VOL. 2, NO. 24 / MARCH 10, 2011
ALSO: • Time for Spring Cleaning • Habit for Humanity: Building the World a Home • CARC Commercial Services
Dr. Cascio trained at Duke University, Johns Hopkins and the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic. He taught shoulder, hip and knee surgery at LSU in New Orleans before moving to Lake Charles to become the Medical Director of the Sports Medicine program at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. His practice focuses on knee, shoulder, hip and cartilage injuries; he is trained in the latest minimally invasive arthroscopy surgery techniques for hips, knees and shoulders, which reduces scarring and recover time. Dr Cascio also specializes in ACL reconstructions, rotator cuff tears and the arthroscopic treatment of hip, knee and shoulder pain and injuries.
Sports injury? Orthopedic surgery? Game ReadyÂŽ combines active compression and circumferential cooling in one convenient treatment system that delivers greater benefits than cold therapy alone. PAGE 2
MARCH 10, 2011
Volume 2 • Issue 24
GENERAL 715 Kirby St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque
contents
On Cover: From left to right: Dr. Brett Cascio, Pike Pickett, Shaun Trahan, Lee-Anne Carrier and Stacey Oertling. Photo by Darrell Buck
March 10, 2011 • Volume 2 • Issue 24
COVER STORY 20
Orthopaedic Specialists: 1 Hip Wonder
publisher@thejambalayanews.com
NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com
CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Berman George Cline Dan Ellender Maria Alcantara Faul Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com
SALES ASSOCIATES Katy Corbello Faye Drake Karla Tullos GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck ART/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Michelle LaVoie BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews
REGULARS 7 10 11 15 24 39
The Boiling Pot The Dang Yankee Tips from Tip What’s Cookin’ Sports Report Adoption Corner
FEATURES 5 13 17 19
Habitat for Humanity Bayou Biz: CARC Commercial Services Time for Spring Cleaning! The Right Time to Fertilize Your Lawns
20 29
ENTERTAINMENT 26 28 29 30 31 34 36 38
Red Hot Books Funbolaya Family Night at the Movies Killin’ Time Crossword Society Spice Jambalaya Jam Local Jam Eclectic Company
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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 2011 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited. Volume 2 • Issue 24
5 We are now accepting credit cards! MARCH 10, 2011
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A Note From Lauren Too Much Information Did it ever occur to you that we know a lot more than we should about people we don’t even know? Sound confusing? It’s not, really. I’m talking about celebrities. In this information age, most of us know more about Lindsay Lohan than we do about our next-door neighbor. Celebrities’ lives are dissected down to the minute: where they went over the weekend, who they were with, what they wore, what they were overheard saying, what they tweeted about (don’t even get me started on Twitter). If they manage to get arrested, which appears to be an extremely easy thing for a celebrity to do these days, we’ll know every detail and find the blearyeyed mug shots plastered all over the Internet as soon as it’s snapped. Then, every news station in the country will dissect the situation, while interviewing therapists, police officers, social workers, and the guy who valet-parked their car that night. And on, and on, and on. The big culprit is reality TV. People get paid to have cameras follow them around as they air their dirty laundry in public. The dirtier, the better. The precursor was MTV’s The Real World, which debuted back in the early 90s. It was actually a pretty good concept back
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then: Stick seven young people from different walks of life into a house together in a strange city and see what happens. Lots of interesting things did happen, until MTV got impatient and threw in communal bathrooms and hot tubs and anything else that would encourage salacious behavior and higher ratings. Today, we have reality shows on just about every channel, and the worse someone’s behavior, the better. Even Bravo’s The Real Housewives series started off much tamer than it is now. It initially highlighted their lives, their kids, their problems, and the women only occasionally came together to hang out. But the network soon realized that fighting, name-calling and table-throwing attracts more viewers, so now they make sure that friction starts right from the beginning—and they keep putting the quarreling parties together, over and over again—so you can tune in to more or less the same fight every week. Bad behavior has become acceptable, and the worse we find out certain celebrities are, the more popular they become. And no matter what they do, all appears to be forgiven. Nowadays, absolutely nothing is taboo. But in the old days, there were certain things you never discussed, and
Hollywood made sure that their stars appeared as “perfect” as they could possibly be. Most stars changed their names; many fabricated their pasts. Alcohol problems, illegitimate births, drug use, potential sex scandals were all swept under the rug. Hollywood had to conform to the standards of the day. Back then, you didn’t want to hear anything bad about your idols. They were placed on pedestals and that’s where they remained. Of course, there were always rumors, but they were whispered about, and never confirmed. Oh, there were some things that couldn’t be hidden. Lana Turner’s teenaged daughter stabbed her mother’s boyfriend to death with a kitchen knife when she tried to break up a fight between them. The dashing Errol Flynn was arrested for statutory rape when it was determined that a young woman he’d been fooling around with was underage (he was acquitted, by the way—even though she was indeed underage). But in the days of no computers and cell phones, cumbersome cameras and telephone party lines, and journalists who never crossed the line, it was quite easy to for someone like Bing Crosby to pass himself off as a wholesome,
churchgoing family man while carrying on affairs behind his long-suffering wife’s back, driving her to drink. No one knew that the young Judy Garland was already addicted to pills; speed to keep her awake, tranquilizers to put her to sleep; or that Patty Duke was bipolar and, as a child, had been sexually abused by her agent. The secrets of Old Hollywood were revealed years later, when it became OK to talk about such things; when everyone became fair game for the press. At that point, you had to say something first, before the press exposed you and maybe got your story wrong. They say the Watergate scandal was the catalyst for the abrupt change in reporting. It unleashed the hounds; no one, and nothing, was sacred after that. But there’s a difference between investigative reporting and inviting Charlie Sheen on the Today Show so everyone can listen to his delusional rantings. Clearly, we’ve crossed the line. The days of Hidden Hollywood were hypocritical and need never return, but Open Hollywood, with its sex tapes and celebrity rehabs and arrests, is just plain ridiculous. There has to be a happy medium. If anyone finds it, please let me know.
TJN
Volume 2 • Issue 24
By Maria Alcantara Faul
Sandra Guy finally has a place that she calls home—a house that she helped build herself, a house that she owns and pays the mortgage on every month. She could not be happier. “I waited on God, and when He was ready for me to have a home, He provided this to me,” she said. “I am too grateful for words for the sponsors who have made this possible.” Here, and around the world, Habitat for Humanity International helps makes dreams come true. Founded in 1967 by Millard and Linda Fuller and Clarence Jordan in Americus Georgia, Habitat for Humanity International, generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity, is an international, non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry working to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. The international operational headquarters is located in Americus, Georgia; the administrative headquarters is in Atlanta. There are five area offices located around the world. Habitat for Humanity International currently has over 2,000 affiliated organizations worldwide, and builds housing units in approximately 90 countries. Community-level Habitat offices act in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat for Humanity International. Each office, called an affiliate, is an independently run, non-profit organization, with oversight provided by a local board of directors.
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HFHCA Habitat for Humanity Calcasieu Area, Inc. (HFHCA), was the brainchild of Lake Charles First Presbyterian Church’s Youth Group. “Young people at the church saw the need to have a Habitat affiliate in the area,” said Julie Giordano, HFHCA executive director. So, with the help of their youth pastor and other church leaders, the first meeting for HFHCA took place at First Presbyterian Church in 1992, with over 100 people attending the meeting. The organization was formally established that year, and the group soon began building homes for those in need. Since its inception, HFHCA was building approximately one to three houses a year for qualified families. This number changed in 2005, when Hurricane Rita hit. “The hurricanes brought a housing crisis for the community,” Giordano said. “We were building 13 houses a year, and the office staff had to grow to keep up with the community needs.”
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1100 Mill St., Lake Charles, LA • (337) 436-3588 Celebrating Over 100 Years of Catholic Education: “Rooted in the Past… Living in the Present… Poised for the Future.” 1. Is Sacred Heart School closing? No, Sacred Heart Catholic School will remain open for the 2011-2012 school year. 2. What is the current progress of our fundraising campaign? Through the generosity of donors, the campaign has raised $68,067.13. In addition, Bishop Provost has contributed $35,000. We are grateful for this success. Donations are still being received. 3. I hear talk about a strategic planning committee. What is this all about? A strategic planning committee has been formed and is working to evaluate Sacred Heart Catholic School’s strengths and challenges as they plan for the future. The Sacred Heart Community is not focused on just keeping the school open. The mission is to build on the existing strengths and expand the vision for a strong future. 4. Who is on the strategic planning committee? Monsignor Groth, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church and Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Kimberlee Gazzolo are acting in an advisory capacity. A team of educators with advanced degrees serve on the committee. 5. What does the committee hope to accomplish? A long term strategic plan will be written for the continued success of Sacred Heart Catholic School. Strengthening the curriculum will remain a priority of this strategic plan. 6. The current principal has resigned as of June 30, 2011. When is a principal search starting? There will be an Acting Principal appointed for the upcoming school year. A national principal search will commence on September 1, 2011 with the intent to hire for the 2012-2013 school year. 7. I would like my child to attend Sacred Heart School next year. What do I do? Registration packets are available at the school office. Registration for current students is taking place now. New families may begin to register March 28, 2011. Sacred Heart/SKD Catholic School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, creed or national origin. Office of Catholic Schools • Diocese of Lake Charles Achieving Academic Excellence through Leadership, Unity and Service
• Fri., March 11
6:30 p.m., Cowboys vs. Northwestern St.
• Sat., March 12
1:00 p.m., Softball vs. Nicholls (doubleheader) 3:00 p.m., Baseball vs. Northwestern State
• Sun., March 13
1:00 p.m., Softball vs. Nicholls 3:00 p.m., Baseball vs. Northwestern State
• Wed., March 14
6:30 p.m., Baseball vs. Houston
• Wed., March 23
6:30 p.m., Baseball vs. Southern
Please contact the special services and equality office at least 72 hours before any home event to request accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This includes the need for materials in an alternative format such as large print or Braille, sign language interpreters, accessible seating, and accessible parking information. Ph: (337) 475-5428.
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Brian Kingsnorth, construction supervisor and Sandra Guy That number has recently settled to seven per year. “Our goal for the next three years is to build 10-15 houses per year,” Giordano added. Families that hope to own their own home through HFHCA are selected through a lengthy process. “Families need to fill out a detailed application form that is evaluated by a committee,” Giordano explained. Once selected, the family signs a Partner Agreement requiring them to donate 300 “sweat equity hours” towards the building of their home, as well as confirm the ability to pay the mortgage. “Our goal is to provide families a hand-up towards owning their own home, not a hand-out,” Giordano said. “Families who qualify to own their own home go through an enormous amount of training to ensure that they can successfully manage their family and new home.” HFHCA works closely with donors, volunteers and homeowners to build or renovate simple, decent, and affordable housing in Southwest Louisiana. As the process evolves, close relationships develop within the group. “We try our best to engage volunteers from all walks of life in Habitat’s mission and work,” Giordano said. “Our volunteers’ time and efforts are huge!” All HFHCA homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold at no profit. “HFHCA raises all the funds used for the builds,” Giordano said . “We partner with Habitat International and Habitat Louisiana and apply for grants, as well as hold events to raise awareness and funds for the projects.” Aside from building homes in Southwest Louisiana, HFHCA also assists in constructing houses in other parts of the world. The Habitat For Humanity “tithe program” is a fundamental part of Habitat’s operations.
Each affiliate tithes at least 10 percent of their undesignated cash revenue towards global building. The HFHCA designates its tithes to building homes in El Salvador. “Our tithes have built over 30 houses in El Salvador,” Giordano said. Since Habitat Calcasieu is a NCCC Americorps organization, it receives free labor from volunteers provided by Americorps—mostly college students who are taking time from their studies to serve the community. How Habitat has evolved In order to keep up with the community’s needs, Habitat has evolved through the years into much more than simply building houses. First and foremost, it’s a construction company with a superintendent and manager. It’s also a mortgage company that provides 0 percent interest financing to qualified homeowners. The communications and public relations department educates the community and raises funds for its projects. The ReStore program sells new and used building materials and appliances, as well as other home improvement items at a fraction of the retail cost. And the many volunteers require management. But most of all, it acts as an advocate to empower families to work towards not just owning their own home, but giving back to the community. “Everyone deserves a chance to have their own home,” Giordano said. “We want everyone to know that they have a role in helping their neighbors build that home.” For more information about Habitat for Humanity Calcasieu Area, visit www.hfhca.org or call (337) 497-0129. TJN
Volume 2 • Issue 24
The
Boiling
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Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com
ALAN HINTON, MD, EARNS SUBSPECIALTY CERTIFICATION M. Alan Hinton, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon on staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, recently passed the 2010 Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine examination. The certification is endorsed by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. As an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Hinton specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the knee and shoulder, knee transplant surgery, sports-related injuries and chronic Dr. Alan Hinton conditions. A native of Lake Charles, Dr. Hinton is a graduate of McNeese State University and Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (337) 477-5252. His office is located at 230 West Sale Road in Lake Charles.
PROFESSOR GIRARD PUBLISHES NEW BOOK Dr. Philippe Girard, associate professor of history and department head at McNeese State University, recently published Haiti: The Tumultuous History, and held a book signing at Books-A-Million in Lake Charles. A native of Guadeloupe, he specializes in the history of the Caribbean, and particularly Haiti. He is the author of Clinton in Haiti: The 1994 US Invasion of Haiti, Haiti: The Tumultuous History and The Slaves Who Defeated Napoléon: Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian War of Independence (forthcoming 2011). He is currently working on a biography of the Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture.
McNeese Banners Director Mary Richardson, left, and Fuerst look over the 2011 Banners brochures hot off the presses. McNeese photo
Robert Jameson TEXAS GUEST WINS BIG AT L’AUBERGE Robert Jameson of Sugarland, Texas celebrated a big win at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort recently. The reels lined up and he hit it big on the Wheel of Fortune® game; winning a wide-area progressive jackpot in the amount of $139,070. The Wheel of Fortune® jackpot is paid when a guest plays the maximum bet ($10) and lines up all three winning symbols on the pay line; Jameson was playing a 25-cent machine when he won. L’Auberge features 1636 slot machines and 63 table games in 30,000 square feet of non-stop gaming action and pays out more than $18 million monthly in slots jackpots. Volume 2 • Issue 24
RANDY FUERST DONATES TO BANNERS Randy Fuerst made a $5,000 donation to support this year’s McNeese State University Banners Cultural Series, which presents about 22 public concerts and lectures as well as 60 free live performances for schools, libraries and other organizations. Fuerst is a member of the Banners Committee, a group of citizens who volunteer for the series, and also serves as one of the emcees for Banners events. For more information, call (337) 475-5123 or go online to www.banners.org. CITY RECEIVES AWARDS FOR LAKEFRONT The City of Lake Charles recently received three awards associated with the Lakefront Downtown Action Plan, with two specifically for the Lakefront Promenade. The City received the LA Department of Transportation and Development 2011 Transportation Excellence Award for the Lakefront Promenade project. It also received an award at the Louisiana Chapter of the MARCH 10, 2011
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American Society of Landscape Architects conference held in New Orleans. The City of Lake Charles received another award at the American Planning Association Louisiana Chapter conference held in Baton Rouge under the category Outstanding Implementation Large Project.
JONATHAN JOHNSON, ROB KING APPOINTED TO CVB’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Lake Charles/ Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau has two new appointees joining the board of directors, with Jonathan Johnson representing Southwest Louisiana Festivals Jonathan Johnson and Rob King representing the Rob King Southwest Louisiana Restaurant Association. Johnson is an associate attorney with the law firm Johnson & Vercher, L.L.C. and has served consecutive terms as president of the Young Lawyers’ Section of the SWLA Bar Association. He currently sits on the SWLA Bar Association’s Executive Council and is part of the State Bar Association’s Leadership Class of 2011. King is a native of Lake Charles and has been in his family’s restaurant business for 18 years. He is the vice president of operations of Pitt Grill, King’s Travel Plaza and Spring Mountain Water.
Sondra Moss, WCCH Foundation president, Melissa Portie, Cameron LNG human resources & community relations manager, and Debby Nabours, WCCH Foundation director. WCCH FOUNDATION RECEIVES GRANT FROM SEMPRA ENERGY FOUNDATION The Sempra Energy Foundation recently awarded the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Foundation with a $20,000 grant to conduct health and safety training in northern Cameron parish, as well as to subsidize the cost of backup battery units that would ensure that hospital information systems would remain fully functional in the event of power failure. Training outlined in the grant covers the areas of fire safety, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, community first aid, babysitting, and hurricane preparedness. The WCCH Foundation is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. For more information on the activities funded by the grant or to donate to the WCCH Foundation, call (337) 527-4144.
KPLC-TV morning anchor Elizabeth Temple; board member Dr. Yoko Broussard; board president Dr. John Noble; Kayla Rigney, CCC executive director; and Kerry Andersen, director of community and public relations at L’Auberge. L’AUBERGE DONATES TO ‘BLACK TIE AFFAIR’ L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort donated $20,000 to the Calcasieu Medical Society Foundation’s “A Black Tie Affair,” an event to raise funds for the Calcasieu Community Clinic. The fun-filled night of fine dining, entertainment and dancing features comedian Kent Gonsoulin and the band Fried Ice Cream. The event will be held in the L’Auberge Ballroom on Fri. April 1. Limited event tickets are still available at www.ablacktieaffair.org.
Left to right: Kevin Mitchell, Sector Vice President, Production Operations and Lake Charles Site Manager of Northrop Grumman, Sowela Technical Community College Chancellor, Dr. Andrea Lewis Miller, Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor, Mark Peeples, and Joe Stein, Director, Site Infrastructure and PM&I. NORTHRUP GRUMMAN DONATES TO SOWELA Northrop Grumman Corporation has donated a $25,000 education grant to Sowela Technical Community College in Lake Charles. The donation will benefit the college’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program and will be used to modernize and replace equipment, upgrade facilities and for recruitment efforts. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
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SAM EAVES NAMED WCCH EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) recently held its 2011 employee awards banquet, where the organization recognized over 61 employees for their years of service to the hospital. In addition, WCCH is pleased to announce that Sam Eaves, information systems technician, was the recipient of the 2011 Employee of the Year award. Eaves has been with WCCH for over three years. As an information systems technician, he works closely with each department on technical issues arising from the use of the hospital’s information systems. He has also proven very instrumental in the successful implementation of the hospital’s new electronic medical records system. PROFESSOR DENNISON NAMED FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR Dr. James C. Dennison, professor of electrical engineering at McNeese State University, has been named a Fulbright Scholar for the 2010-2011 academic year. He is currently lecturing on applied content in engineering education at Polytechnic University in Bucharest, Romania, through the spring semester. This is the ninth Fulbright to be awarded to a McNeese faculty member and the second Fulbright for the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Dennison has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Michigan State University,
Dr. James C. Dennison Volume 2 • Issue 24
his master’s degree in engineering from Syracuse University and doctorate in engineering from the University of Colorado.
Left to right: Elva Groves, Salvation Army Advisory Board; Jean Bolton, Advisory Board and Empty Bowl Chairman; Bill Thomason, Advisory Board and First Federal Bank Senior VP. FIRST FEDERAL DONATES TO SALVATION ARMY First Federal Bank of Louisiana recently donated $10,000 to the Salvation Army for their 2011 Empty Bowl Fundraiser. JERRY BLALOCK RECOGNIZED AS TOP CAR SALESMAN IN ORANGE Jerry Blalock of Lake Charles was recently awarded the “top car salesman” title for Orange County, Tex., in the Readers’ Choice Awards by the Orange Leader newspaper. He serves as fleet/commercial account manager for David Self Ford, Inc., in Orange. With a B.S. in business management, Jerry previously owned an auto dealership and a leasing firm in Clarksville, Tennessee, and also has worked for several area car dealerships. TJN
The CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation will launch the inaugural Run with the Nuns motorcycle ride, bike show and event on March 26, 2011 at Chennault International Airport starting at 8 a.m. Bikers are invited to participate in the run to help raise funds for the Center for Healthy Living, a new project supported by the Foundation. “The Center for Healthy Living will be a place where individuals can be in the driver’s seat of their own health, emphasizing the importance of prevention, detection, treatment and lifestyle wellness,” said Kay Barnett, executive director of development for the Foundation. “This center will take a new approach to health, motivating people to live better lives and benefiting generations to come.” The services offered include educational and health care support for families and corporate programs to help people maintain healthy weight, manage stress and chronic pain, eliminate threatening habits and strengthen immune systems, Barnett added.
The donation to ride is $20 each per rider and/or passenger. Registration includes breakfast and lunch, door prize ticket, medal and event T-shirt. The deadline to pre-register and receive a T-shirt is March 16. The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of the Diocese of Lake Charles, will bless the bikers and event medals at 9 a.m. Bikers will depart from Chennault International Airport at 9:15 a.m. and ride through the Creole Nature Trail, an All-American Road in the southwest corner of Lake Charles, Louisiana, where nature meets the road in one of the nation’s last wildernesses. The day’s events are open to the public and include live bands, vendor booths, a motorcycle and classic car show by Idlers Show Cars & Show Trucks, a rice and gravy cook-off and family fun. Custom event do-rags and temporary tattoos will be available for purchase. To register for the bike run and cook-off, or for more information, visit www.stpatrickfoundation.org or call (337) 430-5353. TJN
Lake Charles Named Top Metro Site Selection magazine named the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Region as its Top Metropolitan Area with a population between 50,000 and 200,000. In this demographic category, Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana had the most new and expanded corporate facilities for 2010. “This recognition confirms Southwest Louisiana as a profitable location for expansion and new business development. This will enhance
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our message that our region is ‘Open For Business,’” stated George Swift, president/CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Overall, Louisiana has fared well in the top levels in this year’s Site Selection awards. I believe that this demonstrates overall effectiveness of the economic development programs of the Jindal Administration and Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret.”
TJN
MARCH 10, 2011
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Dang Yankee The
By Mike McHugh
Once, I Couldn’t Even Spell Enginear, and Now… A lot of people who read this column have asked me if I am a professional journalist. I would say that I am to the same extent that the Great and Powerful Oz was a real wizard. “Pay no attention to that man behind the keyboard!” No, it will probably surprise you to know that I am actually an engineer. There. I finally got that off my chest. It’s something that I have been hiding from you readers for such a
long time, even to the extent that I have taken great pains to avoid including even a single equation in this column. So, now that I got that off my chest: e = x2 sin Φ / Pi in the I I feel so much better now. Now that that’s settled, I hope that you will not think less of me. I hope to have proven that engineers
can, after all, communicate by means other than equations. For instance, we can also draw graphs. You understand, I could have hidden my secret identity for quite some time. It isn’t like decades ago, when you can easily pick an engineer out of a crowd. Used to be, the pocket protector was a dead giveaway. However, over the years, we have become wise. I don’t know whether it’s the fact that pens just aren’t prone to leaking like they used to, or if we engineers just don’t care anymore if our shirts get stained. (Personally, I just wear dark blue shirts all the time, so that if the pen leaks, no one will notice. How’s that for thinking like an engineer?) Anyhow, I don’t think I’ve seen a pocket protector since they cancelled Leave It To Beaver. I have a coworker who claims he has the last one in existence. He keeps it in the bottom drawer of his dresser and claims that someday, he will be able to sell it on eBay for six figures. I don’t know what calculation he used to come up with that, but I think we need to keep him away from the stuff we have at work that could go “Boom!”
There’s only one real way these days to sniff out an engineer, and that’s by actually striking up a conversation. It’s not hard, then. All you need to do is to make an innocent comment, such as, “Nice weather we’re having, wouldn’t you say?” If he answers with a remark about the temperature that includes a decimal point, it’s a dead giveaway. In all fairness, I feel it is my duty to say a few things in defense of my profession. When you think about it, there are a lot of good things to say about engineers. For example, we are not lawyers or telemarketers or IRS agents. Of course, neither are most of the people who appear on Jerry Springer, but that’s neither here nor there. You have to admit, the world as we know it would not exist if it were not for engineers. After all, we are responsible for having built all of the great man-made marvels of this world. Take, for instance, the Titanic, the New Orleans levees, the Deepwater Horizon, Windows Vista and Interstate 10 through Southeast Texas, among others. You get my drift. Some of you may wonder what possesses people to become engineers in the first place. I don’t know about most of my colleagues, but for me, it was born of a desire while I was in college to take classes that didn’t have tests that involved essay questions, especially ones that had to do with the literature of William Faulkner. I succeeded in this, and, to my knowledge, not once in my career did I ever come across an issue where I’d needed to draw on the writings of Faulkner. I could be wrong, though. For all I know, Faulkner may have written extensively about inherently safe design of oil and petrochemical processes, but none of us engineers ever bothered to study him in college. So, the next time you get a recall notice from your car company, think about us, because it probably wasn’t our fault. It was most likely some humanities major who ended up in marketing that made us change our design for aesthetic reasons. Which makes me wonder: Why hasn’t there been a recall on some of the things that get passed off as “art” these days? If they’d put engineers in charge of all the art museums, I’d venture that half of the walls would be made bare. And eventually replaced with things that included x- and y-axes.
TJN
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Volume 2 • Issue 24
By George “Tip” Cline
ENOUGH! The news coverage of non-issues such as Charlie Sheen’s boozing and carrying on, or Lindsey Lohan messing up her probation is stupefying. I know the networks are in the business of selling themselves, but if Charlie Sheen’s personal life is newsworthy, then we are in a world of trouble. I have watched his TV show and find it amusing. While the show appears to be somewhat a parallel of his life, it’s not our business. What he does in the show or in real life has zero effect on our reality. We all get
up in the morning, pull our pants up one leg at a time and go out the door whether or not Lohan violates her court orders or not. It almost seems that the unending news coverage is a diversion from the real issues that we should concern ourselves with. We are living in an incredible time where the whole world is changing faster than we know how to deal with. Let Charlie and Lindsey do their thing; let us do ours. TJN
Good Service One Friday night a while back, I struck a curb hard enough to damage my right front tire and wheel. The tire did not deflate, but there was obvious damage. The following day, the tire was still up, but I was concerned about driving the car safely. So, I took it to Service Tire on Country Club Road. The parking lot was full of vehicles being serviced on this busy Saturday. Even though he was buried under and I’d never been there before, Doug Barnes, the sales manager, was not going to let me leave with the wheel in the condition it was in. He physically went through all their possible storage spots to find a rim that would fit my oddball-sized wheel. Although no substitute was found, he had the donut spare put on the car to get us through until a new wheel and tire could be obtained. When the replacements came in, the good folks there had us back in proper condition sooner than promised or expected. Recently, I had a small leak in a tire after a tiny nail had done its damage, and you can bet your Bippy that I had Doug take care of it. OIL CRISIS AHEAD Common sense tells us that we’re in for much higher fuel prices. The unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, together with our lack of domestic expansion, is going to make for a great deal of upheaval in the lives of most Americans. Our way of life is based on an oil economy (we here in Louisiana know that for sure), even though there hasn’t been a new domestic American refinery built since the 1970s. Eventually, there will be viable, affordable and sustainable alternative energy sources, but for now, we’re going to have to bite the bullet as Volume 2 • Issue 24
there is nowhere to realistically turn until the market can eventually develop these new methods. Control of our situation is sadly not in our hands or those of our friends. The shutdown of Gulf oil exploration will haunt us for years to come. Once the deepwater rigs move out, they won’t be available to return to the Gulf anytime soon. Shale oil development stands to be an exciting potential source of fulfilling our domestic needs, but that is also in the somewhat distant future. The economy is not healthy, and any oil crisis will only cause disruption in its improvement. I really don’t have any “tips” to make our situation any better, but you may want to evaluate its effect on your family’s future. MORE TRAFFIC SNAFUS Anyone traveling Nelson Road around 2:30 p.m. near Prien Lake Elementary should not even dream about being in a hurry. If so, then select another route. When school gets out and the drivers picking up the students take over the area, there is no hope for any expeditious movement. The northbound right lane is full of semi-parked vehicles waiting to get to a pick-up point; the southbound middle turn lane is clogged with more vehicles trying to get into the designated area, and the crossing guards are trying to shepherd the kids across the road and direct the stop and go of both the inbound and outbound school buses, with the already loaded cars trying to escape the area. All I can tell you is to try to avoid the area at that time. It might help if traffic was not allowed to turn left into the school from the southbound Nelson traffic, but I fear that there would be a significant backlash from parents insistent on using that option. MARCH 10, 2011
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QUESTION: Why do you suggest only one or two lessons per week? ANSWER: Proven skill retention. Children look forward to lessons. Allows child time to process information. QUESTION: When should you stop lessons? SWIMSATIONAL RECOMMENDS: Upon completion 75 yard swim AND 2 minute fully clothed survival swim. DROWNING is the leading cause of death for children under the age of five! Can your child swim? Are they comfortable under water 10 seconds, can they rollover and rest on their back?
Learn to swim, call us 527-0950.
Are YOU
registered to vote? • $100 per person • $400 per team • $250 hole sponsor • $1000 hole sponsor includes free team of 4 players Registration on-line at www.jllc.net or call 337-436-4025 Registration at the clubhouse begins at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tee time is 12:15 p.m. PAGE 12
MARCH 10, 2011
It’s easy! • Go to lwv-lc.org • Click on Links • Click on The Democracy Network to get answers about voter registration and more. www.lwv-lc.org or email info@lwv-lc.org or call 474-1864 Volume 2 • Issue 24
By Lauren de Albuquerque
CARC
Meaningful Work for the Developmentally Disabled Spring is in the air! A young man’s fancy may turn to love, but the rest of us are looking at our lawns—which are pretty grim after a particularly cold winter. It’s time to spruce them up for the long green season ahead. If you’re looking for reputable lawn care, there’s one place you probably haven’t thought of, and that’s CARC. Not only will you be getting good service, you’ll be doing a community service by hiring them. “We’ve been doing commercial lawn maintenance for over 20 years,” said Bennett McNeal, assistant executive director of administration. “We currently take care of all CARC property as well as contracts with LaDOTD, Calcasieu Parish Libraries, Centerpoint Energy and Citgo
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Pipeline. We have four lawn crews working in the community.” The crews are licensed, bonded and fully insured, and are trained and supervised by professionals in the use of various kinds of commercial lawn equipment. They have a thorough knowledge of how to best maintain a quality lawn. CARC offers quality lawn care at affordable prices, and provides free estimates based on the customer’s individual needs. While the lawn maintenance program has been around a long time, a fairly new venture for CARC is something called CARC BARK. “CARC BARK is mulch that we make from the scrap lumber from our pallet
Libby Leone, assistant executive director of programming, Dr. Howard Stroud, executive director, and Bennett McNeal building operations,” McNeal explained. “We grind it up and color it, if desired, and sell it by the cubic yard and by the 2-cubic-foot bag.” WHAT IS CARC? CARC is an organization that assists and meets the unique needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families through Residential Services, Child Development Services, Vocational Services, Community Services and Community Employment Services. CARC was initially established as a kitchen table organization of parents of children with disabilities. In 1985, numerous smaller agencies came together and established themselves as an entity under CARC, which is an independent 501(c) 3 private nonprofit organization.
WORK/TRAINING CARC assists people with disabilities in learning new skills to be able to thrive as independently and become as fully integrated into the community as possible. Each participant is offered work/training that promotes as normal a work environment as possible according to the participant’s abilities, interests and needs. The purpose of the program is to help develop the participants’ self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth by giving them an opportunity to be productive, make choices and feel needed and accepted. “Teaching skills, while offering work opportunities, puts the skills into practice and allows a person to earn something for their endeavors,” McNeal said. “Work opportunities include the CARC BARK and lawn maintenance as mentioned above, but
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it also entails bus washing, commercial laundry services, secure shredding, janitorial services, cleaning rags, woodshop/pallet building, arts and crafts, and piecemeal contracts.” Much of the work is done at sheltered workshops, which are CARCowned facilities. Janitorial services and grounds maintenance are performed throughout the parish by community work crews, under the supervision of a CARC-employed supervisor. In CARC’s “enclave” services, participants work at a place of business supervised by either a CARC employee or a supervisor provided by the business. The participants’ pay may come directly from the place of business, or from CARC through a contract with that business. Jobs include buffet keeping, bussing and dishwashing at local restaurants, and bagger/stocker positions at local grocers. “Supported Work” provides participants with the opportunity to gain individual employment in the community. Participants are given assistance in completing job applications, interviewing and one-on-one training by a CARC employee for a specified time once a job has been secured. “Currently, CARC has about 350
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MARCH 10, 2011
employees and we serve about the same number of people at any given time,” McNeal said. He is proud of the many repeat contract customers, as well as the many repeat customers for CARC BARC. CARC has yet another
achievement to be proud of. “Our new crown jewel would probably have to be our two thrift stores, which give our people a chance to learn retailing while still under
CARC’s umbrella, with the hopes the employees can move on to supported work,” McNeal said. “That’s our last category of work activity, which involves employment in an outside company, with only job coaching and follow-along provided by CARC staff.”
Let me tell you, I’ve been to CARC’s Treasure Chest Thrift Store in Lake Charles, and I’ve found some beautiful, barely worn ball gowns at a fraction of the price you’d pay in a retail store. The store also has an extensive selection of clothing for men, women and chil-
dren, as well as household items. Treasure Chest 1 is located at 129 W. McNeese St. in Lake Charles; call 478-8334 for more information. Treasure Chest 2 is at 109 Gloria Drive in Moss Bluff; you can reach them at 905-2272. The shops depend on donations, so please think of them when you’re cleaning out your closets this spring! “CARC provides services throughout the life span of people with disabilities,” McNeal said. “We serve the parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis. Our attitude and our mission are summed up in our tag line. We are CARC…opportunities for people with disabilities.” If you have a need for lawn maintenance or janitorial services, contact Carolyn Hughes at 433-4238 ext 225 or e-mail chughes@thecarc.com. Free estimates are provided. CARC BARK is available at CARC’s office at 4100 J. Bennett Johnston Avenue from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Prices by the cubic yard are $27 for Natural, and $35 for Cayenne Red. By the bag, it’s $2.50 a bag for Natural and $3.25 a bag for Cayenne Red. TJN
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What’s Cookin’ The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. Marshes to Mansions is a coffee-table quality cookbook with over 250 recipes and 90 sidebars with helpful cooking tips and interesting information about people, places and events throughout Lake Charles history. It was published in 2007, following the success of the Junior League of Lake Charles’ first cookbook, Pirate’s Pantry. Many assume that the beautiful cover was digitally created, but the magic was actually made in a local marsh with a real chandelier suspended from a crane! The cover is just as unique as Louisiana’s culture. It provides a range of recipes from cocktails to desserts and everything in between. Plus, it caters to all types of cooks—from novice to
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expert. Many recipes such as Parmesan Puffs and Celebration Crawfish Casserole are also marked as “Make Ahead.” So, even those of you with the busiest lifestyles can deliciously entertain friends and family with ease! The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. collects the proceeds from their fundraisers (Marshes to Mansions, Mistletoe & Moss Holiday Market, and Leaguers & Links Golf Tournament) and returns them to the community through their year-round projects and grants. The sale of just one cookbook helps the JLLC provide dental kits to 50 local pediatric patients. So, know that when you purchase your award-winning copy, you are helping to enrich the lives of families in this community.
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Marshes to Mansions makes a fabulous housewarming or wedding gift! It is available year-round at www.jllc.net and can be shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. It retails for $28.95 plus tax, but visit their website often for specials, recipes and tips of the month. Plus, their Facebook friends enjoy great recipe demonstrations and updates. Many local retailers also support the JLLC by carrying Marshes to Mansions in their fine stores. During the year, you can find these volunteers hosting tastings at various special events. On March 12, they will be at Coburn Supply (1403 E. McNeese St.) in Lake Charles from 1-3 p.m. They will feature a variety of recipes such as Cool as a Cucumber Dip, Parmesan Puffs, Celebration Crawfish Casserole and Chocolate Kahlua Cake. Your taste buds will thank you, so don’t miss it! The JLLC is has been proud to establish valuable local programs such as The Children’s Museum, The Literacy Council of SWLA and the Family and Youth Counseling Agency. Learn more about their 77 years of service, current community projects, and upcoming events online at www.jllc.net or call (337) 4364025. You can also find them on Facebook.
337-477-6765 921 Manuel Rd. Lake Charles
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MARCH 10, 2011
The following recipe is one that can be prepared ahead of time, so you can have your cake and eat it too!
CHOCOLATE KAHLUA CAKE (serves 12-14)
INGREDIENTS • 1 (2-layer) package chocolate fudge cake mix • 2 cups sour cream • 2 eggs • ½ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup Kahlua • ¼ cup water • 1 (3-ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix • 1 cup chocolate chips PREPERATION Combine the cake mix, sour cream, eggs, oil, Kahlua, water, and pudding mix in a bowl and mix until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour into a greased Bundt pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 50 minutes, or until the cake tests done. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Invert onto a serving plate and serve warm. Enjoy! TJN
337-558-7491 109 HWY 108 Sulphur/Carlyss
Volume 2 • Issue 24
By Lauren de Albuquerque
It feels great to open the windows and doors and let the refreshing spring air in—finally! At the same time, you’re probably taking a good look around your home, and you may not like what you see. I guess it’s time to start spring cleaning. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you make a list of what needs to be done, and schedule your time accordingly, you’ll be OK. Obviously, list the most important jobs first. And make sure you schedule a large block of time for the big jobs. INSIDE Your closet is always a good place to start. As you bring out the warm weather clothing, look through everything and see what you should discard. Do the same with the heavier clothes that you’re planning on packing away until next fall. Before you know it, you’ll have a nice pile of clothing to donate to your favorite charity. De-clutter your house, as well as your garage. Let’s face it: there’s a lot of stuff hanging Volume 2 • Issue 24
around that you neither need nor use any more. That goes for the rest of the family, too. You can either donate the items, or make some money and have a yard sale. Spring is the perfect time for that, so get going! Windows get really dirty in the winter. They need to be cleaned, inside and out. This is a job for a “crew,” so get the whole family together for this one, too. While you’re at the windows, check your blinds, drapes and window treatments. Vacuum the dust that has settled and send dirty drapes to the cleaners. Dust the sills and molding. Move all the furniture and vacuum beneath it. Give your wood furniture a good polishing. Check upholstery for grime or stains, and spot clean with upholstery cleaner. Your rugs probably need a good shampooing. You can rent machines and industrial strength shampoo at places such as Lowe’s or Stine’s. If you have a lot of carpeted rooms, using a carpet cleaning company may be a better idea. If you have central air conditioning, make an appointment with an A/C company to get it checked out. If there are any
issues with it, now is the time to find out. If you wait until it gets hot (and down here, you know that could be next week), they may not see you right away. You’ll get better service if they’re not busy. OUTSIDE Take a walk around the exterior and grounds of your house. Make a list of any needed repairs. That includes outdoor furniture. Inspect the roof for winter damage such as leaks or missing or broken shingles. Scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. The wood will be protected against summer’s heat and moisture—and taking care of this now prevents a more difficult paint job come fall. Organize your garage. Make sure there’s enough room to store sports, camping equipment and garden tools. Before you store them, go through your gardening implements and see what needs to replaced. If you have any brick or stone walkways, check to make sure they haven’t shifted over the winter. That’s an accident waiting to happen. TJN MARCH 10, 2011
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Mulches are materials placed over the soil surface to maintain moisture and improve soil conditions. Mulching is one of the most beneficial things you can do for the health of your trees and plants. It can reduce water loss from the soil, minimize weed competition, and improve soil structure. Properly applied, it gives landscapes a handsome, well-groomed appearance. But it must be applied properly; if it is too deep or if the wrong material is used, it can actually cause significant harm to trees and other landscape plants. TYPES OF MULCH Mulches are available in many forms. The two major types are inorganic and organic. Inorganic mulches include various types of stone, lava rock, pulverized rubber, etc. Inorganic mulches do not decompose and do not need to be replenished often. However, they don’t improve soil structure, add organic materials, or provide nutrients. Therefore, most professional gardeners prefer organic mulches. Organic mulches include wood chips, pine needles, hardwood and softwood bark, cocoa hulls, leaves, compost mixes, and a variety of other products usually derived from plants. Organic mulches decompose in the
landscape at different rates depending on the material and climate. Those that decompose faster must be replenished more often. Because the decomposition process improves soil quality and fertility, many arborists and other landscape professionals consider that characteristic a positive one, despite the added maintenance. WHEN TO MULCH For best weed suppression in a perennial border, apply mulch in early spring. Remove any existing weeds before applying. Mulches applied for winter protection should be laid down in early winter, once the soil has cooled, but before it has frozen. For trees and shrubs, spread mulch evenly to a depth of two to three inches. For trees and shrubs in beds, mulch the entire bed. For those in a lawn, mulch a wide ring (extending from three to six feet out from the trunk) around each plant. Make sure you never pile mulch against tree trunks; pull it back away from the trunk about an inch or so. As organic mulches decompose, they may need to be replenished somewhat every year; but don’t let mulch build up to depths greater than about four inches. TJN
SWLA Garden Festival March 25-26 The Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held in Lake Charles March 26-27 at Burton Coliseum at 7001 Gulf Highway. The Federated Garden Clubs of Southwest Louisiana will be displaying their floral design and horticulture talents. Educational programs will include home vegetable gardening and fruit production on Friday and ornamentals and landscape gardening and herbs on Saturday. The event will include a plant health clinic with LSU AgCenter experts and Master Gardeners to answer gardening questions. The festival will also include vendors with plants and gardening-related items for sale. Festival hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $2 for ages 13 and over. Children under 12 will be admitted free. More information is available at www.gardenfest.org or by calling (337)-475-8812.
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• Old Smokey BBQ Pits and replacement parts • Strapping for old style folding aluminum chairs • Frogging head lamps
With the recent warm weather, homeowners are anxious to fertilize their St. Augustine and centipede grass, as well as get weed-and-feed out on their weeds. It’s not time, however, to put either conventional lawn fertilizer or weed-and-feed out on St. Augustine grass or centipede grass right now, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Ron Strahan. “Fertilizing this early with highnitrogen lawn fertilizer or weedand-feed can contribute to winter kill with a late-season freeze and bring on brown patch disease,” Strahan says. “The best time to apply weed-and-feed in St. Augustine grass and centipede grass is to make them your first application of fertilizer.” Timing the first fertilizer or weed-and-feed application depends on where you are located in the state. For those of us in Lake Charles, it’s late March or early April. Weed-and-feeds are not always the most effective weed killers, but they are definitely convenient to apply because you can use a fertilizer spreader and cover large lawns quickly, Strahan says. “Overall, granular weed-andfeed performance has not been as good in my field trials as spraying liquid atrazine – best on winter weeds – or products such as Weed Free Zone, Weed B Gon and Trimec, which are all 2,4-D/dicamba-based products,” Strahan says.
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But if homeowners are going to use weed-and-feed products, they might as well apply them properly and time them correctly, he adds. “No doubt, homeowners like to use weed-and-feed products like Scotts Bonus S, which has atrazine, or some type of granular “trimec” herbicide, such as 2,4-D, dicamba or mecoprop, for their winter-weed problems,” Strahan says. Most weed-and-feed herbicides have the herbicides impregnated on a very high-nitrogen fertilizer granule, but timing is important. If it is an atrazine-based weedand-feed like Scotts Bonus S (the package usually will say for St. Augustine grass and centipede grass), the product must be watered in after application. Atrazine works mainly through root uptake so watering after spreading gets the herbicide into the root zone. If the weed-and-feed product contains Trimec, it should be applied when there is a heavy dew or after the lawn has been watered, Strahan says. “The granules need to stick to the weeds for the herbicide to work with ‘Trimec’-type weedand-feeds.” Finally, Strahan says, both weed-and-feed types must be used away from the drip lines and root zones of trees and shrubs.
TJN
MARCH 10, 2011
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By Caty James
Casey Rollins knows that practice equals endurance and results. A triathlete, he spends hours pounding the pavement—step after step until they become a steady cadence— swimming, and cycling. “I normally train 8 to twelve hours each week,” said the paramedic from Pineville, Louisiana. Constant training resulted in great finishes. But it also led to a torn labrum, causing pain, stiffness, a limited range of motion, and a clicking sensation in not one, but both of the 28-year-old’s hips. “In the hip, the labrum protects the cartilage, which allows the ball of the femur, or the main thighbone, to move smoothly in the cup of the acetabulum, the curved cavity on the side of the hip bone,” said Dr. Brett Cascio, director of Sports Medicine at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. With a torn labrum, there are typically two courses of action: Treat it conservatively—with rest, strengthening exercises, and cortisone injections—or treat it surgically. Since conservative measures weren’t enough to get Rollins back in competition, Cascio recommended a minimally invasive arthroscopic labrum repair to reattach the cartilage to the rim of the hip socket. While more time consuming and delicate since it is performed through dime-sized incisions, an arthroscopic procedure means less scarring and pain, and a quicker recovery. While labrum repair has become routine in treating shoulder joints, the hip remained inaccessible until the last few years.
From left to right: Dr. Brett Cascio, Pike Pickett, Shaun Trahan, Lee-Anne Carrier and Stacey Oertling. PAGE 20
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Patient Scott Jones, a Bullet baseball player suffering from hip pain visits with Dr. Cascio.
Patient Rebecca Connella at first post op visit following her hip arthroscopy. “The hip is the hardest joint to scope, requiring particular instrumentation and special positioning of the patient,” explained Cascio, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist. Most surgeons typically remove the torn piece of labrum. However, Cascio noted, “Without the labrum, the unprotected cartilage can become damaged—and damaged cartilage leads to arthritis. When a hip labral tear is repaired, there are less arthritic changes and better long-term pain relief.” Cascio repaired the labrum in Rollins’ left hip in October of 2009 and the labrum in his right hip six weeks later. “I continue to marvel at the work Dr. Cascio did. I am back to every-
thing. I successfully completed the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon race in New Orleans four months after the second surgery, and felt great the entire time,” Rollins said. BACKGROUND A New Orleans native and graduate of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Cascio completed his orthopedic residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, and his fellowship at the SteadmanHawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado, where he participated in the care of the U.S. Olympic ski, Colorado Rockies baseball, and Denver Broncos football teams. While at the Steadman-Hawkins
Clinic, he studied under Dr. Marc Philippon, who developed and perfected the hip labrum technique. A major in the United States Army Reserves, Cascio served a tour in Afghanistan from December 2007 to March 2008, before resuming his practice in Kenner, Louisiana, and his duties as an assistant professor of clinical orthopedics and sports medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. When the opportunity arose to direct a sports medicine program and work with a football team in his home state, he and his wife Cherie—who is from Jena—jumped at the chance. Shortly after moving to the region, their son Cade was born, and Cherie is expecting again later this spring.
EXPERT IN THE FIELD As the first in Louisiana and one of the few specially trained nationwide to perform hip labrum repairs, Cascio rapidly gained recognition as an expert in the field. Today, he performs as many as eight hip labrum repairs a week, with approximately 30 percent of his patients traveling from all points of the state, as well as from Texas and Mississippi for treatment. He even has college and professional athletes who have traveled from as far away as Chicago and California. Cascio performed the first arthroscopic hip labrum repair in Louisiana in 2007, and performed the first series of arthroscopic hip labrum reconstructions in the region in 2011.
(A) The graft is anchored to the acetabular rim (asterisk) at each end, with the labral graft (large arrow) next to the native labrum (small arrow). Depending on the anastomosis, a nonabsorbable suture may be placed between the graft and native labrum to improve healing. (B) Additional anchors are placed along the midportion of the graft (arrow) in the acetabular rim (asterisk) to ensure adequate fixation. (C) The final appearance of the graft from the central compartment, after fixation, shows the graft (asterisk) creating a junction with the acetabular surface (A). (D) From the peripheral compartment, a dynamic examination ensures the graft (asterisk) tracks normally over the femoral head (small arrow) and the site of femoral neck osteoplasty (large arrow).
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MARCH 10, 2011
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Dr. Cascio performs a hip arthroscopy.
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In a hip labrum reconstruction, a graft is used to replace a damaged labrum or a labrum that was previously shaved away. Typically a hip labrum patient is younger, and more athletic than those with other hip problems. But it seems to affect women equally as often as men. “This isn’t an injury that a sedentary lifestyle would lead to,” Cascio said. It’s also a tricky diagnosis. “We had a patient that wasn’t responding to therapy and the MRI came back with no signs of musculoskeletal damage. We sent the case to Dr. Cascio, and he pointed out labral issues on the MRI. Then Dr. Cascio offered options that changed the patient’s life,” said Troy Bourgeois, owner of The Movement Science Centers of New Orleans, Metairie and Covington. Even other physicians note Cascio’s skill and reputation. Dr. Kim LeBlanc, chairman of the department of family medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, is one of Cascio’s patients. LeBlanc
chose to see Cascio over the score of orthopedists practicing between New Orleans and Lake Charles—or anywhere else in the region. “I wanted someone who was doing this kind of surgery every day, and the sheer volume of patients that he treats each week is more than what most surgeons do in a month. I came to him because he is the best at what he does,” LeBlanc said. While Cascio’s treatment of hip labrum injuries is garnering nationwide attention, his skills in the treatment and medical management of knees and shoulders are equally acclaimed. He also specializes in ACL reconstruction and rotator cuff repairs. A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS To provide the quality of care Cascio wants for his patients before, during and after treatments that run the gambit from therapy to surgery, he has gathered a unique team of medical professionals whose focus is on the patient. The team includes his wife, Cherie, a registered nurse; Chelsa Patterson,
The Research Team: Cherie Cascio and Frances Tuttle. PAGE 22
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an athletic trainer; Pike Pickett, a registered nurse and soon-to-be nurse practitioner; Frances Tuttle, a research coordinator; and Lee-Anne Carrier, his medical assistant. “The team treated me better than most experiences I’ve had,” LeBlanc said. “They took the time to explain the procedure, made sure they answered all of my questions, and made sure that I was comfortable and had everything I needed–even before they knew I was a physician.” Pickett and Carrier are also members of his surgical team, and Tuttle works with Cherie Cascio on the research aspect of the practice. One of Cascio’s research projects is on the incidence of shoulder and elbow pain in young baseball pitchers, with the ultimate goal to prevent overuse injuries in growing ball players.
SKILL AND DEDICATION Whether it’s a baseball diamond or a football field, Cascio can also be found along any given sideline on any given weekend all over Southwest Louisiana. In addition to serving as head team physician for McNeese athletics, his duties as director of sports medicine include overseeing Memorial Hospital’s athletic training program, which provides athletic trainers for 22 area high schools. Advances in diagnostic tools, arthroscopic instruments, and surgical procedures have led to more detailed understanding of specific soft tissue lesions within joints, most notably hip labral tears. What do these medical advances and the skill and passion of a dedicated orthopedic surgeon mean to patients like Casey Rollins and Kim LeBlanc? Casey’s returned to competition, and LeBlanc is back at work directing other physicians. “My hips felt better than they have in years!” Casey exclaimed. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cascio, call Orthopaedic Specialists at (337) 494-4900. The office is located on the third floor at 1717 Oak Park Blvd., adjacent to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
Patient Kristen Lee Marcum with Lee-Anne Carrier on left and Chelsa Patteron. Game Ready machine is offered exclusively in LC by Orthopaedic Specialists.
TJN
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1616 West McNeese, Lake Charles 478-3232 • www.oakparkdental.com Volume 2 • Issue 24
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Geauxing for the Gold Golly, that didn’t take long. The powers-that-be in McNeese State’s athletics department have, after much soul-searching and genuine, honest-to-gosh thinking, I’m sure, have decided to go ahead and implement their season-ticket hold-
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ers’ tax, ahem, “Priority Seating Program” for the 2011 season. As I mentioned in my January 13 column, MSU athletic director Tommy McClelland’s “key reason” for proposing such a plan, is “our ability to continue to compete at the national level.” To which I replied: “Seriously, McNeese? At the risk of sounding like everyone’s mother, ‘If App State jumps off a bridge, are you going to jump off, too?’” Yep. Looks like they hopped over those wrought-iron pistols and dove headfirst off the top of the I-10 Bridge.
McNeese season-ticket holders on Feb. 3 opened their mail to find yet another letter from McClelland confirming McNeese’s plans for the Priority Seat Program. The crux of the letter is this: McNeese season-ticket holders will pay anywhere from $50 to $250 per ticket account (not per ticket) for the privilege of buying season tickets anywhere in Cowboy Stadium (except the Sky Ranch), depending on the seats. All of the surcharge money will go to something called the MSU Traditions fund. But, fear not, dear Cowboys fans,
your “donation” is tax deductible. Just be sure to run it by your tax consultant first. You know, those of you who can afford a tax consultant who isn’t your wife or brother-in-law or somebody. Speaking of the financially lessfortunate, should you not be able to afford the additional burden, McNeese is generously offering the option to give up the seats you’ve probably had for 25 years and trade for general admission season tickets. That’s right; you too can hunt all over creation for a GA seat, instead of being in the same place, all season long. It’s like they’re saying, “Sorry you can’t afford the Cadillac, but
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here’s a ’98 Celica you could have.” There’s also the offer of a payment plan as, I guess, a last resort. To be “fair” to season-ticket holders, McNeese is raising game-day reserved seat ticket prices. The letter also addresses the legitimate question of “Why not just buy individual game tickets?” with a couple of hypothetical math problems. The conclusion? Reserved season tickets, with the tax, save about the cost of a dinner for two at Taco Bell ($9) over buying individual reserved seat tickets. The final paragraph features some really superb Marketing 101 tripe about “How much we value and appreciate you (season ticket holders). Your continued support is a great example of why we will be able to continue our rich (HA!) tradition of athletics excellence.” That’s small consolation to those who will be losing the seats from where they watched decades of playoff games and future pro stars. Look, I’m a big Cowboys fan, which is why it infuriates me to no end that the athletic department feels it has to bleed more money out of the school’s most ardent supporters. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t keep purchasing season tickets or stop going to games. Not at all. The football team—that’s the players, not the suits—needs your support this season. Which is why I, with a little help from some others, have a plan. Be warned, though, I am no mastermind and this is probably the worst idea ever (well…second worst), but, I’m here to try and lend a hand. Here it is: 1. Find the most trustworthy guy (let’s call him Theriot) in your McNeese game-attending, season ticket-holding crew. 2. Write a note to the McNeese ticket office saying that you are giving your tickets to Theriot. 3. Repeat with the rest of your crew. 4. Give Theriot the money it would normally cost to buy your season tickets. 5. Having received all of the group’s season ticket commitments, Theriot will then buy the tickets from the ticket office, paying the one-time tax of, say, $75. 6. Theriot redistributes the tickets back to the crew. 7. Party on! Well, maybe it could be done as a funny kind of protest. I don’t know. What I find most humorous about
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the letter (and I like to try to find the funny side to unhappy events), is McClelland’s word choice. He uses words and phrases like “decisionmaking process” and “continuous research.” Also “extremely passionate (read: pissed off) fans.” It’s funny to me because, in my humble opinion (that’s oh-pen-yun), this was a done deal before the first letter even hit the mail. That’s despite the word “not,” as in “a decision has NOT been made,” being capitalized and underlined (for maximum effect) in the first letter. The
first letter was a gauge to measure the blowback the department would get from understandably and justifiably irate Cowboys fans. With the initial fan anger vented, McNeese went ahead with the plan, and here we are today. What a joke. At the end of his letter, McClelland signs off with a hearty “Geaux Blue!” It was the first time in a long while anyone in the McNeese front office forgot the Gold.
Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University and has covered sports for more than seven years for various publications. Coaches Brandon Shoumaker or parents with story tips may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).
TJN
MARCH 10, 2011
PAGE 25
By Mary Louise Ruehr
Reading about Haiti, the ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’ It’s been just over a year now since a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, and the impoverished nation was in the news again recently with the return of one of its former dictators. Just how much do you know about the country? Philippe Girard can help. He’s the author of Haiti: The Tumultuous History — From Pearl of the Caribbean to Broken Nation one of the most readable books of history I’ve ever encountered. Girard studied at Ohio University in Athens and
is now associate professor of history at McNeese State University in Lake Charles. Girard starts his book with the day of the quake, setting the scene in Port-au-Prince. Even before the catastrophe, the picture is sad: “Entire streets were lined with beautiful Haitian paintings for sale, the vendors waiting patiently for tourists who had stopped coming 30 years before. The hustle and bustle of the Caribbean metropolis was a sight to behold, but these men, women, and
4710 Common St., Suite A • (337) 564-5769 www.theporchcoffeehouse.com
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children often looked desperate, and many were hungry.” He takes us through the quake and its aftermath, then begins the history of “one of the most stunningly beautiful islands of the Caribbean.” Despite its beauty, he writes, “Over the course of its history, this country has witnessed four massacres or genocides, one of the most brutal slave systems in the Caribbean, countless civil wars and foreign invasions, and the refined cruelty of Papa Doc’s torture chambers.” Before Columbus “discovered” the island of Hispaniola (of which Haiti occupies the western third) in 1492, it was already inhabited by native Indians called Tainos. The Europeans killed the natives for their gold or enslaved them to work in the gold mines. But Haiti’s most precious product would be discovered later: It was the perfect place to grow sugarcane, and “Sugar was the oil of the eighteenth century.” To grow and harvest the plants,
indentured servants were brought in from Europe, but they couldn’t handle the oppressive heat and grueling work. So the Europeans brought in hundreds of thousands of African slaves, thinking they were accustomed to the heat, but the slaves “could not withstand the hard work of the sugar plantations” and “died by the thousands.” Haitian history is filled with a “ceaseless ballet of revolutions” and, “sadly, once in place, political violence and poverty tend to become self-perpetuating.” The poorest country in the western Hemisphere, Haiti “is plagued by racial conflict,” Girard writes. He explains the French Code Noir or Black Code, Voodoo, how the AIDS epidemic affected the populace, and the horrors of the restavek (child slavery) system; discusses the boat people who fled to the United States and Cuba in the early 1990s; and details the commerce, economy, social and political environment of the country. Naturally, he tells us about the men who ran the place, including Toussaint Louverture, revolutionary; Faustin Soulouque, brutal dictator; Jean-Jacques Dessalines, mass-murdering dictator; François Duvalier, known as Papa Doc, who also became a brutal dictator (“Political murders had always been the norm, but Duvalier added excruciating torture sessions and unspeakable detention conditions”); and his son, JeanClaude Duvalier, or Baby Doc, who “had never displayed any taste for politics, preferring to spend time with fast cars and beautiful women (in that order)” and was forced to leave the country because of his greed and corruption. Girard concludes: “The central issue of our age, one that is often Volume 2 • Issue 24
ignored, is underdevelopment. … Underdevelopment affects billions and kills millions every single year. Two and a half billion people, including most Haitians, live on two dollars a day or less.” The writing just flows so easily that it’s a pleasure to read. This updated edition is in paperback; it was originally published in hardcover as Paradise Lost. Haiti Noir is a collection of short stories edited by Edwidge Danticat and is the latest in a series of Noir fiction published in paperback by Akashic Books. Eighteen different Haitian authors, including Danticat, offer original stories set in Haiti, each with a dark edge. Three were written after the earthquake and incorporate that tragic event into their tales. The characters include an earthquake victim who ends up in a tent city, a thief who steals more than just a ring from his victim, a young woman who encounters an older man of questionable character, an elderly man who tries to find a home for his orphaned grandchild, a man who’s in love with three women and finds a solution handed to him
by Mother Nature, a mother whose baby may be chosen for a better life in America, a police officer who checks into a bizarre hotel, and many more. The stories show us different aspects of Haiti’s geography, social life, mythology, economy and political environment. Plots involve love,
lust, compassion, terror, suspense, the supernatural, human (and inhuman) nature, kidnapping, murder, child slavery and drug crimes. I did not love all of the stories, but most were simply great reading. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Lambi Fund of Haiti. Adult language and situations.
Children can learn about Haiti, too, with Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat, illustrated by Alix Delinois. The story belongs to Junior, a seven-year-old boy trapped by the 2010 earthquake. He survives by using his imagination to envision himself outside his prison under the rubble of his house, where he lies trapped near his best friend, Oscar. Each day, he imagines something wonderful: He flies kites with Oscar; plays hide and seek; spends time with his family; sings a solo in the choir; plays soccer; walks in the rain with his sister; and rides his bicycle. On the eighth day, he is rescued, but sometime during the week, his friend Oscar “went to sleep. He never woke up. That was the day I cried,” says Junior. The illustrations in bold, bright colors are lovingly gentle and simple, representing the child’s imagination. I can’t get over that blue, blue sky. The publisher, Scholastic, is donating some of the proceeds from this book to the International Rescue Committee, www.IRC.org/Haiti. Suggested for ages 4 to 8. Copyright © 2011 by Mary Louise Ruehr TJN
Lake Charles Civic Center April 8 & 9
Garage, Antiques, & Collectibles Sale Do you have unique, one-of-a-kind treasures to sell? Maybe you have more stuff than house. We will invite people to shop your new and used merchandise. ITʼS A FUN AND EASY WAY TO MAKE YOU MONEY!
Booth spaces are first come — first serve. Contact us today!
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MARCH 10, 2011
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U A B A F N OLY
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der useum n e l l n E dren's M a D By e Chil f th o r o ct Dire
I Am Number Four (Dreamworks, 2011)
Everyone grows up. Eventually. At least, they grow old, as in my case. In I Am Number Four, we get to see a modern day alien grow up. It turns out to be a lot of fun, sort of like I Was a Teenage Werewolf, except he’s not a werewolf, he’s – well, you get the picture.
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Our story (which was based on a book, same name) starts in a rainforest, where some pretty scary guys are chasing an X-Man type character and eventually catch him, killing him. It turns out that this is Number Three, one of nine teens sent to Earth as infants from another planet named DeLorean - oops, sorry, it’s just Lorien. The inhabitants there have all been killed by another race of aliens, the Mogadoreans. Don’t worry about getting them confused. The Loriens look like humans, in fact they look like incredibly goodlooking California-type humans. Amazing. The Mogadoreans look
like, well, Star Trek villains, also quasi-California types. The Mogadoreans are systematically out to get the nine kids from Lorien, who by now are of high school age. So after Number Three is killed – you got it! Our hero, Number Four, is next. Luckily, he has a guardian, Henri (Tim Olyphant) who is guarding him. By pretending to be Number Four’s father, he gets a chance to totally give in to every whim Number Four has, which includes keeping a low profile by going to high school. High school? Let’s face it, the Number Four franchise points directly at teens, with them as the stars and with all their angst (look it up). So Number Four ends up at a high school in Ohio, calls himself John Smith, and walks right into his low profile life. This includes antagonizing the school football star, romancing the star’s former girlfriend, and befriending the local UFO dweeb enthusiast. Not bad for his first day. Meanwhile, John’s guardian, Henri (also from Lorien, we assume), is too busy away from their new home base to do much guarding of John. And right then, wouldn’t you know it, John starts to develop his “powers,” as in special super powers that all Loriens begin to develop at high school age.
Now, this all sounds like canned lasagna, as in you’ve seen it again and again. But what was refreshing to me, really, is that it wasn’t about Vampires or Werewolves. Unfortunately, just about every other movie this year is about aliens, except for the ones about Vampires and Werewolves. Seriously, though, I am Number Four is very watchable, with an attractive young cast and excellent acting. There’s just a little bit of PG-13 language, and a few kisses, nothing too hot. There are tons of great special effects, and some that were cheesy towards the end that aren’t so great, but they don’t break the movie completely. As a result, I am Number Four is a nice setup for a sequel, but really stands on its own. What this movie is really about is friends, which is of course what every teen wants, even those from another planet. The other thing they want is to be special and to be empowered, which is exactly what I Am Number Four delivers. So enjoy it with your family, just not your high schoolers. They’ll want to go with their friends. TJN
MARCH 10, 2011
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Killin’ Time Crossword
Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (www.bestcrosswords.com). Used with permission. PAGE 30
MARCH 10, 2011
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A DAY AT PRIEN LAKE MALL Readers and chocolate lovers in the Lake Area headed to the Prien Lake Mall for an early kick-off to celebrate both Read Across America Day and the birthday of Dr. Suess. Kids had a blast reading with local celebrities, taking part in educational activities and loading up on free giveaways! In addition, the mall sold $5 wristbands to shoppers, which allowed them to indulge in free chocolate samples in the Food Court provided by generous local companies, with proceeds benefiting the Simon Foundation. Let’s hear it for Dr. Seuss and chocolate!
Annalise McLallen with Jason White
Linda Victorian with granddaughter Elacya Simon
Lalela and Valerie Dixon
Amber Odon and Crystal Smith
Charlie Grace with Drew Ann Boyd
Eli and Emma Kennedy
Mayor Randy Roach reading to Katelyn Dipuma
THE LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY CIRCLE OF FIFTHS The Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra is in its 53rd season of bringing quality performances to the Lake Charles community! At its latest performance, the audience welcomed newly selected conductor/music director Bohuslav Rattay to the podium in the Rosa Hart Theater as he led his orchestra to transform and uplift our spirits through the power of music. Enhancing the event were guest violinists Anna Vayman of Russia and cellist Dr. Peter Opie of Great Britain. Bravo!! Norma Boudreaux and Waverlyn Bayard Volume 2 • Issue 24
Angela Drowne, Symphony President Cassie Price, Laura Monk MARCH 10, 2011
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Mary Beth Huber, Debbie Reed and Loraine Yelverton
Ruta and Juli Fay
Scott and Lauren Monroe
AN EVENING OF JAZZ Jazz enthusiasts packed the New Theatre of Sherman Fine Arts building for the McNeese Jazz Ensemble’s annual spring “Evening of Jazz” free concert. McNeese’s Little Big Band, directed by Tim McMillen, opened with some samba and even a little “Jambalaya!” It was a delicious appetizer to get us ready for the main course performance by the McNeese Jazz Ensemble. Under the direction of Rick Condit, the history of jazz came alive. The performance included selections from Miles Davis and Paul McCartney. It was an evening of excitement, precision and excellence! William Ishee and Derrick Vidrine
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Leah and Rachael Marshall with Kadie Reed
Tim and Mathew McMillen
Mary and Alan Turner
Nate, Abby and Aaron Soileau
John and Bonnie Manning
Stephanie Vidrine and Stephanie LaCoste
Deloris and Frank Pryce
MARCH 10, 2011
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WOMEN & CHILDREN’S ‘HEALTHY WOMEN’ EVENT A lot of women taking charge of their health gathered at the Lake Charles Country Club recently for a “Healthy Women” event offered by Women & Children’s Hospital. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, and guest speaker Atif Jadoon, a member of the Medical Staff at Women & Children’s Hospital, let us know what can be done to prevent it. Free blood pressure checks were available, along with refreshments, and informational pamphlets. Thumbs up to all who provided opportunities for a healthy future. It’s up to you to take your health to heart! TJN Mary Newble, Jo Cahee and Wanda Goldson
Kathy Armentar with Lisa Bateman
Dawn Johnson Hatcher with Felicia Adams
Bobbie Cart with Betty Belaire
Annette Garber with Marva Matthews
15% Senior Discount All Doctors’ Prescriptions Accepted Experienced Professional Staff • Most Insurance Accepted
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MARCH 10, 2011
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READING, SLIDE SHOW OF HISTORIC MOTOR VESSEL MARCH 10 A free slide show and reading about the restoring of the historic motor vessel “David B” will be presented from 5:30-6:30 Thurs., March 10 at the Harlequin restaurant. After extensive renovation, the David B now carries up to six passengers on adventure cruises to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Christine will read from her book and show slides of the wildlife that they encounter. EMPTY BOWL FUNDRAISER MARCH 11 An evening with internationally acclaimed tenor Paul Groves will be the highlight of the Salvation Army’s Empty Bowl fundraiser, which will be held at L’Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort on Fri., March 11, from 6-9 p.m. Groves, who studied at LSU and the Julliard School, entered the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artists’ Development Program, winning the Met’s National Council Auditions in 1991. His program will include opera, musical comedy favorites, and other popular tunes. Area restaurants will present 12 soups, and each guest will receive a one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl designed by area artisans. Seating is limited, so purchase tickets as soon as possible. They are $100 per guest and may be obtained by calling 477-6476 or 515-0228. HEALING CONFERENCE MARCH 11-12 The 5th annual Healing Conference, “Lord, Reign In Me - Being a Vessel of Healing” is being presented by Rev. Josh Acton at St. Michael and All Angels Church, 123 West Sale Rd. in Lake Charles. It will take place on Fri., March 11, from 6 - 9 p.m. (registration begins at 5 p.m.) and continue on Sat. March 12 from 9 - 3 p.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m. The $20 registration fee includes snacks and lunch on Sat. Childcare will be available. For further information, contact Malcolm Self at 4782646 or e-mail southlandcoins@aol.com. This conference, open to all, is sponsored by the local Imperial Calcasieu Chapter of the International Order of St. Luke the Physician. MARSHES TO MANSIONS TASTING EVENT MARCH 12 The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. will host a Tasting Event on Sat., March 12 at Coburn Supply
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(1403 E. McNeese St.) in Lake Charles. The public is invited to sample delicious recipes such as Celebration Crawfish Casserole, Cool as a Cucumber Dip, Parmesan Puffs and Chocolate Kahlua Cake. The tastings are from 1-3 p.m. and are free, but you can take advantage of these specials while supplies last: Buy two cookbooks, get one free; or buy one cookbook, enter to win one free. Proceeds from the sales fund community projects of the Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. One cookbook purchase provides 50 dental kits to children in this community! Visit www.jllc.net for details and to learn about their year-round community impact. BANNERS PRESENTS JERRY BUTLER MARCH 12 The McNeese State University Banners Cultural Series will open its 19th season with a concert by the legendary soul and doo-wop singer Jerry Butler at 7:30 p.m. Sat., March 12, in the Rosa Hart Theatre of the Lake Charles Civic Center. The concert is co-presented with the Black Heritage Festival. Tickets are included in a Banners Series membership. Individual tickets can be purchased on line at www.banners.org, at the Lake Charles Civic Center box office and at the door. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $5 for ages 18 and under. McNeese and Sowela students are admitted free with ID. LAKE CHARLES COMMUNITY BAND MARCH 13 The Lake Charles Community Band has announced their March concert, a continuation of their “Dancing Around The World” season. On Sun., March 13, the Community Band will delight the audience with an outdoor concert at Prien Lake Park. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. and will be under the direction of Mr. Rod Lauderdale. Featuring dancing songs from international destinations as well as recognizable favorites from closer to home, the audience will be treated to a delightful spring concert. Admission is free. LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL PRESENTS ‘ON THE TOWN” MARCH 19 Step out in style on Sat., March 19, as the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital presents “On the Town” (formally White Linen Nights). This premiere event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Calcasieu Marine Bank Building, located downtown on Ryan Street. Featured musical headliner will be the Philadelphia group, “Chapter One,” who performs the hits of The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Drifters, The Coasters and others from the Motown era. Also on stage will be the 1944 Big Band, featuring Kathy Derouen. Advanced tickets are $75 each and can be purchased on-line at lcmh.com or by calling 494-3226. Ticket price includes complimentary food and wine from area restaurants and outstanding musical entertainment. Proceeds will benefit the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Foundation. MARCH EVENTS AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Children’s Museum in Lake Charles has the following events planned for the month of March:
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• Tues., March 1-25 — Children’s Museum Anniversary Poster Contest The museum is having a poster contest for 4th graders, themed “My favorite Exhibit at the Children’s Museum!” Artwork is due Fri., March 25. It must be on 8 1/2” x 11” paper. You may use your favorite medium, watercolors, paint, crayons, markers, etc. Winners will be displayed April 8 during the Art Walk Opening. For more information on the contest, visit www.swlakids.org. • Sat., March 12 — Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show At 11 a.m., Sasol’s Tamra Weemes will introduce the pH scale and general acid-base concepts by performing a variety of demonstrations using mostly household products. Hands-on demonstrations will include a rocket launch and a volcano! • Thurs., March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Wear green and receive $1 off admission price. Stop by the ArtSpace and make a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day ornament. Adventures of the Senses A program for families with autism spectrum disorders, it’s an afterhours opportunity to come and enjoy the museum with families dealing with similar impairments. It also allows parents to help their children develop language and social skills. The program is from 5-6:30 p.m. Admission fees are paid by SWLA Autism Chapter; donations are welcome.
(337) 478-8530 Ext. 120 CELL (337) 802-7410 FAX (337) 477-7217 bnavarre@flavinrealty.com www.flavinrealty.com
SHANGRI LA’S MARCH SATURDAY ADVENTURE SERIES PROGRAMS Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center announces programs for the Spring Saturday Adventure Series. Program participants will meet at the admissions window at 9:30 a.m., with sessions lasting about an hour. All programs offered in the series are free of charge, but an RSVP is required. • March 12 — Written in the Sky Sarah Hill will lead morning stargazing in the STARLAB planetarium. Learn how many cultures have used the stars to tell stories. • March 19 — Invaders from Plantae Take a guided hike to learn about plants that are invading our habitats. This family program will also give information on how to battle the invaders. The Saturday Adventure Series has programs for the young and young-atheart. Please RSVP by calling (409) 670-9113. Located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Shangri La is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. ‘HEALER WITH MEDICINE AND MUSIC’ MARCH 26 The Foundation of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital invites you to an evening of music, hors d’oeuvres and drinks to honor the memory of Dr. Roger G. Grimball, Sr., family medicine physician, by attending an event entitled “Healer with Medicine and Music.” The event will be held on Sat, March 26 from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Sulphur, and will feature a silent auction, as well as a visual tribute to Dr. Grimball, a well-respected, 38year fixture of the West Calcasieu health care community. Tickets for the event are $60 per couple or $30 per individual, and can be purchased by contacting the WCCH Foundation at (337) 527-4144. All proceeds will benefit the WCCH Foundation and the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center. NINTH ANNUAL LEAGUERS & LINKS GOLF TOURNAMENT MARCH 28 The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. will hold its Ninth Annual Leaguers & Links Golf Tournament on Mon., March 28. It will be hosted by the presenting sponsor, Contraband Bayou Golf Club, at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. Teams of four players ($400) or individuals ($100) can register by filling out a registration form online at www.jllc.net or by calling (337) 436-4025. Registration at the clubhouse begins at 11 a.m., and lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-noon. Tee time is at 12:15 p.m. Prizes include $10,000 hole in one, $500 first place low gross, $400 second place blind draw, and $300 third place blind draw. Sponsorship opportunities include a $250 or $1,000 hole sponsor. To learn more about the event’s year-round community impact, register for the event or become a sponsor, please visit www.jllc.net.
3221 Ryan St. Lake Charles
Tickets available through membership, website and at the door.
For information on 2011 events call (337) 475-5123 or visit www.banners.org
Jerry "The Iceman" Butler Sat, Mar 12, at 7:30 pm Rosa Hart Theatre Lake Charles Civic Center
Hiromi
Sun, Mar 13, at 3 pm Shearman Fine Arts Theatre McNeese Campus
Rhythmic Circus
Fri, Mar 18, at 7:30 pm Rosa Hart Theatre Lake Charles Civic Center
TJN Volume 2 • Issue 24
MARCH 10, 2011
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To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com
The
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Brad Broussard @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Anders Osborne @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • TBA @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 10 • Don Fontenot & Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Chris Young @ Texas Longhorn Club, Vinton, 7 p.m. • John Cessac @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Groove 7 @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • City Heat @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Ryan Bourque @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • The Crossroads Band @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • Outright @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 11 • Travis Benoit & Allons Dancer @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Tim Evans @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Aura @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Warren Storm/Willie Tee & Cypress @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m.
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• Groove 7 @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • David Pellerin @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • LA Express @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 9:30 p.m. • Brandon Foret @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 12 • Kelly Norris Benefit @ The Porch, 6 p.m. • Joe Simon & Louisiana Cajun @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Cecil’s Band @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Dierks Bentley @ The Pavilion, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Warren Storm/Willie Tee & Cypress @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Patti LaBelle @ L’Auberge Event Center, L’Auberge du Lac Casino, 8:30 p.m. • Chicken on the Bone @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Paul Gonsoulin @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Slide Effect @ Bob & Pete’s, Sulphur, 9 p.m. • No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • LA Express @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 9:30 p.m. • Brandon Foret @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13 • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 15 • The Tillers @ The Porch, 9 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Brad Broussard @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • TBA @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 17 • The Hotel Cazin Band @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Mark Mestre @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • Keith McCoy & CEO @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of • Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Muzic Unlimited @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • Cam Plye @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 18 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Tim Evans @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Julian Primeaux & His Rowdy Royal Company/The Von Dukes @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Swamp Jam @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.
Volume 2 • Issue 24
• LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • George Porter Jr. @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • Ridin High @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Shimmur @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 9:30 p.m. • Rockstar Karaoke w/Time Machine @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 19 • Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Cecil’s Band @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Fayuca @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Thingfish/Chickasaw Mudd Puppies @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • David Pellerin @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Sequoyah Prep School/The 94s/ Losers Reunion @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.
• Giles Sonnier & The Bayou Idols @ Bob & Pete’s, Sulphur, 9 p.m. • Crossroads @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Shimmur @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 9:30 p.m. • Rockstar Karaoke w/Time Machine @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. SUNDAY, MARCH 20 • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Judd Bares @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Radar vs. Wolf @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • TBA @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 24 • T-Joe Romero @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • John Cessac @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Jam Sandwich @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.
• Leon Chavis @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. • Warren Storm/Willie Tee & Cypress @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • The Floyds @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 25 • Felton LeJeune & The Cajun Cowboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • TBA @ Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hayes, 7 p.m. • Mark Mestre @ Cecil’s Cajun Kitchen, DeRidder, 7:30 p.m. • Leon Chavis @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8:30 p.m. • Jake Landry @ The Porch, 9 p.m. • Ryan Bourque @ The Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Jesse Brooks @ AJ’s Bar & Grill, 9 p.m. • The Kadillacs @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Bayou Katz @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m. • TBA @ Yesterday’s, 9:30 p.m. • Certain Satellites @ Luna Bar & Grill, 10 p.m. • DJ Johnny Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.
TJN
Volume 2 • Issue 24
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
MARCH 10, 2011
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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, fesriter, ar rnalist, trade o album tist ma na rg tainmen anization pre gerwwwww, sid t a the Mu ttorney, and ent, enterp sic Mu seum o resident of Louisian f a . musicall She prefers Southwest y GRAM eclectic, and v all things M Recordin Ys as a mem otes on the g Aca ber o reached at leslie@ demy. She c f the an leslieber man.co be m.
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Volume 2 • Issue 24
week, including Richard Thomas’ (The Waltons) convincing portrayal in the title role of the rarely performed Timon of Athens, a play about greed and fair-weather friendships, by Shakespeare, at The Public Theater. Thomas is said to be much beloved among his peers, and judging by the kindness and genuine modesty he exhibited during after-show courtesies to fans, he deserves to be. On the other hand, the stars of That Championship Season were the week’s greatest letdown. Kiefer Sutherland (24) was wooden and even more nondescript than called for in the role of the junior high school principal, while Chris Noth (Law & Order) played a seedy twist on “Big,” his Sex and the City character, in his role as the millionaire about to drop support of the mayor’s reelection campaign while sleeping with
the mayor’s wife. Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy) and Jason Patric (The Lost Boys and son of That Champion Season playwright Jason Miller) were superb, respectively, as the dying, bigoted and ineffective coach and the alcoholic writer/truth teller brother of the school principal. They carried the show, so we stayed. I hate to fault excellent comedian Jim Gaffigan for high school-quality acting as the beef-witted mayor, but what the hey, go for broke. Unfortunately, you can’t go broke underestimating the general public’s taste for glimpses of stars. This play received the loudest undeserved standing ovation I’ve ever been privy to. Edie Falco’s play Good People would have been a better bet.
TJN
Puppies and dogs now available for adoption at Downtown Animal Hospital. 113 W. Clarence St. Lake Charles, La. (337) 439-4330
4 Paws Society, Inc., Gets Grant to Vaccinate Dogs for Influenza 4 Paws Society Inc, Sulphur, now has help in protecting dogs against canine influenza virus (CIV), a highly contagious disease that spreads easily from dog to dog, especially those in close proximity. The shelter received a grant for the vaccines as part of a Petfinder.com Foundation program to build community immunity against this respiratory infection. The foundation partnered with Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, a global animal health company and makers of the NOBIVAC(r) Canine Flu H3N8 vaccine, to fund the grant. Because CIV is relatively new, most dogs have not built up immunity to the disease. They can get it by being exposed to those that have it, as well as by playing with toys or drinking from bowls used by other dogs. People can also unwittingly Volume 2 • Issue 24
spread the germ if they come in contact with infected dogs. Dog flu is a growing problem throughout the U.S. It has been confirmed in 34 states so far, but tracking the disease is hard because it is so difficult to diagnose. Dogs are contagious before they show any symptoms. By the time the dog starts coughing, it’s too late. Virtually all dogs exposed to the virus will become infected, and some will get more serious infections, such as pneumonia, which can be fatal. Dogs that go to doggie daycare, boarding facilities, groomers and shows and are vaccinated for canine cough (Bordetella) are also at risk for canine flu. Information about canine flu is available at www.doginfluenza.com. TJN
Meet Wade! Are you looking for that special friend? The one who doesn’t care about looks? The one who believes you know everything? The one with whom you can trust your innermost feelings? Then Wade is your boy! Wade is a beautiful Basset mix boy who is 65 pounds of love. He was found as a stray and never claimed by his owner (We are in shock!). We neutered him and treated him for heartworms, and he is fully vaccinated. He is very people-friendly and would prefer to be your one and only love. Wade truly
needs a hero to adopt him and teach him that he is safe and loved, since he’s just now learning that he won’t be neglected like before. Because he seems so insecure around other dogs, we think it’s best he be the only dog, or at least goes to a home where the owners are dog savvy and can continue training and reassuring him that other dogs are safe, too! Wade is fine around kids but likes to stalk cats, so no kitties in this guy’s new home. A secure, fenced yard is a must for this boy. If you love the Basset breed, please consider adopting Wade today. Call (337) 488-3478, or get an application online at www.4PawsSocietyInc.com and fax to (337) 558-6331 or e-mail to fourpawssociety@aol.com. Please hurry— Wade is waiting for you!
TJN
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