The Jambalaya News - Vol 1, NO. 8

VOL. 1, NO. 8 / JULY 16, 2009

ALSO:

• Wine Tasting 101 • PEZ Dispenses Big Bucks • Lake Area Talent in the Minor Leagues • Cormie’s: Corner Store Does Booming Business

PRONIA’S DELI & BAKERY • CHRISTINA LOUVIERRE PHOTOGRAPHY • THE PAPER PLACE • VIDEO 1 PRODUCTIONS, INC TREASURED MOMENTS BRIDAL • DEEP SOUTH PRODUCTIONS • BODIN JEWELERS • SQUIRE’S TUXEDO

BON TEMPS EXPRESS • CAJUN CAFÉ & CATERING • CYPI’S CAKE BOX • BELLA MIA PHOTOGRAPHY • A DAISY A DAY HONEY LUV LINGERIE & MORE • LUXURY LIMOSINES • PARTNERS IN TRAVEL • SALON EVANS & GLOW SPA

Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

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GENERAL 826 Ford St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262

contents COVER STORY

PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque

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publisher@thejambalayanews.com

REGULARS

NEWS MANAGING EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque

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lauren@thejambalayanews.com

EDITOR Lisa Yates lisa@thejambalayanews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Addison Kay Andrews Leslie Berman Sara Blackwell George Cline James Doyle Dan Ellender Cheryl Krull Mike McHugh Jeanne Owens Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Steve Springer ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT Patricia Prudhomme SALES ASSOCIATE Sabrina Barker GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck

Beyond the Ordinary: The Wine Store

Cover Photo by Darrell Buck On Cover: Mike and Martha Holleman, from The Wine Store

July 16, 2009 • Volume 1 • Issue 8

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The Boiling Pot Doyle’s Place The Dang Yankee Tips from Tip The Zestful Life House Call Sports Report Animal 411

FEATURES 15 21 22 28

Bayou Biz: Cormie’s Wine Tasting 101 Wine with Food in Mind PEZ Dispenses Big Bucks

ENTERTAINMENT 27 34 36 40 41 42 44 46

Family Night at the Movies Red Hot Books Society Spice Killin’ Time Crossword Funbolaya Jambalaya Jam The Local Jam Eclectic Company

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darrell@thejambalayanews.com

BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews

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BUSINESS INTERN Bryce Primeaux 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.

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From the Publisher I was on the phone recently with Lauren’s elderly aunt and uncle, who are now living in Phoenix. They’re having a difficult time adjusting to their new life.

Instead of focusing on the present, and what they can do to make their new life enjoyable, they keep dwelling on how much they miss Boston, and all the good times they had when they were younger. It’s impossible to get them out of that mindset.

I think too often, our minds wander into the past— or into the future. We miss the “good old days,” or worry about the days to come—forgetting about today.

Each day and each moment is a gift. Recently, we lost some Hollywood celebrities and wonderful performers. I wonder what they would have done differently if they had known that their last days were coming.

Maybe this moment isn’t exactly where we thought we would be at this time of our lives. But we’re here and we need to remember that. It’s a gift that we need to treasure. When was the last time you watched a beautiThe Jambalaya News proudly presents our new sale representative, Sabrina M. Barker. Sabrina was born in Biloxi, but moved to Westlake when she was three and was raised in SWLA. Sabrina was the assistant director of the American Heart Association for five years, working very closely with volunteers and sponsors in the community. She’s on the

ful sunset over Lake Charles? When was the last time you saw a sunrise and experienced the array of colors changing in the sky?

Do something new today! Try something you’ve always wanted to do. Or just try a new restaurant, go to a movie, or take your special someone’s hand and go for a walk along the new water park on Prien Lake Road!

This moment will never come again. Treasure it. And if you’d like, e-mail me and tell me about it! It might give me an idea too!

As always, I thank you for picking up this copy of The Jambalaya News. I hope our uplifting stories and positive news make a difference in your life and the ones you love.

– Phil de Albuquerque

board of Fusion Five, is a member of SWLA Chamber, and volunteers for the American Heart Association, the Calcasieu Women's Shelter and other organizations in the community.

Sabrina is married to Barry Keith Barker and has a son, Tyler Baiunco, 10, and a daughter Shelbi Barker, 3. Welcome to the Jambalaya family, Sabrina!

TJN

Sabrina Barker

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JULY 16, 2009

Volume 1 • Issue 8

LAKE AREA NON-PROFITS IN THE NEWS NAMIWalks Holds Awards Reception; MSNA Recognized

Tobacco-Free Living Awards Grants to LC Agencies The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) has awarded more than half a million dollars in Community Advocacy Grants to 45 community-based organizations across Louisiana. In the Lake Charles-area, three agencies received a total of $36,000.

Lake Charles-area grant recipients are: • Southwest Louisiana Sickle Cell Anemia - $12,000.

• Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council - $12,000.

• Partners in Child Safety of Lake Charles - $12,000.

These nonprofits will use the grant funding to support tobacco prevention and control programs that facilitate youth empowerment, promote advocacy, and engage special populations that are disproportionately impacted by tobacco. All TFL grant recipients took part in a two-day orientation and training series on July 14-15 to learn how to incorporate tobacco prevention and control practices into their existing programs.

For more information on the TFL Community Advocacy Grants and the programs they fund, contact Patricia Prudhomme, TFL Lake Charles Area Regional Coordinator, at (337) 274-4199.

According to The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tobacco industry spends $295.1 million annually to market its deadly products in Louisiana alone. Twenty-three percent of adults in Louisiana are smokers, and more than 7,700 kids under the age of 18 become established daily smokers each year.

“The tobacco industry strategically targets youth

The Southwest Louisiana affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness held their 7th annual NAMIWalks for the Mind of America Awards Reception at St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church recently. The annual reception was held to recognize the many volunteers, fundraising teams, corporate sponsors, and service donors for their participation in the annual Walk this past April 25.

During the reception, the McNeese Student Nursing Association was awarded the “Flame of the Mind” award for Outstanding Participation at this year’s Walk. MSNA was one of nine student organizations from McNeese State University competing for this community service honor.

The “Flame of the Mind” award was created to recognize the student organization with the greatest cumulative participation in fundraising, walkers, and volunteer time toward the annual NAMIWalks. The MSNA raised $3,059, had 83 walkers and volunteers, and over 120 hours of volunteer time. Total contributions from McNeese student organizations, staff, and faculty equaled just over $6,400, had approximately 250 walkers and volunteers, and over 200 hours of volunteer time towards this year’s Walk.

The award was conceived by MSU psychology student, Penny J. Miller, who was assigned to the NAMI SWLA office in January 2009, through a spring semester psychology internship. In an effort to contribute to the fundraising efforts for the annual Walk, Miller designed a campus campaign to challenge the student organizations to become active participants in the mental health of their community.

With just over 1,200 in attendance, this year’s Walk raised just short of $100,000. The annual 5K (3.2 Mile) Walk is held each year on the last Saturday in April and is NAMI Southwest Louisiana’s largest annual fundraiser to assist the affiliate in providing family support, education, housing, research, and medication assistance for the local community.

For more information, contact the NAMI Southwest Louisiana Affiliate, 715 Ryan Street, Suite 203, Lake Charles, LA 70601, (337) 433-0219.

and other segments of the population such as women, adults over age 50, and the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community with deceptive advertising tactics, sponsorships, and messages designed to lure them into developing or continuing dangerous behaviors with life-long health implications,” says Prudhomme.

“Community Advocacy Grants are part of TFL’s statewide effort to increase awareness about the health consequences of tobacco use and to call attention to the tobacco industry’s blatant, targeted marketing efforts among these groups.

We also hope to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to advocate for tobacco-free policies that protect all Louisianans.”

The TFL Community Advocacy Grant funding period is for one year, beginning July 1, 2009.

TJN

TJN

Police Jury Supports the Children’s Museum The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury recently presented a check for $50,000 to the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana, to support re-building efforts to their facility after it suffered fire damage this past April. Accepting the check on behalf of the Children’s Museum was Executive Director Dan Ellender.

Hal McMillin, Police Jury president, said this support was needed for area youth. “The Children’s Museum serves this parish and many other parishes surrounding us giving our youth the opportunity to have a fun, yet educational experience in learning about Southwest Louisiana. We at the Police Jury want to Volume 1 • Issue 8

help ensure that they will be able to open their doors again soon to continue to offer this service to the community.”

Ellender says the donation will be put to to good use. “We will use these funds to help re-build many of our popular museum exhibits located on the first floor that everyone enjoys so much,” says Ellender. “We are very appreciative of the support the Southwest Louisiana community has given us in our goal to rebuild the museum for all to enjoy once again.” TJN JULY 16, 2009

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The

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Cameron Hospital Foundation donated $500 to the residency program in Dr. Unkel’s honor. For more information, call the Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program at (337) 494-2023.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at Northwestern Mutual

Cameron State Bank Ranked First in State Cameron State Bank has been named the overall best bank in Louisiana based on its excellent performance and soundness, according to the Louisiana Bank Performance Report published for the 1st Quarter of 2009, by Financial Management Consulting Group, a Kentucky based consulting firm. The report lists Cameron State Bank as the number one bank in Louisiana out of all 133 banks in the state. Performance rankings for Louisiana banks are based on eight financial factors. All Louisiana banks are scored and ranked in each category, with an overall composite score and the bank’s ranking determined by the average of all the accumulated factors. Additional information can be obtained by contacting W. Timothy Finn, II at (270) 866-2566 or tim@fmcgrp.com.

Northwestern Mutual Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Northwestern Mutual and the Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony recently to celebrate the opening of the new Northwestern Mutual office located on the sixth floor of the downtown Chase Bank building. Mayor Randy Roach, Northwestern Mutual clients, and several Chamber members gathered together for this celebration.

Northwestern Mutual has been an enduring and reputable member of the Lake Charles life insurance and financial services landscape for more than 30 years.

Northwestern Mutual- Lake Charles has 10 financial representatives, who are part of a network of specialists offering a wide array of financial services and products. For more information, contact Becky Girola, Director of Development, at 437-7826.

Dr. Jody George presents award to Dr. Patrick Unkel PAGE 6

JULY 16, 2009

Memorial Physician Receives Award of Excellence Patrick J. Unkel, M.D., a pediatrician on staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and a part-time faculty member at the Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency Program, was the first recipient of the William Perry George Memorial Award of Excellence. The George Family Foundation recognized Dr. Unkel for his ethics, a life-long dedication to learning, and his many acts of kindness in both his personal and professional life.

The award was presented during a recent ceremony for the residency program’s graduates. In addition, the West Calcasieu

Tim Coffey, COO, presents the Rosie Thompson Award to Officer Raymond Laughlin.

Memorial Hospital Announces Latest Rosie Thompson Award Winner Officer Raymond Laughlin was the recipient of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s bi-monthly Rosie Thompson Award for May/June 2009. Laughlin was nominated by fellow employees for his outstanding examples of service excellence as a security officer at Memorial.

In addition to the recognition, Officer Laughlin received several prizes including free lunch tokens for two months and a small cash award. His portrait will be displayed in the hospital’s main lobby along with the other Rosie Thompson winners. He will also be in the running for the 2009 Rosie Thompson Employee of the Year Award.

Glam-N-Gloss Day Spa Announces Winner of Tell Us Your Story Contest Glam-N-Gloss Day Spa recently hosted a contest called “Tell Us Your Story—Are Dark Spots Causing You to Hide From the Spotlight?” Participants were asked to submit an essay that described their issues and challenges in Volume 1 • Issue 8

dealing with sunspots, dark spots or blemishes. A panel of judges reviewed each of the 150 entries and selected Octavia Davis’ essay as the winner. Davis has the opportunity to win three skin care treatments designed to reduce the appearance of sunspots and dark spots. She will also receive one-on-one skin care consultations with co-owner, Kimberly Dellafosse, a registered nurse and licensed esthetician. For more information, call (337) 313-0222 or visit www.glamandgloss.com.

CFO Welcomes New Foot and Ankle Specialist Tyson Green, D.P.M., podiatric surgeon, has joined the medical staff of Center for Orthopaedics. Dr. Green is originally from Lafayette and received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University. He earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia.. Dr. Green specializes in diabetic foot care, foot surgery, bunions, podiatric sports medicine, custom orthotics, hammertoes, heel pain, children’s podiatry, arthritis, and sprains and fractures of the lower extremities. Dr. Green will be seeing patients in the Lake Charles and Sulphur offices of Center for Orthopaedics. Call 721-7236 for more information.

Paula Ramsey

Paula Ramsey Completes First Year at Institute Paula Ramsey, the Chamber SWLA’s Membership Sales Representative, recently completed her first year at Institute for Organization Management (Institute), a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at the University of Georgia in Athens. Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn points toward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.

Becky Girola Joins Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Becky Girola recently joined Northwestern Mutual of Lake Charles as the director of development. A native of Sterlington, Louisiana, Girola received a marketing degree from Louisiana State University. She also participated in Northwestern Mutual’s Top Ten internship program while attending L.S.U. Girola has been with the company for five years and comes to Lake Charles from Northwestern Mutual’s network office in New Orleans, where she served as the director of recruiting.

Coushatta Casino Resort Adds Hundreds of New Slots Coushatta Casino Resort, owned and operated by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, has just replaced over 500 of its slot machines and now offers the latest and most popular machines to bring more fun and excitement to the casino. With over 2,800 slot machines, more than 1,300 are now penny denominations. Along with the addition of the new slots throughout the casino floor, the Circus of Slots tent located in the back part of the casino was converted to a non-smoking area on July 1. The area includes 670 slots and a snack bar.

“Many of our guests have been asking for a smoke-free area to play slots and we are committed to providing the best guest service for our players,” stated the casino’s Director of Marketing Phil Ziegler. “We’ll be the only casino in the region to cater to both smokers and non-smokers.”

From left to right: Dylana Smith, Alex Landry and Brianne Guidry attend theatre workshops at the 2009 International Thespian Festival CTC Attends 2009 International Thespian Festival Kerry A. Onxley, artistic director of the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC), attended the 2009 International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln June 22-27. Over 2,500 students from across the United States came to participate in workshops, auditions, and performances, including Lake Area residents Dylana Smith, Alex Landry and Brianne Guidry.

Classes include acting for the camera, speaking Shakespearean language, advanced improvisation, scene study and acting techniques, along with fulllength student productions, one-act plays and scholarship auditions.

Larry Graham, chief executive officer at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, presented a token of appreciation to Mari Wilson, KPLC’s public service director.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

KPLC-TV Co-Sponsors A Midsummer White Linen Night KPLC-TV recently co-sponsored A Midsummer White Linen Night, the inaugural event of The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Larry Graham, chief executive officer at Memorial, presented a token of appreciation to Mari Wilson, the station’s public service director. The mission of The Foundation is to raise funds for Memorial’s capital needs, endowments, special programs and support of community efforts. For more information, please call The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, (337) 494-3226.

City Savings Bank Receives Highest Bank Ratings from Leading Financial Resources City Savings Bank recently received the highest bank ratings from four leading financial resources, Independent Banker, TheStreet.com, Bankrate.com and BauerFinancial. Independent Banker, a publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), named City Savings Bank in its list of the 400 Top Performing Community Banks of 2008. Independent Banker determines its list by utilizing FDIC reports to measure banks by return on average assets and return on average equity. TheStreet.com, a leading Internet provider of financial news, commentary, analysis, ratings, and business and investment content, awarded City Savings Bank its highest rating—A (excellent).

TheStreet.com’s rating system evaluates the strength of more than 13,000 financial institutions. Bankrate.com, a leading Internet compiler of financial rate information, awarded City Savings Bank its highest rating—five stars.

Bankrate.com’s ratings are based on a bank’s performance compared with both industry standards and peer norms. BauerFinancial, Inc., one of the nation’s leading bank rating and research firms, awarded City Savings Bank its highest rating of five stars. For more information on City Savings Bank contact Matthew Bowles at 337-463-8661, ext. 235.

TJN

Congratulations to Henri Rembert, winner of our June 18, Upside Down Town contest! Henri took home a free ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery.

I love the name, and I love the paper. I keep it by my bedside to read. It’s the perfect paper for my unwind time. It’s the best of the papers.

— Henri Rembert Jambalaya Reader JULY 16, 2009

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Free Community Seminar on Back Pain at Christus St. Patrick Hospital CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital will be holding a free community seminar on neck and back pain on Thurs. July 23. The seminar will begin at 6 p.m. in Garber Auditorium at 430 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive. Neurosurgeon Bryant George, Sr. M.D., will discuss the most common causes for neck and back pain and treatment

options that are now available. Dr. George is a neurosurgeon with CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital’s surgical services department and is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Seating for the seminar is limited.

To register, call 491-7577. TJN

Around Town and Out-of-State With The Jam

Krewe de Charlie Sioux’s newly crowned Queen Lori Marinovich and King Dan Carlson brought The Jambalaya News to the krewe’s recent Gala in Sioux City, Iowa.

Every Monday night, feast on juicy mouth watering Prime Rib. Rubbed with our own mix of seasonings and roasted to perfection.

Enjoy a 8, 12, or 16 oz. Prime Rib with aujus and horseradish cream sauces, a loaded baked potato and mixed vegetables.

Come early, supplies are limited.

901 Ryan St., Lake Charles • 439-2054 • pujostreet.com PAGE 8

JULY 16, 2009

The Jambalaya News attended a recent wine tasting at the Harlequin. Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque enjoy a taste of the good life with Ashley Wilson.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

North of England, he still thinks of himself as “Kentish,” since he was born and raised in Canterbury. Kent is a royal province, meaning that the Royal Family presides over the Duchy of Kent in much the same way as the Prince of Wales is the sovereign of that nation within a nation.

I could write a whole column on the differences between England and the U.S. Maybe one day I will.

For today, the most significant thing about the U.K. is that it holds the girl who holds my boy’s heart in her hands. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. I

Doyle

By Jim

wish I had something like that in my memory banks.

As for me, recent medical problems have put me on a vegan diet, of all things. Interesting trying to adapt my cooking to that one. As for the rest of you carnivores, I hope you guys have a great gourmet meal and a passable bottle of wine sometime this week.

Remember that life is good. As a friend of mine recently told me, as long as you have boots on the ground and air in your lungs, it’s a good day.

Have one of those.

See ya on the flip. TJN

It’s a Crazy World In one of those movies recitation parties we always seem to have at the Doyle household, dialogue from the film Raising Arizona plays a prominent role. “It’s a crazy world,” says H. I. McDonogh, played by Nicholas Cage. “Somebody oughta sell tickets.”

“I’d buy one,” says his companion, Glenn.

In my last column I remarked about the poignant love story then being played out involving Governor Mark Sanford. Who could have foreseen that, from then to now we would: 1) lose Ed McMahan; 2) lose Farrah Fawcett; 3) lose Michael Jackson; 4) find out about yet another Republican’s sex life; and 5) discover that Governor Sanford believed his Argentine mistress was his “soul mate,” but nevertheless was going “try,” and try very hard, to fall back in love with his wife.

Then, in a coup de grace, Governor Caribou Barbie decides that the mean ole politicians prevent her from doing her job in Alaska, so she quits in front of a press conference attended by few human beings and a bunch of honking geese and then proceeds to give an interview at a fish camp in a pair of waders.

My, my.

You can’t make this stuff up, although John Stewart of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, a provocative raconteur, had the best comment I’ve heard while bemoaning the fact that Governor Sanford seemed to keep talking when a wiser man wouldn’t. In a matter of days, he went from one mistress, to one mistress and several women he apparently romanced up to “the sex line” without crossing it. This confounded Stewart, who said: Volume 1 • Issue 8

“Why can’t you shut up?? God killed Michael Jackson to get you off the front page! Just shut up!!!”

My-O-My. As a certified baby-boomer who had a teenage son with a Farrah Fawcett poster on his wall, I have to make note of the fact that the scandal season prevented the country from paying full homage to a true icon and one of those rare commodities, a celebrity who, for the most part, suffered her pains and agonies in silence, fighting a courageous fight to get well, leaving behind a loving family to mourn her. RIP Farrah. You went too early.

In the meantime, my son Stratton has returned from his second trip to England in three months, this time to visit his girlfriend Johanna Burns. Jo announces her profession as a secretary in a law office and “part time bar wench.” She lives above a pub called the Half Moon in Bishop’s Stortford, a smallish town near Stansted Airport.

It’s basically in London, but out of the main area of the city.

It is probably inevitable that Jo is going to come over to Lake Charles at some point, and judging by Stratton’s demeanor these days, the sooner the better. I can’t help but wonder how she is going to adapt. Jo doesn’t hold a drivers license. Everything she wants to see, and every place she needs to go is either within walking distance or reachable by train. The biggest difference in the quality of life in England and the United States can be summed up by that very fact. If you only go to those places where you can walk, you have to develop a closer sense of connection to your village, town, and even region.

My friend Nick Brown is a good example of that. Although Nick now lives in Yorkshire, which is in the JULY 16, 2009

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Dang Yankee The

By Mike McHugh

Love Those Louisiana Politicians!

As I write this, the gavel had just recently gone down to put a merciful end to this year’s legislative session in Baton Rouge. I’m perusing a timeline of the session in the newspaper.

It reads like Soap Opera Digest.

A friend who had once lived in Louisiana warned me before I came here about the scourge of Louisiana politics. I couldn’t have imagined it being any worse than my home state, which gave our nation the only vice president to ever have to resign from office. (Not to mention any names, but his initials are Spiro Agnew.)

To be honest, I actually found watching the state political scene to

The Calcasieu Boat Club An organization for anyone who loves boating, parties, and just having social fun!

For information about the club, photos, and an application to join, visit www.calcasieuboatclub.com Come make a splash with us on August 8, for our annual Poker Run!

be quite comical. The things that go on over there in Baton Rouge—man, you couldn’t make stuff up like that!

Then, our current governor, Bobby Jindal, got elected to office.

He promised that he was going to clean up all of the monkey business in state politics. It made me sad in a way; I feared that I would have to cancel the newspaper and start subscribing to MAD Magazine to get my laughs.

So, the Louisiana political scene is all cleaned up now. Lobbyists have lost their influence; legislators have to go to Taco Bell like the rest of us and pay for lunch out of their own

pockets; and 50 percent of the roadbuilding money no longer goes for pocket lining. And, I got a bridge over the Calcasieu River that I can sell you, and believe me, it’s in really good shape.

No, somehow I don’t believe that Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Baton Rouge is hurting for business these days.

Honestly, though, the ethics reform must have had some success, as Louisiana no longer holds the distinction of being the poster child for political corruption. No, that mantle seems to have been passed to the State of Illinois.

Let me give you an example. A few years ago, when our state capitol was even more of a circus, I was traveling through O’Hare Airport and picked up a copy of the Chicago Tribune. As is my usual habit, I turned to the op-ed page. I always like to keep up on the latest things that people are belly-aching about.

Therein was a letter discussing the recently deposed governor of Illinois. Note this was not the most recent governor who got caught auctioning off a U.S. Senate seat. No, this was about the governor who

shamefully left office immediately preceding the recent governor who shamefully left office. You might remember- -this was the guy who was married to that sexy alien on Star Trek. Seems like he wanted her to do some alien things off the screen, but that’s a topic for another day. Anyhow, the writer of this letter actually stated that he feared Illinois politics was getting as bad as Louisiana.

Talk about your greatest fear coming true! Apparently, Illinois has fallen a long way since the days of Honest Abe. No matter where you live, everybody seems to hate their legislature. I never see a poll where a legislature has a favorability percentage above the mid-teens. Yet, we still wind up sending the same clowns back to the Capitol term after term. Did you ever wonder why that is?

I have my own theory. It seems to me that in each district, we all think that our particular representative is golden, and it’s all the ones from the other districts who are causing all of the problems. Whenever a legislator from some far-off parish brings home the bacon, we call it “pork.”

But when our own guy bags some state money to build a goat roping arena somewhere nearby- now that’s “cochon de lait!”

I once heard someone say that we ought to trade some of our Louisiana chefs to Texas for some of their politicians. I’m not sure I agree with that. I mean, we got some really great chefs here in Louisiana. By the same token, having spent some time in Houston, I don’t see the elected officials on the other side of the Sabine River as being much higher up on the evolutionary scale than ours are.

Still, I just might consider trading Emeril for Kinky Friedman. (I bet they’d even be willing to kick in some cash with the deal so we can get some more cochon de lait.) At least Kinky’s written some pretty funny books and he sings country music. And he’s a personal friend of Willie Nelson. Who in Baton Rouge can make that claim? And don’t you just love that campaign slogan? “He Ain’t Kinky; He’s My Governor!”

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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JULY 16, 2009

Volume 1 • Issue 8

By George “Tip” Cline

Recycling, Impulse Buying, and the Joys of Wine Tasting When we started this column, I asked for your comments, ideas and suggestions. One of our readers emailed a few thoughts that I think should be passed on. She recommended that you review what’s in your closet before going out and getting the same stuff you forgot you already have. Checking out what you have on hand, getting rid of the stuff you don’t want, and making donations to Goodwill, Salvation Army, the women’s shelter, Abraham’s Tent, etc., will open up some space for things you really want—not to mention if you find those forgotten sandals, you’ve saved a few bucks. You’ll get a good feeling for helping out one of those charities, too.

Another suggestion I received is to recycle stuff that’s around the house. If you’re an empty nester or nearly there, I’ll bet there’s house mulch hanging around your shelves that’s in your way. Why not share some of those family items with your kids that are now in their own homes? We all know folks that have multiple sets of china and silverware in the attic that are too good to use.

What’s the point? You keep it in your attic, you die, your heirs put it in their attic and the cycle goes on because we’re saving it for WHAT? Get a grip! Use it or give it to the kids. Help stop attic abuse!

We’ve talked about supermarket flyers. Market Basket has stopped putting their ads in the Wednesday paper and is now sending it out with the Tuesday bulk mailing. They obviously feel they get better coverage that way. The price changes on Wednesday and you now know what will go on sale and what will go off.

This might save you some money if you’re having a gathering on the Volume 1 • Issue 8

weekend and can buy some goodies at a better price.

I’m noticing some interesting price increases of late. Do you remember me writing about how gas and oil prices went up so high that transportation costs shot up the prices of supermarket items? Well, excuse me, $4 gas is now $2.50, and there was little, if any, reduction of those price increases. As a matter of fact, they are beginning to add substantial additional increases, repackaging in smaller (New and Improved!) containers and in general, giving you less for your money. You can only send your displeasure with your pocketbook. Don’t buy more than you need at inflated pricing— wait until they offer you a better deal.

There is an old cliché that you shouldn’t food shop when you’re hungry. It’s true. Make your list and stick to it and avoid impulse items.

You know those candy bars and other tempting items (which my mother used to refer to as “tooth rot”) are real close to the checkout line for a reason. You’re waiting while they check out the shopper in front of you and, low and behold, all those highprofit, costly items are just so conveniently within reach. The kids all want a treat, you’re in a hurry and just want to get home and bingo, you have just added several dollars to your bill just because of the marketing gurus.

Wine lovers are in tall cotton right now. Hokus Pokus (their new branch on Country Club Road), The Wine Store on Nelson, Pujo St. Café and the Harlequin have all been doing wine tastings. I know there are others, but if I don’t know about it, I can write about it!

I am wary of those wine tastings

that serve an extremely skimpy serving of wine— we call it a wine teasing. How can you know what you want to buy with hardly a swallow?

They do themselves more ill will than good by doing this.

Some tastings are just open to whoever wants to come; others require an RSVP. Pujo St. charges $5 at the door and you can apply that to your purchase. They also provide some refreshments.

The Harlequin has made a real nice addition to the field with their twist. They charge $10, have a limited number of attendees (you must RSVP ASAP!), serve lovely cheeses, fruits and other hors d’oeuvres and pass around shrimp, lobster, oyster and prime beef preparations.

And of course, you can usually buy wines at a discounted price at the tasting on top of a having a pleasant evening with fellow wine lovers.

I have talked about propane in the last two columns, since a few of you took notice (okay, so my head is swelling). I see that Walgreen’s now tells you how much you’re getting in your pre-filled tank. They’re posting that there’s 15 pounds in your 20pound tank. I applaud them for being honest, at least—cards belong on the

table, not up a sleeve. Don’t be afraid to let any merchant know that you are aware of less than honorable practices and that you expect honest treatment in their pricing. Don’t forget that it’s your money that they are after—so make them earn your patronage.

I’ve been told that there are coupons available that allow you to get 10 to 20 percent off your purchases at Lowe’s. I haven’t personally obtained any, but I have a very reliable source that buys them on eBay. This person swears that he has saved over $200 in the last few weeks using those coupons he purchased for a few dollars each. I have checked eBay and they show vendors that have 100 percent positive customer satisfaction offering them at auction. Could be worth a look at if you are in the market for big-ticket home-improvement type items.

If you find this column of interest, let The Jambalaya News know.

Comments, suggestions, ideas, info, etc. are welcome. Send to lauren@thejambalayanews.com. TJN

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 11

Jambalaya!

Food and Fun Under the Sallier Oak Mark your calendars for Sat., Aug. 29, at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum for the first Jambalaya Cook-off, sponsored by The Jambalaya News. Area cooks are invited to prepare their special recipes and submit for judging by a panel of “experts.” On-lookers are encouraged to come and sample the fare. Music, beverages, and lots more. Admission is $10 to sample all the entries; and, there will be a cash beverage bar. For more information on entering your special recipe, please contact Kay Andrews at The Jambalaya News at 436-7800, or the Imperial Calcasieu Museum at 439-3793.

The

Life

Summer Reading Fun

By Sara Blackwell It is important for children to have a summer break, but it is also imperative that they continue to read throughout vacation. Parents should require summer reading for older children and regularly read to younger ones. Reading does not have to be a boring event, and does not have to be limited to quiet time in a recliner. You can teach children that reading can be a fun and exciting activity.

Take a trip to the local library.

Calcasieu Parish has 14 library branches scattered all over the Southwest area. Your young ones can browse through the vast selection of

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

PAGE 12

JULY 16, 2009

books or bring their own reading material from home.

In addition to reading, your local library offers so much more. From movie time at the Moss Bluff branch to karaoke singing at the Epps location, the libraries in Calcasieu Parish can be a place for pure entertainment.

This summer, there are weekly story times for children, Wii games for ‘tweens and sushi-making classes for teens. Recently, the Iowa public library put on a teen dance competition, and many of the various branches are offering demonstrations by local music artists. The library is much more than just a place to read; it is a place for fun and social gathering.

Another way to create a fun reading environment is taking your child to a coffee shop. Order an iced drink for the two of you; then, each read your own book together at the table.

My oldest and I consider this our “date” time. Daddy and sister are left at home while we enjoy the coffee shop and books.

Another idea for creating a fun reading environment is family reading time. This requires the involvement of the entire family every evening for 30 minutes to an hour.

Turn off the computer, television

Volume 1 • Issue 8

and hand-held games. Gather everyone into the living room and enjoy the quiet of reading together. If you are brave, you can invite the neighbor children over. After reading time has ended, encourage the children to discuss their books with each other and with you.

Book selection obviously depends on the child’s age and interests. You should have influence on the choice up to a certain age, and you should monitor your ‘tween’s and teen’s choices if they are reading adult books.

My children love books about animals and anything in Spanish.

Theme books are also an easy choice for young children, such as Dora the Explorer, Winnie the Pooh or Veggie Tales. Older children enjoy series books such as Harry Potter or anything by Judy Blume. ‘Tweens and teens should begin to discover the classics, including those by Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte.

Live by example and become an avid reader. Do more than read Facebook or the sports page of the newspaper. Pick up some of the classics and try reading books that your children are currently enjoying; it will encourage them.

Moreover, I challenge parents to go one step further. Write your own story. What better gift to your child than to write something for them to enjoy? You can write a silly story about your childhood with colorful pictures, or a short chapter about how you and your spouse met. Your children will be elated to read stories written and illustrated by their own parents. And when the parents become grandparents and greatgrandparents, the stories can be passed down through generations.

If writing your own story as a children’s book or even as a memoir is appealing to you, try to recruit fellow parents to join you. Compare stories and ideas on a weekly or monthly basis. Set up groups that meet at your local library or at someone’s home to encourage one other to complete the task of creating legacies for future generations. And while you are at the library, check out the available books on the subject.

For a list of activities offered this summer, and for more information on local library branches, please call (337) 721-7116 or visit www.calcasieu.lib.la.us. TJN

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Save the Children’s Museum Fund

0 0 0 , 50

$4

Devastated by a recent fire, the Children’s Museum needs your help to reopen. The goal is $450,000.

So far, $94,498.08 has been raised! The museum would like to thank all of you who have contributed, including the following: Prien Lake Elementary St. John's Elementary A.A. Nelson Elementary Combre Fondel Elementary Westwood Elementary Vincent Settlement Elementary Dolby Elementary Henry Heights Elementary Lebleu Settlement Elementary South Beauregard Elementary Frasch Elementary Brentwood Elementary T.H. Watkins Elementary Barbe Elementary First Methodist Day School Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School St. Margaret's Catholic School McNeese State University Psi Chi Chapter SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau

Iggy the Iguana says: Thank you for your support, and I look forward to seeing all of you in my new home!

8 0 .

498

, 4 9 $

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 13

Keeping you Cool!

By Steve Springer M.D. Look for The Jambalaya News Spice Girl.

She will have $1.00 Off Coupons for the Cold Stone Creamery. Coupons expires October 1, 2009. Limited to the first 100.

The Jambalaya News 826 Ford St., Lake Charles 337-436-7800

How Old Are You, Really?

Now, that is an interesting question. I recently had a patient who came in raving about the “Wii Fit” system. He was talking about getting his “actual age” down by doing some fancy maneuvers on his computer video game.

He and his wife were actually competing against their kids and were quite serious about the matter. I had one patient who actually was mad at his initial performance on the game, and said it took him three weeks, but he finally caught up with his teenage son, and now his wife was in on the competition as well.

You have to understand how strange this sounds from a physician’s point of view. I spend a large majority of my day trying to convince people to become a little more active and in the long run prevent things like heart attacks or adult onset diabetes. To hear patients debating on how “fit” they are, and the mechanism for competition is a video game, is quite surreal.

Doing some research, I was quite shocked to see that as of March 31, 2009, Nintendo had sold 18.22 million copies of Wii Fit worldwide. I have two words for that statistic: “Thank you!!”

The “actual age” concept is also intriguing enough to spend some time with, and I would like to share a few thoughts about this concept as well.

There are several Web sites available where you can take questionnaires that calculate your “actual age.” The one I visited was www.realage.com and it was there that my calculated age came in at 35.6 where my actual age is 39. The factors that influenced these algorithms are many but include parameters such as: general health, good vs. bad habits (smoking, etc.), relationships, diet and fitness, etc.

The Westernized medicine side of me discounts many of the weaker age correlations such as “Were your parents still together by the time you were 18 years old?” This is supposed to lead to a “healthier lifestyle” than if your parents were separated prior to that time. This seems a very debatable statistic to me.

But, there are many questions in the “Actual Age Questionnaire” that are worth your attention, such as those involving cholesterol levels, activity levels, and dietary habits, to mention a few. These are all well-documented facts that correlate with life expectancy. I would challenge you to take this, or a similar questionnaire, and answer as honestly as you can. Don’t cheat!

Answer honestly and see what number you get…59 or 49? The average life expectancy in the US is somewhere between 75-80 years. Good luck.

Ultimately, I bring this to your attention because this life expectancy debate is a great way to get motivated to have a healthier life style. Fortunately, technology like the Wii Fit system offers a variety of activities that I would say are appealing features to those who are perhaps seeking an introduction to daily exercise.

Good luck, and I hope you are successful in becoming a little younger—and having a bit of fun at the same time.

TJN PAGE 14

JULY 16, 2009

Volume 1 • Issue 8

By Lisa Addison

Debbie Hebert, Dianne Simmons and manager Taylor Vorick

Cormie's Grocery: Little Corner Store Does Booming Business Camille Cormie, the matriarch of the Cormie family, instantly puts new acquaintances at ease by saying, “Just call me ‘Maw Maw Cormie!’” Her family purchased the land where Cormie’s Grocery sits in 1938 when she was in third grade. Back then, the chunk of land was just that - land. But today, that junction of Big Lake Road and Country Club Road is a thriving area that continues to grow, and new subdivisions spring up nearby almost overnight.

“My mother and daddy used to sit out there and you couldn’t see anything but trees in all directions,” Cormie recalled. “There were virtually no houses out there all those years ago.

My daddy paid for every electrical post from Prien Lake Road all the way to our piece of land back in the 1930s so that we could have electricity.”

After Camille married her husband Mural (pronounced “Merle”), the couple eventually opened Cormie’s, which was once, basically, a small gas station.

But since the 1970s, it has been a fullservice grocery store and popular deli.

You can also get a tank of gas while grabbing lunch at this quaint establishment. On any given day, a steady stream of people - from the city’s movers and shakers to construction workers - can be found ordering up mouth-watering specialties like boudin, red beans and rice, jambalaya, chicken salad, po-boys, bread pudding, and more.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Loyalty is the key When asked what makes Cormie’s so successful in a time when some businesses are struggling, Cormie said, “It’s loyalty - loyalty from us to our customers - and loyalty from our customers to us - that has kept Cormie’s in business all these years. That little corner sure has been a blessing to my family.”

Craig Shaddock is one of those loyal customers. While stopping in for a few items on a recent weekday afternoon, she reminisced about the store she’s so fond of. “Cormie’s is just tops in my book and they have always been there for us, seemingly forever,” Shaddock said. “Anything you could possibly want or need, they have. I have a friend from Lafayette who built a house out at Big Lake. She wanted to know where to shop and I told her to try Cormie’s. Pretty soon she was doing all of her shopping there and one day she told me, ‘I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d find the best meat ever at a little corner store, of all places!’”

Cormie’s may have some of the best cuts of meat in town, but it wasn’t filet mignon that kick-started the food side of the business – it was bologna.

“Sometime in the 1970s, a young boy came in and asked my husband if he could make him a bologna sandwich,” Cormie recalled. “Well, that sort of launched the deli. The petrochemical plants were beginning to move out there and the plant workers all wanted

lunches. I used to make hot tamales, sometimes about a hundred dozen a day. Those workers were always hungry and they would snap up anything I made.”

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it People are still snapping up the fare at Cormie’s all these years later. Indeed, this is the neighborhood grocery/deli model at its very best, and it’s an establishment that has stayed true to its roots. Like the old adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Some of the same employees have worked at Cormie’s for years and enjoy chatting and catching up with their customers. And, you can still pop in and get a gallon of milk or a chicken salad sandwich.

Of course, a few things have changed. Old-timers may remember Camille and Mural Cormie as the folks who ran the store for many years. When they stepped down, their son, Mural Jr., took over for about 15 years. Then, he sold the business to his only son, Chris Cormie, about 7 months ago.

Third generation of Cormies takes helm Chris, who began hanging out at the store and doing odd jobs around the place from the time he was around 10 years old, said he’s always known

he’d be running Cormie’s someday.

With his wife Tabitha handling bookkeeping duties, the couple has it covered, and they’ve figured out what works and what their customers like.

“We’ve made a few subtle changes,” he says. “And we’re adding on to the store simply because we need more space.

Other than that, we don’t plan to make too many changes.”

Considering the fact that Chris and Tabitha Cormie have two sons, Ashton, 9, and Mason, 4, there could be a fourth generation of Cormies running the store in the coming years.

As long as they keep plenty of boudin and chicken salad on hand and don’t change too many things about the charming little grocery store on the very busy corner, it’s a safe bet that their loyal customers will keep them in business for many more years to come.

For more information about Cormie’s Grocery, call (337) 474-5455 or stop by 4907 Big Lake Rd. in Lake Charles. Store hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

(Lisa Addison has been a journalist for more than 25 years. She writes for local, regional and national publications. Write to her at: itsnews2me@aol.com.) TJN

JULY 16, 2009

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JULY 16, 2009

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Mike and Martha Holleman

"Wine … offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased." — Ernest Hemingway

I

By Lisa Yates Photos by Darrell Buck

Volume 1 • Issue 8

f Mike and Martha Holleman had wanted an “ordinary” shop, The Wine Store could have been open for business years ago. But what they had in mind was more complex than that. They wanted to open a wine boutique with an atmosphere as unique as the wines they offer.

“We wanted it to be a warm comfortable place, almost like being at home with your own wine cellar,” Martha said. “We didn’t want it to feel ‘retail-y’ at all.”

The Wine Store offers the casual winedrinking crowd a nice place to shop and chat for a while. Immediately after meeting the owners, Mike and Martha, you’ll feel relaxed and curious about all the choices of wine available.

If it’s a Riesling you enjoy, they can tell you about every variety they have in the store. They can even help steer you in a new direction, helping you to find other wines you might enjoy, but have never considered.

Call it an occupational hazard: The married couple and business owners have tasted most of the 400-plus different wines sold at their shop, which opened six months ago at 4070 Nelson Road, Suite 100, in Lake Charles.

“We don’t like to put something on our shelves unless we’ve personally tasted it,” Martha said. “It’s hard to sell something you don’t like.”

Mike and Martha said sampling different wines is the only way to know which wines you prefer. So they entice, entertain and educate their wine-loving regulars with a free wine-tasting each Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the store.

“We also have a ‘wine of the week’ we pick out and open for sampling in the store,” Mike said. “The wine we pick out is always in our newsletter.”

He said each Monday, the store sends out a newsletter to more than 1,300 people in its data base. The newsletter features: the wine of the week; wines featured at the weekly tasting on Thursday night; upcoming special events; and, a wine tip of some sort. For example, on the July 4th newsletter, there was a blurb on grilling and which wines to serve with hotdogs and hamburgers.

Anyone can sign up for the newsletter by visiting the store, calling (337) 477-7017, or e-mailing: thewinestorelc@yahoo.com.

Fine wine doesn’t have to be expensive, according to the owners. In fact, The Wine Store has a large selection ranging from $7.99 to $179.

Mike said they wanted to make sure their selection of wines offers something for everyone, in all price ranges.

“The majority of the wines we sell are in the $12 to $15 range,” he said. “You can price yourself out of the market if your prices are too high. But if you want something we don’t have in the store, we can special order it. We can get special orders in a couple of days.”

Hosting special events A crowd of lake area wine lovers gathered at The Wine Store’s second wine tasting event, held July 1, at Harlequin Steaks & Seafood.

The event was $10, and included main hors d’ oeuvres: Boiled Gulf shrimp with cocktail sauce and fresh basil; seasoned JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 17

Pure Platinum This white table wine is a blend of Viognier and Gewürztraminer.

It is 100% 2007 vintage. This wine possesses the brilliant spice of the Gewürztraminer grape and the floral perfume of the Viognier. In the nose you will find hints of honeysuckle, passion flower and orange blossoms. The mouth explodes with sweet citrus and stone fruits such as tangerines, apricots and peaches. The long lingering finish is sweet clover honey.

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JULY 16, 2009

USDA Prime Sirloin; flash-fried Gulf oysters topped with Brie cheese; and steamed Maine lobster with drawn butter.

Guests sampled 16 different wines ranging from Screw Kappa Napa (SKN) Sauvignon Blanc to Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cabernet and Napa Cellars Chardonnay - all paired with delectable appetizers!

“The Director’s brand that was at the tasting is a new line that’s not even out yet,” Martha said.

As everyone indulged in samples at the event, wine experts from The Wine Store and Republic National Distributing Company discussed pairing with different foods.

Mike discussed partnering with the Harlequin for special events.

“Actually this has been and still is a work in progress,” he said. “I received a call from Nic (Hunter, the owner of the Harlequin,) sometime back inquiring about what types of wines I was carrying in The Wine Store. After some brief conversation we determined that we needed to get together and discuss some possible business ventures that would compliment each of our businesses.

“I shared with Nic some things that Martha and I were doing at the store; and, this led into our first tasting at the Harlequin. The first tasting was

received with such an overwhelming response; we had to add an extra tasting the following week. Martha, Nic and I were all very pleased with the outcome of the event and we are currently working together on upcoming events.”

Martha said another event at the Harlequin is being planned for late July called: “Tapas & Wine Pairings Dinner.” She said the date, time and cost will be announced in The Wine Store’s newsletter.

Another special event took place on June 23, when a representative from Adelaida Vineyard in California visited The Wine Store and poured free samples to patrons.

Martha said she often schedules vineyard representatives for wine tastings at the store. The next event is scheduled for August 18, at The Wine Store. A representative will be on hand to visit with local wine lovers and share samples. Check the store’s newsletter for more information.

Starting out If you don’t know a lot about wine, but you want to learn more – Mike suggested coming to the wine tastings on Thursday nights.

“That’s an easy way to do it,” he said.

Martha said there’s no need to

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Volume 1 • Issue 8

2008 Chenin Blanc - Viognier

Martha said you may not like a wine until you pair it with certain foods. She tried Screw Kappa Napa (SKN) Sauvignon Blanc on its own and didn’t like it.

“I didn’t like it until I tasted it with oysters,” she said. “The food opened up the bouquet and it tasted totally different.”

During their education process, Mike and Martha learned that wine can taste different depending on how long it breathes. Wine also tastes different depending on your state of mind.

Mike said after work, when you are more relaxed, wines taste better.

“Wines are meant to be drunk in a very relaxed atmosphere,” he said.

The Hollemans cultivated a love and passion for wine that began from casual wine drinking on their patio.

They thought it would be fun to have a wine shop, so they spent the last three years learning about wine.

“There’s a lot more to learn – it’s a constant process,” Martha said. She said don’t feel bad if you don’t know a lot about wine.

“We’re all in the same boat learning together. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot more out there. We don’t claim to know it all.”

Pine Ridge

change clothes after work – come as you are.

“It’s very casual,” she said. “You can come by after work in your scrubs, chill out and enjoy some wine. It’s very relaxed and easy going.”

Martha said the trick to enjoying wine is stay open-minded.

“Just because you tried one cav (Cabernet) you don’t like, don’t say ‘I don’t like cavs.’ There’s such a wide range of flavor profiles in every grape variety, you will probably find one you do like,” she said.

Mike said he learned there was a difference between “sweet” wines and “fruity” wines, when taking wine classes from Jared Cocke, a fine wines specialist at Republic National Distributing Company.

“I told Jared, ‘I don’t like sweet wines,’” he said. “He said there was a difference between sweet wines and fruity wines. He had me suck on a lemon wedge and then sip a sweet wine and a fruity wine. You could taste the fruit in the fruity wine. That was one of the neat little tricks we learned. Just don’t do it with a red wine.”

The 2008 Chenin Blanc - Viognier flaunts aromas of ruby grapefruit, pear, lychee and melon, with a delicate touch of spicy, white florals. Lively citrus and bright tropical fruit flavors are offered up alongside a supple texture. The slightly off-dry finish is clean and crisp, perfect with many dishes or on its own as an aperitif. Enjoy now or cellar for two years.

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 19

Opening the store Like the aging of a fine wine, it’s taken some time. The concept for the store evolved over a few years.

“This is something that Martha and I have been working on for the last three years,” Mike said. “I was born in Napa, California, and unfortunately I moved away at an early age.

Sharing wine and conversation with friends and family throughout the years is what really peaked my interest in the wine business.”

Mike described the moment when he and Martha first discussed opening the business.

“One day Martha and I were driving along the Interstate and I said to her ‘You know I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much we enjoy drinking wine, I think we should open up a wine store,’” he said. “I’m sure she thought I was crazy, but to my surprise she was very supportive and said ‘That’s awesome; let’s do it,’ and here we are.”

The couple has help from Bill Holleman, Mike’s dad who acts as a part-time employee.

“Bill is retired and helps in the store,” Martha said. “He lived in Napa for 11 years and knows a lot about wine.”

Martha’s sister, Jenny DeLaureal, also helps. She said this gives her time PAGE 20

JULY 16, 2009

Erik’s the Red

Bodegas Borsao

Rombauer Zinfandel Rombauer Vineyards’ 2008 Zinfandel is dramatically seductive and immensely flavorful. This fruit-forward, fullbodied style is deeply concentrated and jammy with layers of dark wild berries and rich cherries. Fruity through the finish, flavors of boysenberry and raspberry linger on the palate.

Borsao has an open, forward nose full of fresh red raspberries and oaky vanilla spice, with hints of black fruit and a touch of something floral -- maybe violet.

A soft, velvety texture in the mouth carries bright berry flavors -- mostly ripe raspberry, with a nice touch of vanilla oak spice. It finishes rather quickly, with a chalky acidity. Very mild tannins make a cameo appearance at the tail end of the finish. This is a soft, pleasant, berry-filled, spicy red wine with a flavor profile that many people will find appealing. It is enjoyable by itself, and will match well with beef and sausage dishes. It will also go well with chili, tacos and similar Latin cuisine based on ground beef and beans. to spend with Mike and their two high school-aged sons, Jacob and Austin.

“I’m still a mom and we’re still a family,” she said. “We like to eat dinner together as a family.”

Mike still works full time as the manager of Taylor Home Health.

Martha said he goes to work early and skips his lunch hour in order to leave early and join her at The Wine Store.

“Mike and I could have never made this dream come true without the complete support of family and friends,” she said.

The store operates in 1,000 square feet of leased space in Nelson Plaza.

However, when it comes to wineries and wine stores, size isn’t everything.

Some of the most intriguing wines come from small family-owned wineries throughout the world, handmade by artisan winemakers who truly have a passion for their wines.

Because they’re produced in such limited quantities, these boutique wines aren’t usually found in large volume liquor stores. But boutique wines are perfect for a wine boutique such as The Wine Store.

Exploring unique varietals If you enjoy exploring unique varietals and being introduced to

This is a wonderful blend of (18) EIGHTEEN – yes, count em’-different varietals of grapes from the beautiful Paso Robles area of the Central Coast of California. The majority of the blend (55%) is Petit Syrah and Syrah, with a modicum of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Grenache, Mourvedre, Refosco, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Cabernet Franc, and Rubired only to be polished at the end with Counoise, Dolcetto, Barbera, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Sangiovese. If you come across a mighty meal that is up to the challenge, such as prime rib or a rack of lamb, Erik’s the Red is sure to slay any other wine in its path!

wines you haven’t seen before, you’ll love The Wine Store. Their wine selection and customer service goes beyond the ordinary.

“We have wines that everyone carries and wines, like Borsao, that you cannot find everywhere,” Mike said.

Borsao is a red wine from Spain – a blend of 75 percent Garnacha and 25 percent Tempranillo – and it’s reasonably priced at $7.99. (It tastes great, too!)

Martha said the Garnacha grape is very popular right now.

“We like to keep on the cutting edge – constantly bringing in new things,” she said.

Some beers, vodkas, bourbons and other spirits are also available. Mike said there are certain wines he always stocks.

“There are some wines that are like salt and pepper – staples – that’s what people drink,” he said. “We have those, but we also bring in five new wines every week.”

Beautifully wrapped gift baskets are also available at the store. Martha said a few are ready-made, but most are made to order.

“You can call, or e-mail, and say ‘I want to spend this amount of money,’ and we’ll make one for you to pick up. We have a few that are pre-made, but it’s best to call in advance and

place your order – especially as it gets closer to Christmas,” she said.

In addition, the store carries some cool and unusual wine-related gifts and gadgets. But Martha tries to limit these items. She doesn’t want to clutter the shop with too many things.

“I don’t want to turn the store into a gift shop,” she said. “I don’t want to lose sight of the reason we opened the store. The focus is the wine. The wine is why we are here.”

Mike said he and Martha are grateful to their customers for making the store a success.

“We thank our customers for their support; we wouldn’t be here without them,” he said. “We have established many new relationships and for this we are truly blessed.”

For more information, call (337) 477-7017, or you can e-mail thewinestorelc@yahoo.com, or visit at 4070 Nelson Road, Suite 100, in Lake Charles. Store hours are Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. TJN

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Leslie Benoit, a sales representative with Republic National Distributing Company, pours wine for a guest.

Guests enjoying The Wine Store’s second wine tasting event, held July 1, at Harlequin Steaks & Seafood.

Wine Tasting 101 W

By Lisa Yates

ine tasting is a fun pastime for occasional wine drinkers and wine enthusiasts alike. If you are attending a wine tasting event, Mike Holleman, coowner of The Wine Store in Lake Charles, said there are a few tips you should keep in mind when embarking on your wine tasting adventure. He said the process of choosing a wine can be broken into a few simple steps: 1. Learn About the Wine Holleman said your host or hostess should describe the type of wine and provide some information about wine pairing.

“Wine tastings provide an excellent opportunity to try many different wines before you buy, practice the basics, and get food pairing advice from wine professionals,” he said.

2. Observe Wine in the Glass Once you have some background information on the wine you are about to taste, its time to observe the wine in the glass.

You should take note of various factors regarding the wine such as color and clarity. Hold your glass up to the light so that you can view it properly.

What colors do you see?

Holleman said try and look beyond red, white or blush.

“If it’s a red wine, is the color maroon, ruby, garnet, brick or even brownish? Older red wines will be more translucent than younger red wines. A deep purple color signifies a youthful wine, while a red-brown color Volume 1 • Issue 8

indicates maturity,” he said.

If it’s a white wine, Holleman said, ask: Is it clear, straw-like, yellow, pale yellow, amber or brown in appearance?

“Green-tinged coloring is a common characteristic of youthful whites,” he said. “Straw coloring reflects the majority of dry white wines. Goldencolored wine indicates sweeter, more luscious whites.”

3. Swirl the Wine Holleman said you should swirl your glass to allow oxygen to get into the wine and to release esters, ethers and aldehydes.

“The swirling aerates the wine and releases more of the bouquet and aroma of the wine,” he said.

Repeat, as necessary.

4. Smell the Wine After looking at the color and texture of the wine, you should smell the wine. By doing so, you will get a feel for some of the ingredients which are in the wine and figure out if the wine has fruity overtones or more robust components.

Holleman said smelling is the most important of the steps.

“Some things that you may smell are oak, cherry, chocolate, vanilla, citrus, flowers, tobacco, etc.,” he said.

“There are literally hundreds of words that are used to describe the smell of wine.”

as to have the need to swallow the wine too quickly. Holleman said your tongue will perceive three different tastes: sweet, bitter and sour.

“If there is any sweetness to the wine, it will typically be noticed right away,” he said. “Bitterness is usually tasted on the back of the tongue. The bitterness is typically created by high alcohol and tannin content. Sour is usually found at the sides of the tongue, cheek area and back of the throat. This is also referred to as acidity.”

Holleman said reflect on the aftertaste. Was there an aftertaste? Was the wine bitter at the end? Could you taste fruit, butter, oak or cherry?

“A good sign of a high-quality wine is a pleasing aftertaste that could last anywhere from one to three minutes,” he said.

6. Dumping the Wine Frequently, wine tastings will consist of only small amounts of wine since there are usually a good variety of wines to sample. Therefore, it is usually quite acceptable to dump the rest of your wine in a bucket and rinse your glass with water.

That you can get on with the various wines that lay ahead of you.

Holleman said when it comes to selecting a wine - just remember that matching wine to food is not an exact science.

“Follow the basics, but use your own personal tastes and instincts as your guide,” he said.

Salut!

TJN

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5. Now Comes the Tasting Part Take a nice sip of the wine - enough to get the full flavor yet not too much JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 21

By Lisa Yates One of the most fun and exciting parts of enjoying wine is matching wines to your favorite foods. A great wine and food pairing is a taste experience that’s absolutely sublime.

To gain some insight into the experts’ methods, we asked two of the region’s top wine experts at Republic National Distributing Company to recommend seven wines (priced less than $50) and pair them with traditional Louisiana cuisine. Jared Cocke, certified specialist of wine/American Society of Wine Educators, and Nathaniel Allured, district manager/wine division, rose to the challenge.

In the true spirit of Louisiana, they also threw in a little something extra – a fun esoteric wine - priced slightly higher, but at less than $75, it’s still a great deal.

Here are the chosen wines, the dishes, and the reasons behind their choices. In all cases, prices cited are approximate retail prices.

(Non vintage) MARTINI & ROSSI SPARKLING ROSÉ ($15) So you are about to order the fried shrimp platter at your favorite local restaurant and you want the perfect wine to pair with it. Cocke and Allured said don’t overlook sparkling wines as a great accompaniment to any of your fried food favorites on the seafood platter.

Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rosé seems tailor made for pairing with crispy fried fare, according to Cocke. He said the light sweetness of this sparkling wine cuts the heat of the spice.

“The goal is to balance the spicy batter with a touch of sweetness,” he said.

“Spice and sweet neutralize each other.

Sweeter wines go with spicy foods.”

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JULY 16, 2009

Nathaniel Allured and Jared Cocke – both are wine experts with Republic National Distributing Company.

CAJUN FRIED SHRIMP Ingredients 2 pounds large shrimp Cajun spice 2 cups canola oil 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup milk 2 large eggs 1/2 pound yellow cornmeal 1/2 pound all-purpose flour Directions: Peel shrimp leaving tail and one section of shell on shrimp. De-vein shrimp by slicing them halfway through the back and removing vein. Rinse shrimp after de-veining. Open to form butterfly.

Beat eggs and milk together. Add buttermilk. Mix well. Combine yellow cornmeal and flour. Coat shrimp with Cajun spice. Dip shrimp in egg and milk mixture. Bread shrimp with cornmeal and flour mixture.

Heat canola oil in medium frying pan. When oil reaches 350 degrees, fry shrimp for about 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

2005 HARTFORD RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY RED ZINFANDEL ($29) An intensely flavorful crawfish étouffée calls for a sugar-rich, fully fermented wine such as the 2005 Hartford Russian River Valley Zinfandel.

“The spice in the étouffée needs a wine with enough flavor to stand up to it,” Cocke said.

He and Allured said the richness and body of this red Zinfandel blends well with a wide range of cuisine, including étouffée and jambalaya!

“A Riesling won’t stand up,” Cocke said. “Only a mildly-seasoned étouffée would work with a Riesling.”

CRAWFISH ÉTOUFFÉE Ingredients 1 lb. cleaned crawfish tails crawfish fat and water to make 3/4 cup 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste 1 stick margarine or butter 1 medium onion, chopped fine 1 heaping teaspoon all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon parsley 1 teaspoon salt Two very thin slices lemon 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon green onion Directions: Use a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid to étouffée (French for smother).

Season crawfish tails with salt and pepper, set aside. Melt butter, add onion, and cook over medium heat until tender. Stir in the flour; blend well. Add water, crawfish fat, lemon, tomato and garlic. Cook slowly, about 20 minutes, and add a little more water occasionally.

When sauce is done, add crawfish tails and cover with lid. Cook 8 minutes.

Season again, to taste. Add green onion and parsley, cook 2 minutes longer.

Serve on steamed rice. Garlic bread and green salad is a good companion to crawfish étouffée.

Cooking Tip: Commercial crawfish are pasteurized and practically cooked. If you are using live crawfish, wash, then scald in boiling water. Clean them, picking off the shells, leaving tails whole. Save crawfish fat. When tails and fat from live crawfish are added to cooked mixture, it should be cooked 10 or 15 minutes longer.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 23

2006 TERRA D’ORO BARBERA ($17) The 2006 Terra d’oro Barbera is a California wine from Barbera - a classical Italian grape. Cocke said this wine is a wonderful complement to many Louisiana dishes, including gumbo, crab bisque, or crawfish bisque with tomatoes.

“There’s a fruit component to it that balances out the heartiness of a gumbo or bisque,” he said. “The concept here is to balance the intensity of the food and the intensity of the wine.”

Cocke and Allured said a good rule-of-thumb is to pair a full-bodied wine with hearty food.

2005 GRAFFIGNA GRAND RESERVE MALBEC ($18) With this 2005 Special reserve Malbec, Graffigna has created an enchanting wine – perfect for drinking on its own – or, as Cocke and Allured recommend, pairing with alligator sauce piquant.

Originally a common grape in Bordeaux, Malbec is Argentina’s signature grape, Cocke said.

“This wine has a good fruit component to it,” he said. “Just don’t over-season your food. Over-spicing kills this wine.”

2007 CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE DRY RIESLING ($11) One of the difficulties of pairing many traditional Louisiana dishes with wine is they seem to go hand-in-hand with beer – like boiled crawfish. Cocke and Allured said Rieslings are possibly unmatched as a food-friendly wine, especially the 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling. They said this wine is fantastic with boiled crawfish.

Cocke said the trick to pairing boiled crawfish with wine is - don’t overpower the spice. He said you want to taste the spiciness of this dish.

“The 2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling has a nice acidity to it,” he said. “It tastes cold, crisp and refreshing with this dish – like a beer would.”

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JULY 16, 2009

CRAB BISQUE Ingredients 6 hard crabs, cleaned and cut into 24 pieces 1 1/2 gallons of chicken stock 1 onion, diced 2 quarts of half and half 3 ribs of celery, diced 1 pound of butter 2 cups of flour 1 pound of regular lump crab meat Directions: Melt butter in soup pot, and add crabs. Cook until crabs are dry. Add onions and celery and cook until tender. Add flour and blend the roux and chicken stock. Let simmer at least 30 minutes. Heat half and half and blend in soup. Strain soup, add lump crabmeat and serve.

ALLIGATOR SAUCE PIQUANT Ingredients 4 pounds alligator meat 1 tablespoon paprika 2 sticks of butter 1/4 cup chopped parsley 3 medium onions, chopped 1 1/2 bunches onion tops 1 green bell pepper 2 cups water 4 cloves garlic, minced Cayenne pepper 4 tablespoons finely sifted white flour Salt and black pepper 3 cans of cooked whole tomatoes (Rotel tomatoes) 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce 4 bay leaves 1 pound andouille 4 tablespoons vegetable oil Directions: Boil alligator meat for five minutes to remove fat. Rinse meat in clean water.

Brown meat in black iron pot. Remove meat and clean pot. Place flour and oil in black pot. Cook, stirring constantly until it’s as dark as chocolate.

Add onions and bell pepper. Cook until dark brown and soft. Add tomato paste and cooked tomatoes and simmer for 30 minutes. Add garlic, meat, seasonings, and andouille and simmer 25 minutes. Add butter and cook for another 40 minutes. Serve over rice.

BOILED CRAWFISH This recipe is for a typical crawfish boil, using a 40-lb. sack of crawfish.

Plan on 4-to-5 lbs. of crawfish per person.

Ingredients 40 lbs. Louisiana crawfish (about 1 sack) 10 gallons of water 2 stalks of celery 10 lemons - sliced in half 10 whole heads of garlic - sliced in half 3 lbs. onions - sliced in half 1/2 gallon liquid crab boil 8 lbs. powder crab boil seasoning Corn (pre-cooked) Potatoes (pre-cooked)

Directions: Bring water to a boil; add liquid and powder crab boil seasoning. Bring this to a boil for about 10 minutes. Then add Louisiana crawfish and bring water back to a rolling boil. Boil crawfish for 5 minutes.

Turn fire off and either hose down outside of pot to cool down or add 5 lbs. of ice to cool down crawfish and stop the cooking. Then, let crawfish soak for 2030 minutes, stirring occasionally to distribute heat. (You can throw in corn and potatoes at the last 20-30 minutes with crawfish and let those soak also.)

Volume 1 • Issue 8

(Vintages limited) PONTCHARTRAIN VINEYARDS ROUX SAINT LOUIS BLANC DUBOIS ($12) Pontchartrain Vineyards is the only winery in the state producing table wines exclusively from traditional wine grapes. Cocke said the vineyards are located north of Covington in St. Tammany Parish.

“This winemaker produces wines specifically made for Creole cuisine,” he said. “The Roux Saint Louis Blanc DuBois is a light, crisp dry wine which makes a nice complement to crabmeat au gratin - a rich dish with cheese, cream and crabmeat with its natural sweetness.”

CRABMEAT AU GRATIN Ingredients 1 pound white crabmeat 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 3/4 cup grated cheese (cheddar or American) 1/2 cup finely chopped onions or scallions 1 small pinch ground nutmeg 1/4 cup finely chopped celery 3 tablespoons bread crumbs 1 heaping tablespoon all-purpose flour dash of white pepper 1 - 1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup extra cheese 1 egg yolk, well beaten dash of cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Dash of paprika Directions: In a heavy saucepan, over moderate heat, melt butter and add onions and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and transparent but not brown. Stir in the flour, blend well. Add milk, stir constantly until smooth.

Add pepper, nutmeg, mustard, and cheese.

Take pot away from heat. Beat egg yolk and add lemon juice. Then add crabmeat; mix well.

Butter baking pan or individual baking dishes. Pour mixture over all.

Combine cheese and bread crumbs, sprinkle over top of mixture, then add a dash of paprika. Bake 15 or 20 minutes until top is au gratin–brown and crusty.

Add some spice to your life!

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JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 25

2007 FERRARI-CARANO CHARDONNAY ALEXANDER VALLEY ($26) The 2007 Alexander Valley Chardonnay is a delicious wine made from grapes grown in two distinctly different growing regions in Sonoma County, according to Cocke and Allured. They said this wine is perfect with grilled redfish.

Grilled trout and mahi mahi are also perfect with this Chardonnay, they added.

GRILLED REDFISH WITH LEMON-BASIL VINAIGRETTE Ingredients 4 eight-ounce fillets of fish 6 garlic cloves crushed 2 Tsp. grated lemon peel 1/3 cup olive oil (extra virgin) 1 bunch basil (thinly sliced) 1/3 cup capers (small ones) 1 lemon (juice) Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, crushed garlic cloves and grated lemon peel in small bowl to blend. Stir in capers and basil. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper to taste. Let stand at room temperature.

Prepare your fire on your barbecue (high heat) or use broiler. Season fillets with salt and pepper and coat with vinaigrette. Cook until fish flakes; be careful not to break fillet when turning. When fish is done, place fillets on platter and pour remaining vinaigrette over fish.

Here it is – the bonus: 2006 BENZIGER SIGNATERRA THREE BLOCKS RED WINE ($55-$60) Availability of this wine is very limited, but it’s worth special-ordering – especially if you are serving short ribs!

Cocke said the winemaker describes this wine as combining the distinct characteristics of earth, nature and man. The vineyard represents earth; the vintage is nature; and, the art of winemaking is man – or humanity.

“Their goal is to capture terroir in each bottle of wine,” he said. “Terroir is a French word with no English equivalent. Roughly translated, it means the climate, sun soil, wind and temperature where the grape was grown – all in one word. The wine tastes like that.”

He said all Benziger wines are made by one of three natural farming methods: certified sustainable, certified organic or certified biodynamic. Soon all of their wines will be certified biodynamic, he added.

What are biodynamic wines?

Cocke and Allured explain biodynamic is the highest class of organic.

Harmony with nature, seasons, pests, organic pest control, even lunar cycles, are all taken into account by producers following the tenets of biodynamic farming, according to Cocke.

“They give the best tour in California,” he said, adding he recently toured the vineyard. “They even have their own insect arboretum.”

Do biodynamic wines taste better than other wines?

According to results from a well-known wine tasting in 2004, biodynamicsourced wines were rated superior in eight of the 10 pairs; one tied and only one of the conventionally produced wines was rated superior.

Cocke said Three Blocks is an ultra-premium blend of 64 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 36 percent Merlot.

“The flavor profile is a medium, full-bodied red with layers and layers and layers of flavor. It’s a well-made and integrated wine. And it’s great with short ribs!” he said.

Availability is limited, Cocke cautioned.

“This wine is geared towards restaurants and fine wine shops,” he said. “It can be special-ordered at your favorite retailer.”

If you’re looking for an outstanding Pinot Noir, Cocke and Allured said to check out Signaterra’s Pinoir Noir from their Bella Luna Vineyard – another winner!

Note: Prices shown are approximations – they may vary. Check with your favorite retailer or restaurant for more information To learn more about Republic National Distributing Company, visit their Web site at www.rndc-usa.com.

PAGE 26

JULY 16, 2009

BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF Ingredients 6 bone-in short ribs (about 5 3/4 pounds) Kosher salt Extra-virgin olive oil 1 large Spanish onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 ribs celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 carrots, peeled, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1 1/2 cups tomato paste 2 to 3 cups hearty red wine 2 cups water 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with kitchen string 2 bay leaves Directions: Season each short rib generously with salt. Coat a pot large enough to accommodate all the meat and vegetables with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the short ribs to the pan and brown very well, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd pan. Cook in batches, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. While the short ribs are browning, puree all the vegetables and garlic in the food processor until it forms a coarse paste. When the short ribs are very brown on all sides, remove them from the pan. Drain the fat, coat the bottom of same pan with fresh oil and add the pureed vegetables.

Season the vegetables generously with salt and brown until they are very dark and a crud has formed on the bottom of the pan, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape the crud and let it reform. Scrape the crud again and add the tomato paste. Brown the tomato paste for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat if things start to burn. Reduce the mixture by half.

Return the short ribs to the pan and add 2 cups water or until the water has just about covered the meat. Add the thyme bundle and bay leaves. Cover the pan and place in the preheated oven for 3 hours. Check periodically during the cooking process and add more water, if needed.

Turn the ribs over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the lid during the last 20 minutes of cooking to let things get nice and brown and to let the sauce reduce. When done, the meat should be very tender but not falling apart. Serve with the braising liquid. TJN Volume 1 • Issue 8

der useum n e l l n E dren's M a D By e Chil of th r Remember when o t c you were a child, and a good stoDire

Inkheart New Line Cinema DVD 2009 We’re in the dog days of summer, folks. If you want a successful summer family movie, put a dog in it. Or several. Or make them talk.

Let’s try to take a break from all that and look at a movie that has come out on DVD: Inkheart.

There are many movies made from books, and a few movies about books. Inkheart is a combination of both. German author Cornelia Funke wrote a trilogy of fantasy books for children, and now we here in America have the 106-minute movie.

This is what we call “progress.”

ryteller could read to you, making the characters leap off the page? Well, Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) plays Mo, a young father with a gift: Whenever he reads out loud, the stories come to life. Literally. (I mean, literally, not just in the book. In the movie. In this movie. You get the idea.)

There’s only one problem. He doesn’t know he has this gift, so it turns out to be a curse.

Inkheart is a children’s fantasy book that he has read out loud to his daughter, Meggie. Now he’s searching the world for another copy. He’s been searching for years. There were only a few copies printed, you understand, and many have been mysteriously destroyed. It’s vital that he finds a copy to read from, because, not only can characters and creatures appear out of the books he reads, real people

can also be trapped in the books he reads.

For someone who loves books, this little movie is a real treat.

Although it contains scenes that would frighten small children, fifthgrade kids should enjoy it, and their parents might actually like it, too.

The script is a little weak, but the cast is excellent. Helen Mirren plays Aunt Elinor, a true lover of books, with her exquisite collection kept under lock and key. (“You’ve been to Persia?” “Yes, a hundred times. Along with St. Petersburg, Paris, Middle Earth, distant planets, and Shangri La. And I never had to leave this room.”)

The characters of the book Inkheart are reminiscent of those in Harry Potter. Dustfinger, a fire-eating/breathing vagabond, wants Mo to read him back into the pages of Inkheart. Capricorn, a most dislikeable villain, enjoys being in our world (what we call “the real world”) and has plans to take it over. In the middle of it all is Mo, his daughter, and his wife, struggling to come back together as a family.

But Inkheart is not the only book in this movie, and that’s what makes it interesting. Here’s a little quiz for you all. Can you name the books that have these characters? Flying mon-

keys? Forty thieves? A ticking alligator? There are more, but you get the idea.

Not since Jumanji has the theme of words creating reality been so central to a movie, and this is quite a topic for children and adults alike. In Inkheart, we get to find out if the pen is really mightier than the sword.

Ironically, for a movie about the written word, the screenplay could have been better written. At times the plot stumbles along, and some of the dialogue is weak. (Even though there are some gems: “They’re going back into their books, and I’m going to miss it!”

“Not me, I don’t want to go back in my stinking book!”)

Inkheart isn’t overly sweetened like some children’s fantasy movies.

The small budget keeps the special effects modest, and the movie under two hours. The villain’s castle is breathtakingly filmed on the Italian Riviera (think M.C. Escher landscapes). But what is refreshingly missing from this movie is the tiresome potty humor that seems to be standard fare for kid’s movies these days.

And finally, for this reviewer, there are no talking dogs. Thank you, Cornelia Funke.

TJN

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Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 27

By Jeanne Owens, Charleston Gallery and Antiques

Before you throw out those PEZ dispensers you find in the bottom of old purses and in your children’s crayon boxes, you might reconsider their value in the world of collectibles.

Although packages of PEZ still line the grocery shelves, and although they are only made of plastic, some of them can bring in quite a few dollars, and collectors go crazy over them.

PEZ dispensers have been around since 1927 when Austrian Edward Haas developed a breath mint made of peppermint, or pfefferminz in German.

He took the first, middle, and last letters of the word and came up with PEZ that he marketed at first as a smoking alternative sold in tins.

In 1942, he put them in a “hygienic dispenser,” then set his sights on marketing them in the United States. So, he put the now familiar heads on them and marketed them to children.

Today, the PEZ plant runs 24 hours a day and has made over 500 different dispensers. They’re in different color and design combinations, which means there are thousands of different PEZ dispensers to collect.

One of the first PEZ heads was either Mickey Mouse or Popeye. The

company continued with only licensed cartoon characters for years until they realized the never-ending PEZ head possibilities. Hello Kitty, Easter bunnies, spacemen, glow in the dark baseballs, R2D2, and Joe Cool Snoopy have all topped the little candy dispensers we pick up in the grocery store line.

So, if you haven’t thrown them out already, what are they worth and what do you look for?

Basically, two kinds of dispensers exist—those without feet (before 1987) and those with feet. If you are a collector, the feet do matter because the non-footed PEZ are more valuable, but they are harder to display. Just think how difficult it might be to line up hundreds of little plastic PEZ characters, and then to try to keep them dusted. Touch one and, like dominoes, they all fall, especially the footless ones. However, marketing geniuses handled that problem by creating and selling PEZ racks and stands, and even little shoes for your footless PEZ! Secondly, if PEZ are in their original cards, they are more valuable.

Some come in cellophane bags, but collectors say that doesn’t affect value.

If you do find PEZ in the bottom of the closet with candy melted in them, soak them in a little hot water, and they might be of value. A recent Top Ten List was published of high-priced PEZ characters; maybe some of these are in your children’s old coat pockets:

1950s Spacemen PEZ sold for whopping prices in January 2005.

The red and blue ones went for $172.50, but look for the yellow one in the bottom of a closet because it sold for $745.92!

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JULY 16, 2009

Witch, Regular—$3,500 Pineapple—$3,500 Make-A-Face—$3,400 Alpine Man—$2,500 Muselix—$2,500 Asterix—$2,000 Space Trooper—$2,000 Bride—$2,000 Obelix—$2,000 Victories, disappointing fakes, and tall tales abound among PEZ collectors as with any obsessive, passionate group. One collector paid over $11, 211.11 for a clear plastic 1950s space gun PEZ that later turned out to be probably fake.

Another story that collectors vow is true is that eBay was created because of PEZ. Pam Omidyar, wife of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and avid PEZ collector, commented to her husband that she wished there were a way for other collectors to trade and sell PEZ dispensers online and—voila!—eBay. And then there are the extremes such as the FAO Schwarz three Swarovski crystal PEZ dispensers that sold in 2003 for $165 each—a crystal-headed Kermit, Goofy, and Tigger.

If you start collecting, you might be interested in seeing the Burlingame Museum of PEZ in Burlingame, California, or attending one of the two annual PEZ conventions, or signing up for the online PEZ newsletter at www.pezcollectorsnews.com. You could even join the Flip Top PEZervation Society or go on a PEZhead Cruise.

If you are just casually interested, however, and wonder if you have a dispenser that is worth a few dollars, just search online for “PEZ collectible” and many, many sites will pop up with the going prices collectors are willing to pay. Some examples are: Dalmatian pup with feet—$27 Black octopus, no feet—$40 Wonder Woman, no feet, soft head—$60-70

Smurf with feet—$6 Batman, no feet—$12 Tweety bird with feet—$1-3 My “extensive” collection consists of one super sized Snoopy PEZ that plays music and has its twelve original packs of candy intact. I don’t know what song it plays because I’m not going to take it out of the original package and lessen its $30 value. But every now and then, I do want to tear into those candies until I re-think the fact that they are 20 years old!

TJN

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Cajun French Music Association, Lake Charles Chapter

22nd Cajun Music and Food Festival

July 18th & 19th, 2009 • Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles, LA SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009 8:00 A.M. Doors Open 8:30 A.M. Opening Ceremonies 9:00 A.M. Arts & Crafts Open 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. Kids Jam Hour 10:00-12:00 Noon Lesa Cormier & Sundown Playboys 12:00-1:00 P.M. Introduction of Queens Professional Accordion Contest 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. Joe Simon & Louisiana Cajuns 1:00 P.M.-1:30 P.M. Dance Contest 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M. Ron Miller & Midnight Ramblers 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. Paul Daigle & Cajun Gold 7:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. Jackie Caillier & Cajun Cousins

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 8:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon 12:00 Noon-2:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M.-2:30 P.M. 2:30 P.M.-4:30 P.M.

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PAGE 29

r Shoumake n o d n a r B By

Lake Area Talent in the Minor Leagues The dream, the ultimate goal of most kids who grow up playing baseball is to reach the Major Leagues; to pitch for the Boston Red Sox or to hit a home run over the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field.

Unfortunately for most, the Sox or the Cubs or the Yankees never come calling and they have to give up their

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JULY 16, 2009

dreams of baseball stardom.

But for some, including many talented local players, the dream lives on as they toil in the minor leagues, working for a chance to earn a spot on a Major League roster.

The Lake Area features a trio of pitchers in Triple-A, the highest-classification in the minor league system, with two of them having already played in the Majors.

Wade LeBlanc, who starred at Barbe High and at the University of Alabama, is currently pitching for the Portland Beavers, the AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres. LeBlanc has won twice at Portland this season, having recently won his July 5 start. LeBlanc

has spent part of last season and this season with the Padres and is 1-4 for his major league career.

Sulphur’s Casey Daigle is a former first-round draft pick who pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks for part of two seasons, compiling a 2-3 record in the big leagues. He is currently pitching for the Round Rock Express, the Houston Astros’ AAA affiliate.

Josh Rainwater, who was drafted out of DeRidder High in 2003, was recently called up to the Toledo Mudhens, the AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. He has pitched in relief in two games for the Mudhens.

Barbe is also well-represented at the Class A level, with four former players

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currently on A-ball rosters.

Eric Fry is currently with the Hickory Crawdads, a Texas Rangers affiliate in the South Atlantic League.

Fry has spent part of this season at Bakersfield, a high-A team in the California League.

Shortstop Carmen Angelini, a 10th round draft pick by the New York Yankees in 2007, is currently at the club’s Staten Island affiliate in the New York-Penn League. Angelini, who was recently activated off of Staten Island’s disabled list, has also spent time this season at the Yankees’ Charleston, S.C. team.

Brothers Michael and Myrio Richard are both playing in the Oakland Athletics organization, with Michael, who was drafted in 2007, playing for the Stockton Ports of the California League. Myrio was drafted this season and is hitting .286 with the Vancouver Canadians in the Northwest League.

Another former Sulphur player, Josh Prince, is tearing up the Pioneer League at the Rookie-ball level. Playing for the Helena Brewers, of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, Prince is hitting .298 and has 17 stolen bases out of 22 attempts in 14 games.

He also tied a Pioneer League record with six steals in a game against Missoula on June 24.

Former McNeese State catcher Taylor Freeman is with the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets of the Appalachian League. Freeman is originally from Carney, Okla., but was a star for the Cowboys last season, hitting .333 with 12 home runs.

Good luck to all of these local players who are continuing to further their dreams of reaching the big leagues, and congratulations on making it this far.

To keep up with these players, visit www.minorleaguebaseball.com

Feaster has a career record of 97-48 and has appeared in the playoffs 11 times. You may remember Feaster from his time as head coach at Many at a time when the Tigers were a part of a local district with teams like Vinton and DeQuincy. As the head coach at Many from 1995 to 2003, Feaster’s Tigers reached the playoffs in each of his eight years there.

He was also on staff at Jennings when the Bulldogs reached the state championship game, and was on staff at DeRidder in 1988, when the Dragons won their first district cham-

pionship in 25 years.

I covered Feaster in 2006 when his Minden team hosted the Sam Houston Broncos in a 2006 regionalround playoff game and it was one of the best games I’ve covered. It was a back-and-forth contest Minden eventually won, but what struck me was how disciplined and well-coached both teams were.

This is a great hire for Leesville and, after a playoff run last season under Williams, I think that they will continue to be successful with Feaster at the helm.

Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than seven years for various publications. Coaches Brandon Shoumaker or parents with story tips may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).

TJN

NEW LEESVILLE COACH The Leesville Wampus Cats football program was dealt a tough break early last month when head coach Terence Williams left the school to take the head coaching job at Donaldsonville.

The move left Leesville without a head coach just weeks before practice restarted for the run-up to the regular season.

Fortunately for the Wampus Cats, of all the candidates for the job, they picked the best one of the bunch.

Late in June, the school hired David Feaster as head coach. Feaster has 28 years of coaching experience and has spent time coaching at several local schools, including a stint as an assistant at Leesville in the early 1990s. He has also coached in North Louisiana and Texas.

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JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 31

By Cheryl Krull

411

ANiMAL

Animals Teach Us a Little Humanity The idea that animals count is becoming broadly understood worldwide. Many states and other countries are passing legislation protecting animals. Recent polls indicate that half of all American pet owners consider their pets as part of the family, but maybe not a full member.

So, just what is it that is so appealing about our four-legged friends?

Most pet “owners” (seems almost politically incorrect to use that word) agree that their pet has a unique personality. We believe that our companions understand our moods and react accordingly. Our pets give meaning to the words unconditional love. They teach us, by example, the very human character traits of love, trust, respect and loyalty.

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Personally, I can’t imagine a life without pets. Providing a good home to our dogs and cats improves my quality of life. The relationships I have with my Creator, husband, family, friends and co-workers are a source of real fulfillment, happiness and contentment. These significant relationships include my pets.

As with most good things in life, meaningful relationships require hard work, time and effort. Responsibilities and sacrifices are needed to cultivate long-lasting bonds, and this applies to our pets as well as our personal and spiritual relationships. In addition to food, water and a safe, comfortable place to stay, pets deserve time and affection, and should have reasonable preventive and necessary medical care.

Communication is the key to any relationship. With pets, effective communication takes many forms – body language, speech, and positive as well as negative reinforcement.

I recently started learning techniques to help me successfully communicate to my dogs how I want them to behave. This was forced on me when my husband and I adopted two dogs from Animal Services. One, a so-called Beagle (sorry Mom, but Max is no Beagle!), is in fact a young Walker Hound with some major bratty behavior. The other dog is a neurotic, “dumb diva” named Sam. While Sam is loveable, Max displays behavior that is totally unacceptable, especially if we plan on keeping him for his lifetime. We have enlisted the help

of Sally Stride (owner/trainer of Proper Pooches) so we can learn the techniques needed to teach Max some manners.

Animals enrich our lives in endless ways. Almost everyone has a fond memory or story about an animal that touched his or her life. Many popular movies, cartoons and books have animals as a central figure. Here are some of the ways that animals contribute to our quality of life: • Pet owners have fewer health problems and enjoy better psychological well being.

• Pets in nursing homes increase social and verbal interactions, and decrease the feelings of loneliness and isolation experienced by the elderly who live alone.

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• A pet can help a child adjust to the death or serious illness of a sibling or parent.

• Pets are great listeners, don’t interrupt, and will look at you with adoring eyes regardless of your topic.

• Pets are non-judgmental and accept us the way we are.

• Fish, birds, pocket pets, rabbits, cats, dogs and horses have all been used in pet-assisted therapy, helping people with a wide variety of mental, emotional and physical disabilities.

• A variety of prison settings use animals to help prisoners learn confidence, new skills and gain self-esteem and self-worth. By developing relationship skills with animals, inmates improve their relationship skills with people.

• In one survey, 70 percent of families reported an increase in family happiness and fun after they acquired a pet.

The delightful “diary” below (reprinted with permission from the Web site www.divinecaroline.com) demonstrates how animals take joy in the simple things in life, probably a lesson all of us could learn.

It’s no wonder that people around the world embrace their four-legged friends and capitalize on the many roles that they perform. As health care workers, therapists, entertainers, friends and family, our furry companions are the best at offering unconditional love 24/7…no strings (or paycheck!) attached.

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

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY 8 a.m.: Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 a.m.: A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 a.m.: A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 a.m.: Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 p.m.: Lunch! My favorite thing!

1 p.m.: Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3 p.m.: Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5: p.m.: Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 p.m.: Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 p.m.: Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favorite thing!

11 p.m.: Sleeping on the bed!

My favorite thing!

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By Mary Louise Ruehr

Surprising Adventures with Monks I have always been intrigued by people who choose a monastic life: What makes someone become a monk? What does a monk do? Well, according to three very different accounts, the answers probably aren’t what you expect.

The first image in my mind when I think of the life of a monk is an ordered world of quiet contemplation.

Not so in Nikolai Grozni’s memoir, Turtle Feet: The Making and Unmaking of a Buddhist Monk. His experience is rather wild — a sort of

mix of Slumdog Millionaire, Animal House, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

At the age of 22, Grozni, a Bulgarian who dropped out of music college in Boston, takes vows as a Buddhist monk in the Indian Himalayas. He is sincere in his desire to study the ancient wisdom of the Indian philosophers. But the monk, not cloistered, encounters some truly colorful characters that take a bite out of his serenity — and make for some fun reading.

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JULY 16, 2009

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The most bizarre and unforgettable of these characters is a fallen monk without a country, an undisciplined chess player who calls himself Tsar.

The man is a charmer, but he’s also demanding, disgusting and often offensive (Tsar is the source of most of the foul language in the book) and pushes Grozni into uncomfortable situations.

“Tsar was a source of chaos,” writes Grozni, but “No matter what was happening to him, he always looked like he was on vacation.” The guys live together in a filthy shack on the side of a mountain (very near the headquarters of the Dalai Lama) with an uninvited snake and various species of vermin.

The dialogue is often stimulating, with frequent discussions about topics such as being versus non-being, and debate is almost a contact sport: “I arrive. Obviously, if I am, I am here now. I couldn’t be sometimes here and sometimes there. And if I am always here, there can never be space and distance. To arrive, then, meant to be in two different places simultaneously.”

He writes, “Becoming a monk had

brought an array of complications, … [but] had also brought a surprise treasure — an overriding, blissfully benumbing feeling of resignation to the moment.” Now available in paperback, the book also serves as a fascinating travelogue, introducing us to the people and culture of India and how Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims all live together.

Kaoru Nonomura describes a totally different Buddhist experience in Eat Sleep Sit: My Year at Japan’s Most Rigorous Zen Temple. At the age of 29, Nonomura enters Eiheiji Temple, “the premier place for young men who will inherit the leadership of the nation’s Zen temples.” From the title, I expected to find an account of life in a relaxing, meditative dream world. Wrong.

The cloistered monks follow a rulebook with rituals for everything — literally — including several pages on how to use the bathroom, some of which he shares with the reader. There are daily rules (everyone has to sleep on his right side) and special-occasion rituals: “There were exhaustive rules for eating, walking, sitting, speaking, and every other human activity.”

What really shocked me was how he was treated. Evidently, Zen tradi-

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tion calls for inflicting physical abuse to sharpen the trainee. The older monks in charge yell at the new men and strike them, slapping and kicking them “without mercy.” During the weeklong initiation period, a kind of monk boot camp, the newbies ask themselves, “What sort of monstrous place had we stumbled into?”

He writes, “For all of us, the acts of eating and drinking were carried out in a state of abject terror. The least mistake brought an instant cuff from one of the eagle-eyed senior trainees.”

He doesn’t mention religion much; life in the monastery seems to be more about brainwashing (they’d probably call it spirit-honing) and doesn’t in the least resemble a religious retreat. He writes, “Before coming to Eiheiji, I envisioned a life so hushed that you could hear ash falling from a stick of burning incense, with endless days of suspended motion and silent introspection. The reality was vastly different. Soon after arriving, I realized that the life of an Eiheiji trainee was a never-ending succession of loud, angry tongue-lashings and beatings — a world away from my fond imaginings.”

Finally, I thought the life of a Roman Catholic Benedictine nun might provide a nice, quiet, contemplative read. Well, not exactly. A Monk in the Inner City: The ABCs of a Spiritual Journey was written by Mary Lou Kownacki, who’s been a nun in Erie, Pa., for 40 years. Her short essays in alphabetical order, from “Abandoned Places” and “Angels” to “Zeal” and “Zen Wisdom,” can be read straight through or one at a time, for prayer or meditation. They are thought provoking, inspirational,

sometimes almost despairing, full of energy and sometimes full of joy.

There are character sketches, such as the tale of a man who visits the soup kitchen regularly, and anecdotes about children living in shocking conditions, playing with roaches as pets.

Kownacki is really a spiritual social worker: “I live as a monk in a neighborhood that people are afraid to drive through, let alone visit. I like to think of myself as one of a long line of monks… those eccentrics who took to the loneliness to meet their God.” She is not a pacifist, but rather a peace activist: “Nothing I do is quite enough. It’s not enough to feed the

hungry, to shelter the homeless, to live simply, to write letters to Congress, to teach peace, to leaflet, to fast and do dozens of other acts of peace,” she writes.

This book is full of wisdom. She quotes the Bible, Gandhi, Thich Nhat Hahn, John Lennon, peace activist Daniel Berrigan, a Russian mystic, the Torah, Zen koans, and many more.

She’s a Thomas Merton “groupie” and lives by his words, “that a true monk is not ‘separated from the world’ but intimately united with all humankind, that the monastic vocation is predominantly a social one.”

Copyright (c) 2009 Mary Louise Ruehr.

Mary Louise Ruehr is the Books Editor for the Record-Courier 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

There’s a new flavor in Southwest Louisiana!

It’s spicy and distinctive, and once you’ve tasted it, you’ll come back for more. It’s The Jambalaya News— a brand-new publication that celebrates life in this unique part of the country. It’s all about you!

The Jambalaya News is distributed throughout SWLA and

NOW THE WORLD - THANKS TO THE WORLD WIDE WEB. Contact our Sales Department today, and let us help you grow your business! Call (337) 436-7800 or e-mail us at sales@thejambalayanews.com.

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Us Out Our issues are now online. www.thejambalayanews.com JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 35

Diva D’s Zydeco Brunch Just so you know, Diva D did not disappoint; rather, the joint was jumping as Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band took the stage in the back room at AJ’s Bar in downtown Lake Charles. The street was lined with cars and Zydeco enthusiasts filled the room. Southwest Louisianans and Southeast Texans who love to dance know who Keith Frank is and came with one thing in mind – Zydeco dancing. The buffet was filled with a palatial spread of breakfast/lunch items to please the heartiest appetite. Diva D tells the Spice that there is more to come so stay tuned--you won’t want to miss out on the fun!

Clyde Smoot, Emily Ward, Lynn Nesbitt, Philip Gayle and Jim Nesbitt

Colleen and Jamie Augustine

Mary Fontenot and Cissy Sims

Carl Goodly, Mike Tunwar and Wilson Billow

Shandra Wilson and Andrea Chapman

Darleene Wesley, Sterling Edwards and Maxine Case

KZWA’s Miss Tina and Jessie Kelly

Fuddy Meers Directed by Joy Pace, Fuddy Meers played in the round to sold- out audiences recently at Ralph Squires Hall. The Bayou Players’ performance of David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama brought laughter and intrigue to the stage in grand style. The cast included a love-struck prison guard, an escaped prisoner, an amnesia victim and a teenager who talked incessantly to his sock puppet. A big hit for the McNeese Theatre Bayou Players, now in their 70th season.

Virginia Pennington, Jay and Tracy Gilmore PAGE 36

JULY 16, 2009

Laura and Kimberly Johnson Volume 1 • Issue 8

Sinan and Ashley Bilal

Shayla Prince and Shaquarius Holmes

Deja Chatman and Jessica Spikes

Patriot’s Ball The Third Annual Patriots Ball was hosted by the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission of Lake Charles, Mayor Randy Roach and a lineup of special sponsors. The ball opened with the Washington-Marion JROTC presenting the Colors; with the LaGrange NJROTC as Side Boys Posted. From the civilian black tie, military mess dress social hour to the gourmet dinner and finally the last dance to the strains of the orchestra, the ball paid tribute to and recognized the many services and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.

Proud to be an American!

LaGrange NJROTC: PO 1ST Class Dennis Fisher, PO 2nd Class Jacquetta Stevens, PO1 Marguis Papillion, Lt. J2 John Day Smith, PO 1 Donald Mayfield; back row Chief Marlon Hamilton

Chief T.A. Jones, Capt. Joe Hill US Navy Ret., Maj. Ron Williams USAF Ret. and Lt. Com. Jason Gunning US Coast Guard

Shetaya Powell and Kayla Styles

I.J. and Syble Deshotel

Col. Daniel and Mrs. Louise Allen

Armed Forces Queens: Teen Adrienne Clark and 2008 Miss Marion McDaniel

Hazel and Capt. Ed Martin and Kay McNutt

Ester and Maj. John Stills

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JULY 16, 2009

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Red, White, Blue and You The parade rolled down Ryan Street in fine fashion as Lake Charles’ annual Red, White, Blue and You 4th of July celebration cranked up on a hot Louisiana afternoon.

Parade-goers lined the street to see the cars, trucks, muledrawn buggies and more all decorated for the occasion.

After the parade, there was an evening of entertainment at the Civic Center Arcade Pavilion provided by the LC Community Band, LA Choral Foundation and Jay Ecker’s Bayou Jazz Kings Dixieland Band. Food, drink and merriment were the order of the evening. A long, hot day ended with burst after burst of colorful fireworks to the enjoyment of the crowd. The one cool spot for Spice was the yummy cherry snow cone. VIVA AMERICA! Mysti and Cyndi Cormie

Kandace and Keith Dorouen, Hannah, Christy and Chance Gray

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JULY 16, 2009

Raychelle and Ray Duhon, Felecia Stevens and Rachelle Landry

Joey Underwood and Pam Busby

Rebecca Savoie, Chance Tarver and PO 1st Class Dennis Fisher

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SWLA Center for Health Services 7th Annual Gala & Roast The mission of the SWLA Center for Health Services is to provide care and support services, but on this special night of the 7th Annual Gala & Roast, the tone was a bit different as “friends” of Dr. Susan Jones and Father Henry Mancuso roasted and toasted them with words and laughter. Celebrating “Community Bridge Builders” was the theme for the evening and saluted the honored guests for their many contributions to the community.

Chester Daigle and City Heat provided entertainment for the evening. TJN Robert L. Carmouche, Karen Hartfield and Stella Miller

Gary and Amber Laughlin

Will and Ife Jackson

A Big Thank You From Steamboat Bill’s

Steamboat Bill’s on Lakeshore Drive recently experienced a fire after hours. Thanks to the quick and unselfish actions of some very dedicated people, the restaurant was spared serious damages and was up and running in 24 hours.

We would like to express our gratitude to the following for helping us in our time of need: • The Lake Charles Fire Department • The City Inspectors • Entergy • Fruge Electric • George Fontenot Refrigeration • Mouhot Technical Services • Graybar • Our wonderful employees We wouldn’t be here without you!

Monsignor Jace Eskind, Barbara Dupont and Father Henry Mancuso

Tim and Linda Daigle

Many never worn or worn only for modeling purposes.

Open to the Public Monday, July 20 thru Friday, July 24

This is your chance to save hundreds of dollars on Designer Name Brand Clothing.

Suits Dresses Coats

Pants Belts Purses

Luggage Leathers

Woollens Silks

Proceeds Benefit

TJN Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 39

Killin’ Time Crossword

Alex Landry (left) and David Sonnier rehearse a fun Shakespearean scene.

The Children’s Theatre Company presents Shakespeare Workshop The Children’s Theatre Company presents MIDSUMMER FUN! as part of the next Summer Starz Series. This theatre workshop teaches children the language and ideas of William Shakespeare. Students perform excerpts from some of Shakespeare’s most popular plays while experiencing the technical aspects of lighting, set designs and creating costumes.

The workshop concludes with a free public performance starring all of the students.

The workshop, open to boys and girls ages 5 to 18, will be held on July 20-24 from 10-noon. The costs is $85 and includes a T-shirt.

No experience is necessary. All workshops have limited enrollment and are held at Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street). For registration information, contact the theatre at 433-7323 or visit the Web site at www.childrenstheatre.cc. TJN

Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http://www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission.

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ZIGLER ARTS MUSEUM PRESENTS TWO FOR TEA THROUGH AUG. 1 “Two for Tea,” the art of painting china, is the theme of the latest exhibit at the Zigler Art Museum in Jennings. The exhibit, which runs through Aug. 1, features works by members of the Lake Charles Porcelain Art Guild and the Acadiana Porcelain Art Guild. Hours are Tues-Sat. (10 a.m.- 4 p.m.) and Sun. (1 p.m.-4 p.m.) For more information, see www.ziglerartmuseum.com LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY POPS CONCERT JULY 18 The Lake Charles Symphony Pops Concert will present “Coming Home with Marcia Ball,” at 7:30 p.m. on July 18 in the Civic Center Coliseum.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. William Grimes will be guest conductor. Ball, a Vinton native, is a singer, pianist and songwriter. Her latest album brought her a third Grammy nomination. Advance tickets are on sale at the Civic Center Box Office; free admission for children 12 years old and younger. For more information, call 433-1611.

ZZ TOP AT COUSHATTA JULY 18 Coushatta Casino and Resort presents ZZ Top in concert Sat., July 18.

Marketed as “That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” this legendary trio is known for superior musicianship, attitude, a take-it-as-it-comes style and some devilishly funny songs. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Coushatta Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations.

ZZ Top

JAM

ISLE OF CAPRI –SINBAD, JULY 17-18 The Isle of Capri welcomes comedian Sinbad, who will be appearing July 1718. Tickets for the event begin at $25 and can be purchased at the Banana Cabana.

Call 1-800 475-3663 for ticket information, or see www.isleofcapricasinos.com.

ANTIQUE APPRAISALS FAIR AND GOLD KEY QUEST DRAWING JULY 18 The Arts and Humanities Council will host the first-ever Country Crossroads Antique Appraisal Fair On Sat., July 18, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., at the Wooten Theatre, 102 East 1st Street in DeRidder.

The council will have two certified appraisers on hand, as well as an antiques dealer who knows the local market. Gold Key Quest ticket holders will receive two free appraisals. For non-members, an appraisal fee of $10 Sinbad will apply. You can discover more about the Council and purchase your Gold Key Quest ticket by visiting: www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

ICM SUMMER FILM SERIES JULY 23, 30 The Imperial Calcasieu Museum’s summer film series continues!

Lauren and Phil de Albuquerque of The Jambalaya News will present The Pledge, starring Jack Nicholson and directed by Sean Penn, on July 23. On July 30, Jim Serra of KPLC-TV presents The Last of Sheila, a 1970s whodunit. Admission is $2 for adults and free for ICM members. Lecture begins at 6:30 p.m.; movie starts at 7 p.m. Arrive early, seats fill up fast! For more info, call the ICM at 439-3797.

BASEBALL MOVIE MATINEES AT HISTORIC CITY HALL JULY 22, 29 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street will present two baseball movie matinees. The screenings will be free, all ages are welcome and snacks will be provided. The first screening will be on Wed., July 22, 1:30-3:30 p.m. In Finding Buck McHenry (Rated G), little leaguers persuade a school custodian to be their coach. A team member soon suspects he is none other than Negro League legend Buck McHenry, who disappeared in 1950. The second screening will be Wed., July 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m. The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (Rated PG) is a comedy about a Negro League duo that strike out on their own to form an entertaining and extremely talented barnstorming squad. The screenings compli-

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ment the current exhibition, We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call 4919147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

PETER FRAMPTON AT DELTA DOWNS JULY 24 Rock the night away with this Grammy Award-winning, international legend. Hear all the classic hits including “Baby I Love Your Way” and “Show Me the Way.” Concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40, $50 and $60.

For more information, visit www.deltadowns.com.

AD & PRESS CLUB’S 37TH ANNUAL GRIDIRON SHOW JULY 25 Don’t miss the Ad & Press Club’s annual Gridiron show! The fundraiser, a satire of local newsmakers and the media, will be held July 25 at the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Coliseum. Doors open at 6 p.m. for socializing and hors d’ouevres; show begins at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the students at MSU through the club’s permanent scholarship foundation and provides funds to the commercial arts department at Sowela. Tickets are $60 per person and $400 for a table of eight.

Deadline to buy tickets is July 22. Call 583-4766 or order online at www.adpressclub.com.

Peter Frampton

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS JULY 30 The Volunteer Center of SWLA, Inc., will have its annual fundraiser on Thurs. July 30, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the Evergreen Room at the Gray Plantation. The Jambalaya News’ Phil de Albuquerque will be the auctioneer for the live auction; there will also be a silent auction, and entertainment by Kay Miller. Tickets are $50 per person, and can be obtained by calling 513-4617.

MARSHLAND FESTIVAL JULY 31- AUG. 1 Bring the whole family to the Lake Charles Civic Center for a weekend of music, food and fun! Bayou Katz, Barry Badon and the Bayou Boys, and Judd Bares and Six String Rodeo are just a sample of the bands you’ll be dancing to. There will be arts and crafts, a business expo and food vendors. Admission is $8 on Friday and $10 on Sat., free admission for children 12 and younger. For more info, visit www.marshlandfestival.com.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 11TH ANNUAL JAMAICA ME CRAZY GALA AUG. 15 Tables are available for the American Cancer Society’s eleventh annual Jamaica Me Crazy Party for a Cure Gala to be held on Sat., Aug. 15, at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. The doors will open at 7 p.m. with “Bayou Katz” providing live music from 8-11 p.m. Admission is $50 per person and $90 per couple in advance, and $50 per person at the door.

Tables of eight (8) are available for $400. Food will be provided by O’Charley’s Restaurant. A Patron Party honoring Dr. Michael Bergeron will be held on Fri., Aug. 14 at the Gray Plantation Clubhouse from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. with entertainment provided by Alvin Touchet. Tickets are $100 per person. For more information regarding tickets, reserving tables or corporate sponsorship for the Jamaica Me Crazy Party for a Cure Gala, contact the American Cancer Society at (337) 433-5817.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR BREATHE AUG. 21-22 BREATHE, the Lake Area’s Dance and Performance Collective, will have its second annual show at 8 p.m. in the Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theater Aug. 21-22. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. “Circular Connections” focuses on relationships with friends, family and loved ones. BREATHE received a Decentralized Arts Funding Grant for the project. Tickets are $10 in advance at Expressions and Gordon’s Drug Store, or can be purchased at the door. TJN

Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 43

To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com

The

THURSDAY, JULY 16 • Fricassee Cajun Band @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Gabby Johnson @ Party by the Pool, L’Auberge du Lac, 7 p.m.

• Neil Smith @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 7 p.m.

• Pandemic/Blacksmithz @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Rumor Mill @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 17 • Nameless @ Lake Arthur Park, Lake Arthur, 6 p.m.

• Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Blues Tonic @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8 p.m.

• Sweet Root @ OB’s, 9 p.m.

• Paper Plains @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m.

• Sunrise Kills/Meriwether/American Fangs @ Toucan’s, 9:30 p.m.

• Mason Down/Built For Speed/Coldshock @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 18 • Various Bands, Cajun Food & Music Festival, Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles, 9 a.m.

• Fred Charlie & Acadiana Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Red November/ Otenki/Mission vs.

Madness @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Dan DeSandro @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8 p.m.

• The Gills (Pensacola, Fla.) @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m.

• Near Death Experiment/Jonathan Stark/Aaron Lee Martin @ Toucan’s, 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JULY 19 • Various Bands, Cajun Food & Music Festival, Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles, 9 a.m.

• Zydecane @ Fred’s, Lake Charles, 6 p.m.

MONDAY, JULY 20 • Whiskey South @ Cajun’s Wharf, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 21 • Jamie Berzas & The Cajun Tradition Band @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 • Hubert Maitre @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Slim Bloodworth Comedy Night @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 23 • Felton LeJeune & The Cajun Cowboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Chris LeBlanc @ Party by the Pool, L’Auberge du Lac, 7 p.m.

• Neil Smith @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 7 p.m.

• Fondue Monks @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 24 • Howard Noel & Cajun Boogie @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Blues Tonic @ Mary’s Lounge, 8 p.m.

• Glenn Fontenot @ Walker’s Lounge, Jennings, 8 p.m.

• Veneno Mortal/Ashes of Eden/Vilkatas @ Hawg Wild, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

• Mike Dowers @ Sulphur VFW, 8 p.m.

• Acoustic Pie @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 p.m.

• Johnny Raincloud @ Toucan’s, 9:30 p.m.

• Cornerstone @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

• Red Letter Reverb/mynameisjohnmichael @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

• Colorcast Veteran/Magnolia Sons/Paper Plains @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 25 • Scotty Pousson & The Pointe Aux Loups Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Glenn Fontenot @ Frey’s Restaurant, Jennings, 7 p.m.

• Thaddeus Hoffpauir @ Tomorrow’s Lounge, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

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JULY 16, 2009

Volume 1 • Issue 8

• 2nd Party Program/High Output @ The Hideaway, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

• 6 Pack Deep/Passenger @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Dan DeSandro @ Sylva’s Bistro, 9 p.m.

• Cracker Jackson @ Toucan’s, 9:30 p.m.

• Laurel @ Crystal’s, 10 p.m.

• Research Turtles/The Flamethrowers @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, JULY 28 • Brandon Moreau & Le Bande Pain Perdu @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Alvin Touchet @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 7 p.m.

• The Arlen Bitterbuck Trio @ Bobby B’s, Vinton, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Twangsters Union @ Yesterday’s, 7 p.m.

• The Arlen Bitterbuck Trio @ Breezy’s, 8 p.m.

• The Jimmy Kaiser Band @ Caribbean Hut, 8 p.m.

• Laurel @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JULY 30 • Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• CEO Band @ Isle of Capri Casino, 8 p.m.

• Dave Pellerin @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8 p.m.

• Echo Movement (New Jersey) @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• HipBootJoe @ Party by the Pool, L’Auberge du Lac, 9:30 p.m.

• Hillcrest @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 31 • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• The Arlen Bitterbuck Trio @ Starks VFW, 8 p.m.

• Crooks Carnival @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Southbound @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 8 p.m.

• Vilkatas @ The Hideaway, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

• The 94’s/Two Shots Fired @ Toucan’s, 9:30 p.m.

• Chris Shearman/The Devil and The Details/Peter Simon @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 • Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Chris Miller & Bayou Roots @ VFW Post 2130, Lake Charles, 7:30 p.m.

• The Roaming Soldiers (Dallas) @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m.

• Bernie Alan @ Wayne & Layne’s, Sulphur, 9 p.m.

• Blues Tonic @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, 9 p.m.

• Paris Green/Falls Forever/She Craves @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.

TJN

MONDAY NIGHTS: Abita Beer Night

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: Mondo Martini Night

THURSDAY NIGHTS: Be Well Night

Fri. July 17 @ 9:00 PAPER PLAINS & MUCH MORE! Sat. July 18 @ 9:00 THE GILLS (from Pensacola, Fl.) & MUCH MORE! Fri. July 24 @ 9:00 MYNAMEISJOHNMICHAEL & RED LETTER REVERB Sat. July 25 @ 8:00 DU LAC LIVE: PASENGER, 6 PACK DEEP & MUCH MORE! Thurs. July 30 @ 9:00 ECHO MOVEMENT (from Jersey Shore, Nj.) Fri. July 31 @ 9:00 DEVIL & THE DETAILS Sat. August 1 @ 9:00 THE ROAMING SOLDIERS Fri. August 7 @ 9:00 MAGNOLIA SONS & THE LAST CHALERON Sat. August 8 @ 9:00 PLUMP (from Houston, Tx.) Fri. August 14 @ 9:00 RESEARCH TURTLES & THE GILLS Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

PAGE 45

Annual Renewal Weekend

By Leslie Berman

Every year, I recharge my musical batteries at a folk festival, somewhere, sometime, in America. For the last few years, that sometime has been the July 4th weekend, and that somewhere has been New Bedford, Massachusetts, home to the museum and National Park celebrating the history of America’s whaling industry, and Summerfest, a two-day jewel of a festival, scattered throughout the cobblestoned streets of the historic district of the city.

This year, Summerfest kicked off with a fundraising evening concert on the Friday night, headlined by Maria Muldaur, whom you will probably remember for her decades-old hit, “Midnight At The Oasis.”

Muldaur, whose early career included a stint as vocalist in the Even Dozen Jugband (which she says she’s planning to regroup with some former members, including John Sebastian), sings blues, jazz, and a baker’s dozen styles of American roots music in a smoky alto that vibrates authenticity.

Her recent recordings include an album of Bob Dylan’s love songs (“Heart of Mine”), and an album of socially conscious music titled “Yes We Can,” prefiguring President Barack Obama’s campaign slogan (its title is a song written by Louisiana’s own Allan Toussaint).

Opening for Muldaur were two singer/writers – Peter Mulvey and Ellis Paul. Mulvey has a fresh and charming voice and has insanely toured from his Midwestern home by bicycle (!) and will do so again,

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JULY 16, 2009

September 9-29. The Long Haul Tour will travel from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Boston as part of the album-release tour for “Letters from a Flying Machine.” Ellis Paul, a close friend of Vance Gilbert, is a Banners Series favorite. Paul is one of the sensitaccio navel-gazers, whose music has never touched me, but may nevertheless speak to you.

Summerfest is a special event for many reasons.

For one thing, it takes place during scallop fishing season, and once you’ve had a plate of inch-and-ahalf thick, silver dollar-sized juicy scallops, fresh off the fire, you will willingly go back to the end of the hour-long line in the hot summer sun to wait your turn to buy and eat it all again. Yum! For another thing, there are the crafts vendors, whose ten-by-ten tents and pop-ups form temporary stores selling handmade glass, pottery, wood, fabric, metal, and paper crafts, from the pretty to the practical. I always end up with jewelry, fabric artwear, and something silly – this year it was the handpainted cowbells (everyone needs more cowbell) painted to look like cowhides. Of course, for the souvenir shoppers, there are Whaling Museum-logoed objects, and Summerfest sells festival T-shirts (this year, it was a whale playing guitar) and CDs and DVDs of the 70+ performers.

On Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., four small outdoor stages set up on lawns and in parking lots throughout the National Park historic district showcased traditional British Isles, French, and American folk music groups, singer/writers, vocal duos, trios, and larger ensembles.

And as is now a Summerfest tradition, singer/writer Ronny Cox, best known as an actor, from his lead and recurring roles in Deliverance, RoboCop, Total Recall, Stargate SG-1, and The Starter Wife, among hundreds of films and TV series, performed in black vest and fedora, with a light, pleasing tenor, his own and covers of folksy, swingy, and corny songs.

Speaking of his music career, Cox is typically genial and self-effacing: “I’m known so much as an actor, and so little as a musician, that I have a long way to go to book enough dates for a tour.” You can hear and buy Cox’s music, and find out where he’s performing, at www.ronnycox.com.

This year, I was a festival volunteer, selling performers’ CDs at the Summerfest store, and emceeing at a small stage in the Visitor’s Center garden. Alongside traditional musicians Louis Killen (England), the Thonon Brothers (Belgium), Livio Guardi (Italy), Benoit Bourque (Canada), and Tim Erickson (United States) (who

taught Nicole Kidman to sing Sacred Harp for “Cold Mountain”), I introduced blues players, storytellers, and singer/writers whose performances were standing room only. The audience included grandparents towing attentive toddlers, and kids and adults at all ages in between.

It was hot and a little humid (well, for New England, it was), but no one complained of the heat, as they listened, or sang along, laughing and applauding, and awarding standing ovations at the close of nearly every 50-minute concert. It was an easygoing, relaxed weekend; a feast for all the senses.

My favorite event was the last workshop in the Whaling Museum theater on Sunday evening. Four couples were drawn together to sing about love and marriage by program organizer Alan Korolenko, who creates workshop titles first, then hires musicians to flesh out the program he’s decided on later.

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart, Pete and Maura Kennedy, Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan, and Susie Burke and David Surrette, sang songs in a round robin, in four distinctive musical styles.

Burke and Surrette are New England natives who play for contra dances (a traditional folk style, kind of like more sophisticated square dancing). Burke’s a fan of Louis Jourdan-style swing music, and Surrette plays a mean mandolin and bouzouki. Earle and Stewart are self-described Texas hillbillies, both guitar players, whose autobiographical works cover the Americana waterfront. The Kennedys are folk-rock guitarists and country-pop singers, who’ve moved from Nanci Griffith’s back line to the foreground of their own Eastern philosophical songs. Russell’s voice evokes an early-decade chanteuse, and she plays guitar while Kaplan backs her up on mandolin and harmony vocals.

When the clock began running out, the group looked for a few songs they’d have in common, and could perform together. Maura Kennedy said, “When I think love songs, I think Beatles.” The group nodded. Susie Burke kicked off “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and as one, eight voices onstage and 250 voices in the audience chorused “falling, yes I am falling/and she keeps calling/me back again.” Between verses, and choruses, each of the guys played a couple of instrumental solos, building to higher and higher audience and musician delight.

And then Pete Kennedy kicked off “She Loves You,” and we all went wild. Again, all the voices in harmony, all the instruments in clear and tasty licks, all the hands and feet clapping and stamping in unison. Hard to believe they and we had not been together before. By the last dying note, you’d have sworn we’d been playing together for years. You can find their music and more info from www.burkesurrette.com, www.staceyandmark.com, www.kennedysmusic.com, and www.claudiarussell.com. TJN

Volume 1 • Issue 8

Volume 1 • Issue 8

JULY 16, 2009

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*All vehicle prices/notes shown plus TT&L. All monthly payments shown 72 Mos@6.99% WAC $3000 cash down. Selling prices: 2008 Grand Caravan: $15995. 2006 Nissan Pathfinder: $16999. 2006 Infiniti M35: $26995. 2008 Cobalt: $13995. 2006 Camry: $14995. 2006 Mini Cooper: $15995.

2008 G6: $13995. 2009 Scion: $15995. 2006 Nissan Titan: $22995.

2008 Explorer: $18995. **Monthly payment shown 72 Mos@6.99% WAC $5000 cash down. Selling prices: 2008 Nissan Armada: $28995