The Jambalaya News - Vol. 3 No. 12

VOL. 3, NO. 12 / SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

• The Casualties of Animal Hoarding • Arts Overture • A Taste of Asia at L’Auberge du Lac

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

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

NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Berman George Cline Dan Ellender Maria Alcantara Faul Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com

SALES ASSOCIATES Katy Corbello Faye Drake Lindy George Karla Tullos GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews

contents

On Cover: Billy Navarre and sons Ryan, Barrett, Jareth and Grant Navarre. Photo by Michelle LaVoie

September 8, 2011 • Volume 3 • Issue 12

COVER STORY 17 Billy Navarre: #1 Auto Dealer Makes Huge Expansion

REGULARS 7 9 10 11 12 28

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

17

FEATURES 5

The Casualties of Animal Hoarding 14 Fall Fashion Flare 16 Decorating on the Cheap 22 Arts Overture

ENTERTAINMENT 30 32 33 34 37 40 42 43

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

5 22 12

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.

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We are now accepting credit cards!

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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A Note From Lauren No Safe Place September 2001. We’d been married for a little over a year and were living in a wonderful old Italianate house in Southeastern Massachusetts. My mother was alive and healthy; we were planning a trip to Arizona to visit family for my birthday. I was working in the legal department at Fidelity Investments in downtown Boston. Phil’s kitchen design business was doing great. All was well.

That feeling of well being ended on September 11. That day, all the security that living in America afforded was shattered. I remember the stages I experienced: shock, disbelief, numbness, incredible pain, tears. Then back to shock. The photographs and images on television were too unreal for all of us to comprehend. This couldn’t possibly happen in America.

But it did. And our world changed for good. We all realized that if a tragedy of this magnitude could happen right in our own country, then it could occur again.

No getting around it.

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I was born just 10 years after World War II ended. Growing up, that war remained with us. Everyone had fathers, uncles, brothers, sons who had fought, perhaps died, in the conflict. My father, on the other hand, was a Captain in the Army— the Italian Army. Yes, since he was an Italian citizen at that time, he was on “the other side.”

He was captured in North Africa at the beginning of the war and spent the next five years as a POW in various prison camps throughout India. His 19-year-old brother, a pilot, was killed. For a few years, his parents back home in Rome had no idea if their sons were dead or alive.

My father came back from the camps emaciated and with a permanent ringing in one ear, caused by a hand grenade that exploded too close to him. After he was captured, he said, the British turned his regiment over to the Australians, and their idea of a good time was to round up the Italian soldiers at night in a fenced enclosure and throw hand grenades at them, laughing uproariously as their victims exploded in agony. His best friend died that

way. My father was lucky to get out alive.

My mother used to talk a lot about the war years; how she worked at the Army Base in Boston, and how so much was sacrificed in this country for the war effort. “You don’t realize how lucky we are to be living here,” she would tell me. “Do you have any idea what people overseas went through during the war?” I think she gave me her copy of Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl to read when I was in sixth or seventh grade. I couldn’t imagine something like this happening in America; and I wondered why I was so lucky and why poor Anne Frank had to die.

I do recall one thing shaking my sense of security when I was much younger: The Cuban Missile Crisis.

One of the hottest points in the Cold War, I can still hear the fear in everyone’s voices as they talked about “mutual destruction,” and I remember standing on Bayswater St. in East Boston overlooking the Atlantic with my cousin Karen, who dramatically pointed towards the horizon and assured me that this was where the missiles would be

coming from. It was a tranquil autumn day and I stared at that horizon until my vision blurred, trying to imagine it—although at six years old, I’m not sure what I was imagining. But I had a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach that I’d never had before, and the nuns at school kept telling us to pray for the conversion of Russia. It was all very dramatic for a while. And when negotiations proved successful, the nuns told us that our prayers did that. At six I believed them, and that hollow feeling went away.

The events of 9/11 brought that feeling back, and I don’t think it’s ever left me. I know that the world we live in has been changed completely and that there’s a pretty good chance, in spite of all of our government’s precautions, that this horror may happen again. And I know, too, that prayers, no matter how often we say them or how desperately we need them, don’t necessarily bring about the results we want. There’s no safe place. TJN

– Lauren de Albuquerque

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Stacey’s kitchen

Tuff and Grace before her bath.

By Maria Alcantara Faul

Saving stuff, in moderation, is usually considered normal. But this otherwise healthy impulse can go too far and develop into what some experts consider a clinical obsessivecompulsive disorder.

We all have excuses: Someday I might need it. That old TV (toaster, printer, camera) is still good. You never know – it might come back in style. Don’t touch my stuff. I can’t get rid of that. That’s my senior prom dress. These are some of the standard

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statements made in most household clean-up discussions.

A lot of us refuse to dispose of things even when they are no longer useful. We collect piles of stuff, resulting in an abundance of clutter. This is usually when we realize that it’s time to clean house. We roll up our sleeves and sort items for yard sales, donations, or just trash. Unfortunately, some of us don’t ever reach this stage.

Compulsive hoarding becomes a mental health problem when it results

in chaos for everyone involved.

Hoarding can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. As many as three to six million Americans may be afflicted at some level. Unfortunately, many deny that they have too much stuff or that the clutter is a problem.

Even worse is the serious issue of animal hoarding.

Nearly 250,000 animals are victims of animal hoarding each year. This abuse differs from other types of animal cruelty in that the perpetrators

don’t always accept or recognize the cruelty they inflict on their animals.

Denham Springs resident “Stacey” (fictional name) was recently featured on the Cable TV show Hoarders, which served an an intervention for her.

Stacey’s hoarding started with the rescue of one female dog, which reproduced and gave birth to several puppies. Eventually, Stacey ended up with 35 dogs and 12 cats in her home, all suffering from extreme neglect, including lack of food, proper veterinary care and unsanitary conditions.

The floors, furniture and counters were covered with animal feces and urine. The living conditions were so terrible that Stacey’s 14-year-old daughter left their home to live with relatives.

This past June, Sulphur resident Lindel Sexton, and her 14-year-old daughter Grace, members of LAPAW (the Lake Area Partnerships for

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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Mackey

Stiggy

Animal Welfare Rescue), were one of the many people who drove to Denham Springs to rescue the animals at Stacey’s home.

They took four of the 35 dogs in the home: Stiggy, Tuffy, Mackey, and Red. They were all in bad shape.

“They were just very happy to be with us,” Sexton said. “But they were smelly, their hair was matted, they were flea-infested; and they were hungry.”

Sexton explained that Stacy started off with good intentions. “She honestly felt that she was helping the animals,” she said. But she did not have resources to take care of them.

“She would leave food and water for the animals to eat,” explained Sexton. But due to overcrowding, the animals found themselves fighting for food and water, as well as for Stacey’s

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affection. “They were so happy to received human interaction that they sprawled on our laps and just loved every minute of the ride back to Lake Charles,” Sexton said.

The filthy conditions animal hoarders live in also attracts insects and rodents. “Tuffy, Mackey, and Red all had heartworms when we rescued them,” Sexton said. “They all underwent treatment, and unfortunately, Red did not survive it.”

Aside from the obvious animal suffering, animal hoarding presents obvious health hazards for the human occupants of the home. This can also threaten neighboring households and can become a financial threat to communities as well. Making a hoarder’s home safe and habitable can be staggeringly expensive, and hoarders can’t always pick up that tab.

The health department often condemns a house that is home to a hoarding situation. Removing animals from the hoarding situation can temporarily help solve the problem, but long-term psychological intervention is necessary. What causes animal hoarding is still poorly understood, but there is a general consensus that it is a symptom of psychological and neurological imbalance.

Stiggy, Tuffy and Mackey are currently living happily with the Sextons until their adoption. There are still a number of animals out there, however, that need to be rescued from unacceptable living conditions.

“We are in constant need of old blankets, towels, sheets, and kennels for rescued animals,” Sexton said.

“And of course, donations are always welcome.”

Tuffy

Until the root cause of extreme hoarding is identified, the rescue of lovable animals such as Stiggy, Tuffy and Mackey depend on the love and dedication of organizations such as LAPAW and it volunteers.

LAPAW and its 11 members, work with area businesses and vet offices to take care of animals until they are adopted. “Most of the expenses incurred with fostering come from our pockets,” Sexton said.

“But we also get a lot of help from area businesses and veterinarians.”

Dr. Joe Stark with Lake Area Animal Hospital, in particular, continues to help the organization in taking care of the rescued animals.

Check out LAPAW’s website at www.lapaw.org. Interested in adopting a rescued animal? Check out www.petfinder.com. TJN

Volume 3 • Issue 12

The

Boiling

P l

Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com

CONNER AWARDED CERTIFICATION David Conner, VP of economic development and international services for the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, was among the 31 individuals who were awarded graduation certificates during the 25th Annual Community Development Institute Central at UCA on Aug. 5. Conner completed all three years of the institute’s program of study. CDI trains local officials, board members, faith-based affiliates, and governmental officials on how to strengthen their local economies and build communities. The complete institute experience involves a curriculum of over 100 hours with corporate, academic and governmental professionals serving as faculty.

PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES MANAGEMENT PROMOTIONS Pinnacle Entertainment recently announced that Geno M. Iafrate, currently senior vice president and general manager of L’Auberge Lake Charles with oversight of Boomtown New Orleans and Boomtown Bossier, has been promoted to senior VP of Louisiana Operations with direct oversight of the company’s four Louisiana properties. Keith W. Henson, who most recently has served as VP of casino operations and assistant general manager at L’Auberge Lake Charles will succeed Iafrate and has been named VP and general manager. All appointments are subject to final regulatory approval.

David Conner

Willie A. Tempton, Jr., left, general manager for the ConocoPhillips Lake Charles Manufacturing complex, presents the donation to Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, college dean. McNeese Photo CONOCO DONATES TO MCNEESE ConocoPhillips has donated $5,000 for the process plant technology program in the college of engineering and engineering technology at McNeese State University through the McNeese Foundation.

MFA PROGRAM AT MSU RANKED IN TOP 50 The Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at McNeese State University has been named one of the Top 50 MFA programs in the United States, according to a ranking released in the September/October issue of Poets & Writers magazine. The MFA program, housed in the Department of English and Foreign Languages in the College of Liberal Arts, is listed at No. 40 in the 2012 Poets & Writers Top 50 MFA Programs. Another valuable selling point for McNeese’s program is that it was also ranked No. 28 in job placement of its MFA graduates.

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CALCASIEU PARISH RANKS THIRD IN THE NATION FOR DRUG DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAM The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury recently received national recognition at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Conference for its Prescription Drug Card Program. The Police Jury’s program currently ranks third in the nation for the Discount Card’s use. Data indicates that approximately 1,200 Calcasieu parish residents utilize the Parish’s discount drug card on any given month. The program has saved users $658,000 in savings since it was first introduced to residents in the fall of 2009. The program assists residents in receiving a reduced rate for most medical prescriptions not covered by insurance, and is a joint service provided by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, CVS Caremark, and NACo. Average savings usually equate to 25 percent reduction in cost for every eligible prescription. More information is available on www.cppj.net.

CITY RECEIVES COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD The City of Lake Charles was recently awarded the 2010 Community Achievement Award at the Louisiana Municipal Association’s 74th annual convention. The City of Lake Charles won the award for its Lakefront Promenade and Bord du Lac Marina under the category of “Economic Development” and “Population Group 25,001 and over.” The award was given for outstanding municipal improvements and accomplishments.

RAGUSA NAMED TO BOARD OF LAKE CHARLES CIVIC BALLET Julie Ragusa, VP of marketing for L’Auberge Lake Charles, has been named to the board of directors for the Lake Charles Civic Ballet. She joins the organization for a three-year term. Ragusa, a Sulphur native, joined L’Auberge in 2005. A former principal dancer with the Civic Ballet, Ragusa has had a lifelong interest in dance and the arts. The Lake Charles Civic Ballet, a 501c3 non-profit organization, has been serving the region for over 40 years. For more information on the LCCB, visit www.lakecharlescivicballet.com.

Julie Ragusa

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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W. O. MOSS REGIONAL JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITED By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission‘s national standards for healthcare quality and safety, W.O. Moss Regional Medical Center continues to be a Joint Commission accredited facility and has the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™, a status they have had since 2008. The Joint Commission conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of Moss Regional in March 2011. The accreditation award recognizes Moss Regional’s dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis.

Left to right: David Duplechian and Meghan Hanks of Family & Youth, and Flozell Daniels, Jr., President and CEO of Foundation for Louisiana.

On hand for the donation are Mindy Marcantel, BBBS Jennings; Dana Forrest, executive director, BBBS; Angela S. Guidry, Coushatta Casino Resort; and Bryan Williams, PR director, Coushatta Casino Resort.

COUSHATTA SPONSORS GOLF TOURNAMENT Coushatta Casino Resort was a $4,500 sponsor for the 4th Annual J-Town Showdown Golf Tournament held at the Jennings Golf and Country Club recently to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana.

FAMILY AND YOUTH GETS GRANT FROM FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA Family & Youth recently accepted a $75,000 grant from The Foundation for Louisiana to promote civic engagement in youth through The Leadership Center for Youth. The Civic Engagement Institute for Youth is designed to engage students in the democratic process and teach best practices of civic engagement. During the institute, students work together to research an area of local and national concern. Their compiled information is then organized into a proposal and is presented to local legislators and policy makers. In addition, selected young people travel with Family & Youth on a congressional trip to Washington, D.C. The experience exposes youth to advocacy work, civic engagement, and opportunities to make a difference.

LISA SCHRAM ELECTED PRESIDENT OF SYMPHONY BOARD Lisa Schram was elected president of the board of directors of the Lake Charles Symphony. Serving with Schram on the executive committee are Karen Drewett, vice president; Bill Dutridge, treasurer; Laura Monk, recording secretary; Barbara Bailey, corresponding secretary; Cassie Price, past president; Donna Richard, member-at-large, Dr. Keith Desonier, member-at-large. New board members elected are Shadi Abrusley, Ann Barilleaux, Billy Edwards, Mark Broussard, Richman Reinaur, Juli Gani, Sally Foret, Patrick Gallaugher, Debbie Howrey, Carlie Pohorelsky, Kelley Saucier, and Cathy Comish.

Julio Galan, president and CEO of Family Foundation of SWLA; Shirley Webb, Shannon Cox’s mother, and Richman Reinauer, chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

FAMILY FOUNDATION ACCEPTS ENDOWMENT FOR COUNSELING CENTER The Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana accepted a $10,000 endowment from friends and family of Shannon Cox to support the counseling center named in her honor. The endowment is courtesy of Shannon’s friends and family from her native state of California. The Shannon Cox Counseling Center provides a wide range of constructive and life-changing services in the form of counseling, consultation and education to benefit children and families in Southwest Louisiana. TJN PAGE 8

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Balloon Release Sept. 25 The SWLA Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children is hosting a balloon release on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. in observance of National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. It will be held at the Civic Center Seawall directly behind the Civic Center. All family, friends and survivors of murder victims, and the public officials and law enforcement officers who serve them are invited to attend. You are invited to bring a picture of your loved one and a special balloon if you wish.

For more information, call Judy Hines at 625-5319 or Julia Fontenot at 583-2602. TJN

Meet Jazzy!

Campaign Finance Seminar Free seminars throughout the state will be sponsored by the Louisiana Supervisory Committee on Campaign Finance Disclosure. They will provide information on the Louisiana Campaign Finance Disclosure Act and instruction as to the proper completion of reporting forms. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

The Lake Charles seminar will take place on Mon., Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. – noon at Lake Charles City Hall, 326 Pujo Street, 1st Floor.

For registration information, call (800) 842‐6630 or (225) 219‐5600. TJN

Meet Jazzy—aka the Life of the Party! This puppy is always ready, willing and able to play, and always manages to get her littermates to join in the fun. She is full of energy, so she will need a playmate and a fenced yard. When the party is over, Jazzy

will cuddle with you until she falls asleep. She is super smart and a very quick learner, and seems to really enjoy pleasing her person. You will not be disappointed if you choose Jazzy to share your life. She will be a loyal, devoted best friend. She deserves nothing but the best. Are you the right person for Jazzy? Please contact her foster mom, Tina at (337) 884-0150 or Tinaperkjames@aol.com if you have any questions. An adoption application can be found online at www.4PawsSocietyInc.com under the “Forms” tab and faxed to (337) 558-6331 or e-mailed to fourpawssociety@aol.com. A vet reference and home visit are part of the adoption process to ensure a good match for both the dog and the adopter. TJN

Nominations Sought for 2011 Mayor’s Arts Awards The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is currently accepting nominations from the public for persons to be honored at the 2011 Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Fri., Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. in the Central School Arts and Humanities Center Auditorium.

Categories include Artist of the Year, Citizen of the Arts, Citizen of the Humanities, Arts Educator of the Year, Cultural Organization of the Year, and Business/Corporate Patron of the Year. The Keystone Award is also given to an individual who works diligently behind the scenes, without whom programs and performances would not be possible. Shelly Appleby was selected as the 2010 Keystone Award recipient for her work with Children’s Theatre Company and Adventure Cove Park.

Other 2010 winners include Leif Pedersen, Citizen of the Arts; Candice Alexander, Artist of the Year; and Julie Dallas, Arts Volume 3 • Issue 12

Educator of the Year. Associated Louisiana Artists was recognized as the Cultural Organization of the Year, and the American Press Foundation for Citizens of the Humanities. FOX29/the CW was selected as the Business/Corporate Patron of the Year for the Arts.

Those who wish to nominate an organization, individual, or group should send a letter providing the nominator’s name and full contact information along with the name of the nominee, a statement of why that person/group/organization is being nominated, and the contact information for the nominee.

You may mail your nomination to the Arts and Humanities Council at P.O. Box 1437, Lake Charles, LA, 70602. You may also e-mail your nomination to director@artsandhumanitiesswla.org or fax to 439-8009. All nominations must be received in the Arts Council office no later than Fri., Sept. 16. For more information, call the Arts Council at 439-2787. TJN SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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By George “Tip” Cline

• Large Selection of Unique Home and Gift Items • Gifts for the LSU fan • Beautiful Fresh Floral Designs 1301 E. Napoleon St., Sulphur, LA Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Call Today, We Deliver!!!

(337) 528.6837

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Many of my friends are very active in pet rescue activities and you should be, too. There are way too many dogs and cats that need a good home. It’s a shame to have homeless animals euthanized, and the problem is caused by irresponsible owners who, for starters, don’t neuter their animals. Responsible ownership demands that your pet be cared for in all aspects of their lives. When you accept a pet, your obligations are many, but the rewards will be far greater if you live up to your part of the bargain.

If you decide to adopt a pet, make sure you’re committed to its needs. Proper diet, veterinary care and shelter, along with ample love, will make for an amazing relationship for all concerned. If you feel the need to have a furry pal, check into one of the area organizations that deal with orphan animals. You can find them in all sizes and ages—ready and willing to add to the quality of your life. And make sure you check out “Adoption Corner” in each issue of The Jam.

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

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

UNSOLVED MURDER Back in the mid- to late-90s, there was a little donut shop on the corner of 18th Street and Creole Street. It was called Paradise Donuts and was run by a very nice lady who got up every morning around 3 a.m. and went to work making her goodies to sell each day. They were almost always sold out by mid-morning. There was never any question if her stuffed donuts had filling enough, as it pushed the top

apart sufficiently to reveal that tasty information. All her products were of the best quality: her donuts were the lightest and had the flakiest texture, with just the right amount of sweetness and never a hint of greasiness. You always ate too many for your own good, even if you were a health nut, a condition that I have never been afflicted with.

The reason I’m bringing this up is that this wonderful lady, Rose Theresa Born, was savagely murdered in her shop early one morning in July of 1998. Many of my friends who enjoyed her donuts were as affected as I was. Her murder remains an unsolved mystery, and I hope that someday, whoever did that dastardly crime is brought to justice. I want my fellow Paradise Donut patrons to know that there are those of us who still remember.

SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP Our shopping report is for Wed., Aug. 31. The stores are Albertsons, Ryan Street; Kroger, McNeese Street; Market Basket, Lake Street and Walmart, Nelson Road. The prices reported are the displayed prices on the shelves where the item is sold.

Fresh limes, each: Albertsons, $0.25; Kroger, $0.20; Market Basket, $0.25; Walmart, $0.22.

Green Giant Asparagus, Extra Long, 10 oz. can: Albertsons, $3.29; Kroger, $2.91; Market Basket, $3.59; Walmart, $2.62.

Pork Spare Ribs, per pound: Albertsons, $1.98; Kroger, $.99; Market Basket, $1.99; Walmart, $1.98.

Quaker Oats, Old Fashioned, 18 oz. container: Albertsons, $2.89; Kroger, $2.91; Market Basket, $1.99; Walmart N/A (only stocked 42 oz. container).

TJN Volume 3 • Issue 12

Dang Yankee

Sponsored by

The

By Mike McHugh

fan. Even the simplest of statistics can be tricky to comprehend. Consider, for instance, the statistic for all-time career home runs: 1. Barry Bonds- 762* 2. Hank Aaron- 755 3. Babe Ruth- 714** * Done while using steroids. ** Done while hung over.

So, it’s hard even to decipher who the real leader is in this basic category. But not to worry, scientists at the country’s top research institutions are

feverishly working to answer this, thanks to a large grant from the Federal Government.

Needless to say, we had a great time at the ball game. Even my wife remarked how she had learned something very interesting that evening.

“See,” I said to her. “I knew you would come around. So what is it that you learned?”

She looked at me and replied, “Did you know that there are over 200 seeds on a strawberry?”

TJN

The Boys of Slumber I love baseball; I always have. I think this is because my team, the Orioles, won the World Series the very first year I started following them. So, it’s reasonable to ask why I’m still an avid fan even though they haven’t had a winning season since Abner Doubleday was still alive. I honestly can’t answer that, but it may be for the same reason that I‘m first in line at the box office for the premiere of every new Rocky movie.

(I’m sure you Astros fans know what I’m talking about here.)

My wife, on the other hand, can’t stand baseball. She thinks it’s boring.

She’d rather count the seeds on a strawberry than go to see a baseball game. So, imagine how thrilled I was when she agreed to go with me to Oriole Park at Camden Yards during our recent trip to Yankee Land. Sure, I told her we were going out to dinner.

I just failed to mention that we’d be eating at Boog Powell’s Barbecue Stand located behind the bleachers.

She was strangely quiet as the usher dusted the cobwebs off our reserved seats on the third base side.

I don’t know why my wife feels this way about baseball. It’s actually a very exciting sport. Consider, for example, this common game situation. There is a man on first and one out. The pitcher looks in for the sign.

The catcher flashes the sign. The pitcher shakes off the sign. The catcher flashes another sign. The pitcher nods and goes into his windup. He breaks out of his windup. He checks the runner on first. He checks his voice mail. He checks in for another sign. The umpire checks out and ambles over to the concession stand for a cold one.

And so it goes. Here you see why it takes three hours to complete a game that has, at most, about a minute and 17 seconds of real action.

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By this measure, the cost of a ticket is about $35 per minute, making major league baseball the most expensive professional sport to attend. Sure, football tickets cost more per game, but there you get, on average, a whopping six minutes and 32 seconds of action, if you include the huddles.

Speaking of concessions, this is one of the great things about going to a baseball game. There’s nothing better than whiling away the hours on good old ballpark fare, like a hot dog that is about the size and firmness of a strand of overcooked spaghetti. Or popcorn that’s been salted with the entire contents of the Dead Sea. Cheap local beer that you can get for about $2.50 a case on the outside.

And all this for not more than the Gross National Product of Ecuador!

Concessions are such an integral part of going to the ballpark that they bear a mention in the lyrics of baseball’s memorable anthem, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” You may hear this yourself sometimes over the snoring during the seventh inning snooze at any game.

Another thing I love about baseball is the statistics. There is a wealth of interesting statistics associated with the sport. For instance, there are RBI’s, ERA, OBP, W/L percentage, P/E ratio, and so on. This is why many highly intelligent people also love baseball. It’s known that Albert Einstein used baseball statistics in developing his theories of relativity.

Now these days, with the help of computers, they’ve developed even more interesting statistics, such as On-Base Percentage Against Left Handers Over 6’ 2” During Home Day Games On Mondays In An Election Year. Now there’s a statistic for you!

I realize that all of these figures might seem daunting to the average SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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What’s Cookin’ at L’Auberge Casino Resort

Chef Take Kawahigashi

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

The warmth, tradition and culinary treasures of Vietnam can be found inside Asia at L’Auberge. The bustling eatery of 80 seats may be small, but the flavors bursting from its menu are anything but. The unique menu features Asian-fusion cuisine with a Louisiana twist alongside traditional Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine and a full-service sushi bar. The noodle bar is a great place for a quick snack, a fast bowl of traditional Vietnamese soup or creative sushi crafted by expert chefs. Asia’s exciting cuisine is served against a bold, contemporary décor.

This month, Chef Take Kawahigashi introduces new dining, sushi and dim sum menus featuring traditional Udon Soup, Chau Chow Style Shrimp Egg Rolls, Crispy Hunan Fish, (Bo Lu Lac) Shacking Filet, and the famous Vietnamese dish “Beef Cooked 7 Ways.”

Seafood includes 2-½ lb. lobster, American

Red Snapper, Pompano and Dungeness crab.

The new wine list offers a wide variety of Asian beer, Momokawa Sake, and fine white and red wines.

At the end of October, there will be a night of fine dining from the chef’s tasting menu, where you will enjoy multiple courses of fine Asian Modern cuisine. Find out all about it in upcoming issues of The Jambalaya News.

Asia is operated by the La family, owners of the nationally acclaimed Kim Son Restaurants in Houston. Perennially voted “Best Vietnamese Restaurant” in Houston by the Houston Press, Kim Son has garnered critical acclaim from some of the country’s top restaurant critics, including writers from Bon Appétit, Esquire and Food & Wine magazines.

Asia at L’Auberge has been so successful that Pinnacle Entertainment opened outlets in its sister properties at Boomtown New Orleans

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Tofu Scallion Dumplings and Lumiere Place in St. Louis.

Asia is one of the only Asian restaurants in SWLA open late seven days a week. Hours of operation are Mon. – Fri. from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. and Sat. – Sun. from 11a.m.- 4 a.m. For more information, call (337) 3957430 or go to www.ldlcasino.com/dining or www.facebook.com/laubergedulac.

The following recipe has a lot of ingredients, but once assembled, it’s easy to make. Adds the perfect exotic touch to any meal! TJN

INGREDIENTS • 1 yellow onion, finely diced • 6 oz. green cabbage, sliced • 1 lb. firm tofu, roughly chopped • 1 oz. ginger root, minced • 1 Tblsp. fresh garlic, minced • 1 Tblsp. toasted black sesame seed • 1 lime, juiced • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped • 2 oz. light soy sauce • ½ -1 oz. sesame oil • 1 oz. rice wine vinegar • 1 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs) • 6 Tblsp. plain yogurt • 2 tsp. salt • 1 oz. vegetable oil • 10 pieces of dumpling wrapper (available in the produce section) • 1 egg slightly beaten for egg wash

PREPARATION Sauté and sweat the onion, ginger, garlic and green cabbage in vegetable oil until soft and translucent. Set aside and let cool.

Combine all ingredients except egg in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Place a wonton wrapper on the table. Use ice cream scoop to scoop out the mixture onto the center of the dumpling wrapper.

Fold wrapper once into a triangle, then seal the edge with egg wash. Place dumplings in gently boiling water for seven minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and cilantro for garnish.

Serves 4 Enjoy!

TJN

EAST HALE ST., LAKE CHARLES 2 bed / 2 bath • Approx. 1,250 sq. ft.

Washer & Dryer | All appliances furnished Central location off of Ryan Street

Volume 3 • Issue 12

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 13

By Lauren de Albuquerque

It’s September, and that means fall is right around the corner. And a new season means a new wardrobe! Now, as far as I’m concerned, since it’s still going to be very warm for another few months (yes, it will, sorry all you hot-weather haters), my wardrobe’s not going to change just yet.

But I know the rest of you are chomping at the bit to take out your favorite fall items and embrace the change of season. So I spoke to a few local ladies to find their favorite looks: Leigh Ann Ellender of Sulphur says she loves winter clothes the best. “I think fall/winter clothes are much sexier than summer clothes.” she said. “I think to be covered up a bit is a nice change. I always love a tight sweater dress with high heels (preferably Mary Jane stilettos), but not patent

leather—I hate that!” Ellender’s favorite look is a tight-fitting turtleneck (preferably black or a darker color) with a tighter-fitting pair of jeans or black pants tucked into a knee-high pair of boots. “I like to tuck the pants in because I don’t want to hide my awesome knee-high boots!” she said.

Kayla Mallet Rigney says, “My style is generally eclectic—I love the unexpected! Vintage cowboy boots are my passion and I have several pair.

(Several?? I know for a fact that she has more than that!) It’s fun to wear them with dresses, or skinny jeans tucked into them and a funky poncho from the 1970s. Add an old cowboy belt, a dangly long pendant and several chunky bracelets and you’re ready for anything life throws your way!”

Speaking of eclectic, Susan Reed always looks

Kayla Mallet Rigney

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Debbie Holt wonderful. She loves turtlenecks and boots and weaves her own fabulous scarves, which are works of art. And capes and ponchos are a big favorite of hers as well. Susan also wears the most interesting jewelry, which she collects from all over. There’s nothing like a unique necklace over a black turtleneck—it’s the perfect backdrop for a special piece of jewelry.

Debbie Holt is another boot person. “The one thing I love the most about the fall is the boots!” she says. ”I have about 10 pairs in all different colors and styles. One of my favorite looks is sweater dresses with leggings and a fabulous pair of boots!”

As for me, I’m the last holdout—I’ll wear summer clothes until the first frost. The first thing I did when I moved down here was to get rid of all

of my sweaters. I will NOT wear sweaters, unless they’re vintage. I will never look at a sweater again.

So I layer. A shirt with a light jacket, and a light coat over that. Nothing heavy.

Jeans with boots, black pants and black skirts with black tights are my fall/winter staples. I top them with colorful jerseys and blouses, or a black top with prominent jewelry. I go through the motions, just waiting for the warm weather to return so I can get into all my fun clothes. But that’s just me—a transplanted Northerner who is thrilled to be living in a warm climate!

So have fun with your fall fashion looks. And if you see someone wearing a sundress in November, that’s just me. TJN

Kayla’s Boot Collection

Huge Selection of Fall Merchandise Arriving Daily! eileen fisher, Nic & Zoe, Sympli, PLANET

3125 Ernest St., Lake Charles • (337) 436-5944 Be sure to like us on Facebook!

Volume 3 • Issue 12

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 15

Want to update your home this fall but don’t have much money?

The following tips will give your living space a whole new look with a minimum of investment: You can change the look of a room without spending a dime simply by moving the furniture around.

If you want to give the impression that the room is larger, move the furniture away from the walls.

Can’t afford expensive artwork for your walls? Frame a square of beautiful or vintage fabric and hang it. Mirrors are less pricey than paintings and can make your room seem bigger. Look for some with unique details. Hanging the mirror so it faces a window or door and reflects the open space will open your room.

Spruce up a tired sofa by covering it with a fitted sofa cover and add bright pillows/cushions to liven it up. Or you can add a colorful chenille throw. Dining room chair covers can also change the look of your dining area. Much cheaper than buying a new table and chairs!

Add vivid seat cushions to your plain wooden kitchen chairs and a contrasting tablecloth for your table. Ripening fruit becomes an easy but dramatic centerpiece when it’s dis-

played in an oversized wood bowl.

Spice up boring accessories, such as picture frames or chandeliers, by painting them black. Not only will you give them a second life, they will look very chic!

The quickest way to give a room a new look on the cheap is to paint an accent wall a high-contrast color.

It will add a whole new dimension to your room.

In the bedroom, painting, or even wallpapering the front of a dresser or nightstand drawers is an easy way to wake up a tired piece of furniture. And while you’re at it, replace old drawer handles and pulls with decorative or whimsical ones.

An area rug will add coziness to your space and look great at the end of your bed. Make a statement by going with a bold shade instead of the usual neutrals that are common in most bedrooms.

TJN

FORET FLOORING

Full Service Flooring ~ Quality Installation

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Come By and See Us For All Your Flooring Needs!

20x20 Traventine-Look Porcelain Hand-Scraped Wood • Laminate Vinyl • Ceramic • Carpet

959 SAM HOUSTON JONES PARKWAY, LAKE CHARLES• 855-6511 MON.-FRI. 8AM TO 5PM • SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT

PAGE 16

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Story by Lauren de Albuquerque Below Photo by Michelle LaVoie

Billy Navarre and sons Ryan, Barrett, Jareth and Grant Navarre.

Chevy Silverado HD For Billy Navarre, his thriving auto business is all about his customers and making them more than satisfied. So much so that he’s spending about $7 million on expansions throughout his dealership. “We’re knocking down walls, tearing out glass, doors, roofs, ceilings, replacing every stick of furniture in our Lake Charles store,” Navarre said.

He’s in the process of building an all-new quick lube service center and a new Hyundai Equus showroom floor on the corner of College and Enterprise. In addition, he will soon have a new Chevrolet Dealership with its own quick lube and car wash on Beglis Parkway in Sulphur.

Volume 3 • Issue 12

“We’ve already begun, and our goal is to have everything completed within about 12 months,” he said.

“We also recently acquired two luxury franchises, a Cadillac and Equus franchise, which is tremendously exciting.”

It’s easy to understand Navarre’s excitement when one hears details of the projects. Tidbits start trickling out as he rattles off some of the plans: Situated on a prime piece of real estate comprising four acres at the corner of College Street and Enterprise Boulevard will be a facility that will house a retail $3 car wash area and 16 free vacuum stations, along with a Quick Lube for oil

changes, etc. to improve on his already award-winning service. The new Hyundai showroom and used car center will be located on the West side of the property.

QUALITY, QUICK SERVICE, AND A LOWER PRICE Navarre is all about service. He points out that if you drive up to any new car franchise dealer service lane in America, you’ll find that about 50 percent of the customers are there only for a quick oil change.

“But for those people, it really isn’t quick,” Navarre said. “They have to get in line to be written up just as if they were in for an air-condition-

ing repair. They have to get out of their vehicle, sit in the customer lounge and wait. When their vehicle is ready, they have to walk to the cashier’s office and wait again, and then they get to leave with their socalled quick oil change. On top of that, the factories are asking dealers to start offering new tires in the service lane. If you flood your service lane with oil changes, tire changes and auto repairs, you are going to make a lot of people unhappy. The more people that come in, the longer it takes and the weaker your customer service satisfaction rating will become.”

Navarre says he has never offered SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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New Sulphur Chevy Showroom

New Lake Charles Chevy Showroom

tires, and with four service lanes with six advisors, he makes sure his customers get excellent service.

“We’re taking our award-winning service department to the next level by taking all the quick lubes off of our service lane and moving them into our new quick lube center right next door,” he said. “We’ll be able to do six oil changes in our Lake Charles store and four in our Sulphur store every 10 minutes or so, plus customers will receive a free car wash.”

By taking the quick lubes out of the service department, Navarre’s service advisors and technicians will have twice the amount of time and space to wait on customers with vehicles that need repairs.

“Our customers have been wonderful to us for 29 years, keeping us number one in the market place, and they deserve not only the best repair service money can buy, but also the best and quickest quick lube service and car wash,” he said.

NEW LUXURY LINES Along with the new Hyundai showroom, the dealership is adding an all-new luxury line, which will include five luxury models.

“We’re excited about bringing the two luxury brands, Cadillac and Equus, to Southwest Louisiana,” Navarre said. “We’ll give the luxury customer a reason to never again have to drive to Lafayette or Beaumont in search of a luxury vehicle for price, selection and outstanding local service.”

Navarre is excited about the seven new luxury models coming in the next 24 months, not to mention Cadillac’s quality. The 2011 JD Powers report ranks Cadillac’s quality today better than BMW, Landrover, Lincoln and many other luxury brands.

“Now that GM no longer builds Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer, or Saab, they will be building a lot more new Chevrolets and Cadillacs. They will be restyling our models a lot quicker. For example, in the next 24 months Chevrolet has approximately 14 new models and Cadillac has seven new models coming,” Navarre said.

THREE PROJECTS Navarre actually has three projects going on simultaneously: the Billy Navarre Chevrolet Cadillac Showroom of Lake Charles; Billy Navarre Hyundai Showroom of Lake Charles; and Billy Navarre Chevrolet, a new state of the art dealership that will be built on Beglis Pkwy.

“We’re building on six of the best acres on Beglis Pkwy. that I purchased approximately 14 years ago,” Navarre said. “We’re putting in a new dealership with a retail Quick Lube and a $3 car wash center on our property for all retail customers to use.”

EARLY HARDSHIPS, FAMILY SHAPED HIS LIFE Walk into the spacious main showroom of Billy Navarre Chevrolet and you’ll notice that the phones never stop ringing. A receptionist takes one call after another as a steady stream of people goes in and out.

Navarre’s office is situated at the front of the dealership and he has an open-door policy. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

Even though Navarre started with nothing, he is successful beyond measure, a hard-nosed business-

Honda Odyssey

Cadillac CTS Sedan

Chevy Equinox PAGE 18

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

New Lake Charles Hyundai Showroom

man with nearly 300 employees and a business that is thriving. But everybody has to start somewhere and the same is true for Navarre.

When he was 25 years old, he had only 12 employees when he began his Sulphur dealership. It’s an understatement to say that he has come a long way. He laughs when he recalls how Chevrolet’s zone manager wanted him to become one of their dealers.

“When I was 25, they asked if I would want to buy a dealership in Mississippi, and I said no,” he said.

“They asked if I wanted to go to Gramercy. I said no. Heck, at 25 I didn’t even know where Gramercy was. I told Chevrolet to take a 60mile radius of Welsh, where my mother lives, and if any dealership in the area came available, to call me.

After my father died, my mom was always there for the five of us and I am always going to be there for her.”

Navarre said that people might think that he chased after becoming an auto dealer at the age of 25.

“They may think that I wanted to have the big Chevrolet store in Lake Charles, or have Hyundai or Honda with 275 employees and the brain damage that goes with that,” he said.

But that’s not how it happened.

Hyundai Equus “In 1982, Mr. Oberman passed away and Chevrolet called again, and that is how we became the Chevy dealer in Sulphur,” Navarre explained. “In a short time, we became number one. Four years after we were open, the Chevrolet dealership in Lake Charles sold out due to lack of sales, while our business was booming.”

Crane Simon Chevrolet came in next, and was Navarre’s new competitor for approximately four more years until they closed. At that point, Chevrolet called and asked him to go to Lake Charles. At first, he declined.

“Back in those days, GM would not allow you to own two GM stores in the same market,” Navarre said.

“Because of that, I told them no, due to the fact that I didn’t want to sell my Sulphur store, move from Sulphur and leave my employees and my Sulphur customers. They had been too good to me.”

Navarre said they tried to sell him on how much bigger the Lake Charles area market was and how much better it would be for him in the long run, and he still declined.

Continued on page 20

Hyundai Sonata

Volume 3 • Issue 12

Lake Charles native John Plauche has recently returned home from Las Vegas and is now teaching guitar lessons at Doc’s Music Shoppe in Lake Charles.

Plauche teaches note reading, proper guitar technique, articulation, fingering, scales and chord progression as well as composition and music theory. He specializes in theory, classical, jazz, country and rock. His style has been described as jazz with a twist that blends blues and rock for a unique sound that defies categorization.

Well-versed in technique, theory and composition, he has written, recorded and performed several of his own songs. He also produced an album, “Out of the Box,” with Louisiana Red Hot Records. He is highly skilled in all types of guitars, including classical, electric, acoustic and bass.

Plauche’s first paying job was at age 12. By the time he was 15, he was playing high school dances in Lake Charles and fraternity parties at LSU. At 17, he was already on the road in South Louisiana and East Texas.

A Lake Charles High and McNeese State graduate, Plauche was the leader of The Garden District band in Lake Charles in the early 1980’s. The band was the opening act for Sly and the Family Stone, Roy Ayers and The Neville Brothers.

Plauche has worked with Andy Williams’ keyboardist and arranger Danny Ward, and B.B. King’s arranger and conductor Calvin Owens. He toured with Cameo in 1986 and was staff guitarist for Swine Place professional theater in

Baton Rouge and was a soloist with the Baton Rouge Symphony.

The Baton Rouge daily newspaper wrote of him: “A guitarist wellversed in technique and theory, his playing is a fusion of blues mixed with jazz and rock music covering the past 20 years. His impressive technical chops aside, Plauche’s playing maintains soul.”

Plauche has conducted seminars with Chick Corea’s bassist Bunny Brunel and with Frank Zappa’s drummer Chad Wackerman. Other musicians he has performed with include Luther Kent, Aretha Franklin’s musicians Miles Johnson and Ronnie Hall, Santana drummer Graham Lear, and Bobby LaKind of the Doobie Brothers. Plauche has performed rock pieces by Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.

Classically, Plauche has studied Bach, Carcassi and Beethoven. Jazz influences include Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, John McGlaughlin, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Al Di Meola, George Benson, Joe Pass, David Spinozza and Steve Kahn.

Blues influences include B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King.

For the past eight years, he’s taught at the College of Southern Nevada and has been performing on the Las Vegas Strip. Plauche is endorsed by Takamine Guitars, C.A. Guitars of Lafayette, and Elixir Strings.

Doc’s Music Shoppe, 2508 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, is next to Casa Manana. Call 529-6633 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 19

“We hung up the phone, and three days later, they called me back and told me that I would be one of the first dealers they would allow to own both stores if I would go and take over the Lake Charles store,” he said.

But Navarre still turned them down.

“I told them no again, because the building that Crane Simon had been renting was outdated, too small, and in a slow traffic area for Lake Charles,” he explained. “I didn’t want to rent that old building. Chevrolet asked what would it take for me to take over Lake Charles.

I told them I had been saving my money to build my new Sulphur store. So, I told them that if they closed the Lake Charles store down for one year while I built, I would build my new store in Lake Charles now and then later go back and build in Sulphur.”

The Chevrolet Zone Manager told him that General Motors would never allow him to close that location in Lake Charles for an entire year. “I told them no once more,” he said.

Two days later, they called him back yet again with another offer: If they let him close the store down in Lake Charles for a year, then let him build a new store in Lake Charles plus keep the Sulphur store, then would he go to Lake Charles?

“Knowing that the Lake Charles store would be closed down for an entire year, I knew our business would go thru the roof,” Navarre said. “I knew that those extra sales from that year alone would go straight to the

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

bottom line and we would make enough extra profit to pay for 50 percent or more of the cost of the new building. It was very difficult for me to say no.”

Navarre built the Lake Charles store in 1988 and opened in 1989—and set a record in Lake Charles. In 1990, Mitsubishi came and wanted to give him the franchise. He told them no.

“In 1991, Hyundai came to us and asked us if we wanted to take their line,” Navarre continued. “All we had to do was build a showroom floor. At that time, we brought in Hyundai because we didn’t have an Import line. I was always worried about a union strike and my employees not having anything to sell. I thought it was a good idea to diversify with an Import line.”

Two years later, he bought Honda.

Having a Korean, a Japanese, and an American brand is insurance for his employees. “If there’s a tsunami in Japan and a strike in America, we can sell Korean cars,” Navarre said. “If there is a strike in Korea and a tsunami in Japan we can sell American cars. Our employees will be able to make a living. We now have a great variety of vehicles to sell.”

It’s fascinating how all

Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Cadillac SRX

Volume 3 • Issue 12

these stores came about. “I never asked for it and never chased having five dealerships on both sides of the river,” he said. “That was God’s work and manufacturers persistence. I did not even ask for Cadillac. GM called me first to acquire Cadillac about five years ago. They were going to help me put Chevrolet and Cadillac together without increasing my overhead, so I was excited about that. It took longer than I expected.

So that is how all these dealerships, nearly 300 employees and nearly 40 percent market share all happened.”

tomers,” Navarre said. “Every one of us knows who our boss is—it’s our customers! I want is all of them to be able to say that they received the best price and value on a new vehicle, with the quickest and best repair service. And they will soon have the fastest and best quick lube and car wash service they’ve ever received from any dealership ever in their lifetime.”

Navarre is a man of faith and that is obvious when having a conversation with him. He shares his beliefs and of how God has a hand in everything he does. “My favorite two

lines that I read years ago pertain to me: ‘Pray as if everything depends upon God, because it does, but work as if everything depends on me, because God is just.’”

Honda Accord

TJN

STRONG WORK ETHIC Billy Navarre enjoys working hard.

“It has become a habit and habits are hard to break,” Navarre says.

Navarre points out another reason for his success. “People trust us.

We won’t hire anyone that is not 100 percent honest and a hard worker.

Then, we spend more dollars on training them in a year than some dealerships spend in ten years to help them grow to their maximum level. It’s more important to me what people say about me than all the money in the world.”

Navarre has surrounded himself with people who are also good at what they do. Many of his top people and managers have been with him for 20 years or more.

GIVING BACK Longtime employees, a successful business, and a loving family are all things that Navarre enjoys. He’s also earned the respect of his peers.

Navarre has been honored with the Chamber SWLA Citizen of the Year in 2008 and in 1990, he also won the Citizen of the Year Award from the West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce. “I think I am the only two-time Citizen of the year award winner in Calcasieu parish,” he said.

He wants to thank his customers for making him number one. “We already have 40 percent market share with all our franchises,” Navarre said. “We have won numerous awards including the Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau for our high ethical business practices, the President’s Award for quality from Honda, and the Goodwrench Award for quality and service from General Motors.”

Over the years, local publications have asked their readers to vote on who delivers the best auto service.

“We have won that 99 percent of the time in the past 29 years,” he added.

“Everything we do is for our cusVolume 3 • Issue 12

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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A R T S

O V E R T U R E

“Bombay Bellywood” by the Bellywood Superstars

W

hat do you call it when belly dancing meets Bollywood dancing? The answer is “bellywood.” And the Bellywood Superstars will open the 20th season of the Banners Cultural Series at McNeese State University.

“We truly try to have something for everyone,” said Mary Richardson, director of the series. “The performances are selected by the Banners Committee, and committee members represent a great many segments of our community. The committee’s diversity is reflected in our season, and I personally think it is one of our greatest strengths.”

She said the beginning and ending of the series illustrate that diversity. “We will start with an extravaganza with scant costumes and lots of dancing, and we end with a puppet show for children,” she said. “In between, there will be classical music, jazz, world music, roots music, lectures and more.”

The Banners Series is supported by membership fees, corporate sponsors and

grants. Information about joining is available on the website at www.banners.org or by calling the Banners Series office at (337) 475-5123.

A basic membership, which includes two tickets to all performances and invitations to special receptions, is available for $150. Friend memberships, which include four tickets to all events, are $250. Patron memberships, which include six tickets, are $500. All membership levels include reserved seating areas. Tickets to individual performances will be available at the door at $20 for adults, $5 for students and free to McNeese students with IDs. Lectures are open and free to the public.

Events scheduled to date are listed below. Times, dates and especially locations are still subject to change. Updates will be posted online at www.banners.org. A synopsis of the Banners lectures will also be posted on the website in the early fall.

EVENTS “BOMBAY BELLYWOOD” BY THE BELLYWOOD SUPERSTARS: FEB. 26, ROSA HART THEATRE, 7:30 P.M. These dancers are not purists – and proud of it. The show merges traditional and tribal belly dancing with Indian dance styles. The result is an extravaganza rich in costuming (warning: some costuming is scanty!) with exciting, infectious music.

“RICE FAMILY SECRETS: VAMPIRES, NEW ORLEANS AND COSTUME BALLS,” A LECTURE

BY CHRISTOPHER RICE: FEB. 28, RALPH SQUIRES AUDITORIUM, 7 P.M. Author Christopher Rice will share stories about growing up with a famous mother in New Orleans.

MOZARTS: MARCH 4, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 3 P.M. Members of the MozART quartet love classical music and they love laughter. Their concerts evoke the spirit of Victor Borge. In their own words: “We exist despite the sober formality of great concert halls, despite the boredom of classical musicians’ life, despite fanatic lovers of classical PAGE 22

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

music, despite fans of rock, rap or pop who are afraid of classical music. We treat our muse with a humorous irony, and we’re sure she will have nothing against it!” MozART group.

A FAR CRY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: MARCH 9, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 7:30 P.M. Founded in 2007, these 17 young musicians are bent on making music according to their own rule and are a far cry away from ordinary chamber

orchestras. Everything is up for interpretation – including the way the group prepares, performs and experiences classical music. They are the Chamber Orchestra in Residence at Boston’s Gardner Museum. The concert will include music by Schmelzer, Respighi, Beethoven and Britten. “The orchestra brims with personality or, better, personalities… passionate

involvement…a sensation jam.” New York Times.

“WHEN RELIGION BECOMES LETHAL,” A LECTURE BY DR. CHARLES A. KIMBALL: MARCH 13, PARRA BALLROOM, 7 P.M. Dr. Charles Kimball will give his

MozART Group copyright by www.mozartgroup.net Volume 3 • Issue 12

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“Masked Marvels & Wondertales” with Michael Cooper second lecture for the Banners Series.

The first was When Religion Becomes Evil. He has continued to work on issues related to Islam, the Middle East and Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations, and has just published his follow-up book, When Religion Becomes Lethal: The Explosive Mix of Politics and Religion in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He is the head of the Religious Studies Program at Oklahoma University.

RHYTHMIC CIRCUS IN “FEET DON’T FAIL ME NOW”: MARCH 17, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 7:30 P.M. Rhythmic Circus is back for a command performance after giving the all-time favorite performance in 19 years of Banners Series history last spring. See the dance troupe that has become an underground percussivedance phenomenon, backed by a funky seven-piece band.

SAMITE: A TRIO WITH THE SOUL OF AFRICA: MARCH 24, SHEARMAN FINE ARTS THEATRE, 7:30 P.M. Joseph Shabalala, founder and leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, said, “When you hear the music of Samite, the soul of Africa is revealed to you.” Samite Mulondo gave a memorable concert to a small audience for the Banners Series following Hurricane Rita. We’re finally getting him back to Lake Charles to give the gift of his voice to a larger audience.

A refugee from Uganda, Samite sings about his difficult and inspiring tale with grace, warmth and wit. He sings in a bright, sweet tenor, often accompanied by thumb pianos (kalimba), flute, guitar, marimba and percussion instruments.

JOHN PIZZARELLI JAZZ QUARTET: APRIL 13, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 7:30 P.M. Jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandVolume 3 • Issue 12

leader, John Pizzarelli, has had a multifaceted career. He is internationally known for classic standards, late-night ballads and the cool jazz flavor he bring to his performances and recordings. He is also among the prime contemporary interpreters of the great American songbook. His latest release, “Rockin’ in Rhythm,” brings his signature style and brilliant guitar playing to the music of Duke Ellington.

“25 MILLION MILES IN ORBIT – AN UNFORGETTABLE SPACE STORY,” A LECTURE BY STORY MUSGRAVE: APRIL 20, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 7 P.M. Pilot, surgeon, mechanic, poet and philosopher, Story Musgrave is the only person to have flown on all five space shuttles. He is one of NASA’s most colorful, dedicated and passionate astronauts, plus he fixed the Hubble space telescope. He is also a speaker who weaves a thought-provoking program with stunning photos from space. He will leave you spellbound with possibilities.

“CIRCUS INCOGNITUS” WITH JAMIE ADKINS: APRIL 21, ROSA HART THEATRE, 7:30 P.M. Jamie Adkins has a stellar clown pedigree. He was a featured soloist at Cirque du Soleil for Montreal’s Cirque E’loize. And he received both a bronze medal and the Annie Fratellinni Clown Prize at the Festival International du Cirque Demain in Paris.

Now he’s developed a one-man show, “Circus Incognitus,” and it’s very funny. His clowning and acrobatic feats on the ground and on a slack wire bring life to the story of a man who has something to say, but can’t quite get it out. Warning: the show involves fruit. It may (read “will”) get messy.

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A R T S O V E R T U R E

“He Said – She Said,” the blues of Peter Karp & Sue Foley “HE SAID – SHE SAID,” THE BLUES OF PETER KARP & SUE FOLEY: APRIL 27, F.G. BULBER AUDITORIUM, 7:30 P.M. “He Said - She Said” is blues at its best — moving, literate, romantic, rocking and exciting! The project is based around letters Peter Karp and Sue Foley wrote to each other over the period of a year. The letters started as a casual exchange between two committed performers sharing their common bond of the loneliness of the road, the pain of separation from family and home, and above all, the drive to make music. As time went on the letters became more poignant and more revealing. The final result of “He Said She Said” is just plain great music!

“MASKED MARVELS & WONDERTALES” WITH MICHAEL COOPER: MAY 12, SHEARMAN FINE ARTS THEATRE, 4 P.M. Breathtaking handcrafted masks made by Michael Cooper — student of Etienne Decroux, Paris’ master of mime, and protégé of Tony Montanaro, theatrical genius — are used to tell his original stories of courage and wonder. And he combines these stories with outlandish stilt dancing and a physical repertoire that ranges from the madcap to the sublime. A mask workshop will precede the show.

“TRADITION AND CREATIVITY: FROM LOUISIANA CREOLE EXPRESSIVE CULTURE TO ‘AMERICAN ROUTES,’” A LECTURE

BY NICK SPITZER, DATE AND PLACE TBA. Nick Spitzer, host of the popular public radio show, “American Routes,” will talk about what he learned doing field work in the Creole communities of Southwestern Louisiana and how that knowledge influenced the creation of “American Routes” and its eclectic balance of tradition and improvisation.

TJN

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

A R T S

O V E R T U R E Photo by Mike White

Imperial Calcasieu Museum Schedule of Events 2011-2012 Promenade Sept. 30, 5-9 p.m.

“Twills and Creels” The contemporary baskets of Emma Hughes. The traditional Irish baskets of Vincent McCarron. (Exhibit will run Sept. 30- Oct. 28) Lecture Demonstration Oct. 1, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Emma Hughes and Vincent McCarron.

SEASON SNEAK PREVIEW AND BEHIND THE SCENES WITH LCCB NOV. 13, 5 P.M. Up close and personal with the principal dancers of LCCB. Preview new choreography by Drew Anderson, and get a sneak peak of The Sleeping Beauty. Central School Theatre, Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA sponsorships include tickets to this event.

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER SCHOOL GROUP PERFORMANCES, DEC. 8-10 Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center. Dec. 8: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m.; Dec. 9: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. School group reservations and information: (337) 802-5779 or (337) 477-1581 or go to www.lakecharlescivicballet.com, www.ladydanceschool.com.

GALA PERFORMANCES SAT., DEC. 10, 2011 Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center. Matinee 11 a.m., Gala 6 p.m.

This beautiful story told through the wonder of classical dance and music is a Lake Charles tradition.

Originally choreographed by artistic director emeritus and founder, Lady Leah LaFargue Hathaway, the current production is directed by Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough, artistic director of LCCB. For Gala tickets call: (337) 4740311 or visit www.lakecharlescivicballet.com.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY WITH THE LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY MARCH 17-18 Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center. Gala Performance with the Lake Charles Symphony: Sat., March 17, 7 p.m. Matinee Performance without the symphony: Sun., March 18, Volume 3 • Issue 12

3 p.m. For tickets call: (337) 474-0311 or visit www.lakecharlescivicballet.com In collaboration with the Lake Charles Symphony, conducted by Maestro Bohuslav Rattay, LCCB Artistic Director Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough has interpreted the Kirov version of the ballet set to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky. It is the classic fairy tale of the Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the jealous fairy, Carabosse.

According to the curse, the beautiful Aurora will prick her finger and die by her 16th birthday. The Lilac Fairy lessens the curse, causing the castle to fall into a deep sleep. Help finally arrives when Prince Desire gives Aurora a kiss to awaken her and restore life to the castle.

Museum after Hours Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m.

Film: The Girl Who Played with Fire. Presented by Sharon Nichols.

Museum After Hours Oct. 27, 6:30 Film: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. Presented by Sharon Nichols.

Upscale Attic Sale Date TBA Nov. 17-19 Emily Lloyd Jewelry Demonstration and sale Jan. 13-Feb. 17 “Hidden Treasures” Seldom seen art works from local collectors.

March 23-April 28 “Masks and Masquerades” Annual K-12 Calcasieu Parish Art Students Juried Show.

April 14 Time and location TBA ICM Fundraiser: Boogaloo Month of July Annual Summer Arts Camp July 5, 12, 19, 26 Museum After Hours Summer Film Series TJN

SPRING OUTREACH MARCH/APRIL LCCB performs for area assisted living residents at The Gardens, Kingsley Place, Villa Maria and Stonebridge.

LCCB SPRING PERFORMANCE MAY 20 Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center, Sun., May 20, 3 p.m.

FREE to the public, sponsored by Lake Charles Civic Ballet.

The students of LLL School of the Dance showcase their brilliance in ballet, tap, and jazz. Dancers of LCCB will perform select works from an extensive repertoire. It will be a memorable event recognized by art patrons, which spotlights the professional training of our area’s future artists.

Get the best seats in the house by becoming a sponsor!

For information visit our website: www.lakecharlescivicballet.com or call (337) 513-5808. TJN SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 25

A R T S

O V E R T U R E His best friend is perpetually stoned, his sister has gone Goth, his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, who is the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push the bullies’ limits. This production has strong language and content and no children will be allowed. Directed by Charles McNeely III.

MCNEESE THEATRE’S SEASON OPENS WITH GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’S PYGMALION SEPT. 28-OCT. 2.

Pygmalion remains Shaw’s most popular and most famous play, mostly through its film adaptation as My Fair Lady. It tells the story of Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, who makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can turn a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a refined society lady merely by

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

teaching her how to speak with an upper class accent and training her in etiquette. This Shaw classic is a sharp lampoon of the rigid British class system of the day and a comment on women’s independence, packaged as a romantic comedy. Directed by Joy Pace.

DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD NOV. 9-13.

After CB’s dog dies, he begins to question the existence of an afterlife.

ALL MY SONS BY ARTHUR MILLER OPENS THE SPRING SEASON MARCH 14-18.

Based upon a true story, this play is a tremendously impressive drama that received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the Tony Award for Best Play. Set in August of 1946 in the Midwest, All My Sons is a tragedy about a manufacturer who sells faulty parts to the military in order to save his business. Concerned with morality in the face of despair, and proving the timelessness of great

theatre, All My Sons originally appealed to a nation having recently gone through both a war and a depression. Miller’s classic play still has much to say to today’s audience.

Directed by Joy Pace.

LOUISIANA PURCHASE APRIL 25-29 What better way to celebrate the bicentennial of Louisiana statehood than a musical theatre comedy production from 1940 with songs by Irving Berlin? Set in New Orleans, Louisiana Purchase is a musical that satirizes the more questionable features of the career of Gov. Huey Long and his control over Louisiana politics. When Senator Loganberry arrives in the Big Easy to investigate the dubious doings at the Louisiana Purchasing Co., it isn’t long before he’s set up for plenty of scandal himself. Directed by Michele Martin.

Season subscriptions are $45 for adults, $30 for McNeese faculty and staff, senior citizens, and youth (K-12).

All season subscriptions support McNeese Theatre scholarships. For more information, call (337) 475-5043.

TJN

Volume 3 • Issue 12

A R T S Fiddler on the Roof

T

he Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts announces the upcoming 2011-2012 season, Broadway, Beatles & Blues!

Twelve incredible shows, including many Tony Award® winners and nominees, make up the season with four of them slated for multiple performances!

Call the Lutcher Theater Box Office today at (409) 886-5535 to purchase season tickets, and reserve your seat for each fabulous show.

Various season ticket packages are now available, including two Premier Package options offering nine to 12 shows.

(SEASON OPENER) RAIN – A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, SEPT. 26, 7:30 P.M. Direct from Broadway, Rain performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance in this multi-media concert, that’s as infectious as it is transporting.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, OCT. 24, 7:30 P.M. The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE...and it’s headed here! You’ll have a monstrously good time at this spectacular new production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for best musical!

The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony Award® winner Mel Brooks himself— who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book- along with his record-breaking team from The Producers.

Volume 3 • Issue 12

O V E R T U R E

Rain

SHREK THE MUSICAL, NOV. 6, 1:30 & 6:30 P.M. SHREK The Musical, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. Featuring a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, Shrek The Musical is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone!

SOUTH PACIFIC, NOV. 20, 1:30 & 6:30 P.M. This breathtaking new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific is based on the 2008 Tony Award® winning Lincoln Center Theater production, directed by Bartlett Sher. Based on James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

IN THE HEIGHTS, DEC. 2, 7:30 P.M. In The Heights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood— a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. In The Heights continues to play on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC OF MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER, DEC. 29, 7:30 P.M. The group’s mastermind creator and Grammy Award winner, Chip Davis, has created a show that features the beloved Christmas music of

South Pacific

Mannheim Steamroller along with state-of-the-art multimedia effects in an intimate setting. The spirit of the season comes alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller with this ultimate family experience, that has made Mannheim Steamroller America’s favorite Christmas artist.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, JAN. 12-13, 7:30 P.M. Fiddler on the Roof, the Tony Award® winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, embarks on its North American Tour.

Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Fiddler on the Roof is a timeless classic.

ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET’S MOULIN ROUGE®, JAN. 31, 7:30 P.M. Moulin Rouge® The Ballet has been seen by close to 60,000 people across North America and has elicited cheers and ovations wherever it tours.

Along with a rousing French soundtrack, the ballet features high-kicking choreography and a passionate story of love, ambition and heartbreak.

MY FAIR LADY, FEB. 29, 7:30 P.M. Big League Productions Inc. presents a sparkling new production of the musical by which all others are measured. Based on Shaw’s play and Pascal’s movie Pygmalion with book music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe, My Fair Lady is triumphant.

BLUE MAN GROUP, MARCH 5-6, 7:30 P.M. First Time Ever in Southeast Texas! Experience the Phenomenon!

Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts that combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment.

Shrek

With no spoken language, it’s perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. BLUE MAN GROUP is now on the road for its first U.S. theatrical tour. It’s guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget.

DOUBT, MARCH 8, 7:30 P.M. Winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, Doubt provides that rare evening of theatre that thoroughly entertains and is altogether captivating emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually. In one evening, playwright Patrick Shanley tackles faith, trust, mendacity, friendship, and the Church with a deft and insightful touch. The battle between Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius is archetypal in its power and scope. This is theatre that brings audiences to the edge of their seats and introduces topics that will be discussed long after the final curtain.

THE ALL NEW ORIGINAL TRIBUTE TO THE BLUES BROTHERS, MARCH 21, 7:30 P.M. They’re back – the legendary Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers™. The show that started it all has been selling out all over Europe these past few years, but Jake and Elwood Blues know that home is where the heart is. So don the sunglasses, dig out your best pork pie hat, and buff up those dancing shoes, because the Blues Brothers cordially request your presence for a night of the best music, the best moves and the best comedy you’re likely to see this side of Chicago.

To reserve your season tickets, for more information, or to receive a season brochure, please contact the box office at (409) 886-5535, or visit the Lutcher Theater website at www.lutcher.org. The Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts is located at 707 Main, Orange, Texas. TJN SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 27

Sponsored by

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Let the Games Begin Ever wish you could take the Delorean from Back to the Future and travel forward through time? What would you do?

I would say, right now, my number one priority would be to get the Powerball numbers for the next drawing. Number two? Find out the result

PAGE 28

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

of the McNeese State-Kansas football game, so that I can tell you all about it.

Of course, I can’t do that and, as such, I have no idea how the game is going to turn out; I won’t be rich or (minorly) famous for predicting the final score of the McNeese game.

While there may be nothing I can do about the Powerball, I can compromise on the McNeese game.

So, if you will, please forgive the equivocation here, but one must do what must be done when working on a bi-weekly deadline. To quote Hyman Roth from The Godfather II, “This is the business we’ve chosen.”

• SO…YOU’RE SAYING KANSAS WON: Well, folks, it was going to be a tough game for the Cowboys regardless but, fortunately, a game like this will do little to define McNeese’s season and should serve as a good learning experience that should pay off during Southland Conference play.

• SO…YOU’RE SAYING MCNEESE WON: Well, folks, it ain’t exactly Michigan-Appalachian State (or even Kansas-North Dakota State) but it certainly was an impressive victory for McNeese State. The Cowboys had to play well in all phases of the game to come away from this game

with a win and they did just that. And, while this game will do little to define McNeese’s season, it serves as a wakeup call to the rest of the Southland Conference that the Cowboys are contenders once again.

Does that cover everything? Good, because, regardless of the outcome of the Kansas game, McNeese football fans have an embarrassment of riches to smile about this season.

For starters, the Cowboys’ offense is loaded with talent top to bottom.

McNeese features a pair of skilled quarterbacks in sophomore Cody Stroud and junior North Texas transfer Riley Dodge, both of whom are fighting for the starting role. Both will likely see plenty of playing time

Volume 3 • Issue 12

this season. I say this not only because they are talented and bring unique skills to McNeese’s offense, but, as far as I know, neither enjoys kicking American servicemen in the face as a hobby. Thus a disciplinary suspension is unlikely.

If it’s possible, McNeese has an even greater wealth of talent at running back with four potential superstars, Andre Anderson, Javaris Murray, Champlain Babin and Marcus Wiltz, in the backfield. All hacky “Four Horsemen” references aside, the possibilities for this quartet are limitless.

Imagine, if you will, Anderson and Murray split behind the quarterback with Wiltz or Babin as a slot receiver.

Then add in a young but gifted receiving corps of Dee Edmonson, Damion Dixon and Texas Tech transfer Ernest Celestie. If you’re an opposing defensive coordinator, you’re going to be dizzy trying to figure out which guy to watch most.

And behind a quality offensive line, led by returning starters Jonathan Landry, Taylor Johnson and Alec Savoie, all of that offensive weaponry should have plenty of space to maneuver. One big loss on the line was Miguel Gauthreaux, who shredded his left knee in training camp. Sophomore Arinze Agada will take Gauthreaux’s place at right guard.

On defense, the Cowboys’ front line and linebacking corps looked to be questionable with the departure of several key stars from last season. But the Cowboys return all-conference defensive lineman Desmund Lighten, who moves from the interior line to defensive end, while linebackers Kentrell Butler and Joe Narcisse will replace the departed Deron Minor and Geremy Pilate.

The secondary took a big hit in the offseason with the departure of allconference safety Jace Peterson for professional baseball in addition to losing Devin Holland to graduation.

No matter. The Cowboys are deepest in the secondary with returning starters Malcolm Bronson and Darrell Jenkins at safety and Seth Thomas and London Durham at cornerback. The addition of safety Janzen Jackson, who was dismissed from Tennessee two weeks before the season, is a ridiculous bit of lagniappe. If Jackson keeps his nose clean, he could be the best player in the Southland Conference.

Of course, the embarrassment of riches doesn’t end on the field; it carries over off the field as well. On a cosmetic note, renovation work on McNeese’s field house, necessary seeing how ratty the old one was, is complete and the new building looks wonderful (the cupola adds a classy touch). The

Volume 3 • Issue 12

new field house also gives McNeese something to show off to visiting recruits, especially the new weight room and locker room facilities.

This off-field wealth is also evidenced by the small bank vault of gold coins the athletic department is surely swimming in since instituting the mandatory Personal Seat License™ “donation” for season-ticket holders.

In addition, McNeese athletics has a spiffy new logo to replace the one on every uniform, building, playing surface and water tower in the school’s purview. This was paid for with funds

withdrawn, evidently, from the wizard bank Gringott’s, given how allegedly dire the athletic department’s financial situation was before the Personal Seat License™ was installed.

At any rate, it’s a subtle logo change; the only difference between new and old being a more “Cowboyized’’ letter “M” with the horse-andrider remaining untouched. A more aggressive Option B, which I’m told was Athletic Director Tommy McClelland’s face topped by a ten-gallon hat, was apparently rejected outright.

Okay, in all seriousness, this season looks like another banner year for McNeese as they once again contend for the Southland Conference title.

And, once again, the Southland is going to be a tough slog with Stephen F. Austin reloaded, Lamar on the upswing and Central Arkansas hiring a band of junior college mercenaries (in addition to a psy-ops experiment for a field) to do its bidding.

But, with the Cowboys laden with a rich crop of talent, it looks like they have what it takes to come out ahead.

TJN

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 29

By Mary Louise Ruehr

Historic Tales of the Worst That Could Happen Horrific events of history can still create nightmares, with elements of violence, greed and evil — but at least two of these events also reveal moments of tenderness, selflessness and heroism. They also make readers ask, what would you promise God if you were in the worst situation possible? Could you face imminent death with courage? If you saw a chance to save yourself and leave others behind, would you take it?

As we prepare to mark the 10th

anniversary of the tragedy of Sept.

11, 2001, Angel in the Rubble, written by Genelle Guzman-McMillan with William Croyle, offers a positive look at what the human spirit can overcome when the worst happens.

Guzman-McMillan takes us with her to work that day on the 64th floor of the North Tower. When the tower was hit, she heard a sound “like smashing glass,” then “a firm, steady vibration that rumbled beneath the floor, across the ceiling, and through

716 N. Hwy 171 Moss Bluff, LA (337) 217-8001

Dennis Lambert started in the mobile home moving business in 1974.

His son, Clint, remembers going on jobs with his dad since he was old enough to ride in the truck, and coming home to tell his mom about his day. Today, he and his dad are in business together. In 2001, Dennis, his wife Pat and Clint opened Moss Bluff Portable Buildings on Highway 171 North in Moss Bluff.

Moss Bluff Portable Buildings is family-owned and operated and prides itself on the ability to not only provide superior storage options to customers, but to create lasting friendships with them long after the sale is over.

This business does it all. They sell portable buildings, carports, RV covers and horse barns. They also move and tiedown portable buildings. Their portable buildings come in a variety of styles to accommodate each customer’s needs.

PAGE 30

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Whether it’s for residential or commercial use, they’ve got the style that’s right for you.

“Our mission is to provide each customer with superior quality manufactured storage options that are both cost effective and reliable,” said Pat Lambert.

“Our honesty and customer service is why we continue to serve this area proudly since 2001.”

Their unique customer service includes a rent-to-own program and regular financing on buildings. They also take custom orders.

At Moss Bluff Portable Buildings, there is always an owner on-site. “We’re here to stay and we always stand behind what we sell,” Clint said.

Whether it’s a portable building, carport or RV cover – they’ve got you covered! www.mossbluffportablebuildings.com

the walls.” Then “the entire building seemed to sway from top to bottom … baaaack and forth ... like a tree in the wind.” She was ready to leave the building, but many of her co-workers wanted to stay; the authorities said help was coming. When the officemates finally started down the long stairway, they did, indeed, meet firefighters on their way up.

Then, at the 13th floor, the building “fell on top of me,” she writes. “I was lying on my right ear with my head jammed between what felt like heavy blocks of concrete. … I was wide-awake, buried alive, and absorbed by total darkness. … It was like lying in a sealed coffin.”

Alone in the rubble, there was nothing to do but lie there, reflecting on her life and “pleading with God for a miracle.” After almost 27 hours, someone named Paul took her hand and reassured her that help was coming. And shortly after that, rescue workers got her out. Afterward, she changed her life, keeping the promises she had made to God. She also searched for “Paul” so she could thank him. But there had been no rescue worker named Paul.

9/11: Stories of Courage, Heroism and Generosity compiled

by Tim Zagat is an uplifting collection of essays about the tragedy in New York City, with contributions by then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, among others. “A Soul Tested in Fire” is a tribute to Father Mychal Judge; one chapter is written by the chefs who turned a sightseeing ship into a “first-class canteen” for the workers at Ground Zero; another remembers the 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93, who crashed the plane into a field near Shanksville, Pa.; “Everyone’s Best Friend” is the portrait of a therapy dog who comforted relatives of victims as well as Ground Zero workers. Finally, the New York Times editor of the “Portraits of Grief ” obituaries writes about how they “brought 2,400 people to life.” One contributor adds that “9/11 was indeed a tragedy, but it also brought out the greatest show of love and support for those left behind.”

Next year will mark 100 years since the Titanic went down in April 1912, 550 miles off the coast of Volume 3 • Issue 12

Newfoundland. The Band That Played On: The Extraordinary Story of the Eight Musicians Who Went Down with the Titanic by Steve Turner sheds light on the personalities of the orchestra members, each of whom “died at his post giving comfort and consolation to hundreds of others.” In an official inquiry, the ship’s junior wireless operator said, “The way the band kept playing was a noble thing…

How they ever did it I cannot imagine.” He suggested “that the musicians didn’t even attempt to escape in a lifeboat.”

Turner presents brief biographies of these men and paints a picture of life in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

He describes how the musicians lived on the ship and what their job entailed. He writes, “There are not many stories where people who are neither ill nor caught up in a conflict have a few hours to contemplate their imminent deaths. We automatically ask ourselves how we would react in the same situation because we know that our choices reveal our deepest values and beliefs.”

But not everyone can be a hero, as is shown in How to Survive the Titanic, a biography of J. Bruce

Ismay by Frances Wilson, which comes out in October. Ismay was the managing director and chairman of the White Star Line, which built the Titanic. He had been the one, during the planning meetings, to turn down the suggestion of adding more lifeboats. When the ship was sinking and didn’t have enough lifeboats, he jumped on one and survived, but was subsequently reviled in the press, which said it was his responsi-

bility to go down with the ship. He explained that he had jumped on one of the last boats to leave because it had room for him. He saw a chance and he took it.

Ismay lived another 25 years after the tragedy, but the rest of “his life was defined by a decision he made in an instant.” According to the author, he was never able to pick himself up and move on; he became “the loneliest man in the world.” The

author compares him several times to the title character of Joseph Conrad’s Lord Jim. I think perhaps what impressed me most after reading these histories, other than how eyewitness accounts differ — What was the last song the band played as the Titanic sank? On what floor of the stairway were the co-workers when the North Tower collapsed? — was how so many people did not save themselves because they simply did not believe what was happening. The ship could not sink; the tower was perfectly safe.

Also, as Wilson writes, “the need of those who were not on board to read their accounts, to see the films, to repeat the experience and work it through, to raise the Titanic and watch her go down again and again is one of the shipwreck’s most peculiar effects.” Yes, this is exactly how I feel every time I recall the Titanic.

But this is also how I felt — and still feel — about 9/11. If only I could have been there, to change this, or that. This magical thinking never ends.

Copyright © 2011 by Mary Louise Ruehr. TJN

Phone: 337-474-1864 Email: info@lwv-lc.org Website: www.lwv-lc.org

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PAGE 31

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

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

r m ende's Museu l l E an en

By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire

The Beaver 2011 DVD (Summit Entertainment)

Warning, emphatic warning: THIS IS NOT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. Okay? Okay.

Meet Walter Black (Mel Gibson), the head of a toy company inherited from his father, who committed suicide. Walter himself is severely depressed. His wife has kicked him out of the house and he’s on the verge of committing suicide like his father did.

In a strange turn of events, he’s saved

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by a hand puppet that allows him to function with part of his personality, channeling it through the puppet. The hand puppet is a ragtag beaver.

As the beaver moves its mouth, the words come out of Walter’s mouth, but with an Australian accent, a sense of power, and decisiveness that are very much missing from Walter’s own personality. This sounds like some wild psychology therapy, but it seems to work. Walter’s youngest son takes to the puppet, and his wife grudgingly accepts it. But his other son, Porter, is in high school, and definitely does not care for the Beav’. You see, he’s developing the same kind of depression that his father has. And like all good adolescent young men, he’s rebelling against his dad, with a vengeance.

While sort of creepy, the beaver has such a wonderful accent and appealing personality that Walter eventually brings his toy company back to success. He and his wife are together again. The younger son is taking an interest in woodworking.

Everything is going much better.

Yet we still find Porter dealing with his own life, which centers around Norah, a classmate who is a cheerleader and valedictorian (Jennifer Lawrence). He very much wants to date her. She seems to feel the same way, but it turns out she has issues of her own. (Doesn’t every teenager?)

Overall, the movie is set up like a fable. It proceeds like a children’s story, leading us to expect a nice happy ending. The actors are outstanding, with Jodie Foster playing Mrs. Black as well as directing the movie. The older son is played by Anton Yelchin (Star Trek). This charming, humorous tale and wonderful cast take us through the first half of the movie with a balance between comedy and teen frustration, leaving us wondering how things will proceed. Let me just say the second half of the movie is quite different from the first.

In the end, The Beaver leaves us with a very non-fable type of moral: everything is not necessarily going to be okay, and we don’t necessarily live happily ever after. Walter’s family is left intact, but wounded. The son remains with the risk of becoming depressed just like his father. We learn that everything doesn’t always turn out for the best in the end. The message is perfectly portrayed, in a way that I guarantee will make an impact on you. It’s just that you may not like it.

The Beaver is definitely NOT a light comedy. For those who have dealt with depression, it will ring very true on some notes. The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) took an interest in the movie when it was originally released, interviewing Jodie Foster at the time. The movie definitely does not provide any easy solutions to the very real problem of mental illness.

The movie is rated PG-13.

Personally, I would rate it R, knowing how sensitive young people can be to issues of suicide and loneliness. The Beaver hit theaters in limited release earlier this year, and you probably didn’t get a chance to see it. Now’s your chance. TJN

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ARTS AND CRABS FESTIVAL No crabby people here at the Civic Center! These Southwest Louisiana locals sure know how to get down to business when it comes to eating tasty crab dishes served up by chefs from your favorite local restaurants and Abita Beer shots to wash it down! To add to the fun, sounds of Zydeco, country and blues echoed the halls as we admired the original works of local artists as well as unique jewelry and crafts. Adding to the fun was the Arts Council’s Gold Key Quest raffle drawing for fabulous prizes! It’s like jambalaya: when the sights, sounds and tastes of Louisiana come together, there ain’t nothing like it!

Bobbie DuBrock, Cathy McFatter, Wendy Lewis and Erika Murray

Kara, Ashley and Emma Fruge

Tara and Lejen Johnson

Blaine Croce, Jessica Harell and Don Broussard

Summer Moore and Naomi Waldrop

Paige Savant and Jan Johnson

Laura and English Josey

FAMILY AND YOUTH FESTIVAL 2011 It’s refreshing to have a day devoted to family life and family values! Crowds of local teens, children and parents gathered at the Lake Charles Civic Center to enjoy this fun festival.

There was something for everyone. A big hit last year, Career Paths was back to share opportunities for teens to explore new career choices, Kids of all ages enjoyed face painting, decorating cookies, hat making, crafts, games, food and live music. It takes lots of volunteers to make a day like today happen, so hats off to all of you for another successful festival!

Morghan Harris and Ayiana Hutchinson PAGE 34

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Madelyn and Tanya McGee Volume 3 • Issue 12

NKeehan Ceasar, Jaymyrikk Duhon and Autejah Guillory

Aida Owen with Adeline and Roya Oustalet

Marlana Rodriquez and Ashley Carrier

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM’S IMAGINATION CELEBRATION This year, the annual Children’s Museum fundraiser presented a great evening of 50s fun. From poodle skirts to Elvis to Marilyn Monroe, this was one big bash!

Guests enjoyed amazing food served from our best restaurants, the first ever Celebrity Karaoke Sing Off, dancing to the live band Boomerang and live and silent auctions. Since the Children’s Museum presented this fun-filled evening, they made sure they brought out the kid in all of us! As Elvis would say, “Thank you!

Thank you very much!”

Terry Schexneider and Brittany Blackwell

Michael and Shawna Chapman

Celebrity Karaoke winner Jason Barnes and contestant Angie Manning Istre

Becky Hebert, Board Member Tommie Townsley and Barbara Spraggins

Boomerang

Pam and Davis Thompson with Nona and Mark Lumpkin

Tammi and Randy Morgan

Susan and Gary Shannon

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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JUNIOR LEAGUE TASTING EVENT Improving Southwest Louisiana never tasted so great! Sales of the Lake Charles Junior League’s award-winning Marshes to Mansions cookbook generates funds to help our communities. In addition to the amazing recipes, it’s chock-full of beautiful photos by Victor Monsour and includes facts about local people, places and events. Delicious savory bites from many of the recipes were served at a tasting event hosted by the Lake Charles Junior League at Accessory Zone recently. Bon Appetit!

TJN

Laura Monk, Shari Cooley, Neida Kaye Loup and Ellen Little

Johnna Durio and Carly Pete

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Lizzie Joseph and Shelby Landry

Lindsay Fuselier and Reagan Hoffpauir

Sheila and Genesis Green

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HEALTHY WOMAN ANNIVERSARY EVENT SEPT. 8 Women and Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Woman First Anniversary Event will be held on Thurs., Sept. 8 at Treasures of Marilyn’s in Lake Charles. Guest speaker will be Dale Smith Thomas, who will give an empowering and entertaining presentation that will provide women with the tools to become their personal best. Enjoy the free Women’s Health Fair & Expo from 5 - 6 p.m.; hors d’ oeuvres and music from 6 - 6:30 p.m., and dinner from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person or $160 to reserve a table of eight. For more information, call (337) 475-4064 or e-mail nadia.nazeer@women-childrens.com.

‘PRIDE, PLATES AND PUMPS’ SEPT. 9 Pujo Street Café, in conjunction with Lake Charles Pride and Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council, introduces a new event to the Lake Area: “Pride, Plates and Pumps Dinner and a Show” (“It’s almost dinner theatre”) benefitting Lake Charles Pride and Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council with guest of honor Kandice Munro. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and r eese R r e if n dinner will be included in the ticket n e J price of $75 per person or $600 for a table. It will be held in the Ballroom at The Charleston, downtown Lake Charles at 7 p.m., Sept. 9. The event will also serve as a kick-off party for Lake Charles Pride. For more information, contact Candice Pauley, media coordinator, at (337) 2496950 or candicep@slac.org. Or email prideplatespumps@aol.com.

FIRST FRIDAY READING SERIES SEPT. 9 The First Friday Reading Series is kicking off the fall season with a reading by nationally recognized poet, Jennifer

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Reeser of Westlake, on Fri., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Porch Coffee House & Café in Lake Charles. The monthly reading series hopes to act as a catalyst for the expansion of Southwest Louisiana’s literary scene by inviting both regional and national writers to the Porch Coffee House to give public readings of their work. Although this installation does not occur on the first Friday in September, the First Friday Reading Series takes place on the first Friday of each month. The Porch Coffee House & Café is located at 4710 Common Street. For more information, contact the Arts Council office at (337) 439-2787 or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

BON TON FESTIVAL SEPT. 9-11 St. Theresa’s Bon Ton Festival is a local tradition. A family-friendly festival, it’s known for its music, rides and especially food. Enjoy bingo, live and silent auctions, a country store, a sweet shop and garage sale. There will be a covered pavilion with plenty of room for dancing, eating and visiting. It will be held at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Sulphur. Hours are Sept. 9, 5-10:30 p.m.; Sept. 10, 10 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.; and Sept. 11, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For more information, call 583-4800.

CALLED2BCATHOLIC FESTIVAL SEPT. 10 “Love Out Loud,” the 2011 Called2BCatholic Festival, is set for Sat., Sept. 10 in St. Louis Catholic High School. Father Leo E. Patalinghug, who hosts the television program Grace Before Meals, and has been seen on numerous networks, will give the keynote address, which includes a cooking demonstration. The Grace Before Meals movement encourages families to eat their meals together as much as possible and engage the family in conversation while preparing meals. Doors open at 11 a.m. for this event designed for the entire family. Admission is $15 per person, and children 12 and under will be admitted free. For ticket information and to purchase tickets contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at (337) 439-7400. The event will conclude with a eucharistic procession to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception followed by Mass at 7 p.m.

USS ORLECK PATRIOT RIDE SEPT. 11 The USS ORLECK Naval Museum is proud to host the USS ORLECK Patriot Ride on Sun., Sept. 11. It will serve to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and to honor the service and sacrifice of our active duty military, veterans, police officers and firefighters. Registration is from 8:30- 10 a.m. at the LC Civic Center Amphitheater. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. and ride begins at 11 a.m. Riders meet back at Amphitheater at 4 p.m. for memorial service. At 5:30, the closing ceremony and prize announcements will be held at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel. Post-event concert will begin at 6 p.m. Pre-registration fees are $20 per initial rider and $10 per additional rider; $30 and $10 on the day of the event. Online registration is at www.orleck.org. Call Penny Miller at (337) 438-3038 for more information.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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9/11 Memorial on Bord du Lac Drive

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

LAKE CHARLES 9/11 COMMEMORATION 9/11 The City of Lake Charles will hold a 10th Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11 to honor the victims, survivors, family members, and all the first responders affected by of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. The commemoration ceremony will be held from 6 – 7 p.m. at the 9/11 Memorial on Bord du Lac Drive. In the event of inclement weather, the program will move to the Civic Center Buccaneer Room. For more information, call (337) 491-1201 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com

light proper methods of planting, growing and caring for azaleas. Mr. Brechter will also describe diseases associated with azaleas and how to treat them.

Shangri-La, located at West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas, is open to the public Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun., noon- 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.shangrilagardens.org.

‘BEAT THE HEAT’ LECTURES AT SHANGRI LA SEPT. 15 AND 29 Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center announces additional “Beat The Heat” lecture programs for September. Participants will meet at the admissions window at the scheduled event time, 7 p.m., with sessions lasting about an hour in the Discovery Theater. All programs offered in the series are free of charge, but an RSVP is required as space is limited. Call (409) 670-9799 for reservations.

• Sept. 15 – Designing with Native Plants: Andrea DeLong-Amaya, director of Horticulture at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, will discuss how their staff have been exploring innovative ways to use Texas native plants.

• Sept. 29 – Azaleas for the South: Bart Brechter, Curator of Bayou Bend Gardens, will high-

WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES SEPT. 17 On Sept. 17, men from all walks of life will walk one mile inside Prien Lake Mall in women’s high-heeled shoes to protest rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. This event is coordinated by the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the march scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Men, women, and children are invited to participate and pre-registration is welcome. The registration fee is $20 per person, $15 for students, or $100 for a team with a maximum of six members. All participants registering prior to Sept. 5 are guaranteed to receive a free event T-shirt. Men are required to walk in a minimum of 2” high heels. They may wear a more comfortable woman’s shoe if they raise more than $1,000 in pledges. For additional information or to register, please visit www.walkamileswla.org or call (337) 494-7273.

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KEMAH’S GULF COAST FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL SEPT. 22-25 The City of Kemah presents the 13th Annual Gulf Coast Film & Video Festival. This year’s special guest will be four-time Academy Award Nominee and Golden Globe winner, Marsha Mason. Mason is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cascade Banquet on Sept. 24 at the South Shore Harbour Resort in the Crystal Ballroom, 2500 South Shore Mason Blvd. in League City starting at 6 p.m. arsha M She will be available to meet guests at the opening mixer and reception at The Tabella at Clear Creek Winery at 7 pm. on Sept. 23. Film screenings will be all day Sat., Sept. 24 and Sun., Sept. 25 at the Kemah Holiday Inn on Harris Street. A new feature is the “Producers & Directors Forum” on Thurs., Sept 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Jimmy Walker Kemah Community Center on Hwy 146. During these events, there will be opportunities for the festival attendees to meet with actors, producers and directors in the film and television industry. For ticket prices and additional sponsor information, go to www.gulfcoastfilmfest.com. For tickets or information call (281)333-5804 or email at whiteriverrock@web.tv. For lodging in Kemah, log on to www.Kemah-tx.gov or call the Kemah Visitor Center at (281) 334-3181.

GALLERY PROMENADE SEPT. 30 Get ready for Gallery Promenade! Galleries throughout the Lake Area will be open, showcasing works by local and regional artists. What better time to get outside and enjoy the area…while the sun goes down and the night lights up? Take a stroll through downtown Lake Charles and visit the many galleries showcasing a tantalizing variety of artwork. Enjoy chatting with locals and admiring the talent of local hands, while sampling the fare of local eateries in the newly recognized Charlestown Cultural District. All original art and fine crafts purchased in the downtown area are exempt from local and state sales tax! For more information on Gallery Promenade, including locations, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org, or call (337) 439-ARTS (2787).

For general festival information, visit www.visitlakecharles.org.

STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME OCT. 8 Southwest Louisiana is home to many Angels with Down Syndrome who need your continued support. For the past eight years, UP4DOWNS, a local non-profit support group, has gathered for a fun-filled day of community spirit, education, food, games and a walk to remember. This year’s Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk is set for Sat., Oct. 8 at the Sports Complex on the McNeese campus off Common Street.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. with face painting, Moon jumps, great food, dancing and kids games to follow from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, join a team or form your own team, contact Debbi Seaux at 582-6138 or 309-7530 or go to www/firstgiving.com/up4downswla. TJN

LCF SALUTES THE USO FUNDRAISER SEPT. 24 The Louisiana Choral Foundation will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the USO with dinner, dancing to big band sounds, and a musical show “Hooray for the USO!” On Sat., Sept. 24, at 6 p.m., Paxton Hall in First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles will be transformed into a 1940’s USO canteen. A delicious meal with exciting entertainment by LCF members, local dance troupes and musicians will honor the USO tradition of serving our troops. Tickets (for limited seating) are $25 and will be available at Swicegood Music or by calling 491-9348.

CAYENNE KAYAK CHALLENGE SEPT. 24 The Pelican Paddlers Club of Southwest Louisiana announces the 5th Annual Cayenne Kayak Challenge. This event will be held on Sat., Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Charles north beach. Anyone interested in getting involved in canoe or kayak sports is invited. Registration starts at 7:00 a.m. The Cayenne Challenge will include a Cardboard Kayak Race, a Kayak Skills Relay Race and a paddle around the lake. Food, fun and music will be offered as well. A variety of boats will be available for participants.

In addition, there will be a basic kayaking instruction, “Quickstart your Kayak” by ACA instructor Roman Ryder. Fee for the event alone is $10; instruction fee is $25. For more information, contact Rene Stramwasser at rstram@suddenlink.net, or call Ship to Shore at 337-474-0730. For online registration, visit the Pelican Paddlers website, www.pelicanpaddlers.com.

CALCA-CHEW FOOD FESTIVAL SEPT. 25 Don’t miss some of the best cooking in Calcasieu Parish at the 27th annual Calca-Chew Food Festival, which will be held at the St. Margaret Catholic Church Family Center. Sponsored by the church, all dishes are prepared by parishioners. The event will kick off with a festival mass at 7 a.m.

Throughout the day, visitors will enjoy crafts, Cajun French music, prizes, raffles, a live auction and a children’s area with train rides, games and a live petting zoo. Plus, feast on everything Cajun including shrimp étouffée, boudin, fried fish, cracklins, gumbo and barbecue. The event will take place on the corner of 17th Street and Enterprise Blvd. in Lake Charles. For more info, call 439-4585.

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

The

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Matt Moss @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

• Hip Hop Night @ The Porch, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 • Homer LeJeune & The Kajun Kings @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Warren Storm/Willie Tee & Cypress @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Cam Pyle Duo @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • Travis Benoit & Allons Dancer @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• DJ Dispo/Misanthropic Innoculation @ Twiggy’s, 8 p.m.

• Chicken on the Bone @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.

• Static Stereo @ Luna Live, 9 p.m.

• Foret Tradition @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Kade Fontenot @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• X-It 43 @ Linda’s Lounge, 9 p.m.

• The Kadillacs @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 • Scotty Pousson & The Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Tin Can Phone @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Yazoo @ Bob & Pete’s, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

• Chicken on the Bone @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.

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

• TBA @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• Twangsters Union @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 • Junior Lacrosse & Sumtin Sneaky @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m.

• Geno Delafosse & French Rockin’ Boogie @ Knights of Peter Claver Hall, 7 p.m.

• Asian Concert @ L’Auberge Event Center, L’Auberge du Lac, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 • Paul Gonsoulin @ Luna Live, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Ryan Bourque @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 • T-Joe Romero @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Kirk Holder @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• MoJeaux @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Coal Train @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Slim Harper @ Twiggy’s, 8 p.m.

• Gregg Martinez & The Delta Kings @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.

• Don Fontenot et les Amis de la Louisiane @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m.

• Matt Moss @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• Geno Delafosse & French Rockin Boogie @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Hillcrest @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 • Coushatta Crossroads Festival, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, Noon • Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• MoJeaux @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

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

• DJ Shakey @ Bob & Pete’s, Sulphur, 8 p.m.

• Gregg Martinez & The Delta Kings @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.

• Don Fontenot et les Amis de la Louisiane @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m.

• TBA @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• The Joel Martin Project @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Hillcrest @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 • Gregg Martinez & The Delta Kings @ Yesterday’s, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• William Christian @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 • The Hotel Cazin Band @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Bernie Alan @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m.

• Coal Train @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m • Randy James @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

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

• Street Side Jazz Band @ Stellar Beans, 7 p.m.

• The Lost Bayou Ramblers @ The Porch, 8 p.m.

• Alex Addy & The Tambourine Machine/Go, Granny, Go @ Twiggy’s, 8 p.m.

• LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m.

• ISIS @ Club 1Sixty5, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m.

• Kris Harper @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• X-It 43 @ Linda’s Lounge, 9 p.m.

• Travis Matte & The Kingpins @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• Cam Pyle @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge du Lac, 10 p.m.

TJN

MONDAY NIGHTS: Abita Beer Night

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS: Mondo Martini Night

THURSDAY NIGHTS: Be Well Night

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

Fri., Sept. 9 @ 10 pm STATIC STEREO WITH LUCY IN DISQUISE!!!

Sat., Sept. 10 @ 10 pm TIN CAN PHONE WITH HEADMINE Tues., Sept. 13 @ 9 pm PAUL GONSOULIN ACOUSTIC Wed., Sept. 14 @ 9 pm IBERVILLE HIGH LIFE Thurs., Sept. 15 @ 10 pm LUNA LADIES NIGHT! FEATURING DJ JOHN FLOYD Fri., Sept. 16 @ 10 pm GRAHAM WILKINSON WITH COAL TRAIN Sat., Sept. 17 @ 10 pm AF THE NAYSAYER X LUKE ST. JOHN, SYLLABLE SEVEN & KLADNI FIGURES Wed., Sept. 21 @ 9 pm HEADMINE

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

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he ssed t He pa e at some couple of e to m da ld b s, guitar and I playe h that cou really play lative or e r c g , u n doti nap, point but not m use I don’t fact that all the e needed a and y e ca es, en I rs: A b d els use des r-old tun along to b with othe n 1972, wh i e r m n a k o t c y kep sung usically) t to me i ibbutz ever g y ba -yea n m when te from pig ng the five pulled : d t n a c well ( ade appare tar in the K rchestra. I i t i e f f ach ne brigh esp e r E t i e u m d p g e a m n s l on o ords a o so wa en r I hythm e celebrati e barre ch nd lling, ship, some yed it on a und r e t e d y e r n y e o h o l t i la r ba st le pla rica Are r ah Jub lly learned ssical and ime y Batt ppets and p zed or sat a ould u a b l i z p H f e o a t a c o H The Lessons pare t ose cl ver re s, we he Mu ults d ad ne to play th spend my s at my out T hile we ad fed stupor ung in h c i s th ed ’t ere in Mus Future top. W gs in sugar pets songs kids chim I need and I didn en, hoping lost in the p lves h om’s e u s e p l , r h t s s u h t u t e ee e like piec ing them iliar M casionally, ould g trying to k he m w g In My getting back teo, owhere mywmater a r n f c i i a r t t h c i hea prac lified gu ut mostly e when t creec n and o e p b We’re d after Ire ght on the at the t the s eagull brew, a e h t H unam ry shuffle, I couldn’t s t me. e i n ’t s a tic isn Isla uilding r o e . t i n k a g t n i o o i l e s r n t s n s i a i g e o g l d o d t L ’t in au can’t own w, I ou ev s bat soun ent b . ud, bu t didn Did y child can t can. I kno als after- my head d pointed hi been that I g but apartmd a little m g Beach, i torm surge all er v n or yin s s, i eI e nduct nized hav ging or pla e the f a sm ing? Oh ye dictable int hile waitshipp n end of Lo Atlantic’s the raised o o c c o e r e k re ,w So ag nyone’s sin g to practi ears I’ve weste ted with th beach up to ash, pushed squaw o it at unp d morning pen, and th y n a g a i r e l t a e d l p c o h n i b h u n d t a a t y d g, ck all , inu ed over ene unw s), over ith a n e t san h i t r b w c n e d i ble o e y e n h t t ( v e c y own rre chord y unbelieva sions, oon, e he heavens howling, w y It flow alk, and th artedly ere ostly empt n m ses e w ngl d. lly d ba rt a board h the halfh ill onto a m eguard sta reade ed increasi out of jam ises. ing fo to start rea ey never di e were on d f p i g o l s g x p ly, m n throu below to gging the hing it int winds we were, th busy as if w n one of si develo s for backi es and pro in musical s r u a e t t o i e g barri est street, gs and sm where adults kep g the Web ur smartexcus ling apolog to blendin y head up n o ns f e n o s b m i i f e d W t r d m g n a l m u t u east-w f its moori ings. a n o s o but I m ews s f ship, computers ing or texti rike il en it c ly want to h the storm, e h s i W u t r tion o ardwalk’s p e that the n d again; l l s c my the I tru id of ilable lly ca g n elieve not be afra oney where for Irene the bo s is an ima ng again a g to see !!) ava , occasiona d behind in nd learnb ( I i s e ,a e nd ing ym Thi ld hopin show phone who’d stay ssly eating ly addictiv high a t to put m I was, wait n my own ed in who were , so we cou had t s e e h h l e o d g b e g y d i i t n r l o s n s h s t s de frie case have is. So the nally hoi ting, e mikub, a turns out a ting u other town loodwater ow a a e r i t , in my I f h s e t , d u l m n u f r r l , n n e u o o fr a o s e k f f u t z h R h t m e d I o t t g r e oc str ies. play y mo chin in ing a ke lan m tha other t what hav n propert too well, ing to t which m tlessly sear d the TV to ma . I was digg ing to Yora ng I wantw u l e l a i o o a o find ht on our t feeling game ! After fru ion, we tun ural wallpa petard po, explain spose the s cause “I who a k t a a r a n e e c a t r a b s h w r o a t f s y f o wroug ember th r all of you make sure r i i e a fo ad as tk ion e to r t n v s a l m e a t o ok of o a w r e f s h t r c e o l i f s r you tefu and afte ould g to a dif ,” with a lo ce. class local new t the wind ing. a w r g n fa rd sin and and I’md in before to the d stared ou hing happe e guitar, ed to ay an F cho ent on my e, clearavid, an e D h . t k n , l t t m e c a e p s h t , m e , g s w om ia ou rig n’t th ra ch ed per Hebre atch s u lled re all -marr and E t ca fiant embar F?” he ask , even as I ould c tually we p nd sang in belting ou we we brother-by sons Josh orth y e i c a l d a s d can’t p g. “No,” I the F chord My usan and Even in N rise yed a we could, g, u a s l o u p Y “ n i o S if oing iev nto ram fe on rs t f Sun disbel y fingers i . “You’re d nd Yo sang along i Shemer s rusalem o his wi their doo iles above and, north a y l d l Je dm tion sn’t opene re, a few m of Long Is executive f and we tiful Naom Zahav” (“ Six-Day presse n first posi sisted I wa the u l o 0 e a o e r y 1 i e h t a m e h s n l t te Bel the b halayim S ed after shape aid, but I i I don’t hav y (the I ssau Coun orst effect pient g y i a c n w n s r i “ s a h a w . u a : l us Hig ch, the N rom the “Yer , that I le g with an s to a son it,” he t properly hand to p s 14 of celef i ) — c n h i e ” i t n s f u f r d w g e a s l s ly o ow of doin h in my le ave to pr e’d be bedded d ee-year-old cess G r, and have ied to find nd both w h t , d g d e u i n n a r e i r sa Wa nce. I tr stre hords. Yo mply barr hear, s that refe nd and w ded one th ale pink pr ing o ) t i e s c i l d n e r g e e e I v a t r e Ir ev bar in p rds visit nclu wan r son ard.” o pro This i r birthday r-year-old rincess mom Clearwate found cho ram n so h ed the F t of y w o m d e p u d e m o n gh -fo avi enc s. Y look rum bratin one almost ting her ow WarsCreed in, while D ng request tic chorusand st nt. Yoram’s atched by r a , a a o s n i t m r e e s r S n attir srael alte ence o Beatles o enthusia pers. my po g pity was f shame. d one old, after o e n a I t t , u n s , i o s J o er arfrom y with P lyric those too storm tr know hetic look kids w ive-ye r t layed ur all-ages togge d almost-f party. The p my pa e e o t n c y i a b d c ad rri ing va hu hecku PAGE 42

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Volume 3 • Issue 12

So that’s it. No more getting by with “good enough for folk music” or “pretty good for a girl.” I’ve resolved to buckle down, take a few lessons, and maybe eventually get to Carnegie Hall. How long will it take me?

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: The Story of Success, neurologist Daniel Levitan is quoted as saying, “Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery asso-

ciated with being a world-class expert – in anything.” That’s 40 hours each week if you make it a full-time job, longer if you can’t put in eight-hour days (and who can?). Even at that accelerated rate, it takes five concentrated years to really master whatever it is you’re practicing. If I want to master barre chords, which, if I am honest with myself, I do, because I really want to be able to play jazz, for which barre chords

are like water is to life, I’m going to have to practice for ten thousand hours, starting now. I’ll keep you posted.

P.S. When the sky cleared, we discovered that while we on the north Atlantic coast mostly dodged a bullet, my baby sister’s family 50 miles inland in New Jersey lost power, and when it came back on today, they still didn’t have a working pump for their well, and so have had no water for

three days and counting. Others I know have been wiped out financially, have had their towns disappear under floodwaters swollen by 13.5 inches of rain in one day, and we’ve learned that flash floods and tree limbs and other freak surprises have taken the lives of more than 40 people in the Northeast.

Sounds like 2005 all over again.

Maybe some Louisianans want to return the favor and help rebuild in the Catskills and Vermont?

TJN

Killin’ Time Crossword

Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (www.bestcrosswords.com).

Used with permission.

Volume 3 • Issue 12

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

PAGE 43