The Jambalaya News - Vol. 4 No. 3

VOL. 4, NO. 3 / MAY 3, 2012

ALSO: L’Auberge’s Ember Grille & Wine Bar

The Life of Mary V.

Miracle Baby

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MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

GENERAL 715 Kirby St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com

contents

PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque publisher@thejambalayanews.com

REGULARS

NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque

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CONTRIBUTORS Rhonda Babin Leslie Berman George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Dan Ellender Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com

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

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

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FEATURES 5 The Life of Mary V. 16 Miracle Baby 17 The Perfect Excuse to Not Work Out 19 Take Charge of Your Health 20 One Woman’s Road to Health

ENTERTAINMENT 31 28 30 32 36 40 42 43

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

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 2012 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

May 3, 2012 • Volume 4 • Issue 3

COVER STORY 22 The Good Works of BAAK

lauren@thejambalayanews.com

On Cover: From left to right: Derek Smith, Charles Sicks, Jason Horn, Chris Broussard, Tim Hebert, Mike Trahan.

Photo by Romero & Romero Photography.

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We accept credit cards!

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A Note From Lauren Mother’s Day

May is my very favorite month. I met Phil on May 7, and we were married a year later on May 20. It’s the height of spring, with flowers in glorious bloom. This is a big thing after a harsh New England winter.

Of course, in Southwest Louisiana, flowers start budding in the middle of February. The abbreviated winters here are nothing short of magical to me. This winter was especially short and sweet.

But since 2002, May is now bittersweet. That second Sunday of the month is always a melancholy reminder that my mother is no longer here with me.

Of course, she is with me in spirit, which I feel every minute of every day. My mother loved me fiercely and unconditionally, which is a wonderful thing. And even though I can no longer see and touch her physical presence, that love never fades. How can it? I am so fortunate to have had her as long as I did (she died at 78) and to have been able to care for her when she became ill—with the help of my wonderful husband, who became the son she never had.

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When someone we love passes away, they live on in our hearts.

When it’s a parent, we’re also carrying their genes, their essence; a part of them that will always remain.

Everyone tells me I have my mother’s voice. Speaking voice, yes.

But I remember her beautiful singing voice, and the way she’d burst into song whenever she felt like it. This could be a little disconcerting if we were out in public.

When I was little, I would tell her to stop singing all the time. “Why don’t you sing?” she’d ask, sadly. I didn’t sing because I couldn’t—she didn’t pass that talent down to me. But as I got older, I learned to appreciate all the old songs in her repertoire, from as far back as the 30s. Now, whenever I hear one of those vintage tunes, I’m immediately back on Barnes Ave. in East Boston, listening to her sing as she prepares dinner.

Speaking of dinner, I’ve mentioned before what an amazing cook she was. What made her so talented was her love of food and her inquisitive mind. She had tons of cookbooks, clipped recipes faithfully from magazines and The Boston

Globe, and jotted down recipes from The Food Network. This meant she was always trying some new dish for us to enjoy. Of course, my father and I had our favorites that we’d request time and again.

The other day, I was thinking about her cooking, and I asked myself what I would have her prepare for me if she could make me one last meal. Would it be her stuffed squid with linguini?

Succulent roast pork with rosemary and olive oil? Spaghetti Carbonara?

Chinese spare ribs with Ah-So sauce? (Is that even around anymore? It was purplish and gooey and my mother would let me baste the ribs with it when I was “helping” her.) Stuffed artichokes? Short ribs of beef so tender they fell off the bone?

I think it would be her Saltimbocca alla Romana, bite-size slices of veal powdered with salt, pepper and sage; skewered by toothpick with pieces of prosciutto and sautéed in butter. That would be my last supper, with stuffed artichokes on the side and roasted red peppers with breadcrumbs. I published the Saltimbocca recipe in an early issue

of The Jam, and I hope some of you tried it. You can always substitute chicken instead of veal.

I’m happy to say I did inherit her cooking genes, although I’m so busy and we’re out almost every night, so I can’t even remember the last time I made us a nice dinner. But when I do cook, it’s usually one of my mother’s specialties. I make them well. And I received the ultimate compliment from her once, when she told me that my pork roast was better than hers.

I inherited her fear of the water, her thirst for knowledge, her love of travel and reading. In a lot of photos, I look like her. I gained weight around the middle just as she did when she hit middle age. She was only 4’11”—I managed to top her by one inch, which I teased her about often.

Of course, there’s a lot about me that is uniquely me, but I will always be my mother’s daughter.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.

– Lauren de Albuquerque TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Gay, Mary V. and Susan

Mary Violet Iles Hudson – Mary V. – is a lot of things. She is a poet, daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and violinist. She is a voter, friend, great conversationalist, Christian, and an Americus (Kingsley Place) resident. She is a former teacher, wife and gardener, and when she was around 14 years old, she won a contest that made her the Charleston Queen of Oberlin.

She is an inspiration.

Born on August 12, 1915, Mary V. was named after one of her aunts. Since there was another Mary in the family, she became known as Mary V. Raised in Oberlin with her older sister Ruth and her younger sister Gert, she remembers a totally different mode of life. Her parents, Susan Adeline Bacon Iles and Joseph Iles, provided for the family by operating a store.

As a child, Mary V. remembers being a little naughty due to the fact that she liked to talk and would wiggle when having to sit for a while. “I didn’t like to be pinned in,” she said.

She preferred to be outside, where she would climb a favorite big pear tree and swing and sing in its branches for hours.

There was a great love of music in the family.

Her father played the guitar and for a time, attempted to play the fiddle, an instrument he loved. The Iles would have Sunday get-togethers at their home where family and friends would visit and sing and play hymns. “If you didn’t enjoy the music and wanted to talk, you would have to go outside,” Mary V. remembers.

It was at one of these gatherings that Mary V.’s mother had enough of the music coming from the fiddle in her father’s hands. “If the people in Heaven would hear that, they wouldn’t think it was very pretty,” she informed him.

That day, it was decided that Mary V. would take violin lessons.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

By Rhonda Babin

She played the violin daily and sister Ruth played the piano. Gert tried the guitar, but hated it. The three girls spent hours playing and singing together. “We sang hymns and whatever songs were popular at the time,” she remembered. Two favorite hymns were How Great Thou Art and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

When she was 19, Mary V. started to teach school after earning a teaching certificate from Louisiana Tech University.

Her mother had been the first woman graduate from Tech in 1898. The institution was then called Louisiana Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana, and her mother’s diploma was printed on sheepskin.

Mary V. also attended Louisiana State University, where she had a combined major in music and education. She tried the viola while at LSU, but switched back to the violin because “I was a little skinny thing that could barely hold the viola up. The violin was smaller and easier to handle.”

At LSU, she had a good teacher who told her that since she had little foundation on the instrument, they would act as if she were starting over.

“She said I could catch up and be a good musician if I practiced three hours a day,” she said. “I did that—and then some.”

Mary V. was determined she would not quit because she didn’t want to disappoint her father,

emaw Gay and M

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who loved the instrument so much.

She eventually became an accomplished violinist and played in LSU’s orchestra.

In 1937, she married Sam Hudson in Oakdale at the pastor’s home. She wore a pastel blue dress. “He was smart, industrious, a hard worker and good provider,” she recalled. “And he was cute!” But there wasn’t much time for romance. Times were hard and they went to work building a home.

Since married women were not allowed to teach back then, she had to give up teaching.

She and Sam eventually had three children: Gay, Joe, and Steve. The family lived on a dairy farm in Oberlin, two miles outside of Elizabeth.

During her early married years, Mary V. tried to help in the dairy.

“But I kind of made of mess of things by spilling some milk,” she laughed.

“So my mother advised me to stay in the house and do things there.” She took most of her household duties in stride but hated to iron. “I loved the invention of wash and wear clothing!” she laughed. Gardening was an enjoyable pastime and she particularly liked raising mustard greens and snap beans. And through the years, while raising her family, she continued to practice the violin.

The family moved to Lake Charles and Sam worked as a millwright.

Gatherings continued to take place on Sunday afternoons and the family enjoyed getting their first television set after moving to the Lake City.

Mary V. continued her violin playing and was a part of the first symphony concert in the city. She also performed in the Messiah for 21 years.

In the early 60s, she attended McNeese State University where she earned her degree in education.

Things had changed since she first married and she was able to return to school teaching while Sam opened the Acme Rental store in Sulphur.

They enjoyed many happy, productive years together. Sam passed away in 1994. Mary V. continued with her community service with an attitude of, “I am going to do things for others before they have to do things for me.” She built a new patio home at the age of 88 and continued to live on her own until 2010 when she moved into assisted living.

When she was a member of United Methodist Church, she joined a women’s group called the Lydia Circle. At the group’s annual Christmas party, Mary would play the violin with her daughter, Gay Arnold, accompanying her on the piano.

“I know Mary V.—she is a gift!” exclaimed Jane Reynolds, a member of the Lydia Circle. “She has a wonderful sense of humor, is such a Christian, and has such a spirit about her.” For many years, Reynolds was fortunate enough to have her Christmas season enhanced by attending the party where Mary V. shared her awesome talent.

Another of Mary V.’s talents is writing poetry. She would meet a person, be faced with a situation, or see something that would inspire a poem. One such moment was when she saw a photograph of a tree by her granddaughter Susan Arnold. She wrote a poem called Perseverance inspired by that photo. The poem speaks of having strong roots and being able to withstand the storms that will come our way.

In her later years, this active woman lost her sight due to macular degeneration. But she continues to stay busy and make light of her situation. “At this stage in my life, I’m not even fit for kindergarten, because I can’t see to read or write,” she joked.

Her daughter Gay “sees” for her and takes on the role of secretary, reading and transcribing for her mother and taking her shopping.

During their outings, Mary V. says

they usually run into someone who has heard her play. When she’s in WalMart, she drives one of the motorized carts in the store. “I’m armed and dangerous behind the wheel,” she laughed.

Her family has grown to include eight grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. She is particularly close to granddaughter Susan, who is named for her great-grandmother.

“They are kindred spirits,” said Susan’s mother, Gay. “They both are great artists and teachers. They speak on the telephone every day.”

At 96 years of age, Mary V. has seen wars, remembers the scandal of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson, and the time when Huey P. Long ruled Louisiana government. She continues to learn, enjoys watching Channel 48, eats three meals a day, votes with assistance, and plays the violin as often as her arthritic hands allow.

When asked to share from her many life experiences, Mary V. simply stated, “We have to keep trying.

We have to love. We have to work hard, suffer, cry, laugh, and be happy.

It takes everything.”

She concludes by saying, “Persevere. You have to. You have to keep on trying.” TJN

OUR SPEECH THERAPY STAFF IS GROWING We would like to welcome Michelle Shumate, MS, CCC-SLP, to our clinic!

Hope Therapy Center is very happy to welcome Michelle Shumate, MS, CCC-SLP, as the newest member of our therapy team! After graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 2007, Michelle continued her educational pursuits at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Upon gaining her Masters degree in 2009, she was immediately hired by a local hospital where she honed her skills as a Speech Pathologist.

Michelle has had extensive experience in working with adult stroke rehabilitation and a variety of disorders that affect both speech and swallowing. In fact, she further specialized her skills by achieving VitalStim certification, which is a highly sought after treatment for swallowing disorder.

We are so pleased to have Michelle as an addition to our staff and so proud to be able to offer her skills to our patients.

Patients of all ages who have difficulty with speech, language, swallowing, stuttering or voice may benefit from Speech Therapy services.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Michelle, call Hope Therapy Center at 478-5880.

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Cindy Istre, Office Manager; Emery DeSonier, PT, DPT; Cyndy Lirette, Administrative Assistant. Second Row, Left to Right: Mika Doucet, LOTR, MOT; Kelly Abate, MA, CCC-SLP; Kristin Mathis, PT, DPT. Top Row, Left to Right: Kim B Anderson, PT, DPT, Co-owner and Sonya M. Brooks, MA, CCC-SLP, Co-owner.

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MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

The

Boiling

P l

Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com

Wilmoth received Apple iPads for using CSE MOBiLE. Over 2,000 members entered for a chance to win one of two iPads. CSE MOBiLE is a product and service that provides access to check balances, transfer money, receive text messages about account information, and much more. For more information on CSE MOBiLE or other products and services of CSE Federal Credit Union, call (337) 477-2000 or visit www.csefcu.org.

Left to right: Matt Young, Donna Richard, board secretary/treasurer and Michael Carrier, board chairman.

CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ALLOCATES $45,000 FOR ARTS FUNDING Representatives of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau presented a check recently for $45,000 to Matt Young, executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council. The funds will be distributed through a competitive grant process to cultural organizations that organize arts projects and cultural tourism events staged in Calcasieu Parish.

The Tourism Marketing Initiative Grants Program works to initiate and sustain the growth of cultural tourism in Calcasieu Parish.

NEW CHARTER SCHOOL OPENING IN SWLA Due to the high demand at Lake Charles Charter Academy, a second charter school, Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy, will open in Calcasieu Parish in August of 2012. The new school will be permanently located off I-210 on Nelson Road. It will begin classes in a temporary facility, and will eventually move to its permanent location in August 2013.

Enrollment is open to all residents of Louisiana. It will be a public charter school; therefore, there will be no tuition. SWLA Charter Academy, which will be managed by Charter Schools USA, will ultimately serve kindergarten through eighth grade. In its inaugural year, students will be accepted in grades K-6 with seventh and eighth grade offered in subsequent years. The two-story, 49,904-square-foot building with a 10,760-square-foot gymnasium will serve 591 students in its first year and will serve 860 students at its full capacity. For enrollment information, call (866 )KIDS USA. CSE ANNOUNCES GO MOBILE CONTEST WINNERS CSE Federal Credit Union announces the winners of the recent GO MOBiLE contest held for their members. Kevin Poullard and Chezli Volume 4 • Issue 3

Left to right: Keith W. Henson, L'Auberge senior VP and GM; Allie Ieyoub, ReALLIEty Challenge founder; and John Davis, ReALLIEty Challenge designer.

L’AUBERGE DONATES TO REALLIETY CHALLENGE L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles recently donated $11,100+ as the Warrior Sponsor of the ReALLIEty Challenge benefitting The Mission Continues program. L’Auberge was pleased to participate in the inaugural event that promoted self-determination and teamwork while raising funds for veterans. The Mission Continues was founded in 2007 and awards community service fellowships to post-9/11 veterans, empowering them to transform their own lives by serving others and directly impacting their communities. For more information on The Mission Continues, visit www.missioncontinues.org.

DR. LAURIE BAYNARD JOINS CENTER FOR CHIROPRACTIC & REHABILITATION Dr. Laurie Baynard has joined the Center for Chiropractic & Rehabilitation. Dr. Baynard is a recent graduate of Texas Chiropractic College and is currently working towards becoming a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician. Dr. Baynard earned her bachelor’s degree in human biology as well as health & human performance. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer with the Cooper Institute. Dr. Baynard will be joining four other chiMAY 3, 2012

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ropractors at Center for Chiropractic & Rehabilitation. The clinic is located at 1210 E McNeese St. For more information, visit www.lakecharleschiropractor.com or call (337) 502-5303 to schedule an appointment.

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IAAP® CELEBRATES COMMUNITY LUNCHEON The Magnolia Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals celebrated their 17th Annual Community Dutch Treat Luncheon on Mon., April 23, at Reeves Uptown Catering. The chapter highlighted two members who have recently attained certifications.

Sheila Hardy attained the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) rating, and Melissa Fontenot attained the Certified Administrative Professional-Organizational Management (CAP-OM) rating.

MORRISSEY NAMED WCCM EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Beth Morrissey, clinical nurse specialist, as its second quarter Employee of the Quarter. In her current position, Morrissey works with the hospital’s clinical documentation in the compliance and safety department. Morrissey is a resident of Sulphur and has worked at WCCH for nearly 29 years.

Beth Morrissey

JOHN DEROSIER APPOINTED TO LCLE District Attorney John DeRosier was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) and Administration of Criminal Justice. LCLE’s mission is to improve the operations of the criminal and juvenile justice system and promote public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community. The LCLE is composed of 55 members representing all aspects of the system.

OLQH STUDENTS HONORED BY HURRICANE CENTER The 7th and 8th Grade classes at Our Lady Queen of Heaven (OLQH) School have received a signed resolution and special praise from the National Hurricane Museum & Science Center. Jennifer Templet, museum board member, made the presentation at OLQH School Friday morning. The students organized their suggestions for exhibits and activities they’d like to see brought to life when the NHMSC opens to the public. Social Studies teacher Diane Oden used the items to compose an open letter to the Lake Charles Area last February.

From left: Banners Director Mary Richardson, Richard H. Reid, VP for university advancement and executive VP for the foundation, and Chip Arnould, regional customer service manager for Entergy. McNeese Photo

ENTERGY DONATES TO BANNERS The McNeese State University Banners Cultural Series is annually supported by donations from area corporate sponsors. Entergy recently donated $10,000 to support this year’s series through the McNeese Foundation.

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Volume 4 • Issue 3

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SWLA ANNOUNCES NEW DISTRICT DIRECTOR Meg Lovejoy has been named district director of Junior Achievement of Southwest Louisiana. Lovejoy will manage the organization’s work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy programs that currently reach 3000, K-12 students in the SWLA area. Junior Achievement of Southwest Louisiana is SWLA’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Today, JA of Southwest Louisiana reaches over 3000 students in 24 schools. For more information, visit www.lakecharles.ja.org.

KERRY ANDERSON HONORED Kerry Andersen, regional director for Community & Public Affairs at Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. was recently honored with the Regional Champions for Children’s Health award by the Louisiana Covering Kids & Families Coalition during their statewide meeting held in Shreveport. Andersen received this award because of her contribution of time and energy in support of children and family services that promote access to care. She continues to be involved in many organizations benefiting children in Southwest Louisiana, including Family & Youth Counseling Agency where she currently serves as board president, Kids Can of Southwest Louisiana, and the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana.

Kerry Andersen

NEW PR DIRECTOR FOR O’CARROLL GROUP The O’Carroll Group announced the hiring of Matt Young to lead the agency’s public relations department, providing a full range of PR services to its clients. Young brings to the job seven years of public relations experience in the corporate, governmental Matt Young and nonprofit sectors. A DeRidder native, Young is a Louisiana Tech University graduate. Most recently he served as director of the Arts and Humanities Council. Under his direction, the council distributed more than $900,000 to cultural nonprofit organizations in the region. In addition, he worked with the City of Lake Charles to secure management of Central School Arts & Humanities Center, the council’s permanent home.

The O’Carroll Group is a full-service advertising, public relations, marketing, and digital media agency in Lake Charles. Matt Young can be contacted at 478-7396 or at myoung@ocarroll.com.

Buy more, save more with these elegant light-diffusing window fashions, now through June 17.

Plus, get a free LiteRise® cordless lifting system upgrade with your purchase of Silhouette® Window Shadings. *Manufacturer’s rebate and upgrade offers valid for qualifying purchases made 4/3/2012 – 6/17/2012. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of any of the product models set forth above in the quantities set forth above. If you purchase less than the specifi ed quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. Rebate offers may not be combined. All rebates will be issued in U.S. dollars, in the form of an American Express® Prepaid Reward Card. © 2012 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

WCCH ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW SLEEP CENTER West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Sleep Center, in association with Louisiana Sleep Diagnostics. The center, which is housed inside the hospital, offers testing and treatment for common sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome. Sleep studies are conducted in the on-site sleep lab, designed with the comforts of home to promote relaxation. Patients may be referred to the WCCH Sleep Center by their family medicine physician. Once a referral has been made, an appointment will be scheduled for the patient; however, pre-registration may be required.

For more information call (337) 527-4175.

FIRST FEDERAL BANK ANNOUNCES PROMOTION Charles V. Timpa, president and CEO of First Federal Bank of Louisiana has announced the promotions of Kenny Miller to Information Technology Officer. Miller is a US Air Force Veteran with over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology field. He holds leadership responsibility for IT and related systems that support all areas of First Federal Bank. He is also responsible for all existing enterprise systems and directs all technology-related initiatives. His office is located at the Main Office of First Federal Bank in Lake Charles.

PATEL JOINS CHRISTUS HOSPICE TEAM CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care is proud to announce that Rachna Patel has joined the Hospice and Palliative Care team as the new volunteer coordinator. Her responsibilities include recruiting, training and coordinating volunteer activities to enhance the quality of life for hospice patients and Volume 4 • Issue 3

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

The Lake Charles League of Women Voters introduces the 2012–2013 Board of Directors

EXEC BOARD: Molly Morgan, President Robin Baudoin, 1st Vice President Meg Lovejoy, 2nd Vice President Leslie Landry, Secretary Kay Andrews, Treasurer

their families. Patel has served as a volunteer in many capacities since her arrival in the Lake Charles community in 2001. She is currently active with the Junior League and the Parent Guild at Episcopal Day School. The next CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer Training session will be May 19. To get more information, contact Patel at (337) 395-5600 or (337) 853-3669.

SWIFT NAMED ASSISTANT BRANCH MANAGER City Savings Bank announced the appointment of Dana Swift as lending officer and assistant branch manager of the Lake Charles branch. Swift has 16 years of banking experience, most recently at Cameron State Bank/Iberiabank. She studied at McNeese State University, and has completed Louisiana Bankers Association classes and Dale Carnegie training. Swift is a Lake Charles native and lives in Moss Bluff with her Dana Swift husband, Patrick, and two daughters, Madison and Katelyn. City Savings Bank has locations in DeRidder, Leesville, DeQuincy, Moss Bluff, Lake Charles, and Sulphur and will soon open a new location in Grand Lake. For more information, visit www.citysavingsbank.com.

DIRECTORS: Kelli Barnes Ginger Beningo Francessca Howard Janice Shillow Sandra Walker

Congratulations to all and best wishes for the coming year.

Willie Tempton, Jr. (center), manager of the Lake Charles ConocoPhillips Refinery, presents a check in the amount of $20,000 to Ann Barilleaux, SWLA Alliance Foundation Development director and George Swift, president/CEO of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance.

CONOCOPHILLIPS DONATES TO SWLA ON THE MOVE CAMPAIGN ConocoPhillips recently donated $20,000 to SWLA Alliance Foundation’s SWLA On the Move five-year campaign. The current plan of work under this campaign is to address the critical issues facing our region: workforce development, business recruitment, business retention and expansion, regional marketing, and building a single voice for a true regional partnership. The Chamber and the SWLA Alliance Foundation are part of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. TJN

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MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Dang Yankee The

By Mike McHugh

Next Time, I’ll Walk To Dayton I marvel at the ingenuity of the airline industry. They build something that travels 35,000 feet above the ground, through air as thin as the crowd at an Astros game, at speeds over 500 miles per hour, bearing the weight of 200 passengers plus luggage, most of it belonging to women. And what’s more, they rarely ever crash. They can’t; it’s bad for their business model. This is why Microsoft has never ventured into aircraft manufacturing.

I ponder these things whenever I fly, as I did last weekend from Dallas-Fort Worth to Dayton, Ohio.

The cramped window seat in coach felt like a feather bed after the sprint from my arrival gate—which was in Fort Worth—to the departure gate, which was in Dallas. There was barely time to snag a combo meal at the Wendy’s along the way. I did not have enough time to order cheese for the burger.

This airplane was a truly marvelous specimen—once it got airborne, that is.

I was ravished with hunger after the marathon. Still, I waited patiently for cruising altitude, when you are finally allowed to lower your tray table, activate your electronic devices, and resume breathing. It seemed to be taking forever for the plane to get moving, or maybe that was just my stomach talking.

If it was my stomach, it turned out to be right. A chime sounded, heralding an announcement from the captain. Frequent fliers know this chime. It’s like a doorbell but much softer—not a “ding-dong,” but more like a “finnng-fong.”

“We’ve got a warning light from one of the lavatories,” the captain said. “It’s probably nothing, but a maintenance crew is coming just as a precaution. We should be in the air in ten or 15 minutes.” I scarfed a few Volume 4 • Issue 3

another departure, and so we have summoned a replacement crew. We are informed they will be here in another ten to 15 minutes.” Hands shot up from the first-class cabin— volunteers to get out and push the plane themselves. But it was to no avail. They were not deemed sufficiently qualified to perform the task.

Me, I just poked a straw between my smiling lips and washed down the last of my combo meal with a little Mountain Dew, content that I wouldn’t have to hold it in for the duration of the flight. I was also glad

that the guy in the aisle seat was apparently just another Average Joe. The technology of modern aircraft truly is remarkable, if you don’t consider the plumbing. It can hurtle through the stratosphere at incredible speed while carrying hundreds of tons of payload, yet it has to be manually pushed out onto the tarmac.

The next time I go to Dayton, I think I’ll walk. I’ll probably get there faster. But if I do decide to fly, an upgrade to first class is totally out of the question. TJN

fries from the bag. I didn’t need my tray table for that.

Fifteen minutes go by. Then a second “finnng-fong.”

The captain again. “Ladies and gentlemen, the maintenance crew has discovered a leaking valve in the front lavatory. Replacement would take more than an hour, and so in the interest of your valuable time, we have decided to seal it temporarily.

This should get us into the air in another ten or 15 minutes. First-class passengers are advised that they will be unable to use the bathroom for the duration of the flight.” I was never so happy to be flying in coach.

It was time for a few more fries.

Fifteen minutes later, and another “finnng-fong.”

“This is your captain again. The maintenance crew has successfully sealed the leaking valve. All that is left is to affix a sticker to the aircraft, but unfortunately, we’re out of them here at the gate. A mechanic is on the way to get one from the shop; we should have you in the air in another ten or 15 minutes.”

Such paramount concern for safety is precisely why passenger airplanes rarely crash. Lord help us if we should take off without the proper sticker securely affixed to the fuselage.

As for my stomach, a few more fries weren’t going to cut it. Down went the tray table. It was time for that burger sans cheese. It was a bold move. For all I knew, the guy in the aisle seat could have been an air marshal, just waiting for such a cue to spring into action.

Another 15 minutes; another “finnng-fong.”

“This is your captain again. The maintenance crew has successfully applied the sticker. However, the crew that was assigned to push us from the gate was re-assigned to MAY 3, 2012

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By George “Tip” Cline

BAD OPENINGS Due to the huge response we received from the last column regarding some of the old Lake Charles restaurant history, I’ll continue in that vein.

One of the most telling factors in the success of a new restaurant in our town is how successful the opening was. Opening a restaurant without proper preparation has doom on its very doorstep. It has been my experience (having been a mechanical contractor in the restaurant service industry for many years) that if the staff is not well trained and prepared, if the kitchen cannot put out the food in the manner expected and if there is confusion on behalf of management, then the restaurant won’t be around.

Lake Charles has been most unforgiving when it comes to bad openings.

Just about anyplace can find great demand for the first 90 days. After that, the newness has worn off and the established performance of the operation will come forth—and the patrons will let the management know how they have done.

Opening without good food, good service and proper pricing has put many Lake Charles restaurants in the history column. The ones that have passed the test of time serving their market niche have a long and faithful following. Those that did not make it have themselves primarily to blame.

Then again, there are some locations in the area that just never seem to make it long term. Not sure whether it’s from bad management—or if they’re just bad locations for restaurants.

KEEP THE TRAFFIC MOVING One of my pet peeves is being trapped in a traffic jam situation for no reason other than being in the PAGE 12

MAY 3, 2012

wrong place at the wrong time.

Sometimes, the planets align against you and there you sit. Waiting for a solution to your lack of progress to magically occur just makes the frustration deepen. You cannot condone road-rage, but you sure can get an insight as to why it happens on some of these occasions.

I lived on the East Coast a number of years back and could not help but be impressed by the bridge and tunnel tow trucks that would appear in an instant if there were some kind of traffic incident and push or tow vehicles out of the traffic lanes in a flash. I checked with a friend that just returned from a trip to Baltimore and she confirmed that the emergency trucks were still on the job. Keeping the flow of traffic moving makes for a more pleasant situation for all. Like my old business partner would say, “If they would just drive.”

NEW LOCATION FOR DOWNTOWN AT SUNDOWN I am interested in seeing how Downtown at Sundown fares at its new location. The overwhelming success and participation in the Live@ the Lakefront Series at the Amphitheater on the grassy hillside next to the newly redone Millennium Park has set a high bar to be followed.

The downtown merchants want the new location on the street, as the Civic Center grounds are not really considered “downtown.” Of course, they want to draw dollars into the area that they’re promoting. The band “Boomerang” for the first concert should be a large enough draw to find out how the new venue will work.

No shopping comparison this issue as we are out of town and Natchitoches prices would not be of great value. Gas prices here are about a dime higher than Lake Charles. Price comparisons will return in our next column. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 3

Meet Trooper!

Trooper came to 4 Paws Society as a starving two-pound angel with no muscle mass and no strength to even walk. Now, he is walking, running, playing, and cuddling! He has gained a pound but needs to gain more muscle.

We have him in a great foster home where he is getting stronger and healthy. He is loving and cuddly and gives gentle kisses on your nose. He loves being carried around in his foster mom’s “papoose” sling and would do great with a retired couple or someone who is home a lot. Trooper was recently strong enough to get neutered, so he’s ready for adoption.

Trooper has a sensitive stomach and will require special food that his system can tolerate. Since we don’t know how long he had been starving, it seems he just needs a little extra TLC and someone committed to never letting him suffer again. No small children should be in his new home because he is only three pounds and could easily be injured by a playful toddler. Your vet reference must be perfect for you to be approved to adopt Trooper. To find out more, call Karen at (337) 533-8212.

Note: We have committed to getting Trooper all the supportive vet care he needs to get him stronger and he has a large vet bill. If you would like to donate toward his vet care, call Downtown Animal Hospital at (337) 439-2321 to make a donation over the phone. You can also drop off donations at their location at 113 W. Clarence St in Lake Charles. Just tell them your donation is for Trooper on the 4 Paws account. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 3

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 13

What’s Cookin’ rk m Chef Ma o o R le il r Ember G n and General a D. Chapm even Falgout St Manager

at L’Auberge Casino Resort Mother’s Day is coming. Treat your favorite lady to a wonderful dining experience at Ember Grille & Wine Bar at L’Auberge Casino Resort.

Ember debuted in early 2011. This modern American steakhouse features the highest quality beef prepared your way and cooked to perfection over a wood-fired grill. Top quality seafood, tableside service and playful desserts round out the experience. Seating for 140; reservations recommended. The private dining room is available upon request and seats 14.

In the mood for a more casual meal without sacrificing taste or service? Meet your friends at Ember Grille’s Piano Lounge. Sip handcrafted cocktails while enjoying live piano music and a unique bar menu. The full restaurant menu is also available at the bar, along with an extensive wine list featuring 200+ varieties. Open late; seats 50. There’s live entertainment Thurs.- Sat. No reservations necessary.

You’re in good hand when you dine at Ember Grille. General Manager Steven Falgout was born and raised in Louisiana and started working in restaurants at 18.

He opened and worked at Snake River Grill in May 2005 and became General Manager of Ember in February of 2012.

Ember Grille Room Chef Mark D. Chapman has 23 years of hands-on creative and managerial experience, working in high-volume, high-end resorts and country clubs.

New on the menu! Try Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Lollipops, Fresh Rabbit with House Made Sausage, or the Pecansmoked Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with White Cheddar Grits.

Ember Grille & Wine Bar at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Sun. – Thurs.: Grille 6 – 10 p.m., Bar 5:30 – 11 p.m. Fri.: Grille 6– 11 p.m., Bar 5:30 p.m.- midnight. Sat.: Grille 5:30 – 11 p.m., Bar 5:30 – midnight. Open seven days a week; located close to elevators. For more information, call (337) 395-7565.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Wine Club Ember Grille & Wine Bar and The Wine Store are excited to offer THE CLUB to their valued friends and customers. Open to 50 members only, you will enjoy fine wine and spectacular culinary delights.

Must be 21 or older. Call Ember Grille at (337) 395-7565 for more information on how you can join!

Membership includes: • Wine unveiling first Tuesday of each month at Ember. Members will be able to taste each of the wine choices they will be receiving for that month. Each wine will be paired with a tapas style item prepared by the chef and recipe cards will be given to each member.

Cost of each bottle will be approximately $50 each and each member will receive two bottles per month. The featured wine will be available to the public the following month, giving members the first opportunity to purchase what is in stock at the unveiling.

• Membership card that can be used at Ember Grille & Wine Bar to receive special discounts on the featured wine by the glass or the bottle.

• First notifications of upcoming events and wine dinners, and will be given the opportunity to purchase tickets to these events before they are offered to the public.

• Annual members-only party.

TJN

The following recipe is perfect for dinner out on the patio with a chilled glass of wine.

Crab Crusted Scallops INGREDIENTS • 4 large scallops--cleaned • 3-oz crab mix • 2-oz Bacon Panko Bread Crumbs • 2-oz. Béarnaise sauce CRAB MIX INGREDIENTS • 4-oz. lump crab • 1/8-cup mayo • 1/8-cup sour cream • 1-tsp. Tabasco • 1-oz. chopped parsley, thyme and mint • 1 tbsp. lemon juice • Salt and pepper PREPARATION Combine altogether and mix.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

BACON PANKO INGREDIENTS • 1-oz. bacon fat • 2-oz. Panko breadcrumbs • Salt and pepper PREPARATION Combine altogether and mix.

SCALLOPS PREPARATION Top scallops with the crab mix and bacon Panko and place on baking sheet. Place in preheated oven (375) and bake for 7-8 minutes. Remove from oven and finish with Béarnaise sauce.

Serve and enjoy! TJN

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 15

Ella Claire and Kymberli Hinton

The hour is growing late and 3year-old Ella Claire Hinton is supposed to be in bed. Her mother Kymberli opens her bedroom door to check on her, only to find the rambunctious toddler playing dress-up.

Dresser drawers pulled out, clothes covering the floor, Ella looks back at her mother with a smile.

It is an amazing revelation for Kymberli, given the fact Ella came into this world 10 weeks too soon. It could have been even sooner, as Kymberli’s water broke 28 weeks into the pregnancy. She was put on bed rest and doctors were able to delay Ella’s arrival for another two weeks until Kymberli went into labor on her own.

Ella came into the world just before the stroke of midnight on July 7, 2008 at a mere 3 pounds, 12 ounces. She was born at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women and immediately went to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“She was breathing okay on her own,” Kymberli recalled. “I got to hold her for a little bit before they took her to the NICU. It was a little freaky experience, needless to say.”

Ella was placed on a feeding tube and had a bout with jaundice. Her lungs were not fully developed, but she progressed amazingly while in the NICU. She was even able to suck on a bottle earlier than expected. In all, Ella spent four weeks in the NICU. “She’s a fireball,” Kymberli says.

“There’s nothing that holds her back.”

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MAY 3, 2012

Complications Kymberli knew she would have complications with her pregnancy, but never expected Ella would come so early. She battled a history of fertility issues throughout her life. She tried for years to get pregnant and was finally able to do so at age 37.

She started dilating when she was in her second trimester and a stitch was put in to prevent a premature delivery. Doctors prepared Kymberli for all possibilities. From there on, she was checked every two weeks until Ella arrived.

“I had a lot of obstacles through the pregnancy, but every time I went in, I was given great care,” Kymberli said. “I feel like Memorial helped me carry her and have a safe delivery, even three to four months before she was born. I could have lost her.”

Complex Problem Premature babies are at a very high risk for medical problems such as bleeding in the brain, chronic lung disease and infections. They’re simply not ready to be born, and once they are exposed to the outside world, it can be a cruel place.

Premature birth is a complex problem with no single solution.

More than half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States. Louisiana has one of the highest rates of prematurity in the country.

“Statistically, prematurity is still on the rise,” said Beth Phillips, a registered nurse and director of Memorial for Women’s NICU. “It’s not going down, even with all our OB care. Even though the equipment and medicines are better, their bodies still aren’t prepared for the environment.”

Still, it is those advancements in technology and medicine that have brought on more success cases for premature babies, as opposed to 20 or 30 years ago.

Memorial for Women and its NICU have served the families of Southwest Louisiana for the past nine years. The 23-bed facility staffs 25 registered nurses to handle every case from extreme prematurity to a sick full-term baby. There is also a 24hour transport team that will respond to any outlying hospital when the need arises.

“You have to be prepared in every delivery,” Beth says. “If there is any thought that the doctor thinks the delivery is high risk or it’s a known high risk, they request the NICU. We attend all C-sections just because they’re a little more high risk.”

Nurses will care for one to three babies at a given time, allowing them

to deliver more personalized care to the patient and family.

“There’s nursing for every person.

Nurses that come here stay here a long time,” Beth said. “We’ve got a lot of experience because if you’re a baby nurse, you’re a baby nurse. Once you come into this, you know this is where you are meant to be.”

Ella left the hospital with two holes in her heart. One has since closed, while the other is on its way.

Should it remain open by age 5 or 6, surgery could be a possible solution.

Still, the energetic three year old doesn’t show any signs that she came into this world a bit early.

The March of Dimes organization has been instrumental in raising money to find a cause for premature births. The Hintons have been named the 2012 March of Dimes Ambassador Family, and the March of Dimes walk will be held May 19 at the Lake Charles Civic Center Ella will remain Kymberli’s one and only child. The risks associated with another pregnancy are far too great.

She doesn’t want to tempt fate, instead choosing to enjoy a daughter whose life is nothing short of a miracle. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 3

By Josh Quayhagen Owner/trainer/member @ Performance Evolution Training Facility As a gym owner, trainer and martial artist, I have come across my share of excuses for not working out. It might come from a new member at the gym, a friend, family member, or teammate— and most often out of my very own mouth. I can’t help but think, “That’s just not a good enough excuse.” With that in mind, I decided to set out on a search to find “The Perfect Excuse to Not Work Out.” So the next time I get asked to work out, I’ll already have the perfect excuse in mind!

Excuse # 1: I don’t have any energy.

Working out expels energy. So if I have none, then it’s impossible for me to work out. There it is. I did it, on the first try, even. But for the sake of being thorough, I’ll do a little research to check my math.

After reading a few articles, it did not take me long to see that this excuse is not going to hold up.

Working out and exercising actually increase both immediate and longterm energy. It not only increases strength and stamina while giving a better night’s sleep (making tomorrow more energetic), it actually has been proven to instantly decrease stress and revitalize the brain while making you happier through the body’s natural release of endorphins.

It seems like “I don’t have any energy” is actually a better reason to work out rather than skipping out.

Excuse # 2: I don’t have time.

Now I’ve got it. I might be able to create more energy, but there is no way to create more time.

Well apparently, some people think differently. In the Harvard Health publication, I came across a 16-year study conducted on 17,000 Harvard alumni on the effects of exercise and aging. By the time these Volume 4 • Issue 3

people reached their 80th birthday, the study was able to directly attribute 2+ years to the sample that expended at least 2,000 calories a week via exercise. In fact, I’ve read article after article in accredited health journals that give hard evidence that working out leads to a longer life expectancy, regardless of nearly every other health factor including smoking, excess weight and unhealthy eating.

Again, this excuse seems more like a catalyst to work out rather than the contrary. Do I really have the time not to exercise?

Excuse # 3: I have too many other responsibilities.

With the kids and family, work, bills, school, church, friends, and all the other stuff we have going on, it’s just not possible to fit working out into my schedule. Just when I was starting to lose hope in my search, what’s more iron clad of an excuse than “responsibility?”

I could not find any studies on the importance of being a parent versus working out or articles explaining the value of exercising versus paying the bills. I did, however, find quite a few correlations between the two.

Here are a few of these numerous positive correlations: • Healthier families are happier families and save money in every health expense category.

• Healthy physical activity stimulates the mind, allowing better productivity in both work and school.

• People who work out have more energy and accomplish daily tasks more efficiently, leaving them more leisure time (of course, we already knew that part).

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MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 17

I also know that gyms, health advocates, and even non-health employers have made it easier than ever for you to get in a good workout.

Many gyms around the area have a kids’ daycare. Our gym has kids’ fitness, sports, and karate classes at the same time as adult classes, so both parents and kids can get happier and healthier at the same time.

Other local gyms have cost-efficient 24-hour access, making working out more convenient than ever. Many businesses now promote healthy living by giving their employees access to health and nutrition information and better health benefits. Some cover a portion of their employees’ gym membership costs.

I tried to validate some of my best excuses, but I guess it’s hard to come

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MAY 3, 2012

to the conclusion that I know is staring me right in the face. In a nutshell, there are no perfect excuses for not working out, just my little white lies that I try to convince myself are the truth.

I challenge you to look at your best excuse for not working out today, eating healthier, or whatever it is that is holding you back from reaching your next goal. And maybe the next time you find yourself without any energy, running out of time and overloaded with life’s responsibilities, you’ll drop the excuses and invest a little time and energy into yourself. I think you will find the end is in the means.

And to those of you who are feeling good, with plenty of energy and time to take care of all your priorities and are striving to reach new goals every day, you probably already have “The Perfect Excuse to Not Work Out:” “I already did!” TJN

By Erin Davison, Grant and Training Coordinator, Business Health Partners In Southwest Louisiana, we have two seasons: hot and hotter.

As the hotter weather approaches, it is extremely important that we are aware of the negative effects it can have on our bodies. Overexposure can cause fatigue, heat rash, fainting, muscle cramps, and worse.

According to the National Weather Service, about 175 Americans die from overexposure to summer heat each year.

Heat-related illnesses occur when your body can’t keep itself cool. As the air temperature rises, your body stays cool when your sweat evaporates. On hot, humid days, the evaporation of sweat is slowed by the increased moisture in the air. When sweating isn’t enough to cool your body, your body temperature rises, and you may become ill.

Heat exhaustion can be caused by physical exercise or hot weather.

Symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, physical

weakness, fainting, and pale, clammy skin. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature reaches 104 degrees and is more serious than heat exhaustion Symptoms are dry, pale skin with no perspiration, hot, red skin resembling a sunburn, mood changes, seizures, and fainting.

Someone exhibiting symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke should be moved to a cool shaded area and not left unattended.

Laying them on their back and raising the feet a few inches helps with circulation. Loosen or remove heavy clothing, offer cool water, and call for help.

If you must be in direct heat during the middle of a summer day, wear light clothing, drink plenty of water, and take frequent breaks in a cooler environment. We can enjoy our beautiful summer days—just a little knowledge of overexposure is the key to staying safe.

TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 3

The days of having to memorize dozens of telephone numbers and important dates are long gone thanks to the popularity and functionality and of smart phones and other mobile devices. Freeing up this space on our internal memory chip leaves room for no excuses about not knowing a few numbers that could potentially save your life.

“Taking charge of your own health is really as simple as knowing five numbers,” said Dr. Homer Williams, a family practice physician with CHRISTUS Medical Group Family Medical Center. “Knowing your blood pressure, triglyceride level, cholesterol level and fasting blood sugar or glucose level can provide important insights into your overall health.”

Blood Pressure Also known as hypertension, more than 50 million adults have high blood pressure and one out of every three doesn’t even know it. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke just to name a few.

“Keeping track of your blood pressure is simple and can be done at home without much fuss or expense,” Dr. Williams said. “Patients should check and record their blood pressure once a month. This can be done using an inexpensive home device or most local pharmacies have a blood pressure machine available for use.”

Dr. Williams said to try and take it at the same

Volume 4 • Issue 3

time of day and make sure to pay attention to the top number, or systolic pressure. A systolic pressure above 140 is considered abnormal and warrants a trip to see your doctor.

Cholesterol (HDL and LDL) An elevated cholesterol level is a major risk factor for heart disease. “Your cholesterol level is a number that can be obtained through a simple blood test ordered by your physician,” Dr. Williams explained.

“Don’t worry about trying to remember the total cholesterol number. Just know that your HDL or good cholesterol needs to be 50 or better and your LDL or bad cholesterol should be less than 100.”

If you are not within these ranges, you need to discuss an appropriate course of action with your physician to get these numbers in line.

Triglyceride Levels Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood that the body uses for energy. You need some triglycerides for good health but a triglyceride level that is too high can be a sign of metabolic syndrome, which increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

“Basically if someone’s triglyceride level is high then there is a good chance that they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, too much fat around the waist and a low HDL,” Dr. Williams said. “If this is the case, then this patient has a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke or developing diabetes.

According to Dr. Williams, you should aim to keep your triglyceride levels less than 150. Steps you can take to lower your level include staying at a healthy weight, limiting fats and sugars in your diet, being more active and not smoking or drinking.

MAY 3, 2012

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Fasting Blood Sugar or Glucose Level By testing your fasting blood sugar you can measure your risk for diabetes. This chronic disease can lead to blindness, cardiac disease, kidney failure, nerve problems and an impaired immune system.

“Fasting blood sugar should be obtained only after you have fasted for a period of eight hours,” Dr. Williams explained. “A simple blood test or finger stick can reveal this number and a fasting blood sugar greater than 100 is considered pre-diabetic.”

If your number is more than 100, he suggests that you should determine the lifestyle or medical changes that need to be made with the help of your physician.

Knowing and tracking these numbers with your doctor’s assistance can help you take charge of your health and catch any potential medical issue before it morphs into something more serious. Dr. Williams urges you not to wait until a major health issue arises before becoming concerned about your health.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Williams, call CHRISTUS St. Patrick Family Medical Center at (337) 478-2650. TJN

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MAY 3, 2012

Michelle Clavier, 45, has been a respiratory therapist for 24 years. Raised in Crowley and now a resident of Sulphur, she decided at a young age to go into the medical field.

“I wanted to help people and try to make a difference in their Michelle Clavier health and quality of life,” she said. In her years of working in the hospitals, she’s seen a lot of suffering: people who had strokes due to high blood pressure and obesity. Renal and organ failure.

Amputations due to diabetes and excessive weight. Countless trauma victims.

As a wife, mother and caregiver, Clavier‘s focus was on everyone else’s needs—not her own. She’d fought weight problems most of her life.

After the birth of her last child, Aaron, her weight stayed up, leading to high blood pressure and diabetes.

“I thought about my patients over the years and the stories they would share with me,” she remembered. “I didn’t want to lose my quality of life

when I reached middle age due to the diseases caused by my weight issues.”

Seven years ago, The Clavier family’s world was turned upside down when Aaron was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of six. “Nine months from the time of hearing that word no one wants to hear—‘cancer’-my son went to heaven to be with Jesus,” she said.

During the last weeks of his life, mother and son had a heart-to-heart talk about life and death. “My son said, ‘Mama, you take care of everyone else, and you don’t take care of yourself,’” Clavier recalled. “ He said, ‘Promise me, you’ll take care of yourself, and lose weight and get healthy.’“ She was brought to tears as she made her last promise to her Aaron.

Clavier went on to try many different programs and products recommended by her doctor, sold in stores and advertised on television. One prescription pill ended up being taken off the market due to adverse side effects and lawsuits. She knew that a lot of over-the-counter drugs aren’t regulated at all; at the same time, she lost faith in FDA-approved products.

She was discouraged and confused.

While working at a local healthcare company, Clavier was introduced to

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Monavie products by her UPS man, of all people. “He walked in and heard me and my office manager complaining about being tired and wanting to lose weight,” she said.

She was encouraged to hear that this company and its products were all natural and safe, and developed and backed by science. She began her own research into the products and the benefits of using them— and was impressed with what she learned.

Clavier decided to give Monavie a try. Her first step toward getting healthy was putting proper antioxidants into her body. “We’re so busy; we eat out a lot and eat processed foods and not enough fruits and vegetables,” she explained.

After just a few weeks of drinking Monavie Juice, she noticed that she had more energy and was sleeping better. As the months went by, she felt younger and realized she was no longer getting sick.

Clavier had never condoned energy drinks due to the heart problems she knew they could cause. But she discovered that Monavie had a healthy energy drink (EMV) of all natural sugar that would not affect her heart and her high blood pressure.

“I’ve never been a coffee drinker, so I loved the way the healthy energy drinks perked me up,” she said. “Unlike those others that cause you to crash a few hours later, leaving you wanting to drink another one, the EMVs would last for hours and would slowly wear off as the hours went by. No shaking, no nervousness, no increased heart rate.”

Nine months later, Clavier was selected to participate in a test pilot program for a new weight loss and management system. She started one week before Thanksgiving: the worse time of the year to try to lose weight.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Yet, in seven weeks, her lab test showed she did not have diabetes.

“I lost 60 pounds in 21 weeks and reduced my need for my blood pressure meds,” she said. “I’ve kept the weight off, and I still have 40 more pounds to lose.”

What makes this system different then all the others? “It helps control blood sugars to help your body burn fat and not burn muscle,” Clavier explained. “It provides your body with more nutrients at each meal. The reason we fight our weight is not because we eat too much and eat the wrong foods, it’s because we don’t eat often enough in a day, and we’re not getting proper nutrition from the processed and fast foods we do eat.”

The reason all the other weightloss programs failed her is because it was a diet. “Cut calories, cut carbs, cut appetite, cut cut cut!” she said. “I may be 45, but I now say I feel like I am 25! I share this with everyone because I believe in the products and want others to feel great, too.

Clavier said Monavie is for both adults and children. “Kids aren’t eating right, they’re getting sick, and so many are overweight,” she said.

“I may never really know the reason Aaron had cancer,” she continued. “But I do know that my son did not eat fruits and vegetables. He wanted chicken and fries. His immune system was not at optimal level to fight common sicknesses and some cancers.”

Monavie has changed Clavier’s life—and more. “It’s helping me keep my promise to my son.”

Do your own research on Monavie products at www.monavie.com. See Clavier’s personal story video by going to “News”/ I AM MONAVIE/Michelle Clavier/Respiratory Therapist. TJN

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MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 21

By Angie Kay Dilmore Photo by Romero & Romero Photography

Pictured above from left to right: Derek Smith, Charles Sicks, Jason Horn, Chris Broussard, Tim Hebert, Mike Trahan.

BAAK of SWLA got its start in Lake Charles and the surrounding area in 2009. A rash of child abuse cases, and more importantly, the case of a couple that physically abused their three children, resulting in the death of their one year old, became the reason BAAK was formed. At the time this tragedy happened, Bob Redmon happened to be searching for a worthy cause to be the recipient of the proceeds of a poker run.

This heartbreaking story led Redmon to Amy Dunn, executive director of Educational and Treatment Council (ETC) and Harbour House, a non-profit organization that helps abused and at-risk children.

“Harbour House is the only facility in our fiveparish region that has a safe haven for these kids,” said Redmon. After meeting with Amy, he knew he’d found his worthy cause—and led to the formation of the nonprofit BAAK (Benefiting Area At Risk Kids) of SWLA, which is now in its fourth year.

Harbour House, one of several programs within the ETC network, was opened in 1985. It’s an emergency shelter for children in need and serves abused, at-risk, or vulnerable youth; runaways and homeless youth; PAGE 22

MAY 3, 2012

and children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

Kids come to Harbour House through referrals from schools, counselors, law enforcement, foster care workers or by parents or children contacting the shelter themselves. Ages range from nine to 17, with an average age of 14.

Harbour House serves approximately 12 children on-site at any given time. A staff of approximately 30 supervises, teach, and cook for them. There are two classrooms and a computer lab on-site provided by the Calcasieu Parish School Board. There is also counseling and therapy for individuals, families, and groups.

“The average length of stay for these children is about two weeks,” Dunn said. “These kids want to go home. They want a family. They want to be loved and nurtured. The majority of our kids do go home.”

Harbour House serves youth from families that are struggling. “Maybe the parents are dealing with tough parenting issues or other problems,” she continued.

“Harbour House is a safe place for the kids to be while the parents do what they need to do and improve their home environment. We offer the families counseling and parenting programs. These parents are like any parents — most of them want good things for their kids.

But they don’t know where to go or how to do that.”

BAAK consists of a diligent 13-member board of directors. Redmon, who is the board president, carefully recruited people whom he knew and trusted, all of them Volume 4 • Issue 3

movers and shakers in the community.

He purposely chose people with varied backgrounds, such as advertising, medicine, legal, retail, industrial, and secretarial. The board is a microcosm of the local community, so they can recognize its needs and relate well to the area.

Redmon is proud of his hardworking board. “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with,” he said. “I’ve got the best board of directors I’ve ever worked with in my whole life. They’re dedicated. Their mission is to raise and donate funds to help the children at Harbour House. They organize fundraisers throughout the year and have several upcoming events.”

UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS • The Inaugural BAAK of SWLA Golf Tournament will be held on May 5 at 7:30 a.m. at Mallard Cove Golf Course. This is a four-person team scramble, with an entry fee of $400 per team. Food and drinks will be provided. Call the Mallard Cove Pro Shop for more information at (337) 491-1204 or go to ETC’s website, www.etcyouth.org, to register.

• On June 2, the BAAK board will host its annual benefit at Micci’s Lounge on Ryan Street. This funfilled day of events includes a poker run, a silent auction, and a 50/50 split. They’ll raffle off two Saints football tickets with an overnight hotel stay in New Orleans. BBQ chicken dinners will be sold from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $6 a ticket, and will deliver orders of ten or more. Three bands will take the stage: Perfectly Good Airplane, Signature, and Bryan Fontenot and Outlaw, from Ottawa, Kansas. There’s something for everyone (it’s not just for bikers!).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with poker runs, this fundraiser event consists of motorcycle riders and their passengers who bike to five different stops, usually bars. At each establishment, they pull one card from a deck of playing cards. After all five stops are completed, whoever has the best poker hand wins. You can register for the poker run at Micci’s Lounge or through BAAK’s website, www.baakofswla.com at a cost $25 per rider, $15 per passenger.

Participants receive a T-shirt.

• Each year, the City of Lake Charles hosts Downtown at Sundown, a concert series held four Fridays from mid-May to mid-June. The dates this year are May 18 to June 8 from 69 p.m. BAAK will facilitate the sale of beverages at these events, with proceeds benefiting Harbour House.

BAAK’S OBJECTIVES BAAK’s primary purpose is to raise money for the children at Harbour House. But they don’t stop there. They truly care about these kids, and get personally involved with them.

Katy Corbello has been on the BAAK board of directors for two years. “We come out and do a Fun Day with the kids after an event,” she said. Members of the board participate with cookouts, games, bouncy blow-ups, DJs and karaoke equipment. Or they might join the kids for an art activity.

“It’s eye-opening and rewarding at the same time,” Corbello added. “No child deserves to be left behind. We put in an extra effort for these kids.”

Redmon and his board want these children to know they are important

and loved. “Some of these kids have never had the attention that they deserve,” he said. “They might not have the parental support or the love and care that they need.”

Redmon hopes that, by the board spending time with them, the kids will come to learn there are people who care about them, no matter what their circumstances or where they came from.

Part of the mission at ETC and Harbour House is to help reconnect youth and families with the community.

“A lot of the people we serve often feel disenfranchised, or they’ve been labeled as problems, or they feel defeated,” Dunn said. “We want to reconnect them with the community and let them know that they are assets, that people care about them, and that they have something to offer the community. Our goal is to help them become productive members of society, and give them skills and resources so they can stay connected to the community. Having the BAAK volunteers come out and do Fun Days with the kids is part of that reconnection.”

BAAK’s third goal is to increase

Perfectly Good Airplane Signature

Bryan Fontenot and Outlaw, from Ottawa, Kansas Volume 4 • Issue 3

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 23

BAAK would like to extend its gratitude to John Stelly for his generous donation to the Inaugural BAAK of SWLA Golf Tournament, which will be held on May 5 at Mallard Cove Golf Course. Mr. Stelly donated $4,000 to the organization. public awareness about what Harbour House is, what they do, and how they help the community and the fiveparish region. They want to educate the public about the issues facing some of our area youth.

“We discovered there’s a lot of people who are unfamiliar with the problems of kids in our area – abused kids, at-risk kids, vulnerable kids,” Redmon said. “A lot of people say, ‘I’ve heard of Harbour House, but what is it?’”

He loves to answer that question.

“We’re getting the word out to the community about the problems that exist with youth in our area,” he said.

“More and more people want to help address that problem.”

BAAK also encourages people to speak up and report a potential problem if they see a situation involving a young person that doesn’t seem right.

BAAK has been more successful with each passing year. As evidence of their growth, in their first year of fundraising, they donated $3,900 to Harbour House. Last year (their third) they raised $24,800! “We’re becoming established now,” Redmon said.

“We’re making a name for ourselves.”

VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED Redmon admits that BAAK couldn’t do what they do without the support of the community, local area businesses, and a tremendous number of volunteers. They hope to sell 3,000 BBQ tickets this year (with help from

PAGE 24

MAY 3, 2012

students from Delta Tech and the McNeese State University cheerleaders)—and it takes a lot of manpower to cook and assemble that many chicken dinners. Redmon encourages people to volunteer.

“Everyone has spare time,” he said.

“I wish more people would organize their schedule and take some of that spare time, not even necessarily for this organization, but just go help somebody.”

Many ETC staff members volunteer time to help at BAAK events.

“These ladies have been tremendous,” Redmon said. “They get there early in the morning and work late in the afternoon and love every minute of it.”

“As the organization recipient of the fundraisers, it’s been inspiring for our staff to have this group of dedicated volunteers,” Dunn added. “We work here, but they are volunteering their time and energy to assist us in our mission.”

She said that is why her staff is willing to volunteer at BAAK’s events.

“BAAK doesn’t have to do this,” she said. “They could have chosen another organization, but they chose us.

We’ve been extremely fortunate and grateful for their willingness to partner with us. Having this partnership with BAAK also helps us get the word out to more people about who we are, what we do, the services we provide, and the needs of youth and families in the community.”

Volume 4 • Issue 3

“It’s been a win-win situation for both parties,” Redmon said. “These kids really do appreciate it. We’ve come over for the Fun Days and they’ve had a thank you card as big as a table, and a big cake [for us]. When we come in, they hug us. I don’t know what it does for the kids, but I know what it does for me and the other board members. Even though we’re tired at the end of an event, it makes us think, wow, it was worth it. We put a smile on a kid’s face.”

Educational and Treatment Council (ETC) believes that community involvement is crucial to resolving community problems.

For that reason, they provide the following programs at no cost to eligible families.

• Harbour House. Emergency shelter and support services for youth ages 9 – 17 who are in need of a safe, temporary place to stay.

The shelter serves runaway and homeless youth, abused and neglected children, status offenders, foster youth, and other children in crisis situations.

• Transitional Living Program.

Supervised apartment housing and support services for youth ages 16 – 21 who are aging out of the state juvenile and foster care systems. The program helps youth attain their education and learn basic life and work skills.

• Resource Program. Child abuse and neglect prevention program helping parents referred by

Volume 4 • Issue 3

For more information on BAAK of SWLA, their events, or how to volunteer, check out their website, www.baakofswla.com, or call Bob Redmon at (337) 249-7285. TJN

There’s a New Salsa in Town!

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LLook ook ok ffo or it at at mo most M Ma ark a rk ke k et Bas ask ske ket S Sttores ores es a and nd d Bro Br own wn’’s ’s Groc Gro occe ery ry y in Ha acck ckber err rry ry a an nd Grand Grand LLake La ake. ake. the child welfare system to improve parenting skills, keep children safe, and preserve the family.

The program offers Nurturing Parenting courses and Visit Coaching.

• Drug Court Treatment Services. Outpatient drug treatment program designed to help substance-abusing youth overcome addiction. A component of the Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice Services.

• Family Support Services.

Counseling and support services delivered directly in client homes to address issues, teach new skills, build on family strengths, and improve relationships.

• Crisis Intervention Services.

Home-based assessment and intervention services for youth experiencing a mental health crisis. Families access services through the 24-hour CART crisis hotline (800 272-8367).

• Camp New Directions. A weeklong camp for children ages 9-11 focusing on strengthening resiliency and enhancing selfesteem.

• Crime Victims Assistance.

Home-based counseling for children involved in the juvenile justice system who are also victims of crimes.

• Youth Reaching Youth. Teen volunteers who are trained to assist in various ETC programs such Camp New Directions and Resource.

TJN

t roduc P l a c A Lo eloped In Dev Charles Lake

A Mother’ s Day Tradition Since 1962 1025 Ryan St. • 433-3637 • www.navarras.com

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 25

ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B

No Drama in the Draft O, NFL Draft, whence the drama?

Don’t get me wrong, NFL Draft weekend is my favorite time of the year, but recent trends have taken a lot of the clowning out of the circus, so to speak.

In past years, the team with the top pick has left much of the viewing

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MAY 3, 2012

audience hanging over which of the best players available the team would pick. Would it be the hotshot quarterback? What about the franchise left tackle? You really didn’t know for sure until the league commissioner announced the name to great fanfare.

But there certainly wasn’t any drama surrounding the first overall pick this year, that’s for sure. The Indianapolis Colts, the mainstream sports media, and every armchair draft analyst in America took care of that about a week before draft day.

In case you haven’t heard, at roughly 7 p.m. on April 26, the

Colts selected Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

And, if you follow sports, you likely heard about this a week before the televised first round.

Talk about a buzzkill. If this were even five years ago, there might be talk of whether the Colts should draft Luck or shoot for Baylor gunslinger Robert Griffin III with viewers tuning in to see what decision the Colts made last Thursday.

Alas, no.

And speaking of Thursday, how lame has it been since the NFL

made the draft a three-day event?

Used to be, the draft was Saturday and Sunday; you watched rounds 1 through 4 with your buddies on Saturday and the rest of the rounds on Sunday with family. Sitting through the seven hours of Day 1 draft coverage without missing a pick was a badge of honor.

Now, we’ve got just one round on Thursday and the league split the remaining six rounds over the weekend.

Where’s the fun in that?

Drama, to me, is fun in the context of draft coverage. One of my

Volume 4 • Issue 3

favorite YouTube clips of all-time is simply titled “NY Jets Draft Blunders.” The video recaps all of the worst decisions made by the Jets on draft day, starting with the decision to pick California-Davis quarterback Ken O’Brien over hall-of-famer Dan Marino in 1983. The 1981 pick of Freeman McNeil wasn’t horrible until you realize the Jets could have had Ronnie Lott five picks later.

By far the best moment of the Jets video is when, in 1987, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle steps up to the microphone to read the 21st pick in the first round, which belonged, of course, to the Jets. As Rozelle reads the card, he seems to do a slight double-take before he says the word “fullback” (as in Texas A&M fullback Roger Vick) and before Rozelle can even finish the word, a Jets fan screams, “Nooooooo!” as if he just watched his best friend jump from the balcony of the Marriott Marquis ballroom (where, in New York, the draft was held that year).

Comic gold.

But, recently, there’s been little in the way of drama at the draft, especially at the top of the heap.

Take, for instance, 2004, when the San Diego Chargers, holding the first pick in the draft had to decide whether to draft Eli Manning. Why wouldn’t you, you ask? Well, the 2003 Chargers were beyond horrible (thus deserving of the first selection) and Eli (or, rather, Eli’s father Archie Manning) stated publicly that he would never play for the Chargers, even if they drafted him.

So, the drama was whether the Chargers would pick Eli knowing he would never sign with them. Turns out they did and Eli had to go on stage in front of millions and hold up a Chargers jersey (which he treated as if it were covered in dog crap) for the entire world to see. Three picks later he was a New York Giant, traded for Phillip Rivers.

Or how about the 1998 draft, when it was all about which quarterback the Indianapolis Colts would select with the first pick. Would it be Peyton Manning, the NFL-ready product of superior genes (again, Archie Manning) and the rigors of Southeastern Conference football?

Or would it be Ryan Leaf, the flamethrowing young gun from Washington State who looked like a can’t-miss prospect?

Of course, the Colts went with Manning and San Diego, with the Volume 4 • Issue 3

second pick, chose Leaf. We all know how that went. Manning has a Super Bowl ring and just about every NFL passing record possible. Leaf ’s last known address was listed as the Cascade County, Montana jail.

That’s about it. There was the chance, in 2006, for drama when the Houston Texans had to decide whether or not to draft USC running back Reggie Bush. It could have gone down to draft day but, instead, it came out in the media that the Texans had already signed defensive

end Mario Williams to a huge contract. Just like that, all of the intrigue floated away like steam from a rice cooker.

And so it was this year. There was the chance for something interesting to happen but, with the 24-hour news cycle and ramped-up hype surrounding the draft, all of the intrigue was analyzed away.

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be switching over from the draft postmortem to whatever show is on TNT. Apparently, they know drama.

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

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

TJN

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 27

By Mary Louise Ruehr

Appreciating Past Presidents U.S. presidents are the subjects of several recent nonfiction books, as well as a novel that features a past president as the main character.

In his novel Taft 2012, author Jason Heller presents a fantasy scenario: President William Howard Taft, 27th president of the United States, who left office in 1913, has awakened in 2011 from a Rip Van Winkle-type sleep of 99 years. He finds himself at the White House, asking for some “pudding cake and a nice lobster thermidor.”

Once he’s DNA-verified, Taft is assigned a Secret Service agent and

the code name “Big Boy.” He’s hard to miss: He’s over 6 feet tall, weighs 335 pounds and has a distinguishing handlebar moustache. Heller makes him a likable guy who falls in love with virtual golf and is always hungry but can’t handle modern processed food.

Taft is embarrassed that everyone remembers him only by “the bathtub incident,” but he’s happy to discover

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MAY 3, 2012

that his great-granddaughter is a firstterm Congresswoman (and an independent).

Taft becomes a modern celebrity, and people project their own beliefs on him. A Taft Party springs up, whose members want him to run for president again, and he gets swept up in their “Draft Taft” movement. But he surprises them by being able to adapt to the modern world. “We are all imperfect,” says Taft, “And so we cannot expect perfect government.”

The story is told in narrative with the help of TV and radio transcripts, as well as excerpts from diaries, notebooks, biographies, to-do lists, Secret Service incident reports, news articles, Twitter and more.

It’s a case of a person caught in a different time and trying to deal with modern culture. But this silly satire is also thought provoking, as it allows us to look at our society from an interesting standpoint. There are just enough politics for the reader to see that labels change meaning over the years and that greed, corruption and stupidity are bipartisan.

The life of James A. Garfield, our 20th president, is the subject of Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard. Actually, the book is mostly about his death.

Millard describes some of Garfield’s early life, his service as a general in the Union Army during the Civil War, and his work in the

U.S. House of Representatives, where he was considered “one of the best speakers in the Republican Party.”

Only four months after he was inaugurated as U.S. president in 1881, he was shot by a deranged assassin.

The injury “was not fatal.” But the examining doctor didn’t wash his hands, “almost certainly introducing an infection that was far more lethal than Guiteau’s bullet.” Garfield’s body became riddled with infection, and his condition became “one prolonged, hideous nightmare.”

The author writes, “Had Garfield been shot just 15 years later, the bullet in his back would have been quickly found by X-ray images, and the wound treated with antiseptic surgery. He might have been back on his feet within weeks. Even had Garfield simply been left alone, he almost certainly would have survived.”

The author depicts several other people involved in the tragedy, including inventor Alexander Graham Bell, British surgeon Joseph Lister, and Garfield’s “deeply disturbed” assassin, Charles Guiteau, who believed he’d be admired, thanked, and even glorified for having carried out “his divine mission” of killing the president.

Millard paints Garfield as a good, honest family man, and the book is a testament to “the horror and senselessness of his death, and the wasted promise of his life.” The cited quotations prove what a great orator he was.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Despite the awfulness of the tragedy, this is actually a very entertaining book. The writing reminds me of the work of Erik Larson, author of Devil in the White City. The book contains two wonderful sections of photos.

Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith is a wellresearched and readable biography of our 34th president, Dwight David Eisenhower. The book has more than 950 pages, with black and white photos, maps, extensive notes and a hefty bibliography.

The coverage of Eisenhower in war includes his service in Europe in the First World War, his relationship with other military commanders and world leaders, and then his service in World War II, leading to his appointment as supreme commander of Allied Forces in Europe. He was, of course, involved in the planning of major military campaigns, including D-Day. As a general, Smith writes, “Eisenhower commanded on the spot. He did not dodge difficult decisions, he did not pass the buck.” In peacetime, Eisenhower became president of Columbia University and was wooed into politics. He served as U.S. president from 1953 to 1961.

“Domestically, Eisenhower tamed inflation, slashed defense spending, balanced the federal budget, and worked easily with a Democratic Congress,” writes Smith. “After Ike made peace in Korea, not a single American died in combat for the next eight years.”

It was the era of Joe McCarthy and school desegregation, and Eisenhower’s massive interstate highway program began as a job stimulus program to help the country following the end of the war in Korea.

He was, to the end, a soldier.

When he left office in 1961, he requested his old title of “General” (which he had to give up to run for president), rather than to be called “Mr. President.” And when he died, he was buried with a “simple soldier’s funeral.”

According to the author, Eisenhower was a strong but unassuming leader who did what needed to be done without fanfare. Many of his words hold wisdom for the people of any age, including his well-known warnings about the “military-industrial complex.”

“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can,” he said. “There is no alternative to peace.” Bless him.

Graduation

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Deadline for info and picture is

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Email a color photo in jpeg format and your congratulations to sales@thejambalayanews.com to reserve your space today!

Copyright © 2012 by Mary Louise Ruehr. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 3

MAY 3, 2012

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

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

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Daughter Gift Grandmother Gratitude Love Maternal Maw Maw May Thirteen Memories Mothers Day Sacrifice Selfless Son Special Thank You

Volume 4 • Issue 3

r m ende's Museu l l E an en

By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire

The Lucky One (Warner Bros. 2012) Nicholas Sparks writes books about North Carolina. But the movie version of The Lucky One has been relocated to Louisiana. In St. Bernard Parish, amongst live oaks and plantation homes, a love story is about to happen.

The movie begins in the midst of Iraq’s Operation Freedom. Logan Thiebault (Zac Ephron) is a Marine sergeant leading a team into hostile territory, where he sees intense action with many men killed. As others die,

Volume 4 • Issue 3

Logan survives three tours of duty, all without so much as an eyebrow scratch. He credits this to a picture of a woman he finds in Iraq, lying in a pile of rubble “Stay Safe!” is written on the back. She’s his lucky charm.

Logan comes back to the U.S, shell-shocked and unable to function without pulling a knife or chokehold on people. He’s definitely been traumatized by his war experiences. He eventually takes his dog and walks from his home in Colorado to Louisiana searching for the woman in the picture. He finds her in Hamden, Louisiana. Her name is Beth (played

by Taylor Schilling) and she runs a dog kennel on her family farm. Logan can’t find the words to tell Beth why he’s there. At first, she thinks he might be a stalker-type ex-marine,

but slowly, he begins to win her heart.

Logan is too good to be true, befriending Beth’s son, Ben, by losing chess games and taking his turn at doing dishes. He’s also great with dogs, making Grandma Granna’s job much easier.

One of the funniest scenes is where Beth caresses a pot she’s washing at the sink while she watches Logan through a window. He’s outside reenacting a Levi’s commercial, unloading dog food from a truck. Just who is stalking who here?

Even though the film moves slowly, the Louisiana scenery is beautiful.

The director has also chosen some great local music for this film, as well as scoring by Mark Isham (Fly Away Home). Blythe Danner, as Granna, steals the show with her dry humor and wise insight. The overall tone of the movie is one of a lazy Sunday afternoon, complete with tree houses in the woods, a country church and an old-fashioned hymn.

The main conflict is between Logan and Beth’s ex-husband Keith, who is a deputy sheriff and son of a powerful judge. Even though he can’t handle marriage and a child, he still wants Beth. Their son, Ben, is just eight years old and caught in the middle.

In my absolute favorite scene, Keith confronts Logan with a gun and

a few beers in his belly. Logan deftly pops Keith a good one, takes the gun and unloads it, a true marine. Then he says, “You’re not a bad man, Keith.” Ha-ha, that’s what you get Keith, for tangling with a guy who is evidently a saint.

The Lucky One is a film that pulls all the emotional strings, playing every minute for our sympathy toward Logan, Beth, and her family.

The movie was way too girlified for this man critic, but I have to admit everything was done flawlessly. I think this was the first time I didn’t hear a phony Southern accent in a movie set in the South. The Lucky One will definitely remind you how beautiful our state is.

Rated PG-13 for some very steamy shower scenes and mild language. I wouldn’t bring children to this one, but it makes a great date movie. TJN

MAY 3, 2012

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GOODLOE/BICE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Lake area business professional gathered to unwind at the Chamber’s Business After Hours hosted by architect Randy Goodloe and attorneys Veron, Bice & Palermo. Attendees enjoyed networking, scrumptious food, beverages and live music. You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful afternoon to socialize in that lovely courtyard. Now, that’s taking care of business!

Laci Smith, Becky Nicholas and Allyson Bourriaque

Vicky Fuselier and Angie Matte

Russell Pawlouski and Joey Ardoin

Jennifer Toups and Melanie Duhon

Tony Bourgeois, Dwayne DeRouen and Chris Provost

Rhonda Salvador Bryant and Lisa Simpson

Melanie Crisp and Angela Stutes

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL Lake Charles Civic Center was the place to be if you love crawfish and good times! The crowds came out all weekend to pass a good ole time at this festival of fun! There were vendors and live music till midnight, carnival rides, a praise and worship concert, and a downtown street parade-non-stop fun for everyone. And lets not forget the delicious, can’t-get-meenough…crawfish!

Julian Messer, Adnie Cavanagh, Matt Henderson and James Merryman PAGE 32

MAY 3, 2012

Shainah Smith, Shaconna Gordon with Umeih, Gerlene and Nolan Lemalle Volume 4 • Issue 3

Kytra and Austyn Gordon

Leslie Bohorquez and Adrienne Clark

Kayleigh and Collin Kershaw

CHATEAU DU CALCASIEU PRE-OPENING EVENT The Chateau du Calcasieu event center hosted a pre-opening event at its location on 932 Enterprise Blvd. in downtown Lake Charles.

Crowds of “Reality TV” stars came out to celebrate and raise funds to support the ICM. What’s a fabulous party without a delectable menu served by SWLA top chefs? We enjoyed tasty shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna, chicken kabobs, a mashed potato bar, tiramisu, double chocolate chip cookies— and more! Live entertainment by Soul Vacation stirred up this crowd of party animals! What an amazing event! For more info on the Chateau, call (337) 263-4736.

Chris Khoury and Kacee Tate

Linda Massey and Emily Navarro

Devin Morgan, Susan Shaffer and Amie Herbert

Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque with Denise Miller and Melinda Lebleu

Matt and Megan Hartman, Reagan and Aaron Leboeuf

Raelee Baggett, Allie Ieyoub Davis and Jana LaCombe

Lindsey Courville, Allison Cutrera and Louise Guidry

Angie Manning with Mayor Randy and Nancy Roach

Volume 4 • Issue 3

MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 33

CIRQUE DE BOW WOW The “littles” of the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency have been working hard training rescue dogs from the Four Paws Rescue Society. They came along to the BBBS location with their furry friends to showcase the talents of their four-legged friends in hopes of finding them forever homes. The children received a proclamation from Mayor Randy Roach and Phil de Albuquerque spiced up the event as ringmaster. There were lots of fun, games, and a doggy bath and bake sale. Woof! TJN Kerry Miller, Brittney Blanchette and Connie Durio

Leylani Jordan and Taylor Kaough

Joshua and Sarah Phipps

Ariel and Wayne Dupre

Amy Haunce and Robyn Cormier

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1602 W. McNeese St., Lake Charles PAGE 34

MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 • Big Daddy Weave @ Contraband Days, Lake Charles Civic Center, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 3 • Tenth Avenue North @ Contraband Days, Lake Charles Civic Center, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 4 • Tim Norris @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 4 p.m.

• Ryan Andreas @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 6 p.m.

• Tom Brandow @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 6 p.m.

• Beverly McClellan @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 7:30 p.m.

• The Sessh @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• The Molly Ringwalds @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 9:30 p.m.

• Angel Leal @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 5 • The Chris Shearman Experience @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 11 a.m.

• Bobcat @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, noon • Tim Norris @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, noon • Startisan @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 2 p.m.

• Tom Brandow @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 2 p.m.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

• Maps & Makers @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 3:30 p.m.

• Angel Leal @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 3:30 p.m.

• Peter Simon @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 5 p.m.

• John Guidroz @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 5:30 p.m.

• Ryan Andreas @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 7:30 p.m.

• Brian Racca @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 9 p.m..

• Lingus @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 6 • Andrew David @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, noon • Jet Jaguar @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 1 p.m.

• Matt Moss @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 2 p.m.

• The Downhearted @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 3 p.m.

• Brian Moore @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 4 p.m.

• Sinners @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 5 p.m.

• Katie Pilapauskas & Mike Dolan @ Contraband Days, Pirate Cove, Lake Charles Civic Center, 6 p.m.

• The Loaded 44erz @ Contraband Days, Malibu Stage, Lake Charles Civic Center, 7 p.m. TJN MAY 3, 2012

PAGE 35

THE FROG PRINCESS MAY 4-6 The Children’s Theatre, under the direction of Kerry Onxley, presents The Frog Princess May 4-6.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students. Group rates are also available. Performances will be held at Central School Theatre located in the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby Street) in downtown Lake Charles. To purchase tickets, contact the theatre at (337) 4337323 or visit online at www.childrenstheatre.cc.

FIRST FRIDAY READING SERIES MAY 4 The First Friday Reading Series returns on Fri., May 4, with a free fiction reading by two McNeese MFA candidates at 7 p.m. at the Porch Coffee House & Café in Lake Charles. Allie Mariano and Kelly Chase are both second year graduate students studying fiction in McNeese’s Masters of Fine Arts program in creative writing. Chase, originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, attended college in Oneonta, NY before pursing her studies at McNeese. Mariano is a native of Memphis and earned degrees in English and French at the University of Memphis before teaching in Angers, France. The Porch is located at 4710 Common Street in Lake Charles, and live music follows each reading. For more information, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787 or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

2ND ANNUAL MCNEESE JAZZ FESTIVAL MAY 5 Part of the McNeese Banners Series! First, we’ll hear students from the McNeese Jazz Festival, which will just have finished up. As soon as the ballots are counted, the winning group will open the show. Next you’ll hear the Banners Big Band—a group that originated at the Banners Series last year. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in F. G. Bulber Auditorium, McNeese State University. Call (337) 475-5123 or visit www.banners.org.

MOVIE IN THE SQUARE MAY 5 Victory Worship Center and the City of Sulphur are hosting the third Movie in the Square event on Sat., May 5 shortly after sunset as part of Victory Worship Center’s community outreach mission. Hugo (PG), starring

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MAY 3, 2012

Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley and Asa Butterfield and directed by Martin Scorsese, is a movie for the entire family. Movie in the Square will take place at Heritage Square, located at 923 Ruth Street in Sulphur.

Admission is free.

Patrons are allowed to bring their own food, and encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

For more information, call (337) 527-5456.

LC SYMPHONY’S WILD BEAST FEAST MAY 5 The Lake Charles Symphony will host the 11th annual Wild Beast Feast on Sat., May 5, at the Historic Cash and Carry Building, 801 Enterprise Blvd. Everyone is invited to the pre-feast at 3 p.m. to watch the chefs create their culinary delights. At the actual feast beginning at 5 p.m., there will be a variety of new dishes from numerous chefs to taste and enjoy, along with desserts. Your little ones can decorate chef hats and enter a coloring contest at Kids’ Corner. Live entertainment will be provided by The Chris Shearman Experience, along with live and silent auctions.

Tickets are $30 for adults in advance and $35 at the door; for children 715, tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 6 and under get in free. Tickets are available at Gordon’s Drug Store, Bella Cose, the Lake Charles Symphony office or online at www.lcsymphony.org. For more information, contact the symphony office at (337) 433-1611.

BULLSHOT CRUMMOND NOW - MAY 6 This parody of low budget 30s detective movies typifies British heroism. Teutonic villain Otto von Brunno and his evil mistress crash their plane in the English countryside and kidnap Professor Fenton who has discovered a formula for making synthetic diamonds. Bullshot Crummond is called to the rescue. Directed by Greg Stratton, performances are held at the Lake Charles Little Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Call (337) 433-7988 or visit www.thelclt.com for more information.

Volume 4 • Issue 3

NINA & PINTA REPLICA SHIPS NOW - MAY 8 The Pinta and the Nina replicas of Columbus’ ships will be docked at the Civic Center. Both ships tour together as a new and enhanced “sailing museum” for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the “caravel,” a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world. Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crewmember should call (787) 672-2152. Minimum of 15, $4 per person. Visit www.thenina.com or email columfnd@surfbvi.com for more information.

MASTERWORKS CHORALE MAY 11 AND 13 The Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale will present its spring concert “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round” on Fri., May 11, at 7:30 p.m., and again on Sunday, May 13, at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Luke-Simpson Methodist Church at 1500 Country Club Road. The Chorale is under the direction of artistic director Darryl Jones and will be accompanied by assistant artistic director Abbie Fletcher. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased in advance from any Chorale member, Swicegood Music Store, or by calling (337) 491-9348. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Children’s Museum is happy to announce the following activities scheduled for May. • Sat. May 12, 11 a.m. — Flocks and Friends Join Sasol for an interactive presentation on wastewater treatment.

Learn how bacteria is used to clean up our wastewater before it is discharged.

• Thurs., May 17, 5-6:30 p.m. — Adventures of the Senses

Volume 4 • Issue 3

This is a program for families with autism spectrum disorders. It is an afterhours opportunity to enjoy the museum with families dealing with similar impairments.

It also allows parents to help their children develop language and social skills. Admission fees paid by SWLA Autism Chapter. Donations are welcome.

• Mon., May 28, 11 a.m. — Memorial Day ArtSpace Workshop Today you’ll be painting fish! Class is limited to 20 children.

Please sign up in the front office when you arrive.

• Tues., May 29, 11 a.m. and noon — Crafty Tuesday Be creative while painting frogs and geckos. Classes are limited to 20 children.

• Thurs., May 31, 11 a.m. and noon — Amazing Thursday Chef Lanney will demonstrate fruit and vegetable carving! Learn how to make beautiful flowers and decorations out of fruits and veggies. This is an art used for displays at weddings and other celebrations. Various fruit carvings often combine natural greens and flowers to make elaborate and colorful decorations. Classes are limited to 20 children.

The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.- Sat. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org for more info.

MAC BURNS/WCCH FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT MAY 12 The 2012 Mac Burns/West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on Sat., May 12 at Frasch Golf Course in Sulphur. This year’s tournament marks the third

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2nd Annual McNeese Jazz Festival with Tom Scott Sat., May 5, 7:30 pm F.G. Bulber Auditorium McNeese Campus

Masked Marvels & Wondertales Sat., May 12, 7:30 pm F.G. Bulber Auditorium McNeese Campus

For information on 2012 events call (337) 475-5123 or visit www.banners.org Tickets available through membership, website and at the door.

year that the Mac Burns tournament and the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Foundation golf tournament will be held jointly. The tournament will follow a four-man scramble format with a double shotgun start at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This year’s entry fee is $320 per team and covers food, drinks, shirts, range balls and mulligans. Various levels of sponsorships, including hole sponsorships, are available.

For more information or to participate in the tournament, call (337) 527-4241.

BIG LAKE TROUT-A-THON MAY 12 Bolton Ford and Lake Charles Tackle will host the first Big Lake Trouta-Thon on Sat., May 12 at Calcasieu Point Landing in Lake Charles.

Register at either business location with an entry fee of $100 per team (maximum of two people per team). Sponsored by O’Charley’s, the Big Lake Trout-a-Thon is a family-friendly event open to all ages. Music, food and drinks will be provided. Adult division is for ages 13 and up; youth division for kids 12 and under. Teams will weigh two best trout with added live-weight bonuses with a chance to win a 2012 Ford F-150 Super Crew XLT 4x4 for catching a Big Lake record trout. A first place cash prize of $3,000 with 20 places paid, and Shimano rod & reel combos will be awarded for each division. The official trout weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, please contact Jillian Thompson at 474.0070 or jthompson@boltonford.com.

A BLACK TIE AFFAIR MAY 12 Tickets are now on sale for the annual fundraiser for the Calcasieu Medical Society Foundation. A Black Tie Affair will be held Sat., May 12, at L’Auberge Casino Resort. The event will kick off at 6 p.m. featuring live performances by the Victory Belles and the Kadillacs. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne will be the featured guest speaker. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on trips, artwork, fine dining and other fun packages at the silent auction. For more information on purchasing tickets or becoming a sponsor, call (337) 478-3780 or visit www.ablacktieaffair.org.

STARKS MAYHAW FESTIVAL MAY 17-19 The Starks Mayhaw festival will be held May 17-19 and will have it all. from Mayhaw jelly and Mayhaw butter to Mayhaw berries and more.

Festivalgoer’s can try their hand at jelly or just try all the delicious Mayhaw goodies. Saturday morning, early birds will be able to start their morning off right with hot biscuits, homemade Mayhaw jelly and freshly churned butter. With carnival rides, live music, delicious Southern food and enough berries and jelly to go around, the Starks Mayhaw Festival is one of the sweetest events in Southwest Louisiana! For more information, call 743-6297.

GREAT RATES!

Tables • Chairs Tablecloths • Lamp Posts Dance Floor • China Sets Delivery and Pick-up

932 Enterprise Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA

(337) 263.4736

BELLATOR 69 MAY 18 The focus of the mixed martial arts world will be on the Bellator cage on Fri., May 18 as the long-awaited battle between No. 1 ranked women’s 115-pound fighter Megumi Fujii takes on No. 2 ranked Jessica Aguilar at Bellator 69 LIVE from L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles. The night will also feature the finals of the $100,000 Bellator Lightweight Tournament, as well as a Heavyweight Tournament qualifier as knockout specialist Ron Sparks takes on rising star Kevin Asplund. Tickets are now on sale from $40-$65 and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the L’Auberge box office. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first fight scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

A BREWER’S PLATE MAY 18 There’s a good time brewing at A Brewer’s Plate on Fri., May 18 at 6 p.m. at the historic Cash & Carry building in downtown Lake Charles. The event benefits St. Nicholas Center for Early Intervention, a local non-profit dedicated to providing services to children with autism and developmental delays. The fourth annual event features a six-course meal and

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Volume 4 • Issue 3

premium beer pairing with an auction and live music by community favorites, the Al Becker Band. The attire is dressy casual and the vibe is lively! Tables of 8 are just $800 dollars and sponsorships are available. For ticket information, sponsorships, or to donate an auction item, call 491-0800.

RELAY FOR LIFE MAY 18 The American Cancer Society will host Relay For Life of Lake Charles on May 18 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Teams of 8-15 members camp out overnight with tents and sleeping bags, each with the goal of keeping one person on the track at all times. Since cancer never sleeps, for one night a year, neither do volunteers, survivors and caregivers. Relay For Life brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, and churches. Teams seek sponsorship prior to Relay For Life. For information about volunteering or about the event, call (337)433-5817 or visit RelayForLife.org/lakecharles.

DOWNTOWN AT SUNDOWN MAY 18, 25 The City of Lake Charles will host their annual Downtown at Sundown concert series from 6-9 p.m. on May 18 (Boomerang) and May 25 (Chris Ardoin and NuStep). The event will also feature food and beverage booths, tabletop galleries, and kids’ activities. This year’s event will take place within the 600 block of Ryan Street between Division and Mill Streets. The former site of the event will be open and available for parking cars. If inclement weather prevails, the concerts will be held inside the Lake Charles Civic Center. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs; however, no outside beverages or pets are allowed onsite. For more information, call 491-9147 or visit www.CityOfLakeCharles.com.

MARCH OF DIMES MARCH FOR BABIES MAY 19 Join the March of Dimes in the fight against premature birth, the leading cause of newborn death in America. March for Babies walk will take place on Sat., May 19 at the Lake Charles Civic Center Amphitheater. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the three-mile walk begins at 9 a.m. There will be children’s activities, food, fun and entertainment for all ages. If you would like to start a team, become a sponsor, or to volunteer, please call the March of Dimes office at (337) 2338476 or register online at www.marchforbabies.org.

TASTE OF LOUISIANA FESTIVAL MAY 26 The 2nd Annual Taste of Louisiana Festival will be held Sat. May 26 at The Lake Charles Civic Center Arcade Amphitheater. Enjoy culinary creations while listening to the sounds of Cajun, Zydeco, Country, Blues and New Orleans brass bands to experience the rhythm of Louisiana. There will be various history lessons at the Culture Corner, a free lesson and recipes at Chef’s Corner, and a barbecue rib cook-off. Visit the French Market to find one-of-a kind collectibles, arts and crafts, and authentic Louisiana items.

For more information, visit www.thetasteoflouisiana.com.

TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 3

MAY 3, 2012

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Sponsored by

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

The

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Johnny Guinn & Rue Louisiane @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 3 • Alex Rosell @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 4 p.m.

• Don Fontenot & Les Cajuns de la Prairie @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

FRIDAY, MAY 4 • Kade Fontenot @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 4 p.m.

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

• Chasing Scarlett @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• The Sessh @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Da Classics @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

• Bonnie Raitt @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, 9 p.m.

• Chris Watson @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

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

SATURDAY, MAY 5 • Howard Noel & Cajun Boogie @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Chasing Scarlett @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Large Marge/4Mag Nitrous/HolleeStar @ Happy Hippie Pizza, 8 p.m.

• Meagan Tubb & Shady People @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

• Cold Sweat @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

• Chris Watson @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

• The Von Dukes/The Oldboys @ My Place Bar, 10 p.m.

• Ashes of Babylon @ Luna Live, 10 p.m.

• Entrenched Defilement/Bow Prometheus @ Twiggy’s, 10 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Kris Harper Band @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 10 • Andrew David @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 4 p.m.

• Pete Bergeron & The Bayou Boys @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• Phillip Glynn & Daze @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 11 • Katie & Mike @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 4 p.m.

• Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• Choke/Broken by the Burden/In Liquid @ Twiggy’s 8 p.m.

• Soul Vacation @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

• BB & Company @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

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

SATURDAY, MAY 12 • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• The Von Dukes/Large Marge @ Dago’s Custom Cycles, 8 p.m.

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MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

• Brad Brinkley/Bryan Fontenot & Outlaw Inc. @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

• BB & Company @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

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

SUNDAY, MAY 13 • 70Times7 @ Happy Hippie Pizza, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 15 • Makeshift Innocence @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 • Alvin Touchet @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, MAY 17 • Brice Perrin @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 4 p.m.

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

• Bernie Alan @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Derryl Perry @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 3

CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care Annual Spring Memorial Service The CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care Spring Memorial Service is held once a year to remember those who have received care from CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care, and to provide support to loved ones. This is an opportunity for families and Hospice team members to grieve together while paying tribute to those who passed within the year.

Please feel free to bring a memento of your loved one. This service is open to anyone who wishes to share memories of the departed. The service will take place at Cornerstone University, 1605 Broad Street, Lake Charles, at 10 a.m. on May 12. A reception and brunch will follow. Please call 395-5600 for further information.

CHRISTUS Hospice and Palliative Care also sponsors two Grief Support Groups, which are open to the community and are free of charge. The Lake Charles group meets every Thursday at noon at the 1st Christian Church at 2525 2nd Avenue. The Sulphur Group meets the first and third Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at South Church of Christ, 3101 South Hwy 27. TJN

MAY 3, 2012

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Five Rosem d been a fr Here we w ars from g e f h a singin ich Villag ctive, and ums, street the street. Wuntil I was dn’t meet law h orkplace! a dozen ye ad already w e i , w l b n t h l l d n d s e r a o s r e Gre dow graveya prio nd at lea heir live the odds riter c ral of their he , so w e w / a t r m n e a s e n i g n e r t e I e e t h ev we sin so tha Ind mil e th used a an d w s she’s r on s till. g ai n , older e wer What appea are now ho , Judith say ce. years g up. But s week, ther Humanist where crossing. me place a ater when s l e n l a d t growi d then, las the Ethica Island. I’m in which sonian. (Ye useum pi misse be in the s hem years connected m t s n t h a g e d a t e ’ A n Smi become they introduce ould hav desses intanc ty, Lo w wo k God Garden Ci old acqua separate adn’t t l o y finally F could man who gone? m r ne I h in a n ut nd u i o i o ) f o r . e e s b o r t e t i o h a a r t w t t w u e o t n o w h Sn ly trib l- Ce s ed igh t he n th she’s ng is to see s plea direct eled i ut I at o be r o Foxso re, though g Time them ra seems t ion life – b the sheer v ly alway ttings, and ehow trav circled o n f i er be se ab omrat to Lau ’ve som heard called Gath guy I’ve f sepa g abilities his all prob 39, new ries have cs until we hen our c r to o s y e t p f e e W grou pretty ni xceedingly histo ndent ar degr tchmakin ntance. T chool (PS gain. ven happi a p e a i s c u p a e e m e e t e with a singing at E s, my ind my f my acqu s in grad PS 215, s to me music, I’m e. d t , a ; , o n e e 4 s w u e d s 0 i I c a 1 ro cu heard Song Nigh um when nd first gr finally PS class), a on ground acquaintan ng in Syra d d e o t r o a i v d r e G m n sta was li e thei de; an h grad rgarte remak the 1970s I kinde d third gra in my sixt s n In ond a ith 41 kid w

, y l s u o it p i d n Sere sses e Godd

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MAY 3, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 3

monthly a cappella singing fix held in the backroom of Jimmy’s 43 on 7th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.

The Goddesses’ songs were pretty wonderful – great lyrics, great tunes. I kept thinking this song should be on the radio. I’m especially partial to “Go To Hell” (if you’re tired of Miami) and “I Want To Break Your Heart” (to see what’s inside), both by Trachtenberg and Zweiman’s “I’m Gonna Buy A New Outfit” (retail

therapy) and Foxsong’s “What Love Can Do” (“love has cornered me in dark alleys / it’s rifled through my pockets and stolen my heart”).

They sang each other’s words in beautiful, smart, inventive and sassy arrangements, with a few guest appearances by Folk God and hubby Tom, and I didn’t want them to stop. Neither did anyone else in the audience. So they gave us a couple more. Yeah.

TJN

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Volume 4 • Issue 3

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