VOL. 1, NO. 21 /JANUARY 28, 2010
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1 0 9 W. L a G r a n g e , L a k e C h a r l e s PAGE 2
JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
On Cover: The friendly faces at Salon Evans and Glow Salon & Wellness include: Nadie Hirsch (front left); Mary-Alaina Dewees; Jill Hebert; Tasha Evans; Brittney Tyler; Halie Stanford; Ashlee Corcoran (back left); Tracy Badgett; Danielle Wybel; Johnny LaFleur; Virginia West; Rikki Hymel; and, April Paris. Not pictured are Daina Daigle and Kim Hamolka. Photo by Michelle LaVoie.
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 MANAGING EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com
EDITOR Lisa Yates lisa@thejambalayanews.com
CONTRIBUTORS Kay Andrews Leslie Berman Sara Blackwell George Cline James Doyle Dan Ellender Maria Alcantara Faul Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT Patricia Prudhomme SALES ASSOCIATES Katy Corbello Faye Drake Sarah Puckett Karla Tullos GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck
contents
January 28, 2010 • Volume 1 • Issue 21
COVER STORY 24
16
Find Your Look
REGULARS 5
The Boiling Pot
13
Doyle’s Place
14
The Dang Yankee
15
Tip’s Tips
16
The Zestful Life
20
A Greener World
22
What’s Cookin’
36
Sports Report
FEATURES 5
The Gift of Life
18
Bayou Biz: Bark Park
34
Playing for the Hometown Heroes
24
ENTERTAINMENT 38 40 41 42 43 48 51 54
Red Hot Books Funbolaya Family Night at the Movies Killin’ Time Crossword Society Spice Jambalaya Jam The Local Jam Eclectic Company
34
ART/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Michelle LaVoie BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews
5
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, 826 Ford Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2009 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Volume 1 • Issue 21
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22 JANUARY 28, 2010
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A Note From The Publisher This issue of The Jambalaya News is a special one for me because it hits the stands on my birthday! I’m thinking about what Lauren and I will do for my birthday week. Yes, we celebrate our birthdays for a week. One night, it might be staying home and having a glass of wine under the stars. Another night, it will be dinner with friends, and so on. Up until 10 years ago, I would call my parents on my birthday and express my gratitude for all they’ve done for me. But when I got married in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and not in their church, they’ve allowed religion to come between us and we haven’t spoken since. I’ve written them a letter and maybe someday they’ll read it. Dear Mom and Dad, Thank you for all you’ve done for me. Mom, I will never forget the “special birthday dinners” you cooked. My choice was always the same—pork chops, mashed potatoes, and corn. My favorite cake was always vanilla with chocolate frosting. Dad, you would write “Happy Birthday Philip” on it. I felt so special! You would be so tired coming home from work but you always let all six of us kids ride on you and play “horsey” until we would all fall off. Thank you both for being married and financially set before you started your family. It created a wonderful foundation that I’ve been able to build upon throughout my life. Lauren and I love each other so much and are having the time of our lives. We’re involved in the community and encourage others to “give back,”
too. We have our own animal rescue and I work with children. Hurricanes have hit us down here but we’re OK. It could always be worse! And I have never felt closer to God. If, someday, you find yourself listening to your heart and not the people at your church, maybe we’ll talk again. I’d love to hear what you’ve been doing all these years. And I’d love to tell you about this wonderful place Lauren and I found called Lake Charles, Louisiana. I love you, Mom and Dad. Your eldest son on his birthday, Philip TJN
Phil, age 9
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JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
By Maria Alcantara Faul
On Jan. 12, a devastating earthquake hit the small island nation of Haiti, causing fatalities and leveling infrastructure in the already impoverished country. The death and destruction left by the 7.0 magnitude quake was horrific. And what lingers is the enormous need to help the scores of injured and homeless. January is National Blood Donor month. This is a time to encourage donors and to raise awareness of the importance of donating blood and having it readily available for those who need it. The recent earthquake in Haiti just emphasizes this critical need. Blood cannot be manufactured; there is no substitute for a blood donation. Thus, each donation is truly a gift of life. Local donors speak No one understands the importance of giving blood more than Westlake resident Milton Ardoin. A long-time donor, Ardoin truly appreciated this gift of life when his wife Violet received blood transfusions to help build her strength as she battled cancer. Every year, 4.5 million American lives are saved through blood transfusions, and although his wife no longer needs them, Ardoin continues to do his part in making sure that LifeShare Blood Center has a good supply of blood and platelets. “It is important that we keep the supply going,” he said. “I regularly donate platelets, because there is a high need for them.” Three gallons of blood are used every minute in the United States. You never know when a friend, family member or co-worker will need it. Lake Charles resident Keith Shrewsberry has donated regularly for years. Employed at a local plant, he gives blood whenever LifeShare visits his worksite for blood drives, approximately two to three times a year. And now, he often stops by the LifeShare Blood Center to donate platelets. “It’s not anything…It doesn’t cost me anything and it doesn’t take that Volume 1 • Issue 21
much time,” Shrewsberry humbly stated, when asked why he regularly donates. He also mentioned that since his blood type is AB+, one of the rarest blood types, his donation is especially welcome. “The staff at LifeShare informed me that they needed AB+ platelets as well,” he said. “Believe it or not, I’m afraid of needles and the needle used for collecting platelets is smaller than the needles used to collect blood… at least I think so, anyway.” LifeShare Blood Center LifeShare Blood Center serves hospitals in Southwest Louisiana. They are members of America’s Blood Centers, a network of non-profit community blood centers throughout the country, which enables them to help
other areas, both in and out of the country, when the need arises. “Our offices are currently on stand-by to send blood to Haiti if needed,” said Kristi Morris, manager of contribution and recruitment for LifeShare Blood Center. “While blood donations for victims in Haiti are not needed at this time, donors are asked to schedule an appointment for a future blood donation date.” A unit of blood (1 pint) is only good for 42 days. The LifeShare Blood Center tries to keep a six-day supply at all times, but the current supply is below where they would like it to be. “We strive to make sure we have
ample blood supply so we can take care of our area’s needs, as well as the needs of other states, or countries such as Haiti,” said Morris. It takes at least 48 hours for a pint of donated blood to be made available for patient use, according to Morris. “Every pint of blood received is tested before it is made available for patient transfusion. The process ensures the safety of blood used for patients,” she said. Public education a challenge Blood donations are needed year round, but supplies typically run low during holiday season. The shopping, parties, travel, etc., often make it hard for people to allocate time to donate. Unfortunately, the need for blood doesn’t change because of holidays or bad weather. While 40 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, only 5 percent
JANUARY 28, 2010
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do – even though someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds. Public education remains a constant challenge for blood centers. Some of the most common excuses given to avoid donating are “I’m too busy”; “It will hurt”; “I’m afraid of needles”; and so on. The most effective way to dispel all the fears, myths and misconceptions is to simply give the public the facts. The fact is that mobile blood drives take place at convenient locations all the time—and many go to your place of business. As far as the pain and fear of needles are concerned, yes, there is a slight pinch—but try to think about all the people braving life-threatening injuries and diseases that you will directly help with your donation. All donations to charity make a difference, whether they consist of money, clothing, or volunteering. While all are equally important, giving blood is truly special. Because of our capability of generating blood, the act of donating is literally the giving of one’s self to another. It is literally a “gift of life.” For more information, call LifeShare Blood Center at (337) 436-4932. TJN
City Offers Assistance in Haiti Relief Efforts Mayor Randy Roach recently announced that the City of Lake Charles has been in contact with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and has offered the City’s support to the state’s efforts in Haiti relief following that country’s earthquake. This follows a recent announcement by the Office of the Governor offering to federal officials the state’s assistance to Haiti in the aftermath of its devastating earthquake. Governor Jindal said, “I have asked GOSHEP and our Louisiana National Guard to stand ready to assist the Haiti response and recovery efforts in any way we can.” “I spoke with Mark Cooper today to let him know that the City of Lake Charles is ready to help in any way that we can,” said Mayor Roach. “He assured us that he would keep us advised as to their response in support of the relief operations.” The mayor went on to say, “Our city was on the receiving end of help following Hurricane Rita and we know how much that support can mean to a community. We stand ready to provide our own support to others affected by this tragedy. Locally, our citizens can assist through the various agencies involved in the relief process. Every donation, no matter the amount, will help make a difference. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.” Louisiana GOHSEP has offered the U.S. State Department and FEMA resources to help in the Haiti disaster response efforts, including more than 65,000 MREs and thousands of bottles of water being donated by Lipsey Mountain Springs Water.
The Office of the Governor’s announcement further stated that businesses that want to donate equipment and largescale commodities to the Haiti response effort can donate through: Department of State Global Partnership Initiative: www.state.gov/s/partnerships/ USAID: www.usaid.gov/ Cash donations from individuals or the private sector can be made through the following Web sites: InterAction: www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti AidMatrix: www.aidmatrix.org/haiti.html ALAN: www.aidmatrix.org/alan/about.html CIDI: www.cidi.org Donations can also be made to the American Red Cross (www.americanredcross.org) or the Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number—(888) 407-4747—for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti. Due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording.
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Please contact the special services and equality office at least 72 hours before any home event to request accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This includes the need for materials in an alternative format such as large print or Braille, sign language interpreters, accessible seating, and accessible parking information. Ph: (337) 475-5428.
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JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
The
Boiling
P l
Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com
Louisiana Christian Rodeo and Cameron Communications Team Up Cameron Communications and the Louisiana Christian Rodeo have teamed up again to help sponsor rodeo events throughout the 2010 rodeo season. It’s the time of year when bucking broncos, barrel racing and calf roping reign at the West Cal Arena, and with a donation of $1,350, Cameron Communications is helping to kick up some dust. At the end of the season, high-point participants are presented with buckles, one of which will be sponsored by Cameron Communications. Dates of the Rodeo vary; so visit their Web site at www.lcrprodeo.com for more information.
Cameron Communications Public Relations Coordinator Trina Johnson (right), presents Jinna Miller, Secretary of the Louisiana Christian Rodeo with a donation of $1,350. The monies will go to presenting a buckle for high-scoring rodeo participant through the current rodeo season. Debra Lastrapes Earns PHR Certification Debra Lastrapes, Human Resources Manager, Calcasieu Refining Company, recently earned certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR). The certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute, signifies that Lastrapes possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field. To become certified, an applicant must pass a comprehensive examination and demonstrate a strong background of professional human resource experience. Volume 1 • Issue 21
Fusion Five Announces 2010 Board of Directors • Chair, Andrea Bacarisse – E2E Technology • Chair Elect, Jacob Thibodeaux – Lamar Advertising Company • Mark Herbert, Secretary/Treasurer – Regional Rep. for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu • Communications, Chris Bacarisse – E2E Technology • General Board Members • James Babin – ASI Office Systems • J.W. Bates - Primerica Financial Services • Beau Brown – Manpower • Becky Girola – Northwestern Mutual • Betsy Granger – Holiday Inn • John Lennox, Jr. – Jeff Davis Bank • Jay Winterbottom - Calcasieu Oaks Behavioral Center • Michelle Woodyear – Webteknologie Fusion Five is an organization of and for young professionals changing the social and economic landscape of Southwest Louisiana. The organization supports activities complimentary to its mission/vision in the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis. Fusion Five is an affiliate of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance. Cameron State Bank Welcomes Hood to Indirect Lending Staff Chris Hood has been promoted to the position of Indirect Lender at Cameron State Bank. Originally from Moss Bluff, Hood attended McNeese State University. He has worked in the banking field for two years as a personal banker, investment adviser and account manager. As an Indirect Lender, Hood will serve as a liaison between area automobile dealerships and Cameron State Bank.
Chris Hood
Pelican Paddlers Elect New Officers The Pelican Paddlers of Southwest Louisiana recently elected their officers for 2010. The new officers are Rene Stramwasser, president; Paul Hearn, vice president; Terri O’Hara, treasurer; Ian Wright, activities director; and Roman Ryder, public relations. The next club meeting will be held at the Central Library on Ernest St. in Lake Charles on Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. Pelican Paddlers was founded in 2005 and is dedicated to providing Southwest Louisiana with the highest quality and commitment in helping people enjoy outdoors activities using kayaks and canoes. You can visit their Web site at www.pelicanpaddlers.com. Debra Lastrapes
L’Auberge du Lac Names December Five Star Employees L’Auberge du Lac recently announced its December Five Star Employees. JANUARY 28, 2010
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Additionally, the property named its Leaders of the Quarter. The Five Stars are: Teri Jones, an esthetician; Ha Nguyen, a table games dealer; Kris Bordelon, a buffet prep cook; Preston Smith, a baker; and Brian LeJune, a table games dealer. Preston Smith is also designated as the Employee of the Month and is now eligible to receive the coveted Employee of the Year award. The Leaders of the Quarter are Mitzia Santiago, a table games floor supervisor; Kevin Thompson, a Le Beaucoup Buffet sous chef; Shantell Anthony, a revenue audit supervisor; and Julie Rounds, a table games pit manager.
of the Year, based on his extraordinary accomplishments. Duncan’s leadership has been fundamental in energizing all the teams in Division 1. He led the committee that selected the new uniforms and club colors, as well as the functioning guidelines of this division. He incorporated order and encourages participation from all coaches and parents. In addition, Duncan coordinated the State Division I semi-final tournament in Lake Charles last spring and also serves as the treasurer for Calcasieu Soccer Club. He has generously used his place of business and personnel to help the club’s administrative functions.
AT&T Donates to MSU Foundation AT&T Louisiana has donated $10,000 to the McNeese State University Foundation to be divided between its AT&T Scholarship ($7,500) and the McNeese Men and Women’s Golf Teams ($2,500).
Grammy Winners En Vogue Get Pampered at Glam-N-Gloss The Grammy Award-winning group En Vogue recently kicked off their 2010 tour calendar by performing at Delta Downs in Vinton. Prior to performing their first show of the year, the group visited Glam-N-Gloss Day Spa to receive spa services, which included Vanilla and Honey Infused Signature manicures and pedicures and soothing eye treatments. To learn more about Glam-N-Gloss Day Spa, call (337) 313-0222 or visit www.glamandgloss.com. Moss Regional Rejoins LifeShare Blood Centers’ Family of Hospitals LifeShare Blood Centers has been faithfully serving the community since 1981. They are proud to welcome W.O. Moss Regional Hospital back to their family of hospitals. Effective Jan. 13, LifeShare Blood Centers will be the sole supplier of blood and blood components for this local hospital. LifeShare is consistently on the cutting edge of technology, contributing to their reputation as a respected leader in blood banking throughout the United States. W.O. Moss Regional Hospital and LifeShare Blood Centers are two organizations with a long history of taking care of the community, working together to save lives.
Neel DeRouen, from left, head coach for the men’s golf team, and Ralynn Castete, director of scholarships and testing, accept the donation from William A. Oliver, retired president of AT&T Louisiana. McNeese Photo. WCCH Employees Give Back Through the United Way This year, employees of West Cal Cam Hospital pledged $9,304.10 to support health and human service programs funded through United Way to family agencies.
(Center) Yaritza Torres - WCCH Director of Admissions and WCCH/United Way Employee Campaign Chairman; Debby Nabours - Director of the Foundation and Patient Relations (left); Karen Lambert - WCCH Marketing Manager and United Way Loaned Executive (right); with Kane Mitchell – 2010 United Way/West Cal Cam Division Chair and Vice President/Regional Retail Manager for Whitney National Bank Chris Duncan Named LSA Volunteer of the Year Chris Duncan, The Calcasieu Soccer Club’s Division I Coordinator and Treasurer, was elected as Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA) 2009 Volunteer PAGE 8
JANUARY 28, 2010
First Federal Bank Announces Appointment First Federal Bank of Louisiana has announced the appointment of Leslie Harless to Vice President and Marketing Director, according to Charles V. Timpa, President and CEO. Harless has 32 years of banking experience in retail, operations, accounting and marketing and will manage the marketing efforts for the bank. She is a graduate of the Louisiana Bankers Association School of Banking, the Louisiana Bankers School of Supervisory Training and received two diplomas from the American Institute of Banking. Harless is the incoming Board Chairman for the Better Business Bureau, a member of the Board of Directors for Christus St. Patrick Hospital, Family & Youth Counseling Agency, Lake Charles Little Theatre and an active member of the Advertising & Press Club of Leslie Harless Southwest Louisiana.
Calcasieu Boat Club Elects 2010 Board Above: The Calcasieu Boat Club recently elected its 2010 Board of Directors. From left to right, Joe Vezina – Commodore, Vicki Vezina – Party Chairman; Eddie Langley – Vice Commodore; Bruce Maerhofer – Secretary; Phil de Albuquerque – Publicity; Russ Grantham – Water Chairman; Leonard Guillory – Treasurer. TJN Volume 1 • Issue 21
Bureau to Give Press Tour Featuring Mardi Gras in SWLA The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau will host 10 travel writers from all over the United States and Canada for a Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras press tour set for Sat., Feb. 13 through Wed., Feb. 17. The visit will give bureau staff the opportunity to promote Calcasieu Parish, while enticing travel writers to include the area in future articles and publications. While in Calcasieu Parish, the group will tour the historic Charpentier District, the Mardi Gras Museum at the Central School Arts & Humanities Center, and of course, they will join in the Mardi Gras festivities and attractions throughout the area. And no trip to Southwest Louisiana would be complete without a feast. The group will be treated to a variety of tastes at
Sowela Now Offering E-Commerce Course
local restaurants and eateries. Writers contributing to publications like AAA Southern Traveler, Cooking with Paula Deen, Y’All Magazine, New York Daily News, Cooking Light and AAA Texas Journey will be among the writers on the trip. Press trips like the Mardi Gras tour are an important way for the bureau to get the message out about the great activities available in Southwest Louisiana. In 2009, more than $10 million worth of free publicity was secured through these efforts. For more information, contact Katie Harrington at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at (337) 436-9588 or (800) 456-SWLA.
TJN
Contraband Days Announces Poster Contest Contraband Days, Inc. is looking for a few good artists to help celebrate the 53rd annual event, scheduled for April 27 through May 9, on the Lake Charles Civic Center grounds in downtown Lake Charles. Contraband Days is one of Louisiana’s largest festivals and the City of Lake Charles’ oldest festival. Artists of all ages are invited to enter their original works in the festival poster contest. A jury comprised of Contraband Days Festival volunteers and special jurors will choose the winning poster design. The grand prize winning entry will be reproduced on the annual festival poster, which will be used for promotions and sold at Contraband Days. The winning artist will receive $500, and agrees to transfer rights to Contraband Days, Inc. by submitting the entry. Any two-dimensional media, including but not limited to prints, oils, pastels, acrylics, water media, pen and ink, graphite, photography, and digital will be considered. Images should represent Contraband Days’ pirate theme. The deadline for artwork submissions for the contest is Feb. 5. Volume 1 • Issue 21
Entries must be received in the Arts and Humanities Council office, located at 809 Kirby Street, Suite 202, in Lake Charles by 4:30 p.m. Contraband Days is a themed 12-day pirate festival with close to 100 events, attended by over 100,000 people. It always falls on the first two weekends in May. Almost three centuries ago, a notorious and ruthless pirate named Jean LaFitte and his band of buccaneers were fleeing enemy ships and heading west to Galveston. Legend has it that Lafitte and his men would hide out along the waterways in Lake Charles, and that his favorite hideout was Contraband Bayou. It is rumored that he buried his treasure there. Art entries will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or may be picked up at the Council office after March 19. Artwork must include the artist’s name, address, phone number and e-mail. For more information, please call Matt Young at (337) 439-2787.
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With the economy in the throes of tedious mending, it just may pay to know your way around the World Wide Web, literally. Every day, Internet users are starting Web-based businesses to supplement their income, as well as conducting day-to-day transactions like purchasing plane tickets or paying bills online. According to the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, ecommerce has been on an upward trend over the past decade. The Department of Commerce reports on its Web site that total retail sales for the third quarter of 2009 were estimated at $922.2 billion. E-commerce sales accounted for 3.7 percent of total sales. Beginning Jan. 28, Sowela Technical Community College is offering a 10-week e-commerce course to teach students how to better navigate the Internet and start their own Web-based businesses. The course is offered to the public from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays and is $150 plus applicable fees. “The e-commerce class will teach you how to use the Internet to order services, find items, book a hotel room, locate real estate agents,” said course instructor Pierre “Rocky” Schexneider. “But the most important thing is that we can show you how to start an online business using free or very inexpensive tools, locate wholesale suppliers, and research the products that you can sell.”
E-commerce knowledge is almost universally beneficial to any professional skill set, whether or not an individual plans to have a Webbased business, according to Schexneider. “Most companies want to have a Web presence, so even if you’re not planning on starting a business, you can learn how to navigate the Web and work through the steps of building a Web site,” he said. The materials from his class will also teach students how to avoid “unscrupulous scammers” who build phony Web sites in attempts to collect information from unsuspecting consumers. The class format employs an interactive lecture style utilizing PowerPoint and hands-on Internet exploration and workbooks. Schexneider has run his own eBay store for the past five years. Based on his experience, students learn the ins and outs of a Web-based business. He can also tell you that success doesn’t happen overnight. “Some of the hype out there is that for $1,500, we will build you a store. You can quit your job and it’s all easy. You can sit on a beach and work at a laptop computer,” he said. “Well, that doesn’t work. It’s like any other business. It‘s easy to start, but you have to work at it.“ For more information, contact Sowela Technical Community College at (337) 491-2688. TJN JANUARY 28, 2010
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Cancer and its ensuing treatments and medications, infection, or simply advancing age can cause us to experience vertigo, lightheadedness, trouble focusing, or poor balance. These, in turn, can result in falls—which can have serious consequences, especially as we get older. Maintaining normal balance is complex; it requires muscle strength and the integration of three different sensory systems: visual, vestibular (found in the inner ear), and somatosensory (sensations from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints). Because of this complexity, diagnosing a balance problem and what’s causing it can be difficult. At Memorial’s Team Therapy Rehabilitation, specialized testing can help determine the underlying cause. Videonystagmography uses infrared goggles connected to a video screen to observe and record eye movements while certain activities are performed. Computerized dynamic posturography is a series of tests that measure the ability to maintain balance under various situations.
Designed to mimic various conditions found in everyday life, these tests isolate information from the different sensory systems and pinpoint problems. Based on the results, therapists with the Better Balance Program will develop an individualized treatment plan that may include such options as canalith repositioning, which uses gravity to move calcium deposits from the inner ear; gaze stabilization; multisensory balance training; gait training; and coordination and strengthening techniques. For more information on the Better Balance program, ask your physician or call Memorial’s Outpatient Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at (337) 494-2556. TJN
A BALANCE SELF-TEST Take this self-test to find out if you may be headed for a fall: 1. Have you fallen more than once in the past year? 2. Do you take medicine for two or more of the following: heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, anxiety, or depression? 3. Do you feel dizzy or unsteady if you make sudden changes, such as bending down or turning quickly? 4. Do you feel dizzy or unsteady while reading or watching movies? 5. Have you had a stroke or other neurological problem that has affected your balance?
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6. Do you have seizures or black outs? 7. Do you experience numbness or loss of sensation in your legs and/or feet? 8. Do you use a walker or wheel chair, or do you need help from others to get around? 9. Do you feel unsteady when walking or climbing stairs? 10. Do you have difficulty sitting or lying down, or rising from a seated or lying position? If you answered, “Yes” to one or more questions, talk with your physician about your risk for a fall.
Volume 1 • Issue 21
Lake Area Classes, Seminars, Workshops Motorcycle Awareness Campaign Meeting Jan. 28 For anyone who is interested in motorcycle safety, MAC SWLA’s next meeting will be held on Thurs., Jan. 28, at Piccadilly’s on Ryan Street. The doors open at 6 p.m., the meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call 478-9322. Spring Career Fair at MSU Feb. 8 Employers interested in recruiting McNeese State University graduates and/or students for full-time, part-time or summer positions are invited to make plans to participate in the spring career fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon., Feb. 8, in Parra Ballroom of the Student Union Annex (New Ranch). All McNeese students as well as McNeese alumni are invited to participate. Graduating seniors seeking to develop job leads as well as those students seeking internships and part-time employment are encouraged to bring their resumes. Employers interested in participating may submit the vendor fair
Volume 1 • Issue 21
form online at www.mcneese.edu/career/ or contact McNeese Career Services Center at 475-5612 or (800) 622-3352, ext. 5612. Hackberry Rural Clinic Offers Free H1N1 Vaccinations The Hackberry Rural Health Clinic of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is now offering the H1N1 vaccine to area residents. There is no charge to receive the vaccine and residents need not schedule an appointment. The clinic will be administering the vaccine during regular business hours. The Hackberry Rural Health Clinic of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is located at 1020 Main Street in Hackberry. The clinic is open on Mondays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, call (337) 762-3762.
New Bereavement Group at CHRISTUS St. Patrick CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospice is now hosting a bereavement group. The group meets each Wed. at 6 p.m. in the Spiritual Care Conference Room on the second floor of St. Patrick Hospital. The group is open to the community at large. Facilitators will emphasize companioning rather than “treatment” for those experiencing the natural grief process. The six needs of mourners are addressed in the group: • The need to acknowledge the reality of death. • The need to feel the pain of the loss. • The need to remember the person who has died. • The need to develop a new identity. • The need to search for meaning after the death. • The need to receive ongoing support from others. Meeting each of these needs represents an important influence on a mourner’s ability to heal. For more
information call CHRISTUS St. Patrick Home Care and Hospice at (337) 395-5600. Property/Casualty Pre-Licensing Course at MSU in Feb. The Louisiana Consortium of Insurance and Financial Services at Louisiana State University in Shreveport will present a Property and Casualty Insurance PreLicensing course from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 19-20 and Feb. 26-27 at McNeese State University. Feb. 17 is the registration deadline and cost for the course is $230, which includes textbooks. This course provides 40 hours of class time suitable to prepare an individual to sit for the Property and Casualty Licensing exam. Topics include basic terminology, concepts, sales, the fundamentals of insurance law and agent’s responsibility. To register, or for more information, contact the McNeese Electronic Learning office at (337) 475-5075.
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New Pet Owners Pay Lower Fees at Calcasieu Parish Animal Services If you’re thinking of bringing home a new family pet, you can get a discount on the licensing fee at the Calcasieu Parish Animal Shelter. The new fees in 2010 are $10 for an animal that is spay/neutered versus $14 for an un-altered animal. “Not only can pet owners get a break in their pocketbook, but they can feel good knowing they’re doing their part in reducing Calcasieu’s pet overpopulation crisis,” said Animal Services Director Rita Cavenaugh. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has also made a commitment to match up to $50,000 in funds granted or donated from outside sources to
help the shelter pay for spay/neuter assistance. According to the Animal Services and Adoption Center, not only is a license I.D. tag the law, people are more likely to rescue a lost pet with a tag and can return it much faster over weekends, holidays and after-hours when the Animal Services Licensing Agency is closed. Statistics from Spay USA show that 70,000 puppies and kittens are born each day versus only 10,000 humans. Over time, one spayed pet can save millions of unwanted animals.
TJN
CHRISTUS St. Patrick Holds Heart Screenings for Women The CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center is now taking appointments for “A Heartfelt Screening,” a comprehensive heart screening where women can identify their risk factors for heart disease. The screenings are age-specific and based on risks. They last approximately one hour and include the following: • Complete patient medical history • Complete family history • Physical exam • Blood pressure testing • Dietary screening (height, weight, BMI) • Labs (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, blood sugar) – 4-hour fast required • EKG • Framingham assessment – predicts risks for coronary event
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The cost is $75; cash, check and credit card are accepted. For members of the St. Patrick Women’s Health Network, the cost is only $50, and women can join the Network when they call to make an appointment. There is no cost to join the Women’s Health Network. Screening appointments are available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 711 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive (formerly 711 South Ryan Street). Time slots are limited. You can schedule your screening and join the Women’s Health Network by phone or online. Call 491-7577 or visit www.mywomensnetwork.org.
TJN
MSU Will Visit Area High Schools to Discuss Financial Aid February is National Financial Aid Awareness Month, and according to McNeese State University Financial Aid Director Taina Savoit, her office’s goal is to let high school seniors and their parents know that college is attainable, and that there are numerous sources of financial aid options available. “February is the key time to begin the application process in order to be considered for all aid programs offered at state and federal levels,” said Savoit. “The McNeese Office of Financial Aid tries to create the best award package for all our students. The financial aid process may seem a little confusing, but the office of financial aid is here to help students find the money they need to pay for college.” Savoit said 74 percent of McNeese students received some form of financial aid in 2008-2009, totaling more than $50 million. Financial aid staff members will visit area high schools in January, February and March to explain financial aid application procedures to college-bound students, and that both students and their parents are encouraged to attend the workshops to learn more about eligibility, the application process and requirements, and the timeline to apply for financial aid for the 2010 fall semester. The list of high schools, libraries and the dates and times are as follows: • Wednesday, Jan. 27—Vinton, 10 a.m.; Jennings, 6 p.m. • Thursday, Jan. 28—Reeves, 9 a.m.; Central Library (Lake Charles), 6 p.m.; and DeRidder, 6 p.m. • Friday, Jan. 29—Oberlin, 9 a.m.
• Monday, Feb. 1—Hackberry, 10 a.m.; Sam Houston, 6 p.m. • Tuesday, Feb. 2—Merryville, 10 a.m.; LaGrange, 6 p.m. • Wednesday, Feb. 3—Elizabeth, 9:50 a.m.; St. Louis, 6 p.m. • Thursday, Feb. 4—Singer, 10 a.m.; South Beauregard, 12:40 p.m. • Friday, Feb. 5—Iowa, 9 a.m. • Monday, Feb. 8—Bell City, 8:50 a.m. • Tuesday, Feb. 9—Johnson Bayou, 11:30 a.m.; Barbe, 6 p.m. • Wednesday, Feb. 10—South Cameron, 1 p.m.; Kinder, 5:30 p.m. • Thursday, Feb. 11—Hamilton Christian Academy, 9 a.m. • Friday, Feb. 12—Vidor (Texas), 9:30 a.m. • Friday, Feb. 19—Simpson, 9 a.m. • Tuesday, Feb. 23—Hathaway, noon; DeQuincy, 6 p.m. • Thursday, Feb. 25—East Beauregard, 9 a.m.; Westlake, 6 p.m. • Tuesday, March 2—Midland High School, 9 a.m. For more information, call the McNeese Office of Financial Aid at (337) 475-5065. TJN
Volume 1 • Issue 21
oyle By Jim D
the same people who raised hell at the Ball. It’s all part of our nice little corner of the world. Community, both ways. In good times and in bad. I’m not sure, from a standing start, I’d have wound up in Lake Charles and have wondered many times how I did. But as I look back over the last nearly 30 years, I find more and more reasons to be happy about it, however it happened. We are all part of a vibrant community, which, for its size, is as closeknit as the town of 5,000 where I
spent my childhood. Maybe sometimes people know a little too much of your bid’ness. But when they do, it’s usually coming from a good place. I’m off on the City of New Orleans to see my brother in Chicago. Just to be safe, fellow Lake Chuckers, please keep the prayers going for him. And if you see Tinkerbelle out there anywhere, tell her I’m still leaving my window open for her. Just call me Peter Pan. I’ll catch you guys on the flip.
TJN
I Had a Ball Okay, here’s the strangest conversation I’ve ever had: Beautiful blonde young lady walks towards me wearing a blue dress and a tiara. “Are you Alice in Wonderland?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “You don’t like the word “moist,” do you?” “GASP! Are you luscious??????” “Well … as a matter of fact … yes, I am.” And as Billy Clyde Puckett said lo those many years ago, you ain’t heard the weird part yet. As you may have guessed by now, the discussion chronicled above took place at a Mardi Gras ball, to be specific, waiting in line for the elevator in the shank of the evening. Although I’m not what you’d call a joiner, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the festivities of the Krewe Déjà Vu du Monde by Brett and Barbara Downer, and doubly fortunate to be accompanied by the beautiful and talented Linda Thomas of Baton Rouge. Departing from my usual somber mood, I grabbed the ole tux out of the closet and had it expanded a little bit. Even bought a new pair of pants because my waist was in a different geographic position–say, Montana– the last time I wore it. Bought my date a corsage and myself a boutonnière. Even had Victor Monsour take a picture, just like the prom. And saw lots of sights. There was Phil de Albuquerque, who never stopped dancing all night. By himself, for the most part. And along the way, inventing a new way to shake hands (or something) using a series of blue balloons and a wellconceived, and well-hidden, compressed air pump. At least, I THINK it was a pump. Volume 1 • Issue 21
There were the King and Queen, Tip and Gayle Cline, who kept their Royal presence long enough for me to eyeball His Majesty doing the twist late in the fray. But the most memorable character of the night was Tinkerbelle, an unforgettable little fairy in a white outfit complete with wings and a magic wand who completely captivated the crowd and divided it almost in half. The men loved her. The women … well, not so much. I don’t know her, but I’ve been looking for her on Facebook since Saturday. And speaking of that social networking site, it is the genesis of my through-the-looking-glass conversation. The thread of one discussion being carried out by some of my friends involved the revelation that there were two women in town who had, shall we say, auditory reactions to a couple of words. One couldn’t bear to hear “moist,” and the other found the word “luscious” spoken aloud to be akin to fingernails on a blackboard. Naturally, I decided to use both in my column, so last time out there was a phrase describing luscious fields of green moistened by the sweat of rugby players. And I have to say; Alice’s reaction was surprisingly instantaneous and as horrified as a losing character in a zombie movie. Mardi Gras is about being outrageous, raising hell in a guilt-free environment so you can pay the piper for 40 days after it’s all over. It’s a great way to let off steam, to see most of the people you ordinarily encounter only in business suits, to kick up your heels a little bit. Society on the hoof, as it were. I loved it, had the time of my life. And this was in the middle of a family illness which, thankfully, is not as dire as it looked last week. Since my brother got sick he’s been the object of countless prayers raised up by many of JANUARY 28, 2010
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Dang Yankee The
By Mike McHugh
A Taste of Yankee Winter A few weeks ago, here in Southwest Louisiana, we got taste of what winters are like in Yankee Land. It got down to 18 degrees for about five minutes, sometime around 4 a.m., when most people were sleeping. This caused things around here to come to a complete standstill. It had about the same effect as if Calcasieu Parish had totally run out of Community Coffee. So, this naturally led a lot of people around here to ask me how Yankees deal with the long winters,
particularly since they don’t have Community Coffee up there. Truth be told, long, cold winters are a really good thing for Yankees, and not just because it gives them a break from road construction projects. You see, Yankees, with their notoriously high metabolisms, need the cold weather to force them into a state of semi-hibernation each year. Otherwise, they would all spontaneously combust, probably while they’re all cramming onto the same subway car during rush hour.
In their semi-hibernation state, Yankees never really cease all forms of activity, as do other forms of wildlife. About the most they manage is to settle back in the evenings on the sofa, maybe put a log on the fire, and watch ice hockey. This is a sport invented specifically for semi-hibernating Yankees, so they can watch big, toothless men skate around and pummel each other with curved sticks. The sport would probably be illegal if it involved any species other than humans. Still, it gives the Yankee a chance to channel his feelings of aggression away from personal experiences such as when some idiot on the turnpike cut him off. Speaking of driving, I get a lot of questions about how Yankees deal with getting the ice off their car windshields in the morning. Here in Louisiana, we can just sit in the kitchen, put on another pot of Community Coffee, and wait for it to warm up outside so that it all melts. Yankees don’t have the patience for that, and even if they did, they’d have to wait until sometime in April to leave for work. Wall Street would be shut down for months. (Thinking about it, maybe the country could benefit if certain Yankees learned the
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virtue of patience.) So, Yankees always keep something called an “ice scraper” in their cars. This is something like a chisel with a wide blade. It is made completely of plastic, usually in some banana republic where it never freezes. How it works is that you hack at the ice on your windshield with the cheap plastic blade until it breaks off from the handle, at which time you utter a few choice syllables. Hopefully, by this time you have made a hole in the ice about the size of a knot in a pine board, but that’s okay because most Yankees don’t have time to do more, having timed the start of their commute until the last possible minute. You may wonder if the Yankees can see enough to actually drive with nothing but that little hole in the ice to see through, and that would be a problem—if the traffic were actually moving. Yankees have many such devices for dealing with the winter weather. One other example is the “snow blower.” A snow blower is an engine-powered device that, assuming you can get it started in the sub-Arctic temperatures, will pick up the snow off your driveway and fling it onto the neighbor’s drive. Now, I know that does not seem like a very neighborly thing to do, but you must remember that in Yankee Land neighbors are more liable than not to be mad at each other for something. Perhaps one day last July their dog did some business on your morning newspaper and so you were deprived the pleasure of doing the daily crossword, and you’re just waiting for an opportunity for revenge. With a snow blower in your garage, you only need to bide your time. A number of folks around here had issues with their water pipes bursting after a freeze and wondered how they deal with this problem in Yankee Land. Some wondered how it is even possible to have indoor plumbing in such climates. This is indeed a challenge, and so Northern municipalities must add anti-freeze to their water supplies during the winter months to address it. You may be thinking that this would make the water undrinkable, but you must remember that in most Northern cities the water is undrinkable to begin with, so it makes little difference. So, now that you are up to speed about winter life in Yankee Land, do you wonder why there are so many of us living down here? TJN
3475 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles, LA • (337) 477-4044 PAGE 14
JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
By George “Tip” Cline
income of around $400 and Haiti was the poorest country of the Caribbean. REMAIN VIGILANT Recently, an 80-year old woman was mugged, knocked to the ground and had her purse stolen. This occurred in the 100 block of McNeese St., not an area known for violent crime. We talked about safety during the Christmas shopping season, but this recent incident shows that we must continue to be aware of our circumstances, even in an apparently safe environment.
Tips for Tire Maintenance There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Well, no such thing as free air for your car either. The quest for the almighty buck keeps penetrating virtually all levels. I know that this has been around for some time, but it never ceases to amaze me how “they” want to squeeze the last dime out of you. It costs $1 to check and refill your tires these days, whereas it used to be considered an accommodation to customers when they purchased your gas. Water can also be a buck as well. That’s a big surprise, right? Now that this attitude has pervaded just about every phase of your economic life, you need to be prepared to maximize your side of the coin. Don’t waste your extra money on tire maintenance. Pull your vehicle so that the air meter is in the middle of your front bumper, about four inches away. The correct inflation pressures are listed on the driver side doorjamb. It’s very important for economy and safety that you use these pressures (foreign vehicles have their charts inside the gas cap door). Unscrew the valve stem caps on each wheel, and place them on the top of each tire. Pull the air hose to the rear tire on one side and secure enough hose so as the tire can be easily reached. Place the nozzle on the valve stem to check the operation of the gauge—there’s no need to put money in a machine that doesn’t work. Now you can put your quarters in the slot, return to the air hose nozzle that you had already placed to be used, and fill each tire, checking for the proper inflation and rotating around the car to the opposite rear. Remember to put the valve stem caps back on. Volume 1 • Issue 21
Don’t stop to visit or you will wind up looking for more quarters. Even at the coin-op car washes, I’ve found that the personnel there will want to chat while your quarters are ticking away. Don’t fall for that ruse. It just galls me that conditions are designed to make you feel guilty just because you want your money’s worth. NO SALES TAX AT PAPA MURPHY’S We’ve tried Papa Murphy’s Pizza on Nelson Road, near The Wine Store. Because the pizza has not been baked, it’s exempt from the Louisiana 4 percent sales tax. You still have to pay the 5 percent local taxes, as well as cook the pizza, but a savings is a savings. It just feels good to know that once in a while, things come out on your side of the ledger. By the way, I really like their pizza— it’s very fresh—and they are really big on coupons as well.
If an 80-year-old woman is fair game for criminals, where will they stop? You know the answer to that question. They’ll steal your purse from a grocery cart while you’re distracted; they’ll work in pairs to sidetrack you. Chief Dixon and his officers cannot be everywhere and there was only one Bruce Lee, so it’s up to you to avoid a bad situation. There is no pleasure in having to replace your driver’s license, credit cards, etc., let alone suffering the physical and mental pain of being a crime victim. So always remain vigilant. TJN
Tracy Gilmore Stylist/Barber – Manager
Mardi Gras Up-Do’s!!!
2406 Ryan St., Lake Charles • (337) 433-0760
HAITI SCAMS Be careful of the scams going around regarding the earthquake in Haiti. As usual, the evildoers are preying on good people that want to do something to help out. You really have to do your due diligence before making any donation to an organization you have no familiarity with. If there is any doubt at all about the solicitation, your instinct is usually right. You can always count on the old standby, the Red Cross, to do the right job. Their response in 2005 to Hurricane Rita here in our backyard proved their worth firsthand to many of us that lived through that nightmare. Your money is well spent when you donate through them. Those poor Haitians had an annual average JANUARY 28, 2010
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The
Life
Phone orders accepted with credit card.
APPOINTMENTS ONLY 562-9400
1602 W. McNeese St.
Family Fun Louisiana-style: SWLA Mardi Gras By Sara Blackwell The aroma of king cake in the office kitchen is a sure sign that Mardi Gras season is here. Southwest Louisiana is said to have the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana, surpassed only by New Orleans. But unlike NOLA, the Lake Area offers family-friendly festivities. Mardi Gras celebrations began as early as 1882. Now, we have close to 50 krewes and the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which houses the largest collection of Mardi
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Gras costumes on the Gulf Coast. Lots of parades and events are open to the public and are family friendly, with kids not only invited to attend, but also to participate. Children especially love dressing up and walking their dog down the Barkus parade route or riding in the Children’s Parade throwing colorful beads to excited onlookers. Even if your family is not participating in the parades, viewing them is fun for all and can be an experience of a lifetime. They not only attract outof-town visitors, they also bring back former residents, who return every year to recapture happy memories. This year, the Merchants Parade is riding through downtown at 7 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 12. The Krewe of Omega Parade is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 13, along with the Krewe of Barkus (dog) Parade at 3 p.m. Pets are welcome to attend Barkus. You can dress your pets for the occasion and bring the whole family. While waiting for the parades to begin, you can enjoy some hot gumbo at the World Famous Cajun
Volume 1 • Issue 21
Gumbo Cook-Off at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Local cooks and krewes start heating things up at 8 a.m. After judging, the gumbo is available for tasting around noon. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for children five and under. Sun. Feb. 14 is more than Valentine’s Day this year; it’s also Children’s Day in Lake Charles. There will be arts, crafts and music from noon until 3 p.m. at the Civic Center, followed by the Children’s Parade. The Royal Gala will be held on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center Coliseum. Admission is $5 and free for children five and under. This is an event that should not be missed. All the krewes will be showing off their kings and queens, royal dukes and duchesses and captains dressed in elaborate costumes and collars. Each costume typically weighs more than 50 pounds and is loaded with glitter and glitz. The Royal Gala is the only event in Louisiana that allows the public to see all of the local krewes’ costumes, and is the perfect way to spend Lundi Gras. On Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16, the Red Hat Parade rolls downtown at 1 p.m. and the Krewe of Krewes Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. The Krewe of Krewes Parade is one of the main Mardi Gras events. Each krewe decorates one or more floats and members throw beads, candy and Mardi Gras trinkets to the crowds. The Tuesday parades can be enjoyed in an alcohol-free zone located in the Police Jury parking lot on Ryan Street, between Liles and Redd Law Firm near the Charleston Hotel. This area will also offer family fun such as snacks, inflatable jumps, and a visit by Gumbeaux Gator. Also on Fat Tuesday, the Krewe de Charlie Sioux will host their annual Block Party on the corner of Broad and Ryan St., complete with live music, food and children’s activities. The fun starts at noon and will go on through the Krewe of Krewes parade. Many of the small towns surrounding Lake Charles offer their own Mardi Gras parades; along with horse trail rides and chicken runs. Lundi Gras is exceptionally fun in Mamou, and Carlyss offers a wild trail ride on the morning of Sat., Feb. 13. Don’t miss out on the Mardi Gras fun this year. Attend as many parades and events as possible, and invite family and friends to join you. Bring a King Cake to work. Make memories that will entice your children to return home each year, and laissez les bons temps roulez!
Photos by Blane Bourgeois
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By Appointment Only (337) 529-2864 • Fred Carter, Owner
TJN
Volume 1 • Issue 21
JANUARY 28, 2010
PAGE 17
By Lisa Yates
Phyllis Pool, owner of Bark Park Dog Daycare & Boarding, sits with Bailey and Kibbie.
Bark Park is Dog-gone Good News for Pet Owners FIDO no longer needs to stay caged up in a kennel while you’re on vacation – or even sit at home while you’re at work. A new business opened in Lake Charles that caters to dogs, with an approach that’s more akin to a kiddie preschool than to a boarding kennel. Welcome to Bark Park Dog Daycare & Boarding, located at 4121 Nelson Road in Lake Charles. The business was the result of an epiphany owner Phyllis Pool had a few months ago, while talking to her cousin on Facebook. Her cousin’s friend, Robin, opened a new business in the Baton Rouge area – a doggie daycare. Pool exclaimed, “We need this! And, I can do that!” After learning about doggie daycare, Pool approached her husband with the idea of opening one in Lake Charles. “Ordinarily, he’s not the type to jump right into something, but when I talked to him about it he said ‘Let’s do it!’”
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Her husband worked as an agriculture teacher for 30 years at Grand Lake High School in Cameron Parish before retiring, and Pool, a certified court reporter, has owned and operated Paragon Reporting since 1972. After doing some research and visiting her friend’s dog daycare facility in Baton Rouge, the couple opened Bark Park on January 11. Pool, 53, said there was a need for a cage-free doggie daycare facility in our area. “My big issue with putting a dog in someone else’s care is that it’s stressful for the dog,” she said. “Usually, when you board a dog, it spends 24-7 in a cage. That’s very stressful in addition to being away from their home. Dogs need exercise just like people do and they don’t get enough sitting in a cage all day.” AMENITIES Different from traditional dayboarding, Bark Park offers dogs a large indoor play area within a 2,500-
square-foot climate-controlled facility that also includes a grooming area, as well as individual kennels for overnight boarding. There’s also a secure quarter-acre fenced outdoor area where the dogs are able to run and play with each other – fully supervised, of course. Further expansions will include a doggie-deli with all-natural treats, a unique canine boutique and more. “Dogs are pack animals by nature,” Pool said. “They crave socialization both with other dogs and with people.” She said in Bark Park’s cage-free environment, the dogs are allowed to run with other dogs, jump and bark all they want. Ever worry about your dog getting into the trash or chewing up your favorite pair of shoes while you’re at work all day? Pool said doggie daycare may be the solution. “The dogs can come here and play,” she said “When you get home from work, you can simply relax and enjoy your dog rather than dealing with an animal who is demanding attention and needing exercise.” You can even watch them on a Web cam, while you are at work or out of town by logging on to Bark Park’s Web site: www.barkpark-online.com.
HOURS AND RATES Daycare hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Rates range from $20 for one day to $85 for a five day pass, $150 for a 10 day pass, or $275 for a 20 day pass. Add $10 per day for extra days. Also, half-day rates are available for five hours a day, or less. In addition, overnight boarding is available. Reservations are required. Call (337) 478-4300, for details. All dogs must be in good health, spayed or neutered, and have up-todate vaccinations. Owners must submit written proof of DHLPP, Bordetella and Rabies vaccinations. Pool said there’s no membership fee to join, but each dog must be screened and accepted into the program based on good behavior and compatibility with other dogs. Once the dogs are screened, she noted, daycare services are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. “We’ve only been open for a couple of weeks, but the inquiries have been amazing,” she said. “We’ve had people come in and calling us asking questions.” Maggie the Great Dane was Bark
Volume 1 • Issue 21
Park’s first customer. Pool said her owner was traveling out of town overnight and staying with family members who didn’t have room for a big dog. “She was so sweet – no problem at all,” she said. “She and Bailey romped and played, and had a good time.” Bailey is Pool’s miniature schnauzer who accompanies her to work each day. She also has two other dogs: Chewy and Jack. “Chewy is named after Chewbacca in Star Wars,” she said. “He is halfGreat Pyrenees and half-Akbash – an unusual breed. Jack is a Treeing-Feist – a breed of hunting dog.” PET OWNERS Pool said today’s pet owners – many of them double-income couples with no children and empty nesters – view their dogs as kid surrogates. She said she falls into the “empty-nester” category, explaining her youngest son, Tyler, left for college this year. “My baby graduated in May,” she said. “When he came home from LSU for a visit, I had this schnauzer puppy. He said ‘Who’s that?’ My husband told him ‘That’s your replacement.’” The couple’s other children, Lindsey, Aaron, Allison and Amy, are grown. They also have eight grandchildren.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Inc., customers in the United States will spend an estimated $38.4 billion on pet-related expenses this year. Most of it will be spent on vet care and food, but more of it on services and brandname products for their pets. Based on research, Pool expects her pet service business will do well in Lake Charles. “The business we’ve been consulting with has demographics similar to ours and it’s very successful,” she said. “They had a need for it there and I believe there’s a need for it here. That’s why we went ahead and took the plunge.” Their business has only been open a couple of weeks, but they already have several dogs enrolled in daycare. Today was Kibbie the Chihuahua’s first day in doggie daycare. She spent the day playing with Bailey and the friendly staff. After playing, she rested in her little pink bed in the playroom. “Owners can bring their dog’s bed, toys and whatever they feel will make their dog feel more comfortable,” Pool said. When dogs come in, they have an assigned bin for their leashes, snacks and other belongings. Pool said they don’t use leashes at the daycare. Her philosophy is to let
all kinds of dogs, big and small, play and nap together. If any of the canines act up, they can get a “time out” away from the other dogs. She’s also printing report cards for owners, grading the dogs on socialization and willingness to share their toys! DOGGIE SPA The new business also includes a doggie spa featuring baths, haircuts and (possibly) body massages. Pool said your dog doesn’t have to be enrolled in daycare for grooming, but it does have to have all of its vaccinations. “The groomer I just hired is also a massage therapist for humans,” she said. “During the interview we discussed making dog massage available.” At Bark Park, you won’t find dogs sitting in kennels waiting for their appointments. Pool said each dog is groomed one at a time, by hand. “We NEVER use cage dryers,” she said. “All of our dogs are hand-dried. Cage dryers frighten dogs and there have been issues with smaller breeds – some have even died in cage dryers.” Pool’s aim is to make grooming a safe and relaxing experience for your pet. Plus, her professional groomer – Amber Meche - can give your doggie the perfect “do.”
BOARDING Overnight boarders play in the doggie daycare during the night and have their own individual kennels at night. Bark Park provides the bed and snack for your dog, or you can bring your own. “Our goal is to provide peace of mind,” Pool said. “We keep dogs in conditions I would want my dogs to be kept in. Some places won’t let you see where your pet will be staying, but we don’t do that here. You’ll get a tour of the facility. Nothing beats knowing where your dog will be staying while you’re away.” Pool said a night light and a second Web cam allows “pet parents” to look in on their dogs overnight. “We also play calming music – lullabies – throughout the night, so your dog will have background noise to make him feel more at home.” For more information, call (337) 478-4300, or visit Bark Park online at www.barkpark-online.com, or at 4121 Nelson Rd. in Lake Charles. Hours are 7a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
TJN
Straight Razor Cuts Balayage Highlighting Technique Color Correction Scalp Massage
Lindsay Duplechain Owner/Stylist Adrien Lyles Stylist
Neali DeRamus Perkins Stylist Volume 1 • Issue 21
Zina Green Makeup Artist By Appointment
LOCATED IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN 725 RYAN ST. • LAKE CHARLES (337) 436-5454 JANUARY 28, 2010
PAGE 19
A Greener
W
RLD
You Are What You Eat By Lauren de Albuquerque
With so much concern over synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and hormones, many farmers across the country are now using organic growing methods. The result is naturally grown food that’s better not only for our health, but also for the environment. By eliminating the huge quantities of toxins used in conventional farming, organic methods help safeguard the health of our air, water and soil. Many of these substances have been proven to cause cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous and reproductive systems. And children are at a greater risk due to their developing nervous and endocrine systems. And since antibiotics are not used in organically raised animals, it does not add to the problem of antibiotic resistance, which makes antibiotics ineffective for treating illnesses in humans. Organic: What it means On a food label, “organic” means the food was produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetic engineering or irradiation. With animal products, it means the animal received no antibiotics or hormones and was fed organic feed containing no animal byproducts. Products bearing USDA’s organic seal and labeled as “organic” must contain all organic approved materials, although some exceptions may apply for up to 5 percent of the product ingredients. Foods that are at least 70 percent organic can be labeled “Made With Organic Ingredients.”
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates use of the term “organic” on a food label. The grower or producer must get the product certified as organic by a USDA-accredited certifier. Anyone who knowingly labels or sells non-organic products as “organic” can be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. There’s a difference between natural and organic foods. Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives, but they may contain ingredients that have been grown with pesticides. In other words, they have not been produced organically. Natural foods are not regulated and do not meet the same criteria that organic foods do. Where to find it Now that we know what organic food is, where can we get it? The nearest Whole Foods Market is in Baton Rouge. When we evacuated there for Hurricane Rita, one of the highlights of those days was shopping there. And we were spoiled in Boston, with so many natural food stores, including Trader Joe’s, Wild Oats, etc., in the area. Fortunately, the supermarkets here do carry organic products, including fruits and vegetables, dairy products and so on, although certainly not to the extent and variety offered in larger cities. And we are lucky to have Pure Foods, located at 138 West Prien Lake Rd. in Lake Charles. The store offers organic groceries, herbs, supplements, bulk foods, freshly made juices and salads, along with a regular schedule of nutrition and culinary classes. If you want to eat healthy, you must pay them a visit!
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Buy local Keep in mind, too, that locally grown conventional food can often be a better choice than organic food grown 1,500 miles away. Why? Because transporting food a short distance causes much less global warming pollution. That local farm is also preserving open space in our area, not to mention contributing to our local economy. We may not be the big city, but that’s a good thing, since there’s a wealth of fresh produce in our area, and farmers’ markets and farm stands are plentiful. A lot of folks we know grow vegetables and make wonderful jams and jellies from the bounty of their fruit trees. We have friends who give us freshly laid eggs. There are persimmon and grapefruit trees at the Jambalaya office and the fruit is simply delicious. And we have a huge pecan tree behind our house that yields bags of nuts. We think it’s wonderful that we’re growing food on our land! Shop wisely But, let’s face it: We can’t possibly eat organic produce all the time. For
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one thing, most organic food costs more than conventional food products. Higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields. Because organic farmers don’t use herbicides or pesticides, many tools that control weeds and pests are labor intensive, so you end up paying more for these vegetables. But there are certain fruits and vegetables that are most often contaminated by pesticide residues and are better bought organic. They include apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, hot peppers, peaches, pears, potatoes, spinach and strawberries. At the same time, there are low-pesticide foods that pose little threat. If you want to save your pennies, you don’t have to buy the following foods organic: Onions, asparagus and broccoli don’t have many pest threats, which means less pesticide spraying. The thick skin of the avocado, pineapple, mango, papaya, watermelon, eggplant and kiwi protects them from pesticide buildup, and there probably won’t be any pesticide on the kernels on an ear of corn.
Tips for Fresh Produce Safety The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers the following tips for getting the most out of your fresh produce: Buying Tips • Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged. • When selecting fresh-cut produce - such as a half a watermelon or bagged salad greens - choose items that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice. • Bag fresh fruits and vegetables separately from meat, poultry and seafood products. Storage Tips • Store perishable fresh fruits and vegetables (like strawberries, lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms) in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40° F or below. • Refrigerate all produce that is purchased pre-cut or peeled. Preparation Tips • Begin with clean hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm
water and soap before and after preparing fresh produce. • Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce that looks rotten should be discarded. • Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking. • Many precut, bagged produce items like lettuce are pre-washed. If the package indicates that the contents have been pre-washed, you can use the produce without further washing. • Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, it is still important to wash it first. • Washing fruits and vegetables with soap or detergent or using commercial produce washes is not recommended. • Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush. • Drying produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present. TJN
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If you have a recipe and story you would like to share, e-mail us at lauren@thejambalayanews.com
What’s Cookin’
Misse’s Grocery is the King of King Cakes
Pictured from left to right: Debra Guidry, head baker, Jessica Bogard, head decorator, and David Misse, owner of Misse’s Grocery.
Sponsored by Misse’s Grocery David Misse and the staff of Misse’s Grocery in Sulphur have been baking up a storm since the early ‘90s, and are known for their king cakes. With a staff of 35, Misse’s cranks out a whopping 10,000 king cakes every year, and ships to 48 states. Misse’s Grocery opened its doors in 1935, and has been a staple in the Sulphur community ever since. The store was founded by George Misse and is now run by his grandson David. David says he’s proud to offer shoppers the traditional small town grocery store experience along with a few surprises, such as homemade kibbie wheat, stuffed pork chops, and of course, the king cakes. “We’re up from shipping 400-500 king cakes in the early ’90s when we began, to 8-10,000 now,” Misse said. “We’ve shipped to people all over the country including teachers talking to their students about Mardi Gras to celebrities such as Tyra Banks and Madonna.” PAGE 22
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Misse’s Grocery offers a special king cake called the “Zulu” which originated in New Orleans, and consists of chocolate, coconut, and pecans. Misse’s also offers their closely guarded homemade cream cheese filled-king cake. Misse said he can’t release his secret recipe, but wants everyone to come out and get one. Misse’s also offers a variety of other fillings such as Bavarian cream, chocolate, apple, cherry, blueberry cream, strawberry cream, raspberry cream, lemon cream, coconut, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and lemon. They are made fresh daily and can be pre-ordered and filled with more than one flavor for more variety. Sizes range from small to extra large, which can feed as many as 50 people. To order, call 527-6924, or stop by. Misse’s is open 7 days a week from 6 a.m.- 9 p.m., and is located at 106 E Lincoln St., in Sulphur. TJN Volume 1 • Issue 21
Chocolate-filled King Cake Although this isn’t Misse’s “secret” recipe, he said he likes this one. He also notes that you can use uncut cinnamon rolls instead of making the dough. Dough • 5 to 6 cups all purpose flour • 2 packs yeast • 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar • 1 tsp. salt • 2 cups whole milk • 1 egg • Cinnamon and sugar as needed • Vegetable oil Combine half the flour, and add salt, sugar and yeast. Stir with a spoon to blend. Heat two cups of milk until warm (don’t boil) and add the egg and stir. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir vigorously with a spoon until everything is wet. With an electric mixer and a dough hook, mix and blend until smooth on medium or low settings. Once smooth, add the remaining flour in ½ cup increments blending slow until the dough is smooth with no lumps. Once smooth, grease the dough lightly with cooking oil so that the dough is covered all around and top to bottom. You want it to rise smoothly without ripping away from the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and put in a
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warm place without a cold draft. Let rise (about 30 to 45 minutes or until it doubles in size). Once it has risen, grease your hands and grease a large rectangular pan. Roll the dough and sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Roll and shape into a circle and bake at 400 degrees until risen. Chocolate Filling • 1 pack of instant chocolate pudding Use chocolate pudding mix with water instead of milk. Once prepared, fill in a pastry bag and insert into the bottom of the baked king cake. You can make small holes and add the filling in. Use your choice of icing or make a glaze for the top. Glaze • 1/2 cup powdered sugar • 1 tbsp. bourbon • Water (enough to make a paste that can be drizzled) • Green, yellow, purple sprinkles for decoration Combine the sugar and bourbon and whisk in enough water to make a glaze that can be drizzled. Add green, yellow, and purple sprinkles for extra shine. Enjoy, and Happy Mardi Gras! TJN
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By Lisa Yates, Photos by Michelle LaVoie
Beauty is not about age, or height, or weight – it’s about simply being the absolute best version of yourself that you can be. This is your life and your moment. So why not take better care of yourself? There’s nothing arrogant or vain about the pursuit of beauty – it’s a noble cause, because the image you project to the world often reflects what people can’t see – what’s inside. It tells others you care enough about yourself to put your best face forward. If you’re ready for a little beauty rehab, the professionals at Salon Evans, and Glow Salon & Wellness Spa can help you find the right products, habits and regimens that fit you and your individual lifestyle. Tasha Evans, owner of Salon Evans, and Jill Hebert, owner of Glow Salon & Wellness Spa, have gone to great lengths to learn about “beauty” and “wellness” with the goal of helping you look and feel your best. Although Evans and Herbert do not believe in a onesize-fits-all approach to beauty, they agreed to share some advice and insider tips with The Jambalaya News. Here’s their first tip: Giving yourself a makeover doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the way you look; it simply means you have the option to change your look, bring out certain features, or downplay those that bother you. Always cherish what you have!
Tasha Evans, Salon Evans owner, and Jill Hebert, Glow Salon & Wellness Spa owner. PAGE 24
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The staff of Salon Evans consists of Nadie Hirsch, receptionist (front left); Mary-Alaina Dewees, receptionist; Danielle Wybel, master stylist; Virginia West, senior stylist; Brittany Tyler, manager; Halie Stanford, receptionist; Tracy Badgett, stylist/make-up artist (back left); Tasha Evans, owner; Johnny LaFleur, master stylist/make-up artist; and, Rikki Hymel, senior stylist. Not pictured is Daina Daigle, master stylist. A good haircut Whether your hair is thick and curly or fine and straight, there are simple steps to make your hair look more beautiful. Tasha Evans, a master stylist/colorist and founder of Salon Evans in Lake Charles, said a good cut is the basis of good hair. She said beautiful hair has movement and shine, and begs to be touched. “The shape of your face and the texture of your hair determine what
hairstyles will look good on you,” she said. She added haircutting is not a matter of simple geometry – your haircut has to fit your lifestyle. Evans said talk to your stylist. The more specific you can be in terms of what you like and don’t like, the more likely you’ll get the results you desire. The stylists at Salon Evans say it’s okay to bring in pictures of actresses or models with hair you love. After
all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Just be sure to ask your stylists how realistic the look is for you and what it will take to achieve in terms of cut, color and styling. Here’s a tip: When you’re flipping through a magazine for pictures to bring to your stylist, look for ones from the red carpet. Why? Red carpet photographs show the most realistic hair you’re going to find in a magazine. Other magazine photos are usually taken in a studio, where the model has a team of hairdressers hovering nearby at all times. Also, studio photos have had retouching to make the hair look even shinier, brighter and fuller than it could possibly be in real life. You can get red carpet hair at Salon Evans. Evans and her team of stylists keep current on all
of the red carpet looks. She said it’s vital in her industry to do so. In fact, Evans and her stylists attend ongoing education throughout the year – 24 hours of continuing education – in order to bring you the most flattering, up-to-date styles you see on celebrities. “The most requested celebrity hairstyles are those of Jennifer Anniston and Katie Holmes,” she said. “They have great hair and color, and they always seem to get it right.” Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy One of the most innovative technologies in the beauty industry is Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy, and it’s available at Salon Evans. What is it Keratin Complex? Evan said it’s the leading smoothing system in the world. She said it straightens curly hair – damage free.
The staff of Glow Salon & Wellness consists of Ashlee Corcoran, massage therapist (left); April Paris, esthetician; Brittney Tyler, manager; and, Jill Hebert, owner. Not pictured is Kim Hamolka, nail tech and wellness counselor. Volume 1 • Issue 21
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“I had a client that absolutely hated her hair – and, I’m not exaggerating – HATED it,” she said. “Her hair is blonde and fine, but she has a lot of it. She would wake up in the morning, flat iron her hair and walk out the door. Now when it’s humid, we all know what happens. … Well, we talked her into getting the Keratin Smoothing Complex. She was reluctant to do it, but now she’s glad she did. Now she loves – I mean LOVES – her hair! She can literally blow and go. “She owns a beach house, and now she can walk out onto the beach in the humidity and doesn’t have to worry about her hair frizzing or getting curly. The best part is – she doesn’t even have to flat-iron it anymore. She will have to come in every three to five months to have it redone, but she says she will not live anymore without this in her hair.” Evans said her master stylists Johnny LeFleur and Danielle Wybel were the first two stylists certified to do the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy treatment in Southwest Louisiana. How does it work? Wybel said the product contains natural keratin protein, which rebuilds, restores and rejuvenates all
types of hair – including color treated and chemically processed hair. She does it by infusing natural keratin deep into the hair’s cuticle with a flat iron. She said the result is your hair will be more manageable and take much less time to style. LaFleur said your hair will be noticeably softer and straighter, with added life and shine as well as a lengthened look. “It’s chemical-free, lasts three to five months and starts at $300,” LaFleur said. “We have had numerous people do it and have had amazing results.”
Daily maintenance Keeping your hair in good condition is important. LaFleur said it’s important to have clean hair, but (unless you’re an athlete) you don’t have to shampoo every day. “If your hair is oily and you have to wash your hair every day, you may not be using the right shampoo,” he said. “Always use professional products and never put the conditioner on your scalp. The conditioner is made mainly for the ends of your hair.” Want fuller, sexier hair? You can add volume during the styling process, according to LaFleur. Massage Therapist Ashlee Corcoran works on Gisele Weber’s back.
Master Stylist Johnny LaFleur demonstrates biliage on Mary-Alaina Dewees.
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Master Stylist Danielle Wybel applies a Keratin Smoothing Treatment to Gisele Weber’s hair. “Use volumizing products and always use a round brush in conjunction with a blow dryer to create lift at the crown of your head,” he said. “If you don’t blow dry your hair, you can use Velcro rollers, or even big hot rollers.” The stylists at Salon Evans said you can learn to style your hair like a professional at home. Here’s how: • Start with the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair texture; • Style your hair using professional styling and finishing products your stylist uses in the salon; • Use the right styling tools. • You’ll need a good round, or oval brush, and a flat iron, or a curling iron, depending on what your stylist recommends. • Ask your hairstylist to show you how to use these products and tools at home to replicate the salon look at home.
Esthetician April Paris gives Halie Stanford a facial.
Evans said it’s important to use thermal protectant products for your hair to prevent damage from blow dryers, hair color, flat irons and even brushing. “Eufora’s Urgent Repair Conditioner as a good once-a-week treatment for your hair,” she said. She said Eufora products utilize the most advanced botanical, vitamin and non-carcinogenic ingredients available with scientifically proven benefits to the hair, scalp and skin, as well as pure essential oils for a true aromatherapy experience. If you don’t like the smell of hairspray, Evans said try Eufora’s Elevate Finishing Spray. “It can also be used on your face after your make-up is applied as a locking spray,” she said. Wake-up your make-up Make-up artists Johnny LaFleur and Tracy Badgett think every woman should splurge on a professional make-up lesson at some point in her life. They said if you are new to wearing make-up, you’ll get application tips and product advice, plus you’ll learn what works for you. If you already wear make-up, consider it a refresher course. Ask the make-up artist to address any specific issues you have, teach you advanced tricks like highlighting and contouring, or help you create
Quality of Life Insurance • Term Insurance from 5 to 35 years Whole Life • Cancer and Accident Policies Annuities Disability Insurance • Worksite Supplemental Benefits for Employers and Employees
For More Information Or Quotes Call Jason E. Alford • Cell: (337) 263-2544 E-mail: jalfordagla@gmail.com Find out about Life Insurance you don’t have to die to use. www.qualityoflifeinsurance.com Volume 1 • Issue 21
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Acrylic Nails Specialist Jill Hebert, owner, does Brittney Tyler’s nails. some evening looks. No matter how much you know, you’re certain to pick up a few things. LaFleur said don’t be afraid to experiment. “At first it’s hard to step outside your comfort zone, but eventually applying make-up becomes easier and fun, too,” he said. “You’ll learn new techniques and try different things – not crazy, different things but subtle things. Simple little changes can make a big difference in how you look.” His make-up tips include: • Always use a sunscreen and a good moisturizer. • Use foundation to even out your skin tone and texture. If the foundation provides too much coverage, mix in a few drops of moisturizing lotion to dilute it. Stylist Rikki Hymel is layering Nadie Hirsch’s hair.
• Use a make-up primer under your foundation to fill in tiny lines. It contains pore-filling ingredients to make your skin look and feel younger and smoother. • Powder sets your foundation, but it can actually bring out fine lines and wrinkles. Opt for a mineral-based powder, instead. • A mineral-based powder makeup also makes a great concealer. The more you apply, the greater the coverage. • Apply foundation to your lips before using lip color. This helps set your lipstick and keeps it from bleeding. • You need four products to create luscious lips: a lip pencil, a lipstick, a lip gloss and a lip brush. “You’re never going to get perfect lips without a lip pencil. Always use a lip pencil - it helps define your lips,” he said. But use one a shade or two lighter than your lipstick, so you won’t be caught with a dark line around your lips. • Eyebrows frame your face – have a professional shape your brows. “A perfectlyarched eyebrow is like a mini-facelift,” he said. • When it comes to eye-shadow: “Blend, blend, blend. It’s important to have the right brushes,” he said.
1570 Maplewood Dr., Sulphur, LA 70663
(337) 528-6843 Mon-Thurs: 8am-9pm • Fri & Sat: 8am-10pm • Sun: 12pm-8pm PAGE 28
JANUARY 28, 2010
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• The smoky eye is always in style, but it’s too dramatic for daytime. Save it for evenings. “You don’t have to use blacks or browns for a smoky eye – you can use other colors, too, like a dark, pretty purple,” he said. LaFleur said don’t get stuck following all of the trends you see in magazines. “Find what suits you,” he said. “You can try a variation of it using colors in your own color palette - colors that suit your skin tone.” Your make-up bag If you’re like most women, you’re probably carrying too much in your purse. Make it easy on yourself and purge your make-up bag. LaFleur said you only need a few essentials to carry with you throughout the day: a moisturizer containing a sunscreen; a lip gloss; mascara; and, your foundation for light touchups. Wedding make-up One of the most important special occasions is your wedding day. You can’t take any chances with it. You should always do at least one consultation with a make-up artist before the big day. Evans said she loves doing make-up for brides. She said just a little make-up can make a big difference. “We had a bride come in for an updo,” she said. “She was a larger girl who had never worn a stitch of make-up and never really felt pretty. We begged and pleaded with her to do her make-up. She finally gave in, and we did it. She couldn’t believe how pretty she looked, and what we could do with just a little bit of make-up.”
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Evans attended her wedding. She said the girl’s family and friends loved the new look. “Her mom and dad both cried when they saw how beautiful she was,” she said. “When she walked down the aisle, people were really looking and looking around at each other in awe at just how gorgeous she was. You could totally tell that she was happy about the way she looked. On top of that, she felt really beautiful on the inside.” Jill Hebert, owner of Glow Salon & Wellness Salon, said they used Youngblood mineral make-up on the bride and on all of the salon clients. She said it’s pure, 100 percent natural minerals made with a specialized milling process to feel weightless on the skin. “It offers a healthy, radiant, natural look with less shimmer,” she said. “It’s ideal for all skin tones; and, it lasts all day without touch-ups” Hebert said it is great make-up with a lot benefits including: • It offers adjustable coverage. “Use less for less coverage; use more for more coverage,” she said. • It comes in two forms: loose and pressed. “You can toss it in your bag for touchups throughout the day,” she said. Stylist Tracy Badgett curls Halie Stanford’s hair using a flatiron.
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Senior Stylist Virginia West uses a flatiron to style Ashlee Corcoran’s hair.
Presenting Nancy Tower, Sulphur City Council Member speaking about Vision Sulphur Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at Reeves Uptown Catering located at 1639 Ryan St. Cost is $15 members and $18 non-members.
Please RSVP no later than 2 pm Thurs., Jan. 28, by emailing info@lwv-lc.org or call 337-474-1864 and leave a msg.
• It’s good for all skin-types: sensitive; normal to oily; and, dry. “It contains no zinc oxide, which dries the skin,” she said. • It’s healthy, even for different skin conditions such as: rosacea, acne, hyper-pigmentation, sun damage, broken capillaries, and even allergies. • It’s non-comedogenic, nonacnegenic, and, it’s cruelty-free. Two salons at one location Salon Evans, and Glow Salon & Wellness Spa offer clientele a fullservice day spa, hair, color, skin and nail salon in one convenient location, at 109 W. Lagrange Street in Lake Charles. Although the salons share some of the same clientele, they don’t duplicate services. Brittney Tyler, the salon manager, coordinates services at both salons. She said the talented, friendly professionals at both salons take the time to talk to you and listen to what you have to say about your look. The staff at Salon Evans includes Nadie Hirsch, Halie Stanford and Mary-Alaina Dewees, receptionists; Danielle Wybel and Daina Daigle, master stylists; Virginia West and Rikki Hymel, senior stylists; Tracy Badgett, stylist/make-up artist; Johnny LaFleur, master stylist/makeup artist; and, Tasha Evans, master stylist/owner. At Glow Salon & Wellness Salon, the staff consists of Ashlee Corcoran, massage therapist; April Paris, esthetician; Kim Hamolka, nail tech and wellness counselor; and, Jill Hebert, master nail specialist/owner.
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Hebert said they thought it was a great idea to locate a salon and spa under the same roof. “It’s convenient for clients,” she said. “If you want to have spa treatments, and then get your hair done, you don’t have to leave the building.” Nail know-how Look at your nails. Are they pretty and polished? Bitten to the quick? Overgrown and neglected? Whether you realize it or not, your nails say volumes about you. You need to make sure they’re communicating the right story? You’ll be amazed at how polished you feel when your fingers and toes are neat, clean and filed to your favorite length. Hebert, a professional manicurist for 16 years, said a weekly manicure should be part of your routine at home, but there’s nothing like a professional manicure and pedicure in a salon. “For best results, we recommend a salon visit at least once a month,” she said. “This will keep your hands and feet looking great!” Hebert said don’t think of it as a luxury. “Sometimes people feel guilty about pampering themselves, so it’s important for them to know we are
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Johnny LaFleur, master stylist/make-up artist, uses Youngblood mineral make-up on Gisele Weber. also providers of healthy living and overall wellness,” she said. She said there’s something so relaxing about getting your nails done. You can even invite a friend and make it a fun social outing. At Glow, they make sure that the premises are clean and all the manicuring instruments are sterilized and disposed of after each use. “We take extra precautions on sanitizing our equipment and work areas,” Hebert said. She said it’s important to not overlook this in favor of cheap prices. It’s no bargain if you get an infection. Long, dragon-lady nails not only make it a challenge to use a computer, text-message or call from a cell phone, but they’re out of style, according to Hebert. “Short, well-manicured nail are in style,” she said. She said it’s been around for years and it’s still as chic as ever: the “squoval.” Not quite square and not quite oval, this is the flattering inbetween shape. What are the new nail colors for spring, 2010? “Neon nail, ultra bright colors have come full circle once more,” Hebert said. “For the conservatives who like to play it safe, the French manicure is still a big hit, also.” She said there’s a new trend in faux nails. “We are always looking for new ways to have great-looking nails,” Hebert said. “The latest trend is to have an overlay of acrylic or gel on the nails which helps polish stay on for weeks. The result is you have great-looking nails all of the time.” She said the coating fortifies nails so they won’t split, peel, chip or Volume 1 • Issue 21
break. It only requires upkeep every three week and it looks very real. Don’t forget sandal season is almost here. You don’t want to wear open-toed shoes with grubby toenails. “Start getting pedicures regularly,” Hebert said. “If your feet are in bad shape, you can do extra treatments at home by exfoliating and moisturizing between visits, which will help speed the results faster.” For the softest hands and feet, she said try a skin-softening paraffin treatment in the salon. Salon treatments: facials and massages In Europe it’s common practice to get regular facials and massages. Hebert said these are salon treatments more Americans should try. She said it’s not just about pampering, but prevention. “Relaxation plays an important role in staying healthy and managing stress,” she said. “Our spa services will give you a deeper level of relaxation, escape for the fast pace world and help create a calming inner peace which aids in your overall well being. Our treatments are provided in private, tranquil rooms, with calming music and serene, comforting sounds.” A facial is an effective yet pleasurable experience performed by an esthetician. April Paris is the esthetician at Glow.
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She’ll ask you about your skin type; discuss the effect of stress on your skin; and then, design a custom treatment that will target your particular needs. Paris can also design a custom regime for you to do at home on your own. “At Glow, we do complimentary consultations to show you the right regimen for your skin type,” she said. She said must-haves for your skin include: a good cleanser; a targeted treatment product, depending on your skin challenges; eye cream, or serum; and, a good moisturizer. Chirally-correct products The line of skin care products used at Glow is CosMedix. CosMedix is a new line of cutting-edge, Chirally-correct products. What is Chiral technology? Hebert described it as “the most effective corrective.” “CosMedix uses a purification process called Chiral correction, where the ingredients are filtered to select only the molecules that positively interact with the skin’s cell receptors.” She said you’ll use less of the product because Chiral technology actually boosts the effectiveness of the ingredients. When you use a run-of-the-mill product, you end up with a lot of unwanted, unusable products left over in your system, and not a very effective product. These extra molecule sides are the ones that can cause irritation, stress and inflammation. Over a long period of time, they can even become toxic. This is one reason so many people are allergic, or become allergic over time, to certain cosmetics and skin care products. Hebert said someday all skin care products will be made Chirally-correct; it only makes sense.
If you’re looking for a good cleanser for sensitive skin, Paris recommends Benefit Clean by CosMedix. “A good tip to always remember is when applying products to the skin, start at the décolleté (chest area) and work your way up to the forehead,” she said. “Never pull down. Also, a few drops of Tea Tree oil can be mixed with any moisturizer and applied to the skin after cleansing to help with acne.” She said to prevent premature aging, start by protecting your skin. “Barrier sprays like Benefit Balance provide a barrier from free radicals such as smoke and other pollutants,” Paris said. “Also, mixing a pure form of vitamin C into a product is good for environmental protection. Finish by applying a moisturizer (based on your skin type) that has an SPF of at least a 15.” Paris said one thing she would never do is wash her face with bar soap – it’s too damaging. What’s her daily skin care regime? “My regimen in the morning starts with a Benefit cleanser, Benefit Balance protection spray, and Hydrate Plus moisturizer with SPF17,” Paris said. “At night, I use Purity Clean Exfoliating cleanser, wipe with Purity Balance exfoliating spray on a cotton ball, apply Eye Believe Liquid Crystal eye serum, then I use Refine and Defy which are both used to improve and refinish skin’s texture.” She said for great skin head-to-toe get a full body exfoliation paired with a hydrating body wrap!
Assistant Halie Standford shampoos Gisele Weber’s hair.
MIKA DOUCET, Occupational Therapist COULD YOU (OR YOUR CHILD) BENEFIT FROM OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? Occupational Therapist, Mika Doucet, is a valued member of the Hope Therapy team! As an OT, Mika works with a variety of patients from pediatrics to geriatrics on maximizing their functional performance in daily activities and life roles. Who may benefit from an OT evaluation and treatment? Individuals with limitations in the following areas: fine motor skills, sensory processing, cognition, visual-perception, behavior/attention, activities of daily living, or motor planning/function. Mika is highly skilled in selecting the most appropriate adaptive devices for her patients and assessing their upper extremity splinting needs. As with all members of the Hope Therapy team, Mika is dedicated to offering the most advanced programs for her patients. Specialized programs that she offers include: Pediatrics: The Listening Program, Handwriting without Tears, Sensory Integration for Autism, Brain Gym, and Callirobics. Adults: ADL training, Neuromuscular re-education, visual-perceptual training, and upper-extremity orthopedic rehabilitation. Mika is also certified in the assessment and application of Saebo splinting.
Call today for more information or to schedule an appointment with Mika at 478-5880. From left to right: Jill Willis,PTA; Sonya M. Brooks, MA, CCC-SLP; Kim B. Anderson, PT, DPT; Mika Doucet, LOTR, MOT; and seated Emily D. Pelican, MS, CF-SLP.
Left to right: Cindy Istre, Office Manager and Cyndy Lirette, Administrative Assistant.
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Tracy Badgett, stylist/make-up artist, does Nadie Hirsch’s make-up. Fake Bake You already know how damaging the sun can be on your skin and the need to protect yourself with sunscreen. But what if you happen to look and feel better with a tan? Is a suntan still in style? Paris said the solution is a selftanner. “A nice ‘back from the beach’ look is definitely in, while an over-tanning bed or an orangey spray tan is not,” she said. “We use a product called Fake Bake which is an airbrush tanning system done by a professional, not a machine. It has no orange tones and leaves you with a glowing, natural appearance.” Massage therapy If you’ve never had a massage, you don’t know what you’re missing. Massage therapist Ashlee Corcoran said massage therapy is therapeutic. “Massage therapy has been beneficial in each and every one of my client’s lives – even if they’re just coming in to relax,” she said Hebert said massage therapy also makes a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. “We offer a couples retreat – the perfect romantic getaway!” she said. “You can enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries and cocktails for 30 minutes before a couples 60-minute massage. Also, the couples retreat includes a dozen red roses for your loved one to take home after the massage.” But you don’t need a special occasion to spend a day at the spa. Hebert said everyone can use a little pampering. “Spend a day with us, or even just an hour or two,” she said. “You’ll leave refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated, like the world has been lifted off your Volume 1 • Issue 21
shoulders. Become healthier and enjoy a better life!” Your lifestyle Evans said a true makeover should really incorporate changes beyond your skin, make-up, hair and nails – it should change your lifestyle. “I got in this business because I wanted to make people feel good about themselves, and love themselves,” she said. “I have had a hard time with loving the way I look because I am a larger girl. But it gives me more joy to see people that have been my clients feel good about they way they look after a service. “It doesn’t matter if someone has been my client for five years, or only five weeks, my clients become part of my life and they become family to me. I love all of them. I am so blessed that God has given me this talent to help others look and feel their best. I get to talk to amazing people every day and, hopefully, bless their lives in the same way they have blessed mine.” For more information, contact Salon Evans at (337) 477-6868; Glow Salon & Wellness Spa at (337) 4772888; or visit them at W. Lagrange St. in Lake Charles. Also, read more about Salon Evans and Glow online at www.thejambalayanews.com on pp. 29-30, in Volume 1, Issue 11. TJN
What many people don’t know is that a healthy intestine is supposed to have bacteria in it. The friendly bacteria better known as “friendly flora or “probiotics” enable you to defend yourself against harmful bacteria thus preventing problems like diarrhea, dysentery, colds and flu. Friendly flora not only protect you from harmful bacteria, but serve a variety of other beneficial functions as well. They manufacture many vitamins, help you digest food, help contribute to regular and healthy bowel movements, reduce fat and cholesterol in your blood, block the spread of yeast infections, help keep your breath smelling sweet, and may even block tumor development in your intestine. When you take antibiotics, you kill the good bacteria along with the bad! Once the good flora is gone, it’s tough to replenish it without supplementation. As a result, many people come down with a secondary infection after antibiotic treatment. Since poor diet, medications, stress, and other things can negatively affect your friendly flora, it’s a good idea to supplement with probiotics from time to time even when you’re not taking antibiotics. We recommend ENTEROBIOTIC by natural creations, it is the most complete combination of probiotics available.
503 West Sallier St., Lake Charles Ph: 436-7216 • Open: M-F 9-6 JANUARY 28, 2010
PAGE 33
Phil de Albuquerque and Lade Majic get down on the court.
It was a typical November day. The air was getting cooler; the days were getting shorter. My cell phone rang, and I thought it was a friend who wanted to make plans for the evening. “Hey, Phil,” the female voice said. “Would you like to play if I put a basketball team together to benefit NAMI?” I wondered if this was some kind of joke. I’m 5’5” and was always the last one picked to play basketball when I was a child. “I called Mayor Roach and he said OK. You’re my next call,” she continued. At this point, I figured this person was either calling from Happy Hour or desperately needed players. “Who IS this?” I asked. “It’s me, Penny! From NAMI! Tell me you’ll play!” Wow—someone really wanted me on a basketball team. PAGE 34
JANUARY 28, 2010
Penny went on to say that she was trying to get the Lake Charles team to play against the Harlem Ambassadors, an exhibition basketball team that tours the country, similar to the Harlem Globetrotters. I figured it was next to impossible for her to accomplish that, so I felt it was safe to agree. “Of course I will!” I told her. “Count me in.” NAMI is the North American Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. We’ve known the good folks of the Louisiana chapter for a while now and we were one of the sponsors for the NAMIWalks fundraiser last spring. Penny Miller is the director of marketing and development. A few weeks later, she called to let me know that practice would be starting soon. She had organized a
team of local “celebrities” called the Hometown Heroes, and the Ambassadors had agreed to play us. Unbelievable. I was a little nervous on the first day of practice. Remembering the names of all
of my teammates was a challenge in itself. Then, I had to learn the game. For real. I had only played on driveways as
Mayor Randy Roach gets ready to rumble. Volume 1 • Issue 21
Coach Helen Lewis-Dunn as CeCe the Clown. a child, and that was basically shooting hoops. When our coach, Helen LewisDunn, shouted, “Phil! Zone defense!” I didn’t know what that was, so I figured I’d just keep my arms up and try to stop someone from making a basket. “Fake it ’til you make it,” as they say. Later that week, Lauren and I met friends at Buffalo Wild Wings. When I told them that I was going to be on a basketball team, I thought they were all going to choke on their wings. “As the ball boy?” they laughed hysterically. After they got off the floor, got back in their seats and settled down, I asked if any of them
Lots of action on the court. could explain the game to me. Kalan Powers was nice enough to help me understand certain positions and gave me some simple tips. I also got some help from Tip Cline, our “Tip’s Tips” columnist. “Hey, here’s a tip!” he yelled. “Stand on someone’s shoulder!” Very funny. In spite of my friends’ misgivings, I actually improved with every practice. And I really enjoyed playing with the other “Heroes.” Hal McMillin (who unfortunately was injured in practice and couldn’t play that night) had a way of getting clear under the basket. Brittany Glaser was fast and would steal the ball when you weren’t
Ref Thom Hager rescues a Hero from Lade Majic. Volume 1 • Issue 21
He shoots for three!
looking! Mike Raichel was a great shot from the free-throw line. Tom Annino was awesome getting rebounds. Everyone played a part. It was as if we were all meant to play together. All that exercise was good for me, too. I was pretty winded the first few practices, but after that, I was zipping all over the court. It felt great! On game night, we all wore our official shorts and numbered shirts, and were ready to play. The Harlem Ambassadors came out before the game started and put on such an amazing show that I think most of us were ready to run back to the locker room.
But we ended up having a wonderful night. The energy out there was fantastic! The crowd cheered us on and we lost to a respectable 42-48. And I even scored two points—without standing on someone’s shoulder! Special thanks to all of the Hometown Heroes, who gave up their personal time to make a difference. You were all “good sports.” And we’re so grateful for everyone who came out to the Civic Center to get in on the fun while supporting such a good cause. Would I do it again? You bet I would!
TJN
The Ambassadors get the ball. JANUARY 28, 2010
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Sponsored by
ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B
Free Throws Gone Foul Like it has been all season long, the McNeese State Cowboys men’s basketball team had a chance at the end. Trailing by three to arch-rival Lamar with 1.2 seconds left in their Jan. 16 game, MSU’s C.J. Collins was fouled attempting a 3-pointer, giving
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the Cowboys a chance to tie the game. And, like it has been all season long, McNeese’s penchant for missing free throws cost them another chance at a win. Collins made the first two freebies but threw up a brick on the potential game-tying attempt to allow Lamar to escape with a 79-78 win. This season, McNeese’s freethrow shooting has sunk to a low not seen in many seasons. It would be comical if it weren’t wreaking such tragic consequences on the Cowboys’ win-loss record. “They could have repaired the
whole Charleston Hotel with all of those bricks.” Hee hee hee. “Not even the Big Bad Wolf could blow down all of those bricks.” Ha ha ha. Believe me, the Cowboys aren’t laughing, but these numbers must be seen to be believed. For the uninitiated, a free throw is an uncontested shot taken from behind a line 15 feet from the basket awarded when the other team commits a foul. They are worth one point each. Okay. So there are the ground rules. Key words and concepts: “uncontested shot,” “15 feet from the basket, “free points.”
I hope that helps. Now, then. Through 16 games this season, McNeese is shooting 60.3 percent from the charity stripe, worst of the 12 teams in the Southland Conference and a full .012 percent behind Northwestern State. Consider that the Associated Press Top 25 combines to average 69.1 percent from the free-throw line and that the absolute worst team in that list, top-ranked Texas oddly enough, is shooting 63.4 percent from the line. BYU has the best foulshot average at 77.7 percent. If you were coaching a basketball team, you’d feel pretty good with a 69.1 percent free-throw percentage.
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At 77.7 percent, you’d run out and buy $50 in lottery tickets because those numbers don’t happen very often. Individually, you’d be doing well if you made between 80-90 percent of your free throws. Anything over 90 and you’re being covered like “Sweet Home Alabama” late in games when the other team has to foul to keep pace. Just three Cowboys, Diego Kapelan (86.2 percent), Patrick Richard (80.9 percent) and Stephan Martin (80 percent) qualify. And not only is McNeese firing up a lot of bricks, the Cowboys can barely make it to the foul line to even attempt a free throw. Through 16 games, McNeese has attempted just 262 foul shots, making 158 of them. Only two other teams in the Southland have attempted fewer than 300 free throws: Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana with 294 and 298 attempts, respectively. No other conference opponent has made fewer than 200 free throws. It would be nice to say that this is a one-season kind of deal. Call it a fluke, a pesky little virus McNeese just needs to let pass. I hate to be the one to tell you, dear readers, but it’s a case of the full-blown Trends. Since the 2003-04 season, when the Cowboys shot 71.6 percent from the foul line, the team’s free-throw percentages have gotten progressively worse in almost every season. Want even more bad news? Things are getting worse. In the 2007-08 season, McNeese shot 68.6 percent from the free-throw line. In each of the next two seasons, last season and this, the Cowboys’ freethrow percentage has dropped by at least 4 percent. Four! Percent! Statistically, that is a massive number and it is having a massive effect on the Cowboys’ bottom line. Take a look at the Texas Tech game. McNeese led the No. 24-ranked Red Raiders at the half and it looked like the Cowboys might pull the upset. Texas Tech came back to take a 74-73 lead late and, after the Cowboys’ P.J. Alawoya scored to put McNeese back on top, Tech sunk a pair of freethrows to win the game 76-75. But Alawoya’s score was sandwiched between three missed free throws, any two of which would have possibly won the game for McNeese. Incidentally, MSU shot 50 percent from the foul line in that game. Against Lamar, the Cowboys shot 47.4 percent. Volume 1 • Issue 21
All this begs the question: Why is McNeese so bad at something that, on the surface, seems so easy to do? One way to look at it is to take a look at how often the Cowboys are even getting to the free-throw line. The answer to that is not very often. They just aren’t getting enough practice at shooting free throws in game situations. They might be going through drills at practice, but, in front of a real, live crowd and against real, live competition with the pressure on, the Cowboys just can’t seem to get to
the line. And, if they get there, they can’t close the deal and make their shots. Maybe Allen Iverson was right. It is only practice. Then again, isn’t there a saying about practice? A practice in the hand is worth... I don’t know. It might be too late to do much about the free-throw shooting now, but, unless the Cowboys want to add on a garage to the house of bricks they’ve built this season, something drastic has to change.
Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than seven years for various publications. Coaches Brandon Shoumaker or parents with story tips may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).
TJN
JANUARY 28, 2010
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By Mary Louise Ruehr
Revisiting Jane Austen A couple of years ago, I noticed that several books had been published about Jane Austen; her popularity had skyrocketed because of the movie versions of her novels. I recently checked again, and — Wow! There are more books about her, or “sequels” to her books, or books imitating her style than I can possibly name here. Let’s look at just a few. Two recent “chick lit” novels are set in the present day. In According to Jane by Marilyn Brant, when 16year-old Ellie Barnett is handed a
copy of Pride and Prejudice in school, she begins to “hear” Jane Austen speaking to her, giving her advice. Austen becomes her “Personal Spiritual Guide.” The story jumps forward and back in time as adult Ellie recalls her love affairs with men — especially the one Miss Austen disapproves of the most: Sam Blaine, “Mr. Cool,” who keeps popping in and out of Ellie’s life unexpectedly. The only things written in Austen style are the thoughts of Jane Austen. But every once in a while we
www.thejambalayanews.com • (337) 436-7800 “Being featured on the December cover of Jambalaya News was great for 505. In a month where people were getting their homes ready for the holidays, the cover and article presented 505 as the “go-to” store in town for decorating and design. Not only did it bring many new faces into our store, I personally had so many people tell me they saw us on the cover. Consumers are definitely reading the Jambalaya and it works!” – Rebekah Dressler Co-Owner, 505 Imports
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get something like this: “It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman in possession of an important date must be in want of a hot outfit.” Hmmm. It’s light and easy, but Ellie’s angst can get annoying. Adult language and situations. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo will be published in February. Missouri resident Claire Prescott is attending a summer seminar at Oxford University on Pride and Prejudice in the place of her pregnant sister, who’s the Jane Austen scholar. Claire isn’t really an Austen fan; she’s just there to present her sister’s paper. But she finds herself caught up in a series of dramas. One involves an elderly lady who takes a shine to her and shows her a secret manuscript of Jane Austen’s work. (Or is it a hoax?) Another includes a “breathtakingly handsome man” who reminds Claire of Mr. Darcy from P&P. And her boyfriend from Missouri begins to want some answers. The plot
eventually evolves into a syrupy love story, but it’s fun to read the “manuscript,” which is written in Austen style. So, are you telling yourself there are just never enough good horror stories written in the style of Jane Austen? Well, you’d be wrong. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance — Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem by Jane Austen and Seth GrahameSmith is one of the strangest things every published. At first, I thought it was a joke, but no. And it has been selling so well that there are now others: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Mansfield Park and Mummies and Emma and the Werewolves. The author takes Austen’s original book — often, whole sections, word for word — and imbues it with
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doesn’t find out for a long time. And by the time she does, she’s in a heap of danger. But true love triumphs over evil. It’s actually rather fun. And it’s really not much of a leap to think of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter, Anne, as vampires! Then there are the first-person accounts: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James purports to be the lost writings of Miss Austen. The novel is written in Austen style. And Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange is Darcy’s turn to rewrite P&P in the first person. I must say, this may be the book in this column
that I liked the most. It really did “sound” like his voice. Marvel Publishing has come out with a beautiful edition of Pride and Prejudice as a graphic novel, written by Nancy Butler. This is a perfectly serious work, similar to the old Classic Comics versions of major novels. Originally published as a five-part series, it is now available in one hardback volume. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh, there are so many more books about P&P: Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins; An Assembly Such as This by Pamela
Aidan; The Darcys and the Bingleys by Marsha Altman; Pemberley Manor by Kathryn L. Nelson. And I haven’t even started on the titles that follow Austen’s other books! This trend doesn’t look like it’s cooling anytime soon. If you enjoy immersing yourself in the Regency era, these are great tickets to adventure and romance. Copyright © 2009 by Mary Louise Ruehr. Write to OneForTheBooks@cheerful.com
TJN
a plot line in which zombies are terrorizing the English countryside. The Bennet sisters are cast as talented zombie fighters, and Mr. Darcy admires Elizabeth for her ability to kill the “unmentionables.” It’s rather gruesome, actually. You have to have a sense of humor for this, but it’s an interesting ride! And even my Kindle edition has illustrations. Oh, we aren’t done yet! Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange is written in Austen style and continues the story of P&P, starting with the wedding of Darcy and Elizabeth. As the two are leaving for their honeymoon, Darcy suddenly changes the couple’s plans and decides they will go to Europe to meet his family and friends on the continent. He starts acting very strangely, and she begins to have “a vague sense of unease” because he refuses to touch her. People talk to her about the “old ones” and “our kind,” which she takes to mean the socially well placed. Now, we know from the title what’s going on, but poor Elizabeth
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U A B A F N OLY
SALON AND SPA - WORD SEARCH
E C M R S N F O H E R R S S O L A P O A Y S E I
H H N
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Blow Dry Curl Extensions Facial Hairspray Highlights Manicure Massage Mousse Nail Polish Pedicure Salon Spa Spray Tan Stylist
R U S U P A M H E G A S S A M E S N
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The Dot Game
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Players take turns connecting two dots. When a player completes a box, they write their initial in the box. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.
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r m ende's Museu l l E an en By D e Childr f th o r o ct Dire
Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros. 2009)
Before James Bond, there was Sherlock Holmes. In this latest, action packed version of this re-rediscovered classic, Holmes has gotten a total makeover. He’s a rebel, streetwise, annoyingly smart, a better boxer than Batman, basically nothing like the skinny intellectual popularized by Basil Rathbone in the old black and white movies. American audiences should love this version. For a film without a single car chase (the opening scene, however, features a carriage chase) this is one moving movie. In a London just waking up to the
Industrial Revolution, Holmes manages to find romance, a fight club, techno-science, Satanism, and possibly-the-end-of-the-world-as-weknow-it, all in just over two hours. That’s a little much, I think, but don’t get me wrong. I liked this movie. There were so many things director Guy Ritchie got right. To start things off, the original Sherlock Holmes was never just an armchair detective. But he most certainly was proficient at boxing, shooting, explosives, and had a nasty drug habit. In short, Robert Downey, Jr. is perfect for the part. But even better is Jude Law as Dr. Watson. In the original books, the good doctor was never a bumbling, confused sidekick, but rather an army veteran who was a good friend, excellent marksman and always a reliable backup for Holmes.
So for all its pandering to popular taste, Sherlock Holmes 2009 captures the spirit of the original stories. I think this is because those stories initially were themselves wildly popular. Holmes may have been the first fictional character that was killed off by his author, only to be brought back in a sequel due to public demand. Be advised though, the plot is strictly boilerplate action movie. In this new version, Lord Blackwell is a satanic cult leader who seems to have supernatural powers, murdering Londoners in sacrificial ceremonies. The plot largely revolves around Blackwell’s evil plans. Along the way, Dr. Watson is getting engaged and Holmes runs into Irene Adler, the only woman he was ever attracted to. The movie is full of over the top fight scenes and mainly held together by the entertaining friendship of Holmes and Watson. One thing that bothers me about mystery movies is where the detective stands around explaining how he figured everything out. This happens a few times in Sherlock Holmes. But once I thought about it, I realized that this is the character that started all of that, the great granddaddy to Columbo and every
other crime drama you ever saw. So the director got that part right, too. There’s a great deal of violence, fighting, shooting, and computer graphics peril, but there’s also a lot of excellent dialogue and humor that doesn’t require you to flush afterward, and in fact might require some thought. In other words, this is a smart film, lavishly videographed, with strong performances in an update that will hold the attention of your older children and just might go too fast for you, dear parent. Have them explain it to you after the credits, which feature old-style drawings of scenes from the movie. I’m not usually one to advocate bringing kids to a film as physically violent as this one, (mostly fist fights) but there is virtually no vulgarity or suggestive behavior, and I truly believe kids over 10 years old just might be inspired by this movie to pick up a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. (It’s free on projectgutenberg.org.) Before James Bond, there was Sherlock Holmes. Welcome back. The game’s afoot. TJN
Sponsored by Phil & Lauren de Albuquerque and Krewe de Charlie Sioux Volume 1 • Issue 21
JANUARY 28, 2010
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Killin’ Time Crossword
According to a 2001 study of intentional animal abuse published by the Humane Society of the United States, 13 percent of these cases involved incidents of domestic violence, 7 percent coincided with child abuse and 1 percent with elder abuse.
Sponsored by
Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission. PAGE 42
JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
LAKE CHARLES CIVIC BALLET PRESENTS “RUDOLPH” The Lake Charles Civic Ballet presented “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer” under the artistic direction of Lady Leah LaFargue Hathaway in the Rosa Hart Theater. The program began with the solo performance of “In a Manger” followed by a variety of dancers performing the story we have all grown to love. The performance was exceptional, as acknowledged by the audience. Dancers were greeted by friends and family with bouquets of roses and kisses.
Hannah Arabie, Marietta Scampagna, Sophia Baggett, and Grace Anne LaCombe
Emily, Cate, Al and Leslie O’Byrne
Camryn and Candace Miller with Cathie Chreve
Sarah and Caroline Coleman
Mia and Lexie Choauvin
Meg Ropp and Anne Billedeaux
Juliana Cain, Erin Casey, Claire Morris and Anna Duplechain
CHAMPAGNE & TEA HOLIDAY SOCIAL
Here’s a toast to the Arts and Humanities Council Champagne & Tea Holiday Social, a celebration of the holidays and Louisiana’s matchless culture. People filled the Historic Charlestown Gallery Hotel to browse the lobby and second-floor mezzanine, which featured a fine art exhibit of paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry and pottery exhibited by more than 20 local artists and artisans. Complimentary champagne, hors d’oeuvres and live music iced the cake for this wonderful event. Renee Prejean and Rachell Pearson Volume 1 • Issue 21
Indrea Gordon, Taylor Bell and Taylor Morrell JANUARY 28, 2010
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Justin Bouley and Sarah White
Marsha Dutton and Nancy Czejkowski
Sarah and Cora Bradley
LA POSADA AT THE IMPERIAL CALCASIEU MUSEUM Children gathered at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum to learn about a Christmas tradition in Mexico, the posada party. They re-enacted an outdoor procession for food and shelter, commemorating the difficulty Mary and Joseph had on their journey from Nazareth to find a place to stay in Bethlehem. Once invited inside, the Posada parties began with plenty of food and drink and piĂąata fun--an explosion of sweets! Melissa and Emily Fontenot
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Tana, Greg, Debra and Tatjona Pruitt
Emily Fontenot and Cade Bruney
Laura and Sophia Moreau
Valeria and Humberto Faria
Isabelle and Aaron Baca
Carina, Joana, Jessica and Marcella Daigle
Humberto Faria, Andres Moran
JANUARY 28, 2010
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HANDMADE CHRISTMAS CARD WORKSHOP Santa sent several local artists to help visitors create handmade Christmas cards inspired by The Light Fantastic. Cards were distributed to area nursing home residents through the Calcasieu Council on Aging Ombudsman Program. Children gathered for story time by the 12-ft. Christmas tree with Ginette Evans from the Calcasieu Parish Library as the smell of sugar cookies filled the air. The wonderful spirit of Christmas is a lasting memory for all to cherish. Jo-Nae Williams and Tristan Thibodeaux with Kimora, Destiny and Ayaun August
Jake Hooper and Courtney Thibodeaux
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Kaough Bagget, Cammie Corner, Kelly Calderera and Sophia Bagget
Heatherly Chenet and Erin East
Sarah and Sophie Medwick
JANUARY 28, 2010
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MARDI GRAS NEWS CONFERENCE AT CENTRAL SCHOOL Gumbeaux Gator and the Revelers paraded down the aisles of the Central School Arts and Humanities auditorium to welcome the Mardi Gras Board of Directors and dignitaries to the SWLA Mardi Gras News Conference. Mayor Randy Roach spoke of the ongoing Mardi Gras spirit in Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita. The Twelfth Night celebration signifies the kickoff to Mardi Gras season, leading up to its peak on Fat Tuesday. Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!
TJN Connie Navarre and Gloria Johnson
Julie Babineaux and Mayor Randy Roach
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JANUARY 28, 2010
Tiara Babineaux and James Coleman
Kennedi Langton, Mea Lopez and Katelyn Morris
Mary Kaye Allemond, Patricia Prudhomme, and Ashley Thibodeaux
Volume 1 • Issue 21
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ICM PRESENTS “GEORGE WASHINGTON SIGNED HERE” JAN. 28 –FEB. 26 Documents containing a variety of authentic U.S. presidential signatures will be displayed in the Museum’s Gallery-Annex from Jan. 28- Feb. 26. This is a unique opportunity to view a private collection of signatures as well as castings of Abraham Lincoln’s hand and Lincoln’s death mask. Enjoy refreshments at the reception on Jan. 28 from 6-8 p.m. and while you’re there, view the McNeese Student Show in the Gallery. SWLA DISTRICT LIVESTOCK SHOW & RODEO JAN. 29–FEB. 6 The Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo kicks off its week of festivities Jan. 29–30 with a trail ride and parade in downtown Lake Charles. The livestock shows begin on Mon., Feb. 1 and continue through Feb. 6 at the Burton Coliseum. The rodeos will be held Feb. 4-6 and begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. Western Heritage Days, held in conjunction with the Livestock Show and Rodeo, will be Sat., Feb. 6. Enjoy activities such as story-telling, the stick horse rodeo (which begins at 10 a.m.) petting zoo, music, food and a shoot out at high noon! The event was selected by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event for 2010. Contact Blain Crochet at 802-4879, or Jeff Miller at 661-4240 for information. Tickets for the rodeo are available at www.harperrodeo.com and at Burton Coliseum.
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JAM
2010 GUMBO CUP JAN. 29-31 More than 500 gymnasts from four different states will converge on the Sulphur area on the 6th anniversary of the Gumbo Cup. Athletes will showcase their talents Fri.-Sun., Jan. 29-31 at Sulphur Parks and Recreation Aquatic Center. The meet, hosted locally by Gymnastics Etc., will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 29 with the youngest athletes, ages 5 and older. All of the sessions on Sat., Jan. 30, will feature female Junior Olympic athletes, with higher levels being showcased at the 5:30 p.m. session. Sun., Jan. 31 will be showcasing male gymnasts in two sessions, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. In the 2 p.m. session, there will be 3 Elite Olympic-level gymnasts. For more information on this event, contact Chuck McLallen at Gymnastics, Etc., at (337) 625-3547 or online at www.gym-etc.com. GAUTREAUX READING AT MSU JAN. 29 Tim Gautreaux, Louisiana’s Writer of the Year, will be reading from his fiction at 8 p.m. Fri., Jan. 29, in the Business Conference Center at McNeese State University. This free event is sponsored by the McNeese Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program. Gautreaux is the author of two short story collections, Same Place, Same Things and Welding with Children, and three novels, The Next Step in the Dance, The Clearing and The Missing. For more information, call (337) 475-5635. LATIN DANCE CLASSES AT SOWELA STARTING FEB. 2 AND FEB. 4 Sowela Technical Community College now offers two courses designed to get you grooving to Latin beats. Jay and Maria Cotto, who have choreographed Home Health Care 2000’s annual Dancing With The Stars event the past three years, will teach “Cha Cha for Beginners” and “Salsa for Beginners.” Cha Cha is from 6-7 p.m. Tues. beginning Feb. 2 and the Salsa class is from 6-7 p.m. Thurs. beginning Feb. 4. The 6-week long courses are $45 each plus applicable fees. Participants are not required to bring dance partners, though the class will focus on couple dance moves. “We try to keep it fun,” Cotto said. “I’m a strong believer in finding a way to make it easier for another person. I change my style of teaching a little bit until the student gets it. It’s a casual approach.” For more information, contact Sowela at (337) 491-2688.
Volume 1 • Issue 21
MSU PRESENTS A DOLL’S HOUSE FEB. 3-7 McNeese State University Theatre’s Bayou Players will present Ibsen’s classic, A Doll’s House, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3-6, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sun., Feb. 7, with performances in Ralph Squires Hall in the Shearman Fine Arts Center. This production is a part of McNeese Theatre’s 70th anniversary. Charles McNeely III is director. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for McNeese faculty/staff, senior citizens and students (K-12). McNeese students are admitted free with a current ID. The Box Office opens 10 days prior to opening production date from 6-8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.noon Saturdays. For reservations call 475-5043 or go online at www.mcneese.edu/theatre. CTC PRESENTS PINOCCHIO FEB. 4-7 Directed by Kerry A. Onxley, Pinocchio, the tale made famous by animated film, is based on Pinocchio: Tale of a Puppet by Carlo Collodi. The school performances are held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) located in downtown Lake Charles. THERE IS LIMITED SEATING. Schools interested in booking should contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323.
Performances will be staged on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. (school performance), 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. All performances will be held at Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) located in downtown Lake Charles. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children. Purchase tickets at www.childrenstheatre.cc or by calling the box office at 433-7323. DANCING CLASSROOMS ON TOUR FEB. 6 CITGO Presents “Dancing Classrooms on Tour, “ a FUNdraiser for the Whistle Stop on Sat., Feb. 6, from 1–5 p.m. at CITGO Park, 4978 Hwy. 1133, Sulphur. Learn the salsa, swing and several line dances from Daniel Gonzalez during this fun and lively dance workshop. It is open to all age groups, but space is limited. The cost is $100 per person, and all proceeds are tax deductible and go toward The Whistle Stop, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of children. Comfortable clothing and leather-sole shoes are recommended. Registration forms are available at www.visitlakecharles.org under Dancing Classrooms on Tour or call (337) 562-2344. SIMON BOCCANEGRA FEB. 6 Four decades into a legendary Met career, tenor Plácido Domingo makes history singing the title role in Verdi’s gripping political thriller, which is written for a baritone. Adrianne
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JANUARY 28, 2010
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Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, and James Morris are his co-stars in this moving and tragic story of a father and his lost daughter. James Levine conducts. The opera will be transmitted live to Cinemark 14 at Prien Lake Mall at noon Saturday as part of the excellent The Met: Live in HD series airing to audiences at a thousand movie theaters in 42 countries. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors ages 62 and up, and $16 for ages 11 and under at participating theater box offices and at www.cinemark.com.
“I would like to subscribe to your Jambalaya News. I live in Vernon Parish and get down to Lake Charles about once a month. I work, and have limited time for news. I’m sick of loopy cable news, no local news and slick magazines that are half medicine ads! I enjoy the type of news that you include, and the info about what’s going on before it happens. It might get me out more if I know what’s going on!”
– Ina Vernon Parish
WOMEN’S SHELTER GEMS AND STEMS FEB. 19 The Calcasieu Women’s Shelter’s annual Gems & Stems fundraiser will take place on Fri., Feb. 19, at Treasures of Marilyn’s in Lake Charles. This sparkling and innovative event benefits both the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Outreach. Guests may purchase beverages in stemware with velvet pouches attached. Inside this pouch is a gem of mountable quality. By popular demand, Gervis Guidry and John Haley will return to provide dinner and dancing music. Cocktails and the unveiling of the silent auction items begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and music set to begin at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $50 per person. Cocktail attire is requested. Contact the Shelter to purchase individual tickets or tables at 436-4552 or (800) 223-8066. Those who cannot attend but would like to make a donation to The Calcasieu Women’s Shelter & Rape Crisis Outreach, please mail your tax deductible donation to: CWS, PO Box 276, Lake Charles, LA 70602. A BLACK TIE AFFAIR MARCH 6 The Calcasieu Medical Society Foundation will hold “A Black Tie Affair” fundraiser to benefit the Calcasieu Community Clinic on Sat., March 6 at 6 p.m. at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. Vince Vance and the Valiants will provide entertainment, and there will be a live and silent auction. Tickets are $125 per person, or $1,000 for a table of 8. To purchase tickets, visit www.ablacktieaffair.org and follow the directions for credit card purchase. TENDING HERD PHOTO EXHIBIT NOW THROUGH MARCH 20 The City of Lake Charles is pleased to present Lynn Reynolds’ exhibition “Tending Herd --10 Years of Photographs from the Southwest Louisiana District Livestock Show,” which will be on display in the first floor gallery of the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan St., Jan. 8 through March 20. Tending Herd consists of 36 16” x 20” archival, gelatin-silver prints produced in the artist’s own studio. Lynn Reynolds is a local artist, photographer, and educator. A 1986 graduate of Kinder High School, Reynolds holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from McNeese State University (1992) and a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (1996). Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call 4919147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com. REMINGTON’S ARTISTIC IMPRESSIONS THROUGH MARCH 20 The City of Lake Charles is proud to present “Frederic Remington Makes Tracks…Adventures and Artistic Impressions,” at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan St. The exhibition showcases the work of Frederic Remington. It will hang through Sat., March 20. Frederic Remington (1861-1909) was the most popular artist in America at the turn of the last century. He had produced over 3,000 signed flat works, eight books, and 22 bronzes when he died at the age of 48. America was introduced to him through his many illustrations for the popular magazines of the day: Harper’s, The Century, Collier’s and many more. Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call (337)-491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.
TJN
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Volume 1 • Issue 21
To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com
The
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
• 6 Pack Deep/In Liquid
• Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.
@ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. • Colorcast Veteran/Parallel the Sky/Porcelain Arms @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Do Not Destroy @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Hipbootjoe @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 • Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys @ DI’s
Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Kris Harper & Matthew Moss @ The Porch, 7 p.m. • Doghill Stompers @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs,
Vinton, 8 p.m. • Rio Sabine @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri,
Westlake, 8 p.m. • The Von Dukes/Willie Heath Neal/Spoiled Royals
@ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • JJ & The Zydeco Dog Pound @ Mikko, Coushatta
Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • Krossroadz @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge
du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 • Veneno Mortal @ Hawg Wild, Sulphur, 6 p.m. • Pete Bergeron @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music,
Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Forever Falls @ Hard Rack Billards, 8 p.m. • Same Ol’ Two Step @ Gator Lounge, Delta • • • •
Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. Wayne Toups & Zydecajun @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m. Dead Earth Politics @ Hawg Wild, Sulphur, 9 p.m. Zydecane @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri, Westlake, 9 p.m. ISIS @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 • Zydefest VI @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 3 p.m. • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • The Von Dukes @ Outriggers, 8 p.m. • Same Ol’ Two Step @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Zydecane @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri, Westlake, 9 p.m. • ISIS @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • Ashes of Babylon/Plump @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. • Barisal Guns/The Wild Bills @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Hipbootjoe @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 • Blues Tonic @ Mary’s Lounge, 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Mike LaVergne/Benji Abshire/Wayne Mouille @
Caribbean Hut, 8 p.m. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 • Don Fontenot & Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ DI’s
Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Bobby Cutshaw @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs,
Vinton, 8 p.m. • Cold Sweat @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri
Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Josh Langston/The 94s @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • Dollar Short @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino,
Kinder, 9 p.m. • The Reds @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge
du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 • Hotel Cazan @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music,
Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Thingfish @ Caribbean Hut, 8 p.m. • The Senior Summer/Dear You @ Cowboys, 8 p.m. • Bobby Cutshaw @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs,
Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Kris Harper @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Ridin High @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri
Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Danica @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • Canvas Red @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. • Loser’s Reunion @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Voo Doo @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill,
L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.
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JANUARY 28, 2010
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
• Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles
• Homer LeJeune & The Kajun Kings
• Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns
•
• • • • •
Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. Ashes Eden/Damballa/Losing Ground @ Hawg Wild, Sulphur, 8 p.m. Bad Habit @ Handlebars Club, Sulphur, 8 p.m. Bobby Cutshaw @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. Ridin High @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. Danica @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. Oh Juliet/The Roaring 20s/Passing a Star Fighter @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 • Jamie Berzas @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.
MONDAY NIGHTS: Abita Beer Night
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: Mondo Martini Night
THURSDAY NIGHTS: Be Well Night
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Brad Broussard @ Caribbean Hut, 8 p.m.
• •
• •
@ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. PrimeTime @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. Keith McCoy & CEO @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. Bernie Alan @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. Big Daddy @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12
• • • • • •
• Howard Noel & Cajun Boogie @
• • • • • • • •
DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. Bronco Jr. @ Caribbean Hut, 8 p.m. PrimeTime @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. Blues Tonic @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. Laurel & The Electric Circus @ My Place, 9 p.m. Space Rockers @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. Signal to Noise @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. The Greg Talmage Band/Ace Boone @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. DJ Shortee @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.
•
@ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. Jon Secada @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. PrimeTime @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. Space Rockers @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. Signal to Noise @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. Hansome Harry @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9:30 p.m. Research Turtles/Borderline Cuckoo @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. DJ Shortee @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 • Blues Tonic @ Mary’s Lounge, 5 p.m. • Josh Garrett @ Jack Daniels Bar &
Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 11 p.m. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s
Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • SideSwiped @ Luna Bar &
Grill, 8 p.m.
TJN
Thurs. Jan. 28 @ 9:00 WILLIE HEATH NEAL, SPOILED ROYALS & THE VON DUKES Fri. Jan. 29 @ 10:00 COLORCAST VETERAN, PARALLEL THE SKY & PORCELAIN ARMS Sat. Jan. 30 @ 10:00 BARISAL GUNS & THE WILD BILLS Thurs. Feb. 4 @ 9:00 JOSH LANGSTON w/ THE 94’S Fri. Feb. 5 @ 10:00 LOSERS’ REUNION & MORE... Sat. Feb. 6 @ 10:00 OH JULIET, THE ROARING 20’S & PASSING A STAR FIGHTER Fri. Feb. 12 @ 10:00 THE GREG TALMAGE BAND & ACE BOONE Sat. Feb. 13 @ 10:00 RESEARCH TURTLES w/ BORDERLINE CUCKOO
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JANUARY 28, 2010
Calcasieu Parish has the highest child abuse rate in the state. If you suspect that a child is being abused, call your local police department immediately. You can make the difference in a child’s life.
Volume 1 • Issue 21
Celluloid Dreaming By Leslie Berman I woke tonight from a restless nap to the opening (Yankee Doodle Dandy), and the like, I was especredits of Tom Hanks’ fictional band biopic, That cially taken by The Five Pennies, starring Danny Thing You Do, playing on VH1 Classic. Apart from Kaye as cornet-playing Dixieland jazz bandleader the hook-filled ’60s-style title tune written by Ivy Loring “Red” Nichols, and featuring Louis and Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger, Armstrong playing and singing the trad jazz stanthere’s a lot to like about this celebration of the rise dard “When The Saints Go Marching In.” and fall of a one-hit wonder band, including noteWhether they’re true-ish stories or complete ficperfect performances by Hanks, Steve Zahn, Liv tions about popular musicians or classicists, I try to Tyler, Tom Everett Scott, and Johnathan figure out the magic ingredients that flavor the stew Schaech. Schaech, you will remember, played the of creativity. Does it take a muse? Is it illness, madvillain, Beauxregard “Beaux” Dupuis, in Little ness, fury, concupiscence? Chenier, the Cajun story filmed in Imperial Recently, we’ve seen The Soloist, about Nathaniel Calcasieu, featuring loads of local acting folk — Anthony Ayers, a former musical prodigy whose including Carol Ann Gayle and Mike McHale — in mental health problems led him to live on the brief but memorable roles. streets of Los Angeles. Before that, we had Shine, I’ve seen all or part of That Thing You Do about about Daniel Helfgott, the Australian piano prodigy a dozen times; because it’s a light-handed, feelwhose schizophrenia was eventually controlled sufgood-about-getting-into-the-music business movie, ficiently for him to return to concertizing. and stories like that don’t come along every In Amadeus, the fabulous Mozart fantasia, day. Mostly, these films show us the personal and author Peter Shaffer theorizes that despite his outprofessional pain suffered by artists trying to break standing artistic gifts, Mozart was a ribald, boorish into the industry or struggling to stay on top once bumpkin, and that his fastidious, Catholic rival, they’re inside. These are morality plays, which tell Salieri, was disgusted by the difference between the us that success often fails to provide solace or even divine music and bawdy life of the prodigy, vindication. and so became This formula has been the gold standard from the first use of synchronous sound – the technique that made Spinal Tap “talkies.” The first talkie was The Jazz Singer, Al Jolson’s semi-autobiographical star turn about an immigrant Jewish cantor’s son who leaves home to be a popular musician over his father’s objection. It’s a great melodrama – probably my favorite form of storytelling – and I always start crying when Jolson with outstretched arms drops to both knees to oversell “Mammy.” I had wet-eyed moments in all of the following great biopics: Bird, about Charlie Parker, Walk the Line, about Johnny and June Carter Cash, Topsy-Turvy, about Gilbert and Sullivan, La Bamba, about Richie Valens, Lady Sings the Blues, about Billie Holliday, and Ray, about Ray Charles. For my money, the best films about real musicians include as many whole song performances as possible. For a while, there was a vogue for movies about songwriters, with lots of well-known performers drafted to act or sing with the big bands. Doris Day sings in I’ll See You In My Dreams, in which Danny Thomas played lyricist Gus Kahn, who wrote “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” “Makin’ Whoopee,” “Ain’t We Got Fun,” and “It Had To Be You.” Alongside a raft of semi-true pix about George Gershwin (Rhapsody In Blue), Cole Porter (Night and Day), George M. Cohan Volume 1 • Issue 21
the author of Mozart’s death. Forty years earlier, “King” Vidor filmed Frederic Chopin’s story as A Song to Remember, starring Paul Muni and Merle Oberon, focusing on Chopin’s death from tuberculosis and his love affair with French pre-feminist author George Sand. I loved the musical Bye Bye Birdie, the story of a fictional pop star inspired by draftee Elvis Presley’s farewell to the fans with a “last kiss” to a lucky WAC as he left for his stint in the Army. In the film, the kiss is given, naturally, after the Elvis sound-alike sings “One Last Kiss,” a curled lip, raised eyebrow cartoon of an erotic number, accompanied by all the hip tricks Ed Sullivan sanitized by filming Elvis from the waist up. The ’60s was also the era of the stylized, arty, mock documentary
JANUARY 28, 2010
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Hard Days’ Night about the mop tops’ spectacular rise to fame, which rolls faster as The Beatles perform many of their early hits. It surely was one of Rob Reiner’s influences on his amazing This Is Spinal Tap, the “rockumentary” about the clueless heavy metal band that orders up an 18-inch Stonehenge stage prop, writes paeans to girls with big bottoms, and has a guitar-player whose amplifier volume goes up to 11. The catastrophe-prone group constantly succumbs to inadvertent self-mockery, as when the bass player gets stuck in his see-through pod, which traps him until the last notes of the opening song. But, life imitates art. Years later, I was talking to Dave Pegg, longtime bass player with Jethro Tull, who had watched Spinal Tap with Tull’s roadies as they traveled by bus on a long U.S. tour. “Oh, my God,” he wailed, reliving the moment he realized that the fictional “pod” tour of Spinal Tap closely mirrored his Tull tour, “Under Wraps.” “That’s me, every night, worrying I won’t be able to bust out of the packaging to play.” I’ve barely scratched the surface of well-made true fictions, which include The Rose, in which Bette Midler depicts the tragic life of a self destructive female rock star a la Janis Joplin; Crossover
Dreams, about a Salsa singer played by Panamanian presidential candidate/musician/author/actor Ruben Blades, who strives only semisuccessfully to cross-over into the pop music mainstream; and 8 Mile, Marshall Mathers’ monument to alterego Eminem’s rise to fame as a white rapper in a black art form, which ends on a triumphant note. All are worthy of your consideration. An excellent, though incomplete list of movies featuring music and/or about musicians can be found at www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/musicmovies.html. Further information about individual movies is available at the Internet movie database, on the Web at www.imdb.com. Leslie Berman’s career in music spans four decades, and includes stints as a folksinger, music teacher, coffeehouse booker, concert promoter, publicist, festival director, music journalist, album notes writer, artist manager, trade organization president, entertainment attorney, and president of the Music Museum of Southwest Louisiana. She prefers all things musically eclectic, and votes on the Grammys as a member of the Recording Academy. She can be reached at leslie@leslieberman.com. TJN
As we enter Hurricane Season, we are dedicated to informing you of any weather threatening Southwest Louisiana. Part of our dedication to keeping you informed and up to date is our KYKZ 96 Hurricane Tracking Chart sponsored by Cameron State Bank and Aggreko. The KYKZ 96 Hurricane Tracking Chart will be available June 1 at our sponsor locations or at the KYKZ 96 station. More information at www.kykz.com
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JANUARY 28, 2010
Volume 1 • Issue 21
Featuring SWLA’s 2010 Kings, Queens and their courts!
A Special Edition – because royalty doesn’t belong in the middle of a newspaper! To be distributed at the Gala and throughout the community! For more information, and to see if your business can advertise in this special issue, Please call The Jambalaya News at (337) 436-7800.
Volume 1 • Issue 21
JANUARY 28, 2010
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