The Jambalaya News - 01/24/13, Vol. 4, No. 21

Photo by Emily Fuselier Photography

VOL. 4, NO. 21 / JANUARY 24, 2013

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

GENERAL 715 Kirby St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque publisher@thejambalayanews.com

NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Berman George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Dan Ellender Jacob Fusilier Caty James Braylin Jenkins Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING

contents

GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Burn Rourk CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Danley Romero BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by The Jambalaya News, LLC, 715 Kirby 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 2013 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

January 24, 2013 • Volume 4 • Issue 21

COVER STORY 19 Plan Your Perfect Wedding at Gray Plantation

REGULARS 6 7 9 10 24

Adoption Corner The Boiling Pot Tips from Tip The Dang Yankee Sports Report

FEATURES 5 Oil on the Mamou Prairie 11 Bucks, Broncs, and a Taste of the Old West 12 Bayou Biz: Chateau du Calcasieu 15 History of the Wedding Cake 17 Mother of the Bride: It’s Your Special Day, too!

sales@thejambalayanews.com

SALES ASSOCIATES Michele Clack Faye Drake Allen Garber

On Cover: Plan Your Perfect Wedding at Gray Plantation.

Photo by Emily Fuselier of Emily Fuselier Photography

ENTERTAINMENT 26 30 31 28 29 33 37 40 42 43

Red Hot Books Funbolaya Family Night at the Movies A Taste of SWLA! Lake City Beat!

Society Spice Jambalaya Jam Local Jam Eclectic Company Killin’ Time Crossword

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5

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17 15

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We accept credit cards!

Volume 4 • Issue 20

JANUARY 24, 2013

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A Note From Lauren Not Much Weather on the Weather Channel The Weather Channel is getting on my last nerve. Yes, I’ve complained about them before. It’s time for me to complain about them again.

I turn them on every morning, right after I wake up, to find out what the weather will be like today.

But every day, I’m finding out all kinds of things that have absolutely nothing to do with the weather. And I don’t know why this is happening.

If I wanted the news, I’d turn to a news channel. I don’t want the news.

I find out what’s going on all over the world every day on the Internet.

I don’t need to hear any news when I wake up. I want the weather.

Instead, I find out that The Weather Channel had a reporter at the Golden Globe awards. Why? Probably because someone wanted to go to the Golden Globes and figured, Hey! I can go and talk about the weather. Because everyone cares about the weather at awards ceremonies.

And guess what--it was windy!

I am forced to look at footage of celebrities shivering on the red carpet. “Look at that wind!” the reporter shrieks. “It was the coldest Golden Globe night on record!” They keep records about that? Really?

There was also some giggling about their reporter recuperating from an after party. Who would invite a weatherman to an after party? No one. He must have crashed it.

This morning, I discovered that The Weather Channel actually showed up at the Inauguration.

They showed footage, just like a real news station. Then, they threw in a weather report, just for the heck of it, to remind themselves that they are supposed to report the weather.

“The weather Monday was far better than four years ago,” we were informed. “High temperatures were to reach the lower 40s during the day, with a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the afternoon and flurries later.” No one really needed to know what the weather was like up there, except the people up there.

The rest of us really don’t care.

So basically, the Weather People will go anywhere, at anytime, with the excuse that wherever they are, there’s weather. They’ll make it work. They are shameless.

And when they actually do talk about the weather, they get so carried away with themselves. This year, they’ve decided to name winter storms. Yup, every time it snows, it gets a name. And the names are just silly. Gandalf hit last week. Then there was Iago. Othello can’t be too far behind. And as we speak, Jove is coming down somewhere—I think in my old state of Massachusetts.

Watch out for Jove, guys.

They always trot out the “severe weather experts” every now and then when there’s a big winter storm. The same people suddenly become “hurricane experts” between June and November. They should at least wear wigs or change their names or something.

Let’s not forget their reality shows. At night and on weekends, you really can’t get much weather at all. Instead, you get Ice Pilots! Coast Guard Alaska! Coast Guard

Florida! What do they have to do with weather? Oh. I get it. Alaska is cold. Florida is hot. Right.

I have no idea what’s coming up next on this channel. All I want is the “Local on the 8s” and instead, I have to hear all kinds of nonsense while I wait for it.

And if Jim Cantore shows up at my Mardi Gras ball, I’m calling the police.

– Lauren de Albuquerque TJN

Phil can be found all over town, and right now, he’s getting ready to go to the Lake Charles Symphony! On his way, he’s hiding somewhere in The Jam. When you find the Cartoon Phil, call 436-7800 ext. 110 and leave your full name, phone number and tell us where Phil is for a chance for TWO READERS to win TWO TICKETS EACH to attend the SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 PERFORMANCE OF THE LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY at Rosa Hart Theater!

WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN TUES., JAN. 29, 2013

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

By Mike Louviere

Patillo Higgins had the idea that Heywood’s intent. there was oil under a rise on the The well in Clement’s field prairie south of Beaumont, Texas. It spewed oil for over seven hours. The took several years for anyone to take former rice field had turned into a him seriously enough to drill on what lake of black oil. The gusher initially was determined to be a salt dome. had been a four-inch stream that When they finally drilled, the largest eventually shot 100 feet higher than oil discovery in the history of the the derrick. world blew in with such Word of the discovforce that one man said, ery spread fast and spec“It just gushed out of the tators began to travel to ground.” The term “gushthe area to see the gusher” to describe oil blower. It also began a scraming out of the ground ble to lease tracts of land came into widespread use where other wells could that day. be drilled. In a short A group of businessperiod of time, Jennings men from the area would grow from a small around Jennings were town of about 1,500 peoaware of similar signs of ple to a boomtown of oil in their vicinity that thousands. The influx of had led to the Spindletop W. Scott Heywood, people wanting to make discovery. There was a driller of Louisiana's a fortune off the boom rise on the Mamou meant land men scramfirst oil well Prairie that was found to bling for leases and men be a salt dome, like Spindletop. The coming into the area to work in the men formed an exploration group field for higher wages than they made called S.A. Spencer and Company. working on the farms and in the timThey hired W. Scott Heywood of ber land.

Beaumont to drill the first well. The Of course, it also attracted an company leased a tract of land from unsavory element. There would be Jules Clement, a rice farmer, and saloons, dance halls, gambling housbegan to drill in his rice field. es, boarding houses, and even a few On September 21, 1901, eight houses of prostitution. The crime rate months almost to the day after the would also rise with the fights, robgusher at Beaumont, Heywood’s well beries, and murders that increased. struck the oil pool under the dome and the oil history of Louisiana OPEN GROUND TANKS began. Clement was astonished to see As pleased as they were with the the oil shooting out of the ground gushers, the oilmen now had a big from under his field. Heywood problem. They had to figure out how enticed Clement to move in closer. to store the oil until they could sell it The result was that Clement got and ship it off. sprayed with oil, which was The first and cheapest solution

Volume 4 • Issue 20

was to dig earthen pits that would become open storage tanks.

Developers were bringing in wells that produced from 2,500 to 10,000 barrels per day. In time, there would be as much as 7 million barrels of oil stored in open ground tanks in the Jennings Field.

One of the problems with open earthen tanks was that they attracted waterfowl. Ducks flying above the tanks would see them as lakes to land in; they would land, then become mired in the oil and die. The bodies of the dead ducks would often clog the suction intakes of the pumps when the operators tried to pump out the oil for shipment. Some operators would hire men to patrol the tanks in rowboats to try to keep the ducks from landing in the oil.

FIRES A PROBLEM In the early days of oil production, fires were a major problem. On July 15, 1902, the first major oilfield fire in Louisiana started when lightning struck the Jennings Oil Company’s No. 2 well. Heywood’s employees began to build levees to keep the burning oil contained and not run into the canal that drained the field.

In the nine days it took to put out the fire, it became a tourist attraction. Photographers came out to photograph the fire and citizens from Jennings and surrounding towns came out to the field to view a fire the size of which they could not have imagined. They went away with their clothes stained from the blowing oil.

At first, the only firefighting solution was to simply dump sand on the

fire until enough was piled up to snuff it out. A method was soon developed using steam hoses and nozzles.

To help fight this fire, Heywood ordered steam boilers from Beaumont.

The boilers came to Jennings by train and then had to be pulled six miles to the field by teams of horses and mules.

Once in place, the steam generated could be blown through hoses to extinguish the blaze.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Of major concern to the landowners, and of the least concern to the oilmen was what is now called environ-

Early "gusher".

JANUARY 24, 2013

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mental issues.

Oil covering the ground ruined thousands of acres of rice fields. The salt water that was a byproduct of the drilling was often allowed to run unimpeded into the irrigation canals for the crops. The salt water that was making the formerly fresh water unusable became such a problem for the farmers that in 1910, the Louisiana Legislature created Act 183 for the benefit of rice farmers. The law prohibited the release of oil, salt water, and any other such pollutants into waterways used as sources of irrigation from March 1 to September 1 of each year.

FINAL THOUGHTS The exploration and discovery of oil spread into each region of Louisiana, bringing a new worker class to a state that had been largely agricultural. Large oil fields would be discovered in Northwest Louisiana, and later, off the Gulf Coast. Oil would fast become an important industry in Louisiana.

The first oil well drilled entirely over water was in Caddo Lake and was worked by the Gulf Oil Company. From that primitive beginning, the exploration and development of the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico would evolve.

Meet

Anna!

Anna is a stunning Pit Bull Terrier/Labrador mix. She is charming and special and just waiting for a family to call her own. This beautiful girl has been with us awhile. She joined us after she was abandoned on a rural PAGE 6

JANUARY 24, 2013

That first well in Jules Clements’ rice filed led to the birth of a new industry in Louisiana. From 1901 to the present day, oil has been a major contributor to the economy of Louisiana. It is one of the state’s major employers and has brought millions of dollars into the state’s economy.

What oil has done for the state and its citizens can be summed up in the old nugget: “Oil feeds my family, and pays my taxes.” TJN

The first well drilled in Louisiana, September, 1901. country road. As is so often the case, she was heartworm positive, but sailed through her treatment and is now ready to find her forever person. A fenced yard is a must; she is not fond of cats and would do best with either another mid-tolarge-size dog or as an only dog.

Anna would like a family or person with time to spend teaching her tricks so she can put her intelligence to good use, and her adopter(s) must have a knowledge of the breed. With so much love to give, Anna, affectionately known as Anna Banana, promises to give you years of love and loyalty. Home visit and vet check required prior to adoption. To make arrangements to meet Anna or to find out about any of our other pets, email us at lapaw@bellsouth.net or leave a message at (337) 478-7294. A home visit and vet reference check is required prior to adoption. Stop

by PetSmart in Lake Charles on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. to meet some of the special pets looking for homes. If you wish to meet a particular animal, please contact us in advance so we can make sure that pet is available to meet you.

Hurry, Anna is waiting! TJN Volume 4 • Issue 20

The

Boiling

P l

Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com

ST. ROMAIN RECEIVES WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARD Annette St. Romain, owner of Bijoux Fine Jewelry in Sulphur and the new Bijoux Design Center in Lake Charles, was recently honored with the Women in Business award from the Southwest Louisiana Women’s Business Network. St. Romain opened Bijoux in Sulphur in 1982. She is a graduate of Gemological Institute of America and certified in both diamonds and gemstones.

Left to Right: CSPH VP of Medical Affairs, David Engleking, MD; 2011 award recipient John Cocchiara, MD; 2012 award recipient, Richard Gilmore, MD; CSPH VP of Clinical Operations, Dianne Teal; and CSPH Administrator Donald Lloyd II. DR. GILMORE AWARD RECIPIENT Richard Gilmore, MD, was named the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital 2012 John Green Martin Compassionate Care Award recipient at the Annual CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Physician Christmas Party held at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Dr. Gilmore, a cardiologist, has been on the medical staff of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital since 1982. He has served on many committees at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and is an instructor at the Family Practice Program of LSU Health Science Center Lake Charles.

DOUG GEHRIG WINS NATIONAL AWARD BY MCDONALD’S CORPORATION Doug Gehrig, owner and operator of McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana, was presented the esteemed 2012 Ronald Award by McDonald’s Corporation. The award is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished awards given by the company to the top one percent of McDonald’s owners nationwide. The Ronald award honors those with a track record for exemplary operations, marketing and employee relations practices, as well as contributions to their local communities. Gehrig joined the McDonald’s operation in 1975 in Calcasieu Parish and acquired his first restaurant in 1986. He now owns all 11 locations throughout the parish.

Volume 4 • Issue 20

FAMILY & YOUTH NAMES 2013 BOARD MEMBERS Leslie Harless, VP/marketing director of First Federal Bank of Louisiana, will serve as chair of the Family & Youth board of directors. Buddy Hamic, Calcasieu Sheriff ’s Office, will serve as vice-chair; Ann Barrilleaux, SWLA Alliance Foundation development director will serve as secretary; Mark Hanudel, owner of R&H Quality Leslie Harless Refractory Service, will serve as treasurer; and Kerry Andersen, Regional Director of Community & Public Affairs for Pinnacle Entertainment, is Immediate Past Chair.

Mark Hanudel

Ann Barilleaux

Buddy Hamic

Kerry Andersen

NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT ISLE The team at Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lake Charles is pleased to announce that Eric Eisenberg has been hired as the new director of hotel operations. Eisenberg has 20 years of experience in operations, management and marketing and most recently was the director of front office operations at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He received his bachelor of science degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He believes in giving back to the community and has been an active participant in efforts to benefit breast cancer awareness, the American Cancer Society, the U.S.O., and many other charitable organizations in the communities in which he worked and lived.

Doug Gehrig with the 2012 Ronald Award

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LAUNCHES HEALTH BLOG Are you looking for healthy advice on how to choose a doctor or how to stay well? How about getting information on a specific condition or illness? Lake Charles Memorial Hospital has launched a blog to help answer all those questions. The Memorial Health Blog will bring readers advice from the top doctors JANUARY 24, 2013

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and experts in the Memorial Medical Group on a wide range of topics. Go to memorialhospitalswla.wordpress.com/ to access the blog. Updates are posted every Wednesday morning. You can subscribe to the blog by clicking the Follow icon at the bottom right corner of the page and enter your email address.

CHRISTUS WELCOMES BELTRAN AS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Candice Beltran has joined the marketing team as an account executive with the CHRISTUS organization. A native of Oberlin and a McNeese graduate, Beltran brings over ten years in the medical field and over nine years of marketing experience to CHRISTUS. She will be responsible for the promoting and assisting with the creation and expansion of local business opportunities and all services that CHRISTUS HomeCare provides. She will also be involved with the development and implementation of community education activities. CHRISTUS HomeCare and Hospice St. Patrick has local offices Candice Beltran located in Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Shreveport.

L’AUBERGE LAKE CHARLES ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT PROMOTIONS L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles announces the promotions of Sean Demeule to assistant general manager and VP of finance and administration, Michael Pendergast to VP of resort operations and Jeff DiVito to vice president of food and beverage, all pending regulatory approval. In addition to managing accounting, finance, risk management, compliance, cashier, and count team departments for the property, Demeule will now take on additional duties with oversight of the operational excellence, food and beverage, Sean Demeule and facilities operations at the gaming resort. Pendergast has been promoted from director of hotel operations. In this new role, he will be responsible for developing an environment that creates outstanding and memorable service for L’Auberge guests. DiVito will be responsible for managing all property food and beverage services including restaurants, Mike Pendergast Jeff DiVito bars, lounges and catering operations.

AUTHEMENT COMPLETES LBA LEADERSHIP SCHOOL Jeff Davis Bank Consumer Loan Officer Kendee Authement recently graduated from the Louisiana Bankers Association’s 2012 Leadership School, a nine-month program that focuses on leadership skills and banking industry education. A member of Jeff Davis Bank for 12 years, Authement was selected for the program based on her commitment to the bank, as well as her potential as a future bank leader. Founded in Jennings in 1947, Jeff Davis Bank & Trust Co. offers full-service personal and business banking throughout southwest Louisiana. For more information, visit www.jdbank.com.

LC NATIVE WINS EMERGING LEADER AWARD Lake Charles native Ruth McLeod Rohs recently received the Betsy Bernard Emerging Leader Award in Denver, Colorado at the 2012 Women’s Success Forum sponsored by Women’s Vision Foundation. Rohs, who moved to Denver 18 years ago, is currently the vice president of communications and executive director of the IMA Foundation for the IMA Financial Group. Rohs also volunteers as vice-chair of the board of the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, is on the corporate volunteer committee for Mile High United Way, and is on the advisory council for Colorado Succeeds. Rohs is the daughter of Cissie McLeod and the late Louisiana state legislator Bill McLeod. She graduated from St. Louis High School in 1989. Rohs lives with her husband and two children in the Denver area.

POLICE JURY ELECTS NEW OFFICERS FOR 2013 At its January 10th regular meeting, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury elected Shannon Spell as president for 2013 and James Mayo as vice-president, both by acclamation. Mr. Spell succeeds Les Farnum, and Mr. Mayo succeeds Dennis Scott. Spell is a resident of the Ward One area and is currently serving PAGE 8

JANUARY 24, 2013

his second term as the District One Police Juror with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. Mayo is a resident of Lake Charles and is currently serving his first term as the District Two Police Juror with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

DUHON APPOINTED NEW FINANCIAL REP FOR NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL Chris Duhon has been appointed financial representative by Northwestern Mutual in Lake Charles. He will be associated with Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana, Lake Charles. As financial representative, Duhon will join a network of specialists offering a wide array of products. Duhon is a native of Lake Charles and attended McNeese State University and St. Louis High School. Currently, Duhon is an active member of Calcasieu Soccer Club. He resides in Lake Charles with his wife Laurie and three children.

Chris Duhon MCNEESE INDUSTRY ART CONTEST WINNERS Ryan Rowland, a Lafayette visual arts major at McNeese State University, is the winner of the first Industry Art Contest at McNeese sponsored by the Doré Family Foundation. Students submitted artwork that could be adapted by area industries to decorate industrial containers seen by millions of visitors to Southwest Louisiana. Rowland received $500 for his winning design of an egret overlooking a Louisiana bayou. Hunter Loupe, Lake Charles visual arts major, placed second and received $300 while Nekoda Derouen, Lake Charles visual arts major, placed third and received $200. The contest was open to all students and entries were judged by an internal panel that selected the top 20 entries.

Ryan Rowland, Lynn Reynolds, visual arts department head; William J. Doré, Doré Family Foundation; McNeese President Dr. Philip C. Williams and Hunter Loupe, second place winner. McNeese Photo PINNACLE DONATES TO LA ASSOC. ON COMPULSIVE GAMING Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., parent company of the L’Auberge and Boomtown brands, recently donated $10,000 to the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gaming on behalf of the company’s four Louisiana properties. The Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gaming is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for and providing cost effective quality assistance for individuals who may be affected by gambling problems. TJN

(L to R): Mickey Parenton, VP/GM of L’Auberge Baton Rouge; Anthony Sanfilippo, president/CEO of Pinnacle; Reece Middleton, LACG executive director; and Geno M. Iafrate, executive VP of regional operations for Pinnacle Entertainment.

Volume 4 • Issue 20

By George “Tip” Cline

PARTY SAFETY As the Mardi Gras season progresses, there are many party opportunities presenting themselves. Most of these festivities involve the consumption of adult beverages, which can lead to overdoing a bit. We have a number of balls we attend and have on occasion stretched consumption to a point where driving a vehicle would be a very bad thing. Fortunately, for these occasions, there are some reliable alternatives here in the Lake Charles area.

Limousines and taxi services can make for a worry-free event. In the past, we have utilized both and have had most pleasant experiences. It is very comforting to know that you have a safe ride home and have eliminated the risks associated with an elevated alcohol blood level. It will be a wise decision to consider having a professional driver if your whole gang wants to make merry. The price can be a tiny fraction of the cost of an accident or other unpleasantness.

THE TAX MAN COMETH As of the start of this year, the FICA Social Security tax paid by both wage and salary earners returns to 6.2 percent from the 4.2 percent rate that was instituted as part of the fiscal stimulus package to try to revitalize our economy.

There have been many questions raised as to the wisdom of an underfunding of the time-honored and near sacrosanct program that so many senior citizens rely on for their wherewithal.

As the tax has now returned to its designated level, paycheck earners are seeing a reduction in what they have been receiving, conveniently forgetting that the rate they had been exempt from has now returned. No one likes to pay one penny more in tax than they are obligated to remit, but the tax man cometh whether we like it or not.

Social Security is projected to be quite Volume 4 • Issue 20

solvent for many coming years if the politicos don’t rob payroll contributions from it. It would only require minor increases of rate of contribution and or elimination of the tax cap to make any of the projected program shortfall after 2038 disappear.

NO PERSONAL TOUCH I have sleep apnea, originally diagnosed by my wife, who would indicate my condition with an elbow or a knee.

I now use a CPAP machine that controls the condition and makes both my wife and I sleep much better.

Insurance companies and Medicare provide for replacement of its disposable parts on a regular schedule. When I first started using the machine, the company handling the parts would send me a letter reminding me to replace the old parts and I would call to confirm my needs. A very caring person would take my order. I could either pick up the order or she would UPS it to me along with the paperwork I needed to sign and a prepaid return envelope.

All that has changed. Now, they have their own delivery vehicle, which I have to wait for so I can sign the paperwork upon delivery. There is no longer a personal letter; instead, I get an automated phone call--you know, the kind that tells you how important your call is to them.

Excuse me, but the prices I’m being charged for these parts certainly reflect a substantial amount of money and I would like to converse with a human being. I am now reviewing other providers, as I’m sure there are companies out there that treat their clients with more appreciation and concern.

burger kid‘s meal, a regular size order of French Fries and a small soft drink.

The fries and drink are included in the price of the kid’s meal; listed are the “a la carte” prices. There are no standards on these sizes, the prices reported here are as listed on the individual menu boards at each location.

The prices were gathered on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from McDonalds, Ryan Street; Sonic DriveIn, Ryan Street; Burger King, Prien Lake Road and Wendy’s, McNeese Street.

Hamburger Kid’s Meal: McDonalds $2.49, Sonic $3.54,

Burger King $2.59, Wendy’s $2.89.

Cheeseburger Kid’s Meal: McDonalds $2.79, Sonic (No cheeseburger meal listed), Burger King $2.89, Wendy’s $3.19.

French Fries, smallest size offered: McDonalds $1.19, Sonic $1, Burger King $1.59, Wendy’s $1.69.

Soft drink, smallest size offered: McDonalds $1.19, Sonic $1.19, Burger King $1.39, Wendy’s $1.55.

We sure have come a long way since the days of, “Hamburger, fries, a soft drink and change from a dollar.”

TJN

January 15 Declared Earned Income Credit Day Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach will declare Jan. 25 “Earned Income Tax Credit Day” in an effort to raise awareness of the Federal and State Income Tax credit.

At a ceremony at the Martin Luther King Community Center located at 2009 North Simmons Street, at 11:30 a.m., Mayor Roach, United Way officials and partners will gather to witness the mayor’s proclamation of EITC Awareness Day. Proclamations of this sort will be taking place across the nation on this day as it has been

declared National EITC Awareness Day. IRS estimates that between 15-20 percent of earned income credits go unclaimed each year.

That means up to $15 million dollars in credits were not filed for in SWLA. The credit is for working taxpayers who have earned income. Families with children could be eligible for up to $5,891 in refundable credits, even if in the past they have not been required to file a return.

For more information, contact the United Way at (337) 433-1088. TJN

FAST FOOD ROUND UP Our shopping survey this issue is taking a different path. Just about every child likes a hamburger, French Fries and a soft drink. Instead of pricing the ingredients, we went to the pros and checked the prices at four of the most popular fast food chains.

We checked the price of a basic hamburger kid‘s meal, basic cheeseJANUARY 24, 2013

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Dang Yankee The

By Mike McHugh

The Fruit of All Evil I’m currently reading the autobiography of Keith Richards, undead guitar player for The Rolling Stones.

I must say that I’m stirred by how he candidly discloses the facts about his heroin addiction. The drug is a cunning seductress, one that slowly gains control over your life until, before you realize it, you are its prisoner.

And I can relate.

His story is such an inspiration that I have finally decided to come clean and tell my own personal story.

It’s not something I’m proud of, for sure, but if Keith can do it, so can I. I

only wish I could say the same thing about his guitar playing.

My descent into addiction started innocently enough. I tried it out of curiosity, just a small sample at first.

I was strong, I thought; I could handle it. Hell, what harm could there be in a little old iPod Nano?

Needless to say, the high was unbelievable. I had Willie Nelson in my pocket, and Uncle Sam was just going to have to make room. Now, I could listen to Willie everywhere— on my bike, at the grocery store, during my wife’s complaining about the

leaking faucet, etc. But of course, that was only the beginning.

You see, the clever people at Apple had fashioned the Nano as a gateway product. Once you’ve got one, then you’re obligated to also install iTunes on your computer.

And from there, it’s a quick descent into the iTunes store. At .99 cents a song, it’s cheaper than Starbucks, but then again, so are Super Bowl tickets. But that’s beside the point.

Before I knew it, there were so many .99 cent charges to my credit card that the bill was as thick as the Houston telephone directory. My wife was reduced to buying candles of the unscented variety, but what the hell; I had 15 different versions of “Whiskey River.”

Still, it doesn’t stop there. Before long, you take aim at The Cloud, and you know that the only way to reach it, the only way to satisfy that insatiable craving, is to go all the way and get yourself an iPhone. Then you’ve got the ultimate in one compact device—Internet, phone, text messaging, camera, the ability to communicate with aliens, and so on.

And it’s with you all the time, whenever and wherever you go. You

Bijoux Design Center is Now Open Bijoux Design Center is now open in Lake Charles at 4070 Nelson Road, in the Que Pasa shopping center. Owner Annette St. Romain, who also owns Bijoux Fine Jewelry in Sulphur, said this location focuses on designing jewelry pieces.

“We have an innovative program that we use to create virtually any design a customer might have. Whether they have a vague idea of what they want or they have every detail figured out, we can help

them bring their one-of-akind piece to reality,” she explained.

The design center utilizes 3D technology to customize every detail, including the stone size, shape and color, along with the setting and metal choices. “This new system allows us to bring our customers into the design process so that their jewelry is even more of a reflection of their individuality,” St. Romain said. For details, call (337) 478-0770.

have the ultimate power. Your cat coughs up a hairball, and, within seconds, an image is available on Facebook for the viewing pleasure of friends as far away as Borneo. It makes no difference that you don’t have any friends in Borneo, or anywhere else on the globe, for that matter. Or that Borneoeans (or whatever they’re called) are too busy checking their Smartphones for the latest news on the Kardashians to bother themselves with looking at pictures of hairballs. It doesn’t matter. Just knowing that you could do it, if you had friends there, is satisfaction enough. You are Superman.

Of course, what you also have with an IPhone is a multi-year contract, one you dare not break if you place any value at all on your kneecaps. Now, I’m not saying that the Apple Corporation employs hit men to enforce cell phone contracts.

Actually, it’s worse. They employ tenacious bill collectors who will stalk you and, at the first opportunity, clamp their jaws onto your leg and not let go until you pay up.

When you’re finally down to the level where you are walking down the street dragging around a rabid bill collector who’s attached to your leg, you’re past the point of denial.

You cannot hide the fact that you’ve descended to the status of junkie.

That was me, a wretched figure.

Camping out night after night until the last call at the Genius Bar, all the while lying to myself, “Just one more app, and that will be the last.”

But it wasn’t, for not long after that, I was caught in possession of a MacBook. It was my wife who finally put it all together. One night, while I was reading in bed, she confronted me. “What is ‘osks’?” she asked.

I happened to be reading OS X Mountain Lion For Dummies, a volume about the Macintosh operating system.

“Uhhh, it’s about a species of wildlife in Borneo,” I answered. It was the best I could come up with on the spot.

“What??” she said.

“You, know,” I stammered from the depths of my stupor. “They’re closely related to the Kardashians.” I was busted.

So now I’m in rehab, and I understand there’s an excellent chance for success. The place has a great track record, one of the best.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the place; it’s called The Melinda Gates Clinic.

TJN

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

Bucks, Broncs and a Taste of The Old West

By Caty James Blazin’ trails was once a way of life for pioneers as they headed west, carving out pathways and following their dreams. Even cowpokes laid a course while herding their cattle to market.

The trails were riddled with danger: rough, almost impenetrable terrain; killer storms or deadlier drought; wild animals…and even wilder humans. Yet those who prevailed passed on a legacy of courage and a love for adventure.

Generations have passed and it’s no longer necessary to blaze a westward trail. But modern-day trail rides–-and a chance to relive the legacy–-have endured. Just ask any cowgirl or cowpoke: west is best.

Beginning Saturday, January 26,

riders will once again saddle-up for the Western Heritage Week-Long Trail Ride, sponsored by the W&L Riders.

A prelude to the 74th Annual Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo, the trail ride begins in Gueydan and culminates on Thursday, January 31, with the Western Heritage Rodeo Parade in Lake Charles.

The parade begins at 4 p.m. at LaGrange and Patrick streets, travels south on Ryan and ends at McNeese Stadium. Trail riders continue on to Burton Coliseum, which is a highlight of the week-long event, according to Lee Adams Landry, who founded W&L Riders in 1986.

The trail ride is open to the public. While there are no age restric-

tions, there are very specific rules, including a western attire requirement that all participants, “…whether a horse, mule, rider or wagon-rider…” must follow.

Registration forms and a fee of $20 per person are due at the beginning of their ride. The fee covers the necessary permits to ride within city limits.

“Participants can join at any point, even as late as the morning of the parade, as long as other riders have not resumed riding the trail,” said Glenn Daigle, trail boss. Riders will not be allowed to join the ride in the city of Lake Charles.

Registration forms and copies of the participant rules are available at Patton’s Western Wear in Lake Charles, Rabideaux’s Sausage in Iowa, and online at www.lakecharlesrodeo.com.

Landry won’t be joining this year’s ride, but he plans to stop in and visit old friends along the route, which includes a night in Lake Arthur, Jennings and Welsh. Like trail rides in the Old West, the Western Heritage Week-Long Trail Ride is a family affair, some dating back three generations. In fact, Landry’s son, Blaine, and grandson, Justin, will both be on the ride.

For more information on the Western Heritage Week-Long Trail Ride, call Blaine Crochet at (337) 802-4879. TJN

Rodeo Parade Heads ‘Em Up, Moves ‘Em Out It’s the biggest rodeo parade east of Houston, and it’s rolling through Lake Charles. Again!

Generations remember the Annual Western Heritage Rodeo Parade, and how it transformed city streets into a scene from the Old West—complete with men, women and children garbed in their best western wear, and the click-clack of passing hooves and wagon wheels.

After a three-year hiatus, the parade resumes at 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, and parade officials invite local businesses and organizations to join a stellar lineup of trail riders, marching bands, floats, walking troupes and caravans in celebrating the kick-off of the 74th Annual Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo.

The parade route begins at LaGrange and Patrick streets, travels south on Ryan and ends at McNeese Stadium. Participants in Volume 4 • Issue 20

the Western Heritage Week-Long Trail Ride continue on–-and into–-Burton Coliseum.

Jerry Whatley joins the Lake Charles tradition as grand marshal of the 2013 parade. Whatley, who retired in 2009 after 35 years as the county agent for the LSUAgCenter in Calcasieu Parish, worked with 4-H and the Southwest District Fat Stock Show to enhance young participants’ experiences in the annual livestock show.

He most recently chaired the Keep Calcasieu Strong Political Action Committee (PAC), which successfully campaigned for the renewal of the Burton Coliseum and Agriculture Services Tax. Entry into the parade is free and open through January 30.

Participants are urged to incorporate the Western theme in their designs.

For more information, call Blaine Crochet at (337) 802-4879. TJN

• Large or Small Parties, Banquets or Weddings • Entire Meals • Cakes & Pies • Sandwich / Vegetable / Fruit Trays • Finger Foods & Cookie Platters

337-764-7154

Check out our full menu at www.SweetsByTracy.com

JANUARY 24, 2013

PAGE 11

Bayou

Biz

Chateau du Calcasieu

Not Your Typical Wedding Venue

Wedding Dress courtesy of Rhinestone Runway Tuxedo courtesy of Squires Formal Wear

There’s a new event center in town, and it’s coming just in time for the wedding season!

Chateau du Calcasieu at 932 Enterprise Boulevard in Lake Charles is in the old United Furniture building, which many of you may recall. Yes, that big building. How big is it? How about 30,000 square feet?

“The building is divided into three sections: A, B and C,” said owner Phil de Albuquerque. “It can hold up to 3,000 guests if all sections are occupied!”

Currently undergoing extensive renovations, it will be open soon.

“We exhibited at our first wedding show a few weeks ago—and I’ve been showing the Chateau almost every day since then,” de Albuquerque said.

“We’ve booked 10 weddings and several events already. It’s really exciting.” de Albuquerque said that the wedding show attendees were thrilled that

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JANUARY 24, 2013

there’s another event center in town. “The one thing we heard, over and over again, was that there aren’t enough wedding venues in the area.

And people are really excited that we have separate rooms to hold both the wedding service and the reception.

And there’s something else that makes the Chateau very unique.

There are two complete wedding suites with private bathrooms in a 100year-old house that is located in the middle of the complex. Here, the wedding party can relax before and even during the event. Couches, chairs and lighted mirrors give you all the comforts of home.

“Brides just fall in love with the house,” de Albuquerque said. “They love the idea of a place to gather with their attendants, put the finishing touches on their makeup, and maybe have a glass of champagne and just chill. And, they can leave their personal items in the suites, which will be locked when they’re not occupied.”

Volume 4 • Issue 20

THREE SEPARATE ROOMS Many couples would like to get married outside, but there are always weather concerns. What if it rains? Or it’s too hot? Room A is the perfect solution.

“This room will have an outdoor feel to it,” de Albuquerque explained. “There will be park benches, white garden chairs, an artificial, nine-foot-tall lighted dogwood tree, and eventually, a fountain.”

The charming old house is located in Room A, which adds to the outdoor atmosphere.

After the wedding ceremony, the room is a wonderful spot for a cocktail hour. From there, guests enter Room B for the reception.

“Most couples have booked both Rooms A and B,” de Albuquerque said. “Even if they are having their ceremony elsewhere, they like the idea of the private suites, cocktails in Room A and the reception in Room B.” The reception hall has two floors. The second floor is open and looks down on the first floor, and has wrought-iron railings. “There will be a New Orleans feel throughout the entire wedding, with the

Volume 4 • Issue 20

exposed beams and wrought iron,” de Albuquerque said. “The bride and groom can be introduced to the guests as they come down the grand staircase. And it’s a great location to take photos.”

Then there’s Room C. It’s positively huge, (over 11,000 square feet) and could accommodate a super large wedding, trade show, or a Mardi Gras ball.

WHAT’S INCLUDED Rental fee includes tables, chairs and basic linens.

“We have eight-foot rectangular tables, and three-, four- and five-foot round tables, and bistro tables,” de Albuquerque said.

“We are unique in that we are also a party rental business—so we

have lots of decorations available. If we don’t have it—we can get it!”

You can choose from a list of caterers, photographers, florists bands, DJs, etc., or bring in your own. “We also have a consultant that you can meet with to help with the planning,” he said. “We can also hook you up with some fabulous invitation designers!”

Although still undergoing renovations, the Chateau is available now for private tours. Call (337) 263-4736 to book your tour today.

“We can accommodate any size wedding, and that’s important,” de Albuquerque said. “Whether it’s a very large, or an intimate affair, the Chateau du Calcasieu will make the most important day of your life unforgettable!”!

GRAND OPENING SPECIAL

For a limited time only, the Chateau du Calcasieu is offering a special package: • Rental of Rooms A&B • Dove release at the location of your choice.

• Six-day, seven-night VIP Honeymoon Package at all-inclusive resort on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera (airfare not included).

Cost of total package: $4,700 Call (337) 263-4736 for details. TJN

JANUARY 24, 2013

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

By

Lauren de Albuquerque The wedding cake is one of the shining stars of your wedding. There are so many flavors, icings and styles to choose from. Nowadays, brides can spend a small fortune on this traditional dessert. So, how did the custom start?

The origin of the wedding cake can be traced as far back as the Roman Empire—but back then, it wasn’t actually a cake. It was simply a loaf of barley bread, specially baked for the ceremony. The groom would eat some of the bread and break the remaining piece over the bride's head. It is believed that this action symbolized the taking of the bride’s virginity and the dominance of the groom over his new wife. Luckily, this is one tradition that didn’t make it into modern times!

In medieval England, the cakes described in historical accounts were not conventional cakes, but rather, flour-based sweet foods.

While cake was included in many celebratory feasts, there are no accounts of a particular type of cake served at weddings. One medieval custom involved sweet buns stacked as high as possible for the bride and groom to kiss over. If they kissed over the stack without knocking it over, they were supposedly guaranteed a prosperous life together.

Something called a “bride's pie” first appeared in the mid-17th century and was filled with anything from sweet breads, mincemeat, or even mutton. Everyone had to have a piece, since it was considered bad luck not to eat the bride’s pie. A glass ring would be placed somewhere in the pie, and tradition states that the maiden who found the ring would be the next to be married.

In the late 19th century, the wedding cake as we more or less know it came into fashion, permanently replacing the bride's pie. But these early cakes were single-tiered and simple. It took a while for the first multi-tiered cake to appear, but when it did, it was here to stay.

Saving the Top Tier Another tradition associated with the wedding cake is saving the top tier by freezing it and serving it on your one-year wedding anniversary.

This custom has its roots in the late 19th century. It was assumed that a christening would occur soon after the wedding ceremony. Since the top tier was often left over after the wedding recep-

Wedding Ring

Trivia!

Volume 4 • Issue 20

tion, a christening provided a good reason to save the top tier.

This was the perfect excuse for a three-tier cake. The bottom tier would be for the reception, the middle tier would be distributed to guests to take home, and the top tier would be saved for the christening.

Of course, that excuse has disappeared with the horse and buggy. Nowadays, it’s something we do just because. Phil and I saved the top tier and had it with my family on our one-year anniversary.

After a year in the freezer, it didn’t taste so good. TJN

• Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.

• In the symbolic language of jewels, a sapphire in a wedding ring means marital happiness.

• A pearl engagement ring is said to be bad luck because its shape echoes that of a tear.

• One of history's earliest engagement rings was given to Princess Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII. She was two years old at the time.

JANUARY 24, 2013

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

McNeese Alumni Association Hosts 20th Annual Phonathon Jan. 27-29, and Feb. 4-5

The Mother of the Bride— It’s Your Special Day, Too! As the mother of the bride, you’ll play a special role the day of the wedding. You’ll be escorted into the ceremony, announced at the reception, and will have to pose for all of those pictures. So it’s important that you look your very best.

Yes, it’s time to go shopping.

You should start shopping early, but not until the bride has chosen her wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses. Mothers of the bride and groom should dress in a manner consistent with the overall style and formality of the wedding.

Your dress should compliment the bride’s choices for herself and the wedding party. Be sure to ask the bride’s opinion on how she may want the mothers to look on her wedding day. And try to get a sense of her vision for the day. Every wedding is unique, and this one will be no exception.

In addition to the bride, mothers of the bride and groom should consult each other before making a decision on a dress. Although your dresses do not need to be the same color, they should be equally formal and compliment each other because you will be standing near one another and will be in some pictures together.

Decide what color you want to wear, but stay away from white, cream or ivory so as not to steal the spotlight from the bride. The best dress will compliment your coloring and won't clash with the wedding colors. And no, the dress doesn't have to match the bridesmaids. Although black used to be Volume 4 • Issue 20

considered inappropriate, it is now very popular and elegant as well.

A good idea is to have your daughter show you magazine photos to get an idea of what style she has in mind for you. If she'd like you to wear something you're not happy with, let her know and try to compromise. It's her day, but you have to feel comfortable in your dress.

A great way to put your own personal stamp on your gown is to add a little glamour with jewelry. If you have a favorite piece, or an antique, make that the focal point of your outfit. Unique jewelry will only add to the beauty of what you’re wearing.

No mother of the bride gown is complete without a fabulous pair of shoes. But make sure they’re comfortable! You’ll be on your feet all day and dancing all night. Comfort can be stylish. Avoid heavy clunky shoes no matter how “in” they are.

Choose a shoe that you feel stylish in and that feels good on your feet.

Heels are always preferable for this type of occasion; just make sure they’re not too high.

Don’t forget your handbag.

Don’t match your purse to your shoes—that look is dated. Have them blend instead. You could choose a bag with the same tone beads as the metallic on your shoe, or carry one with a coordinating print. If your outfit is a neutral shade, pop it with a brightly colored clutch! The key is small--the smaller and glitzier the bag, the more formal it is. TJN

The McNeese Alumni Association will host its 20th annual phonathon over the next two weeks with the help of McNeese students who will call alumni from around the country. During this time, they will update alumni contact information and will ask McNeese graduates to help support the university by making a donation to the McNeese Alumni Annual Fund.

The phonathon will run from Jan. 2729 and Feb. 4-5, and according to Joyce Patterson, McNeese alumni affairs director, these alumni donations help to support the university and alumni programming.

“We encourage McNeese graduates to answer the call and show their support for McNeese in helping us reach this year’s goal of $80,000,” said Patterson. “These donations are used throughout the year to provide support for areas of greatest need on campus. This includes money for scholarships, student research grants, university promotions and marketing, student recruitment, alumni programs such as reunions, newsletters, alumni roundups and other areas where state funding is not available.

“When alumni give, it then strengthens the university’s attempts to acquire

other outside funding. Gifts of all sizes are added together to help make an impact on the university. It is financial support from our alumni that helps to keep the university on the cutting edge of technology and to best complete our mission of educating our students and preparing them for the workforce,” she explained.

The phonathon is also a great way to update addresses and to have the student callers answer any questions that alumni may have.

“This allows our alumni to keep connected with their alma mater,” said Patterson.

“In addition to their financial support, our alumni also support McNeese by hiring our graduates, providing jobs to our students, attending university functions, speaking highly of their experiences at McNeese, which helps to recruit new students, and proudly supporting their alma mater,” she added.

“For almost 75 years, McNeese State University has been known for its high quality education and commitment to excellence, and with help from our alumni, this will continue for many more.”

For more information or to make a donation, email alumni@mcneese.edu or call the alumni office at (337) 475-5232. TJN JANUARY 24, 2013

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Volume 4 • Issue 20

Lana Tyler Photgraphy

By Angie Kay Dilmore

Volume 4 • Issue 20

Charles where they could be married outdoors and have the reception at the same facility. Gray Plantation suited their needs to a tee.

MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE “I feel like this is a perfect spot to have a wedding,” Amanda Prejean, Gray Plantation’s event coordinator and director of sales and marketing said. “The grounds are beautiful.” She will plan any party a client requests -- rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, reunions, retirement celebrations, business meetings -- but weddings are by far her favorite. She’s good at what she does because she revels in the details and loves making brides happy.

“I can help as much as possible or as little as needed,” said Prejean.

“Whatever the couple needs. Usually brides want some kind of input from me. I’m more than happy to do that.” A bride and her entourage visit with

Laura Kelley Photography

LeBonʼs Photography

Picture this.

A romantic carriage drawn by a regal white horse transported Meghan Cloud Burgin and her father from the Clubhouse stairs at Gray Plantation to the tent where her groom and their wedding guests awaited her arrival on the green of the 18th hole.

Guests heard the clip clop of the horse’s hooves before her Cinderella coach rounded the turn and came into sight. Amanda Prejean, aka “the wedding planner” at Gray Plantation, held up the hem of Meghan’s gown as she cautiously stepped down from the carriage. She and her father hurried underneath the tent, and then walked down the flower-strewn aisle.

So what if the sound of rain on the tent roof accompanied Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus?” Meghan and Daniel had the wedding of their dreams. A few showers couldn’t put a damper on their special day.

The couple married a few weeks ago on January 5. After they became engaged in December 2011, they looked for a wedding venue in Lake

JANUARY 24, 2013

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all the decorations and chairs inside and set the ceremony up in The Grill (the Clubhouse restaurant). “We had to think on our toes,” Prejean recalled.

“It wasn’t exactly what they had wanted, but the wedding turned out beautifully.” The bride was not disappointed.

“It was rainy and dark outside, so it was like a sunset candlelit wedding,” Monceaux said.

EXCEPTIONAL CUISINE Next to a bride’s stunning gown, weddings are often remembered for the delicious food. Such is the case at Gray Plantation. Last November, they hired chef Marco Pacetti, who has been making quite a sensation in the kitchen.

“That’s one of the biggest compliments I get,” said Prejean.

“The food is delicious.” They can prepare most anything a client requests, but two of the favorite menu items include crawfishstuffed Cajun pork loin and crunch wrap shrimp. Their menu is quite extensive and can be found on their website.

PARTY IN A SOUTHERN PLANTATION SETTING After the wedding ceremony, the bridal party and guests retreat to the sophisticated Evergreen Room for the reception. Prejean describes this room as “homey.” Indeed, the floor-to-ceiling windows and crown moldings evoke an era of gentility. Four stately columns in the center of the room surround the dance floor. Shiny crystals and clear glass baubles hang from the chandelier.

White tulle enmeshed with twinkling white lights sweeps from the candlelit fixture and cascades down the ivory columns, creating a magical enchanting

LeBonʼs Photography

Laura Kelley Photography

Prejean and tell her their vision for the wedding. Prejean makes it happen.

She offers suggestions, takes care of all the rentals such as tents and table linens, confers with the chef on the menu, helps decorate, and attends each wedding to ensure that the couple’s big day is a success.

If a bride has questions regarding other services such as florists, invitations, photographers, DJs and musicians, Prejean provides a preferred vendor list.

Prejean’s services are especially welcome to busy brides who don’t have time to do a lot of planning and detail work. Sarah Burnett Monceaux and her husband were married at Gray Plantation last August 25, incidentally the groom’s birthday. They live in Sulphur and Monceaux works near Houston. She spends a lot of time traveling.

“It was an easy wedding,” she said. “I didn’t have to do a thing. I told them what I liked and they made it happen. The wedding at Gray was exceptional and everything I envisioned it being. If you are a busy bride, it doesn’t get any better than the service at Gray Plantation.”

Debra Gold Foreman and her husband were married by the lake at the facility last year. They also were impressed with the dedicated service they received. “It was fantastic. All I had to do was show up,” she said.

Located on the grounds of a pristine championship golf course in the 2,000-acre upscale residential community of Graywood, Gray Plantation specializes in outdoor weddings with breathtaking backdrops. Many couples opt to say, “I do” beside the lake. Some marry near the Clubhouse’s sprawling veranda. But outdoor weddings are inherently a gamble.

No one can control or predict the weather, especially here in Southwest Louisiana.

The Monceauxs chose Gray Plantation specifically because they wanted an outdoor wedding. But fate had other plans. Because of the rain and mud that day, Prejean, the wedding party, and guests had to be flexible and spontaneous.

In a last minute decision, they brought

JANUARY 24, 2013

Laura Kelley Photography

Laura Kelley Photography Volume 4 • Issue 20

Laura Kelley Photography Laura Kelley Photography

atmosphere for the bride and groom’s first dance as husband and wife.

As Meghan and Daniel Burgin danced to the song “All Your Life” by The Band Perry, Prejean watched from the DJ’s table. “The couple’s first dance is my favorite part of the wedding reception,” she said. “The hard part is over and they can simply enjoy their night. It makes me really happy, knowing I had a part in it.”

The Evergreen Room can accommodate 90 guests for a sit-down banquet or 150 people in a cocktail party setting. For larger guest lists (up to 250 people) the festivities can comfortably spill over onto the veranda and into The Grill.

LeBonʼs Photography

THE LATEST IN WEDDING TRENDS Besides the fantastic food and exemplary service, one of Gray Plantation’s biggest draws is its lush outdoor venue. “A lot of people lately want to get married outdoors,” said Prejean.

“This is definitely the place to come. We have most of our outdoor ceremonies out by the lake.

It’s gorgeous here.”

Each wedding is unique and different. Some couples have both the wedding ceremony and the reception on the grounds. Others get married elsewhere and have only the reception at the facility. Prejean accommodates and attends to each request.

Emily Fuselier Photography

She’s the only one who appreciates your dry humor.

He understands that you and your golden retriever are a package deal.

You can’t imagine your future without them in it.

You’ve found the one; now choose a ring that captures how you feel. Choose from the Bijoux Collection, an exclusive selection of unique wedding sets chosen by our jewelry experts. They are designed to withstand day-to-day bumps and maintain their brilliance for years to come, just like your love for each other.

Volume 4 • Issue 20

JANUARY 24, 2013

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Amanda worked with when Sarah planned her wedding) linked onto my Pinterest board and followed along, making comments.” In addition to saving on expenses, another benefit of DIY wedding projects is that it creates a personal touch at the reception.

A DRINK IN ONE HAND, A CANAPE IN THE OTHER...

According to Prejean, cocktail parties are the way to go when planning a wedding.

Fewer couples choose the more formal, seated multi-course affair or buffet. “It’s the more up-to-date way to do a wedding,” she said. “We’re bringing two families togeth-

Lana Tyler Photgraphy

Lana Tyler Photgraphy

PIN YOUR PARTY One trend Prejean sees a lot lately is the do-ityourself approach to weddings. Many couples have a tight budget. To save on spending, the bride, or her friends and relatives, will make the centerpieces, party favors, and room decorations themselves. One mother of the bride even sewed all the table linens herself. Where do these brides get their decorating ideas?

The social networking website Pinterest, of course! “Most all my wedding thoughts and ideas came from Pinterest, except for some family traditions,” said Sarah Monceaux. “There was a lot of back and forth on Pinterest between me, my sister-in-law, mother, and bridesmaids. Holly (whom

JANUARY 24, 2013

Emily Fuselier Photography

Volume 4 • Issue 20

er. We might as well have them walking around, mingling, getting to know each other.” A cocktail party is more festive. It invites people to get up and dance. And though the food is bite-sized, there’s plenty of it. “The guests will not leave hungry,” Prejean added.

NOVEMBER IS THE NEW JUNE Prejean said more couples are opting for a November wedding: at least here in Southwest Louisiana.

“In the past, June or July were the popular months,” she said. “But lately, couples have wanted to get married in November. I think it’s because the fall colors are really pretty – the oranges and browns.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year here – not too hot, not too cold. It’s ideal for an outdoor ceremony.”

Debra Gold Foreman and her husband were married at Gray Plantation on November 10, 2012.

“We chose November for the

Wedding

Trivia!

weather and it was perfect,” said this newlywed. “Fall is our favorite time of year. And hurricane season is over.”

If you are a bride-to-be and are contemplating where to have your wedding and reception, consider Gray Plantation, especially if you want an outdoor wedding. Gray Plantation includes the 18-hole golf course, pro shop, Clubhouse and The Grill restaurant. The golf complex is part of Graywood and is located on Big Lake Road in South Lake Charles. You do not have to be a member of the Graywood community to use the facilities at Gray Plantation.

For more information on planning a wedding or any party at Gray Plantation, call Amanda Prejean at (337) 562-1206, extension 3; email her at amanda@graywoodllc.com; or go to the website, www.graywoodllc.com, and click on “Banquets.”

TJN

• The Roman goddess Juno ruled over marriage, the hearth, and childbirth, hence the popularity of June weddings.

• The bride stands to the groom's left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days, the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors.

China / Crystal / Flatware / Linens & Home Accessories / Jewelry / Fragrances Wedding Albums / Gourmet Treats / Custom Printed Party Accessories

Volume 4 • Issue 20

JANUARY 24, 2013

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ker n Shouma

By Brando

We Shouldn’t Be Surprised You may have heard over the course of the past couple of weeks some funny sounds coming roughly from the east.

It sounds, alternatively, like laughing, cheering, and accordion music.

Depending on the wind.

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JANUARY 24, 2013

And you may have smelled something akin to either baking bread or wine coming from roughly the same direction.

That is, folks, the sound of triumph. That is the smell of victory.

It is coming from France, where the country is celebrating the final, ignominious chapter of the downfall of seven-time ex-Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

I hate to say it, but gosh dang it, the French were right.

They knew from the beginning this thing with Lance was too good to be true, that there was no humanly

possible way that a man could dominate the single-most grueling test in cycling for seven consecutive years, and after battling testicular cancer, without some sort of help. They knew that Lance was no different than the rest of the cheaters in a sport where the unofficial motto reads, “You ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.”

They tried to tell us, but of course, ugly Americans that we are, we told them to stick to escargot and poor personal hygiene and we’ll concern ourselves with winning bicycle races.

We told them that sure, we had some dopers among our cycling ranks, but

Lance was different. He was a goshdang cancer survivor. No way would he cheat to get ahead. Plus, this is ’MERICA (!!) we’re talking about. We work hard for what we have here, Jack. We don’t take shortcuts.

But, in Lance’s case, we were so, so wrong.

This has, inevitably, led to feelings of outrage and surprise among American sports fans and journalists alike.

I understand the outrage. Here, the American people, and the international community as well, were sold by our Nike overlords an image of a superhuman man, who defeated

Volume 4 • Issue 20

all challengers, including potentially fatal cancer, to emerge as one of the greatest athletes of all-time. We were sold an image of a man who cared about other people, other cancer sufferers, and who wanted to help make things better.

That image was, in hindsight, as thin as the lies he constantly spewed on his way to the top.

He was certainly superhuman, but not because of hard work, determination, or superior athleticism. He was superhuman because of little vials of blood, little vials of drugs, and because he had the money to protect himself from scrutiny. It is alleged that Nike paid $500,000 to hide the results of one positive performanceenhancing drug test, protecting one of the company’s biggest assets.

And Lance may care about cancer patients, but that certainly didn’t stop him from ruining the reputation of the charity he helped found to assist those suffering folks. Then again, Lance never really cared about anyone but himself, ruining the careers and reputations of dozens of people he felt might threaten his power in the sports world.

So, yeah, the outrage I get.

We shouldn’t be surprised, though, and that’s what troubles me about this whole thing.

Time and again in the months since the United States Anti-Doping Agency vacated all of Armstrong’s victories, I’ve read something where the writer expresses his or her outrage at the whole scandal, telling the readers what a terrible thing has happened, how do we tell the children who looked up to Lance, do we really know our heroes, and so on.

This is fine, I suppose. We must, at some point, explain to our kids the gravity of Armstrong’s actions.

Sure. And we can look inside ourselves and ask if we should and, if so, to what extent should we emphasize the “heroism” of sports figures and celebrities. Great.

We should not, however, be surprised at the terrible actions of Lance Armstrong and his lackeys because, at the end of the day, Lance Armstrong is a terrible person. Certainly, he suffers from a severe case of narcissistic personality disorder.

Yet, still I read these columns from shell-shocked writers asking everyone to, pretty please, look at Lance’s accomplishments instead of his “mistakes.”

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But why should anyone want to do that? His accomplishments are fraudulent. Sure, cycling is a “dirty” sport, but you can’t tell me there weren’t any clean riders out in the French countryside those seven years Armstrong was juicing his way to fame and fortune. So don’t tell me the wins should still count because everyone else was cheating, too. He built an admirable charity, but he has left it to pick up the pieces of his crumbled legacy. So don’t give me the “charitable man” angle. I’d be shocked if

Livestrong lasted the year considering the damage Armstrong has done to it.

Armstrong’s narcissism and hubris finally caught up to him. He has fallen prostrate at the feet of Oprah and is looking for forgiveness or, at least, the chance to compete again, which is surely the only thing he really cares about.

It shouldn’t be that easy. He hurt too many people to get off with just an Oprah appearance and a fare-thee-well. We deserve better than that.

Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than a decade for various publications.

Coaches or par- Brandon Shoumaker ents with story tips or comments may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).

TJN

JANUARY 24, 2013

PAGE 25

By Mary Louise Ruehr

Challenging the Body, Energizing the Spirit Challenging yourself physically can make for some great adventure, as these authors found out for themselves. But in their true-life stories, the writers discover that their physical endeavors can also be mentally, emotionally and even spiritually transformative.

Cheryl Strayed wrote about her experiences hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Wild. The 2,663-mile trail runs along the crest of nine mountain ranges through California, Oregon and Washington, across deserts, mountains and rain forests.

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Strayed was 26 when she set out to walk as much as she could of the route (she hiked more than 1,100 miles) in about 100 days. Although she had always been “outdoorsy,” she had never gone backpacking before, so she didn’t know what to carry and what to leave behind. When she set out, her pack weighed more than half her own weight and “resembled a Volkswagen Beetle.”

She had decided to take on the PCT because she wanted to be alone and confront her life, her recent divorce, her mother’s death. But

being alone outside for three months was extreme, she writes.

“I’d only wanted to be alone. Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren’t a state of being, but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was. The radical aloneness of the PCT had altered that sense.

Alone wasn’t a room anymore, but the whole wide world, and now I was alone in that world, occupying it in a way I never had before.”

She was admittedly unprepared, but “Each day on the trail was the only possible preparation for the one that followed. And sometimes even the day before didn’t prepare me for what would happen next.” She faced searing heat with no water to drink, freezing cold and knee-deep snow. There were so many possible dangers — rattlesnakes, insects, bears, mountain lions and untrustworthy humans — but “I simply did not let myself become afraid,” she writes.

The very enjoyable You've Gone Too Far This Time, Sir! by Danny Bent starts in London, where Bent was teaching 9-year-olds in West London. Bent loved to use outlandish classroom antics to inspire the students.

When he told them he was going to India, they urged him to go green on his trip, so he promised

them he would bicycle there — solo.

What was he thinking?

So, at the age of 30, he got himself a bike, named it Shirley, rode a ship to France, and started pedaling toward Asia.

He displays his easy-going humor in the Czech Republic, where, he writes, “In the middle of the night, when everyone is asleep, they sneak round houses” and take Scrabble letters no one uses. “You know, the z’s, c’s, h’s, k’s, the ones you pull out when the game is almost over and curse your bad luck. ... They use only these letters to produce all their road signs.”

People kept warning him of the dangers up ahead, yet many of the people he met were warm and generous. He slept outdoors, was attacked by gypsies, was thrown off his bike, suffered food poisoning, had Volume 4 • Issue 20

to deal with border patrols, endured polluted water and air, and tried to avoid cobras, elephants, tigers and the Taliban. In the end, he had cycled 15,000 km from England to India.

Ed Stafford is another Englishman looking for adventure in his memoir, Walking the Amazon.

Stafford and his companions trekked across South America — Peru to Colombia to Brazil — traversing the desert, the Andes, and the jungle. They ran out of water, risked falling from steep mountain sides, almost drowned in churning rapids, and had to deal with sometimes-hostile locals, including drug traffickers. In fact, he was warned several times not to go forward or “they will kill you.”

The hikers ate cow’s foot soup, tortoise, armadillo and kinkajou and encountered condors, monkeys, biting insects, pit vipers and coral snakes, anacondas, piranhas, parasitic

botflies, and a 6-foot electric eel that could produce up to 500 watts and knock a man out. In Brazil, he was constantly on the lookout for bushmasters, black caiman, peccaries, pumas and jaguars.

There was danger above and below — climbing a vertical rock face, “Your life is dependent on a dead tree not snapping or a clump of grass not pulling out of the earth.” And at times, “we were chest-deep in water” and had to use machetes to fight through underwater plants.

But he also had gorgeous vistas.

“Jungle-covered hills clustered together like green egg cartons and steep banks gave way to vine-covered cliffs towering over small streams.”

In the end, he writes, “I had crossed the entire Andes mountain range; found the furthest source of the Amazon and descended the deepest canyon in the world.” He sums up

his trip: “Nine million-odd steps; over 200,000 mosquito and ant bites each; over 8,000 kilometres walked over 860 days; ... about 600 wasp stings; a dozen scorpion stings; ... six pairs of boots; three GPSs; and one Guinness World Record.”

A reader suggested I read Following Atticus

by Tom Ryan, and I’m glad she did.

This is a nice read for animal lovers.

Ryan and his miniature schnauzer, Atticus Maxwell Finch, became hiking companions and climbed the 48 White Mountains of New Hampshire that were over 4,000 feet high, thus becoming members of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Four Thousand Footer Club. Then, they decided to do it all again — in the winter.

They loved climbing together.

Writes Ryan, “I felt refreshed by the anonymity I rediscovered in the mountains, the quiet forests, the

songs of rivers and streams, how Atticus and I could step off the road and be swallowed whole into an enchanted realm. As we trekked wordlessly through sun-dappled woods, it was as if we were walking through a world of elves and hobbits, wood nymphs and fairies. Life felt less complicated, cleaner, and more hopeful in the woods.”

Ryan thinks of himself as a modern-day Thoreau: “The deeper we went into the woods, the better I got to know myself.”

They encountered moose and bear and were caught out alone on the mountain in the dark. But “Atticus and I proved that if an overweight, middle-aged fellow with a fear of heights and a twentypound miniature schnauzer could hike the four-thousand-footers, nearly anyone could.”

TJN

Copyright © 2013 by Mary Louise Ruehr.

Book Donations Needed for EDS Book Fair Mar. 22-24 Good Shepherd Episcopal Church is collecting new and used books in good condition for its annual book fair which will be held March 22 – 24.

Books, DVDs, and audio books, (please no encyclopedias or textbooks) may be donated in drop-off boxes

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located in the covered drivethrough at the side entrance of Good Shepherd, 715 Kirkman Street. Book donations will be accepted through February.

All proceeds from the book sale are donated to local charities. Last year over $10,000 was raised. A prayer/meditation garden was furnished and decorated for Chateau du Lac residents.

Arts and Humanities Council, Faith and Friends Food Pantry, the Casa Volunteer program of Family and Youth Counseling, the Meals on Wheels program, the Catholic Charities Beat the Heat program, and the Salvation Army’s street feeding ministry all received funds from Good Shepherd’s book fair. TJN JANUARY 24, 2013

PAGE 27

By Jacob Fusilier

Duck breast wrapped in bacon

HI, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA! My name is Jacob Fusilier. Born and raised in Lake Charles, I really know the local people, traditions and food of the area.

Dining out and at home has always been in the hearts and minds of people here, and it has definitely always been in mine. That’s why I got into the food and beverage industry 12 years ago and fought my way through every grueling bar and restaurant position until I finally became a restaurant manager.

From fast food to fine dining, backyards to black tie and Jell-O shots to shaken not stirred, I have not only loved, but lived and learned every second of the world of fueling, relaxing, and entertaining customers.

But as much as I enjoy learning about the food and beverage world, I also enjoy teaching and sharing this information. I am here to talk about restaurants, bars, the “best of 's” and everything in between. In this column, we will answer questions, review restaurants and bars and share tips and facts. This column isn’t just a food and beverage review, it’s an experience.

15% Senior Discount All Doctors’ Prescriptions Accepted Experienced Professional Staff • Most Insurance Accepted

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JANUARY 24, 2013

WONDERFUL WILD GAME This time of year when the cold weather comes and the fireplace is finally lit, thoughts of deer sausage, back strap, duck, and other wild game run though my head. Hunting season is in full swing and I have

been enjoying every bit of it.

This season has been full of some of the best deer and duck I have ever had. Some of my favorites so far have been Hollier’s deer/pork pan sausage and my friend Ben Moore’s jalapeno, cream cheese, and duck breast wrapped in bacon.

There are many establishments in the area that can process your meat for you. Whether someone does their recipe, your own recipe, or you do it all yourself, you can’t go wrong changing it up with wild game. With some seasons ending later in February, I am looking forward to getting my hands on some quail, rabbit, and goose.

We should all embrace our sportsman’s paradise and take advantage of some of the great local tradition of our area. So keep your guns loaded, your knives sharp, and your meat grinders ready during the rest of the hunting season.

Hunt safe and eat well!

FOOD FACT In general, wild game is less tender than meat from domestic animals because the wild animals get more exercise and are therefore leaner. For maximum tenderness, most game meat should be cooked slowly and not overdone. It can be cooked with moist heat by braising or with dry heat by roasting.

Questions, comments, concerns?

Email jakefuse23@gmail.com. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 20

enkins J n i l y

By Bra

New Businesses, Changes in the New Year Here’s to 2013!

Hopefully your year has gone well so far. The previous year was quite the experience for me, but overall, I learned so much. So, the New Year has officially set in and I believe it will be a great year to remember. There is a quite a bit to be excited about.

It's no secret that I'm very passionate about the downtown/lakefront district of Lake Charles and have watched and waited for the city as a whole to begin reaching its potential. Last year, the projects in discussion were set in motion, at least on the city's end.

I remember the long meetings in the past discussing a new and improved lakefront. Then Hurricane Rita hit. That was actually a positive in terms of new growth and outlook. A planner from Miami was hired by the state, Lake Charles was selected, and the new plan for the lakefront was born. At this point, the majority of the lakefront has been renewed.

What I am looking forward to most is all of the new businesses that will begin moving into the area. As I mentioned in my previous column, Happy Hippie Pizza and The Porch Coffeehouse and Café closed their doors indefinitely.

Fortunately, Dharma recently Volume 4 • Issue 20

opened at the former site of Happy Hippie Pizza. The young owners, a couple with a vision for downtown, decided to make that vision a reality-- one that is shared by all downtown business owners. That dream is to see downtown positively progress and develop a culture and unique identity.

I'm impressed by all of the business owners that have stepped up and brought their unique vision to the district in the past year. On New Year's Eve, The Heist, located on the corner of Ryan Street and Division, held a sneak preview party, with plans to open permanently around Valentine’s Day. The Art Shop, which sits on the Ryan Street strip offers art, of course, along with the option to rent bicycles and view an amazing collection of records with an interesting tie to Lake Charles. There's even a new cafe in the works for the downtown area.

A few of the city streets will also be changed. Gill Street, which runs east and west by the courthouse and judicial area, will be extended across Lakeshore Drive and cut through the Civic Center parking lot to Bord du Lac Drive on the lakefront. I noticed what appears to be a small clock tower near the lakefront; I enjoy different

elements popping up throughout the downtown/lakefront district.

Another project I’m excited about is the USS Orleck. Whether it receives approval to relocate on the lakefront or not, it continues to serve as a multi-purpose entity. Not only does it feature tours to learn of the destroyer’s historical elements, but it is also a massive museum containing artifacts of other destroyers; many items can only be found in Lake Charles. The Orleck is docked at the end of North Enterprise Boulevard. If you are interested in touring or playing laser tag, visit www.orleck.org.

Volunteers are currently working to restore portions of the ship’s interior. If you’d like to help, e-mail them at info@orleck.org or call 214-7447.

Volunteers of all skills are more than welcome to help.

Across town, in what I refer to as our midtown, Barcode is opening soon next to Zeus. It’s another new place to relax and socialize. New businesses are even moving into the Prien Lake Mall. Maybe this is a sign of more to come.

On a larger scale, developers are talking to the city about new proj-

ects. In case you haven’t yet heard, Sasol is planning to expand in our area with a multi-billion dollar project. The impact of Sasol's plan will change our region. That, in turn, will mean new business, new opportunity, new jobs and a better Southwest Louisiana.

The more people that support downtown, the better chance for new entrepreneurs to step up and take a risk. Chain businesses are great, but local businesses serve an additional purpose. Remember to get out and take a breather, even if for only an hour. You never know when that chance might just pass you by forever. TJN

Braylin Jenkins

JANUARY 24, 2013

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U A B A O F N LY WEDDINGS! - WORD SEARCH

Bachelor Party Diamond Ring Flower Girl Best Man

Reception Ring Bearer

Bouquet

Groom

Veil

Bride

Honeymoon

Vows

Bridesmaid

Maid of Honor

Wedding

The Dot Game Players take turns connecting two dots. When you make a square, put your initials in the

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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box and take another turn. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

r m ende's Museu l l E an en

By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (New Line Cinema, Warner Bros., 2012) Before the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a children’s book called The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. Now Peter Jackson, producer of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is going back and picking up The Hobbit as a three-part prequel.

Bilbo is a young hobbit, living peacefully in the shire, when he meets a wizard, Gandalf. He’s tricked into hosting a party for a dozen dwarves who take over his house for the evening. Along with Gandalf, they tell him about a quest they are on and invite him along to be the designated burglar.

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Their plan is to take back their ancestral home in Lonely Mountain, which is full of gold and guarded by Smaug the Dragon. Along the way, they are chased by Orcs and wolves, captured by Trolls and Goblins, and chased some more. During a journey underground Bilbo meets up with a creature called Gollum and ends up with a ring that can turn him invisible.

Unfortunately, we don’t know how the story ends. I mentioned that The Hobbit will be another Hollywood trilogy. This first installment lasts nearly three hours. What? The Hobbit was a short little children’s book.

To keep things exciting (and lengthy), The Hobbit (Part 1) is filled with effects and chase scenes. I have to admit, the whole thing is pretty fantastic. Even the music adds to the drama, with dramatic captures, escapes, dramatic rainstorms, dramatic views of mountains, caves, the Shire, and everything in between.

Bilbo is wondering why he’s along, since he mostly is in the way. The dwarves wonder this too, but Gandalf seems to want Bilbo around. Of course, as the movie moves along, Bilbo finds his place, winning the hearts of the dwarves.

The Hobbit is available in a 3D version, but this one was quite enough for me, thank you. There are enough rollercoaster-type ups and downs, especially in the Goblin caves, that you may be holding onto your seat anyway. What can’t they do with movie effects these days?

There are lots of animated animals, and some of them could have been rendered better by the effects artists. But the hobbits themselves all nave noses bigger than Jimmy Durante’s (pat yourself on the back if you remember him). Gandalf, played again in this series by Ian McKellan, is perfect in his old gray robe and huge wizard’s hat. I can’t say enough about how much the scenes reminded me of illustrations from the book. My

favorite part of the movie is Bilbo’s game of riddles with the Gollum.

This was straight from the book and is very well done.

Some of the other characters/actors from Lord of the Rings are back, notably Hugo Weaving as Elron the elf, and Kate Blanchett as the Elf Queen. It seems that elves and Hollywood actors never age.

The Hobbit is rated PG-13, mainly because of all the animated creatures that get killed. I think some of the action is too intense for small children, and especially for almost three hours. Grandparents will find a good spot early on to take a quick snooze as the dwarves sing themselves and us to sleep at the Shire.

Don’t worry; you will be woken up before you miss anything.

All in all a good effort, a heroic effort, actually, at expanding from such a tiny book into a gargantuan epic. And you have a whole year to read the book before part 2 comes out. Enjoy!

TJN

JANUARY 24, 2013

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

TWELFTH NIGHT The 2012 kings, queens and captains of more than 50 krewes made their last glitzy promenade in front of a packed house at the Civic Center Coliseum! The Washington Marion Band and the dancing revelers jazzed things up, and there was something new added to the mix this year: The krewes came out in floats, convertibles, or other vehicles! Congrats to Anne Monlezun and all the hard-working folks of Mardi Gras Southwest. It was an enchanting evening to kick off a fabulous Mardi Gras season!

Ariel and Kadence Harrington

Lisa, Brian, Sophie and Cash Smith

Craig, Karen and Madison LaRocca

Elaina Stanley, Claire Parker, Michelle Foreman and Wendy Dronet

Chance and Cole Boudreaux

Nadi, Nia, Kaylon, Tai and Christian Coleman

Dale Mann, David Nelson and Eddie Langley

Robi and Kennidy Pavy

Sophia Tanner and Audrey Bergstedt

MARDI GRAS QUEENS PAGEANT Beauties of all ages put on their best smiles and most glamorous attire to compete in the Mardi Gras Queens Pageant. They appeared at the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Contraband room before a crowd of supporters and a panel of seasoned judges. The winners have the honor of proudly representing SWLA during its Mardi Gras festival. Congratulations, ladies!

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JANUARY 24, 2013

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Hannah and Kim Sonnier

Ruby Sue Dupre and Layken Hodge

Whitney Moss, Gabby Phillips and Ashton Boudoin

Erin Ann Peavy and Bridget Boudreaux

Lindsey and Karen Priola

Stacie and Kelcie Thomassie with Kelly Phillips

HOME SHOW Contractors, homeowners and do-it-yourself-ers all came out to the annual Home Builders’ Association of SWLA Home Show to consult with the experts!

Whether you’re building or just enhancing your dream house, this was the place to be! Kids enjoyed the “Children’s Corner” while their parents got fresh, new ideas for decorating, remodeling, accessorizing, renovating and so much more! Home Sweet Home!

Lloyd and Julie Woodcock

Grady Roy Cauthron and Jared Allee with Debra and Bobby Lockett PAGE 34

JANUARY 24, 2013

Matt Redd, Melissa Lewis, Kristen Daughdril and Rachel Redd

Rene Hill and Paula Hilliard

Pat Fontenot and John Fontenot Volume 4 • Issue 20

Erica Gibbs and Nike McCormick

Buddy Kohnke and Kim Schelton

Paul Thompson and Curtis Williams

MARDI GRAS COMMUNITY DANCE There’s no better time to pass a good time than during Mardi Gras time! A big crowd came out to dance the night away at the Mardi Gras Community Dance at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

When it was time to take a break, Boy Scout Troup 1 was kind enough to serve hotdogs, popcorn and other treats. Let’s hear it for the purple, green and gold!

TJN

Byron Hardy and Brittany Chandler

Heather Hebert and Connor Fritz

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PAGE 35

Austin Wireman, Christian Johnson and Dalton Bordelon

Edith and EJ Broussard

Beni Vonnie and Patricia Praylor

Bradley Bryant and Brian Conner

Kellyann Belden-Fruge, Greta Miller, Connie Navarre and Martha Crowder (The Revelers)

Cas and Megan Napoleon with Kelsey Monceaux

925 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA • (337) 377-6616 PAGE 36

JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

publications for 22 years, including the last 18 as one of the founding editors of Crab Orchard Review. For more information, call 475-5635.

PARISH MISSION AT ST. MARTIN DE PORRES JAN. 24-25 Popular contemporary Christian music pioneer John Michael Talbot is coming to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church located at 5495 Elliott Road, Lake Charles for a very special parish mission Jan. 24-25 at 6:30 p.m. The parish is hosting this mission as a way to invite people to a deeper relationship through prayer with Jesus Christ and the Church.

Contact the Parish Rectory at 478-3845 for more information.

Admission is free, but a love offering will be collected at each event to support Talbot’s ministry. For more information, call 478-3845.

‘50 GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’ OPENS JAN. 25 The City of Lake Charles will open the traveling exhibition “50 Greatest Photographs of National Geographic.” The opening reception will take place Fri., Jan. 25 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street. All ages are welcome at no charge and refreshments will be served. The exhibition showcases some of National Geographic’s most compelling photographs from its more-than-120year history. Historic City Hall is open Mon.- Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com. The exhibit will hang through April 13.

MCNEESE POETRY READING JAN. 26 Award-winning poets Allison Joseph and Jon Tribble will read from their works at 7:30 p.m. Sat., Jan. 26, in the Shearman Fine Arts Grand Gallery at McNeese State University. This free event is sponsored by McNeese’s Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program. Joseph is the author of six collections of poetry, including Imitation of Life and My Father’s Kites. She is also an editor of the university’s Crab Orchard Review, which she has edited with her husband, Tribble since 1995. Tribble has been working with literary

Volume 4 • Issue 20

ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN AT LUTCHER THEATER JAN. 28 America's most beloved coming of age tale is also its most controversial.

Set against the racially charged backdrop of a pre-Civil War American South, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn examines the nature of friendship and freedom in the face of shocking prejudice. Toronto’s Classical Theatre Project is proud to premiere this new adaptation for the 2012-13 season, which features a brilliant cast, imaginative stagecraft and a live Gospel choir. The show will be held Mon., Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Lutcher Theater in Orange, Texas. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online at www.lutcher.org.

JOEL SAVOY’S HONKY TONK MERRY-GO-ROUND JAN. 30 The Louisiana Crossroads series continues as The City of Lake Charles presents Joel Savoy's Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round & Special Guests Wed., Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at Central School Theater, 809 Kirby Street. Enjoy an allstar band - led by Savoy, with fiddler extraordinaire David Greely, Red Stick Ramblers veteran Glenn Fields and Austin pedal steel phenom Rose Sinclair – who will collaborate with very special guests for what is best described as Hot & Spicy Vintage Country! Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana on the secJoel ond floor of Central School or online at Savoy www.louisianacrossroads.org. Tickets at the door will be $12. For more information, call (337) 491-9159.

MSU FACULTY/GUEST RECITAL JAN. 31 The McNeese State University Department of Performing Arts will present a faculty/guest artist recital featuring Jan Scott on clarinet, Lina Morita on piano, Susan Morton on cello and Lin He on violin at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 in Ralph Squires Recital Hall. This free program will include: “Air and Simple Gifts” by John Williams; “Contrasts” by Béla Bartok; “Three Pieces” by Igor

JANUARY 24, 2013

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Stravinsky; and “Trio, Opus 11” by Ludwig van Beethoven. For more information, call (337) 475-5635.

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO JAN. 31-FEB. 2 The Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the largest professional rodeos in the United States. It is host to world class competition, drawing over 500 professional competitors including over 100 Pro World Champions and National Finals contestants from across the nation. With fun for the whole family, the 74th annual Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo is a must-see. All events take place at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. For additional information and tickets visit www.lakecharlesrodeo.com or call (254) 592-3662.

CREATIVITY FOR A CAUSE FEB. 2 Come out and enjoy a drawing party while supporting Positive Connections Calcasieu Academic & Treatment Center, a local organization and school that aids children with mental illness. It will be held Sat., Feb. 2 from 2-4 p.m. at the Red Beret Art Studio 1435-D Sam Houston Jones Pkwy, Moss Bluff. Register, donate, and learn more online at www.redberetartstudio.com or contact Ginger Robertson at 884-3550 or email gingerrobertsonbsn@gmail.com.

LC SYMPHONY CONCERT FEB. 2 Continuing its 55th season, the Lake Charles Symphony presents The Eugene Dripps Memorial Concert on Sat. Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Rosa Hart Theatre. The orchestra will be conducted by Bohuslav Rattay and will feature the symphony’s principal trumpet player David Scott as soloist.

Capriccio Espagnol by Rimsky-Korsakov will open the Feb. 2 concert.

Scott will be featured in a performance of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Gladys Concerto in E Flat Knight Major. The popular and often recorded Symphony No. 2 by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius will conclude the evening’s performance. Tickets may be purchased at the Symphony Office, 809 Kirby St. or the Civic Center Box Office. For info, call 4331611.

GLADYS KNIGHT AT L’AUBERGE CASINO RESORT FEB. 15 The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, will perform at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles Fri., Feb. 15 in the Event Center. Gladys Knight is an eight-time Grammy winner and has performed as a solo and group artist over the past 50 years. Her vocals can be heard on dozens of albums ranging in genre from R&B to jazz. Knight continues to perform around the country with classic hits such as “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “Neither One of Us (Wants to Say Goodbye),” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com. Floor tickets are $60, and stadium tickets are $50. Must be 21 to attend.

ZOMBIE RUN FEB. 16 Zombies are running to Southwest Louisiana. The end of the human race is near! On Sat., Feb. 16, Fusion Five will host the End of the Human Race: Zombie Run. Zombies and the survivors will battle it out in Roanoke, LA for Fusion Five’s first annual fundraiser. Fusion Five was created as a way for young professionals to band together, taking leadership roles in Southwest Louisiana as a way to improve awareness, stimulate involvement and created meaningful professional relationships with other professionals in the area. To help sup-

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port this cause, register to be a zombie or a runner and celebrate your survival at the Brain Bash, where there will be food, beverages and music provided

by The Lochness Mobsters. Visit www.endofthehumanrace.com for registration and more information, or like them on Facebook!

CTC’S SLEEPING BEAUTY FEB. 21 Disney’s Sleeping Beauty launches The Children’s Theatre Company’s 2013 season. Directed by Kerry A. Onxley, this family musical will play for area schools on Thurs., Feb. 21. All of the famous characters from this classic story are in the production. The school performance will be held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) located in downtown Lake Charles. Ticket prices are $7 per person including students, teachers, chaperones, parents and bus drivers. THERE IS LIMITED SEATING. Schools interested in booking should contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323 or e-mail at mail@childrenstheatre.cc School booking deadline is Jan. 31.

Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival Poster Contest Entries Accepted Tues., March 5 – Fri., March 8 Associated Louisiana Artists with the National Parkinson Foundation of SWLA/SETX invite area artists of all ages enter the poster contest for the Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival. The winning entry will receive prize money,

with the artwork reproduced on the annual festival poster and Tshirt. It will also be featured during Spring ArtWalk 2013 at the Gallery by the Lake. Call (337) 478-9405 or (337) 310-0083 for details, or email crawfishfest@elijayfd.org for entry form.

TJN

LCCB’S ASSEMBLÉ 2013 MARCH 16-17 Tickets go on sale Jan. 28 for the Lake Charles Civic Ballet’s Assemblé 2013--a complete theatre experience that fuses classical dance with our region’s rich art, music and choreography through a unique and exciting artistic collaboration. Held at the Rosa Hart Theatre, performances are Sat., March 16 at 7 p.m. and Sun., March 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets for both shows are available starting Jan. 28 by contacting The Civic Center Box Office/Ticketmaster at (337) 491-1432 or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are priced at $26.50 for Preferred Seating (Sections A-D) and $16.50 for General Seating, including balcony seats. For more information or to become a sponsor, visit www.lakecharlescivicballet.com. TJN

LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY PRESENTS

JOURNEYS

JOURNEY FROM FRANCE TO FINLAND, WITH STOPS IN BETWEEN

|

CONDUCTOR BOHUSLAV RATTAY

|

TRUMPET DAVID SCOTT ROSA HART THEATRE LAKE CHARLES CIVIC CENTER SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013 PERFORMANCE | 7:30PM

lcsymphony.org lcsymphony .org Volume 4 • Issue 20

Tickets Tickets (337) (33 37) 433-161 433-1611 1 JANUARY 24, 2013

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Sponsored by

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

The

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 • Kory Fontenot @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 6 p.m.

• TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Ganey Arsement & Lakeside Gamblers @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Chubby Carrier @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

• DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 • Kris Harper & Matt Moss @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 6 p.m.

• Megan Brown & T’Monde @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Street Side Jazz Band @ Luna Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Yakk/Ashes of Eden/Gods Forgotten @ Happy Hippie Pizza, 8 p.m.

• Kenny Spears @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Brad Brinkley & Comfort Zone/Time Rushlow @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Yeah You Right Band @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Crossroads Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

• Dirty Play @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

• The Scorseses @ Luna Live, 10 p.m.

• Triggerproof @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 11 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 • Tim Norris @ Stellar Beans Coffee House, 7 a.m.

• Scotty Pousson & The Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Grand Funk Railroad @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 7 p.m.

• Sugarskull @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• J.D. Newbury & Southwind @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Damon Troy & Final Five @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Crossroads Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

• Dirty Play @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

• Triggerproof @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill,

L’Auberge Casino, 11 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 • Brad Sapia & Bayou Soul @ Yesterday’s, 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 • Joel Savoy’s Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round @ Central School, 7 p.m.

• Brad Broussard @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• X-It 43 @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 • Tim Norris @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 6 p.m.

• TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Park Avenue @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Lochness Mobsters/Turbo Fruits @ Luna Live, 9 p.m.

• Lost Trailers @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

• DJ Sno @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 • Don Fontenot & Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

• Street Side Jazz Band @ Luna Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Minority Stone @ Texas Longhorn Club, Vinton, 8 p.m.

• The Coleman Brothers @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• LA Roxx @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

• Kurt Brunus Project @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 • Briggs Brown & Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Black Tie Affair @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• LA Roxx @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

Volume 4 • Issue 20

• Kurt Brunus Project @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 • Briggs Brown & Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 • Megan Brown & T’Monde @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. TJN

JANUARY 24, 2013

PAGE 41

Leslie B e four dec rman’s career in ades, an music folksing er, mus d includes stin spans ic teach ts as a booker, e c tival dir oncert promote r, coffeehouse r e notes w ctor, music jou , publicist, fesr r nalist, a it e r , a organiz ation pr rtist manager lbum , t e attorney s , and p ident, entertain rade r ment e Museum sident o f She pre of Southwest the Music fe L eclectic rs all things ouisiana. , and musicall GRAM y votes M Recordin Ys as a mem on the g Aca ber o reached at leslie@ demy. She c f the an leslieber man.co be m. ts n e r a nd e er’s p moth oland spok y mother a eratic f o P m ty ed e, e op from S o cie t hom riam, of th flair, learn em c i a s h u s i M i d h t s k d ’s M i l i e l o l r o Y F te sty gt h op ate sis e decided m listenin y other to the t at the Pe d, Joy l d r e n a h usly, Woo i-even e man ish fro and th previo rk’s micro g Heather nging trad voice ough Yidd o miss. Lik elen i o n i s t n ,H New Y afé, featur Koldowey pecially only e impossible ndmother hing more C s a s t e i r s e ( r g a c ’ i n h s y w o r V as ted o o Yiddish, ,m s n nd C t worke t a a n t w a t r , e s g g y Benn ongs abou immi in Salzber erica, and e, was for ook m / t I s e , l t m m s s a a tion ) plights.

Bern fit in to A former ho s, and cerhristm “A Kholem C i ’ s e s r n o r r y t e s h ed efo sailo than guage of h ntry cou i American and p just b edium-siz ebration in fige g d u a n s n o d a c e A l l m the Jewish isticat (also tns” or ,” a ce entral o the ntury Maimon ther t in Yiddish ooper, a c , language “greenhor or the soph u e o o c k out ) m h t m n 2 to pic s. ing ot f ne C sh music d d . n n r m a e e The 1 i Moshe be , or Ramba the a a y e i b l e r r h r n nt i ’s to D rs, Ad tai nded ert itself, it gful mome ents? ry of ival of Yidd ew speake ed on and Rabb aimonides e s t o , a n n i m b a e i e c c g n v m sh ovem eanin e con ish law alyzin the re n as M e tracts Of th beautiful m ive hand m ael trativ know code of Jew ition of an oses (the o ure in ure that at every day. s i n i s m M ich w t es lt a ad st a fe ll the expr vocalist M nning) his nd cu performers nal and ad wish lined ical oral tr e Books of and follow a u j a o d Je pi n ti iv s d i c Rabbi eting the F dy, refer to erhap as celebrate sting and s rics of “D ers an per’s educa nstitute for dish musi P u y i r l t d I o v i w s w p e n y e o t r l Y i s e r O ( h e C r t t M a h ve en IV ew int The dreidling hasize hter Sarah the Y its extensi ized by H ndthat J sts eig ys in i p t ) l a h m t h a r e k a r r e n r to to lp ug To er ga wa wo To co-fou h led nd or l A lifted hand ooper’s da s her moth ho g the ay. hneh to esearc nstigated a to Cooper’s , an annua C this d bam’s Mis ing, rankin the most a p R W u d s “ d n a led ive i amp The l song Ram itable giv caler han from hke,” ing r thers methods. elp arch znik. It also k, of KlezK ing and liv 8th Mas n lifting h traditiona ist and vo r a o h t c s i f s i n ordo its 2 n as nike els o n the rable told is to h Sapo h Sapozn ls of learn h pia we ca ow in g /hono l- G uld have o he Yiddis his rap mo esl it o T which t desirable rity we are by offerin ng, w the Catski Yiddish, n years as cu g y i w a One.” , known b nal urban s as nt eek in d stories in tly to ten+ ircle, a n o nows the le form of ch overishme that is nei i i w h t g K ing i Dol n n tradi y p st usic a more rece orkman’s C language , Josh led, made m and dipp ini-theatre t highe n avoid im gift in a wa , or by m s i o l nd ng eW ishC al s ar em a pers substantia r patronizi cepted with year, a taché to th and Yidd herself a as So- winging hi , and in th Hameln,” n i e a c o t s c s a n is them meaning n at can be a g someone tural social justi Cooper wa of Yiddish tures, or emphas s of Glikl i ged shoule h n . t f r r i g d n h i i e p p s u o s t r n o l i w u r e e a u e e o o r h w m b o h v h r s b l t Je el Me rs by terp ha ec ti al g e ga s e r n p n i n i l s o h m i nds. o r r i b , d d T t e y a o “ n n a t t f per ing ha mental ece ng p r es er a duc igni exte i i r e g o n d c d p o o n t f a e f i i r n t s o y s m b e ar ss m us m stu stru que but I out lo nd employ it unnecess on others. fabulo ith an all-e the co d uplifted Yiddish in Cooper eep – d e i t f n d e w f n n o k n , o d t a e a a g s i dd o t e. ra ed er nee son ders o’s wh mers celeb ieces, inclu as to m ome depen of giving cultur ch was vas w broad h ard h o h s s w i s d s A m r a e ne b ec Yid for ture p perfo ow ho ler til I h er’s re r are im to ghest vocal f her signa etzky, fidd lasses Coop ly get to kn ts were un s reveal a d her/h second hi nd receive avoiding n a l o real teres aker red g ome h Wa The he giver a r, thereby r) or didn’t dge and in ns and spe pe of her with s maker Jos r signature n alle t e v h i h t g c o i e a o e l i m h e ,a th ach in w know 60+ music e kaleidosc er favorite ing fil vigals in h lezmatics hich is n to e of pity (by . w s ” i , o h K S h w y h t n f l t s unk near ortion of er y few o “A Kholem Alicia n and the d Mikveh ( ath). all do ression eceiver). r e p w v p w x t b t e e o l a l a a a l l l r g an th es sc any sma and g group ca wish ritua by the ts of ways ganization er ormin g a few tal ation, and ( f r e e n e J p a m v r a id e r n sha life, wom Heif are lo s to o for th arinetist D usid telli as a celeb o carr y on t e n a m s a There nnual gift ve in, from f the g l d u n t e o er m zc son the as bill raise funds t lasted ab t it as jaz ime Klezm theater w ake a k we belie chapter o candy w h m e c u r i e r e b r W , -t to y ce wh al sh Th e con ission unity on wo er, old Yiddi We bu ur loc pport work. Th out interm ith 31 rakau Sokolow, tek, and so e rying tional to o sociation. youth o K s a l lo dw er’s ith ete sibl Intern an Heart A pport loca uy them Coop o hours w r; cramme was overcian P r Zalmen M ost impos r c u u b i s e w o r t t r m t o i e l r o y or sho Am f t he ces, ers t items to o over direct thers it’s a rman much n Arm adth o o t dinn o g, to or ho , we donate he Salvatio ay I like t elt so s and perfo th and bre f many hem. lk son o f w t t e p s l u e e g t h r p a o c n d o n t u n . i h e s o ce its ais ug gro . O sp e wi l l to li g, from raditi ng in fundr perien to-ear thro e’d t shop Good rom t theatre son tner F helmi ultural ex h from urch’s thrif s by attend r w s a e i h iled e t ld m sh c e r’s par et ng, to own c onymously Yiddi mother sm erwards to her earlies art so ew, Coope ner, trump t to th n e w t n f I n n a r y m a , a e o o e r c M t L r y d i a v f i r e n m g e y a gs old arilyn f last rts. ve Am ncert, of the son hat though nist M a he co conce t the end o Free Nati I told you t i t y p n n a o i ent nm So a oncert to r, as know I should m Peltie c d h r s i a . n e s o larg year st L e activi

re o M g ic s n i u s i M a R ith W s Fund

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JANUARY 24, 2013

Volume 4 • Issue 20

player Frank London, and conductor Michael Winograd pulled together an overwhelming outpouring of love and community.

This was one memorial celebration that was emotional and full of sentiment yet never mawkish; it looked back on Cooper’s accomplishments yet refrained from nostalgia. Even with short speeches and poems from Cooper’s younger brother Michael, from the director of YIVO’s Max Weinreich Center

Jeffrey Shandler, and from Michael Wex, before we knew it, it was done, with a thundering ovation and almost no dry eyes in the packed house.

The crowd surging out of the Kaye Playhouse of Hunter College swarmed the CD table to buy Cooper’s last recording, and for one last hug. It was an incredible evening, the kind she would have organized and reveled in.

Adrienne Cooper should have been there. TJN

Killin’ Time Crossword ACROSS 1. Blues singer James 5. Lawyer (abbr.)

8. Shells 12. Dry as a bone 13. Deface 14. Hide-out 15. Downgrade 17. Scrabble piece 18. Immigration center 20. Scoreboard fig.

21. "Meet The Fockers" actress Polo 22. Dovetail 25. ___ mode 26. Smidgen 29. Paris attraction 33. Genetic info carrier 34. Parrot 35. Lothario 36. Passport endorsement 38. Adversary 40. SummerStage venue 44. Variety 45. Swiss-born philosopher 47. Echelon 48. Japanese demons 49. Irish novelist __ O'Brien 50. Bring to ruin 51. Marry 52. Not a dreamer

DOWN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Musical aptitude Ancestry diagram Cash drawer Long Island university Stockpile Jacques of "Mon Oncle" 7. Railroad support 8. Sacrifice site 9. Gist 10. Temperate 11. Source of iron 16. "Scram!"

19. Cordelia's father 22. Producer (abbr.)

23. Immense time span 24. Drooled 25. Marge's father-in-law on "The Simpsons" 27. "Raiders of the Lost ___" 28. Spelling contest 30. Manhattan's river 31. City bird 32. Oiled 37. Preface 38. Smooth-flowing 39. Surgical procedures

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

46.

Mint Top-notch Change the decor Classic Welles role Early Beatle Sutcliffe Nasser's org.

© Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd Volume 4 • Issue 20

JANUARY 24, 2013

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