VOL. 2, NO. 14 /OCTOBER 7, 2010
ALSO:
An Angel Among Us Staging Your Home for an Autumn Sale Ringside at Bellator Fighting Championships
Imagine an unforgettable and magical evening of elegance and sophistication with wine, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dancing. Be dazzled with an enchanting Argentine Tango Challenge, followed by the highly anticipated “Dancing with the Stars” Dance Competition featuring dances such as the Cha Cha, Salsa, and Merangue. You may come adorned in Masks and Masquerade. Black Tie Requested. Suits & Cocktail Attire Optional. Argentine Tango Attire Welcome!
HONOREES Mrs. Marva Matthews Sisters Survivors
Mrs. Ethel Precht Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer Foundation
Unveiling and Art Auction will feature 10 (TEN) exclusive, never before seen Original Oil on Canvas Masterpieces by Lake Charles’ native Eddie Mormon. The successful bidders will have photo opportunities with the artist. Share in all the fun as “You be the Judge” during the Platinum and Pearls Dance Competition by selecting your favorite dance couple.
All ticket holders will have a chance to win a trip for two to Buenos Aires Argentina! Proceeds will benefit hospice companion care, diabetes community education, educational assistance, nursing scholarships and other charitable requests.
Individual Tickets: $100 Visit platinumandpearlsgala.com Call (337) 562-1140 for Sponsorship Information. PAGE 2
OCTOBER 7, 2010
Volume 2 • Issue 14
GENERAL 715 Kirby St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque publisher@thejambalayanews.com
NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque
contents 14
Platinum and Pearls Gala
REGULARS The Boiling Pot
10
The Dang Yankee
11
Tips from Tip
CONTRIBUTORS George Cline James Doyle Dan Ellender Maria Alcantara Faul Mike McHugh Penny J. Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos
12
Doyle’s Place
29
Sports Report
46
Adoption Corner
ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT Patricia Prudhomme SALES ASSOCIATES Rhonda Babin Katy Corbello Faye Drake Karla Tullos
FEATURES 5
An Angel Among Us
9
Beat Back the Flames of Heartburn
20
Building, Staging, Selling
24
Take the Stress Out of Moving
27
Selling Your Home in the Fall
14 5
ENTERTAINMENT 32
Red Hot Books
34
Funbolaya
35
Family Night at the Movies
36
Killin’ Time Crossword
37
Society Spice
ART/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Michelle LaVoie
40
Jambalaya Jam
43
Local Jam
BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews
45
Eclectic Company
GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck
October 7, 2010 • Volume 2 • Issue 14
COVER STORY
7
lauren@thejambalayanews.com
On Cover: Bob Pastor and Laura Leach. Photo courtesy of The 2000 Health Foundation.
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Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff. The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by The Jambalaya News, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2010 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Volume 2 • Issue 14
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24 We are now accepting credit cards! OCTOBER 7, 2010
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A Note From Lauren Foliage Trips We’re coming up on Columbus Day weekend. We’ve found that doesn’t really mean much in Louisiana, but back home, Columbus Day weekend is the prime time for leaf-peeping. Tourists come from all over to drive north of Boston to New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine to look at the glorious autumn leaves, that one last burst of beauty before the stark winter sets in. You may think it’s strange to build a whole vacation around trees, but the scenes of splendor that enfold on those drives are unforgettable—especially if you’re from a place that doesn’t have much in the way of changing leaves. And there’s so much to do along the way. New Englanders love the fall season, too. Every year, my mother would plan a “foliage trip” over Columbus Day weekend. It was usually just a day trip, but we’d leave early Sunday morning, and not return home until very late, as Monday was a holiday, and there wouldn’t be any school or work. As always, my mother would get on the phone the week before and round up the usual gang of friends and relatives and tell them where we’d be going. It never occurred to any one of them to make another suggestion. Everyone left the planning up to her. One year, it was Deerfield, Massachusetts, home of Deerfield Academy, that super-preppy boys’ boarding school that first opened its doors in 1797 (I think it’s coed now). The drive west to Deerfield is beautiful, as are the grounds of the campus. I remember visiting a museum there, and seeing a thick oak door on exhibit that had been hacked at by Indians back in the early 18th century when they attacked the village. Another year, we went to Vermont, and my cousin Anthony’s car broke down at some point during the trip. My mother was always taking home movies (that’s what they were called back then—and there was no sound) and caught Anthony sitting on a picnic bench, staring glumly into a cup of coffee. “Look at Anthony, crying in his instant coffee,” my mother laughed when we watched it later. My cousin was obsessed with his cars, and we always teased him about them.
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
Another time, we wound up in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport is the most amazing place—it was the playground of the rich and famous in bygone times—the Astors, Vanderbilts, Morgans—to name a few. All the wealthy folk built these enormous mansions (which were actually called “cottages,” because the families just spent summers there) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, filling them with priceless pieces of art, antiques and God knows what else. Today, you can tour many of these fabulous homes on Bellevue Avenue. There’s Rosecliff, where the movie The Great Gatsby was filmed. It was built for a Nevada silver heiress. And there’s Rough Point, one of the many homes of tobacco heiress Doris Duke. It has 105 rooms, and 300-year old furniture, which she allowed her dogs to lounge on. When the staff complained, she reportedly told them, “ You just work here. They live here.” I loved these fall trips because they always had a destination; we weren’t just aimlessly driving around looking at trees. And everything we did was enhanced by the season; wherever we went, the reds and golds and oranges of autumn enfolded us. And when winter crept in shortly afterwards, stripping the trees bare and breathing frost on the windows, we had those memories to warm us until spring.
TJN
– Lauren de Albuquerque
Volume 2 • Issue 14
By Maria Alcantara Faul
Bain Jones
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Lifelong Lake Charles resident Christy Papania-Jones was recently named one of the eight winners of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation’s Angel Award. The award, presented annually, recognizes people who do extraordinary volunteer work for Louisiana’s at-risk children. The second daughter of Luke and Debbie Papania, she earned her wings by being a pioneer in bringing affordable therapy to the underserved population of autistic and developmentally delayed children in Southwest Louisiana through her organization, the St. Nicholas Center for Early Intervention. A graduate of St. Louis High School, Papania-Jones obtained her BA in early childhood education from McNeese State University. She also earned her MEd + 30 in guidance and counseling, and an EdS in administration and supervision from MSU. She taught kindergarten for a year at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, and has been a guidance counselor at the school for over 14 years. She is married to Chris Jones and is blessed with a son, Bain, who was born in 2003. Papania-Jones had always dreamed of working with children. As a guidance counselor, she’s responsible for Individualized Education Programs and works closely with struggling students and their parents. “Struggling students are students that have learning disabilities or difficulties… children that don’t learn the traditional way,” she explained.
Bain Since she’s worked with children her whole life, Papania-Jones knew early on that something was different with her son, Bain. Both she and her husband noticed that he wasn’t hitting developmental milestones both physically and mentally, so they worked with their pediatrician to determine a course of action for him. A diagnosis could not be confirmed, but Bain’s pediatrician suggested early intervention, which meant speech, physical and occupational therapy. “At this point, we didn’t know what Bain had, but we knew that early intervention would be beneficial,” Papania-Jones explained. So at 11 months, Bain started physical and speech therapy through Louisiana Early Steps—the state’s early intervention system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays/disabilities. Occupational therapy was not included in the matrix in Lake Charles. Knowing how important it was for Bain to receive his therapy, the family paid for the regular occupational therapy sessions out of their pocket. After three years of age, children no longer qualify for Early Steps, so families either pay for the therapy themselves, or their children do not receive services. At this point, the Joneses were paying for the cost of all three therapies. “Bain needed the therapeutic services. It wasn’t easy, but we did it,” Papania-Jones said. At 2 ½ years of age, a pediatric neurologist based in Baton Rouge diagnosed Bain with Apraxia- a neurological disorder that affects a person’s motor skills. The neurologist informed the couple that their son would probably never talk, and that they should try to fit him with an augmentative device to assist with his communication. Faced with this almost final diagnosis, they decided to keep on working to find ways and means to help Bain. “We just had to pick ourselves up and take care of what needs to be done,” she said. Papania-Jones conducted her own research on various speech disorders; specifically, those with symptoms that Bain had—and the most prevalent diagnosis was autism. “At this point, autism was never mentioned as a possible diagnosis for Bain, and most of the information I encountered about it painted a picture of hopelessness,” she stated.
OCTOBER 7, 2010
PAGE 5
A glimmer of hope Papania-Jones continued her research, and saw a glimmer of hope. She learned about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which has been successfully used to assist children with autism. She found a for-profit company run by Janice Huber, an ABA boardcertified behavior analyst that provided ABA therapy, and Bain soon started the program. “It was expensive, but we saw results,” Papania-Jones said. After four months of participating in ABA activities, Bain said his first word. “I think it was ‘ball,’” she said. Bain was progressing remarkably when Hurricane Rita hit Lake Charles, and the Jones family had to evacuate to Florida. Afraid that Bain would regress after the progress he had made, Papania-Jones searched and found a facility in the area where Bain could continue his ABA therapy. When the family returned to Lake Charles, Huber’s ABA facility was closed. “We were disappointed. Bain was making so much progress with the therapy and now there was no place for him to receive the services,” Papania-Jones said. They looked at all possible options for Bain; they even
considered moving. “We just knew we needed to do something,” she said. For a while, the Joneses and another family worked with a group out of Boston. “We would videotape Bain and his activities and send the tape to the firm in Boston, and they would prescribe a therapy plan. I would implement the plan, then, after a few weeks, videotape Bain again, and send it back,” she explained. “They evaluated him based on the tapes and tweaked the therapy plan as needed.” Facing a dilemma During this time, Bain learned how to imitate, follow instructions, and how to make his mouth move to make sounds. He was making progress, but the family was at a crossroads. The cost of the interstate therapy sessions was taking its toll, and they had to consider moving to a bigger city where the services that Bain needed would be readily available. “Moving to a bigger city would be more cost-effective for our family, but our support system is here. We wanted to stay, but Bain needed the therapy, and we would do anything for Bain,” Papania-Jones said.
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PAGE 6
OCTOBER 7, 2010
The Jones Family
The ball gets rolling During this time of deliberation, she remembered the non-profit agency in Florida that provided therapy to Bain while they were there. So she started researching how to establish a non-profit organization. “I had some experience in nonprofit, but I didn’t realize how much work it entailed,” she said. She received tremendous support from the community, and in June 2007, the ball started rolling on the formation of a nonprofit organization that offered ABA therapy in the Lake area. “Everything just started falling in place. We had the space donated, and almost all of the legal and financial services we needed were provided pro bono,” she said. The St. Nicholas Center becomes a reality! In June 2008, the St. Nicholas Center opened its doors in Lake Charles, and started providing ABA therapy to four children. Named after the big jolly guy in the red suit who is always there for children, the center is currently staffed with eight ABA trained therapists, one ABA board-certified behavior analyst, and four members of the support staff. Papania-Jones serves are the executive director of the center. The cost of therapy is quite expensive. “A family is looking at a cost of $1,000 per month for regular ABA therapy, and most children are also receiving other therapeutic services,” she said. According to her, a third of the families they see have their therapy fees covered by insurance. “These are the kids who have officially received a diagnosis of Autism or PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified).” Another third of the families have kids with no diagnosis, so their ABA
therapy fees are not covered, and they must pay out of pocket. The remaining third’s children have been diagnosed, but their employers elect not to cover it. Happy endings The St. Nicholas Center has seen it share of relocations. “We were once located on top of the Children’s Museum, but we lost everything during a fire,” Papania-Jones said. “We moved around for a year, but we really needed a bigger facility so we could help more kids.” The center recently opened the doors to its new facility located on the corner of Ryan and Broad Street in Lake Charles. It currently provides services to 11 kids. “I’m excited to say that we can take more!” Papania-Jones exclaimed. Today, Bain has completely caught up with his peers on developmental benchmarks. He is in the first grade at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, and attends regular classes with the help of a “shadow”— an ABA therapist who uses ABA principles to prompt and reinforce Bain when needed in the classroom, and who backs off when Bain does not need it. “I believe Bain would not be in a typical classroom if not for ABA,” Papania-Jones said. More than earning her Angel Wings, she will receive a $20,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield to benefit St. Nicholas Center. She will be honored, along with other winners throughout the state, at a presentation ceremony on Oct. 18 at LSU’s Lod Cook Alumni Center in Baton Rouge. For more information about the St. Nicholas Center and ABA Therapy, visit www.stnickcenter.org, or call (337)656-2561. TJN
Volume 2 • Issue 14
The
Boiling
P l
Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com
SASOL MAKES ENDOWMENT TO FAMILY FOUNDATION OF SWLA Sasol North America recently made a $15,000 endowment to Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. The Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, the endowment arm of Family & Youth, connects donors to the priorities that enhance the quality of family and community life for generations to come. It aims to provide long-term support of Family & Youth’s programs. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES NEW HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Mary Matte, a Lake Charles native with 19 years experience in the human resources field, recently joined the staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as human resources manager. In her new position, Matte will be responsible for evaluating departmental processes, employee recruitment and retention efforts, refinement of employee job descriptions, regulatory compliance and managerial and employee development. Immediately prior to joining Memorial, Matte Mary Matte served as associate relations coordinator at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital. For more information, contact Human Resources at Memorial Hospital at (337) 494-3255.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL NAMES DIRECTOR OF HOUSE SUPERVISION Matt Prejean, BSRN, was recently named director of house supervision at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. An employee since 1983, Prejean began his career while still a nursing student at McNeese. He previously served as director of surgical services, and is an ambassador for the service excellence committee. Prejean is responsible for maintaining quality patient care at Memorial’s Oak Park campus. In addiMatt Prejean, BSRN tion to determining staffing needs and monitoring supplies and equipment availability, he facilitates patient movement to and from Memorial, and between hospital departments. For more information, call Memorial’s House Supervision at (337) 494-3215. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WELCOMES INFECTION PREVENTION MANAGER Bridget Boudreaux, RN, CBN was recently named infection preventionist at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. An Abbeville native, Boudreaux received her nursing degree from Louisiana State University-Eunice, and is currently working toward a degree as a nurse practitioner from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before joining the staff of Memorial, Boudreaux has Volume 2 • Issue 14
spent the last eight years working in Lafayette in the surgical services arena with a primary emphasis on bariatrics. For more information on infection prevention at Memorial, call Bridget Boudreaux at (337) 494-3271. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES ROSIE THOMPSON AWARD WINNER Vicki Fontenot, RN, was the recipient of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s bi-monthly Rosie Thompson Award for June and July of 2010. Fontenot was nominated by patients and fellow hospital employees for service excellence as a registered nurse at Memorial’s Medical/Surgical Unit. Fontenot graduated from McNeese State University two years ago, earning a degree in nursing after owning a beauty shop for 30 years prior. Her portrait will be displayed in the hospital’s main lobby along with other Rosie Thompson winners, and she will also be in the running for the Rosie Thompson Employee of the Year Award. L’AUBERGE’S DARRIN HOKE CONDUCTS GAMING COURSE AT ARUBA GAMING EXPO L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort Surveillance Director Darrin Hoke recently conducted a 12-credit gaming course for professionals at the Aruba Gaming Expo. The subject of the course,” Protecting Your Assets: An Organizational Approach,” provided strategies and techniques to detect fraudulent actions and develop protection procedures and training practices. Hoke is also the Surveillance Center of Excellence leader for Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and an expert Darrin Hoke professor in gaming industry security in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Reno. Hoke joined L’Auberge in 2004; he has more than 25 years experience in gaming security and surveillance and is in demand as an industry instructor and speaker.
ARTS COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is proud to announce the introduction of six new members to its board of directors. Anjo Elsbury of Lake Charles is a retired teacher from Beauregard Parish and has worked with arts organizations; Beverly Gott of DeRidder works for Amerisafe and has helped to promote cancer awareness programs; Patricia Schmidt of Lake Charles has volunteered with programs and craft work throughout Lake Charles; Dr. Michelle Swift of Lake Charles is a local dentist; Matthew Welsh of Lake Charles works for McNeese State University and has extensive experience with fundraising; and Amanda Winterbottom of Lake Charles is the director of sales for Candlewood Suites and works closely with Fusion Five and other community organizations.
OCTOBER 7, 2010
PAGE 7
WOMEN & CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WELCOMES YVETTE DEGAZON, MD Women & Children’s Hospital (WCH) recently welcomed Yvette Degazon, MD to its medical staff. Dr. Degazon specializes in family medicine, which allows her to provide comprehensive primary care for female and male patients at any age. Originally from Belize, Dr. Degazon earned her medical degree at the Universidad Del Noreste in Mexico. She completed her residency at the New York Medical College Family Medicine Residency Program at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, New York. Dr. Degazon is currently accepting new patients, and same day and early appointments are available. Her office is located behind the hospital at Yvette Degazon, MD 4150 Nelson Rd., Building G, Suite 5. For an appointment, call 337-562-3761.
CAMERON STATE BANK NAMED ONE OF THE NATION’S STRONGEST BANKS Cameron State Bank has earned the highest rating for strength and stability from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s bank rating firm. The five-star superior rating indicates exceptional strength and stability, with CSB excelling in areas of capital adequacy, delinquent loan levels and profitability. Cameron State Bank has earned this superior rating for ten years running, and has reached the distinction of being an Exceptional Performance Bank.
WESTLAKE CHEMICAL DONATES TO MCNEESE Westlake Chemical has donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology through the McNeese Foundation for the college’s engineering endowment fund.
Stacey and Brian Guilbeaux
Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, center, dean of the college, accepts the donation from Westlake Chemical representatives Wayne Ahrens, left, and Joe Andrepont. McNeese photo.
PRIMERICA PROMOTES LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES Primerica Financial Services recently announced the promotions of Brian and Stacey Guilbeaux to regional vice presidents. John Addison, co-CEO of the company, stated, “I am pleased to announce that Brian and Stacey Guilbeaux have joined this exceptional group of leaders. Their success is a barometer of the number of people that Primerica has helped prepare for a more secure financial future, and that’s what we’re all about.” The Guilbeauxes have opened an office in the Old Charleston Hotel located at 900 Ryan Street, Suite 304 in Lake Charles.
L’AUBERGE DU LAC CASINO RESORT NAMES AUGUST FIVE STAR EMPLOYEES L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort recently announced its August Five Star Employees and Employee of the Month. The August Five Stars are Bridget Isadore, a security officer; Chris Connally, a golf course attendant; Derrick Ceasar, an employee dining room cook; Monica Rideaux, a buyer; and Jesus Madrid, a laundry room attendant. Ceasar was designated as the August Employee of the Month and is now eligible to receive the coveted Employee of the Year award. Derrick joined L’Auberge in May of 2005 as part of the resort’s opening team. He is married with three sons and is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Billy Navarre presents donation to Wanda Cooper and Willie King, Jr.
Left to Right: Chris Connally, Jesus Madrid, Derrick Ceasar, Monica Rideaux and Bridget Isadore PAGE 8
OCTOBER 7, 2010
BILLY NAVARRE DONATES TO ‘FIRED UP FOR YOUTH BBQ COOK-OFF’ Billy Navarre, owner of Billy Navarre Chevrolet, Honda and Hyundai recently presented a sponsorship check of $1,000 to Wanda Cooper and Willie King, Jr., hosts of the first “Fired Up for Youth BBQ Cook-Off.” The event, which benefits Family and Youth’s Leadership Center, will take place Oct. 30 and “pits” the BBQ cooking prowess of Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier against the skills of Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso. The Leadership Center for Youth provides guidance, leadership development, career exploration and civic engagement opportunities to facilitate the youth’s success and involvement in the community. For more information, call Family and Youth at 436-9533. TJN Volume 2 • Issue 14
Heartburn, or acid indigestion, actually has nothing to do with your heart. The most common symptom is burning chest pain that begins behind your breastbone and moves upward to the neck and throat. It may feel like food is backing up into the mouth, leaving a bitter taste. WHAT IT IS The muscle that connects the esophagus with the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), acts as a valve to stop food and stomach acids from flowing back up the esophagus. But if the LES is weakened, stomach acids back up and cause the unpleasant sensations of heartburn. CAUSES According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), causes of heartburn can include: • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is a chronic condition caused by the routine backup of stomach contents into the esophagus. Heartburn that occurs more than twice a week may be considered GERD, according to the NIDDK. • Hiatal hernia: A hiatal hernia is caused when a small hole forms in the diaphragm—the muscle that separates the stomach from the chest. When this happens the stomach can move up into the chest. Many people
Volume 2 • Issue 14
have hiatal hernias without symptoms. However, it is a common cause of heartburn. • Weight: Being overweight can contribute to both a weakening of the LES and hiatal hernia. • Pregnancy: Twenty-five percent of pregnant women experience daily heartburn. More than half have it occasionally. Pregnancy increases the risk of heartburn because the uterus expands, pushing against the stomach, and because of a generally slowed digestive system. • Food triggers: Some foods and drinks may weaken the LES and cause heartburn. Common triggers are chocolate, peppermint, fried or fatty foods, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Smoking also relaxes the LES. SIMPLE SOLUTIONS Most people with heartburn can find relief by changing their lifestyle and diet. Your doctor can work with you to develop a plan that may include: • Losing weight. This is no easy task, but many overweight people find relief from heartburn when they slim down. • Decreasing meal portions. Eating too much may cause a too-full stomach to expand and push food backward into the esophagus. Decreasing the size of your meals
•
•
•
•
can also decrease heart burn symptoms. • Avoiding trigger foods. Some foods and beverages can irritate the esophagus or weaken the LES— fried or fatty foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, peppermint, chocolate, alcohol, coffee and pepper commonly cause or aggravate heartburn. Quitting smoking. Not only will heartburn symptoms abate, your overall health and life expectancy will improve. Not eating before bed. Avoid lying down less than two or three hours after eating. It can cause stomach contents to back up past a weakened LES. Elevating the head of your bed. Either place the head of your bed on blocks about 6 inches high, or sleep on a specially designed wedge pillow. Taking antacids. As a short-term fix, antacids work well for many people. If your problems persist, check with your doctor. Other medications are available and long-term use of antacids may cause side effects. If you are pregnant, don’t take any medication without consulting your doctor.
MORE THAN HEARTBURN However, more frequent heartburn may be a sign of GERD. GERD can cause symptoms other than heartburn,
including hoarseness, sore throat, trouble swallowing, dry cough and bad breath. When you have GERD, the cells in your esophagus are regularly irritated by stomach acid. Over time, this may cause the cells to change and become precancerous. This condition is called Barrett’s esophagus. Once the cells in your esophagus have changed, you are at risk for cancer of the esophagus—even if you get your heartburn under control. If you have Barrett’s esophagus, you should have your doctor monitor the changed cells for signs of cancer. You’ll also need to be aware of the symptoms of cancer of the esophagus. They can include: • Difficult or painful swallowing. • Drastic weight loss. • Pain in the throat, back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades. • Vomiting. • Coughing up blood. • Hoarseness or chronic cough. Talk to your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. Gastroenterologist Ricardo McCall, MD, will be holding a free seminar on the causes, symptoms and treatment options for heartburn on Thurs., Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. in Garber Auditorium at 430 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive. Call 491-7577 to reserve your seat. TJN
OCTOBER 7, 2010
PAGE 9
Dang Yankee The
By Mike McHugh
The Truth About Yard Sales Last week, my wife held a yard sale. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not against her trying to make some extra cash by doing a bit of retailing. I just wish she had tried something different--something that wouldn’t have affected my life in any way. Something like Mary Kay would have been nice. Those house parties would have been a great opportunity for me to go off and do man-things, like overhaul the trans-
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
mission on my truck; that is, if I could ever find the transmission. I learned about the yard sale one night when I found half of my personal belongings stacked up in the spare bedroom. A few minutes later, my wife strolled in with a fistful of sales tags. “How much are these guitar amplifiers worth?” she asked. “You’re selling my amplifiers?” I protested.
“Only two of them,” she answered. “You have four, three of which you never use.” This illustrates the problem with yard sales. I truly believe that they were invented by wives for the sole purpose of getting rid of their husbands’ stuff that they’ve gotten tired of looking at. Making money is not a consideration, although they will never admit that. It became clear that some creative thinking was needed on my part in order to have a chance of saving my cherished things. My first strategy was try to talk her out of having the yard sale altogether. I tried to explain that those things were of absolutely no value to anyone besides myself, and so she would just be wasting her time. After all, if she thought it was junk, why wouldn’t everyone else? Of course, I never let her onto my real fear, which concerned the stack of old Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues that she intended to sell for a dime each. I was certain that at least one or two of those were worth upwards of $50, since there has to be a few girls in there who went on to become famous supermodels. I quickly discovered that, once a woman gets it into her head that she’s going to have a yard sale, there is absolutely no talking her out of it. You’d have about as easy a time convincing her of this as you would trying to explain that your wedding anniversary is just another day after all, so it should be okay for you to spend the day fishing with your buddy Roscoe, on account of he says they’re really biting for once. So, I went on to Plan B. This plan, I felt, was simply ingenious. The crux of it was get her to price everything so ridiculously high that no one would ever think of buying it. And, as my wife had absolutely no idea what anything was worth, it seemed like I couldn’t lose. For some reason, my wife viewed me as a walking price guide, asking me about the value of every item (except, of course, the swimsuit issues, which she was particularly eager to get rid of). I feigned ignorance at first, lest I appear over-anxious and thus arouse her suspicions. Then, when the time was right, I jumped in and eagerly offered my advice. This included setting a $20 price for an old eight-track player. I
explained to her that there was a niche market for “classic” stereo equipment. So, in the days leading up to the Big Event, I engaged in much selfgloating about the devious actions I took to save my valuable possessions. Then, as it always seems with such matters in our relationship, things took a decided turn for the worse. My wife had done the one thing that I never would have imagined. She discovered that she could check eBay to validate the prices I had given her. This is how she found out that there was no niche market for old eighttrack players. In fact, she found that she would probably have better luck hawking alligator boots at an animal rights rally. My wife eagerly rose at 4 a.m. on the Big Morning. She was open for business at 6 a.m., with all my stuff priced to sell before 7 a.m. I sat and watched helplessly as total strangers hauled off my precious things one by one. In the aftermath, I had to beg her to share even a small fraction of her profits with me. Alas, she knew me too well, fully realizing that I would just spend the money on more junk—which would guarantee another yard sale in the future to dispose of it. And so goes the eternal cycle. Note: We were contacted by a concerned reader from the Ragley area about a statement that appeared in this column in the Sept. 9 issue. Therein, I implied that people in Ragley include such things as mice and rats as ingredients in their jambalaya. I thought I had this on good reference, so I contacted my source, Mr. Pierre Thibodeaux of the world-renowned think tank, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux Research Associates, LLC. Here is what he said in response, and I quote: “Fo’ sho’, y’all Yankees don’ unna’stan’ plain English when ya’ hear it! I said ‘dose folks up’ dere in Ragley like to put rabbit in ‘dere jambalaya, not rats!” So, that being said, I sincerely apologize to the fine people of Ragley, who I’m sure make some of the finest jambalaya in the whole state. In fact, the next time you’re cooking some up there and have an empty seat at the table, be sure to think about me! TJN Volume 2 • Issue 14
By George “Tip” Cline
Get Artsy I hope that many of you took the opportunity to partake in the recent Gallery Promenade Art Walk. If you missed it, several of the exhibits are still open to the public. Even for those of you who aren’t big into arty activities, they have considerable merit. To mention but a few, the Imperial Calcasieu Museum has an impressive collection of over 60 Clementine Hunter works. Hunter was a Louisiana folk artist from the Natchitoches area who portrayed the vanishing Southern plantation culture. Our 1911 Old City Hall Museum is featuring a display of “Almost Alice: New Illustrations of Wonderland by Maggie Taylor.” These pieces are a wondrous mix of photographic realism combined with visual surrealism, which are a both a delight to the eye and to the imagination of young and old. And at Central School, there are still exhibits in both the Art Associates Gallery and Black Heritage Gallery. CENTRAL SCHOOL LACKS PARKING, LIGHTING While on the subject of Central School, there is a regrettable lack of adequate parking at that site and a severe lack of adequate nighttime lighting for what parking there is. At any well-attended occasion, the patrons are literally forced to park illegally or walk long distances from the First Methodist Church or another business parking lot. The way I see it, this forced unauthorized parking has the potential for deluge of parking violation tickets, as any source of opportunity to gather municipal funding hardly passes by these days. There is additional room available for more parking without removal of the old oaks that surround the facility. Volume 2 • Issue 14
There could be paved spaces and a driveway in the open areas. There surely should be a plan to correct the situation, and if money is not available, some type of fundraising could be held. There’s a security guard inside the building on the bottom floor, but by the time many events are through, he has served his allotted time and clocked out, leaving the folks departing on their own to get to their vehicles in the poorly illuminated (legal or illegal) parking. If we are to have Central School serve as our Arts and Humanities center, then it’s incumbent upon us to provide ample parking and a secure environment for those of us leaving after dark. Just one unfortunate incident could do irreparable damage to the future of a facility that so many have worked so hard and long to preserve. Until security is brought to an acceptable level, I can only recommend that all exiting be done in group situations—definitely not solo.
ed amount, and they send you an email certificate to present to the business so you can get your value for the amount charged. If not enough people offer to buy the deal, then that deal falls through and your credit card is not billed. I can see this becoming a very popular method for greatly increasing business with a participating merchant. Looking through some of the past deals that were offered, I saw a large variety of offerings, and some rather attractive savings on food and beverages at restaurants such as Ralph and Kacoo’s, Mike Anderson’s and others, as well as deals on massages and Baton Rouge Symphony tickets. GOOD TEACHERS NEEDED! I recently had the pleasure of visiting with State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek and some members of his staff. I can only say that he is an impressive spokesman for education and believes deeply in the future of our children. He gave some examples of how excellent teachers have made amazing progress with some very underperforming students, and how he wants to get the very best teachers in our school system.
He also proudly spoke of the advancements made from an organization he formed in 2004 called New Horizons that serves as a statewide think tank for supporting school improvement. Believe me, the man is on a mission to raise the bar on education in Louisiana. He firmly believes that good teachers are the answer to our educational problems and talked about the really excellent teachers who have made radical progress—and not only with the underperforming students. They’ve often caused ambivalent parents to take notice and become involved in their children’s schooling. As an example, he recalled how one parent told him that in the past, he had only been contacted for the bad things that his child had done, and that his son’ improvement has made him a supporter of getting involved in making sure he gets quality schooling. I stressed to Mr. Pastorek that I believe that parental backing was the most important aspect to a child getting a good education. He told me that with excellent teachers and programs, the parental support would come. TJN
BARGAIN BEE A friend has pointed me to a Web site he likes called bargainbee.com. This enterprise out of Baton Rouge works with different businesses, in different cities, to effectively sell discount certificates on purchases from the participating merchant. My friend sent me information on the Lake Charles deal of the day which was a $20 food and drink certificate for $10 dollars at a very popular Ryan Street restaurant. After a little research, I learned that the Bargain Bee company makes deals with different merchants to provide a certain number of customers. If that number offers to buy the deal, then your credit card will be billed for the discountOCTOBER 7, 2010
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Check out our new and original costumes! 2619 Ryan St., Lake Charles
oyle By Jim D
337-436 7812
It’s Just a Game When there’s a little tinge in the air, it feels like one of two things to most people: Halloween or football season. Sometimes, in Louisiana, it’s the same thing. I was privileged, as most of you know, to serve our state as a sportswriter for the Morning Advocate (which dropped “Morning” when the publishing company dropped the afternoon paper, the State-Times, in 1991). When I started there, I was 21 years old, referred to universally as “Young’un,” and knew practically nothing about sports. We were a short staff even with my addition, since Bernell Ballard had had a heart attack and Jay Workman, who later covered the Florida Parishes for the newspaper, decided to sail around the world. Being the rookie meant I worked the slot, which, for all you folks who understand the business, meant I was the only one who really worked most nights. The guy in the slot is the one who puts out the paper, picks out the stories and pictures, draws up the page layouts, and follows the stories through production until the whole thing goes to press. It’s a lot different now due to technology, but the principles involved are basically the same. Being the “lowest of the low,” as we often called that position, also meant I stayed in the building working while the rest of the staff went out to Tiger Stadium on home game nights and watched the Tigers. But I don’t want you to believe I never had any fun. In fact, it was a lot of fun. Early on I went to the SEC Skywriters’ dinner, which was a lavish affair put on by the LSU Sports Information Department to wine and dine the travelling press in a pre-season ritual that continues to this day. PAGE 12
OCTOBER 7, 2010
It was there I first met Burt Jones, Paul Lyons, and Charles Y. McClendon, a/k/a Charlie Mac, LSU’s legendary coach. In later years, I made it to a few ball games, including the one in 1974 when I first saw Texas A&M. It was an impressive display. Their uniformed student body and their band were as enthusiastic as anything LSU could put on the field, and that night they crushed a supposedly ranked Tiger team. Years later, when I had occasion to interview Coach Emery Bellard about that game, he remembered it well. It was the turning point in a cycle for both teams. LSU tied Rice the next week and went on to finish the season 5-5-1 without a bowl trip. This was just a year after they played Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Coach Mac never recovered. He led LSU five more seasons but finished only one of those in a bowl game. The knives were out for his job long before that happened. From my vantage point at the time, I heard almost all the rumors and complaints. Coach Mac didn’t understand offense. Coach Mac couldn’t win the big ones. Coach Mac didn’t know how to use his quarterbacks. Coach Mac wasn’t very smart. By now, I’ll bet this is sounding kinda familiar to those of you who follow the Tigers, because you can hear exactly the same things about Les Miles, LSU’s current embattled coach. I don’t know why it’s this way, but Louisianans are impatient about their football, at least at LSU. Apparently they’re not that impatient at other schools; if they were, Tulane would have dropped football long ago (sorry folks), and Oo-La-La, as my friend Russ Bordelon calls that fine Volume 2 • Issue 14
university in Lafayette which is alma mater to my daughter Brittany, might not even have a stadium. Fact of the matter is, LSU football is an institution that far exceeds its utility in importance to the fans. That’s a fancy way of saying: Lighten up, folks, it’s just a game. As with most things in life, I can give that advice better than I can take it. I shout at the television as much as any of you when Jordan Jefferson makes a clueless play, and I laugh just as long when Patrick Petersen strikes a Heisman pose after returning a punt for a touchdown. Some of my best memories involve LSU football; some of my best friends, many of my best Saturday nights. After my official days in journalism were over, my old friend Paul Manasseh hired me to work the field for him during home games. This wasn’t a high-paying job (in fact, I don’t remember if I got paid at all), but it allowed me to be on the field for the games helping in game management. That meant I got to watch the Golden Girls from a great angle. At the end of the game, I’d go into the Tiger locker room and retrieve
Volume 2 • Issue 14
quotes from the LSU coaches and players to send up to the press box so the writers could add a little color to their stories. I was almost always just beyond the north end zone for the last few minutes of the game. One night, when Tennessee was in town, LSU had the game won going into the last seconds until Willie Gault caught a punt about 10 yards from me and ran it all the way back for a touchdown to win the game. He looked like an orange rocket. He was a member of the 1980 Olympic team and would have done well, but that’s the year we boycotted the games to punish Russia for invading Afghanistan. Déjà vu all over again. As I write this, Tennessee is coming to town and we’re the ones who have invaded Afghanistan. And we still have a 4-0 team with a two-quarterback system that the fans are booing from time to time. Ah, football. It’s in the air, all right. You guys enjoy the game of your choice, and I’ll see you on the flip.
TJN
It’s Time to Step Out and Step Up for Downs Southwest Louisiana is home to many angels with Down Syndrome, and they need your support. For the past seven years, UP4DOWNS, a local non-profit support group, has gathered for a fun-filled day of community spirit, education, food, games and a walk to remember. Formerly known as the Buddy Walk, the “2010 Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk” is set for Sat., Oct. 9 at the Sports Complex on the McNeese campus off Common Street. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Face painting, moon jumps, great food, dancing and kids games will follow from 10 a.m. to noon. This is the primary fundraiser for UP4 DOWNS, which is committed to raise community awareness and understanding of the special abilities of children and adults with Down Syndrome.
UP4DOWNS’ mission is to offer education, activities and support for our citizens with Downs and their families. We need your help, we need your involvement, and we need your legs to walk with our special angels. There are several levels of registration for this fun-filled event, which includes walk participation, T-shirt (guaranteed for pre-registration entries), lunch and drinks with hours of entertainment and prizes. Event T-Shirts will be available the day of the walk on a first-come, first-serve basis. Individual Registration $10 Family of 2 Registration$20 Family of 3 Registration$25 Family of 4 Registration$30 To form your own team for the walk, contact Debbi Seaux at 582-6138 or 309-7530. TJN
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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Photos courtesy of The 2000 Health Foundation Story By Penny J. Miller
2009 Winners – Mr. Bob Pastor and Mrs. Laura Leach Close your eyes and follow your imagination into a night of elegance, excitement, and intrigue where the cool autumn evening sizzles with a steamy South American beat. The grace and sophistication of tuxedos and bright flowing gowns are enhanced with the magic and intrigue of enchanting dance. No other night of the year will hold the thrill and captivating appeal of The 2000 Health Foundation’s 5th Annual Platinum and Pearls Gala Fundraiser, featuring the “Dancing with the Stars” competition and the “Tango Masquerade Ball.” Four local celebrity couples will delight the evening’s audience with an exotic array of Latin, Afro-Cuban, and Dominican artistic routines as they vie for the title of 2010 “Dancing with the Stars” Champion. Six returning dance couples will don their masks and burn the floor with the seductive and smoldering Argentinean tango, all in the name of charity.
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT The local star-studded evening, which will be held this year at L’Auberge du Lac Casino, is the signature fundraiser of The 2000 Health Foundation. The event is an evening of dinner, dancing, and donations for the continued funding of diabetes awareness, and community education. The Foundation also provides hospice companion care; is a partner in education for the Sacred Heart Saint Katherine Drexel Catholic School; and, provides nursing scholarship assistance to address the area nursing shortage, according to Stephanie Morris, executive director of the Foundation and 2010 Gala chairman.
“We are in our fifth year of the Gala, and it has continued to outgrow our venues every year,” said Morris. “Last year, somewhere between 800 to 900 guests attended the event. The community just continues to amaze us with their support and attendance.” Morris reiterated that the funds donated allow them to sponsor diabetes health care seminars, self-management of the disease, promotion of wellness, and offer diabetic supplies and equipment for those unable to afford the items. In addition, the Foundation provides ten graduating high school seniors with nursing scholarships for any four-year college or university. The educational assistance is provided through a Partner in Education Volume 2 • Issue 14
Loretta and James Spruels
Bobby Dower and Leslie Harless program that enhances the success of the students attending the school. WHY WHAT THEY DO IS NEEDED According to the 2000 Louisiana Health Report Card issued by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana has the second highest death rate due to diabetes and terminal illnesses of all U.S. states. It concludes that there is a need to develop effective intervention strategies to reduce the burden of diabetes and other related diseases. Moreover, it states that Louisiana is ranked low as it relates
Rudy Garca and Christin Bennett Volume 2 • Issue 14
to elementary education and also shares the nation’s problem of a nursing shortage. In light of the LDHH findings, the 2000 Health Foundation has implemented interventions with the goal of providing the outlined help and addressing these needs. “As a physician, I am behind what the Foundation is trying to accomplish,” said Dr. Adrienne Breaux, event participant and supporter. “Between their diabetes education and assistance, the wellness and self-management training, and their scholarships for future nurses,
they fill a great need within the community. Personally, they’ve been able to help several of my patients. And, although the event is fun and I enjoy dancing, I am here to support the foundation and their programs.” THE DANCERS The featured dancers (all community leaders and local dignitaries) volunteer between 10 to 16 weeks of their personal time in training and rehearsals for the “Dancing with the Stars” performances. Professional dance instructors Jay and Maria Cotto spend
one-on-one time with each couple to prepare them for their dance routine. Competitors Alex and Carrie Chaumont and Patrick Schaad and Brenda Shelton will shuffle their feet to the Cuban quick steps of the cha-cha; Craig Guillory and Jackie Simien will twist and swivel to the six-step patterns of the Latin and Afro-Cuban style salsa; and Rolland and Monica Soileau will pop their hips to the four-step beat of the Dominican-originated bachata. The 2009 “Dancing with the Stars” champions, Bob Pastor and
Lauren and Phil de Albuquerque OCTOBER 7, 2010
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2008 Champions Dr. Alan and Bridget Hinton
Dance Instructors Jay and Maria Cotto
Laura Leach, along with returning dance couples Bridget and Dr. Alan Hinton, Roger Porter and Melinda Lemeke, Joel Rosario and Dr. Adrienne Breaux, and Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque, will be competing in this year’s “Tango Masquerade Ball” feature dance competition. “Phil and I had a fabulous experience as contestants in last year’s Platinum and Pearls Gala,” said Lauren de Albuquerque. “Jay and Maria Cotto taught us the bachata, and we have since become good friends. Knowing that our performance was for a good cause was a great incentive for us to get out there and do our best!” Each of the couples will spend six to eight weeks with instructors/dancers Steve LeBlanc and Debbie Weeks to learn to mix the sharp, quick movements of the leg staccatos with the slow and powerful stalking-style of story telling that is the essence of the Argentinean tango. “I love to dance, so to be able to have private lessons and to be able to perform this dance [Argentinean tango] is a lot of fun. It’s a much slower, eloquent, and controlled dance than the salsa I performed last year. It has more intricate and detailed movements. One
change in the movement can add a completely different feel to the dance,” Dr. Breaux said. HONOREES The 2000 Health Foundation will recognize and honor Mrs. Marva Matthews and Mrs. Ethel Precht that evening as the 2010 “Making a Difference” community service award winners. Matthews is a breast cancer survivor and the facilitator of the Sisters Surviving Cancer Support Group, established by the American Cancer Association. She is instrumental in putting on the yearly Pink Ribbon Gala, which will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Oct. 9 Precht is also a breast cancer survivor and founder of the Ethel Precht “Hope” Breast Cancer 3K Walk fundraiser, to be held Oct. 16 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. EXCLUSIVE AUCTION Gala guests will be privy to an exclusive unveiling and bidding option of ten never-before-seen, original canvas oil paintings by Lake Charles’ artist, Eddie Mormon. Mormon’s impressionistic renditions have been compared to Van
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 - 6PM • 7PM • 8PM Sit back and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of candlelight and soft music as you are treated to a hairstyle, a euphoric neck and shoulder massage, a therapeutic foot massage, and a soothing scalp and hand massage including a warm paraffin wax dip. Wine & Hors'douvres will be served. Availability is limited to eight people an hour so reserve your space today with a credit card or check... It's guaranteed to be an evening to remember! At only $50 a person, it's an offer too good to pass up! All proceeds benefit salon continuing education; allowing us to attend shows and bring back the latest in beauty trends!
109 W. LaGrange, Lake Charles Call to book an appointment. (337) 477-6868
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Gogh, Monet, and Degas, and have been displayed throughout the United States and are available worldwide. According to his Web site, Mormon states, “Painting is just like playing music, dancing or cooking – it comes from within. I am grateful to God for my special gifts and talents and hope that I continue to be blessed with the ability to bring to life on canvas the beautiful visions I see in my mind’s eye each evening after I retire.” Successful bidders will have an opportunity to meet with Mormon and have their photos taken with him and his paintings. ADDITIONAL FESTIVITIES The optional pre-event festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. with guests invited to “get in the tango mood” with a free one-hour tango lesson by professional instructors. All interested ticketholders are asked to register for lessons prior to the evening by calling (337) 562-1140. The official festivities will open with cocktails and gourmet hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m., followed by the exquisite dinner presentation by L’Auberge du Lac’s award-winning catering at 7 p.m. In keeping with the mystique of the evening, the identity of the event’s mas-
ter of ceremonies is being kept a secret, and a featured exhibition dance will be performed by surprise professional dancers from San Diego. Although the dance competition will be officially judged by the Foundation’s panel of experts, guests are encouraged to participate in the “You Be The Judge” award by selecting their favorite dance couple through designated voting donations. And, you won’t want to miss out on the Foundation’s special gift drawing. All event ticket holders will have a chance to win a trip for two to Buenos Aires, Argentina! So, reserve your seats early and bring your dancing shoes for this exciting evening of sequins and sparkle, masked dancers, and fabulous food presented by The 2000 Health Foundation! The event will be held on Sun., Nov. 14, in the Grand Ball Room of the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, located at 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles, LA 70601. For directions, contact L’Auberge directly by calling (337) 395-7777 or (866) 580-7444. TJN
Jon Erick Chretien and Dr. Adrienne Breaux
Cecelia and Anthony Bartie
4710 Common St., Suite A • (337) 564-5769 www.theporchcoffeehouse.com
1616 West McNeese • 337-478-3232 Dr. Harry Castle • www.oakparkdental.com Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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James and Bertha Coleman
Ann O’Reilly and Harry Williams
SPONSORSHIP AND TICKETS Individual tickets are available for $100 per person. Sponsorship options are as follows:
301 W. Prien Lake Rd., Lake Charles PH (337) 477-7977 FAX (337) 477-7978 augiesscooters@att.net
❖ Crowned Jewel Underwriter Sponsor - $25,000 The Crowned Jewel Underwriter Sponsor will receive recognition in the Gala program, along with recognition, an announcement, and an on-stage presentation at the event; listing on billboard, television, radio, and print media advertisements as a major event sponsor; select VIP table for 16 guests with party favors; limousine pick-up; a one night stay in a luxury suite for two; and VIP dance couple introduced and announced on stage. ❖ Pearl Sponsor - $10,000 The Pearl Sponsor will receive recognition in the Gala program along with recognition, announcement, and on-stage presentation at the event; listing on billboard, television, radio, and print media advertisements as a major event sponsor; VIP table and limousine pick-up for eight guests; and VIP dance couple introduced and announced on stage. ❖ Diamond Sponsor - $5,000 The Diamond Sponsor will receive recognition in the Gala program along with recognition and an announcement at the event; television, radio, and print media advertisements as a major event sponsor; VIP table for eight guests; and VIP dance couple introduced and announced on stage.
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
❖ Gold Sponsor - $2,500 The Gold Sponsor will receive recognition in the Gala program and at the event; radio and print media advertisements as an event sponsor; and a VIP table for eight guests. ❖ Silver Sponsor - $1,000 The Silver Sponsor will receive recognition in the Gala program and at the event; print media advertisements as an event sponsor; and a VIP table for eight guests. The 2000 Health Foundation accepts checks, cash, and all major credit cards. For Gala sponsorship, tickets, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please make checks payable to: The 2000 Health Foundation. To purchase tickets with a credit card, please call (337) 562-1140. Gala sponsorship forms may either be faxed to (337) 562-1419 or mailed to 1901 Oak Park Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601. All donations are tax deductible (Federal Tax ID# 260129737). For more information, please contact Stephanie Morris or Lisa Walker at (337) 562-1140 or visit their Web site at www.platinumandpearlsgala.com.
TJN
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Stephanie Zimmer and Jack Martin Tammy Andreas took us from a newly constructed house with one leather chair, a stone coffee table, and a handful of ideas to a beautifully decorated home that reflects our tastes and style. From the beginning, Tammy spent many hours with my boyfriend, Jack, and me. She learned our likes and dislikes, and encouraged us to share our vision with her. We had already made a million decisions about our newly constructed home and by the time it was built, we were on decisionmaking overload. Tammy took us through furniture stores, fabric stores, and accessory stores looking for the right mix of style and functionality for our home. We worked with Tammy for less than four months from design to install. In
that small amount of time, we went from less than a room full of furniture to a fully decorated four-bedroom home— curtains, furniture, accessories, and art. How many people can say that they have completely finished their home within three months of moving in? Andreas Designs was finished before our landscaping was complete. Tammy was quick, yet thoughtful in the transition from house to home. Her help was not only effective but also cost-efficient. When I thought interior designer, I thought $$$$$. But Tammy proved to be anything but the high-priced designer that I had imagined. I would recommend Andreas Designs for anything, from complete home help to custom draperies to accessory staging.
Charles and Jo Blanchard Our home is about 20 years old. We raised two sons and then, as empty-nesters, we decided it was time to update and redecorate. My husband and I had a vague concept of what we wanted in our home, but had absolutely no idea of how to reach our goal. We received Tammy's name from a friend. She came over and visited with both of us, asking for our ideas, listening and taking notes. With our permission, she came into our home while we were out of town and completely redecorated our kitchen. We were amazed when we walked in-everything was just beautiful! Our vision had come true, even down to the picture hanging on the wall of the scene we had described to her. Over the next year, Tammy redecorated our dining room and foyer, and just recently completed the family room, which she stage when we were again out of town. To walk in and see your room completely redecorated is such a wonderful feeling --we had to keep reminding ourselves that it was indeed our home! The finished look of the kitchen, dining room, foyer and family room is amazing. Tammy of Andreas Designs is so easy to work with. She has a special talent for taking a vague idea and bringing it to life. Her suggestions and taste in decorating are superb. Tammy, along with her husband Tim, has transformed our home from the ordinary to the "Old World" look we admire. Photography by Nick Derouen Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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After Staging
Before Staging
By Lauren de Albuquerque, Photography by Nick Derouen You drive by a new development and see a lovely, brand-spanking new home for sale. Once inside, you marvel at the superior design and construction and state-of-the-art appliances. The house has not yet been lived in, but each room has been so perfectly staged with the right furniture and accessories that you can imagine yourself moving in tomorrow. A tremendous amount of effort has been put forth to get the house to that point; effort from the construction company, design firm, and the real estate agency. All three components must come together in harmony to create an end result that’s a winwin situation for all concerned. This is exactly what’s happening at Providence, one of the newest subdivisions in South Lake Charles. The beginning Developer Terrell Heard contacted Jennifer and Larry Toups of Canal Place Land Development, LLC to start “Phase One” of this project. He came to the right place: Larry Toups has over 30 years of custom home-building experience, from small first time homes, large, elegant houses or custom-designed homes. Jennifer teamed up with Larry over 12 years ago. In 2004, their company had a tremendous impact on new home construction in the area with the start of Canal Place. Seventy lots were sold in 18 months, with half of the houses built by Toups. While building in Canal Place, Jennifer assisted homePAGE 20
OCTOBER 7, 2010
owners with choosing the style of their home, the interior and exterior colors, lighting fixtures, and more. Canal Place is a unique, beautifully landscaped subdivision. Many homebuilders have referenced it for the design of their future homes. So, it’s no wonder that that they were approached by Heard for this new project. The result is the design and construction of a home in the Providence subdivision at 1549 L’Acadie. The dwelling is a French Country design complete with a private courtyard that features the Old World architecture that will be synonymous with this progressive new subdivision in Southwest Lake Charles. The home was placed on the market by Century 21 Bono broker Tony Cornner, but Toups soon realized that it needed to be presented in its best possible light. And that’s where staging comes in. It’s been proven that a house filled with furniture sells better than an empty home. “As a builder here in Providence, we suggested staging the house, since this concept is rapidly catching on,” said Jennifer Toups. “So we asked Tony and Tammy [Andreas, of Andreas Designs] what their thoughts were—and here we are today with our first home staging!” Staging is a value-added tool and a market differentiator. A potential buyer is provided with a clear vision of the rooms that have been staged. “We’re hoping that with this new concept, our homes will sell faster,” said Toups. “By teaming up—staging the
house with Tammy of Andreas Designs—and then listing it with Tony at Century 21 Bono, we can sell it faster, and show homeowners how to turn a house into a home,” she added. Setting the stage Tammy Andreas of Andreas Designs started her business in 2007 while living in Baton Rouge. She moved back to Lake Charles in 2008 and has continued it locally, while continuing to work with clients in the Lafayette and Acadiana Parish areas as well as in Texas. Her company’s specialties include architectural/blue print review concept development, space planning, furniture selection, custom window treatment, custom bedding, and accessories needed for the finishing touches. “Home staging is about illusions,” Andreas said. “It’s about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look brighter, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.” Andreas has known Jennifer and Larry for quite a few years. “The Toups are clients of mine as well as friends. We have a great working relationship. They refer clients to my company, and I refer my new construction clients to them for bids on home building,” she said. Andreas has helped them stage and decorate their booths for the home show for the past two years, and has also assisted them with event planning and decorating. She was
excited to work on the Providence house with them. Once she determined what was needed, she got busy. “It took a full day to pick out all the furniture, accessories, lamps, rugs, etc., and a day to pick up the accessories and have the furniture delivered and set up,” she said. “A total of two full days was required for their project.” The furniture was provided by Howell’s Furniture. “Having a close relationship with the owners of Howell’s helped expedite the project in a timely manner,” Andreas said. “Wade and Wanda Witt and their staff are always great to work with.” Andreas loves what she does. “My background is in serving people, whether it’s in a job or in church,” she said. Her passion and joy comes from interpreting what her clients’ words sometimes can’t describe, then designing and decorating their home and hearing them say, “How did you know? It’s better than I could have even imagined!” “I am blessed to be able to get up every day and enjoy what I do, blessed to help others by making their house into a home,” she said. “It’s so rewarding and heartfelt to see the look on my clients’ faces when they see their homes after the project is complete. To me, that’s worth more than money!” For sale! With the house now beautifully staged, it’s on the market, just waiting for the perfect family to call it home. Volume 2 • Issue 14
“This subdivision is in the center of Lake Charles and close to everything,” said Tony Cornner of Century 21 –Bono. “It was built to have structures that would conform to restrictions and quaint living. Smaller lots and high-end built structures are what make this subdivision so popular. Lush landscaping and brick fencing are just a few of the exterior amenities that homebuyers in today’s times are seeking.” Cornner said that Providence was designed with the desire that Canal Place was built on. “The vision of the owner is to have a subdivision that homeowners would be proud of,” he said. “It’s still in the beginning stages, but it certainly appears that just like Canal Place, it will be a property that will be well sought after. There are several homes already built in the neighborhood that resemble Canal Place’s structure.”
While Bono is not the exclusive agency for Canal Place, Cornner has personally sold the majority of homes there over the last few years. “After Hurricane Rita, I worked very closely with the Toups and several other builders in the subdivision,” he said. Cornner has been a licensed real estate agent since 2000. He was awarded Rookie of the Year in sales volume and production by the Southwest Louisiana Association of REALTORS® his first year in real estate. “I attained my broker’s license in 2006 and am an associate broker with Century 21 Mike D. Bono,” he said. “I’m active in my local board and will be a 2011 board member. I am also a board member for the state of Louisiana. I’m proud to be a realtor and I love and believe in Lake Charles.” TJN
Jennifer Toups, Canal Place Land Development, LLC, (337) 474-9891, (337) 540-5331, Web site: www.toupsconstruction-design.com Tammy Andreas, Andreas Designs, LLC, (337) 274-9104, e-mail: tammy.andreas@yahoo.com Tony L. Cornner / Century 21 Mike D. Bono, 4410 Nelson Road, Lake Charles. Cell (337) 802-3493, Business (337) 478-1579, e-mail: tony@tonycornner.com, Web site: www.tonycornner.com Tammy Andreas, Owner of Andreas Designs, LLC Tony Cornner with Century 21 Mike Bono and Jennifer Toups with Toups Construction and Design
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Photo Submitted
TRANSFORMED FROM HOUSE TO HOME There will be an Open House from 1-3 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 10 at 1549 L’Acadie. This beautiful home has 3,095 square feet of living area, with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a keeping room with fireplace, island kitchen, and a fireplace in the living room. The floor plan is beautifully accentuated by 11’ and 13’ ceilings. Directions: From Country Club Road: Turn south on Pecan Acres Drive to Providence Way to L’Acadie Drive. The home is on the corner.
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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By Tammy Andreas
www.alamoinsectcontrol.com
bought a house in Sulphur.
SAVE THE DATE Please attend our open house Friday, November 5, 11a.m. until 5p.m. Come see our facility and meet our friendly staff!
She saved money for her down payment by shopping at POLISHED PEASANT, 205 W Napoleon, Sulphur, 337-527-0078. Her entire outfit (dress, shoes, & accessories) was purchased at this resale boutique for less than $50! Come see our designer jean collection. The new dwelling is insured by RONNIE JOHNS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 3701 Maplewood Dr., Sulphur, 337-625-4025. She’ll have 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service. Call today to arrange a meeting with one of their friendly representatives. She’ll be decorating her home with items found at the MISTLETOE & MOSS HOLIDAY MARKET. The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. presents this popular shopping event Nov.17-20 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Visit jllc.net for more info.
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
When preparing a home for sale, there are several things that homeowners can do to maximize profit. In order to make the house memorable to the buyer, who is viewing up to ten or more houses before making a decision to purchase, the seller must prepare the house first. Homes for sale that are clean, well maintained, in good repair, uncluttered, depersonalized and tastefully decorated in an understated way have a much better chance of selling before those houses that are not prepared for the marketplace. • Do have furniture in your family room, living room, porch, dining room and bedrooms. • Don’t over-accessorize—clutter tends to turn off buyers. Give items space to breathe. Put away extra books, magazines, and accessories. • Create seating and conversation areas, and put extra pieces of furniture in storage. The less that’s in the room, the larger it will look. Keep things as neutral and impersonal as possible. • Paint. When a little color is added to dingy walls, it can give an old and tired room a fresh new look. Paint goes a long way and gives you a great bang for your buck. • Painting should be done in neutral or earth tones with flat finish. Remember to open the curtains wide and let in as much light as possible. • Stay away from crazy or overly bright colors. • Cleanliness implies that a home has been well cared for. Clean everything! Wash windows inside and out. Replace light bulbs and dust lampshades and fixtures. • When potential buyers walk into a residence, they should be able to picture themselves living in it. This is difficult if the space is filled with the current homeowner’s personal items. So, make sure that family photos and mementos, and any other traces of your dayto-day life are put away. TJN Volume 2 • Issue 14
Andreas Designs specializes in residential interiors that reflect the homeowners' distinctive personality and style. Tammy Andreas begins by gaining an understanding of her clients' lifestyles and the way they use their homes. She combines that information with her own vision and innovative ideas to create unique spaces. Once the design concept has been decided and a plan has been formulated, it’s time to start selecting the pieces of furniture that will be the focal point of your room. With careful consideration for your space, Andreas Designs will make selections based on your desires and lifestyle. It’s important for Tammy to select quality furniture for her clients. And that’s where Howell Furniture comes in. “Howell Furniture was founded in 1959 by my grandfather, Thurman Witt,” said Wade Witt. “Currently, Howell furniture is owned and operated by the third generation, including myself and my cousin Shawn Hanley, who is our advertising director.” Howell’s offers free in-home design service and offers furniture for every budget. “We carry all of the best name brands, such as La-Z-Boy, Broyhill, Volume 2 • Issue 14
Thomasville, Serta, Tempur-Pedic and handmade oriental rugs at guaranteed lowest prices in Southwest Louisiana. We have the most experience sales staff in Lake Charles and pride ourselves on no-pressure selling.” Howell’s specializes in displaying furniture in professionally designed room settings, so you can picture it in your own home. “Similarly, home staging is about illusions,” said Tammy. “It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look brighter, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes house hunters want to buy it.” Tammy said that contrary to what you might think, staging is about more than just preparing the house for sale. “It’s all about dressing the house for sale. It's important to allow potential buyers to get excited about visualizing how their lives could unfold in such a space. Staging a house is presenting the dream--showing it the way it could be.” Tammy prefers to keep her business local, and encourages others to do the same. In working with Wade Witt and the cooperative staff at Howell’s, she said her experience in
staging the home in Providence was wonderful. “Whether it’s staging a home to sell, or enhancing one or more rooms with new decor, it is important to have access to a wide variety of furniture,” said Tammy. “And, it’s just as important to have available access to unique accent pieces, rugs,
lamps, accessories to achieve that special look.” Howell's makes this possible-and on any budget. “I look forward to teaming up with Howell furniture in the near future to meet the needs of my clients,” she said. “I would recommend Howell furniture to meet all your furniture needs.” Photography by Nick Derouen
Seated on sofa from left to right - Howell's Sales Associates Rita Ney, Shirley Oliver, Wanda Fontenot, and Sue Ann Stodder. Standing in back of sofa left to right - Tammy Andreas, Andreas Designs; Howell's Sales Associate Clayton Fontenot, Howell's Owners Wade and Wanda Witt, & Howell's Sales Manager Joey Guillory OCTOBER 7, 2010
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Moving is always a hassle. But there are things that you can do to make your life a little easier during this stressful time. The main thing is to be organized. The following can help: BEFORE YOUR MOVE One-two months before: • Put together a binder to keep notes of what you need do, what you’ve already done, etc. • Create a checklist from this information to help you assess what you need to do and when. • Store all the documentation and paperwork associated with the move in a file. • Secure the services of a moving company. • If you’ll need storage facilities, explore your options and book it. • Make a list of everyone who needs to know of your change of address. • Start contacting financial providers, (bank, credit union, etc.,) to have your details changed. • Notify schools and employers of change of address. • Start packing non-essential items whenever you have some free time.
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• Start stockpiling boxes and containers for packing. • Notify your doctors, dentist, veterinarian, etc., of your change of address. • Contact all of your insurers (home, vehicle, medical etc) to notify them of your move. Ask your home insurer for details of your existing coverage and arrange new coverage, or a transfer to your new home. • Start putting important documents in a lockbox as you come across them. • Send out change of address notices to friends and family if you have a firm moving date. • Complete the form from your local post office for their mail forwarding service. • Start making an inventory of your goods and take photos/videos of valuable items. • Complete any repairs to your home that you are committed to. Two-three weeks before: • Contact utility companies and service providers to arrange to have your appliances/services disconnected and, if necessary, reconnected in your new home. • Take a room a day and start packing up items you don’t use regularly.
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• Take back library books, pick up dry-cleaning and deal with any other similar things you may have pending. • Have your car(s) serviced. • Stop buying frozen food. It will make the move easier. • Put aside a box/boxes for personal/essential items that you want to take yourself rather than give it to the movers. Start putting in items as time permits. Mark DO NOT MOVE so it’s not loaded by mistake. • Pack up your garage and anything that’s stored in your yard, garden or sheds. • Empty the fuel from your lawn mower and power tools and dispose of anything that is flammable or hazardous. One week before: • Call your mover and any other companies involved with the move (storage facilities, etc.) and confirm arrangements. • Keep packing! • Start taking apart furniture that needs to be disassembled. • Confirm that your new home is still set to be insured. • Make sure all your outstanding bills are paid.
One-two days before: • Defrost and clean your refrigerator/freezer and secure major appliances. • Make sure that utility companies are confirmed to disconnect services. • Figure out how you’re going to move any plants you’re taking with you. • Make sure that all the paperwork related to your house sale/rental/purchase is complete. • Finish major packing. • Pack up your PC and other electrical equipment. Write down the serial numbers in your moving binder. • Put together a box of essentials for the move such as tea, coffee, mugs, sugar, tools, paper and pen and cleaning materials. • Make sure all boxes are clearly marked/labeled. • Start cleaning the house as you go along. • Make sure you have all the documents related to your move on hand. DURING YOUR MOVE Moving day at your old home: • Get up early. • Remove bedding and pack it up. • Walk your movers through the
• • • • • • •
house, tell them what you need them to do and take their advice on the actual loading. Make sure your movers know where they’re going. Give the house a final cleaning. Leave a note of your contact info for the new residents so they can forward any mail. Have a final walk-through to make sure you’ve remembered everything. Make sure you have keys to your new home and drop off your old house keys as arranged. Make sure you load everything you’re taking yourself in the car and lock it. Switch everything off, lock up and leave.
• •
• •
• •
Moving day at your new home: • Make sure everything is working, such as electricity, gas, etc. • Supervise the unloading process to get everything where you want it. • Offer the movers drinks and snacks. • Clean before you start unpacking. • Start unpacking essentials.
from essential to non-essential items. Reassemble your furniture when you have time. Don’t worry about filling wardrobes immediately if you have bought special wardrobe boxes. Your clothes can hang perfectly well in there until you have time to put them away properly. Get all of your major appliances ready for use again and hook them up. Unpack all electrical items as quickly as possible and check for damage - you may have a limited window for insurance claims. Make sure your mail is being for warded to your new address. If necessary, change your driver’s license. TJN
AFTER YOUR MOVE • Unpack logically, working down
4875 KINGSPOINT DRIVE, Lake Charles, $432,800 Home has approximately 3400 sq. ft. of spacious living with 10-12’ ceilings throughout, wet bar and study adds to the great room which features a fireplace wall of custom built-ins, with custom woodwork echoed throughout the kitchen. Master suite and great room redefines the word spacious and comfort. Call for a PERSONAL TOUR! Derenda GRUBB, 337-842-2696
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
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Curb appeal. Spruce up your lawn: rake up those leaves frequently and patch up any brown spots in the grass. Pressure-wash your home and repaint before you start showing, if necessary. Take care of fall-specific maintenance projects — like cleaning your gutters and downspouts. Add a touch of fall decorations – such as pumpkins or a wreath on the door – to give your house an inviting look. Sense appeal. Now that it’s cooler, you need to make your home a warm, welcoming place where buyers will linger. If they stay awhile during showings, they’ll have more time to admire your home. Before showing your home, burn cinnamon-scented candle or two. You can also use a room diffuser. If you opt for cider, leave it in a thermos with cups for buyers to enjoy. Open all the blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. Emphasize the warmth and comfort in your home with soft blankets, plush towels or a silky table cloth and runners. Light their fire. A warm fireplace is a great selling point as the weather gets cooler. Arrange your furniture to make your fireplace a focal point. Place tasteful decor on top of the mantel to make it even more prominent. Think like a buyer. Since spring is the prominent time to list your home, buyers think that fall sellers missed the boat and are desperately trying to unload their homes. They’re looking for deals, so be prepared for lowball offers. Manage your expectations and negotiate accordingly, depending on your motivation. If you need to sell quickly, be prepared to make counteroffers until you and the buyer find
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a price you can both live with. Hire a reliable real estate professional. Selling your home is stressful enough, but doing it right before the holidays adds to the pressure. You definitely need a great real estate agent to take some of the pressure off your shoulders. Ask friends and family if they can recommend a listing agent who will go above and beyond to get your home sold. Price it right. While spring is the busiest season for real estate sales, fall usually sees a small rush of buyers looking for a bargain before the holidays. If you want to entice these dealseeking house hunters, makes sure you price your home competitively. Setting your listing price just right could lead to a bidding war, resulting in a higher sales price for you. Work with your listing agent on this. Watch your timing. Put your home on the market well in advance of looking for a new home. And don’t place an offer on your next home until you have solid offers on the one you have to sell now. The last thing you want to do is cope with two mortgage payments Be flexible. While fall isn’t the hardest time to sell a home, it’s not the easiest either, so be willing to work with buyers to help your chances of making a quick sale. Offer to pay for closing costs or repairs, and be adaptable when it comes to showing your home and holding open houses. While preparing for the holidays can make fall a busy season, if you really need to sell, you need to accommodate buyers’ busy schedules as well. This might mean opening your home to strangers on weeknights and TJN weekends. OCTOBER 7, 2010
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Dru Ellender, Broker/Owner 274-1320
Kerry Ellender 274-9073
Dana Turpin 485-0244
Anja Richard 274-2520
Kathy Gardner 499-4955
Kathy Ware 337-250-8085
Brian Bimle 802-5315
Jessica Ware 842-5900
Marietta House 513-9205
Clara Colvin 526-4814
OFFICES LOCATED AT: 3709 Maplewood Drive, Sulphur 337-625-3150 office 337-625-7164 fax
Marjorie Baca 540-3983
823 University Drive, Lake Charles 337-474-8877 office 337-474-1055 fax
Dominick Valenti 884-2818
Carolyn Cummings 764-9646
4200 Maidstone
129 Breaker
Brandi Smith 540-3937
David Goodly 496-7296
1593 Currie
2605 Chiara
Smith Washington 240-1515
Rita Gobert 540-3705
4815 Riverridge
Betty Jordan 794-4888
Rose Holland 794-0744
5741 Bullwhip
2881 Christy
Delores Boudreaux 794-7142 PAGE 28
Linda Ellender 485-0626
JD Hankins 274-9892
1929 Honeysuckle
Tammy Arnold 309-9581
Eric Blood 540-8061
VISIT US AT WWW.COLDWELLBANKER.COM TO VIEW ALL THE SWLA LISTINGS!
Stephenie Vital 912-9247
OCTOBER 7, 2010
Jason Price 302-8447
Crystal Perkins 540-0843
Carolyn Guillory 912-5374
Rockey Keeley 540-2614
Norma Taber 244-2290
Bob Holland 540-3094
Kris Kolluri 526-4257 Volume 2 • Issue 14
ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B
Mixed Martial Madness in Lake Charles Boy, it is tough making certain sacrifices. Let me tell you. I know not everyone was able to make it out to L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort for the Bellator Fighting Championships mixed-martial arts
event last Thursday. Even if you did go, you might have missed some of the festivities, or been sitting up in the stands away from the cage. I anticipated this ahead of time and, in the name of journalism, I decided to fall on the grenade and not only attend the fight, but also the weigh-ins and post-fight press conferences. So that the event would be covered as closely as possible, I reluctantly decided to sit five feet away from the cage, to experience what few MMA fans can watching on pay-perview or up in the crowd. Toughest two days in my journalism career.
Weigh-Ins Jack Daniels Bar & Grill made quite a setting for an MMA press conference as the meaty fighters signed paperwork and officially weighed-in amid the lingering smell of barbeque. I mean, why not hold the pre-fight press conference on a stage set up next to the giant Peterbilt big rig sticking out from the wall? It was as American as the giant, flowing American flag made of chains hanging from the ceiling behind the bar. Jack Daniels himself was there, at least in spirit. Posters of an ornerylooking Daniels were plastered on just about every wall and column in the restaurant. Now, normally, consump-
tion of Jack Daniels whiskey promotes more of the…unsanctioned sort of fighting, but I’m sure the restaurant’s “benevolent sponsor,” as it says on the poster, would have approved of the legal sort of prizefighting being promoted in an establishment bearing his name. Bellator is a relatively new promotion, formed in 2008, and its format is a little different than other promotions. Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney wanted to see the fighters determine their career paths rather than the matchmakers, so he created a tournament format for championships in all weight classes. Eight fighters get in the bracket, one becomes the champion. In addition, television deals with Fox Sports Net, NBC, and Telemundo
TICKET PRICES: Reserved: $20 Advanced Purchase $22 Day of Game
First 2,500 Fans will receive a FREE Rally Towel from McNeese State
General Admission: $17 Advanced Purchase $19 Day of Game
Please contact Ryan Ivey 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.
Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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mean that Bellator’s live events, like the one in Lake Charles, are seen in over 91 million households worldwide. But the first impression I got was of the fighters. Up close and personal, you see just how massive they truly are, even at lighter weights. These folks may be small, but when you’re standing next to Yoshiyuki Yoshida, the former UFC fighter, it was evident how hard these guys train. By this point, it was also evident that, if I made any of these folks angry, any of them could rip my arms off and beat me to death with them inside of 30 seconds. Every one of the male fighters
sported some level of cauliflower ear. Frankly, there was enough calcified ear cartilage in the room to form a small, stony mountain. As the fighters filed toward the stage area for the opening remarks and official weigh-in, there was a feeling of genuine solidarity and friendship among most of the fighters. Caught me off guard, for sure. Maybe I expected some sort of ridiculous spectacle like what you’d see at a boxing weigh-in, egomaniacal fighters reaching over two or three of their entourage to paw harmlessly (but, intensely, lest anyone think they may truly like their oppo-
nent) at the other fighter who is being “held back” by his own crew. But no. Not here. Lisa Ward (married name: Ellis) was all smiles as she hugged her opponent (“adversary” as the Bellator ring announcer says) Megumi Fujii while Jessica Aguilar, a pretty, perky young woman with flowing dark hair beamed from her seat on the stage. Aguilar has moviestar looks and an infectious smile, which has landed her some part-time acting work in commercials and television. Fujii has a soft, high voice that sounds like it belongs in an anime cartoon, which is appropriate since
she’s the star of a Manga comic back in Japan. She beat Ward back in 2007 for another promotion and is the first fighter, male or female, to begin her professional career 21-0. The press conference began with Bellator chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney’s opening remarks. Rebney is the face of the Bellator company, much like Dana White is in the UFC. Rebney, though bearing a vague resemblance to White physically, is more polished and less vulgar than his counterpart. Rebney founded the company with Brad Epstein and put everything he has into making the company successful. At the post-fight press conference, Rebney recounted a story where he and Aguilar, who has fought for the company from its inception in 2008, traveled together from one event to the next in a tiny rental car. After the fighters’ made their introductions, weigh-ins began. For the most part, this was elementary. Zoila Frausto, who dropped from 135 pounds to enter the tournament, came in four ounces over the weight limit (a one-pound cushion is given for the 115-pound weight class) at 116.4 pounds. Immediately two female Bellator staffers clutching a large company banner came over and, after a section of spectators were moved away, Frausto stripped naked and re-weighed while the two staffers covered her with the banner. She only dropped two ounces and was given the option to come back in less than two hours to try again. She eventually made weight at 116 pounds. Once the fighters were weighed in, they were treated to piles of food courtesy of Jack Daniels Bar & Grill. Almost at once, a feeding frenzy erupted as starved fighters loaded up on barbeque sandwiches, handfuls of onion straws and fixings while sucking down bottles of water and sports drinks to rehydrate. With fighter physicals left to go for the day, it was time to head out and prepare for fight night. Fight night It was like Saturday night at Cowboys as I entered the L’Auberge Event Center; all the swirling colored lights, loud rap music and burly guys in Tapout shirts were a little overwhelming. At the press table, I sit next to several online MMA magazine writers, none of whom are what I would consider “dressed up.” I felt like an idiot wearing a dress shirt and slacks. Drinks flowed freely as scantilyclad waitresses slinked through the crowd. A drunk woman in the front row shouted the loudest when the Bellator ring announcer, rehearsing
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cues for when and how long to cheer, prepped the crowd for the opening of the televised portion of the card. The opening match between Mike Chandler and Scott Stapp was a typical undercard, nothing special to note except that I prayed before the fighters emerged that Stapp was THE Scott Stapp, lead singer of the world’s worst band, Creed. No one needs a beating more than the singing Stapp, but still, it was therapeutic, I guess, to see the fighting Stapp pounded into submission for a TKO loss. Dave “Pee Wee” Herman, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighed in at 241.6 pounds, entered the ring to the Culture Club song, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” eliciting chuckles from the sell-out crowd. He then proceeded to defeat his opponent with a rarely used omoplata submission. One thing you notice immediately when you’re up close to the cage is how fast even the biggest fighters are and how hard the punches and kicks are compared to how they look on television. How any of them could take a clean shot on the chin and still stand up is a testament to their toughness. In the welterweight fight, Chris Lozano earned the biggest win of his career with a stoppage of UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Lozano punished Yoshida so severely Yoshida’s right eye was closed completely by swelling and his corner retired him on the stool in between the second and third rounds. It was a strong performance by an upand-coming fighter while it looked like the beginning of the end for Yoshida, a formerly great fighter who, with the loss to Lozano, has lost four of his last five fights. The first woman’s semifinal fight was also the most controversial of the night. For three rounds Aguilar stalked Frausto, cutting off the ring, scoring with jabs and punches while blocking most of Frausto’s powerful arsenal. By the third round, Aguilar had tired and bloodied Frausto even though Aguilar’s usual comfort zone is wrestling. The only trouble from Aguilar’s corner came from her family and friends in the front row just behind her team. One person from the family shouted instructions a little too loud, prompting her coach to turn around and shake his finger at them. They kept their coaching to themselves for the rest of the match. Everyone thought Aguilar won the fight. Except two of the three judges, who scored the bout 30-27 for Frausto, giving her the win. It was a decision that should embarrass the Louisiana Boxing Commission. The crowd roared in disapproval while Aguilar smiled a shocked smile. The ring
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announcer, the sideline reporter, and Rebney himself shook their heads in disbelief. In the other semifinal fight, “Mega Megu” Fujii had little trouble in her rematch against Ward, submitting her to remain perfect for her career. Following this bout, Frausto was brought into the ring to hype the finals with Fujii; Frausto held an ice pack, pink with a mixture of blood and water, the size of a soccer ball to her mouth as she waited her turn for questions. When she finally spoke, the crowd booed lustily. The remaining matches featured state and local fighters and were not treated as live television. In the “local main event,” Mark Holata knocked Shawn Jordan out cold with a short right hook. From ringside, you could see from the way Jordan’s eyes rolled in their sockets and the concern on the faces of those tending to him, that he may have been severely hurt. However, after about five minutes, he left the ring unassisted, much to the relief of his corner men, who looked ashen as Jordan lay in the ring. Local boys Aaron Davis and Kyle Miers, fighting out of Lake Area Brazilian Jiu Jitzu gym, made it to the second round of their respective fights before each submitting to rear naked chokes. It was a downer way to close the show, but the Lake Charles fans seemed satisfied. On the way out of the ballroom, I found Aguilar surrounded by appreciative fans, wishing her well and telling her she should have won the fight. Aguilar, who was as gracious in defeat with the fans as she was with the media, smiled and posed for pictures with her new fans. She barely had a scratch on her. At the post-fight press conference, a drunken member of Aguilar’s entourage had to be escorted out of the room after she continued to protest her fighter’s loss to Frausto. Though he obviously disagreed with the decision, Rebney hedged when asked his thoughts on the decision, saying the margin of victory was “razor, razor-thin” for Frausto, but a win nonetheless. Lots of great things were said about the venue after the fight. Rebney compared L’Auberge with Foxwoods Casino (in Connecticut) and said he hoped to come back. He said, since L’Auberge ran things so smoothly, it was the first time in a long time he was able to enjoy the fights and that he hoped Bellator could come back. I hope so too. There you have it. It was hard work, but I did it for you, dear readers. It was a dirty job, but…well you know. TJN
Dru Sonnier – Associate An Independent Associate Representing Aflac
337-515-9615 drusilla_sonnier@us.aflac.com
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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By Mary Louise Ruehr
Reading Just for a Good Time There’s a lot to be said for reading just to have a good time. The wonderful Carl Hiaasen returns to Miami Beach for his latest funny novel, Star Island. A-list celebrity Cherry Pye, 22, is a pop singer who can’t sing. She’s also incredibly spoiled, doesn’t know how to behave, and repeatedly overdoses on one drug or another. Her mother is in total denial about her daughter’s behavior, insisting poor Cherry suffers from “food poisoning.” A paparazzo named Bang Abbott is
hanging around, expecting Cherry to die any day from an overdose and hoping to be the one to take the last photo — the “dead shot” — of the sinking star. Meanwhile, there’s Ann DeLusia, who was hired as Cherry’s double, to stand in for her in social situations to fool photographers and the rest of the public into thinking that the singer is not — in spite of rumors and other evidence to the contrary — in the hospital or in rehab. There’s also a great big dude who has a weed
15% Senior Discount All Doctors’ Prescriptions Accepted Experienced Professional Staff • Most Insurance Accepted
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
whacker in place of the hand bitten off by a barracuda, and there’s a bizarre homeless environmentalist living on Key Largo who has a burning hatred of Florida real estate developers. One of them turns into a superhero, and somebody ends up dead. For me, Hiaasen is the king of quirky characters, and he assigns knee-slappingly funny details even to ancillary characters we meet only once. I just love the ride Hiaasen offers his readers, and this one is no exception. Adult language and situations. Popular author Jennifer Crusie’s latest is Maybe This Time. When Andie Miller stops by her ex-husband’s law office in Columbus, Ohio, out of the blue, he offers her a lot of money if she will go to Southern Ohio to “fix” two children. He became their guardian when their father, his cousin, died, but “The children are … odd,” says the lawyer. The girl, 8, has had a “psychotic break,” and the boy, 12, sets fires. Andie’s assignment is to “stabilize” them and bring them north. Oh, and the last nanny said the scary old house, which
was originally a haunted house in England and was moved here, is still haunted. Yeah, right, Andie thinks — until she meets the ghosts (or does she?) and saves the children. There’s an expert on the paranormal, a ghost hunter, a TV news reporter, a risible psychic, and a ghost or two (or are there?) in this multifaceted love story/horror story, with a little mystery, a little romance, a ghost smackdown, and banana bread. Adult language and situations. If you’ve read the “between the numbers” Stephanie Plum mysteries by Janet Evanovich, then you’ll be familiar with the devilishly handsome character of Diesel. Well, he’s the star of the author’s first novel in a new series, Wicked Appetite. The story is set near Salem, Mass. Elizabeth “Lizzy” Tucker lives in a house built in 1740 and bakes cupcakes at a bakery in Salem. One day, a scary-looking man with “unearthly pale” skin walks up to her, touches her on the hand leaving a burn mark, and says “I’ll return for you when I need you.” No problem there. The scary man is “Wulf,” who is Diesel’s cousin, and it turns out that Diesel and Wulf are both looking for ancient stones that represent the seven deadly Volume 2 • Issue 14
sins, and also charms that lead to the stones. If the stones are all put into one vessel, Diesel explains, “it’s possible to unleash their power and create hell on earth.” He knows, but she doesn’t, that Lizzy supposedly has “an enhanced ability to detect a certain kind of energy” or “empowered object.” There’s a oneeyed cat, a monkey we’ve met before, and a friend who keeps trying out — and hilariously bungling — magical instructions from an old book of spells. It’s interesting to see Diesel without Stephanie Plum, but his relationship with Lizzy is also clever, with some sarcasm and some sexy banter. At times, I felt that Evanovich wrote the book for Stephanie and just substituted Lizzy later. But I didn’t care. It’s funny. I really enjoyed it. The romantic scenes were a bit suggestive,
but basically OK for young adults. On the other hand, Evanovich’s latest Stephanie Plum book, Sizzling Sixteen, is a bit of a disappointment. Stephanie’s boss, Vinnie, has been “snatched” because he owes his bookie close to a million dollars. They’re going to make an example of Vinnie and kill him if he doesn’t pay up. Returning with Stephanie are Ranger (he’s “drop-dead handsome in a dark, Latino kind of way, and is sex walking”) and Joe (“a lean, muscled body, and brown eyes that can make my
heart skip beats”), as always. As a bounty hunter, Steph’s called upon to find a 72year-old bigamist and a drug-runner who lets a live alligator guard his money. Besides the alligator, there are giants, hobbits, stink bombs, runaway cows, a lucky bottle and a guy named “Chopper.” It’s a critic-proof book, because Plum fans are going to read it, no matter what. And don’t get me wrong — it was fun, and it did make me laugh out loud, but we’re used to something more from Evanovich. I think she spent her time on Wicked Appetite (don’t miss that one) instead of making this one special. (She and her daughter also recently created a graphic novel, Trouble Maker; I think she just has too many irons in the fire.) Copyright © 2010 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
TJN
Browser’s Paradise By now, most people know that the Augustine family is back in business at 2100 E. Prien Lake Rd. in the big blue building. If you haven’t been to the store yet, we’d love to have you come browse. We believe you’ll be surprised at the variety of merchandise that we have. We get our merchandise by purchasing estates, or just room by room—whatever is in the house. We also buy tools— even if they’re rusty! We sell furniture, beds, kitchenware, Volume 2 • Issue 14
crystal, tables, chairs, paintings, glass and so much more. We plan to have an auction the first Thursday of every month. The first one will be held on Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. There will be lots of Christmas stuff, so plan to be here!
Augustine’s Secondhand Furniture 2100 E. Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles (337) 842-1736 OCTOBER 7, 2010
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der useum n e l l n E dren's M a D By e Chil of th r o t c Dire
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010, Warner Bros.) I like birds. I’m fascinated by them. Owls are particularly interesting, with their unusual ability to locate prey, beautiful plumage and aggressiveness. Legend of the Guardians takes all of this into account, both in its story and in the animation. Legend of the Guardians, based on a series of books by children’s author Kathryn Lasky, begins with a nest of barn owls in a tree. Two brother owlets and their sister are acting out the legendary battle of Ga’hoole. (I never heard of it, either. The movie takes place in Australia.) The oldest owlet, Kludd, doesn’t believe in the legend of the Guardians. On the other hand, his brother Soren lives and breathes it. Their father wisely stays neutral (he’s an owl, after all.) He encourages his
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I guess what I’m saying is this is no movie for younger children. Let the eight or nine year olds come, but expect a few nightmares. For the adults, you’ve seen this all before. There’s even a Star Wars Yoda-like owl who has been in all the great battles, an Avatar-like sacred tree (where the Guardians, the good owls, live,) and a little crew of friends on whom the owl world depends, straight from Lord of the Rings. But even though Legend is derivative and the story somewhat stale, you still should check it out, for this reason: The animation is jaw-droppingly beautiful. From feather to claw, these owls are as breathtaking as the real thing, even with their silly helmets on. The forests are sprawling and
lush, and every backdrop is a work of art that rivals the best classic Disney feature films. Finally, there is a surprising, sentimental message in this violent, martial-arts owl battle movie: It’s okay to believe in legends, okay to have ideals and values. You might even need them once in awhile. So, if you adults can get yourself down on your child’s level, and enjoy this movie for the simple saga it is, you just might find yourself at one of the best kid’s movies of 2010. If not, at least you get to see a brand-new Road Runner cartoon before the movie starts. Get there early. (Spoiler alert: Wile E. Coyote gets blown up.) TJN
children to get along, while he and their mother go out hunting. The two brothers, who can’t yet fly, sneak out of the tree to practice gliding from branch to branch. In an argument typical of brothers, they both fall to the floor of the forest. A Tasmanian Devil attacks Soren and his brother, but they’re quickly pulled out of harm’s way. Sort of. The rest of the story is simple enough, though very dark. (Of course it’s dark. Owls are nocturnal. Wait, not that kind of dark.) Helpless away from their nest, Soren and Kludd are kidnapped by a flock of owls that call themselves the Pure Ones. Along with other young owlets, the brothers are condemned to spend the rest of their lives collecting flecks of metal that may be radioactive or magnetic, but are certainly harmful to owls. The goal of the evil owls that have captured them is, of course, to take over the world. Let me stop right here and say that I’m a little tired of apocalyptic movies, especially family movies. Do we really need to see owls in metal helmets and claws, battling to the death? Really. Metal helmets! To make things even darker, the older brother, Kludd, sides with the evil birds, betraying his brother and even his baby sister, to the point of turning her into a zombie like all the other exploited owlets.
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Killin’ Time Crossword
Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission. PAGE 36
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GALLERY PROMENADE When the sun goes down and the night lights up, if there’s a Gallery Promenade around town, people of the Lake Area know they’re in for a real treat! It was a tantalizing evening of exquisite showcases of artwork and fine crafts by local and regional artists. Folks enjoyed samplings of food and wine and lovely carriage rides around the lakefront. The opening reception of Louisiana icon Clementine Hunter’s work at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum was a sight to see--even Caroline Fayard who’s running for lieutenant governor was among the crowd! All and all, this was a wonderful, artsy night to remember!
Paula Gallagher, Pat SanMiguel, and Eileen Piper
Janie Fuselier and Jeanna Cormier
Danielle Granger, Jessica Conrad and Lauren Granger
Devin Morgan and Geneva Breaux
Jena Brice and Lisa Trouth
Mary Leach Werner, Susan Reed, Debbie Reed, Caroline Fayard
Betty Anderson, Charles and Karen Woodard, and Charlie Anderson
Jill Hebert, Nicole Arabie and Jill Demeritt
Candis Carr, Dr. McCanless, Randy Robb and Suzanna Moore
TEAMING UP TO BENEFIT AUTISM Parents, professionals and care givers of the Autism Support Alliance Group and the nonprofit Family & Youth gathered at the Harlequin for a divine wine tasting and silent auction made possible by generous donors. After a scrumptious dinner, entertainment by Brad Brinkley and various presentations, it was obvious that all the attendees shared the common desire to help provide a world in which individuals and families affected by autism are empowered to fulfill their individual potential. Cheers to all--for helping a good cause!
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Daniel Hasha and Molly Breu
John and Leigh DeRosier
Nathan Bray and Penny Seneca
Scotti and Laurie Moffet
Sarah and Lillie Nevills
Ronald and Sogna Grimillion
Braylon, Sydnie and Jasmine Harris
Misha Chatman and Latasha Chavis
Anne Reeves and Chris Castle
Pastor Charlie and Beverly Langford
Emily Looney and Mathew Lognion
LAKEFRONT PROMENADE IN LAKE CHARLES Many people came out to catch dat breeze recently-the lakefront breeze! Mayor Randy Roach presented the brand new Lakefront Promenade and Bord du Lac Marina to the City of Lake Charles to a huge crowd of supporters. This wasn’t just any stroll down the Bord du Lac---this was an evening that highlighted the sheer ambience of the new , decorative lighting, landscaping, wide brick paver walkways, benches, palm trees, and an array of boats docked at the new marina. There was a variety of live entertainment, including Mickey Smith on sax, sounds of horses and carriages echoing down the street, and aromas of good cooking. It was a jambalaya mix: a little taste of New Orleans, the Kemah Boardwalk and the City of Lake Charles. And it’s only going to get better!
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OUR HURRICANE KALEIDOSCOPE McNeese Theatre celebrated its 71st season with Our Hurricane Kaleidoscope, with the McNeese Bayou Players performing live before an intrigued audience in the new Sherman Arts Theatre. Charles McNeely III, associate professor of performing arts, directed this multimedia documentary production featuring film, slides, music and live performances drawn from personal, life-threatening experiences during Katrina, Rita and other Louisiana hurricanes. Bravo to bravery, rescue and restored hope for all of the people of Southwest Louisiana!
TJN Tracy and Paige McNeely
Kathryn and Mark Sullivan
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Jonathon Richards and Jacob Schei
Kevin Auguillard and Haley Morris
Alexis White, Brandi January and Corin Charles
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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MAIZE MAZE RETURNS OCT. 2-NOV. 20 With five acres of sorghum planted and their new mind-boggling design now created, the Melsheimer family is bringing the “MAiZE craze” back to Louisiana. The popular Reeves labyrinth that drew thousands of visitors last fall will once again get curious maze-goers lost. This year’s design is in the shape of our local McNeese Cowboys match-up with our state LSU Tigers. The MAiZE will give visitors the chance to “get lost” from Oct. 2 –Nov. 20. Hours are Fri., 6-9 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., and Sun, 1-5 pm. Field trip hours, during weekdays, are available by reservation. The MAiZE is located on HWY 190, right next to Reeves City Park. For more information or to make reservations, e-mail jackie@cmfarmsllc.com or visit www.cmfarmsllc.com. OCTOBER EVENTS AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM • Sat., Oct. 9 - Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show Learn how sound travels at 11 a.m. Sasol employees will do a “sounds” demonstration including tin cans, tuning forks, musical instruments and much more. Fire Safety Day - October is Fire Prevention Month! At 12 p.m., firefighters from the Lake Charles Fire Department will talk about fire safety They will also bring their fire truck! • Tues., Oct. 12 - Morning Explorers Join the gang at 10:30 a.m. in the ArtSpace for a fun time and expose your children to finger paint, textured rollers and groovy effects paint tools.
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• Tues., Oct. 19 - Morning Explorers Help your child develop fine-motor skills and creativity with Incredible Foam dough! At 10:30 a.m. in the ArtSpace, they will make fun new textures and shapes. • Fri., Oct. 22 - National Color Day Stop by and commemorate National Color Day by spending time in the ArtSpace. There will be plenty of crayons and markers for everyone! • Tues., Oct. 26 - Morning Explorers Matching is always fun! Play Button Bingo at 10:30 a.m. in the ArtSpace. • Fri., Oct. 29 - Members Only Children’s Fall Festival From 5-6:30 p.m., enjoy a family evening with games, prizes and refreshments. Treat bags will be given to each child. The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street in downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.. Admission is $7 for children and adults. Birthday parties and memberships are available. Call 3 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org for more information. 1911 CITY HALL CELEBRATES MAN’S BEST FRIEND STARTING OCT. 8 The City of Lake Charles will host a new traveling exhibition “Elliott Erwitt: Dog Dogs.” The public is invited to the opening reception Fri., Oct. 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street. There is no charge to attend, all ages are welcome and refreshments will be served. This exhibition leaves little question about photographer Erwitt’s love of man’s best friend. A music video produced by television students at Lake Charles-Boston Academy of Learning will run in the gallery throughout the exhibit dates. The 10-minute video features abandoned dogs available for adoption at the Calcasieu Parish Animal Services & Adoption Center. Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, call 491-9147. ‘MOVIES UNDER THE STARS’ RETURNS OCT. 8 Grab a blanket, pack a snack and load up the kids for four fun-filled family nights outdoors as the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury presents the fall season of “Movies under the Stars”: Fri., Oct. 8: Princess Bride; Fri., Oct. 15: Madagascar; Fri., Oct. 22, On Golden Pond and Fri., Oct. 29, Where the Wild Things Are. Each movie begins at 6 p.m., or at dusk. It takes place at Prien Lake Park, located at 3700 West Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles. Admission is free to the public. Patrons are allowed to bring
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their own food, or they can purchase tasty items on-site. Seating is not provided, so bring a blanket or lawn chair. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled. For more information, call 721-3500. BENEFIT RIDE FOR METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME OCT. 9 A benefit ride for the new Methodist Children’s Home of SWLA will be held on Sat., Oct. 9. The new home is located north of the intersection of Hwy. 27 and Houston River Road, north of Sulphur. Local participants will arrive at the site by 11:15 a.m. Special events for the day include music by Subject 2 Change and Josh Broussard, food, door prizes, an auction, and bike games. Bikers, cars and vans are welcome to attend. Registration for bikers is $20 per bike, which includes driver and passenger; cars or vans, $20 per driver, $10 per car passenger; and $5 for children under 12. Registered participants receive tickets for food and door prize. Early registration participants will receive a free T-shirt. More information about the Children’s Home can be found at www.lmch.org. MCDONALD’S/MCNEESE PANCAKE BREAKFAST OCT. 9 McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana and the McNeese Athletic Foundation will host a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sat., Oct. 9, in the Cowboy Club Room at Cowboy Stadium. The event will raise funds to benefit McNeese student-athletes through the McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana Athletic Scholarship. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased from any McNeese cheerleader, Cowgirl Kicker,
tom ago’s Cus D y b d e Present ts & d The Ar Cycles an Council of SWLA ies Humanit
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member of the Chi Omega sorority or from the McNeese Athletic Foundation. Call 562-4141 for more information. HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH PUMPKIN PATCH OCT. 9- 31 The church grounds of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church at 1700 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur will once again be covered with big orange pumpkins grown in and around the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. The pumpkins are scheduled to arrive on Oct. 9 at 9 a.m. The church would appreciate any help unloading them, so please join them that morning. The Pumpkin Patch will be open until Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and noon - 6 p.m. Sundays. Pumpkin Patch Storytime for children is conducted by a former kindergarten teacher. There are two classes on ten different days, so call the church office (625-4288) to schedule a visit. Picnics can be held in the Pavilion if arrangements are made beforehand. The proceeds from the sale of pumpkins, gourds, and pumpkin bread fund Holy Trinity’s outreach projects. MOSS BLUFF UNITED METHODIST PUMPKIN PATCH OCT. 10-31 Moss Bluff United Methodist Church, located at 735 Sam Houston Jones Parkway in Moss Bluff, is holding its annual Pumpkin Patch. Grand opening day will be Sun., Oct. 10.
h t 4 2 d r 3 2 October
ic Center . iv C s le r a m Sun Lake Ch - 9am-5p er free) . t a S m 9am-9p 00 (12 and und n $5. s& Admissio al Olympic
ow eels Sh d& t on Wh how • Hot Ro ontest r A s id S K C t r o A o t • t ow • Ta Bike Sh how (Pre ’80) s r o d S n Rat Rod and Cycle Ve rt d more A n , a d t o s o e t F n o C l Gir Pin-Up
LA Speci enefit SW It or Bike It 5K b s d e ce Pro ils. Hike more deta ll & Arts. Buddy Ba Ride, call Marc for fit Run/Bene
sic! u M l a n o i g e R Live, Local &
CONTACT INFO: Marc (337) 433-3033 • www.artonwheelsla.com Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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There will be a large variety of pumpkins for sale, along with gourds and Indian corn. Several areas will be decorated for the perfect fall photo opportunities. Activities will include Howdy the Clown, jolly jumpers, face painting, music, and a bake sale. You may buy Natchitoches meat pies, hot links, popcorn and soft drinks. Opening day hours are from noon-6:30 p.m. (activities end at 3 p.m.). Regular daily hours are Mon.-Fri., 3 – 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Sun, noon – 6:30 p.m. All proceeds from pumpkin sales will benefit the Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest Louisiana in Sulphur. Admission is free and the general public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The patch will be open daily through Sun., Oct. 31.
10 and under free. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance, and none will be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mcneesealumni.com/tailgate or at the McNeese alumni office at 600 E. McNeese St. Jambalaya, sausage, boudin, beer, cold drinks and water will be provided. For more information, call the alumni office at (337) 475-5232.
‘A CELEBRATION OF TONI MORRISON’ AT MSU LEISURE LEARNING BEGINS OCT. 12 In 1993, Toni Morrison became the first African American author to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Today, she enjoys both critical acclaim and popular success on a scale rivaled by few other American authors. MSU Leisure Learning is honored to offer “A Celebration of Toni Morrison,” which will be held Tuesdays from Oct. 12-Nov. 2 from 6-8 p.m. Students are highly recommended to read Sula, Tar Baby, and Love, which will be discussed in class. Morrison’s theme explores the lives of black people, their families, their communities, and their experiences as people struggling to achieve the American Dream. Cost is $59. To register, call 475-5616 or 475-5130.
ULTIMATE BIKE SHOW OCT. 23-24 The third Annual Art on Wheels event will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center grounds on Sat., Oct. 23 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 24 from 9 a.m-5 p.m. Benefiting SWLA Special Olympics and Buddy Ball, there will be live bands, food booths, bikes of all types, hot rods, rat rods, muscle cars (pre 80s), golf carts and art on display all weekend. Don’t miss the TAT2 contest, Pinup Girl contest, live roller derby girls, tattoo artists, woodworkers, and local artisans. $5 per person, kids FREE. Call Marc @ 433-3033 for more info.
RAGLEY HERITAGE AND TIMBER FESTIVAL OCT. 16 Don’t miss the 12th annual Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival, which will be held Sat., Oct. 16, at the Historical Square Pavilion in Ragley from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be bands, quilters, craft booth, spinning, corn grinding, jewelry making, delicious food, antique cars and tractors on display. Children will enjoy train rides, puppet shows, 5-in-1 Combo, Bounce House, 16’ slide, and oxen-pulled wagon rides. Enter your child (ages 0-10 years) in A Lil’ Red Wagon contest beginning at 1 p.m. on the museum grounds. For more information on the contest, contact Cassandra Girola at 540-3792. Gate fee is $5 per carload. For more information on the festival, contact Linda Burnett at 725-3324. AMERICA’S BOATING COURSE OCT. 16 The Lake Charles Sail & Power Squadron will be presenting a fundamental course in boating and boat safety. This course is the organization’s civic effort to teach the fundamentals of boating and boating safety to the community. The course is open to the general public and is free of charge, other than a $10 donation per student, which covers the cost of lunch and course materials. Course will be held 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Lake Charles Sail & Power Squadron, 3106 Kiwanis Lane (north side of I-210 beach). For more information, go to www.lcsps.org or call 474-0730. SEVENTH ANNUAL ETHEL PRECHT CANCER 3K OCT. 16 Registration is at 7 a.m., ceremony at 8 a.m., walk begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. All money raised will be used to benefit local breast cancer patients that reside in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes who cannot afford to purchase bras, wigs, prosthesis, and other items. Local cheerleaders will present a rose to each survivor at the end of the walk. There will be a brief ceremony with special guest speakers and live vocal entertainment performed by Sabrah Kingham. There will also be children’s activities with face painting and caricatures, and refreshments and door prizes. For more information, call 905-0327 or go to www.ethelbreastcancerwalk.org.
BUBBLES FOR BANNERS BRUNCH OCT. 24 L’Auberge du Lac Casino is partnering with the McNeese Banners Cultural Series and Rouge et Blanc to host the Bubbles For Banners Champagne Brunch. L’Auberge will donate $5 from each ticket sold to the McNeese Banners Cultural Series. The event will take place in the L’Auberge Ballroom on Sun., Oct. 24. Two seatings are available at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com or at the L’Auberge Business Center. The $50 ticket price includes an upscale brunch prepared by L’Auberge’s award-winning chefs, champagne, a live cooking demonstration and a champagne education seminar. All ticketholders are eligible for unique door prizes at each event seating. HALLOWEEN HARVEST FEST OCT. 31 The City of Lake Charles will observe Halloween on Sun., Oct. 31. The City recommends that trick-or-treat activities end at 8 p.m. that evening. Parents are encouraged to have their children home by 8:30 p.m. unless they are attending a supervised function sponsored by other parents or civic organizations. The City of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks Department will host Halloween “Harvest Fest 2010” on Sun., Oct. 31, at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum from 5-8 p.m. A variety of music, games, prizes, trinkets and concessions will be available for the entire family, including bowling, space walk, balloon art, golf hole-in-one, arts & crafts station, face-painting, football throw, a basketball shootout and much more. Free admission; no costumes required. TJN
PRE-GAME TAILGATE PARTY AT MCNEESE-LSU GAME OCT. 16 The McNeese State University Alumni Association is planning a pre-game tailgate party for Cowboy fans for the upcoming McNeese vs. LSU game in Baton Rouge at 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 16. The event will be held from 3-5:30 p.m. indoors in the Carl Maddox Field House located on Nicholson Drive only 600 yards from the stadium. Tickets to the event are $10 per person, with children
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
Volume 2 • Issue 14
To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com
The
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 • Don Fontenot & Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Musician’s Night @ The Porch, 7 p.m. • Don Fontenot et les Amis de la Louisiane @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • Daryl Perry @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • Rio Sabine @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Trigger Proof @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • Casey Donahew Band @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Daryl Perry @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Paul Gonsoulin @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • Static @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.
Volume 2 • Issue 14
• DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 • Marcia Ball/Ivy Dugas/The Louisiana Yard Dogs/T-Broussard & The Zydeco Steppers/French Bred @ Vinton Heritage Festival, Vinton, starting at 9 a.m. • Scotty Pousson & The Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Lakeside Gamblers @ VFW Post 2130, 7:30 p.m. • Trigger Proof @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • Steel Shot @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • George Jones @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • Daryl Perry @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Sugarland Brass Company @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Brent Rodgers @ The Porch, 9:30 p.m. • TBA @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 • Bernie Alan @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13 • TBA @ Cal-Cam Fair, Sulphur, 4 p.m. • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 • TBA @ Cal-Cam Fair, Sulphur, 4 p.m. • Pete Bergeron & The Bayou Boys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • Groove Inc. @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • Keith McCoy & CEO @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Loser’s Reunion @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • Hipbootjoe @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15 • TBA @ Cal-Cam Fair, Sulphur, 5 p.m. • Travis Benoit & Allons Dancer @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Lipstick Blonde @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • James Dupre @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Willie Nelson @ Event Center, L’Auberge du Lac Casino, 8:30 p.m. • Trip Wamsley @ The Porch, 8:30 p.m. • Groove Inc. @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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NEW KITCHEN HOURS: Mon. - Tues. 11am - 10pm Wed. - Sat.11am - 11pm Closed Sunday
LUNA GOODS ON SALE: Luna Classic Tee $15 Luna Guitar Tee $15 Luna Ball Cap $15 Luna Dressings $6 (16oz.) Citrus Vinaigrette Balsamic Vinaigrette Raspberry Vinaigrette Cosmic
• LA Express @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Hipbootjoe @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Erin Shoumaker @ The Porch, 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 • TBA @ Cal-Cam Fair, Sulphur, 10 a.m. • TBA @ Ragley Timber & Heritage Festival, Ragley, 10 a.m. • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Lipstick Blonde @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7:30 p.m. • Dustin Sonnier & Six Pack @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Willie Nelson @ Event Center, L’Auberge du Lac Casino, 8:30 p.m. • Groove Inc. @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • LA Express @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • TBA @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Hipbootjoe @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Jon Bertrand (from the Pine Leaf Boys) @ The Porch, 8 p.m. • Southwind Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • The Stark Experiment @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Bernie Alan @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Time Machine @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 • Greg Martinez & The Delta Kings @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 • TBA @ Art on Wheels, Lake Charles Civic Center, 9 a.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Brandon Foret @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Odessey @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Southwind Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m.
• Monique McCain/Kris Ackoury @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • Eddie Money @ Event Center, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Ridin’ High @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Rockstar Karaoke @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 • TBA @ Art on Wheels, Lake Charles Civic Center, 9 a.m. • TBA @ Rouge et Blanc, Downtown Lake Charles, 2 p.m. • Jamie Berzas @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • The Lakeside Gamblers @ The Porch, 8 p.m. • Foret Tradition @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Odessey @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Southwind Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Crossroads @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • TBA @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • Rockstar Karaoke @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
TJN
Whether you are dining in or calling in for takeout, let The Luna Bar and Grill do all the work. Come in today for one of our specialty salads, stellar sandwiches, or exceptional entrees. We offer many choices for the health conscious individual. We’re locally owned and the best place in town for live entertainment, food, and drinks. Fri. Oct. 8 @ 9pm THE HOWDIES & CANVAS RED (alternative rock) Sat. Oct. 9 @ 9pm CLUMP (funk) Fri. Oct. 15 @ 9pm THE LOCAL SKANK (ska reggae) Sat. Oct. 16 @ 9pm FRESH NECTAR (acoustic, alternative)
EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE... show up at the polls! info@lwv-lc.org • 337-474-1864 www.clerkofcourt.org http://VOTE411.org
Every Monday - Open Mic Night! PAGE 44
OCTOBER 7, 2010
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Leslie B e four dec rman’s career in ades, an music folksing er, mus d includes stin spans ic teach ts as a booker, e c tival dir oncert promote r, coffeehouse r e notes w ctor, music jou , publicist, fesr r nalist, a it e r , a organiz ation p rtist manager lbum r , trade e ment a ttorney, sident, e n t ertaina nd pres Music id M Louisian useum of ent of the S musicall a. She prefers outhwest y eclectic a GRAM , and v ll things M Recordin Ys as a mem otes on the g Aca ber o reached at leslie@ demy. 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Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Meet Max I was saying to myself just this morning, “Max,” I said, “Max, you know what you need? You need a person all your own.” So I sat down to write this message for the nice 4 Paws Society and The Jambalaya News people, because apparently, that’s the kind of thing they do—find nice people for extremely intelligent and lovable doggies who are—I shudder to type this—HOMELESS!! That’s right, I have no human and no home to call my own. If you could be persuaded to volunteer yourself to be my hero, my human, my playmate…**sniff, sniff** my FAMILY, then, just contact 4 Paws Society at the
number below. Max is one of the most fabulous dogs ever. He never meets a human stranger and he is always the happiest guy in the room. A Golden Retriever and German Shepherd mix, he has all the good qualities of both breeds. German Shepherds have high intelligence and are energetic; Goldens are great with people of all ages and have a keen intelligence, too. Max is a very sociable guy with an affable personality. He really likes to play with the girl dogs—he’s a real “ladies’ man.” For more information on this great dog, contact us at fourpawssociety@aol.com or call us at (337) 661-9132 or (337) 558-5184.
TJN
4 Paws Society, a Lake Area rescue group, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are celebrating October by proclaiming it “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.” Thousands of dogs await adoption. Whether it’s a red and brown Ridgeback named Braxton, a brindle Pit Bull Terrier named Cheeto, a sweet senior Blue Heeler named Chookie, a chocolate and white Bassett Hound named Dom, or a silvery-blue Weimaraner named Sable, adoptable dogs of all colors, shapes and sizes in need of good homes are available at 4 Paws Society—and over 8,000 shelter organizations nationwide. Iams Dog Foods is joining the ASPCA and 4 Paws Society in celebrating Adopt A Shelter Dog Month by providing their guide, “Your New Dog: A Comprehensive Guide to Health, Nutrition and General Care” to those who make the commitment to share their home with a shelter dog. Contact Iams Customer Service at (800) 863-4267 to receive your free copy while supplies last. “Dogs brighten our lives with their warmth and companionship,” said ASPCA President, Dr. Larry Hawk. “Many shelters have a wide variety of dogs to choose from, including mixed and pure bred dogs in a range of colors, sizes, ages and dispositions.” While one might be tempted to choose a new dog based solely on beautiful flowing golden locks or a pair of dark chocolate eyes, take the entire canine package into consideration before finalizing the adoption.
Age, size, temperament and exercise requirements are also important considerations in making a successful match. 4 Paws Society volunteers and Calcasieu Parish Animal Services’ staff are available to advise you. The Petfinder.com Library at www.learn.petfinder.com is stocked with information to answer your questions once you return home with your new canine pal. Come join the festivities! Local events with 4 Paws Society include: • October 9 - Gator 99.5 Community Garage Sale—Lake Charles Civic Center (4 Paws Society will be there with dogs for adoption, volunteers to answer questions, and raffle prizes). • October 21- 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.— Women’s Commission’s Fall Conference, Lake Charles Civic Center – 4 Paws Society will have an information booth about their local rescue efforts, hu mane education for the public and doorprizes. • October 30 - 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.— Calcasieu Animal Coalition Gigantic Garage Sale/Fall Festival at 4 Paws on the Bayou Pet Hotel, 465 Hardy Rd, Sulphur. Call 287-3552 for more information. Includes flea market-style booths, fun activities for kids, costume contest for pets and kids, raffles, bake sale, and of course dogs for adoption. Woof! For more details on pet adoptions, events, and how to select and care for a companion animal, please call 4 Paws Society’s “Bark Line” at (337) 477-0741 or visit www.4PawsSocietyInc.com. TJN
Hurricane Season is in full swing and we are dedicated to keeping you informed and up to date on any weather threatening Southwest Louisiana. Our KYKZ 96 Hurricane Tracking Chart sponsored by Cameron State Bank and Dale Bernard State Farm Insurance is now available at our sponsor locations or at the KYKZ studios, 425 Broad St. More information at www.kykz.com.
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OCTOBER 7, 2010
Volume 2 • Issue 14
Computer Repair/ Sales • Network Management Home and Business Security Camera • Professionally Installed Gerrit Lawrence
1306 A Sampson St., Westlake • (337)721-1969
photo by www.monsoursphotography.com Volume 2 • Issue 14
OCTOBER 7, 2010
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