thursday into
Friday. Flash, urban, and minor river flooding is possible across
this region.
Outer bands of Sally are expected to produce additional rainfall of
1 to 3 inches across the Florida peninsula today. This rainfall may
produce flash and urban flooding and prolong high flows and ongoing
minor flooding on rivers across central Florida.
TORNADOES: A tornado or two may occur this afternoon through
Tuesday over coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi,
Alabama, and extreme southeastern Louisiana.
SURF: Swells from Sally will continue to affect areas from the
west coast of the Florida peninsula westward through the coast of
southeastern Louisiana during the next couple of days. These swells
are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.