VOL. 1, NO. 5 / JUNE 4, 2009
ALSO: Nellie Partin Shares Her Textile Art The Garage Sale War Zone Fun Crafts for Kids Trash Bash 2009
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JUNE 4, 2009
Volume 1 • Issue 5
GENERAL 826 Ford St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262
contents 20
REGULARS
NEWS MANAGING EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque
6 8 9 10 11 14 16 17
lisa@thejambalayanews.com
CONTRIBUTORS L. Kay Andrews Leslie Berman Sara Blackwell James Doyle Dan Ellender Cheryl Krull Mike McHugh Jeanne Owens Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Steve Springer, M.D. Eric Zartler ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT Patricia Prudhomme SALES ASSOCIATE Jessica Robinson GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck darrell@thejambalayanews.com
BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER L. Kay Andrews
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Adventures of Booksmiths Tommie Townsley and Anne Dentler
publisher@thejambalayanews.com
EDITOR Lisa Yates
June 4, 2009 • Volume 1 • Issue 5
COVER STORY
PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque
lauren@thejambalayanews.com
On Cover: Tommie Townsley and Anne Dentler with their creation Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin. Illustration by Anne Dentler.
The Boiling Pot House Call Doyle’s Place The Dang Yankee What’s Cookin’ The Zestful Life Animal 411 RU Game?
FEATURES 5 12 24 26 30
New Location for LC Salvation Army Thrift Store Louviere Fine Arts Gallery Cloth is Her Canvas: Nellie Partin Fun Crafts for Kids The Garage Sale War Zone
ENTERTAINMENT 32 34 35 36 40 41 43 45
Red Hot Books Family Night at the Movies Funbolaya Society Spice Killin’ Time Crossword Jambalaya Jam The Local Jam Eclectic Company
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The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by The Jambalaya News, LLC, 826 Ford Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2009 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. DISTRIBUTION: The Jambalaya News is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Jambalaya News may be distributed only by The Jambalaya News authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Jambalaya News take more than one copy of each issue from its racks. Volume 1 • Issue 5
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From the Publisher My wife Lauren and I recently spent a glorious Sunday afternoon on the Lacassine Bayou. Our friends Chuck and Karen Henderson took a group of us out on their party barge, and what an amazing day it was. We skimmed along the bayou past the cypress knees, observing ducks, egrets, baby alligators and the occasional bright flash of a jumping fish. Chuck knows the ins and outs of that spectacular waterway, and expertly made his way through mysterious inlets, with Spanish moss hanging thickly in the trees and the hush of the swamp around us. All in all, it was an unforgettable day. There is so much unique beauty in Southwest Louisiana. We’ve only been here five years, so there’s
much we haven’t seen yet. But as time permits, we love to get away from our busy lives and explore the surrounding areas. The American Recreation Coalition has announced Saturday, June 13, as National Get Outdoors Day 2009. It was created to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun across the United States. So, why not make a special effort on that day to get the kids away from the computer and TV and take the family to some of the wonderful spots along the Creole Nature Trail. There’s so much to see and do, including crabbing, fishing, bird watching, swimming and shelling. Take advantage of all the natural resources Southwest Louisiana has to offer. You’ll be glad you did. See you out and about!
– Phil de Albuquerque TJN
The Jambalaya News would like to welcome our new media sale rep, Jessica Robinson, to the staff. Jessica hails from Enterprise, Alabama. She graduated from Middle Tennessee University, where she played volleyball and won four conference championships. Most recently, she was assistant volleyball coach at McNeese State University. Jessica is a people person and loves her new job. “I’m so glad to be a part of The Jambalaya News,” she said. “I’m working with wonderful people!”
Jessica Robinson
Phil enjoys a day on Lacassine Bayou
Cong winne ratulation s to ro Carle f our Find t Carley Go y too he Fa det, cooki k home a d ke ad cont es fro m Swe ozen delici est! o ets & Treat us s.
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JUNE 4, 2009
Volume 1 • Issue 5
By Lauren de Albuquerque
If you live in downtown Lake Charles, you’re going to have to travel a little farther for your bargains. The Lake Charles Salvation Army Thrift Store has found a new home. The new store is located on Highway 14, across the street from Kroger’s in the old Rite Aid building. “We just outgrew the old store,” said Larry Wigley, The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope director, of the Broad St. location. “The old building had three rooms. Now, we have one big room with more square footage. It’s a much better facility with more room.” The store had a “soft” opening last month that went extremely well. “They bought us out,” Wrigley laughed. “So we really need donations more than ever. We’re looking for anything—furniture, clothing, everything. There will be a grand opening on June 18 that promises to be exciting. A few years ago, Phil and I had a discount clothing store on Ryan St.
called Northeast Outlet. We closed after a year and moved all of our merchandise to a warehouse in Sulphur, which also houses the results of weekend after weekend of garage saling and the houses that we would occasionally clean out. I had an eBay business, and anything that didn’t sell online ended up there. We would open the warehouse as a flea market on Saturdays and during the holidays, and had a loyal following. But life changes, and since we no longer had the time to run the warehouse, we decided to close it. But what to do with all that stuff? Phil happened to stop into the old Salvation Army Thrift Store as they were getting ready to move. There, he met Larry Wigley, who told him that donations were down and that he was concerned about filling up the new space. It sounded like a win-win situation for all of us. Very shortly, our warehouse will emptied, and all items will go to the
new location in time for the grand opening. They include hundreds of pieces of brand-name clothing for the whole family with the tags still on them, four brand-new entertainment centers still in the box, and all kinds of knickknacks, household and holiday items too numerous to mention. Stop by and stock up! Wigler and his staff are grateful for our donation and are excited about the new store. “We made sure it was on a bus line so that we could continue to serve the people who need it the most,” he said. The store is currently open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but the hours will probably increase—although it will always remain closed on Sunday. “We’re first and foremost a church,” he reminded me. Wigler, a pipefitter by trade, has lived in various parts of the country. He came to this area in 2006, but there was no work at the plants. A local staffing agency sent him to The
Salvation Army to do data entry during the disaster recovery process. A year later, he was running the Center of Hope, which is a transitional shelter program. “I’ve lived all over, and I have to say, this is a very giving community,” said Wigley. “I’m here to stay.” There are two other convenient thrift store locations in the area. The Moss Bluff store is at 329 Highway 378, and the Westlake store is located at 1008 Sampson St. “These stores are working out well and we don’t plan on moving them,” Wigley said. The Salvation Army is grateful for any and all donations. “In these times, with people getting laid off, they really need us,” he said. “There isn’t much disposable income any more. We offer gently used items at great prices.” Donations are accepted at the dropoff areas at each location. For more information, go to www.salvationarmylakecharles.org. TJN
History of The Salvation Army The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William Booth, a London minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the people who needed it the most: the poor, the homeless, the destitute. His initial plan was to send his converts to established churches, but he soon realized that the churches of Victorian England were far from welVolume 1 • Issue 5
coming to the shabby folks who attempted to worship there. So Booth decided to found a church especially for them. He called it the East London Christian Mission. Although it grew slowly, Booth’s faith remained strong. In May of 1878, Booth, his son, Bramwell, and his friend George Railton read a proof of the Christian Mission’s annual report. The first sentence read: “The Christian Mission is
a Volunteer Army.” The wording did not sit well with Bramwell. He was not a volunteer: He was duty-bound to do the work of the Lord. So Booth crossed out “Volunteer” and wrote “Salvation” – and The Salvation Army was born. By the 1900s, the Army soon had officers and soldiers in 36 countries, including the United States. The organization spawned a great many much-needed services, such as
women’s social work, the first food depot, the first day nursery and the first Salvation Army missionary hospital. During World War II, The Salvation Army operated 3,000 service units for the armed forces, which led to the formation of the USO. Today, The Salvation Army is stronger than ever, and is in over 106 countries around the world.
TJN
JUNE 4, 2009
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The
Boiling
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Donna Stelly Jorden, RRT and Lana Credeur-Gammage, RRT, AE-C W. O. Moss Regional Asthma Educator Certified Donna Stelly Jorden, RRT, recently passed the National Asthma Educator Certification Examination. She joins Lana Credeur-Gammage, RRT, AE-C as W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center’s second board-certified asthma educator. An AE-C is an expert in teaching, educating, and counseling individuals with asthma and their families in the knowledge and skills necessary to minimize the impact on their quality of life. Donna is a registered respiratory therapist and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University. Lana is also a registered respiratory therapist and has an Associate of Arts degree from Allegany College of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University. Turner Receives CMN “Miracle Maker” Memorial Award CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center Cardiologist Michael Turner, M.D. is the recipient of the 2009 Children’s Miracle Network’s Dr. Charles Michael “Buzzy” Vanchiere, Sr. “Miracle Maker” Memorial Award. The award was presented to Turner on Friday, May 29, during the CMN Telecast broadcast live on KPLC. Turner has been instrumental in getting Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in 27 area Dr. Michael Turner schools following 2008 CMN Miracle Kid Marcus Carter’s near fatal cardiac arrest. Dr. Turner began practicing medicine in Lake Charles in 1975 and serves as the Medical Director of the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center and Director of Outpatient Cardiac CT. He is a Fellow of The American College of Cardiology and immediate past ACC Governor for Louisiana. He is board-certified in cardiology and cardiac CT. PAGE 6
JUNE 4, 2009
From left to right: Janice Broussard, Mike Tran, Yolanda Washington, Ten-Chie Delande, Pannee Keene, Donna Courts L’Auberge du Lac Announces April Five Star Employees L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort recently announced its April Five Star Employees and Employee of the Month. The April Five Stars are: Pannee Keene, a buffet cook; Mike Tran, an engineer; Donna Courts, a revenue auditor; Ten-Chie Delande, a banquets cook; Janice Broussard, a casino host; and Yolanda Washington, a slot floor person. Janice Broussard was also designated as the April Employee of the Month and is now eligible to receive the coveted Employee of the Year award. Broussard joined L’Auberge in April 2005 as a member of the resorts opening team. The Lake Charles native graduated from St. Charles Academy. Broussard has never missed a day of work. Sarah Cash Sanders Awarded Doctorate of Education Sarah Cash Sanders, formerly of Lake Charles and now of Conroe, Texas, was recently awarded the Doctorate of Education at Sam Houston State University in Texas. A portion of her doctoral dissertation has already been accepted for presentation at the 2009 National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, San Antonio. Sanders graduated from McNeese University with a degree in education and Sarah Cash Sanders began teaching in the Conroe Independent School District while attending graduate school. She is currently principal of a 980-student middle school in Conroe. Sarah is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Joe (Lydia) Cash of Lake Charles and the wife of William Jeffrey Sanders. They have a son, Thomas. Cameron Communications Expands Services in Moss Bluff Cameron Communications announced expansion of its cable TV, Internet and phone services to new Moss Bluff neighborhoods in response to a large Volume 1 • Issue 5
number of requests by residents. The expansion of the company’s fiber-optic network will make service available to 237 more homes in the developed areas of Coffey Pines, Orleans Run, Pentangeli Square, Christy Drive and Evergreen Estates. Cameron Communications already serves more than 1,000 Moss Bluff homes. Construction on the expansion project began May 18. Completion is expected by late summer to early fall, with some home installations as soon as July. Cameron Communications will offer free activation and free-months-ofservice incentives to new customers in the Moss Bluff service areas, and will continue to monitor requests for service in Moss Bluff, and expand into areas where demand is great. Moss Bluff residents can call 855-2009 for more information. Family & Youth Receives Donation from Church of the Good Shepherd David Duplechian, associate executive director of Family & Youth was presented with a $5,000 donation from Annette Ballard and Patty Grandy from The Church of the Good Shepherd. The funds raised by The Church of the Good Shepherd’s Book Fair will go to the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Children & Families Action Network (CFAN)—all programs of Family & Youth. Family & Youth, a United Way Agency, believes that all individuals possess the ability to solve their own challenges and live full and healthy lives when support is available. For experienced professional assistance, contact Family & Youth at (337) 436-9533 or (888) 414-FYCA. Jack G. Wheeler Named Division 12 Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis Club Jack G. Wheeler will take office of lieutenant governor of Division 12, effective October 1, 2009. He is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of South Lake Charles and a past president of the club. Division 12 consists of the following parishes: Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Beauregard, Vernon and Allen. His duties as lieutenant governor consist of attending Kiwanis International and district conventions, conferences and board meetings, educating incoming presidents and secretaries, and visiting clubs throughout the district. Wheeler resides in south Lake Charles and is a partner in the law firm of Fraser Wheeler LLP.
Locally Owned and Operated
Flight Services Include: • Aerial Tours • Rides/Promotions • Cattle Herding • Digital Aerial Photography • Electronic News Gathering • Powerline / Pipeline Patrol • Storm Damage Assessment • Fish & Wildlife Management • Construction Site Inspections • Oil & Gas Industry Support • Artificial Pollination - Corn / Rice • Search-Rescue-Recovery / Law Enforcement Max Trost and his son Max Alajandro
MAX TROST Owner/Pilot Southland Field Airport, Sulphur, La 70665 Office (337) 583-2742 • Cell (337) 802-4209 E-mail: maxairhelicopters@yahoo.com
Visit our website at maxairhelicopters.com
WCCH Honors Employees During Nurses Week West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently celebrated National Nurses Week by announcing several outstanding employees as RN, LPN, Nurse Aide, and Support Person of the year. These individuals were nominated and then voted on by their co-workers. Registered Nurse of the Year is Sandy Layfield. Sandy works in the Surgical Services Department at WCCH, in both the Same Day Surgery Unit and Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit and has been with the hospital for over 29 years. Sandy Layfield Phyllis Burnitt works in ICU and is LPN of the Year. She has been at WCCH for 19 years. According to her supervisor Becky Stein, Phyllis has always volunteered for projects to help improve ICU, and is a very knowledgeable nurse with excellent teaching skills. She has been a Super User for McKesson, a new health care information Phyllis Burnitt system at WCCH, serving as an Elizabeth Daigle invaluable teacher for the new project. The Nurse Aide of the Year is Elizabeth Daigle. Annette Belcher, her supervisor, describes Elizabeth as one of the most caring and compassionate women she has ever met. Elizabeth has been with WCCH for one year. Support Person of the Year is Wanda McClelland, an employee of WCCH for over ten years. She is a staff member in the Surgical Services Department and works Wanda McClelland in the Sterile Processing Department as a technician who processes equipment for surgical procedures. Continued on page 9 Volume 1 • Issue 5
JUNE 4, 2009
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By Steve Springer M.D.
Would you like to win $5,000 worth of jewelry? Then go on a treasure hunt—courtesy of Diamond Durrell’s and The Swashbucklers! Pick up the next issue of The Jambalaya News for your clues! The prize will be given at the June 29 Swashbucklers game. Be there! TJN
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JUNE 4, 2009
Here Comes the Sun As we head into the blazing heat of summer, there are a few pearls of knowledge that will serve you well. Two areas deserve our attention here. First, some basic knowledge is needed concerning the kind of “rays” that are headed your way and what you should do to protect against them; second, if you have ignored medicinal advice in the past and have developed sun-damaged skin or have a “spot” you are concerned with, you should know the basic warning signs that will alert you to get an opinion from your doctor. The “rays” of concern are UVA and UVB rays. These are forms of ultraviolet light or energy that come from the sun. Here is an easy way to think of it: UVA = aging; UVB = burn. It is therefore recommended to generously apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 and to re-apply approximately every two hours. The common sense stuff is in play as well: Wear protective clothing, seek shade, protect children, use extra caution near water, snow and sand because of reflection, and avoid tanning beds! When it comes to self-exam of that spot I mentioned earlier, then the “ABCDEs” of melanoma should be considered: A: Asymmetry—one half unlike the other half. B: Border- -irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border. C: Color—varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red, or blue. D: Diameter—while melanomas are usually greater than 6 mm (size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, they can be smaller. E: Evolving—a mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color. The above information should get you through the summer with the knowledge you need. The ABCDEs of melanoma will get you through the rest of your life with a checklist to examine any lesions on your skin. This has been cleverly described as “checking your birthday suit on your birthday.” The American Academy of Dermatology has a great Web site (www.aad.org) where you can obtain further and more detailed information. They also have a wonderful “Body Mole Map” that can assist you in tracking any worrisome lesion on your skin. Have a great summer and be sun smart! TJN
Volume 1 • Issue 5
Boiling Pot continued from page 7
Doyle By Jim
From left to right: Pearl Cole, director of Abraham's Tent and Doug Gehrig, owner and operator of Calcasieu Parish McDonald's Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s Assist Abraham’s Tent with Cans for Coffee Food Drive Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s restaurants recently held a Cans for Coffee food drive to benefit Abraham’s Tent. The drive collected more than 1,000 food items. During Cans for Coffee, McDonald’s gave away a free McCafé coffee for every donation of canned goods. Donators had their choice of any McCafé variety. McDonald’s supplier, Tyson Foods, Inc., donated 500 pounds of chicken to the drive. All 11 Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s restaurants participated in Cans for Coffee. McDonald’s also collected donations at the May 16 Swashbucklers football game Abraham’s Tent provides an essential community service by offering the area’s hungry hot meals every day, without fees, criteria or limit to how often one can be served. Abraham’s Tent is always in need of donations, especially outside of the holidays. You can help by calling director Pearl Cole at (337) 439-9330. For more information on Cans for Coffee, contact Jen Breen at (337) 478-7396 or jbreen@ocarroll.com. Sanders Scholarship Donation for MSU (Below) Dr. Eric Sanders, center, presents David Stine, right, a member of the McNeese State University Foundation Board of Directors, with the last $5,000 installment of his $15,000 pledge for the establishment of the Theresa Sanders Scholarship as Richard Reid, McNeese vice president for development and public affairs and executive vice president for the McNeese Foundation, looks on. The foundation will provide $5,000 in matching funds through its current capital endowment campaign, making this a total donation of $20,000. To date, $30,000 has been given to the scholarship established in memory of Eric’s mother.
TJN
McNeese Photo
Volume 1 • Issue 5
James Doyle is Unwell Damn, I hate being sick. Not the life-threatening, twoweeks-in-a-hospital kind of sick. That, at least, carries the added benefit of putting off your whole life. No judge can argue with a continuance when he’s told, “Mr. Doyle is in the hospital, Your Honor.” In fact, the only truly stress-free vacations I’ve had the past couple of years were when I was hospitalized. The kind of “sick” that really bothers me is the just-over-the-line kind of illness. It’s like that nagging pain in your back, that itch in the back of your throat, or getting a popcorn hull lodged on your tongue just out of reach of your finger. You know. I’ve got a cold. Can’t talk. My mellifluous voice, one of the primary weapons in my arsenal, is reduced to a nasal scratch that doesn’t impress anybody. Can’t take most things normal people take for a cold, because it makes my blood pressure approach stroke levels. Can’t take my blood pressure like a normal person because my arms are too fat. As you can see, the term “patient” doesn’t really apply to me. When I was in London recently with Stratton, we went to see his friend Celine at the pub where she works in Soho. The name of the pub is the Coach and Horses, and it’s famous in literary circles for being the local pub of Jeffrey Barnard. Barnard was a character, a columnist for a wry British publication called The Spectator, which is a kind of Jambalaya News on acid. He was immortalized in a play called “Jeffrey Barnard is Unwell,” played on the London stage by Peter
O’Toole some years ago. The theme of the play, and Barnard’s life, was being “unwell,” usually with the assistance of (or in the aftermath of) alcohol. In Jeff ’s case, being unwell was raised to an art form, and gave rise to some memorable quotes: “I have been commissioned to write an autobiography and I would be grateful to any of your readers who could tell me what I was doing between 1960 and 1974.” “One way to stop a runaway horse is to bet on him.” “One of the things I loathed most about school, the army and regular employment was the feeling that I was missing something and that in the pubs, clubs, cafés, dives... there was some sort of magic practice that I wasn’t able to conjure with... the base of operation I chose was Soho. It was instant magic to me, a sort of Disneyland for low-lifers.” His column, which usually chronicled a long list of symptoms, was called by one observer “a suicide note in weekly installments.” Barnard met his end in 1997 of kidney failure. It was a sort of suicide; having discovered that potassium was harmful in his condition, he ate bananas until he died. Don’t worry, Dear Readers, I’m not THAT sick. Just irascible. Hopefully, I’ll be over it next time we meet. But if, in the meantime, you hear I’m in the hospital, just remember, I probably needed a vacation anyway. See you on the flip. TJN
JUNE 4, 2009
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Dang Yankee The
By Mike McHugh
NASCAR Fever It really sinks in how I’ve taken to living here in the South when I discover that I now like certain things that I had absolutely no interest in back home. Like country music, for instance. And like NASCAR. It all started one Sunday. I was channel surfing and came across the Daytona 500. Before I knew it, the sun was going down outside my window and I realized I had wasted an entire Sunday afternoon watching cars drive around in a circle. And I found I actually enjoyed it! Used to be I agreed with what the late, great George Carlin said about auto racing. He said it’s not a sport; it’s a form of transportation. “If auto rac-
ing is a sport,” he said, “then so is riding a bus.” Well, Mr. Carlin apparently had never taken public transportation in my hometown, because; let me tell you, that was indeed a sport! I quickly became a junkie. As soon as I got home from church on Sunday, I’d plop down in front of the TV. I even have a favorite driver that I root for. Hey, it’s no fun watching a sport if you don’t have someone to root for, is it? I notice that most fans have a favorite driver. I’ve often wondered how fans pick their favorite. It isn’t like other sports, where you go with the team from your hometown. So, what is it that attracts people to certain drivers? Is it maybe the car’s
sponsor? For instance, do you root for the guy who drives the Budweiser car if you like to drink Bud? My guy’s sponsor is a tool company, and my wife could tell you how much of an aversion I have to any type of tool. So that certainly wasn’t it for me. My guy does happen to be a Yankee, but trust me, that’s not the reason either. It just so happens he won the first race I ever watched, and that’s a good enough reason for me. My wife is starting to catch the bug too. I catch her peeping at the tube sometimes while she’s folding laundry. She has a favorite driver, too. She likes him because she thinks he’s cute. That’s pretty much how she picks her favorite sports players. For me, that doesn’t really count too much (and a good thing, she says). Another thing I like is how important the pit crews are. I mean, they can make the difference between victory or defeat, regardless of how good the driver does. You don’t see that in any other sport. It would be like the batboy making a difference in a baseball game. Closest thing I ever saw to that was some years back at a football game up there in Yankeeland. It was snowing (y’all know about snow, right? You see it a lot in those Christmas movies), and
the groundskeeper plowed a spot so that the kicker for the home team could make a field goal. But when time came for the other team to try a field goal, that groundskeeper and his tractor were nowhere to be seen! The NFL has since outlawed the practice. And how about that NASCAR tailgating! Sure, there’s tailgating at football games, but it’s nothing like a NASCAR event. They pull into the infield sometime on Thursday and don’t stop until the checkered flag Sunday afternoon. It’s the Woodstock of all sporting events. Talladega here I come! Then, there are the tracks. Every track is different, so every race is different. Could you imagine, say in basketball, if every arena had the baskets at a different height, or the foul lines and the three-point lines were in different places? I think the NBA is really missing the boat. Finally, there are the car crashes. A lot of fans like crashes. I must admit they are a wild card. A guy could be out in front all day and then? Bam! He gets into a crash and that’s it for him. I don’t like crashes myself. After every crash they start waving this yellow flag. Then they all drive around real slow for a while and nothing really happens. At least it affords me the chance to go to the fridge. Caution flags would never work in baseball. Could you see the pitcher and catcher just throwing the ball back and forth, but the batter isn’t allowed to swing at it? Baseball can be boring enough at times. So, that’s my take on NASCAR. Time now to sign off and go kill another Sunday afternoon in front of the big screen. Mike McHugh is an engineer at Sasol North America, Inc. He and his wife Susan hail from the border state of Maryland and thoroughly love living in Southwest Louisiana. TJN
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Volume 1 • Issue 5
If you have a recipe and story you would like to share, e-mail us at lauren@thejambalayanews.com
What’s Cookin’
Bistrot Caraibes, St. Martin Every year, Phil and I spend a week at our timeshare in St. Maarten/St. Martin. It’s a delightful little island—half Dutch, half French, with gorgeous beaches, friendly people, a vibrant nightlife, and amazing food—specifically, on the French side. We always go to the island for our anniversary, which is on May 20 (nine years last week!). And we always pick a new restaurant to try. I am, to put it bluntly, a French food fanatic. So I make sure I get my fill—as there aren’t many places that serve pate de foie gras in Lake Charles. (Good thing—otherwise, my cholesterol would go through the roof!) If you want to eat food you will swoon over, head for Grand Case on the French side. You’ll find the most charming eating establishments on restaurant row, one more picturesque than the other; many overlooking the ocean. Our resort recommended Bistrot Caraibes, so off we went, along with our friends Russ and Eileen Grantham and Chase and Ashley Wilson, who were traveling with us. Bistrot Caraïbes, in business over 15 years, is run by brothers Thibault and Amaury Mezière, who know their way around food. Both were former chefs at Paul Bocuse’s restaurant in Lyon, France and later at the French Pavilion at Epcot Center in Orlando. Everything all of us ate that night was fantastic, but the highlight of the evening was actually an Italian dish that is quite simple to make. I’m lucky I was able to get a shot of it before Phil dug in. TJN
Bistrot Caraibes Shrimp Fettucine INGREDIENTS • 1 pound fettuccine pasta • 1 tablespoon butter • 1 pound cooked shrimp peeled and deveined • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1 cup half-and-half • 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley • salt to taste DIRECTIONS 1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to Volume 1 • Issue 5
10 minutes or until al dente; drain. 2. In a large skillet, sauté shrimp and garlic in the butter for about one minute. Pour in half and half; stir. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in one tablespoon at a time, stirring constantly. After all Parmesan is added, mix in parsley and salt. Stir frequently making sure it does not boil. Sauce will take a while to thicken. 3. When sauce has thickened, combine with cooked pasta noodles; serve hot. Enjoy!
JUNE 4, 2009
PAGE 11
By Lisa Yates
Louviere Fine Arts Gallery The Dream of Elton and Pat Louviere An upscale private gallery has been taking shape in Moss Bluff for the past nine years. Artists Elton and Pat Louviere bought an old shopping center on three acres of land and converted it into gallery space for their artworks. The gallery, called Louviere Fine Arts Gallery, was inspired by the French Quarter in New Orleans with an attached courtyard. The courtyard was built for entertaining guests – there’s a complete kitchen, fireplace and bar overlooking a garden. On the other side sits another brick building once housing a frame shop. Louviere Fine Arts Gallery is at 222-B Highway 171, in Moss Bluff,
just across the Calcasieu River Bridge, on the right. It is open to the public Mondays-Saturdays. How it began Pat Louviere said the gallery business started in 1976, after her husband Elton sold his sign and outdoor advertising business. “We were waiting for the kids to graduate high school,” she said. “We raised six kids (Neil, Scott, Rennie, Doe Ellen, Kelly and Amanda.) When you do that, you have to keep your day job.” She said the first gallery was located at Hodges and East Streets in Lake Charles. In 1986, the gallery moved to
Elton and Pat Louviere the Louviere’s home studio in Moss Bluff, before opening in July, 2001, in its current location. Pat Louviere said when she married her husband in 1953, it was always their goal to make a living selling his art. She said the early years in art were a struggle. But after winning a number of awards and honors at prestigious national art shows, her husband received a lot of publicity. “When he started winning, he got a lot more recognition,” she said. “That got the attention of art collectors who started buying his work.” Elton Louviere is known for his vibrant, light-filled landscapes, handsome waterfowl paintings and his approachable style. He is also known for his magnificent life-sized bronze sculptures. His first large sculpture can be seen in the sculpture garden at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church on Lake Street in Lake Charles. Pat said their son Rennie and daughter-in-law Angela posed for the sculpture. “The baby was borrowed,” she said. “We have a smaller version of the sculpture here in the gallery.” While Pat has no formal art education, she is also an accomplished artist and sells her work in the gallery. “I learned a lot from him,” she said. “He studied art in Detroit at one of the best art schools. When he was working on his lessons, I picked up some of it. I thought it looked like fun.” Pat has also experimented with some more abstract paintings, which
have been well-received by their patrons. The gallery today What sets Louviere Fine Arts Gallery apart is it only sells Elton’s and Pat’s artworks. Their original paintings, fine-art prints, canvas prints and art books are all on exhibit at the gallery. For those who like the look of an original, Pat suggested a gicleé (pronounced jee-clay) is a digitally reproduced print on canvas. While it’s more expensive than a lithograph, it cost a lot less than an original painting. “We try to accommodate anybody’s wallet,” she said. “It’s a personal thing when people by art.” Pat said all of the gallery prints are limited editions. “We decide how many prints we are going to do – it could be 100, or 50 – once we reach that number, we quit and we don’t print any more,” she said, adding the prints are numbered on the back. Also, all of Elton’s paintings are published in coffee table books: Images of Louisiana; Louisiana Backroads and Bayous; and, Louviere’s Louisiana: A Sentimental Journey. The first book, Images of Louisiana, is sold out and will not be reprinted. Pat wrote a commentary about each of the paintings; and, Elton added pencil sketches to accompany the text. She said they put out a new book every three or four years. Right now there are enough paintings for a fourth book.
“This is Elton painting and Pat telling him what to do!” PAGE 12
JUNE 4, 2009
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“It takes months to put together a book,” she said. “The paintings have already been done. It takes at least 60 paintings for a book, but I have to do the writing and Elton has to do the drawing.” Louviere Fine Arts Gallery has a vibrance unlike any static exhibit space. Each exhibit looks like a display “room” in a furniture store. For example, one space looks like a dining room complete with a dining table, chairs, place settings and table linens. A painting of the Muller’s building (in its heyday) hangs above the dining table on walls painted a deep burgundy red. On a side wall, there’s a smaller painting showing another scene in downtown Lake Charles. Pat said she made the changes last December, inspired by a favorite quote from Albert Einstein: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Elton said he liked the changes made to the gallery. He said it needed to be done. “Now you know who the boss here is,” he joked. Elton pointed out an installation he created of two figures standing near an easel. One of the figures is painting and the other is pointing to the painting. “That’s me painting and that’s Pat
Volume 1 • Issue 5
telling me what to do,” he joked. Pat said she wanted to do something new and different to draw more people into the gallery. She also wanted to help people who were intimidated by empty walls in their homes. After completing the remodeling, she and Elton held a free seminar at the gallery called “What to do with an empty wall.” More than 100 participants came to learn about room color, lighting, grouping and framing. A do-it-yourself couple In the last several years, the face of the gallery has changed and much of the labor was completed by the artists themselves. Elton painted the 18-foot gallery walls standing on a scaffold.
Pat painted the individual room settings, where the paintings are displayed. And, she’s planning to expand. But the most amazing challenge they took on was laying the brick in the outside courtyard. It’s not that they have a strict do-ityourself philosophy. Pat said bricklayers were too busy rebuilding after the hurricane. “It was after Hurricane Rita, and we couldn’t get a bricklayer,” she said. They convinced a bricklayer to come out and teach them how to do it themselves. It was only when they got to the iron gate that they called the bricklayer back for help. Pat said that new awnings have been ordered for the windows, which will be installed soon. She said they are also
adding more landscaping. “We don’t receive a weekly pay check, so we pay as we go,” she said. The future Pat said she and Elton would like to retire in three years. “We’ve been blowing and going for the last few years; we just want to leave behind something good,” she said. Pat hopes their legacy will be helping people to take the mystery out of buying and hanging art. One piece of advice she always gives to novice collectors is buy art that appeals to you. She said if you want to buy art as an investment – that’s fine. But if you are buying art for a home collection, don’t be intimidated by anyone’s taste. “Art evokes memories, good feelings – you put your own story in it,” she said. “Elton paints Louisiana. He doesn’t do snow-capped mountains or rough seas – he’s not a mariner. He paints our state – that’s what he loves.” For more information, call (337) 8559275, or visit, Louviere Fine Arts Gallery at 222-B Highway 171 in Moss Bluff. Store hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon. – Fri.; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat.; or visit online at www.louvierefineart.com. TJN
Unique display of art in the gallery
JUNE 4, 2009
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As we enter Hurricane Season, we are dedicated to informing you of any weather threatening Southwest Louisiana. Part of our dedication to keeping you informed and up to date is our KYKZ 96 Hurricane Tracking Chart sponsored by Cameron State Bank and Aggreko. The KYKZ 96 Hurricane Tracking Chart will be available June 1 at our sponsor locations or at the KYKZ 96 station. More information at www.kykz.com
The
Life
Summer School, Church-Style By Sara Blackwell For kids, summer is a time of school-free sunshine. There is nothing better than to wake up and jump into a swimming pool before breakfast. But another great part of the sunny season is the innumerable local vacation Bible schools. Many different church denominations offer this weeklong event for children from approximately three years of age through high school. Each church has its own rules, its own schedules and its yearly unique theme for the fiveday event. Moss Bluff Bible Church offers Vacation Bible School from June 1519 totally free of charge. Children
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from four to 12 are welcome to attend this fun and spiritual experience. The theme for this year is Polar Extreme, a winter wonderland in the middle of a Louisiana summer. From 9 until 11:30 a.m., the kids enjoy puppet shows, contests, crafts, snow cones, Bible stories and much more. The church has a large gymnasium and baseball field for the numerous games that will be offered. Registration can be made in advance or on the day of the child’s attendance. The church is located in Moss Bluff at 315 Parish Road. For more information, call 855-1363. If you can’t bring your children during the day because of work or prior engagements, St. Henry Catholic Church offers an evening session of vacation Bible school from 6-9 p.m. From July 27-31, your school-aged children can learn and play in a Crocodile Doc setting. The weeklong event is free to parishioners and $20 for non-parishioners. The church strongly encourages early registration. Beginning in June, registration forms will be available in the church office and after weekly mass. The church is located at 1021 Eighth Avenue in Lake Charles and information can be obtained by calling 436-7223.
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Vacation Bible school is a wonderful and safe event for young people. They learn that church can be a place full of fun and excitement. It is incredible to watch children learn ageless stories from the Bible with blue snow cone-stained teeth! Each day, your child will return home with a birdhouse made from Popsicle sticks or a mural of different shapes and colors. And if you don’t watch out, your little one may learn something Biblical that you didn’t even know. Kourtney Ainsworth is a nineyear-old student at Moss Bluff Elementary School. She has been attending vacation Bible school since she was four. This bright-eyed, beautiful young lady looks forward to it every summer. “I like the games and the snacks. My friends always go with me so we compete with each other to see who can make the best crafts. I learn about God and my teachers are always very sweet to me.” Kourtney, like many other children her age, attends vacation Bible school at the same church where she attends weekly services. However, that is not always the case. Churches that offer the school explain that many of the children in attendance are not members of the particular house of worship. Kourtney’s mother works during the day, so another mother drives Kourtney to the church class. Many stay-at-home moms, like Amy Smith, volunteer to teach during the week and to taxi the neighborhood kids to and from the class. “There is a lot of true joy in sharing my faith with young people in the neighborhood.” Smith said. “I drive a van full of children the entire week. I began helping out in VBS right out of high school and have been helping ever since. I have taught different ages, worked with the puppet team, done crafts and worked wherever I was needed. For some of the children, this is their first experience with church and hearing the Bible. This, to me, is very exciting! They really want to understand the stories I’m teaching them.” Smith attended vacation Bible school as a child and has been teaching for nearly a decade. If your child has never enjoyed summer school church-style, contact a local church of virtually any denomination and discover how much fun summer school can be.
TJN
Volume 1 • Issue 5
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JUNE 4, 2009
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By Cheryl Krull
411
ANiMAL
Unwanted Pup To Show Dog Extraordinaire: Rudy is No. 1 This is the rags to riches tale of the unwanted pup that defied expectations to become one of dogdom’s rock stars. After losing their last dog to cancer, Peggy Holman and Milford Cole researched different breeds and decided on a Clumber Spaniel. They bought Moonrysn’s Moon Dawg as a pet in 2004 from a breeder in California, little suspecting that their pup was a future champion. Few experts had expectations for Moon Dawg, better known as Rudy, despite his aristocratic heritage. Although an AKC registered Clumber Spaniel, he was the unwanted redheaded stepchild. Encouraged by friends, Rudy’s breeder, and other Clumber Spaniel owners, Holman and Cole started showing Rudy in conformation.
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Conformation events are dog shows intended to evaluate breeding stock. The size of these events ranges from large all-breed shows with more than 3,000 dogs entered, to local shows featuring a specific breed. Judges rate the contestant’s conformation (overall appearance and structure), which indicates the dog’s ability to produce quality puppies. Initially, the pair entered Rudy in AKC events to help other dogs earn “points,” the AKC’s system to award championships. The thrill of competition involved in showing Rudy, combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs, Holman and Cole soon fell in love with the sport. At an AKC-sanctioned dog show in Lake Charles two years ago, Rudy
lost to a gorgeous Clumber Spaniel from Houston. “That dog had been beating us, beating us, beating us…” Cole said. After the show, the other dog’s handler came over and told a frustrated Cole that Rudy looked the best and should have won. The handler, Brian Livingston, became Rudy’s handler, setting the Clumber on the path to glory. Under the accomplished professional dog handler’s tutelage, Rudy’s rise to rock dog stardom began. He won 1st Award of Merit (AOM) at Eukanuba, CA in 2007 and 2008 and Shawnee, PA in 2008. He also won Best in Show (BIS) at Corpus Christi in 2008. Earlier this year Rudy won Best of Breed (BOB) at the National Specialty in Eureka, MO. A dog qualifying for a championship at a conformation show has the designation Champion or “Ch.” added as a prefix to its registered name (but not to its call name, the name by which the dog is actually called.) Thus Rudy’s registered name soon became Ch. Moonrysn’s Moon Dawg. Later, Best in Show (BIS), was added as an additional prefix. A superb athlete with loads of energy, Rudy needed a pal, so Holman and Cole picked Riley, another Clumber, from a breeder in Texas. To bring some common sense to the team, Roxy, a female Clumber, came on board. Soon Roxy produced five pups to increase bench depth. Holman and Cole carefully selected homes for all but one puppy. They kept Raney, a male who is already winning awards in the puppy divisions. Holman and Cole love the shows and can be found at one almost every weekend. In addition, they take active part in the Clumber Spaniel Club of America, participating in the club’s rescue and placement efforts by fostering dogs until suitable homes appear. “It is very rewarding helping animals that cannot help themselves,” Cole said. Prospective Clumber Spaniel owners are invited into their home to learn about the breed and observe the
dogs. They encourage all potential dog owners to learn the upside and downside of a particular breed. They believe people should research the pros and cons of dogs (like slobber and fur balls), before leaping into pet ownership. Cole is the Treasurer of the Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting charitable, educational and research efforts related to the Clumber Spaniel. They and other Clumber spaniel owners contribute to a DNA bank; the DNA collected from their dogs is used in cancer research. To date, Rudy has not sired any puppies. Holman and Cole want to make sure he will be mated under the right conditions and environment. Although many potential breeders have contacted them, Holman and Cole admit they are very discriminating, especially about the breeder’s intentions for the puppies. There is little doubt that when Rudy does father some pups, they will be beloved pets as well as championship show dogs. Anyone interested in owning a Clumber spaniel should check out Holman and Cole’s Web site: www.cajunclumbers.com. Cheryl Krull is Spinnaker Communications' president and chief executive officer, managing business operations and marketing. A Lake Charles native, she has worked at PPG for more than 20 years as a licensed tankerman and has extensive industry experience. She is very active in the community, volunteering at several non-profit and non-government organizations, her favorite being Dr. Joe Stark’s Lake Area Animal Hospital. In addition to her love of animals, she is an avid long distance bicyclist and a Stephen Minister (in training through University United Methodist Church.) Cheryl is also a would be “geek” and is studying XHTML, CSS and Web design. Please visit www.spinncomm.com and also her new work in progress www.animal411.us.
TJN
Volume 1 • Issue 5
R•U
By Eric Zartler
GAME?
Promoting Southwest Louisiana through Professional Sports the folks told their stories about havAs Major League baseball fans ing already made their way over the entered Minute Maid Park in Sabine River for one reason or anothHouston, Texas, on May 9 to take in er, but this was a reminder to these an evening of Astros Baseball, they folks of the unique offerings to be were treated to a little something had here in our area. This was a extra as well, or as we like to call it grand showcase of Louisiana as here in Louisiana, “Lagniappe.” 29,141 folks entered Minute Maid Of course, there were the usual Park, and most took home a piece of goings-on at the ballpark on this Louisiana with them. beautiful Saturday afternoon. The At the Southwest Louisiana booth, Astros had a giveaway at the gate to there was a line that rivaled that of the first 10,000 fans — a Carlos Lee ones you see outside of Cowboy bobble head figurine. And as fans made their way through the stadium, Stadium on a Saturday night 15 minutes before kickoff. They were lined they were treated to an event that drew rave reviews: The 2009 Houston up to learn more about our area and win a prize. The impression left on Astros Bayou Bash. The Bayou Bash brings Louisiana to Texas, giving visi- these baseball goers on this day tors a small sample of what Louisiana should soon be paying its dividends. Several area hotel operators (who has to offer as they are entering the are listed below) participated in the ballpark. There was a fabulous display of fireworks to cap the night off, event and were astounded by the response from the people in attenand oh yeah, there was a baseball dance for the game. Folks who waitgame, too! ed in line and spun our “prize wheel The Bayou Bash is in its second of chance” walked away with items year. The marketing department of ranging from local Cajun recipes to the Astros is to be commended for this wonderful promotion that allows free night stays and dinners at area hotels and casino properties. us to showcase our unique state at a We also handed out Mardi Gras major sporting event. beads and bags filled with literature The sounds of scrub boards and on Southwest Louisiana. It’s not every accordions rang though the conday that our area has the opportunity course area behind home plate, comto partner with a Major League ing from a local traditional Cajun Baseball team, but I can assure you band, Lesa Cormier & the Sundown that the tourism professionals in Playboys. The smell of boiled crawSouthwest Louisiana took this fish filled the air, and there in the moment in the spotlight at one of middle of the concourse were reprebaseball’s finest venues. As sentatives from the Lake Astros radio announcer Charles/Southwest Milo Hamilton would say, Louisiana Convention and “Southwest Louisiana Visitors Bureau as well as steps to the plate……digs five other bureaus from in…….the pitch……..the around the Bayou State, swing……..Holy giving out information, Toledo…….it’s outta goodies and talking to the here…….. it’s Houstonians about reagone! Home run!” sons to visit Louisiana. Oh, and by the way, on The response was this night, the Astros beat overwhelming. Many of Eric Zartler Volume 1 • Issue 5
the San Diego Padres 5-4, but Southwest Louisiana outscored them both! NOTE: The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to thank the following entities for their professional representation of Louisiana during the Bayou Bash. We could not have done it without their help. Best Western Richmond Suites * Delta Downs Casino & Hotel *
Holiday Inn/Sulphur * LaQuinta Inn & Suites/MLK * LaQuinta Inn & Suites/Prien Lake * L’Auberge du Lac Casino & Hotel * Microtel Inn/Sulphur * Super 8/Sulphur * Louisiana Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus Eric Zartler is the Athletic Sales Manager at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact him at ezartler@visitlakecharles.org. TJN
JUNE 4, 2009
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A Greener
W
RLD
Trash Bash 2009:
Annual Tradition of Cleanup, Recycling Going Strong By Brandon Shoumaker Trash Bash 2009 didn’t officially begin for another two hours, but that didn’t stop a line of cars and trucks from forming on Bord du Lac Drive at 6 a.m. Some of the drivers stood outside their idling vehicles chatting with one another or sorting through their cargoes of trash as they waited for the event to start. At the head of the line, Lake Charles mayor Randy Roach, dressed in a blue city work shirt festooned with bright orange stripes of reflective safety tape, greeted several early birds before heading off to join other Trash Bash volunteers. The Trash Bash, held on May 16 at the Lake Charles Civic Center and hosted by the City of Lake Charles and Team Green of Southwest Louisiana, has been an annual tradition since 1987 aimed at beautifying the city and parish. In addition, the Trash Bash gave area residents an opportunity to drop off items, such as unused paint
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and automobile batteries that would not be allowed to the landfill. The focus on recycling over simply picking up trash and offering dumpsters signifies an evolution over the course of the history’s event. “It’s not just Lake Charles,” Team Green director Esther Vincent said of the Bash. “We invite all communities including those in places like Cameron and Jeff Davis Parishes too. It’s a spring cleaning; people get rid of lots of things and they are helping keep the environment clean by keeping this stuff out of the landfill.” The goal, Vincent said, is to help make citizens more aware of the environment and how their actions can affect it in both positive and negative ways. “We’re trying to get people accustomed to recycling,” Vincent said. “By helping people become more responsible and teaching awareness, hopefully, when the time comes, people will buy
into things like curbside recycling.” The people waiting to drop off their garbage were sometimes as eclectic as the very trash they carried. At one point in line, an old Suburban painted camouflage green and brown waited with a hodgepodge of trash while a newer-model Chevy behind it hauled a trailer filled with bed mattresses. In a nearby parking lot, someone’s truck bed was filled with everything, including the kitchen sink. But despite the variety of garbage being dropped off, there was an order and an organization to all the clutter with the goal of making the Bash run smoothly. The Civic Center grounds were divided up into 10 sectors with each accepting a different material from scrap metal and items containing mercury to furniture and clothing. At the scrap metal station, red-vested volunteers from Impact Lake Charles AmeriCorps unloaded rusty
fencing material from one truck and then waited as another volunteer waved the next vehicle through. According to Impact Lake Charles director Linda Ceaser, the Trash Bash was just one of many projects her volunteers will tackle this year. “We work about 100 different projects each year,” Ceaser said. “We are volunteers for the community. You can’t run a city without volunteers. We have the Junior ROTC programs from LaGrange High School and Washington-Marion High School. We also have kids from Team 5, a program for students from the city. These kids work during the week as tutors and then come out on the weekend and volunteer for events like these.” Sheets of visqueen held flat by large sacks of absorbent material denote the paint recycling area, where volunteers from the Lake Area Industry Alliance push paint-splattered wheelbarrows marked with
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Members of the Lake Area Industry Alliance empty paint from old cans and mix them into new plastic containers. bright yellow labels reading “Oil Based Interior” and “Latex Exterior” to covered tables where volunteers empty the old paint cans into fresh 5gallon plastic buckets. The paints are mixed into various colors, which are then smeared across the bucket lids to identify which color is inside. Eventually, the buckets of paint are donated to the Salvation Army, which resells them in its stores for $20 apiece. “When people don’t have a place to bring paint, where does it go? The garbage dump,” LAIA executive director Larry DeRoussel said. “Here, volunteers from local industry collect reusable paint, recycle it and the Salvation Army resells it. Last year, we recycled about 2,000 gallons of paint and it’s amazing that you can find a use for it.”
Waste Management trucks and volunteers were also on hand to help dispose of miscellaneous trash. On one load, one Waste Management volunteer threw an old, plastic Christmas tree, cardboard box and all, along with a concrete birdbath into an alreadystuffed trash truck. Another man wrangled a broken screen door into the truck. As the line of cars and trucks moved steadily through the drop-off stations, Vincent said she was happy with the turnout from both the citizens as well as the volunteers. “We had about 300 volunteers last year and it looks like we’re going to have more than that this year,” Vincent said. “We always hope to have a great day. This event gets more successful every year. More and more people are waiting to bring trash to be recycled.”
FREE ESTIMATES! Barry Blackwell – Owner
TJN Volunteers from the Impact Lake Charles AmeriCorps group wait for the next vehicle to pull in to the scrap metal station.
Servicing Lake Charles and Surrounding Areas Mowing • Blowing • Weed Eating Edging • Hedge Trimming • Lawn Maintenance
Phone: (337) 855-4817 • Cell: (337) 794-1268 Volume 1 • Issue 5
JUNE 4, 2009
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Story and photos by Lisa Yates, Art by Anne Dentler
Children’s book author Tommie Townsley and illustrator Anne Dentler know what it takes to appeal to a demanding audience – five-year-olds and their parents. “Almost everybody thinks they can write children’s books,” said Sulphur native and prolific author Tommie Townsley. They see the cute pictures and the simple story lines, Townsley said, and think, “Yeah, I can do that.” But most newbies miss the rhythm and cadence that extremely short stories require, according to artist Anne Dentler. PAGE 20
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Dentler is a popular local artist and much sought-after illustrator. She wrote and illustrated Portraiture in Plain Language, a college textbook on painting portraits. She strongly believes children’s stories need to be just as well-written as any other books. She said good writing is good writing. “A good story comes alive in your head – like a movie,” she said. “That’s how you can tell if the story has been told well.” This instinct for knowing what kids are going to enjoy and what parents are going to buy led to the creation of “Kids Cajun Tales,” a series of children’s books written by Townsley and illustrated by Dentler. The series includes: Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin; Clyde the
Cajun Calf; Amos the Artistic Alligator; and, Dixie the Ole Dawg with more books on the way. Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin; Clyde the Cajun Calf; and, Amos the Artistic Alligator are going into second printing. Writing, illustrating and the collaborative process Townsley said she usually develops the idea for the character first, and then builds the story around the character. The first book she wrote was Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin. It is a story about a young dolphin that woke up one morning and could not find his mother, so he left home to search for her. As in
Aesop’s fables, all of Townsley’s books have a message for children. In Adolpheaux, the mother eventually finds him and teaches him not to leave home without permission. While Townsley developed the concept of the first book, she didn’t have a publisher. So she sought the help of Dentler to bring the book to fruition. “I had just finished the manuscript for Adolpheaux, the first book, and I was looking for an illustrator,” she said. Townsley spent some time searching, studying illustrator’s styles. She really wanted someone who worked in watercolor because Adolpheaux is a dolphin living in the Gulf of Mexico near a beach. She found Dentler via Wise Printing, in Sulphur. Volume 1 • Issue 5
Amos the Artistic Alligator
“Larry Wise, a local printer, gave me the name of six illustrators. Anne’s name was the last one on the list,” she said. Dentler jokingly said, “My name was last because it was on the bottom of the list – not because I wasn’t a good artist. In fact, Dentler is a national-award
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winning artist, originally from Pennsylvania. She’s known locally for founding Gallery by the Lake and the Creative Arts Center, in Lake Charles; Associated Louisiana Artists Inc., a non-profit group for artists; and, Annie’s Artworks. (If you’ve been to the Cajun Café Restaurant, you’ve seen her work – the caricatures on the walls are hers!) Townsley felt a connection to Dentler’s beautiful illustrations and renderings. She got in contact with her by telephone. “When I first met Anne, she had lost her husband to cancer and was suffering from depression,” she said. “When I was talking to her about the
book, I explained that my husband had had cancer, but is now in remission. We cried and we talked for about four hours.” Townsley sent Dentler the manuscript for Adolpheaux and she loved it. Dentler’s publishing background and love of dolphins was a huge plus. Ironically, she collects dolphins. Dentler has told her five children: Dave, Gary, Sherree, Mitch and Joe; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren that she wants to come back reincarnated as a dolphin because she loves to swim. Townsley asked for a sample illustration, and when she saw it she was spell-bound. Dentler had perfectly captured the essence of Adolpheaux and the story. “Anne captures my words and stories perfectly,” she said. “She brings my characters to life.” Dentler calls Townsley “her angel without wings” because she had stopped painting. “That’s the first project I did after Dave died,” she said. “Nancy Melton, a friend, and artist, asked me if I would help teach her class at McNeese. Of
course, she didn’t need any help. It was just an excuse because I wasn’t painting; and, she wanted to see me pick up a brush. She’s another one of my ‘angels without wings.’” Dentler had several people approach her to illustrate their children’s books, but she wasn’t interested. She said many were poorly-written. By contrast, Townsley’s manuscript was very well-written. She said she could see the story come to life in her head. “What impressed me about Tommie is she felt this story, she lived it and told it beautifully,” Dentler said. Townsley, 48, said she grew up in a French-Cajun family, where storytelling was a way of life. “I get my story-telling from my grandfather,” she said. “He was a great story-teller. And, my mother was an avid reader. I grew up around lots of books.” As a parent, and grandparent, Townsley said she writes from her heart. Together with her husband Rex, they have six children: Jami, Thomas, Juli, Jana, Callie, and Amy; and seven grandchildren with one on the way. Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin was published in 2005. “Adolpheaux swam in with the hurricane,” Townsley said. When working with big publishing houses, authors hardly have any say as
JUNE 4, 2009
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Telephone System Maintenance • Computer Maintenance Business Services Telephone Systems Computer Repair Wireless Networking Wired Networking
Wireless Network Setup Phone Label Templates Home Service
Collaborating on a new book idea.
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Resident camp - $295/week (includes all meals) Day camp - $125/week (optional sleep-over on Thursday night $10)
far as the artwork goes. The art department assigns the illustrator who they think will be better suited for the book. By self-publishing, Townsley is able to work side by side with Dentler and discuss her vision for the characters of the books. The only time the two women didn’t see eye-to-eye about an illustration was in the book Amos the Artistic Alligator, according to Dentler. “I saw the character of the alligator trapper as an older man,” she said. “Tommie had him as a young guy. That’s the only time we disagreed.” Townsley said two of the characters in her second book, Clyde the Cajun Calf, are based on real family members. “The two farmers in the book are my two grandfathers: Mr. Ed and Mr. Henry,” she said. Also, Townsley’s husband Rex is the character of Rex the Wise Owl in Dixie the Ole Dawg. She said she likes to use real people in her stories. “Dixie the Ole Dawg is based on a real story,” Townsley said. She said the dog’s real name is Ole Dawg and he belongs to a retired librarian named Yvonne Terrio in DeQuincy. “The dog was lost in the hurricane,” Townsley said. “Ms. Yvonne Terrio tried to befriend it, but it took two years for the dog to trust her.” Dentler painted Terrio as a character in the book. “I asked permission to draw her as a dumpy old lady,” she said, adding Terrio’s a lovely lady. Ironically, Dentler also had a dog named Dixie. “Dixie was a Yankee dog – a Llasapoo from Pennsylvania,” she said. Dentler joked she gave the dog a Southern name to make it feel at home.
Sadly, Dixie was killed by a car near her home. Dentler painted a portrait of Dixie that’s hanging in her studio. Although Dentler jokingly refers to herself as a Yankee, she’s been living in Lake Charles for 33 years. “I belong here,” she said. As a young girl, Dentler was enchanted with the South and wrote stories from the perspective of a girl growing up in the South. Dentler said during her senior year in high school, she served on the decorating committee and planned for a cotton cotillionthemed dance. “When I got married, my husband asked me where I wanted to go on my honeymoon,” she said. “I said, ‘New Orleans.’ He said, ‘Where is that?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’ “Later, when we came here, we felt like we both belonged.” ‘The Write Stuff’ On Saturday, June 13, Townsley will be at a book signing from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Comfort Inn in Lafayette as part of a new reality show called “The Write Stuff.” Townsley’s a contestant on the show – the only contestant from Louisiana and the only children’s book author. She’s hoping to have a lot of fans from Southwest Louisiana come out and support her. “Admission is free, but we ask that you bring a donation of a book to help with our literacy campaign,” she said. The goal of the show is to promote literacy and give aspiring writers a forum to showcase their talents before a national audience. “The Write Stuff ” airs on the CW Network, beginning this month (June) through September. Like in other reality shows, contestants must compete in a series of chalVolume 1 • Issue 5
Clyde the Cajun Calf
lenges. A panel of 30 judges, including publishers, media personalities, and recognizable authors, decides who stays and who gets voted off the show. “It’s exciting for me,” Townsley said. “I’m still in the game.” Townsley said she is under contract and can’t say too much about what has happened, but she did say – like other reality shows - there is a lot of drama happening with the contestants. She said the challenges were difficult. Her first challenge was to read the essay she wrote, before the panel of judges, explaining why she wanted to win “The Write Stuff ” contest. “I just read with all of my heart and soul,” Townsley said. “I told them I want to bring Louisiana literature to all of America.” In another challenge, contestants were paired together and asked to create a piece of writing. Townsley said the writing was judged on its quality and how well the contestants worked together as a team. “In the publishing world, as you know, people have to work together as a team – it’s all about networking,” she said. According to www.thewritestufftv.webs.com, the winner of “The Write Stuff ” will receive a number of prizes, including: Volume 1 • Issue 5
• 10 virtual books published on CD by A G Press, • a detailed marketing plan complete with promotional materials, • a new Dell laptop computer, • two years of representation by Shadow Play Entertainment, • feature stories in several national publications, and • a cover story in Conversations Magazine. A new book Townsley and Dentler are working on a new children’s book, but they aren’t leaking much information. “The new one may be one of a series,” Townsley said. “It’s about a family, but the family has a bad reputation.” She hinted there’s also a Texas connection. Townsley said the new character is not Chloe the Crawfish. Instead, Chloe the Crawfish is coming with her to book signings. “Chloe the Crawfish is a diva crawfish, who talks like Zsa Zsa Gabor,” she said. “She’ll sing and dance, and entertain the kids.” Townsley said Chloe will be played by Paula Armelin – her friend and a teacher at Barbe High School. “I do different things to try and make reading fun for the kids,” she said. “I try to make it fun for them to read. I bring color pages, book marks and pencils.”
Townsley reads her books to children at schools and libraries. She and Dentler were regulars at the Children’s Museum, too. In fact, they won the 2008 Imagination Celebration Award from the Children’s Museum for their work. Townsley said it will be a several months before the new book makes its debut. “It takes about three months for me to finish a story,” she said. “Then, I give it to Anne and she has it for about three months doing the illustrations. Then, there’s editing and printing. The whole process takes about a year.” Townsley said Dentler is a great editor. Dentler’s first college degree is in journalism. “Tommie writes like she talks,” she said. “She uses words like boudin – words that Yankees don’t understand and need to have explained.” Dentler suggested defining words unique to Louisiana’s culture and adding pronunciations to Cajun names. For example, Adolpheaux is pronounced “A – dol – fo,” which is stated on the cover the book. “We want the books to reach a national audience,” she said. Townsley said Eunice author Mary Alice Fontenot sprinkled Cajun words, with an explaination of their pronunciation and meaning, in her series of 18 children’s books known as the Clovis the Crawfish series. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of the author. “I admire Mary Alice Fontenot,” she said. “I want to bring Louisiana Culture to the forefront like she did.” Mary Alice Fontenot died in 2003, in her nineties. When Townsley and Dentler finish editing a book, they send it to their print broker, JoAnne Bolton of Bolton Associates in San Raphael, California. “Joanne puts together a rough draft of the book,” Townsley said. “If everything is okay, she sends it to the printers in South Korea. They do a fantastic job.”
More adventures in publishing As a publisher, Townsley has received several calls from authors wanting to get their books published. Currently, she is only publishing her own works. “One of my goals as a publisher is to help other authors,” she said. She received a manuscript written by a college student who wrote a very promising children’s book. “I almost cried when I got this manuscript,” Townsley said. “I told her, ‘You have inspired me so much.’” Dentler said there are so many talented people here in Southwest Louisiana – even in some unexpected places. She was asked to read a script written by a maintenance worker in the Capital One building. “It was a great script about a dying boy and the visions he saw,” she said. “I told him where he could go to see about getting it published. It was really good.” Townsley said she is about to step into something new. “Kerry Onxley, the director of the Children’s Theatre, approached me recently about bringing Adolpheaux to the stage,” she said. “He said the book has great potential for a play. “Doors are just opening so fast.” For more information about booksmiths Tommie Townsley and Anne Dentler, call (337) 515-6501, e-mail t2townsley@yahoo.com or visit online at www.kidscajuntales.com; also, (337) 478-9405, e-mail dentler@cox-internet.com or visit online at www.gallerybythelake.com. TJN
Where to find Kids Cajun Tales
Adolpheaux the Adventurous Dolphin; Clyde the Cajun Calf; Amos the Artistic Alligator; and, Dixie the Ole Dawg are available at these stores: Lake Charles Emilie’s Children’s Store The Frame House Louisiana Market Gallery by the Lake Club Tabby at Prien Lake Mall
Sulphur The Harrington Gallery The Brimstone Museum/ Henning Cultural Center Nancy’s Children’s Store Hamilton House
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DeQuincy Nichol’s Houma La. Cajun Stuff
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Her gift to Mayor Roach
By Lisa Yates
Lake Charles resident Nellie Partin has always been very meticulous with a good eye for detail, which is why she fell in love with cross-stitching years ago. She doesn’t display her works in galleries or museums, but instead shares her talent with family members, friends and others who appreciate the art. Lena Roach, the mayor’s mother, is a fan of Partin’s work. “As I looked around at Nellie’s work displayed in her home, I could have been in an art museum admiring rare paintings. I was struck by the beauty and precision of even the smallest stitch, no matter the subject. Her Statue of Liberty ‘portrait’ is a masterpiece,” she said. The liberty piece was presented to her son, Lake Charles Mayor PAGE 24
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Randy Roach. “I am honored to have this beautiful cross-stitched art piece entitled, ‘America: Liberty and Justice for All,’ as part of my office gallery of pictures and works of art,” he said. “Nellie Partin is an incredibly talented, creative artist in her own right. She did a beautiful job in designing and creating this piece through cross-stitch, and the piece does a magnificent job of presenting America in a very patriotic way through its various national symbols of liberty and justice.” The picture is a collage of the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol building, Mt. Rushmore and public servants (firefighters, police officers, etc.) on a background of the American flag. According to Partin, the gift was in appreciation for Roach’s service to the
community over the years, including serving as mayor and serving as a state representative in the Louisiana Legislature. “I’m glad I did it, because he really seemed to appreciate it a lot,” she said. Learning cross-stitch Partin, 70, started cross-stitching in 1984, while living in the Netherlands with her husband, Tommy, a U.S. Army colonel stationed there. “I had hardly ever heard of crossstitch until then,” she said. “I did embroidery, but this was a new concept.” Some officers’ wives taught Partin to cross-stitch. “It was a way to meet the other ladies and a way of keeping busy,” she said. “I just loved it.”
Partin believes cross-stitching is becoming a lost art. She said you rarely see embroidered pillowcases and table linens anymore. “In Europe, women taught girls needlework as part of their education,” she said. Partin said it is hard to find many stores that sell cross-stitch materials. “Needlework shops are more prevalent in Europe,” she said. In fact, Partin prefers to use German floss for her designs. “DMC thread is my favorite,” she said. “It doesn’t tangle and it looks better. I think I have almost every color of thread DMC put out.” Her technique Partin uses patterns to create her elegant and artistic needlework. “I like the definition of a pattern,” Volume 1 • Issue 5
she said. “I like working towards a goal at the end.” A pattern looks like a chart of tiny squares on paper. Each square symbolizes a stitch and stitches are the details of the pictures. Different colors of cotton thread give crossstitched pictures an almost real look. For example, leaves on a tree could have three or more shades of green to depict reflected light and depth. Instead of working with one color at a time, Partin prefers to complete sections of the pattern. That means changing thread colors frequently. Also, Partin likes outlining objects in her pictures. “Outlining gives more definition,” she said. “Without it, the picture has a more muted look.” Cloth is her canvas. Partin uses a woven linen fabric as a background for her cross-stitching work. She said a higher thread-count in the fabric makes for a more realistic-looking picture. “Once I finish it, I hand-wash it, block it and have it framed,” she said. She explained “blocking” is simply turning the finished piece over on a towel and ironing it until dry. All of Partin’s finished work is framed even though it can be a bit expensive. “I enjoy looking at it. I feel a sense of accomplishment – Now it’s a beautiful painting,” she said. Finished work Several of Partin’s framed pieces are displayed in the rooms of her home. Nostalgia is a common theme in her work. “I like things that denote a certain time period because of the gentility of what it suggests,” she said. “I like the time period around the 1800s, when
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women wore the long dresses. “Also, I pick things out that have a pleasant memory attached – like this picture of a gaggle of geese. It reminds me of Europe. One of my most recent pieces is one of a sidewalk café, which reminds me of Paris.” Partin also collects traditional Wedgwood and has several cross-stitched pictures hanging near her collection. “I like the blue and white design,” she said. “It has influenced my cross-stitching. I have a lot of blue and white patterns.” Over the years, Partin has given many pictures to friends and family members. She enjoys customizing the gift to the recipient. “If I’m doing one for someone in particular, I try to pick something they like,” she said. “For example, my sister-in-law loves horses, so I would do that for her.” Partin is cautious in her gift-giving. “When I give a piece to somebody, I want to be sure I give it to someone who will appreciate it. It takes too long to work on, if someone doesn’t appreciate it,” she said. Depending on the difficulty of the pattern, it takes Partin about three months to finish a project. “Once I get started, I finish one piece before I move on to anything else,” she said. “I guess I’m afraid I’ll lose interest in finishing it, if I start on something new.” Partin spends two to three hours a night doing cross-stitching, while her husband is watching television. “Tommy has the television on mute – he watches it closed captioned – while I’m working on my
cross-stitching. He’s very considerate,” she said. When she’s not cross-stitching, Partin is outdoors golfing or inside knitting or working crossword puzzles and jig-saw puzzles. “I guess you can say, I like putting things in order,” she said. TJN
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School’s out! The lazy days of summer are here—which means lots of kids with lots of time on their hands. Keep them busy with these fun crafts that the whole family will enjoy. EGG CARTON LADYBUG This is an easy way to make ladybugs. Supplies needed: Egg cartons, Crayons or markers, Scissors or hole punch, Pipe cleaners. Googly eyes are a nice touch. Directions • Separate one cup from an egg carton. • Using markers or tempera paint, children can paint the egg carton cup red. Then, using black paint, color in the head, and make spots on the body. • Using the point of a scissors or a hole punch, an adult should make 6 small holes (3 on each side) at the base of the cup (these will be for the legs). Make 2 small holes (for antennae) where the top of the head will be. • Insert a black pipe cleaner into each a side hole and out the other side for the legs. Use half a pipe cleaner for the antennae. • Glue on googly eyes or paint on white eyes.
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SAILBOAT You can make these cute little toy boats in just a few minutes. They are great for preschoolers and kindergartners to practice cutting with scissors, drawing, and molding clay. Supplies needed: A wide plastic lid (like the lid from a margarine tub) A drinking straw Construction paper Kids’ scissors A hole punch Crayons, markers, and/or stickers A small wad of play dough Directions • Cut a triangle from a piece of construction paper - this will be your sail. Decorate the sail with crayons, markers, and/or stickers. • Punch three holes along one side of the triangle. • Weave a drinking straw (the boat’s mast) through the holes. • Put a small wad of molding clay on the inside of the lid. • Push the end of the drinking straw into the clay. • You now have a cute little toy sailboat that can float in water!
For More Information Call: 337-475-5473 WALK UPS ARE WELCOME POSITION CAMP – JUNE 14 Who: Grades 7-12 Cost: $50 • Where: Memorial Gym Registration: Memorial Gym (1:00 – 2:00 pm) Description: Become a BETTER basketball player at your position! Designed to work specifically on position play for guards, forwards & posts. 2-8 pm. FUNDAMENTAL CAMP – JUNE 22-25 Who: Grades K-8 Cost: $165 • Where: McNeese Rec Complex Registration: Rec Complex (7:15 – 8:00 am) Description: Back to the basics! Station work, COMPETITION and games will provide you with the TOTAL basketball experience for all levels. 8 am – Noon. SHOOTING CAMP – JUNE 22-24 Who: Grades K – 12 Cost: $75 • Where: McNeese Rec Complex Registration: Rec Complex (12:15 – 1:00 pm) Description: Shooting 101! Enhance your shooting skills with BASIC fundamental footwork, form and technique for all ages and levels. 1 – 3 pm. Volume 1 • Issue 5
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FATHER’S DAY CARD A simple-to-make card for Dad a great gift for Father’s Day. Supplies needed: A piece of cardstock Crayons or markers 3 small photos Glue or tape Scissors Directions • Fold the piece of cardstock in half. • Write the word “DAD” in huge, bubbly letters. Make sure that the middle of the Ds and the A are big enough so that you’ll see a lot of your photos through them. • Cut out the insides of the Ds and the A. • Glue or tape the photos onto the back of your card. Write the names of the people on the backs of the photos. • Write messages to Dad on the front and on the inside of your cool card. MACARONI BEAD NECKLACE This macaroni bead necklace is very simple to make. Supplies needed: Yarn or thin elastic cording Uncooked, tube-shaped macaroni Scissors Optional (if you want to color the macaroni): Rubbing alcohol, liquid food coloring, small container, spoon, plastic bags and paper towels Directions • If you want to color the macaroni, mix 2-3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with a few drops of liquid food coloring. • Put some of the uncooked macaroni in a plastic bag and add the colored alcohol. Mix so that the liquid colors all the macaroni. • Let the macaroni dry thoroughly on paper towels. • For each necklace, cut some yarn or thin elastic cording enough to make a necklace.
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• Wrap one end of the yarn tightly with tape to make it easier to string the macaroni. • String one piece of macaroni through the yarn and tie it to one end (this keeps the other beads to be strung from falling off). • String the macaroni through the yarn - leave a few inches so you can tie the necklace off when you are done. Patterns of colors (such as red, yellow, blue, red, yellow, blue, etc.) make a pretty necklace and introduce the students to patterns. • Tie the ends of the string together. • Optional: decorate your necklace with glitter or with a marker. • You now have a nice macaroni bead necklace to wear. TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS These flowers are made from folded tissue paper (crepe paper). You can make an entire bouquet of them for a great gift or decoration. Supplies needed: Tissue paper (crepe paper) Green pipe cleaners (or twist ties) Directions • Cut a few pieces (about 4-6) of tissue paper (crepe paper) about 8 x 10 inches (the exact size doesn’t matter). • Put the paper in a pile and fold it like an accordion. • Tie the center of the folded paper with a green pipe cleaner (or twist tie). • Gently pull each piece of paper towards the top center of the flower, separating each sheet of paper from the others (forming the petals of the flower).
TJN
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A good garage sale gives me a rush. I prepare for it in the same way as for a hurricane— mapped routes, flashlights, lots of bottled water, sturdy shoes, and mixed feelings of promise and angst. Finding bargains, collectibles, and surprises at garage sales—as opposed to estate sales or flea markets—takes strategy. First, embrace one attitude and stick with it. Here are a few:
By Jeanne Owens
Attitude one: It’s war Other seasoned garage “salers” are your enemy, so plot your course beforehand, choose your battles, and be aggressive. • Read the ads analytically; beware of overly used words and phrases such as antique, estate sale, vintage, too much to mention—these “hot” words are usually overstatements. I will even admit to doing an Internet search for a phone number attached to the address and calling the seller to ask about certain items. • Use Map Quest or some similar program to organize your route by areas. Print the map with large numbers marking the order of your stops. • Pack a box or tub in your car with bubble wrap or newspaper to protect your finds. • Start very early. If the sale starts at 7 a.m., be there at 6 a.m. if you can stand being that pushy. This is where the flashlight comes in. If the seller is still setting up, politely ask if you might just look, and chances are he will be so flustered getting ready he won’t notice the finds you are gathering. However, some sellers will charge double or triple for “early birds.” • Travel lightly. Don’t carry a purse; you’ll need both hands. Keep money in one pocket, keys in another, and keep patting each to remind you where they are. • Scan the scene quickly and go for the most interesting items. Don’t be shy about digging through boxes stored under tables and asking for prices; if you think the price is too high, you can ask for a lower one. • Do not make a stack of finds you want to buy; other shoppers will notice your good taste and will help themselves to it—sometimes even after you’ve purchased them! • Time is everything, so don’t spend much of it inspecting items, especially if they are priced inexpensively. For example, hot items today are signed pottery cookie jars, planters, and kitchenware, and these are often found at garage sales (as opposed to finer porcelain and china). Look on the bottom of the piece for a name or label, and buy anything signed or with a label if it costs just a few dollars. Chances are research will show that you made a decent investment. If you recognize makers’ marks, look for Shawnee, Red Wing, Hull—and if you are lucky, McCoy and Roseville. For example, that little ivy-filled deer planter your grandmother kept on the kitchen windowsill may sell at a garage sale for $1 but to a collector is worth at least $85. Attitude two: Point and shoot You’re out for one thing, and you’re probably a seasoned collector. Otherwise, you might consider becoming one by starting with garage sale-priced items expected to escalate in value.
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• Tobacco paraphernalia—ash trays, cigarette lighters and holders, antiques match boxes—are on the cutting edge of collectability because the anti-smoking campaigns have in some cases caused these to be scarce. • Advertising collectibles and novelty glassware are stacked on garage sale tables, and if you start now, then wait a few years, they should increase in value. The other day I picked up a 1977 Happy Days Richie glass for a nickel; it now sells to collectors for $12.50. You may unexpectedly get hooked. Attitude three: Wave the white flag Sleep late. You may not win the big prize, but there are a lot of second and third prizes. Very often, towards the end of a sale, the sellers are tired and will almost pay you to take things off their hands. You might find bags of old buttons, vintage children’s books (great for framing the illustrations), eccentric art, etc., that others overlooked. You will certainly be more rested and less stressed than those who enter the garage sale arena wearing battle gear. And, who knows? A family of leprechauns may spring up and hand you a pot of gold for 25 cents. You can imagine my surprise and delight when I recently bought a leftover
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box of china for $5 and in it was a Roseville Bushberry vase that retails for $325—complete with the original Muller’s Department store sticker from the 1940s. How do you evaluate your pickings? Online resources are the most up-todate, but books authored by experts are the most precise. Most good libraries carry Schroeder’s Antiques Price Guide, Kovels Antiques and Collectibles Price List and others. Online, go a step beyond Google and do a search on Google Image; a plethora of pictures will pop up often accompanied with the going price of an item. Replacements.com is another good source for china, porcelain, and crystal value, but is usually unrealistically priced about 20 percent more than what collectors will pay. eBay is a popular way to value items, but is not always accurate; the starting bid that pops up is extremely low, and the end purchase price is sometimes outrageously high because of bidders’ wars. The golden rule Remember, especially if you adopt the warpath mode, that the people selling their household items are sometimes enduring difficult circumstances—divorces, parents’ deaths, financial straits. Although you’re
wielding a flashlight and carrying a bag of plunder over your shoulder, sensitivity and compliments go a long way. Jeanne Owens is the proprietor of Charleston Gallery and Antiques located in the Charleston Building at 900 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 421-1700.
TJN
Collectors go wild over Hull’s Corky Pig banks and pay hundreds of dollars for them. An original Roseville Bushberry vase bought for a couple of dollars sells for $325. This one still has the original Muller’s sticker from the 1940s.
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By Mary Louise Ruehr
Father’s Day Gift Ideas It’s time to think about gifts for Father’s Day, and I’ve found some books I think men will enjoy. I was riveted by the first-person accounts in Near Death in the Arctic: True Stories of Disaster and Survival, edited by Cecil Kuhne. These 13 true tales of adventure take place in the Earth’s polar regions. Most are from the early 20th Century, and some are excerpts taken directly from the explorers’ journals. These are the words of members of the crews of famous expeditions to the
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North and South poles. Kuhne writes, “The conditions that Arctic and Antarctic explorers face are, quite frankly, beyond comprehension. The astonishingly hostile conditions obstruct the basic needs of life: food, shelter, clothing, water. And this is true even with modern hightechnology gear.” The entries include Richard E. Byrd alone at the South Pole, Robert Peary’s 1909 discovery of the North Pole, and the 1910 Scott vs. Amundsen race to the South Pole.
The first account is that of a woman caught in an Arctic snowstorm in wind that blasts away her food and gear; in another, a ship is frozen fast in the pack ice in the sea above Siberia and the crew decides to abandon the ship and walk 235 miles across the ice, “amid starvation, blizzards, collapsing ice floes, and polar bear attacks.” Perhaps the most eerie account is that of Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 voyage to Antarctica, with “his ship engulfed in ice and slowly ripped apart.” The crew was helpless as the moving ice squeezed the ship: “The decks shuddered and jumped, beams arched, and stanchions buckled and shook.” The scariest? Maybe it’s the story of Australian Douglas Mawson, who set out for an unexplored area of Antarctica, with its “deep, unending crevasses in which men would disappear forever. … This was nightmare country, a land of wayward, whirlwind columns of sucked-up snow, with gigantic frozen cauldrons in the ice from which winds sweeping down the length of the glacier spewed drift high into the air, as though it was steam from a geyser.” I think men will love this book, and ladies — if you pick it up out of curiosity, don’t be surprised if you can’t put it down. If you like your adventure a bit tamer, join a veteran fisherman in Striper Chronicles: East Coast Surf Fishing Legends & Adventures by Leo N. Orsi, Jr. Here’s a book for the person who can’t wait to put on waders and cast a line off a long pole into the surf, waiting all day or night
for a bite on the line. Orsi shares his memories of “30 years of fishing for the everintriguing striped bass” and “chronicles of exciting fishing adventures and memories.” It isn’t a “how to fish” book; rather, it’s a memoir and a tribute to the sport of surf fishing. Orsi describes his lifelong passion and how he found the perfect fishing spots on Jamestown and Block islands. Writes Orsi, “Fishing on these two islands requires either standing on, walking over, or the outright scaling of cliffs, rocks, and boulders of various sizes and degrees of slipperiness.” He talks about sitting out the fiveday long “Perfect Storm” in 1991, with waves so huge they shook the island. He includes stories about and
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interviews with “some of Rhode Island’s surfcasting legends and seasoned salts.” His topics include the weather — the danger of wind and waves; the blitz — when the hungry fish “strike at anything you throw at them, and you’re onto a fish with almost every cast;” and the society — hanging out at bait and tackle shops having conversations with fellow fishermen. For a totally different kind of adventure, there’s How High is Up? The Tale of a Restless Spirit, an inspirational memoir by Richard S. Gunther. The author wrote the book at the age of 83, originally intending it as a private memoir for his sons. Oh, he had his adventures, all right: “I hiked up to the Mount Everest base camp, fire-walked in Brazil,” he writes, “but I also embarked on inner adventures,” which included therapy, meditation, encounter groups and more. He describes his early life, seeking the American dream, serving in the
Army during World War II, and building homes for returning GIs. At age 34, he writes, he was a successful businessman, but was obsessed by work: “Events seemed to conspire to force me to slowly begin opening the door to a wider view of life, and start a journey outward and inward that would awaken an awareness of myself and my place in the world.” He became “a self-help and New Age junkie” and experienced “a profound spiritual awakening.” And now he offers advice on how to live with a sense of purpose. For more, visit www.emeraldbookcompany.com. You don’t have to be a beer lover to enjoy Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher. This fascinating book is sort of an encyclopedia of beer. It starts with a global history of beer; breaks down the elements appealing to taste, smell and sight; introduces the vocabulary of beer flavors; talks about brewing, bottling and presentation; and is sprinkled with fun quotations, poems and trivia. Mosher says beer doesn’t seem to get the respect of its cousin, wine. But Mosher’s out to change all that by casting a light on all the nuances and glories of the amber beverage. He suggests what beers go best with which foods: “Chocolate loves a dark beer;” “Fruit beers are excellent with delicate ripened cheese such as Brie or triple-cream types. Stout and Cheddar make another great pair.” The book has a pleasing layout that makes it a really attractive gift — and it’s paperback, so it’s inexpensive. It includes colorful illustrations, understandable charts and graphs, a glossary, index and suggestions for further reading.
Bessette Realty, Inc. Phil and Lauren, you have given me the perfect tool for relocation. I have wished for a way to express the personality of Southwest Louisiana for years. The warmth, charm, and caring of our people for one another is not easily conveyed in a few words. The beauty of our area, the cultural richness and the zest of our food and humor abound in the pages of your magazine. The Jambalaya News captures all of these features within its covers and serves it up as spicy as the dish for which it takes its name. Congratulations on a job superbly done. This will be an integral part of my relocation kits from now on. — Derenda Grubb - CENTURY 21 Bessette Realty, Inc. (337) 842-2696 • www.derenda.com
Contact Oneforthebooks@inbox.com. Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Louise Ruehr. Mary Louise Ruehr is the Books Editor for the RecordCourier in Ravenna, Ohio. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Kent State University. Mary Louise is interested in all subjects and has many favorite authors, including Pearl S. Buck, James Michener, and P.G. Wodehouse, as well as mystery writers Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich. She blogs at http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/ and you can write to her at Books@recordpub.com. TJN
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der useum n e l l n E dren's M a D By e Chil of th r commanding officer of o t c the ship. The starship is about to Dire
Star Trek (2009) Today, I heartily recommended this movie to a self-described Trekkie. I told her that Gene Roddenberry loved the idea of time travel, etc., and this movie was done in that spirit. I love science fiction, but I’m not a Trekkie and don’t watch much of the reruns. So, when I tell you that this new Star Trek movie kicks, it’s coming from someone who sees James T. Kirk as that guy on the Priceline commercials. For me, Spock is more associated with Dr. Spock, the child-rearing guru from the 60s. This Star Trek movie (hereafter referred to as Star Trek) begins like you just turned TV Land on in the middle of an episode. Under attack by a strange and huge alien craft appearing out of nowhere, Kirk of Starfleet has just been made Captain by the
go down. But the new captain isn’t James Kirk, it’s George. So his young wife-in-labor (also on the ship) is probably James Kirk’s mother, right? Are you confused yet? Well, fast forward, and we learn about the young James T. and the young Spock, both ending up together in Star Fleet, along with younger versions of the characters on the original series. Their job is to fight the bad guys on the rogue ship, and these villains are baaaaad (We know this because they have face tattoos). The evil Captain, Hero, is really down on Spock, who has never seen him before. Or has he? There is so much action in this movie, and humor, and youthful angst (look it up), that you can understand why this movie appeals to Star Trek Audience the Next Generation. Here at last is a movie that the twenty-somethings can understand. Star Trek shows how science fiction has come full circle for an audience familiar with time warps, robo-cops, light-sabers, terrorism, and sci-fi genocide. And then there are the characters:
Spock, a convincingly young Spock, is absolutely central to the plot of this movie (isn’t that always the case?) I’m embarrassed I never knew his mother was human, but here it is crucial to the conflict he has with being a Rational Guy. And how about James T. Kirk? I remembered him as a Batman type of fist-fighting guy, handsome in the old-movie sort of way and brash compared to Spock. Here we get to see him growing up and getting into Star Fleet. Things are off kilter though, because Spock is the first commander of the Enterprise, and Kirk (literally) barely gets on board. Humor is not lacking in this movie. Young Kirk finds a sneaky way to pass a flight commander simulation test that is designed to be unpassable. We find him making passes at Uhura while he’s getting personal with her roommate, but Uhura has her eyes on another crew member. On the bridge,
Sulu, pulling the Warp Speed Throttle, has a Star Wars-style breakdown. Chekov’s accent is so strong he can’t pass the voice verification test. So, is this a family movie? Not quite. A little too much double entendre (Are you out of your Vulcan mind?) that young kids may question. A few ‘bastards’ thrown into the dialogue just to prove they’re all tough guys. A fight scene where Kirk gets pretty bloodied up. Some very heavy necking between Uhura and her new boyfriend. And, quite frankly, some of us find time travel disturbing. TJN
241 W. Sallier St. Lake Charles, LA (337) 433-6363 PAGE 34
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Children’s Theatre Company 2009 Your Choice Awards Kerry Onxley, artistic director of The Children’s Theatre Company, welcomed a full house to the 2009 Your Choice Awards held at Pujo Street Café. The Your Choice Awards are selected by the staff of The Children’s Theatre and by audience patrons through ballots. Lots of awards were presented amid cheers and applause from the guests. Pam Breaux, Secretary for the State of Louisiana/Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism received the 2009 CTC Hall of Fame award. Hard work and effort by the actors, actresses and staff of CTC culminated in a much deserved celebration. Kudos to you all!
Kathy Vincent, Madalyn Howard, Ryan and Angie Theunissen.
Nicholous, Dennis and Neva Craft.
Christy Scothorn, Alex Landry and Robert Scothorn.
Diane Watkins, Constance Woods, Ciaara Woods and Maya Johnson.
Mother O, Mandy and Dylana Smith.
Kade Holland and Christine Gill.
Kerry Onxley, Kathryn Matte and Pam Breaux.
Contraband Days Aarrgh! Be ye an old or young pirate, Contraband Days had something for everyone. You could get wet, climb a coconut tree, jump on a trampoline, talk to salty pirates and eat pizza, curly fries, turkey legs and a variety of other tasty food items all at the Lake Charles seawall during the Contraband Days’ festivities. Lloyd Lauw, Jean Lafitte 2009, came ashore in a blaze of artillery fire conquering the city and sending Mayor Randy Roach and Police Juror President Hal McMillan down the plank into the murky waters of Lake Charles. Exiting to the sound of artillery fire, Jean Lafitte and his rowdy pirates vowed to return again next year. Craig LaRocca, Denise and Ken Savant. PAGE 36
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Tony Adkins, Chester and Joyce Richard. Volume 1 • Issue 5
Sarah Blum and Brittany Burman.
Tiffany Scott and Jasmyn Marcel.
Kristie, Cole and Ava Acosta.
Brennan Ash, Tammy Wright and Cody Lee.
Brian and Jill Peloquin.
Dean Manceaux and Margie Harrington.
Lake Charles Choral Foundation – Dance From “Oh, My Darling Clementine” to “Puff the Magic Dragon,” the Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale spring concert America Dance! carried the audience on a journey comprised of folk songs from early America through the folk song revival of the 1960s. The program, directed by Dr. Darryl Jones featured dancers from Dance Theater Southwest (the studio of Sarah Jones) with special selections by the Bill Rose Trio and Annette Larsen and Abbie Fletcher playing four-hand piano. What a treat!
Jo Ann Turner, Cora McMillen and Suzanne Kelley.
Jerry Woolman and Gale Materne. Volume 1 • Issue 5
Maggie King, Ellen Landry, Alexandra Stutes and Hannah Hughes.
Janet Gilpin and Fred Van Ness.
Marj Gustine, Reva Chesson and Lois Lueg. JUNE 4, 2009
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CVB Tourism Week Restaurant Day at the CVB The annual Restaurant Day at the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau is always an event that we look forward to. This year’s chefs did not disappoint as the culinary offerings were varied and delicious. Local restaurants brought out the good stuff providing favorites such as crab cakes, boudin balls, etouffee, catfish, soups, bread pudding with rum sauce, cake and more. There was live music and a nice cool place under the big tent for enjoying the best of the best from our local chefs. Terry and Vikki Trahan.
Christine Heller, Crystal Cole, Missie and Darryl Hebert.
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Mark and Anna Wolski.
Kellie Onxley, Janie Montgomery and Alecia Acosta.
Ashley Gatte and Danielle Granger.
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Sulphur High School Photography Club Brimstone Historical Society The Henning Cultural Center and the Brimstone Historical Museum overflowed with guests anxious to see “Images” presented by the Sulphur High School Photography Club. Skill and technique in the use of color, contrast, distortion and other photo production tools produced images that surprised and delighted the visitors. The Sulphur High School culinary class prepared an array of fabulous foods and beverages. The exhibit will run through June 25.
TJN
Allison, Mike, Pam and Aaron LeBleu with Aaron’s photo.
Malena Pearson, Harley Browning and Dellena Fontenot with Dellena’s photo.
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Lexi and Mary Louvier.
John Heurtevant, Shawn and Jonathan Nunez and Elizabeth Heurtevant.
Ami Laughlin, Julie and Kayley Speights and Jeff Dominque.
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Killin’ Time Crossword E-mail: aimee@structurex.net Ragley - Mobile homes allowed. 7 tracts of land as follows: Four 2.5 Acre Tracts - $17,500 Each Two 4 Acre Tracts - $28,000 Each One 10 Acre Tract - $70,000 All Tracts are Wooded, with Black Top Streets, Public Water and No Flood Zone. Moss Bluff - Restricted Wooded Lots on Ravenhurst Drive (Off Pine Cone Dr.) 1600 Sq. Ft. Minimum Required. Black Top Streets. Owner will finance with 10% Down, 6% Interest amortized over 6 years with a Balloon Payment at the 24th month. Call for details. $23,900 each. E. Tank Farm Road - 7.5 Acres cleared and ready to build on. Horses allowed. $120,000.
Daily Lunch Specials Fresh Whole Wheat Tortillas Available for Sale.
Chandler, Arizona Downton Chandler 141 S. Arizona Ave.
Call (337) 436-7800 Ext. 110 PAGE 40
JUNE 4, 2009
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CATCH A CONCERT EVERY MONDAY IN JUNE The Lake Charles Community Band is nearing the close of its 22nd season with the Catch-A-Concert series every Monday in June. The concerts are scheduled at 7 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Arcade Pavilion, with rainy weather plans for the second floor Civic Center Mezzanine. The audience is encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and a picnic dinner for a relaxing concert at sunset on the lakefront. Conductors Rod Lauderdale and Leo Murray compare the concerts to those of yesteryear. Highlights will include favorite music from Rogers & Hammerstein, to Gershwin on Broadway. This concert series leads up to the Red White Blue & You Patriotic Program during the Fourth of July Festival where the Community Band, conducted by Leo Murray, will be accompanied by the Louisiana Choral Foundation under the direction of Dr. Darryl Jones. For more information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com. The Bad Roads
THE BAD ROADS AT DOWNTOWN AT SUNDOWN JUNE 5 Downtown at Sundown will feature The Bad Roads on Fri., June 5, at 6 p.m. on the corner of Ryan and Broad in Downtown Lake Charles. Influenced by the popular British rock bands of the time, The Bad Roads first started taking shape in 1965, when they quickly gained a bad-boy reputation along the Gulf Coast club circuit. After a wave of concert and television appearances, the band called it quits with their reputation intact and went their separate ways. The Bad Roads reunited for a 1980 concert in Lake Charles and that set the stage for highly anticipated annual reunions. They have recently released a CD of 12 new original songs. Band members include Buz Clark on lead vocals and harmonica, Danny Kimball on drums and vocals, Bruce MacDonald on guitar and vocals, Steve Morrow on bass, and Briant Smith on guitar and vocals. The band will be accompanied by special guests Pat Breaux on saxophone and David Eagan on keyboard.
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JAM
ALL-BREED AKC DOG SHOW BURTON COLISEUM JUNE 6-7 Tails will be wagging Sat. and Sun., June 6-7, as the Calcasieu Parish Kennel Club hosts its annual all-breed AKC show at the Burton Coliseum. Doors will open at 7 a.m. each day with judging lasting from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Admission is free for spectators. During the event, several different types of competitions will be held, including conformation, junior showmanship, obedience and best puppy competition. Organizers are expecting more than 700 dogs from seven breed groups. Vendors will also be on-hand showcasing those hard-to-find items for dogs. For a complete list of events, contact Debbie Alexander at 598-2102. AD CLUB AUCTIONS ADVERTISING TO BENEFIT KIDS JUNE 11 Bidders can buy advertising to promote their businesses at an unusual auction sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF)–Lake Charles. The “Happy Camper Advertising Auction and Party” will sell advertising packages donated by local media to raise money to send deserving kids to Summer Arts Camp and to fund scholarships for McNeese and Sowela students. The Happy Camper auction will be June 11 in the air-conditioned Harbor’s Edge Pavilion at Prien Lake Park. The event will feature food prepared by Chef Joe Heacook, music by Judd Bares and a “summer camp” setting. Tickets are $25 and are available from AAF–Lake Charles members or by calling 439-2787. HANK WILLIAMS, JR. PERFORMS LIVE AT COUSHATTA JUNE 12 Country and Southern Rock music legend Hank Williams, Jr. will perform in The Pavilion at Coushatta on Fri., June 12 at 8 p.m. for one show only. Hank Jr. has long been the voice of the common man, serving up observations on life and society that have made his fans listen intently. He won the CMA’s entertainer trophy in 1987 and 1988. In 1989, he won his first (and only) Grammy for the duet with his father, “There’s a Tear in My Beer,” which borrowed Hank Sr.’s vocals from a vinyl record. Buy tickets now at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, and the Coushatta Box Office. Hank Williams, Jr.
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GREEN CORN FEST/POW WOW JUNE 13 The Atakapa-Ishak Indian Nation will be hosting the traditional Native American First Annual Green Corn Fest/Pow Wow in Calcasieu Parish, with formal ceremonies beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Amphitheatre. Native American corn dishes and traditional dishes will be featured, along with jewelry, belts, hats, clothes, and arts and crafts for sale. Dancers will be demonstrating sacred dances that are unique to their tribes. No alcohol or drugs are allowed. The Sheriff’s Department will be patrolling the area as required, while Tony Mancuso will be invited to attend the function as an honorary guest. For more information, please contact Chief Michael Amos at (409) 728-0394 or Assistant Chief Mary LeBlanc at (713) 305-0564.
A MIDSUMMER WHITE LINEN NIGHT JUNE 13 The Foundation of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital invites you to don your finest white linen and stroll the 700 block of Ryan Street for A Midsummer White Linen Night on Sat., June 13, from 7- 11 p.m. An exceptional evening of art exhibits from local galleries, specialty drinks provided by various restaurants, and musical entertainment on two stages provided by Southbound, Chris Miller and Bayou Roots and The 1944 Big Band. Guests will have chances to win door prizes from merchants along the route, as well as the $1,000 grand prize—all for only $100 per person. Tickets are available at the following locations: • Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Gift Shop • The Arts & Humanities Council Office (809 Kirby Street, Suite 202) • Business First Bank (728 Ryan Street) • Salon Lindsay (725 Ryan Street) • Social Denim (706 Ryan Street) • The Foundation Office by calling (337) 494-3226, or by mailing your check, made payable to The Foundation at LCMH: 1701 Oak Park Blvd.; Lake Charles, LA 70601. SWLA HEALTH SERVICES SEVENTH ANNUAL GALA & ROAST JUNE 26 The SWLA Center of Health Services will host its Seventh Annual Gala & Roast, “Celebrating Community Bridge Builders” on Fri., June 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Buccaneer Room on the third floor at the Lake Charles Civic Center. This year, the honorees will be Dr. Susan Jones and Father Henry Mancuso. Each year, the SWLA Center for Health Services sponsors the Gala & Roast where it recognizes outstanding community leaders who are committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and eliminating health disparities within our communities. The monies raised from this event will go to support patient education programs at the health center. Tickets are $50 per person and tables of eight are available for $400. Sponsorships, donations and in-kind services are welcome and are available at various levels. For more information or to reserve your tickets or tables, please call the center by Fri., June 19 at 493-5123. TJN
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To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com
The
THURSDAY, JUNE 4 • Don Fontenot/Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Dave Pellerin @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 6-10 p.m. • Seven Mary Three/Sponge/Days of the New @ Party By The Pool, L’Auberge, 7 p.m. • Time Machine @ Jack Daniels, L’Auberge, 11 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 5 • Howard Noel/Cajun Boogie @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • The Bad Roads @ Downtown at Sundown, 6 p.m. • Blues Tonic @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 p.m. • Whiskey South @ OB’s, 9 p.m. • Devil & The Details @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • Research Turtles @ Toucan’s, 9 p.m. SATURDAY, JUNE 6 • Mack Manuel/Lake Charles Ramblers @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Crooks Carnival @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • Pork Chop Express @ Blue Duck Café, 9 p.m. • When The Word Was Sound/Red Letter Reverb/Paper Plains @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 • Blues Tonic @ Mary’s Lounge, 4 p.m. MONDAY, JUNE 8 • Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night @ Luna’s Bar and Grill 9 p.m. TUESDAY, JUNE 9 • Briggs Brown/Bayou Cajuns @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 • Howard Noel/Cajun Boogie @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • John Guidroz @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • City Heat @ Sylvia’s Bistro 9 p.m. THURSDAY, JUNE 11 • Scotty Pousson/Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Dave Pellerin @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 6-10 p.m. • U.S. @ Party by the Pool, L’Auberge, 7 p.m. • Flashback @ Jack Daniels, L’Auberge, 11 p.m. FRIDAY, JUNE 12 • T-Joe Romero @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m.
• • • •
Tom Brandow @ Outrigger’s Tavern, 5 p.m. Hank Williams Jr. @ The Pavilion at Coushatta, 8 p.m. Slowtheknife/VilKatas @ Hawg Wild (Sulphur), 8 p.m. Wilson Miller and Still Kickin’ @ Linda’s Lounge, 8:30 p.m. • The Flamethrowers @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • Briant Lloyd Smith & Hot Gritz, 9 p.m. • Ashes of Babylon @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, JUNE 13 • Joe Simon/Louisiana Cajun @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • X-It 43 @ Molly’s Lamplighter, 7 p.m. • The Devil and The Details/The Last Charlon @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Blues Tonic @ Toucan’s, 9 p.m. • Barisal Guns/Mothership @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • Pork Chop Express @ Blue Duck Café, 9 p.m. SUNDAY, JUNE 14 • Jimmy Wilson Band@ Shorty’s Ice House, Moss Bluff, 5 p.m. MONDAY, JUNE 15 • Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night @ Luna’s Bar and Grill, 9 p.m. TUESDAY, JUNE 16 • Felton Lejeune/Cajun Cowboys @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 • Homer Lejeune @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • John Guidroz @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • City Heat @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 p.m. THURSDAY, JUNE 18 • Lesa Cormier/Sundown Playboys @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Dave Pellerin @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 6-10 p.m. • The Molly Ringwalds @ Party by the Pool, L’Auberge, 7 p.m. • Crooks Carnival @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • After 8 @ Jack Daniels, L’Auberge, 11 p.m.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 19 • Tally Miller/Marshland Band @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Tom Brandow @ Outrigger’s Tavern, 5 p.m. • Colorcast Veteran/Mothership/Lions @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Whiskey South @ Mary’s Lounge, 8 p.m. • Wilson Miller & Still Kickin’@ Linda’s Lounge, 8:30 p.m. • Southbound @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 p.m. • Briant Lloyd Smith & Hot Gritz, 9 p.m. • Do Not Destroy @ OB’s, 10 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20 • Al Roger/Louisiana Pride @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5-10 p.m. • Paper Plains/Fresh Nectar @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • In Liquid/Trip Wamsley @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Meriwether/Parallel The Sky/Sunrise Kills @ Toucan’s, 10 p.m.
TJN
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Lake Charles Radio is Vibrant and Variegated: A Sampler of Local Radio By Leslie Berman I know I’m always flapping on about live music played in intimate settings as my favorite way to hear music. But did I mention my guilty secret? I also love listening to the radio late at night while driving down a quiet highway, the wheels of the car rolling in time to the beat of the music, the twinkling stars and neon signs breaking up the darkness, while the mesmerizing sound of the disk jockeys’ back announcements turn from thundering growls to velvet purring. This is true whether I’m taking the long way home from one side of Lac Chuck to the other, or driving my 350mile daily quota to get from Yankee country down here to No Man’s Land. I was brought up in the 1950s and 1960s in Queens, New York on Wolfman Jack, Alan Freed, Cousin Brucie, Allison Steele (The Nightbird), Pete Fornatele and other stirring and sultry preachers of the religion of rock, whose faces were unknown to me, but whose voices drew me like a light bulb draws a termite. Later, I loved the incongruous-voiced jocks of freeform-and listener-sponsored public radio stations, with their nasal whines and oddball voices cracking as they moved from lower to upper register to intone the liner notes of the weird and wonderful records they’d
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spun. That’s probably why I was, briefly, a folk music DJ on freeform radio WFMU-FM, one of the last true bastions of the “come on over to my house and listen to the amazing stuff I picked up at this great garage sale” anti-format. If you want to hear what freeform sounds like, try their simulcast at wfmu.org any time day or night. But if you want to hear what I listen to in the car, hop up the dial from the jazz and classical NPR stations in the lower frequencies, where I listen to comfort music that’s good for me, through the pop and country and adult contemporary rock stations hovering in the middle of the dial for the music I listen to when I want “ear candy,” all the way to the sleek and sophisticated urban stations in the higher end of the bandwidth where I know, reliably, I will eventually get my Barry White fix. As the calendar and the weather reporters march us inexorably up the heat and humidity scales, I can just about hear those familiar sounds of summer approaching – kids revving up their pickup engines so they can drive slowly up and down Ryan Street, blasting their music – just like my friends and I did in our day. Here’s what you can expect to hear this summer on local music radio, moving up from the noncommercial end of the dial, with some clues as to their musical genres and likely listeners: KRVS-FM 88.7 (simulcast on krvs.org) is our local public radio station, broadcasting from Lafayette’s University of Louisiana campus. National Public Radio news and features shows and the like jostle classical music, bluegrass, Cajun and zydeco, singer-songwriters, reggae, traditional Celtic folk music, big band swing and jazz, and what would have been called New Age instrumental or space sounds about 20 years ago, but today is less easily defined. There are shows produced in Lake Charles, and shows featuring live interviews with area artists. KISS 92.1 features rhythmic CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) such as Pink’s “Please Don’t Leave Me,” Lady Gaga’s “Love Girl,” and Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow.” Tune into Fun Radio 92.9 this week and you’ll hear classic hits, or oldies, loosely defined, such as Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer,” and Prince’s “Raspberry Beret,” and Gary Shannon, local stage and film star, in morning drive time. KYKZ 96.1, better known as “Kicks Ninety-Six,” is pure country from the 1980s through today, heavy on the today. This week they’re spinning Brad Paisley’s “Then,” Keith Urban’s “Kiss A Girl” (not to be confused with the pop hit by Katy Perry, “I Kissed A Girl), and Sugarland’s “(Shhh) ..it Happens.” Also news, weather, and feature stories, DJ Niki in the afternoon drive slot, and Rick Jackson’s syndicated show, “Country Hall of Fame,” on Sundays 5 – 8 p.m.
KQLK 97.9, also known as Hot 97, plays CHRformatted urban music for the suburban crowd. Gator 99.5 plays continuous country favorites like Montgomery Gentry’s “One In Every Crowd,” Kenny Chesney’s “Out Last Night,” and whoa, lookee here, Keith Urban’s “Kiss A Girl.” Guess Keith Urban is not just Nicole Kidman’s pretty husband. He is popular in his own guitar-picking right. KKGB 101.3, recently known as The Rock, but now branded Rock 101, plays new and classic rock from Nickelback to the Allman Brothers. KBIU 103.3, formerly B 104, but now known as “Jack” radio, showcases hit songs from the past 40 years “with little (if any) regard for their genre.” The station’s claim is that they play whatever they want to from pop to rock to R&B, from the Sixties to today. The seemingly formatless format has been compared to an iPod shuffle. If you like to hear yourself on the radio, you can call Jack’s recording line and leave a message that may or may not be played back between songs. Call (866) 930-JACK if you want to join the fray. KZWA 104.9, formerly Vibe 105, is one of the few local stations that’s independently owned, and owned by a sharp woman, Ms. Faye Blackwell, who has maintained a local feel to her sophisticated brand as her station has changed its emphasis with changing times and audiences. About 15 weeks ago, they dropped their hip-hop shows which skewed younger than their adult audience, and instituted a new format they call Zydeco and Southern Soul, under the guidance of Mitch Faulkner, a smooth program director who came over from Atlanta, and DJs a morning show that includes live interviews with area musicians and other local figures, ably assisted by Music Director Tammy Tousant. Top three on the playlist today were Charlie Wilson’s “There Goes My Baby,” Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight,” and Zydeco Keith Frank’s “Haterz.” The station is trying out a monthly live remote Zydeco brunch on Saturdays at The Blue Duck on Broad Street. DJ Diva D will spin platters and interview a live musical guest between songs. The first brunch will feature Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, whose current hit, “The Zydeco Cowboy,” is spinning merrily around the clock in frequent rotation on KZWA. KJMH 107.5, also known as Jamz, plays an urban mix for a younger crowd of Ciara’s “Never Ever,” Jeremiah’s “BirthdaySex,” and Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down.” Two area AM stations also play special format music: KLCL 1470 (and simulcast on KJEF 1290) is a Cajun music station, while KXZZ 1580, formerly gospel station Z16, now The Touch, plays today’s R&B and old school soul music, with Brother Ford’s gospel show on Sundays. TJN
JUNE 4, 2009
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Krewe de Charlie Sioux Mardi Gras in Sioux City, Iowa It’s Mardi Gras time in Sioux City! The Krewe de Charlie Sioux will present its twelfth annual Mardi Gras Gala at the Sioux City Convention Center on Thurs., July 2. A contingent of Lake Charles members and friends, along with the Twelfth Night Revelers, will be heading up to Iowa for the fun. “Legends of the Silver Screen” is the theme for this year’s festivities. It promises to be a memorable time. The Gala will highlight the amazing costumes created by the krewe, and Siouxlanders will get to experience authentic Cajun food. The following day, the Big Parade is scheduled to roll along a new downtown route. There will be beads, floats, and bands. After the parade, kids can enjoy the Children’s Area, with a variety of inflatable
rides, and there will be Cajun entertainment with a band performing immediately in the Convention Center parking lot. A spectacular fireworks show will launch at dusk to celebrate Independence Day downtown. Saturday, July 4, is the free music festival known as Saturday in the Park—one of the most popular in the Midwest. Past performers have included Chuck Berry, the Black Crowes, the Neville Brothers, and Blues Traveler, to name a few. This year’s headliner band is Counting Crows. Anyone can come for the fun—you don’t have to be a krewe member, said Blane Bourgeois, a founding member of the krewe and the first krewe king. “A lot of non-members come, and they love it,” he said. For more information, contact Bourgeois at 437-7927. TJN
Add some spice to your life! The Jambalaya News is looking for a Media Sales Representative. Full-time position, prior sales experience required. E-mail resume to publisher@thejambalayanews.com or call (337) 263-4736 for more information.
826 Ford Street, Lake Charles, 70601 PAGE 46
JUNE 4, 2009
Volume 1 • Issue 5
Volume 1 • Issue 5
JUNE 4, 2009
PAGE 47