VOL. 4, NO. 10 / AUGUST 9, 2012
Kerry Onxley’s Juilliard Journey • Celebrating Women in Business What’s Cookin’ at Isle of Capri’s Otis & Henry’s?
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Volume 4 • Issue 10
GENERAL 715 Kirby St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque
contents
On Cover: Healthy Woman Board of Directors. Photo by Mary Beth Conner Photography
August 9, 2012 • Volume 4 • Issue 10
COVER STORY 18 Living and Laughing Your Way to a Healthy Ever After
publisher@thejambalayanews.com
NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com
CONTRIBUTORS Rhonda Babin Leslie Berman George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Dan Ellender Monica Hebert Mike McHugh Kerry Onxley Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos Matt Young ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com
SALES ASSOCIATES Michele Clack Katy Corbello Faye Drake GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Kay Andrews
REGULARS 7 10 11 12 13 14 38
The Boiling Pot The Dang Yankee Tips from Tip Speakeasy Adoption Corner What’s Cookin Sports Report
FEATURES 5
Tillie Lungaro: A Look Back on her Years in Fashion 16 My Juilliard Journey 23 Finding a Mentor 28 Women in the Workplace
ENTERTAINMENT 40 42 43 44 46 49 52 54 55
Red Hot Books Funbolaya Family Night at the Movies HeART of SWLA Society Spice Jambalaya Jam Local Jam Eclectic Company Killin’ Time Crossword
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Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff. The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by The Jambalaya News, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2012 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.
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We accept credit cards! Volume 4 • Issue 10
AUGUST 9, 2012
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A Note From Phil Reach For Your Dream
It’s the 2012 Summer Olympics, and people all over the world are glued to their television sets, watching dreams come true. Young athletes from every corner of the globe have come together to show what they can do—after years of relentless training. You don’t get that good without a lot of blood, sweat and tears. For many, it will be their finest hour. And for those who don’t come home with a medal, that’s okay—what an incredible honor to have been good enough to win a ticket on the Olympic ride. I know it’s quite different, but watching them brings me back to my wonderful days in the circus, and I remember the dedication and talent of all the people I was privileged to train and work with. When we arrived at Clown College in Sarasota, Florida, none of us knew what it would be like. We just wanted to do it! We went to classes six days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., stopping only for lunch and dinner. Our school was in an old airplane hanger with no air conditioning (someone said it
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was to prepare us for the road in the event we were awarded a contract). We were drenched after the first half hour and had to stay in our clothes until 8 p.m. I admired the concentration and tenacity of these guys and girls as they prepared for the final performance to determine if they were good enough for the “Big Show,” as we called it. We were all nervous and excited. It was a test to see who could keep their composure and complete their skits to Mr. Feld’s approval. After that final performance, we all got together that evening and celebrated being together, working together, and wished each other the best of luck. Ten of us were chosen to travel with the show and the rest returned home to move on with their lives. On the road, each performance was a rehearsal. In Atlanta, my good friend Rick Cusolito decided he would try to jump over four elephants! As the ringmaster announced the “greatest attempt of all times,” we all stood backstage to watch. Rick took a minute, focused on the ramp and ran with all he
had as he jumped on the minitramp and flew over the elephants! We all cheered and gave Rick high fives as he came running backstage. The audience had no idea that this was his dream— and his first attempt to accomplish it. Some were not so lucky. In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Colleen Linehan had been practicing stiltwalking during the opening and decided she was ready. The Boss Clown gave his approval, and out she came, waving to everyone. As I ran off the floor from my gig I heard the crowd laugh at a point in the performance where there wasn’t a place for laughter. I knew something was wrong. I ran back to the floor, only to see Colleen flat on her back, crying. She had broken both her wrists and was in excruciating pain. I called for help and we put her on a board and brought her backstage. All the while, the audience never knew she was hurt and thought that it was all part of the show. Every show, trapeze acrobat Jose Velez would attempt the “quadruple somersault.” We’d all peek through the curtain to see if he would make
it. Most of the time he would, but sometimes he’d end up bouncing in the net. But he gave it all he had. As I watch the Olympics, it brings me back to those wonderful days watching people shoot for the stars. I admire these athletes so much more than professionals because this is not their job. It is their dream…their passion. Just like my friends in the circus. I consider these Olympians heroes. They have done what it took to get to this point. Whether they win a medal or not, they have made it to the greatest point in their lives. They have made their dreams come true. How many of us have had a dream only to have it squashed by others (or ourselves) and not even try? I’m fortunate to have been there and accomplished my own dream. I hope you do the same.
– Phil de Albuquerque TJN
Volume 4 • Issue 10
By Rhonda Babin
Women use clothes to define themselves. Wardrobe choices tell a story about who the lady is, what she is doing, and helps build her identity at different stages of life. Tillie Lungaro helped many a Lake Area lady tell her story through the racks of clothing she sold and styled for over 40 years. Lungaro and her husband were the owners of Tillie’s, a women’s fashion store that operated on Ryan Street in Lake Charles from 1956 until 1996. When Tillie Natali married F.J. Lungaro in 1955, she didn’t have any plans to go into business. F.J. was employed at Olin as a chemist and she was a young wife who enjoyed fashion. Being a petite lady, she found it difficult to find stores that carried much variety in her size. After discussions with family, friends, and fellow shoppers who were faced with the same predicament, Lungaro thought a women’s fashion shop was just what Lake Charles needed. She was correct. A little green house was found at a central location on Ryan Street and Lungaro became the proprietor, buyer, clerk, stylist, and marketer of a women’s clothing shop called Junior
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Fashions. At the time, the word ‘junior’ indicated that the shop sold smaller sizes. Petite lines of clothing were not available as they are presently, and there weren’t that many small sizes made. “It was a good time to open a shop,” Lungaro recalled. “People did not travel out of town to shop, there were no credit cards, and I was able to give women a shopping experience that was unique to Lake Charles.” Lungaro offered her customers house accounts and layaways that were extremely popular. She carried nice clothing and helped outfit ladies with daytime apparel and for cocktail and dinner parties and church. The store was a great success, with Lungaro’s clientele increasing with each passing month. As she got to know her customers, she stocked items she knew they would enjoy and want to wear. Ten years passed and the lot next door to the little green
F.J. and Tillie Lungaro, Circa 1991
Their daughter Linlea
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house became available for sale. The Lungaros purchased the property with the little green house and the adjoining lot. They built a new, larger shopping space and made plans to carry more fashion lines that would appeal to the fashionable female whether she was a co-ed, office worker or young mother. Since the shop was now so much more than “Junior Fashions,” Lungaro decided to change the name. “I thought I would come up with a cute or clever name, but my customers would say they were going to shop at Tillie’s place so I decided to keep things simple,” she said. In 1966, the new shopping space opened under the name of Tillie’s. Tillie’s became one of the most popular places to shop for your back–toschool outfits and for special occasions such as prom and black-tie benefits. “Before the early 80’s, girls dressed in nice clothing for school,” Lungaro said. “There were no jeans worn to school for a long time. You would purchase your fall clothes as early as summer and put them on layaway. I can remember the excitement of the college girls coming in to get their outfits out of layaway for the first week of school.” While the store continued to add to its family of customers, the
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Tillie’s Staff: Ruby, Mary Ann, Linlea, Anna and Tillie Lungaro family expanded to include three children: Paul, Linlea, and Gary, who all children helped in the store. Daughter Linlea (Lin for short) was the primary model in print and television advertisements. Lungaro worked tirelessly, handling just about every aspect of the business. “I loved the fashions, marketing my business, and being able to take an interest in every type of customer,” she said. “I made life-long friends with so many of my customers.” And many of the salesgirls she hired became like family and were with Tillie’s for over 20 years of service. Lungaro does admit there were some drawbacks. “You give a lot of your
family time, especially in a retail business,” she said. “Your time, weekends, and holidays are for the business.” In the 1980s, her son Paul opened Lungaro’s, a shoe store right next door to Tillie’s. He met his wife Barbara when she was employed there as a salesgirl. Lin married, and while her husband Joey Pousson was in law school during the week, she would work at Tillie’s. Gary also helped out until he took a job at a Houston hospital. Through the years, clothing styles became more casual and competition from giant stores started to affect many small business owners. But Tillie’s stayed strong with their estab-
lished clientele. At any prom, church service, office, or special occasion, you could find someone who had purchased their outfit at Tillie’s. “I enjoyed so many good and kind people in my business,” Lungaro said. “But after 40 years, I decided I had enough.” Her children didn’t want to continue with the established shops, so after 40 years of helping women define themselves through fashion, Tillie’s closed shop in 1996. The buildings are now leased to locally owned clothing stores. “It’s been a wonderful life!” she enthused. Owning her business was worth all the sacrifices. “You have to be dedicated because you are serving the public. And, the public is always right.” It is not uncommon to hear someone of a certain age tell you to meet them at the Tillie’s parking lot. The Tillie’s location legacy lives on as does its fashion legacy. In 1957, Lungaro had a black cocktail dress that she wore for evenings out. A few years ago granddaughter Laura Pousson wore the same little black dress to her school’s Homecoming festivities. Some things are timeless…like the fashionable black dress referenced above and women like Tillie Lungaro, who are genuine, caring, hospitable, and passionate about their businesses and their customers. TJN
Volume 4 • Issue 10
The
Boiling
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Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com
years experience in the oil and gas industry, LeBlanc currently serves as assistant district manager for Williams Gas Pipeline. Elcie Guillory, Legislature appointee, was elected secretary-treasurer. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1993 to 2010. Barbara McManus, also a Legislature appointee, was elected assistant secretary-treasurer. She is the director of Eagle Federal Credit Union and board member for the Louisiana State Retirement System.
Left to right: Lexie Stine, Mattie Stine, Jeanne Trahan, Jolie Trahan and George Mack, president/GM of Cameron Communications
CAMERON COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORTS MARSHLAND FESTIVAL Cameron Communications is proud to continue their support of the Marshland Festival Association by sponsoring this event with a corporate donation of $5,000.00. This festival is rated in the top 20 events by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The funds raised from this festival provide assistance to 15 various schools, churches, and community organizations in Hackberry. It was held July 27-28 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. WILSON NAMED WCCH EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named accounting clerk Lori Wilson as its third quarter Employee of the Quarter. In her current position, Wilson is responsible for all aspects of the hospital’s payroll system, including the administration of all payroll deductions and withholdings, and also works with payroll taxes and reporting. Wilson is a resident of Sulphur and has worked at WCCH for 11 years.
Lori Wilson
PORT OF LAKE CHARLES BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS Retired PPG plant manager and chemical engineer Harry Hank, representing Calcasieu Parish, was elected president of the seven-member board of commissioners of the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District, which operates the Port of Lake Charles. His term began July 1. Hank has served two non-consecutive terms as vice president and one term as president. John LeBlanc, Cameron Parish representative, was elected vice president. With 27 Volume 4 • Issue 10
BBBS-SWLA APPOINTS ROZAS TO BOARD Big Brothers Big Sisters-SWLA has appointed Katy Rozas to its board of directors. Rozas has been associated with BBBS for over 22 years, first as a Little Sister and since 2009, as a Big Sister. Rozas is an active member of the Match Activities Committee at BBBSSWLA and was a founding member of the Eta Tau Chapter of McNeese State University. She is a 2005 business administration graduate of McNeese State University, and has been employed as an independent insurance agent for AFLAC Insurance for six years.
Katy Rozas
CSE CREDIT UNION HOSTS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE FOR BUSINESS PARTNER CSE Federal Credit Union hosted a membership drive for local business partner, Kool Smiles of Lake Charles recently. Since implementing the program, the credit union has strengthened its Select Employee Groups’ relations, as the on-site membership drives have proven to be beneficial to employees. Employees that are in the credit union’s field of membership can opt to have their accounts opened by a new account representative, on-site, at their place of employment. If your company would like to schedule an on-site membership drive, please contact Business Development Specialist Akayla Broussard, at 562-3161. SIMPSON APPOINTED TO SAFETY MANAGERS’ BOARD OF DIRECTORS Keith Simpson, chief operating officer at Jennings American Legion Hospital, was recently appointed to the Board for Certification of Safety Managers board of directors for a three-year term. Established in 1976, this certification board has issued over 8,000 certifications to safety professionals worldwide. Simpson holds IBFCSM safety certifications and is also a certified professional in healthcare risk management and FELLOW of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management. Simpson is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in Business Keith Simpson Administration.
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FERDINANDSEN EARNS CHARTERED LIFE UNDERWRITER® (CLU®) DESIGNATION Butch Ferdinandsen CFP®, CLU®, CRPC, CRPS, investment adviser representative, Woodbury Financial Services, has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) professional designation from The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA. Ferdinandsen provides services in all areas of financial planning including retirement planning, tax management, insurance, education funding, and investments. Candidates for the CLU® designation must complete a minimum of eight courses and 16 hours of supervised examinations. They must also fulfill stringent experience and ethics requirements. Over 100,000 individuals have been awarded the CLU® designation since The College was founded in 1927. Joining Earhart and McClelland recently for a check presentation were Karen Drewett, IBERIABANK, and McNeese president Dr. Philip Williams.
IBERIABANK DONATES $100,000 TO MCNEESE ATHLETICS IBERIABANK is pleased to announce the recent donation of $100,000 to the McNeese State University Athletic Department. The donation is part of a multi-year commitment to the department. “One of IBERIABANK’s hallmarks is supporting the communities we serve,” said Phil Earhart, IBERIABANK SWLA president. “Through contributions, sponsorships, memberships and volunteerism, we strive to enrich the lives of our associates, clients and the greater community. McNeese State has a long history of excellence, and we are proud to continue supporting the university and the athletic department.” WCH ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF DIRECTORS Women & Children’s Hospital is excited to welcome four new directors to their staff - Kevin Gobert, director of respiratory therapy, Tracie Young, business office director, Brian Shepherd, director of emergency department and Kevin Gobert Tracie Young Sherron Deculus, director of case management. Gobert is a registered respiratory therapist and has 19 years of experience in healthcare. Young has 13 years of hospital experience including 8 years of hospital management experience. Shepherd graduated from McNeese State University and has been a registered nurse for 11 years. Deculus, a registered Brian Shepherd Sherron Deculus nurse and registered health information administrator, has 15 years of experience and has been working for WCH for 10 years. FYCA ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL ART CONTEST WINNERS Family & Youth Counseling Agency is proud to announce the winners of the 2012 Family & Youth Festival Art Contest. Every year, Family & Youth asks art students in the fifth grade to create artwork based on the theme of the festival. This year’s theme is Louisiana’s bicentennial. Davien Harmon from T.S. Cooley Elementary won first prize, and his artwork will be used in marketing materials such as posters, T-shirts, flyers and the Internet. Ashlyn Gros from Frasch Elementary won second place, and Kana Webb, from Prien Lake Elementary won third place. PAGE 8
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Left to right: Jessica Hayes, Fox 29, Major David Craddock, the Salvation Army, Doug Gehrig, owner and operator of McDonald’s of SWLA and Johnette LaBorde, Fox 29.
MCDONALD’S OF SWLA PROVIDES SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY STUDENTS McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana contributed $5,000 to the Salvation Army to purchase school supplies for low-income families. The donation was part of a “Pack the Bus” school supply drive coordinated by Fox 29. One in five children in the U.S. live in poverty. Without the assistance of organizations like McDonald’s, 16 million children would go without basic school supplies this year. McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana (11 restaurants throughout Calcasieu Parish) is dedicated to serving and assisting the Southwest Louisiana community. For more information, visit www.mcdswla.com or contact Matt Young at 478-7396.
Left to right: Joe Andrepont, JASWLA board; Wayne Reaud, Beaumont Foundation chairman; Kirk Houser, JASWLA chairman; Meg Lovejoy JASWLA director; Jan Arceneaux, JASWLA secretary; and Edward Keller, Beaumont Foundation CEO.
BEAUMONT FOUNDATION DONATES TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT Wayne Reaud of the Beaumont Foundation of America donated $10,000 to Junior Achievement of Southwest Louisiana for financial literacy programs, which will be taught to low-to-moderate income students in Calcasieu Parish. Davien Harmon Volume 4 • Issue 10
LOCAL POLICE JUROR ELECTED TREASURER OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Calcasieu Parish Police Juror Tony Guillory was recently elected treasurer of the National Association of Black County Officials. NABCO provides a national forum for African-American elected and appointed county officials to network and share vital information and resources. Since 1975, NABCO members serve in major policy roles within America’s 3,068 counties. Guillory was elected during NABCO’s annual meeting last month, held at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Pittsburgh.
Presenting the check to Janice Ackley, SWLA regional director is Paul Hutchens, general manager.
ISLE OF CAPRI DONATES TO AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lake Charles is proud to donate $5,000 to the American Heart Association. The Southwest Louisiana Heart Walk will be held Sat., Nov, 10 at the McNeese State University Quadrangle. Isle team members will be participating in the walk to raise money to help the charity reach their new impact goal for 2020. This new goal looks beyond helping people reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke by focusing on helping them build stronger health and better quality of life. ST. LOUIS HIGH HS EARNS CONTINUING SACS CASI ACCREDITATION President Deborah Frank announced recently that St. Louis Catholic High School earned continuing accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, an accreditation division of AdvancED. St. Louis Catholic High School has been accredited since 1957. SACS CASI provides nationally recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous process of school improvement. Accreditation is granted on a five-year term. TJN
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Small Business Seminar Aug. 30 A seminar titled “Starting and Financing a Small Business” will be offered from 5-7:30 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 30 in Room 122 of the Burton Business Center at McNeese State University. This seminar is presented by the Louisiana Small Business Development
Center at McNeese. Topics will include business planning, sources of funding and small business resources. Cost is $10 and pre-registration is requested. For more information, contact the LSBDC at McNeese at (337) 475-5529 or go online at LSBDC.MSU@lsbdc.org. TJN
Vinton and Starks Back to School Bash With the beginning of the new school year starting soon, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Human Services Department is teaming up with the 25 Men Group and LSU AgCenter to offer a “Back to School Bash” for all students in grades K-12. The event will take place Aug. 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the 25 Men Community Center on 911 Industrial Street, Vinton. The focus of this year’s Bash is “It Takes a Community Working Together.” Important services and top-
ics featured at the event include: • Health Screenings • Dental Screenings • Height and Weight Checks • Fitness and Nutrition • Hygiene • Alcohol & Drug Prevention • Anti-Bullying Presentation • Hair Cuts (8:30 a.m. – noon) • Healthy Snacks For more information, call the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Human Services Department at (337) 721-4030 or the 25 Men Group at (337) 589-5914. TJN
CTC Announces Classes and Auditions for Sleeping Beauty The Children’s Theatre Company has announced classes and auditions for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. “This huge musical offers a large cast for boys and girls ages 5-18, featuring all of the major characters,” said Artistic Director Kerry A. Onxley. The show is scheduled for February 2013. “This is truly a student-generated show,” Onxley continued. “The students are involved in all aspects from set painting to costume designs to publicity. It is a total learning experience for the PAGE 10
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children.” Taylor Simon, CTC assistant, will serve as musical director and choreographer. No experience is necessary, but enrollment in classes is required. Classes are currently in progress, and there will be auditions on Wed., Sept. 5 from 4-6 p.m. Classes are held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby; Suite 313). For more information, contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323 or visit the website at www.childrenstheatre.cc. TJN
Dang Yankee The
By Mike McHugh
Make Me Groan, Yankee Roads Here I am, finally, sitting in the dining room of my sister’s house. I’ve just arrived after driving for two days, half of it going the last 50 miles into Yankee Land. Now I remember why it’s been eight years since I’ve made this trip by car. The contrast is amazing. It took me the same amount of time to get through six respectably sized Southern states as it took to get through just part of one Yankee state that would fit inside the city limits of Houston. All I can say is that it’s a good thing NASCAR wasn’t invented in the North. It would have been a much different sport if it were. First off, they would have put about a thousand cars on the track— 50 of them disabled and blocking various lanes—plus a half-dozen transit buses that would stop every quartermile. And then you‘d have the water main break on lap 137. The Daytona 500 would take about a month to complete, and no driver would have a prayer of winning without an EZ Pass for the tollbooths. Knowing that this would be an arduous journey, I made sure ahead of time that my F-150 was equipped for every contingency. I had my GPS with built-in traffic alerts. I had a flash drive with the entire discography of both Waylon and Willie plugged into the sound system. I had my Smartphone with Bluetooth capability, complete with apps to find the cheapest gas and best food on the go, but, alas, none to locate a clean rest room. No car has ever been equipped to do that, not even James Bond’s. It all makes me wonder how, in the days before such electronic conveniences, we were able to find our way across the parish line. Lacking a GPS, the only source of directions was from gas station attendants, who, of course, men would avoid as if they were flesheating zombies. That left the trusty road map. Such maps would unfold to the size of a billboard sign, and you’d still need a magnifying glass to read the print. For entertainment, there was only the radio, and I’m not talking
satellite. You were lucky to have FM. Thus, you were restricted to the local stations, with the vast rural stretches offering only the local farm report for your listening pleasure. And so, people in those days had to be resourceful in finding ways to occupy themselves through the grueling hours of a long road trip. Some of the activities we engaged in back then, such as conversation, seem downright silly in today’s context. There were no Smartphone apps like Urban Spoon that would direct you to an Olive Garden just minutes off the highway. At best, as you approached an exit, you might find a blue sign that simply read “FOOD.” More often then not, that “food” was served out of a shack located on a gravel road several miles off the highway. A single serving of it contained enough grease to elevate the cholesterol level of every person in a city the size of Shreveport to the danger level. Still, our modern conveniences do not always serve us as well as we’d like them to, especially on the roads of Yankee Land. For instance, my GPS turned out to be of little help. As I approached the Potomac River, it displayed the entire State of Maryland in red and flashed a message suggesting that Montana is quite nice this time of year. That did sound appealing, but I was on a mission. And so I made my way onto Interstate 95, otherwise known as America’s Longest Parking Lot, a highway where you’re more apt to collect cobwebs than speeding tickets. Once you’ve spent some time on a Yankee highway, you can begin to see why the people up there sometimes exhibit anti-social behavior. You might be inclined to act the same way if you spent more of your waking hours sitting in traffic than you do working, cleaning house, or waiting on hold for customer service. So, if you run into me upon my return, and I seem to have reverted to my Yankee disposition, please cut me a little slack. It’s nothing that a few Abita ambers and a fried shrimp po’ boy won’t cure. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 10
By George “Tip” Cline
SMALLER BOTTLE, SAME GREAT VALUE? My faithful readers know that I do not like deceptive business practices and when I learn of one, I want my readers to know about it. I could not help but notice that Clorox Bleach has announced that coming soon, they will be offering “Concentrated Clorox Bleach.” The claim being made is that it whitens like never before, but comes in a smaller bottle with the same great value. Now, I don’t care if manufacturers change their product and manipulate sizes as long as they are upfront about what they are doing. I may question a change to some weird off size, such as 12 ounces to 11.2 ounces, but as long as it is presented as it is, I will make fun of it and accept it. It was not too long ago that the good folks that manufacture Clorox brought out “Clorox Ultra.” Because it was concentrated, the size went from 1 gallon (128 ounces) down to 96 ounces (of course, it was the same great value). Somehow I cannot find any Clorox Ultra and haven’t been able to find it for some time, but regular Clorox reappeared bottled in the 96-ounce size with no mention of that change in the picture. The new Concentrated Clorox Bleach will come in a 64-ounce (half gallon) bottle, not a 96-ounce container. I will be quite surprised if the new version quietly slips away and we wind up with regular Clorox in that half gallon bottle—and paying the same price. Watch and see. ROUGE ET BLANC SOLD OUT Rouge et Blanc is coming around on Oct. 20. The tickets went on sale Volume 4 • Issue 10
July 31 at 9 a.m. It was near impossible to get online or to get a call into the Rouge et Blanc office to purchase them. and they sold out in a matter of hours. These $100 tickets are in much demand, as they are limited to the number of patrons that can comfortably be handled and not overcrowd the venue. They have a waiting list, but chances are slim. This is the big fundraiser for the Banners Cultural Series sponsored by McNeese State University and has been a favorite activity in the community since its inception in 2006. Nice to see an activity that benefits our area being met with such overwhelming support, not to mention the great food and wine you get to enjoy. The wines are offered for purchase at reduced pricing with a portion of the price being returned to Banners. Talk about a win-win situation. IMAGINATION CELEBRATION Another great community affair is the Imagination Celebration, the annual fundraiser for our Children’s Museum here in Lake Charles. If you haven’t had the opportunity to bring a child to this wonderful place, borrow one from your neighbor and give yourself and the child a treat. The museum is a hands-on, fun-filled place that will teach kids all kinds of interesting things while they’re having a blast. Their annual fundraiser features a party atmosphere, area restaurants food stations, “celebrity” karaoke, great entertainment and both live and silent auctions. The event is Aug. 25 and will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The ticket price is $50 and supports this wonderful endeavor. As we are out of town this week, there is no shopping comparison for this issue, but I’ll have one next time. I’m working on a real “guy” meal theme that I know will please the men.
TJN
Applications are available between the hours of 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the following location:
LCFD ADMINISTRATION 4200 KIRKMAN ST., LAKE CHARLES, LA 70607 The Application Deadline is August 24, 2012 in order to be eligible for the next scheduled Firefighter Civil Service Examination in this jurisdiction. Applications must include the proper documentation to verify that the applicant meets the qualification requirements.
Qualification Requirements for the position of Firefighter: • Must be at least 18 years of age • Must be a Citizen of the United States • Possess a High School Diploma or GED • Possess a Valid Drivers License
To obtain additional information on a Firefighter Career at the LCFD, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com or call the Lake Charles Fire Department Administration Office at 337-491-1360. The City of Lake Charles is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AUGUST 9, 2012
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By Lauren de Albuquerque We love to see local artists succeed! Congratulations to Candice Alexander, who will be opening the Alexander Art Studio storefront at 990 Ryan St. on the corner of Ryan and Pujo Sts. in downtown Lake Charles. She will remain in her Central School studio where she will continue to paint and work; her storefront will sell fine art, jewelry and apparel. We hear that she plans on opening by mid-September, if not earlier. We’ll keep you posted in The Jam!
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The Mardi Gras Museum of Southwest Louisiana is sponsoring The Fat Tuesday Pub Crawl on Sat., Aug. 11. This sounds like so much fun! Attendees will ride festive Mardi Gras floats through the streets of Lake Charles, making stops at five area pubs. The fun starts at Yesterday’s at 5313 Common St., Lake Charles, at 5 p.m. From there, the floats will depart at 6 p.m. sharp with scheduled stops at Frosty Factory, Micci’s, Darrell’s and OB’s, and concludes back at
Yesterday’s where everyone can party the night away. A $50 donation entitles each reveler to a signature drink and delicious snacks at each location, with chances to win unique prizes along the way. Advanced tickets are available at Joseph’s Electric, Gordon’s Drugs, The Mardi Gras Museum, and Party Time Store. A limited number will be available, so get your tickets early! For more information, contact the Mardi Gras Museum of Southwest Louisiana at (337) 430-0043. All proceeds will benefit the museum, which is located in the Historic Central School Arts and Humanities Center, 809 Kirby St. Lake Charles. Did you know that there’s a serious shortage of firefighters in our area? Neither did I. And that’s scary. Applications are now available at LCFD Administration, 4200 Kirkman Street, Lake Charles between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. The Application Deadline is Aug. 24 in order to be eligible for the next scheduled Firefighter Civil Service Examination. For more information, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com or call the Lake Charles Fire Department Administration Office at 491-1360. The French American Chamber of Commerce Gulf Coast Chapter is
having their inaugural event on Aug. 15 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Civic Center, which will be co-hosted by the City of Lake Charles, the SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau and the SWLA Economic Development Alliance, as well as the French American Chamber of Commerce. The event will introduce the French American Chamber of Commerce to the Lake Charles area as well as to inform potential and current members of its economic and cultural mission. Two projects that are already in motion include a Beaujolais Festival and a French Film Festival, both of which are being largely sponsored by the French government. Reserve your seat by Aug. 10 by calling 433-3632 or emailing bhebert@allianceswla.org. It’s back to school time, and there are a lot of kids out there who come from families that lack the funds for their school supplies. Operation Back to School SWLA is accepting donations of new and used school uniforms, supplies and other school items. Drop box locations include Water’s Edge Church, Bebops Icehouse and Uniformly Fit. For more information, contact Michele Clack at 263-2480 or at operationbacktoschool@yahoo.com. TJN
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BBB Alert: Scam Using McNeese State University Name
Meet Kay-Kay! Kay-Kay is a joyful female dog with tons of personality who’s just waiting to brighten up your life! She is approximately 1.5 years old, is about 25 pounds, and is a mixed breed. She loves all people, big and small, and loves other playful dogs but sadly, thinks that cats are for chasing only. She already knows how to walk well on a leash, and knows how to “sit” for a treat or for her toy. She looooooooves to run and play in a secure yard and will fetch a ball for hours. She also loves to plop down on your lap to get some ear scratches and belly rubs and pays you back with sweet kisses. She is in a foster home and is perfectly potty trained (hooray!) but is also fine being crated while the owner is at work. Because this girl is high energy, the adopter MUST have a secure fenced yard for her to to run and play in. Kay-Kay is also great on leash walks and is a good jogging partner. Oh yes,
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almost forgot.....she LOVES WATER! She has requested that her new adopter have a swimming pool, but we won’t make that a requirement! To find out how to meet this sweet girl or apply to adopt her, email sheilag20@yahoo.com or visit the Facebook page “Lake Charles Dog Rescue Examiner” for more photos, videos, and information on this amazing little dog. A vet reference and home visit are part of the adoption process to ensure a good match for both the dog and adopter. Hurry, Kay-Kay is waiting! TJN
The Better Business Bureau is reporting a scam that is targeting local businesses. Two out-of state-firms, National Business Advertising, Florence, Kentucky and D & D Advertising, Cincinnati, Ohio, are contacting local businesses selling ads for an MSU schedule poster without permission from McNeese State University. McNeese State University is not receiving any proceeds from the sale of the ads and has not endorsed these sales, stated Carmen Million, BBB president. If you are interested in supporting McNeese Athletics or have questions, please contact Ryan
Ivey, MSU Associate Athletic Director at (337) 475-5215. BBB warns businesses to investigate any offer before agreeing to purchase an ad. Always check it out directly with the entity it is supposed to support! If you purchased an ad and feel you were misled, you can file a complaint at www.bbb.org or call (337) 478-6253. TJN
AUGUST 9, 2012
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What’s Cookin’
Chef de Cuisine Marco Pacetti
Isle of Capri’s
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If you’re looking for the comfort of a neighborhood bar and grill with the favorites of a steakhouse, then Otis & Henry’s® Bar and Grill at the Isle of Capri is the place to go. Whet your appetite with house specialty chicken wings or the sampler platter, then pick from a list of delicious pastas, sandwiches, salads, steaks, ribs, chicken and more. Otis & Henry is great food at great prices. Marco Pacetti, 42, is the chef de cuisine, or room chef. Part of the opening team 17 years ago, this is his third time with the Isle of Capri. “I manage all the back of house needs and conduct quality control and the presentation of food, as well manage a small crew,” he said. “I have to make sure they are trained to do the tasks correctly and consistently.” Pacetti loves the customer service aspect of his work. “There are chefs
out there that know more than I do, but the great thing about what I do is that there is always something to learn,” he said. “My cooking education happens every day. My favorite thing is when the kitchen is running at full speed and there is this controlled chaos, and you see everybody working as one unit. It’s pretty amazing to watch. I’ll never get tired of being a part of that.” The chef loves working at the Isle. “I’ve been here in the beginning, the middle and now,” he said. “I am as proud to work for the Isle as I was when I was early in my career. Me being a part of this casino has helped my career grow and now it is time for me to give back. I like being a part of its comeback to greatness and a Lake Charles food destination.”
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According to a 2001 study of intentional animal abuse published by the Humane Society of the United States, 13 percent of these cases involved incidents of domestic violence, 7 percent coincided with child abuse and 1 percent with elder abuse. Sponsored by
The following hearty recipe will please any steak lover!
Grilled Cowboy Rib Eye with Crispy Onion Strings, Roasted Vegetables and Stuffed Idaho Baked Potato “Sometimes a meal doesn’t have to be complicated to be great,” Pacetti said. “For as long as I can remember, I have seasoned great pieces of meat with equal parts of kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper. One of our trade secrets is to bring the meat to room temperature prior to grilling and to let it ‘rest’ for a few minutes after you take it off the grill to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.” With all of this in mind, start with a 22 oz. bone-in choice cut of beef, season it with the salt and pepper mix and set aside until ready to grill. “I love these onion strings and they are quite addicting so I always make extra to snack on before dinner,” he said “One medium-size onion should cover two steaks with some left for snacking.” Slice paper-thin, season with your favorite Cajun seasoning and cover with buttermilk. Dredge in two cups of flour, shake off the excess flour and fry until golden brown. Place on a paper towel-lined plate and reserve until dinner. Using your favorite vegetables (Pacetti uses zucchini, yellow squash, quartered tomatoes and red bell peppers)
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thick slice them and place in a plastic bag. Add olive oil, fresh chopped garlic and the tried and true salt and pepper blend. “Marinate as long as you have time for,” Pacetti said. “Drain as much oil as you can as it will flare up on the grill and give off a nasty taste. Grill on each side for three-four minutes depending on your grill temperature. Reserve warm until service.” Finally, wash your potatoes and coat them with bacon grease and top with a small amount of the salt. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes and reserve warm until ready to serve. At service, split your potato and fill it with your favorites. “We like cheddar cheese, bacon bites, green onions and sour cream,” Pacetti said. Now fire your steak, Keep an eye out and grill to perfection and remember to let it “rest” before dinner. Enjoy! TJN
15% Senior Discount All Doctors’ Prescriptions Accepted Experienced Professional Staff • Most Insurance Accepted
AUGUST 9, 2012
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By Kerry Onxley
My journey to The Juilliard School (and I quickly learned it is called “The” Juilliard School) began in February 2012 when a colleague encouraged me to apply for a practicum in the directing division of the school. This program entails an intense theatre study using workshops and rehearsal sessions under the guidance of professional mentors and the artistic director of the school. Without giving it much thought (as I was busy directing my third production of the season), I emailed my resume and application and forgot all about it. The Juilliard School is located in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City and is a performing arts conservatory established in 1905. The school currently trains about 800 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama and music. Notable stars such as Kelsey Grammer, Robin Williams, Christopher Reeves and Audra McDonald have graduated from this famous institution. Accepting only 18 theatre students per year, with tuition of $55,000 per semester, it is the premier school in theatre training in the world. In May, as I was preparing for a dress rehearsal of The Frog Princess, I received an email stating that I was one of the 15 who had been accepted into The Juilliard School Drama program out of the thousands of applicants. Stunned, I kept this information to myself and did not tell anyone for three days until I contacted the school to confirm. I have participated in many theatre workshops and classes over my last 25 years as a theatre educator; however, to attend a directing practicum at The Juilliard is another story! For the next few months, my life would change drastically. From being named mentor for American Idol finalist Joshua Ledet in May, to visiting him for the finale in Hollywood in June, to preparing for this enormous learning opportunity, my summer would pass quickly. The day before I left, I met my parents at Stellar Beans Coffee House. While there, I saw a dear arts supporter, Marsha Kushner, wife of the late Lake Symphony maestro William Kushner. PAGE 16
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Editor’s Note: Kerry A. Onxley was accepted as a recipient of The Juilliard School’s Directing Workshop for Theatre Educators. Only 15 participants across the United States were selected for this prestigious honor. Onxley is the Director of Theatre at the Westlake High School Theatre Department.
She reminded me that Mr. Kushner had graduated from this distinguished school in 1951. I was privileged to have directed the production of The King and I for him in 2003. He is truly missed in our art community. I began this incredible journey on July 21. After delayed flights and lost luggage, I finally arrived and checked into the Milburn Hotel, located on the Upper West Side. Formerly an old-style apartment building, it was only 12 blocks from The Juilliard School. I woke up early as I always do. My nerves did not allow me to eat much. I hopped on the red line subway and traveled ten blocks to a challenge that I had never expected. This would be my daily routine for seven days. We began the morning with a small meet and greet breakfast. These educators had vast experience and I knew at this point, I was with the best theatre instructors in the country. The father of one of my fellow participants had been the artistic director of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in the 1980s. For nearly 50 years, AMDA has been recognized throughout the industry for its rich history and tradition of launching some of the most successful careers in theatre, film and television. One of my former students, Taylor Simon, graduated from this distinct conservatory. The master instructors were Rebecca Guy and Ralph Zito. Guy is the artistic director of the drama division of Juilliard and has taught at the school since 1993. Zito had been an acting coach for Juilliard from 1992 to 2010. He currently serves as chair of the department of drama at Syracuse University. There were also various mentors with impressive resumes. The practicum took place in a studio classroom—nothing real fancy. It was a large room with mirrors and platforms, oddly similar to the space at The Children’s Theatre Company in Lake Charles. The first day encompassed enormous amounts of information and discussion, which I soon learned is routine at Juilliard. The day was based
Kerry Onxley visiting with former CTC actor Casey Barrett who now lives in New York City.
Kerry enjoying the musical production of “Sister Act”. Volume 4 • Issue 10
on Shakespeare’s language, structure and spontaneity. We spent three hours dissecting four lines from the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet— not necessarily interpreting the material, as I learned there was no need to interpret any book or script. The playwright knows what he wants to say. Let the text speak to the reader and do the work. Wow! It was like learning how to read again. Each day ended at 5 p.m. or later, depending if we were finished with the day’s study. My first day was tedious and stressful, but I looked forward to my continued study. After a restful night and a little breakfast, I walked to the subway, thinking about the incredible challenges the school would pitch at me again. Would I be able to handle it professionally? Would I be able to answer the questions my mentors asked me? I began to get that nervous feeling in my stomach, but was also excited to reunite with my peers and network, research and discover. Settling into Studio 304, this morning’s study would concentrate on preparing to rehearse, research and analyse text. Again using Shakespeare materials, we explored methods of introducing his works in a “friendly” atmosphere that both students and audience members found attractive. I kept thinking that so much of this practice could be used not only in the theatre, but in the English classroom, as well. The afternoon was spent collaborating with designers. The design team included costume, light and set designers. Based on their immense professional experience, they shared their thoughts on defining creativity and how to convince audiences to view entities differently without them ever knowing it. I was amazed at how these designers transfer ideas from the page to the stage. The session concluded with an unexpected backstage tour of the Juilliard’s black box theatre, which is off-limits to the public. The theatre sits only 160 patrons and is used for the school’s third and fourth year actors. First and second year actors study acting methods only and do not perform. The next morning session was dedicated to “table work” and laying the foundation for future script exploration. Table work is the first rehearsal of any production. It is an examination process between the actor and script, with the actor behaving as an investigator. As we read a variety of scripts, we were constantly told not to “interpret the text” but instead, ask “future-based questions,” such as “What occurred before the first page of the script? Where is Volume 4 • Issue 10
the script taking the audience? What occurs after the last page of the script?” This concept was stimulating and very thought-provoking. Many directors do not spend enough time with table work, including myself. Now that I view the process in a different aspect, I will be devoting more time to this valuable procedure. The afternoon session offered the opportunity to work with Juilliard actors. Talk about talent and extreme discipline! I had to remind myself that I was working with students and not professional actors. For the next four hours, we were engaged in storytelling and traffic management. While it appears easy to place actors on the stage, it’s not. Too often, directors instruct actors when and where to move onstage. Our mentors encouraged us to return to the script and allow the actors to make choices on movement based on text. Again, I will take this new style of learning back to my own classroom. For the next two days, we directed the students in Romeo and Juliet’s balcony scene, fight scene and the lark scene. We were divided into small groups with a mentor for each group to evaluate every decision we made. I had been evaluated many times as a teacher and have never been as nervous as I was at this point. As I entered my space, I could not resist thinking that I was making my directing debut at Juilliard! I started the rehearsal with table work and a series of questions for the actors. We reviewed the script several times, analyzing it sentence by sentence. After a couple of hours, we began adding physicalization and movement. Most actors are stiff and threatened by movement outside of their comfort zone, but that was not the case with these students. They were so willing to take risks to improve their craft. Next, it was time to discuss the location of the play. Since, I direct educational theatre, I tried to think of an approach to make Shakespeare’s works inspiring to young people. I thought it would be an interesting tactic to pretend the scenes were being performed in Shakespeare’s Globe Playhouse. The thrust stage, with audiences on three sides, would present both the actor and me with another test (like I needed another test!). Amazingly, it worked! Looking at the show in so many angles placed a new vision on these classic scenes that had been performed the same way so many times. For the next couple of days, we repeated the same procedure numerous times using blocks and platforms as set pieces. It worked really well, and the actors and
I were quite pleased with the results. home so many innovated ideas and More importantly, I received the new methodology that I can use approval of my mentor. He gave sevevery day with my theatre students. eral suggestions on polishing my This was obviously a unbelievable directing skills, again using the text as opportunity for me. It is a dream I the driving force. never thought possible, but it hapOn the last evening, a reception pened to me. As I tell my students was held for the participants and our constantly, “The power of the dream mentors. As I said my goodbyes, my is amazing. The strength of just ‘I can’ mentor encouraged me to enroll in makes anything possible. Focus. the advanced directing classes. I Work hard. Nothing is easy.” stopped in my tracks. I thought this Thanks, Juilliard. Until we meet was advanced! again—and we will. TJN After 25 years, I thought I knew almost everything about being a theatre educator. The Juilliard School taught me otherwise, demonstrating that we never truly master our art. The arts are constantly expanding, revolving and changing. We must continue to look at and listen to our environment to learn. In the words of Helen ing Kerry stand ce of Hayes, the First Lady of n a at the entr chool. American Theatre, “If we S rd The Juillia rest, we rust.” Learning is relentless. The Juilliard School course was the most intensive study that I have ever encountered. The training was invaluable and will be everlasting. I brought
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From left to right – First row: Debbie Holt, Lisa Bateman, Michelle Poche, Cheri Gaston, Betsy Granger & Christy Moore. Second row: Eva Broussard, Annette Garber, Carlyn Rider & Faye Drake. Back row: Patricia Philmon, Carla Clark, Nadia Nazeer & Jody By Angie Kay Dilmore Barrilleaux
Ladies, mark your calendars for a fun night out! On Sept. 6, Women and Children’s Hospital (WCH) is hosting its Healthy Woman Second Anniversary event from 4-8 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino Resort, emceed by KPLC’s Britney Glaser. Motivational speaker and comedian Kelly Swanson will present her hilarious one-woman show, “Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale – Laughing Your Way to a Healthier Ever After.” “Our second anniversary is our biggest event of the year,” says Annette Garber, director of marketing at WCH. “It’s a special evening out for our members, their friends and area women who enjoy being entertained as well as inspired.” The event consists of a women’s health PAGE 18
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expo from 4-6 p.m., where attendees can browse the various booths for health-related resources and information while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and listening to the cool jazz fusion of the Chester Daigle Trio. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by Kelly Swanson. Each attendee will receive a gift in addition to the chance to win great door prizes donated by event sponsors. Though only in its second year, the event draws a large crowd, with 220 women attending last year. This year, they’re expecting nearly 300. Tickets are $20, and sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for businesses that would like to participate with a booth at the event or sponsor a table of eight.
Kelly Swanson The evening’s speaker, Kelly Swanson, hails from High Point, North Carolina. In addition to her speaking career, she has published several books that will be for sale at this event including her most popular work Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale. According to Swanson, “We all reach potholes in the yellow brick road of life – where we get stuck between our vision and our reality. It’s not the obstacle that brings us down, but how we choose to react to it.” Attendees will learn how to motivate themselves to deal with stress and change, recognize negative mindsets and behaviors and gain the tools to find balance between the life they envisioned and their reality. This hilariVolume 4 • Issue 10
Guest Speaker Kelly Swanson
Fitness Seminar with Raegan Ferrington of Rock Your Body Fitness.
ous and powerfully moving program follows Swanson’s twisted journey to a happier ever after. You’ll laugh, get a renewed sense of purpose for who you are and what you do, and learn Kelly’s See/Believe/Do approach to getting from where you are stuck to where you are going – laughing the whole way. Healthy Woman Healthy Woman is a unique program designed for adult women. Sponsored by WCH, it offers educational seminars, events, and information focused on health, relationships, and lifestyle issues important to today’s busy women. Healthy Woman’s mission is to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to make informed healthcare and well-being decisions for themselves and their loved ones. There is no cost to join and the bi-monthly seminars You’re Invited! are offered free of charge. Healthy Woman Second “Healthy Woman has grown to nearly 1,900 memAnniversary Event bers since we launched the program in 2010,” says Bryan S. Bateman, CEO at WCH. “With this level of Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, 4-8 p.m. engagement, there is a clear need for this type of Women’s Health Expo 4-6 p.m. program and I am proud that Women & Children’s Dinner and Program 6:30 – 8 p.m. Hospital is able to provide this important educaL’Auberge Casino Resort, tional resource to area women.” Lake Charles A 16-member advisory council is responsible for organizing and promoting each event. Open to any woman over the age Led by Garber and Healthy Woman and of 21; $20 per person Marketing Coordinator, Nadia Nazeer, council members include: Betsy Granger, Join Healthy Woman online today and Knight Media Printing; Carla Clark, register for the event at www.womenWCH; Cheri Gaston, Gaston Financial childrens.com/healthywoman Consulting; Christy Moore, Southwest Louisiana Credit Union; Carlyn Rider, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals; Debbie Boudreaux, Surgicare of Lake Charles; Debbie Holt, West M Apartment Homes; Eva
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Broussard, WCH; Faye Drake, The Jambalaya News; Jody Barrilleaux, Hixson Funeral Home; Lisa Bateman, WCH; Michelle Poche, WCH; Olive Bonin, AdSource Outdoor Advertising and Patricia Philmon, Merrill Lynch. Recent seminar topics included Zumba and Latin dance, self-defense, nutrition, and sexual health. “Each year, in addition to the bi-monthly seminars, we have two signature events,” says Nazeer. “In April, we had a Spa Day and vendor expo. Our September anniversary is our other signature event.” The Healthy Woman Program also helps local businesses promote their products and services to Lake Area women. Benefits include access to an engaged female audience, booth participation at all events and recognition in event and program publicity. A partner since November 2011, Laurie Hebert, Gold Ambassador with Plexus Worldwide, says, “Partnering with Healthy Woman was a great business decision on my part. I’m still receiving calls in July from people who got information about my business during the Spa Day back in April. I also have new customers from the bi-monthly events. I love sharing about Plexus, and Healthy Woman has given me a wonderful opportunity to do that.” Members of the Healthy Woman program receive a monthly e-newsletter, which includes health and wellness tips, and notification of upcoming events. The Healthy Woman website offers easy nutritious recipes and cooking videos, a Health Tracker for keeping personal health records handy and organized, an interactive health library and links to current Healthy Woman partners. For more information about Healthy Woman, sponsorship, or to register for the Anniversary event, visit www.women-childrens.com/healthywoman or call Nadia Nazeer, Healthy Woman Coordinator at (337) 475-4064. Healthy Eating Seminar - Nic Hunter of Harlequin Steaks & Seafood
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WCH is an 88-bed, full-service hospital that caters to women, children and men. Their motto is “Quality care for the entire family.” Obstetrics and gynecology comprise a large component of the hospital’s patient base, but it might surprise you to learn they offer many other services. • Emergency Services: WCH’s Emergency Department is open 24/7. “We are the only hospital in the area that offers a 30-minutes or less time pledge,” Garber said. This does not mean you will be in and out of the ER in 30 minutes, but that a clinical professional will work diligently to initially see each patient within 30 minutes of their arrival to the ER. WCH offers a unique service to gage your potential wait time. On their website home page and also on a digital billboard on Nelson Road, you’ll find a clock with the current average wait time, updated every 15 minutes. • Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Program: WCH provides a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence recognized by
the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The program is led by two board-certified bariatric surgeons, Dr. Keith Chung and Dr. Richard Shimer. • Diagnostic Imaging: The Radiology department at WCH provides Digital Mammography, CT Scan, Nuclear Medicine, Bone Densitometry, X-Ray and Ultrasound. • Heartburn Surgery: WCH-affiliated surgeons use cutting edge technology for severe heartburn, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). • Hospitalist Services: The hospitalist program at WCH ensures the facility has 24/7 physician coverage. A hospitalist cares for patients only while they are hospitalized, while working with the patient’s primary care physician or specialist. • Intensive Care Unit (ICU): The adult ICU is designed to provide specialized nursing care for critically ill or injured patients. • Labor & Delivery Services: Amenities include private delivery suites, a nursery, childbirth education classes, lactation consulting,
Top picture: Healthy Woman Expo Vendor; Dixette Williams, April Daley, and Bridget Conner of Slender Solutions. Bottom picture: Fitness Seminar - Council Members: Annette Garber, Debbie Holt, Nadia Nazeer and Betsy Granger.
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Senior Circle Booth - Becky Dent, Senior Circle Advisor & Kathleen D'Water, Volunteer
obstetrics, post partum care and Tiny Toes, a program for expectant mothers. • Level III Neonatal ICU (NICU): The NICU is designed to care for infants that are premature, ill, or who have special needs, such as respiratory support. • Laboratory Services: Both inpatient and outpatient testing services are provided. • Orthopedic Services: In addition to mending broken bones and other general orthopedic concerns, WCH offers The Joint Center, dedicated to patients requiring knee, hip or shoulder surgery. The Joint Center Team includes orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, physical and occupational therapists, discharge planners, specially trained nurses and a coordinator who work patients and their loved ones throughout the process before and after surgery. Amenities include a private room and a rehab center on the same floor. • Outpatient & Inpatient Medical and Surgical Services: General, Bariatric Weight Loss, Gastroenterology, Gynecological, Orthopedic, ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat), Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry and Urology sur-
geries and special procedures are performed on-site. • Pediatrics: Each pediatric room is private, and a parent is encouraged to stay in the patient’s room. An adult-sized bed and one complimentary guest tray with each meal is provided. • Rehabilitation Services: The hospital provides Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies for adults and children. • Pulmonary Services: Hospitalized patients that need specialized breathing treatments receive care from respiratory therapy department staff. • Surgicare of Lake Charles: Surgicare is a WCH-affiliated multispecialty outpatient surgery center. The facility offers five operating rooms, two procedure rooms, postoperative waiting area, surgical recovery area and a step-down area where patients are monitored before they are discharged. • Urology: WCH-affiliated urologists perform a variety of surgeries, including advanced laparoscopic procedures, which are minimally invasive and often reduce recovery times. • Women’s Health Services: WCH offers Gynecology, Obstetrics, Digital Mammography, Ultrasound and Bone Density Testing.
Self-Defense Seminar - Carla Prejean of ATA Martial Arts
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Senior Circle Program One of WCH’s most popular community programs is Senior Circle. Designed for men and women ages 50 and up, this program strives to meet the needs of an increasingly aging population. According to recent census data, approximately 25 percent of the current population of Lake Charles is age 55 and older. The area has been touted as a wonderful place to retire, so
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it’s no surprise that 450 seniors have joined this program since its inception in 2010. For a membership fee of $15 per person or $27 a couple, Senior Circle helps seniors stay active and occupied. Their mission is to encourage the healthiest, most active lifestyle possible through educational, wellness and social activities. Senior Circle offers members exercise classes, a book club and bingo at their dedicated activity center. A physician lunch and learn is held monthly at the Lake Charles Country Club. Day and overnight trip destinations include cities located throughout Louisiana and Texas. Prospective members are
welcome to attend two events for free before joining. Other membership benefits include: • Dedicated Senior Circle advisor • A subscription to the quarterly chapter newsletter • Free monthly activities • Discounts at area shops • Free copying and faxing • Holiday parties • Complimentary meals for caregiver during Senior Circle members’ hospital stays. There are also national membership benefits including discounts on travel, car rentals, vision and hearing
care, and prescriptions. For more information about Senior Circle, call Becky Dent, advisor, at (337) 4754002 or visit www.womenchildrens.com and click Senior Circle to download the quarterly calendars and newsletters. TJN
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It’s another year, and we have another women in business issue. It’s so exciting to see that not only are our local businesswomen thriving, but that new businesses are opening. In spite of the economy, it’s a good time to be a woman in business. I’ve often thought about what it takes for a woman to thrive in business, either to maintain a solid career or to own a company that succeeds in spite of the odds. As a business owner myself, it takes a lot more than we realize—especially when you’ve been told that you’re not going to make it. When it comes to the decision to take the leap to start a business, women are less likely to jump into entrepreneurship than men. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, male entrepreneurs in the United States outnumber their female counterparts 3.5 to 1. Why do some women take the plunge while so many others who have considered ownership do nothing to further their ambitions? It has everything to do with confidence, a drive to succeed and being at the right place at the right time. I never even thought about owning a business until I met my husband. I was used to the typical 9-5 job and the bi-weekly paycheck. It was safe and secure and predictable. He pulled me out of my comfort zone and showed me that there was another way. A lot of us like that comfort zone, especially when you have a family to raise. Owning your own business is plunging into the great unknown. But some women are natural risk-takers, and have the guts and tenacity to make it happen. And if you speak to successful businesswomen, you’ll find that they seldom go it alone. They received some help along the way—and continue to do so. Women who are just starting their businesses need to reach out to those who already have flourishing businesses to show them the way—either as part of a networking group or as mentors.
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For example, Liz Todd, who owns Stan’s Airboat and Marsh Excavator Service with her husband, is happy to have wonderful mentors that include the previous owner of the business, as well as local business people that they look up to. Not only does a mentor show you the practical steps you need to take to get your business going, having someone who’s “been there, done that” also helps you realize that you too can achieve success. When choosing a mentor, look for someone you are comfortable with who is willing to provide guidance and helpful feedback, and is a strategic problem solver. Someone you can turn to who has expertise in growing a business and developing business partner relationships.
By Lauren de Albuquerque
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Mentors are not only for business owners. A woman climbing the corporate ladder needs someone she can turn to for advice and encouragement. It’s a good idea to find a female mentor, since women encounter a different set of problems in the workforce than men do. A female mentor can help you deal with gender discrimination issues and may be better able to tell you how to break into a male-dominated industry. It’s not a good idea to choose a friend to be your mentor. You have already established a relationship with her that has nothing to do with business. Save her and your other friends and family for networking, and find someone who will be a professional guide. The friendship can come later, and hopefully it will—but it will be based on a completely different kind of relationship.
Steps to Finding a Mentor from the Small Business Administration Once you’re ready to start a business, you’ll have many important decisions to make. This is especially true in the first months of opening your business. You might worry that you’ll have to make every decision on your own. Ultimately, you are responsible for the decisions you make, but you can always consult others for guidance. A mentor could be an invaluable resource to you. But how do you find a mentor? Here are some steps for finding and working with a mentor for your new small business venture: Government-Sponsored Mentor Organizations You might be surprised, but the government offers a great deal of free resources and services to support small business owners, both online and locally. The following are some organizations you can reach out to: The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at McNeese State University has helped businesses in Southwest Louisiana for over 24
1435 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, Suite D, Lake Charles www.redberetartstudio.com Facebook: Red Beret Art Studio
Red Beret Art Studio is the place to go in Moss Bluff for art classes for kids, teens and adults. It is also the personal studio and gallery space for Allison Milliron, who creates original artwork including murals, portraits, banners, scrolls and Christian art. Your child will love the art classes. Owner and artist Allison Milliron has over 15 years’ experience working with children. She has been a youth, preteen, children’s and adult ministries director in four churches, and can be trusted to treat your child with the utmost respect and kindness. Allison uses a loving teaching method designed to bring out the best in each child, building confidence and self-esteem. Much like PAGE 24
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karate, each child has goals to work toward, starting out with a white beret. The students earn beret pins for each class they complete, and they receive a new beret color after 2 pins. The Red Beret is earned after three years of classes with greater challenges and requirements as the years progress. Classes offered include painting, drawing, sketching and mixed media, and each course has an arthistory element added to it. Over 15 classes are scheduled per week to meet the needs of any age or skilllevel, or desired media. Register online at www.redberetartstudio.com Or by phone 337-244-5483
years. As part of a non-profit national network, the LSBDC provides entrepreneurs with high quality one-on-one counseling, management training, and information vital to business owners who want to grow and prosper in Southwest Louisiana. They can help you write a business plan, develop financial projections, or understand the dozens of issues involved in starting a small business. Their services are free and confidential. Call them at (337) 475-5529 to schedule a free appointment. Also check out the link to Training Events at www.mcneese.edu/sbdc for more information on upcoming seminars. The Center is a one-stop center for assistance in business plan development, market analysis, sources of capital, technology transfer, inventor assistance, and other business related issues. The McNeese Center serves a five-parish area: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis. Counseling services and training events are offered throughout the year in each of these areas. SCORE provides free and confidential counseling, mentoring and advice to small business owners nationwide via its network of more than 12,400 retired business executives, leaders and volunteers. SCORE is sponsored by SBA and has volunteers share their expertise through in-person and online counseling. The location here in Lake Continued on next page
Paulina Siebarth and Fallon Bourque
1600 W. McNeese (337) 479-2201 Monday- Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Nina P’s Café first opened in 2000 and has since become a household name and an establishment known for its good Southern home-cookin’ and Southern hospitality at its finest. Paulina Siebarth (owner) and her daughter Fallon Bourque (manager) are there every day to greet you with a warm welcome! Nina P’s serves a large variety of food from burgers and salads to gumbo, dinners and much more. They offer daily lunch specials that range from beef tips over rice and gravy to Shrimp
Creole and Shrimp Etouffee. Their Poboy Party trays are growing in popularity and are perfect for office parties and any other special event. Nina P’s Café is now fully staffed and ready to take on catering jobs both large and small. At Nina P’s Café, they strive to make everyone feel right at home, and Paulina is grateful for her customers’ years of patronage. Fallon wants you to “Break the chain and EAT LOCAL!” Come in and enjoy New Orleans dining right here in South Lake Charles. Volume 4 • Issue 10
5909 Hwy. 14 East Iowa, LA 70647 Ph: 337-540-0278 Fax: 337-478-5078
Continued from page 24
Charles does not have in-person counseling, but you can go to www.score.org for all the information you’ll need for online mentoring. Trade Associations Many trade associations operate mentor/protégé programs that provide guidance to help you build your business. These mentoring programs are often conducted through a combination of formal one-onone mentoring sessions and group networking and discussion opportunities with fellow protégés. Business owners might be connected with several different mentors over a period of several months to gain a more holistic experience. Most industries are represented by trade associations, as are genders, ethnic groups and business types. If you need help finding a trade association, consult any Internet search engine. Look to Your Network Who do you know? Is there a previous boss who was very inspiring to you? Ask that person to be your mentor or share his or her successes and struggles. You have nothing to lose. Just be prepared to share with them why you chose them in particular, your goals and what you are looking for from them. One of the best ways to find a mentor who knows your industry, your community and comes with a great referral is to use your network. Volume 4 • Issue 10
Working with a Mentor If you decide to work with a mentoring organization, ensure there is a formal mentor/protégé structure in place. If you are working with an individual, you will need to work together to establish a mutually beneficial structured relationship. The following are some tips to remember about mentoring: • Be organized, prepared and consistent. No one wants to waste their time. Time is precious. • Plan your mentoring sessions in advance. These could be as simple as having a oneon-one consultation or lunch meeting once a month to discuss where you are against your business goals, how best to tackle business obstacles, getting advice on business processes or regulatory requirements that you don’t understand, and so on. • Casual one-on-one sessions are good, but also have more structured sessions that address different aspects of starting, running, managing and growing your business. • Take notes, own action items and review progress against these in your next session. • Be respectful of your mentor’s time. Use their insight and apply it as you best see fit. • And last but not least, be thankful and communicative about the value they bring. This is about being in a mutually beneficial relationship, after all. TJN
In 2001, Tommy and Liz Todd bought a hydroseeding business that was meant to be a replacement for AnuWorks, Inc.’s backbreaking work of building metal structures and fences. The metal-building business was too profitable to leave for the next five years, but the hydroseeding side continued to grow as well. Tommy Todd personally runs the business, and there’s a good chance that he will be spraying your job. “We specialize in erosion control and carry different grades of mulch to take care of the specific needs of your job,” said Liz Todd. “No job is too big or too small for our crew. We have serviced the State of La. DOTD with sprayed-on Erosion Control
Bonded Fiber Matrix as well a vast array of contractors between Mississippi and Houston.” In addition, AnuWorks does residential work. “We would also be happy to help you beautify your lawn whether it be with, native common bermuda, centipede or your own choice of grass that you may have researched and wish to experiment with,” Liz said. Their services can be used in but are not limited to the following applications: • Highway beautification and erosion control • Pipeline Right of Ways • Levee vegetation • Ditch and canal vegetation • Dust control • Embankment vegetation • Construction site vegetation • Lawn beautification Call us and ask about our free estimate!
1602 W. McNeese Lake Charles (337) 562-9400
Slender Solutions is a licensed provider of The Body Wrap by Victoria Morton, who started Suddenly Slender in Florida 32 years ago. Dixette Williams opened the Lake Charles Slender Solutions 13 years ago. A paralegal for 26 years, she was frustrated with her weight. “I had tried all the usual weight loss stuff, but nothing worked for me,” she said. Desperate, she went on the Internet, and found a Suddenly Slender franchise in Lafayette. She went, and the inches came off. In six months, she had quit her job, and opened Slender Solutions in Lake Charles. “People were skeptical at first,” Dixette said. “But when clients started seeing results, the concept caught on.” The rest is history, as they say. After starting her business in a small rented
building where there was room for only one wrap at a time, she was able to buy the spacious building on McNeese Street where her business is now. With three wrap techs on duty, three wraps can be done at the same time. Male clients are always wrapped separately; and couples that wrap together generally get their own time. We offer the detoxifyig Flat Tummy Mineral Wrap with a guarantee to look 10-30 inches slimmer. The process takes about one hour and you will feel clean, fresh, light and slimmer. In addition, there are a host of products in stock to enhance the results of the wraps. Other services offered at Slender Solutions include airbrush tanning, facial waxing, face taping and skin-conditioning masks. You’ll love glo minerals skinnurturing, talc-free make-up and skin care with UV protection and antioxidant benefits. Ask us about our makeovers! Call 562-9400 and start taking those inches off! www.slendersolutionsoflakecharles.com AUGUST 9, 2012
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2623 Ryan St. Lake Charles (337) 436-5080 E-mail: tux.plus@aol.com
717 N Eastern Ave. Crowley, LA 70526 (337) 783-2426 Fax (337) 783-2483 Tux Plus and Formal Dresses by Medearis is entering its third year of business thanks to their wonderful customers. “We continue to strive to be your first and final destination for your party and formal wear needs,” Edwina Medearis said. “We specialize in tuxedos for men, with vests and ties in a multitude of colors, and tapered shirts for that new look men are now requesting.” Let’s not forget the ladies! “Our formal dresses include bridal gowns, mother of the bride, homecoming, pageant, Mardi Gras, prom and party dresses along with their accessories,” she said. “And we have jewelry, shoes, and garters for all occasions.” Along with specializing in exceptional customer service, Medearis
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said they offer alterations for that special dream dress that needs a little tweaking. “We have also made dresses from customers’ patterns through our tailor and seamstress department for that important occasion,” she added. Medearis and her staff are looking forward to another successful homecoming, wedding, prom and Mardi Gras season. “Let us be your formal and party wear destination!”
Fine Lines Cosmetic Laser Center opened in January 2000. A member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, the center provides an experienced and caring staff to supervise and assist with the services you choose. According to owners Bronwen Darbonne, certified laser technician, and Dr. Stephen Cannon, lasers have become a high-tech weapon in the fight against aging skin. Fine Lines Cosmetic Laser Center has five Candela lasers that can be utilized, depending on the need of the patient. “We have invested in a variety of lasers, because each laser deals with different skin issues, and no one laser can do everything,” she said. Patients are increasingly requesting our newest eTwo laser treatment. The eTwo complete facial rejuvenation procedure stimulates and shortens aged collagen fibers which result in the immediate and long term improvement of wrinkles and facial contours. This noninvasive wrinkle treatment is safe and effective for all skin types and men as well as women. Forget about expensive surgery or living with wrinkles, sagging skin, acne scars or dark spots. Laser procedures are needed due to a breakdown in collagen, a fibrous protein in the skin’s connective tissue that causes wrinkling. Natural aging, sun damage, smoking, and other environmental factors break down the collagen layer, causing the skin’s once smooth surface to develop wrinkles. “After a laser treatment, more collagen is formed, giving a more youthful appearance in the skin,” Bronwen said. The skin’s texture is changed and the skin is tighter.
A free consultation is given for patients to get an idea of what to expect, as well as giving the clinical staff the opportunity to determine if the client is a good candidate for the treatment, and if their expectations can be met. “Once that is determined, we discuss a customized treatment plan with a full explanation of the actual procedure and potential outcome,” Bronwen said. Laser treatment benefits men and women of all ages and nationalities, and is used to: • Erase fine lines • Target the root cause of acne • Treat acne scars, rosacea and psoriasis • Permanently reduce unwanted hair • Remove tattoos, warts and birthmarks • Eliminate scars and stretch marks • Leg and facial veins Lasers have become mainstream in the quest for younger, smoother skin, or for the elimination of many other undesirable skin conditions. Fine Lines Cosmetic Laser Center laser treatments are also very affordable. Please trust your treatment to the experienced staff at Fine Lines Cosmetic Laser Center. Fine Lines Cosmetic Laser Center www.finelineslasers.com. www.myfinelines.com Volume 4 • Issue 10
3518 Ryan St. Lake Charles (337) 477-1804
PDI of the South is committed to providing daily independence and quality, compassionate services to the disabled and elderly population of South Louisiana. This organization promotes the idea that each individual is entitled to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as all others: to live, learn, work and receive needed assistance with the community. “PDI was started by my parents in 1987,” said Margaret McCloskey. “I worked in the company in every capacity. My first job was stuffing envelopes and answering phones. At 17, I was processing billing and payroll. By my early 20s, I was working as a program supervisor. I took over ownership of PDI in the late 90’s.” Margaret grew up surrounded by the health care industry. “My mother has been an RN for over 40 years, and has run Evangeline Home Health for most of my life,” she said. “My siblings and I were exposed early on to the needs of elderly and disabled and the desire to help others. My mother’s compassion and dedication to her patients was what drove us all to follow in her footsteps.” To this day, all of Margaret’s siblings work in healthcare, either at PDI or in their parents’ business. “My sister has also branched out and is a home health care business owner herself,” she said. With over 120 staff members, PDI of the South offers alternatives to long-term facility placement with: Volume 4 • Issue 10
Companion Services As they age, many people may require only a minimal amount of assistance performing daily needs such as grocery shopping, traveling to medical appointments or on social outings.
Owner Donna Mier has been an independent business woman for 30 years. Since 1982, Donna has been explaining how 85% of women wear the wrong size bra. The staff at Donna’s has many years of experience and are the most knowledgeable fitters in the area. They specialize in hard to fit sizes A-L cups. Donna and her staff can solve most any bra fitting problems including straps that fall, backbands that ride up, and chaffing or rash under the breast. All of these are indications of an improper fit or support. Donna’s not only fits women in supportive everyday bras but also fits nursing bras, mastectomy bras
Family Caregiver Support Program PDI of the South is the exclusive provider of this service. This program is offered through Calcasieu Council on Aging for Calcasieu residents. Long-Term Personal Care Services This service is an in-home personal care program offered to Medicaid recipients over the age of 21 who are disabled and require assistance with daily needs. Community Choice Waiver This program is for adults that have suffered an injury or illness after the age of 21 which leave the consumer deficient in 3 or more areas of life. These services are to be provided in lieu of placement in a long term care facility. Recipients must meet both financial and medical eligibility as set forth by Medicaid.
PDI of the South, Inc. 710 W. Prien Lake Rd. Ste 100. Lake Charles, LA 70601 (877) 479-0048 www.pdihealthcare.com
and bras for women who have had breast augmentation, breast reduction or lumpectomy. Donna’s Lingerie and Swimwear carries one of the largest selection and variety of swimwear ranging from Jr., Misses & Women sizes. Donna is a Board-Certified Fitter. Having recently received her accreditation approval, Donna files with Medicare and insurance. She is also pleased to offer the latest trends in post-mastectomy products as well as wigs, turbans, and hats for chemotherapy patients. Donna retains a large customer base by listening to her customers and working diligently to meet their needs.
4845 Lake Street, PMB #125 Lake Charles, LA 70605 337-205-7455 Info@DecisiveMinds.com www.DecisiveMinds.com
Michele Scism is a business and social media strategist, the founder of Decisive Minds, LLC and the Global Social Media Managers Association. Michele’s clients call her “The 6 Figure Results Lady” because she uses her signature RESULTS Formula to help business owners get more clients and create steady consistent income for their businesses. Michele is a business columnist for Today’s Business Woman and Today’s Innovative Woman. Her work in the area of social media has been recently featured on Forbes.com and Yahoo.Shine.com. As the author of “Take Action Get Profits: 5 Steps to Massive Online Visibility,” Michele is often asked by business owners to help them figure out how to use social media to get customers. “Social media is an amazing marketing tool that the majority of business owners still don’t understand. Think about this - there are over 800 Million people around the world using Facebook
today. If you can figure out how to get your message out to that audience then you can expand your business globally and very quickly. And that’s just Facebook. There are 175 million on Twitter and over 100 million on LinkedIn,” said Ms. Scism. “But social media is still in its infancy and it requires a completely different marketing strategy and therein lies the problem.” Michele offers virtual and live training classes for social media and business development throughout the year. She will be hosting an in person, business building training in New Orleans on Oct 3-5, 2012. Michele says, “We will cover everything from how to use social media to find your clients to how to write your first book to how to build a 6 figure leveraged business in less than 2 years.” For more information simply go to www.TakeActionGetProfits.com or call Michele at 337-205-7455. Save 50% today simply by entering the promo code “jambalaya”. AUGUST 9, 2012
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3518 Ryan St. Lake Charles (337) 477-1804
“I’ve often been asked what the meaning of the Red Bird is on the Salon Evans logo”, says Tasha EvansDubus, owner of Salon Evans. “My mother, Rosa Buxton, died in 1996 of breast cancer. Soon after, I started noticing Red Birds and Cardinals all around me. I didn’t think anything about it until 12 years later when I decided to open Salon Evans. As my friend and I were brainstorming for a logo, the Red Bird started to appear and I knew then that’s what my logo would be. People say the red bird is good luck and the presence of God. It gives me great comfort knowing that I have the Red Bird to look after me, my staff and every person that walks into Salon Evans!”
As a master stylist/colorist, Tasha has gone to great lengths to learn about “beauty”. She said a good cut is the basis of good hair. Beautiful hair has movement and shine, and begs to be touched. Hair cutting is not a matter of simple geometry – your haircut has to fit your lifestyle according to Tasha. She and her team of stylists keep current on all the red carpet looks. She said it’s vital in her industry to do so. The salon offers Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy treatments and professional make-up lessons. Your hair is an expression of you. Don’t trust your next cut or color to just anyone! Call or stop by for a complete list of services.
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Nikki Deal, City Savings Bank vice president and branch manger for DeQuincy; Debi Pruitt, City Savings Bank vice president and branch manager for DeRidder's main office; Barbara "Babs" Bloom, City Savings Bank senior vice president and chief operating officer.
Call (337) 477-6868 to schedule your appointment with one of the 10 friendly stylists today!
Each Office Independently Owned & Operated Licensed By LA Real Estate Commission
Relocating to Lake Charles? Selling your house? Trying to find some good commercial space? Whatever your needs, Derenda Grubb is there to help. In the real estate business since 1998, she hit the ground running when she was awarded both the SWLA Rookie of the Year Award and the CENTURY 21Bessette Realty, Inc. Rookie of the Year Award in 1998, where she started her career, and Southwest Louisiana REALTOR® of the Year in 2008. Since then, she’s become one of the most accomplished Realtors® in the state. In 2011, she was recognized for her years of excellence by being installed as the president of Louisiana Realtors® 2011. As president, Grubb and the Realtors® Association worked across the state all that year to educate state legislators and the public on the benefits of a legislative amendment, which became known as Amendment #1 on the Nov.
By Matt Young
19, 2011 ballot. They garnished all legislative backing and over 80 percent of Louisiana voters to keep Louisiana’s real estate, land, and commercial property transfer tax-free. Now and in the future, there will be no double taxation in Louisiana on property. “Every citizen should understand they are using the service of a Realtor® whether they ever call one or not,” she said. “We are there, protecting their property rights and watching out for them and their tax dollars every day. “ In September 2011, Grubb moved her license to CENTURY 21 Mike D Bono & Co., where she has totally revamped her business and web sites and finished 2011 as the third highest CENTURY 21 producer in the region, along with being state president. As always, all of her actions are taken to improve service for her clients. Derenda Grubb Office: (337) 478-1578, (337), Cell: 842-2696 www.derenda.com www.lakecharleshomes.com www.swlashowcase.com
Throughout much of the last century, the proper role of women in the workforce has been a subject of much contention. Only 50 years ago, most women with college degrees had to limit their aspirations in the workplace, largely confined to lowly, monotonous jobs. Today, female CEOs are not uncommon, and women have a growing presence on the upper rungs of the corporate ladder. A recent study by The Wall Street Journal revealed that more than 40 percent of business school graduates are women and that 34 percent of all businesses in America are owned by women, generating $1.2 trillion in sales and employing more than 7.6 million workers. Females comprise 47 percent of the total U.S. labor force, and a tenth-of-a-percent gain annually is expected through 2018. Some industries have performed better than others in making available more employment opportunities to women at a senior level. The financial sector, for instance, has
done better than most both at creating an equitable environment. According to Debi Pruitt, City Savings Bank’s human resources consist of 78 percent women. Pruitt serves as the vice president and manager of the bank’s main office in DeRidder and has been with the bank since 2005. She says her bank has a high percentage of female employees because it has been willing to adapt to its valued personnel’s parenting needs. “Many bright young women with degrees leave the workforce altogether because they believe they do not have a choice,” Pruitt said. “That is certainly not the case here. City Savings Bank allows the opportunity for any individual who desires to succeed and is willing to work for it—regardless of gender.” Fellow City Savings Bank executive Nikki Deal of DeQuincy says that management continues to encourage her to strive for advancement. Like Pruitt, she has been promoted within the ranks,
Volume 4 • Issue 10
beginning as a part-time teller and working her way up to vice president and branch manager in DeQuincy. For the past several years, City Savings Bank has participated in a program that allows its team members to continue their education with banking classes at no cost to them. In 2007, Deal earned her degree from the LSU Graduate School of Banking due to the bank’s sponsorship. Approximately 25 percent of doctors and lawyers are female, while many more are on the way, with 43 percent of all medical students being female and women making up half of the law school student body. Presently, a startling 95 percent of speech pathologists are women. In contrast, other industries have made less progress at helping their employees smash through the figurative glass ceiling.
According to the Department of Labor, women make up only 4.3 percent of aircraft pilots and a mere 13.6 percent of architects and engineers. Nearly a century after women in most nations won the right to vote and decades after they began pressing for workforce equality, it’s clear that gender equality in the workplace is moving in the right direction, as more corporations recognize that gender diversity isn’t just a branding exercise or a political exercise to bring about better societal outcomes, but one that can even bring about better company performance. The success of American women is critical for the success of American families and the American economy. And in order for our nation to keep moving forward, women must be able to help provide for their families and contribute fully to our economy. TJN
300 E. McNeese St., Suite 1A, Lake Charles (337) 884-2518 elite2518@yahoo.com
Elite Janitorial Services is tops in the lake area for commercial cleaning. “All the services we provide, along with the hours, are customized to fit the exact needs of our customers,” said owner Melissa Hamilton. “Most of our customers require daily, weekly or biweekly cleaning after hours, when their businesses close.” Hamilton said that her employees and the personal attention given to their customers are the key to the company’s success. “We have a very high customer retention rate and a very low employee turnover rate,” she explained. “Some of our customers and employees have been with the company since 2005! Employees are assigned to specific buildings; we don’t shuffle them around to various locations. In addition, I personally visit our customers frequently,
as well as our employees while they are on assignment. I am on call 24 hours a day if our customers need anything.” Family friends started Elite Janitorial in 2005 and decided to sell the business in 2009—the year Hamilton was laid off from the hospital pharmacy management company where she had worked for 20 years. “So I decided to purchase the company,” she explained. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business and feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity presented around the time I was laid off.” Hamilton said running a business is demanding but extremely rewarding. “I used to travel quite a bit when I worked in hospital pharmacy management, so not traveling is great,” she said. “I can tailor my schedule to fit the needs of my customers and my family.” If you’re in the market for quality commercial cleaning services, Elite Janitorial provides free estimates. Check them out today!
The Women’s Business Network of Southwest Louisiana Started in April 2010, The Chamber SWLA’s Women’s Business Network (WBN) is a non-membership based group spanning all industries and communities, sharing common interests and goals. The WBN addresses the issues and benefits of being a woman in business in Southwest Louisiana. Women often have to juggle their jobs, homes and families, and yet are becoming entrepreneurs, working in previously male-oriented industries and taking over leadership positions across all industry sectors. For more information on the Women’s Business Network, contact Amanda White at 337-433-3632 or awhite@allianceswla.org.
www.allianceswla.org Volume 4 • Issue 10
AUGUST 9, 2012
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Contact Shop Aurea for a complimentary consultation! shopaureadesigns@yahoo.com www.shopaurea.com “Like” Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/shopaurea
(337) 422-4703 www.bonschiens.com info@bonschiens.com www.facebook.com/ BonsChiensDogTraining Twitter - @BonsCheins
Christine Racca and Michelle LeBleu Shop Aurea is a wonderfully unique business that offers custom designed invitations and announcements for all events, as well as business cards, brochures, logo design and more. Our vision came to life in April of 2010. We decided to start an online business where we could reach a broader market. For the past two and a half years, lots of time, creativity, and love has been poured into this business. We are retailers for a premium paper line called Envelopments®. Envelopments® is nationally recognized by Martha Stewart Weddings® and The Knot®. Envelopments® allows us to offer a fabulous collection of premium papers, patterns, textures, folds and envelopes. Clients can choose from over 250 colors and 90 different shapes and sizes.
Shop Aurea is continuing to gain popularity around the Lake Area thanks to our clients and fellow wedding vendors who spread the word about us. In 2012, we expanded our reach into northern Louisiana, Texas, and even California thanks to a business that can be completely virtual. Just a few emails and you have a product shipped to your doorstep and you never had to leave your home. We strive to make our clients’ experience a pleasant and hassle-free process. All products are designed by us and we have the flexibility to create something truly unique to each individual. We pride ourselves in being able to provide customized invitations that meet any budget!
400 W. Hale St. (337) 494-3913 decorative.center@yahoo.com
Pat Kelty, owner and interior designer, opened Decorative Center Fine Furniture and Kelty Design Studio in DeRidder in 1979. She relocated the business to Lake Charles in 1985. The Decorative Center offers complete design assistance. This includes everything involved in building and remodeling, including paint selections, flooring, furniture, accessories and wall coverings. They even offer an in-house workroom, where fabricator Brittany Wilder custom designs draperies, pillows and bedcovers. “We bring to Lake Charles the choices and selections that you find in major cities,” Pat said. “Our furniture becomes your children’s heirlooms.” Decorative Center Fine Furniture PAGE 30
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offers merchandise from exclusive sources such as Maitland Smith, Theodore Alexander and Hancock and Moore. Pat says her customers tell her that her business helped make their building or remodeling experiences enjoyable, and they appreciate the ease with which decisions were made. “We want each client’s home or office to reflect who they are—not just a rubber stamp of everyone else’s,” Pat said. “We guide, we don’t dictate.” For your next home or office remodeling or building project, call Pat Kelty to help guide you in choosing the right furnishings to make your project your very own.
Lake Charles native Britney Blanchette, CPDT, decided to open Bons Chiens Dog Training, LLC last spring after working 10 years in specialty retail. “I have always known that I was meant to own my own business and the opportunity was there, so I took it and never looked back,” she said. Blanchette is happy she made the change. “Many dog training needs cannot be met in a store setting, especially when a dog is highly fearful and/or aggressive,” she explained. “Also, I am able to help so many more people now, due to the fact that they do not have to leave the comfort of their own homes. After being a professional dog trainer for six years, I decided that opening my own business would be the only way I could grow as a dog trainer and the only way I could expand my clientele.” The only Certified Professional Dog Trainer in the area, Blanchette is also the only trainer that provides true private training. She’s also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator and a professional member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. “I train service/assistance dogs, as well,” she said. “I’m currently training two psychiatric service dogs and an autism assistance dog.” What sets Blanchette above the rest is that she does not use old-school, aversive dog training techniques. “The techniques I use are actually proven, science/evidence-based methods,” she explained. “Some training is not meant for some dogs. My training is meant for all dogs—what I do is exactly the same as what famous dog trainer Victoria Stilwell does from Animal Planet’s ‘It’s Me or the Dog.’” Bons Chiens offers inhome, private dog training, as well as semi-private and group lessons. “I do puppy obedience, basic through
advanced obedience, rehabilitation/behavior modification for highly fearful and/or anxious dogs (including dogs with separation anxiety),” she said. In addition, she offers CGC training and testing, service/assistance dog training, some agility, and so much more. She’s also the only trainer in town that’s actually qualified to work with aggressive or highly fearful dogs. Blanchette says that she feels extremely lucky and very appreciative to own her own business. “It’s very fulfilling and fun, but also a lot of work.,” she said. “If I had to, I would definitely do it all over again.” She says the rewards are endless. “The biggest reward is helping people. I’m not just training dogs—I’m training people, as well,” she said. “When my clients express to me how much I have helped them ,or I see the changes in them and their dogs, it makes me feel very rewarded and fulfilled.” Appointments are available Tues.-Fri. as early as 10:30 a.m. and as late as 7:30 p.m. She also offers group classes at The Porch Coffee House & Café. Bons Chiens Dog Training, LLC, (337) 422-4703, www.bonschiens.com
Volume 4 • Issue 10
From left to right: Angela, Candy, Brandi, and Terri.
Turning Events into Memories Starting your own business is not always easy, but the following story makes it seem as if these four local girls did it with ease. Friends Brandi Hardee Ross, Candy Newman Guillory, Terri Guillory Aubey, and Angela Worley Pierson had heard of photo booths and thought it would be something that Lake Charles would embrace. After much research online, countless hours, financial advice, and a course at the Small Business Center at McNeese State University, they were ready to get started. With their varied outside employment, the owners felt they could reach a broad spectrum of customers to help launch their business. Utilizing social media and local advertising, it was not long before they received their first booking. After just a few short months, they were receiving referrals from their first set of customers and were booking up quickly. The majority of their bookings are weddings. These days, having a photobooth at the reception is now almost a requirement. “Wish I had a photobooth at my wedding!” said Candy Guillory, assistant supervisor of recording at the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Courts. She had to make do with disposable cameras—a poor alternative. Not only are photobooths a hit at weddings, they are popular at high school and family reunions, proms, birthday parties, Mardi Gras Balls, Christmas parties, corporate events, and many more! “When you are looking for those spontaneous shots, the photobooth allows you to have fun and make treasured memories with your friends,” said Brandi Ross, stylist at the Perfect 10 Salon. Paparazzi strives to provide superior service since all of the owners work in the customer service field. They all believe that it is essential for the business to continue to give back to the community. The company participates in many Lake Area fundraisers and always donates a portion of their profits to the organization. Volume 4 • Issue 10
“It is important to us to always give back when we can. We have been given a wonderful opportunity of owning our own business and contributing to our community can only make it a better place to live and work,” said Angela Pierson, business development officer at Jeff Davis Bank. The photobooth is equipped with color or black/white photos. It can print two photostrips with up to four pictures per strip or a customized 4x6 card with your event theme and/or company logo. The photos print out almost immediately. Green screen option is also available. “If you want Drew Brees, the Queen of England or the Eiffel Tower in the background, we can make it happen!” Terri Aubrey, nail tech at The Perfect 10 Salon, laughed. Even better, the booth holds up to 10 people, which is an added feature for large group gatherings. Video can be incorporated into any package. This allows guests the opportunity to give “testimonials” to the host, who receives a DVD of all the recordings. An option to any package can include a photobook and props. The photobook will allow you to always look back at the memories of your friends and family. Props include crazy hats, feather boas, cool glasses, and so much more! To turn your event into memories, contact this locally owned photobooth company and book your event today!
www.paparazziphotoboothsllc.com paparazziphotobooths4@gmail.com (337) 488-4809 AUGUST 9, 2012
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Joanna, Cindy, Mandi, Harlow the dog and Tammy
SMALL BUSINESSES DO MAKE THIS COUNTRY GROW AND SUCCEED. Cindy Palma and her husband John took over Harlow Lawnmower Sales (which had been around since 1950) in 2004. John had been a mechanic all of his life and with the help of their family, they were able to afford this venture. Cindy says that without the dedication from their employees, they would not be as successful as they are today. “We had no previous experience in running a business,” she explained. “There’s a lot more to
1626 Hodges St. Lake Charles (337) 436-7266 www.harlowlms.com
it than repairing lawn mowers.” Cindy loves their customers and their Harlow family. “I have met some lifetime friends thru Harlow’s and rekindled some old friendships,” she said. “We are a very family-oriented business and try to provide a relaxed and fun atmosphere inside our store.” They also enjoy outside fun with their Harlow family. It’s not easy trying to run a business in today’s uncertain climate. “It’s a lot of responsibility being a business owner,” she said. “But, small businesses do make this country grow and succeed.”
Britney Bourque, Anne Monlezun and Lyndsey Gaspard
www.sassyroyals.com (888) 344-5480 Like us on Facebook!
If you love fabulous hats, then you must check out Sassy Royals! Lake Charles resident Anne Monlezun, who has been designing in the sequin and bead industry for over 20 years, is known not only for her friendly service, but also for her skill and patience to work one on one with customers to create custom styles and colors. Continuing her tradition, Monlezun presents “Sassy Royals,” where she creates fascinator hats, church hats, homecoming hats, garden party hats, Kentucky Derby Hats, theatrical hats, event hats, and more! Sassy Royals offers reasonable prices and superb quality, with speedy delivery of less than a week. The company does its very best to suit your every PAGE 32
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need with personal and swift service. Go to www.sassyroyals.com to see Monlezun’s collection of fabulous hats! Even better, have Sassy Royals create a custom hat just for you! “We enjoy offering custom items and letting our customers select basic color combinations with delivery of 5 – 7 days,” Monlezun said. Sassy Royals are available by appointment only. Customer fabric is welcome in order to match bridesmaid’s gowns and special events. Please call (888) 3445480 for any yardage quote needed. Sassy Royals eagerly welcomes your orders and looks forward to creating your dream hat. You will be in a class of your own, turning heads while wearing a “Sassy Royals” creation.
1842 Ruth St. Sulphur, La Ph. 337-527-9846 Fax 337-527-9847
The Mail Center has been in operation since 1986, providing shipping services to the Lake Charles and Sulphur areas. Those services include U.S. Postal, Federal Express, Lone Star, and Western Union. In addition, they offer mailbox rental, faxing, copying, laminating, scanning, and e-mailing. If you don’t have a box for your shipment, the staff will be glad to box it for you. They handle both domestic and international shipping. After earning a degree in business and managing a business for nine years, owner Kathy Bordelon was more than ready to start her own business. For 12 years the business was located in the Prien Lake Mall. She and her husband Rocky then moved the business to 602 W. Prien Lake Road. The business immediately tripled in volume and continued to increase in volume each year. “Having a highly visible, free-standing building with excellent parking was a big plus,” she said. “But the main reason for the increase in volume was due to the great customer service we provided.” Bordelon’s customers began asking her to open a Sulphur location, so five years ago, she did just that. The new location has enjoyed an increase each year. After several years in Sulphur, they decided to sell the Lake
Charles location. “My Sulphur clientele has given me the same feedback as my Lake Charles patrons,” she said. “They appreciate the fast and friendly service. A customer’s time is important to them, so we keep this in mind when they enter our establishment. “ Bordelon says her business has grown basically by word of mouth. Those satisfied and repeat customers are the best form of advertisement for small businesses. The Mail Center is no longer Sulphur’s best-kept secret. If you’ve never used the Mail Center, Bordelon would like you to stop by and meet the staff. You can let her know that The Jambalaya recommended you. The Mail Center is located at 1842 Ruth Street in Sulphur. Hours of operation are Mon.Fri. from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Just look for the red, white, and blue building. It’s the Mail Center’s trademark.
Volume 4 • Issue 10
2304 A&B Maplewood Dr. Sulphur (337) 626-6020
199 Tara Dr., Sulphur Ph: 337-214-1119 Fax: 225-208-1707
www.parkerbrandcreative.com Parker Brand Creative Services is an advertising and marketing team led by Michelle Parker and her husband Oran. “The time was right time for us to combine our individual talents for advertising communication and graphic design, and offer them to the small businesses of Southwest Louisiana,” says Michelle. “It was an obvious and natural step for two people possessing our particular set of skills and the experiences that honed them.” Michelle didn't take going into business lightly. “I’ve always been committed to my craft, and I was determined to bring that devotion to our brand. I feel that being a husband and wife team has endowed Oran and I with a unique drive and perspective on the marketing struggles of the small-to-medium sized businesses in the area.” The Parker Brand commitment to the marketing needs of small businesses is revealed in the quality of their work, which is always produced in a timely manner, at rates that even the most modest marketing budget can absorb. “We take the view of the client, cultivating a deep understanding of their needs,” says Michelle. “We are cross-trained in a variety of communication disciplines, so we're able to make the most of the creative hours we spend on a branding project. By staying involved in every aspect of the creative process we're able to move from idea to execution very quickly. We both come from very hands-on production backgrounds. That's given us a very intimate understanding of what it takes to make great advertising happen. This means more efficient and productive creative hours on every project we're involved with.” Visit the Parker Brand website and a devotion to their creative Volume 4 • Issue 10
partners is immediately apparent. “Creativity is a part of who we are on a personal level—it's literally in our family’s DNA. That’s what we bring to the table when we partner with a business or event; we get personally invested in their success. The Parker Brand is building quality marketing tools that other small businesses use to grow,” says Michelle. “Completing projects and walking away, or generating an artificial feeling of trust doesn’t cut it. The trust we're experiencing is genuine; it’s born from good works with good results. Look around the market and you’ll see our imprint. We’re leaving our mark by building better local brands.” “Don't let our size fool you,” says Michelle. “Our clients are always pleasantly surprised at the quantity and quality of the work we produce. It’s clear that our brand's strength lies in our ability to stay nimble while keeping creativity high.” The Parkers provide a variety of creative services such as graphic design and illustration, custom logo design, photography and videography, web, print and package design, media planning, placement and tracking, and creative writing. An extensive outline of their advertising services, as well as current galleries of their creative work, can be found at www.parkerbrandcreative.com. “I’m always excited to meet with new business owners,” says Michelle. “If you're opening a business, we want to be your first call. Partner with us and you’ll see that it’s not about our brand… it’s about yours. We'll help you see your brand from the outside. Don't have a brand? That's okay; we'll help you build one.” You can reach Michelle Parker at (337) 214-1119 or michelle@parkerbrandcreative.com.
Consignment stores are a popular destination for shoppers looking for a bargain. The Baby Cottage in Sulphur is just such a destination— and it’s not just for babies! Offering clothing from infant to 16 years, new inventory is put out daily. Consignments are reduced by 30 percent every 60 days, so there’s always a sale rack filled with markdowns. The store has been in business for eight years. Beverle and Joe Machulski took over three years ago—their first business venture. “God opened a door and we took a leap of faith,” Beverle said. “With the economy the way it is, we wanted to help people get quality, like-new merchandise at a fair price. We enjoy owning our own business. I always
feel like I’m welcoming people into my home when they shop here.” The store only takes in gently used, like-new or new merchandise. They carry in-stock name-brand clothing, maternity clothes, JonJons, shoes, gift items and new jewelry for babies, teen and moms. Look for their huge selection of hair accessories, flowers and more. The staff is eager to assist you. Consignments are accepted by appointment by calling (337) 6266020. Large items are accepted anytime. Open Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The store is located at 2304 A&B Maplewood Drive in Sulphur. Look for the lime-green building! With each purchase you are entered to win a gift certificate from the store.
(337) 478-8530 Ext. 120 CELL (337) 802-7410 FAX (337) 477-7217 bnavarre@flavinrealty.com www.flavinrealty.com
3221 Ryan St. Lake Charles AUGUST 9, 2012
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1634 Ryan Street Lake Charles, LA 337-480-3835 www.raufinancialgroup.com
3125 Ernest St. Lake Charles (337) 436-5944 www.tecisladiesapparel.com
Forging a Future in Finance Denise Rau, Certified Financial Planner, President, Rau Financial Group When Denise Rau entered the financial field over 25 years ago, women were few and far between in the industry. In 2005, after 20 years of working her way up to the top levels of management at several area financial institutions, Rau decided to form her own company, and Rau Financial Group opened its doors. Rau is originally from Lake Charles and received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and an MBA from the University of Texas. She is a Certified Financial Planner and holds a variety of other certifications and licenses for insurance and securities. Rau says a big part of her job is listening and she likes to ask clients what things are most important to
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them in their lives. “Then together we look at where they are spending their money. Very often, they will find that they are not actually spending the most money on the things most important to them. They are not putting their money where their heart is, and that’s why they are not happy with their financial situation. Once we get these elements aligned, they are on track for achieving not just their financial goals, but their life goals as well, and they feel much more confident about their financial security.” Rau Financial Group has grown significantly, with a staff that now includes three additional financial advisors: Eva Abate, Mark Eckard and Denise Wilkinson. For more information, call 480-3835 or visit www.raufinancialgroup.com.
Teci Culpepper opened TeCi's Ladies Apparel in Sept of 2006, with a dream of serving the Lake Area ladies with their fashion needs. “Six years later, I’m still serving the ladies!” Teci says. “We meet new customers every day, and we have many faithful customers who have been shopping with us for years.” Teci is always looking for new and exciting styles so her ladies can be confident that they will look and feel their best and keep up with the latest style and fashions. “Some of our favorite lines are Eileen Fisher, Nic & Zoe, Barbra Lesser, Neon Buddah, Nueva, and Cartise.” “We have a huge selection of dresses from Maggy London, Donna Morgan, Kay Unger, and David Meister,” she says. “Some of our newest lines are Sympli the Best and Planet. We are also happy to carry a mother of the bride line, Ursula of Switzerland.” Teci has a lot of special evens planned for the fall season. The “Sympli the Best Trunk Show” will be held Aug. 30 through Sept.1, and “Planet's Fall Trunk Show” will take place Sept. 13-15. She has tons of other special events, including a “Big Surprise” coming the first of September! Make sure you Like Teci’s Facebook Page so you can keep up with all the announce-
ments, and leave your email address to find out about the latest events. Stop by and see what we have available for your special events. We are located across from the Mall on Ernest St. We are open 10:00 to 5:30 Mon-Fri, Sat 10-4. Check out our new website at www.tecisladiesapparel.com and like us on Facebook to keep up to date on all our events!
Volume 4 • Issue 10
5909 Hwy 14 Easy, Iowa www.stansairboatservice.com 24 Hour Call (337) 802-9147 (337) 540-0278
Stan’s Airboat & Marsh Excavator Service began as a company that provided transportation for clients whose jobs were non-accessible by terrain vehicles. We have now grown into a full service pipeline right of way reclamation and excavation as well as oil spill recovery, clean-up and disaster recovery service. We are fully insured, ISNETWORLD approved and have all OSHA and NCCER certifications.. “We can get to most of our commercial clients within 1-2 days,” says Liz Todd, who owns the company with her husband Tommy. “Our business is successful due to our dependable employees. And because our equipment is small as far as marsh excavation is concerned, we are in a niche business.” Todd says that they have little downtime because they keep a local parts inventory and their operators are trained
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to fix most of the problems that arise. “We also own six Mini Marsh excavators, so we can replace one quickly if the need arises,” she added. The Todds were already owners of AnuWorks, Inc. when their good friend who owned the marsh business were ready to sell. With help from local bankers and advisors, they were able to purchase Stan’s. “We take a lot of pride in being a Louisiana company and a Lake Area company,” Todd said. “Even with the tough economy of the last few years, we have managed to triple our excavator and Airboat fleets and double our sales, which we feel is a testament to our can-do and will-do attitude that is company-wide.” Todd says they have been blessed to have wonderful mentors—the previous owner as well as local business people whom they look up to. “Building business relationships and being able to help younger people in their personal growth is a huge reward,” Todd said.
5925 Wright Rd. Lake Charles, LA 310-PART (7278)
Blazin Truck Parts & Accessories, LLC is a familyowned and operated business. Owned by Sabrina McCoy, it’s managed by her husband Scott, who has 30 years of experience in the heavy duty truck parts industry. “Our main focus is heavy duty truck and trailer parts, and chrome and stainless accessories,” McCoy said. “But please keep in mind that we also carry parts for boat, utility, and cargo trailers.” Some of the brands include Grand Rock exhaust, Baldwin and Caterpillar filters, Omega air
conditioner parts, United Pacific chrome accessories, RoadWorks stainless accessories, Long Haul brand belts and hoses, and much more. “Our customers are assured the absolute best service, selection and pricing in the area,” McCoy said. “We pride ourselves on top notch customer service and satisfaction!” So visit “The REAL Heavy Duty Truck Parts Specialists,” conveniently located at Exit 36 off of I-10, with lots of big rig parking available. They look forward to serving your needs!
AUGUST 9, 2012
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925 Enterprise Blvd. Lake Charles (337) 377-6616
Affordable Elegance Presents Clipper Ship! Denise Miller’s Affordable Elegance Unique Home Décor and Furniture Store has barely been open a month, but Miller has already had to reorder stock! New and old customers have been flocking to her location at 925 Enterprise Blvd. in Lake Charles to buy the latest furnishings and make appointments for in-home consultations. Miller is especially excited about her new shipment that’s just in from Clipper Ship. “This furniture is made from 150-year-old reclaimed lumber,” she explained. “It’s incredibly sturdy and is the strongest furniture on the market.” How sturdy is it? Miller admits that one time, she actually climbed up on a dining room table and
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stood on it to show a customer how strong it was! Needless to say, he was more than impressed and bought the table—and chairs! Miller says the original owner of the company passed away and sold his business to a man from Louisiana. So, when you buy Clipper Ship products, you’re buying from a Louisiana company. They create dining room tables and chairs, and butcher blocks and sideboards. “I love their product and was the top producer of Clipper Ship sales in the country when I previously sold furniture,” Miller said. “And of course, there’s a limited supply of this old lumber, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.” Another reason to come on over to Affordable Elegance! You can visit Denise Mon.-Fri. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m and Sat. from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call her at (337) 377-6616 for more information, and make sure you “Like” her Facebook page!
This September, Lisa Sonnier will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the opening of her advertising agency, Exacta Marketing & Media. “I always set high standards for the work I do, but I knew that opening my own agency would be the key to raising the bar even higher,” said Sonnier, who juggles her career and family, which includes a rambunctious toddler. A graduate of McNeese State University with a degree in photography, Sonnier started her agency from her home office after a 20-year career, primarily in the radio broadcasting industry. Her first foray into media was as an on-air personality for KYKZ 96 back in 1990. By the time Sonnier was in high school, she was working with friends on a multi-track mixer to produce commercials and ultimately talk shows. “I actually used one of these tapes to get my first job in radio. It was a horrible tape where I played all the roles by speaking in different voices,” Sonnier said with a laugh. “I thought it was hilarious. But really, it was terrible! The tape did its job, though, earning Sonnier her first break as an overnight DJ. Broadcasting under the air name of “Lisa Daniels,” Sonnier soon moved up to an earlier time-slot at KYKZ and—over the next few years—to prime-time slots at stations that included KKGB in Lake Charles, KIOC in Beaumont, and KSMB in Lafayette, to name a few. She sub-
sequently advanced through the media ranks and held a variety of other positions that included program director, publications director, sales executive and sales manager. Her extensive experience afforded her the opportunity to use her creativity to shape business-driving promotions and marketing strategies for media clients. Sonnier credits her success to treating each client’s business as if it was her own. Her primary goal is to get her clients noticed by their target customers, which she accomplishes by creating messages in various mediums that stand out among the advertising crowd, while fitting the creative process into the client’s budget. “It’s tough for our clients to be in business, and we try to make the process as affordable as possible. Even a small budget can still be successful,” said Sonnier. “It just means we, as the agency, have to be a little more imaginative in how we create the message and in what that message says.” So far, Sonnier’s strategy is working. Client success stories include an event with the highest ticket sales in four years. Another client reported sales that doubled over the year prior. With results like this, Exacta Marketing & Media will likely keep celebrating anniversaries for many years to come. For more information, contact Lisa Sonnier at Exacta Marketing & Media at (337) 274-7636. TJN
Volume 4 • Issue 10
Volume 4 • Issue 10
AUGUST 9, 2012
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ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B
My Dream Team Pardon me, but I am feeling a little frantic at the moment. You see, I just recently agreed to join a fantasy football league and draft day is fast approaching. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Big deal. You and about 50 million other red-blooded Americans are going to do the same thing this fall.” And you’re right. It’s
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not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. It’s a friendly league and I’m not even playing for any real money. It’s just that, as a sportswriter, it is expected that I put together the best team possible, based on all of my sports acumen, knowledge, and observation; essentially, it is expected that I know what I am doing. I do not know what I am doing. But, in the words of Johnny Nogarelli from Grease 2: “I got a rep to protect.”
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I haven’t been paying attention to the NFL over the years. It’s just the opposite. But I’ve enjoyed watching the NFL over the past few years without worrying about how my fantasy quarterback was doing in that non-televised game or whether my running back can get 120 yards on Monday Night Football. But there is also a reason I haven’t played fantasy football in years: I am simply not very good at it. I am the guy who treats his fantasy roster like Aaron Sorkin treats his writers on The Newsroom. By the
end, I’ve pretty much fired everyone who was there at the beginning. Most importantly, I think, is that I do not do nearly enough homework on the players to know which guy is going to be the fantasy stud at running back, for example, this season, and, if I did, I wouldn’t know who the nextbest prospect would be. Everyone is supposed to have a draft strategy, knowing when to take a quarterback over a second wide receiver and in what round to grab that team defense. I have no such strategy. Whole books have been devoted to the subject of fantasy football with titles like How to Dominate Your Draft and How to Build a
Volume 4 • Issue 10
Championship Team Every Season and I am confident they sell very well. Did you know that you could, in considering who to draft for your fantasy team, weigh the players’ contract status as a mitigating factor in your decision-making? Evidently, Joe Flacco is due for a big year since he’s in the last year of his current contract. Money being quite the motivator and all. Who thinks of these things? Do people stay up nights wondering if they should draft Maurice JonesDrew because he carried the ball 954 times in the past two seasons and he might get hurt? And just what in the blue heck have I gotten myself into? Well, I’m creating my own strategy and it’s not going to involve lists of third-year wide receivers or whether or not Reggie Bush is up for a contract extension. So, without further ado, here is my mock draft: QB – Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers): Rodgers gets the nod here, not because he is the bestrated quarterback in most fantasy leagues, but because 1) The Discount-Double Check move and 2) I still feel sorry for him when, at the 2005 NFL Draft, he spent hours in the green room waiting to be drafted despite being the top quarterback on the board. RB – Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans): Holds the top spot as most entertaining among NFL players with Twitter feeds (that’s @ChrisJohnson28). He recently asked his followers for suggestions on what he should do on his off day. RB – BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cincinnati Bengals): Seriously, how can you pass up a guy with a name like this? Plus, he’s a Georgia guy. WR – Andre Johnson (Houston Texans): If there is anyone in the league who deserves a Super Bowl ring, it’s this guy. I can’t imagine the number of nights he spent crying himself to sleep because he had to get up the next day and (try to) catch passes from David Carr. WR – Demaryus Thomas (Denver Broncos): He’ll be catching passes from Peyton Manning this season instead of the Tebow Who Shall Not Be Named. That’s got to be more motivating than a new contract, right? TE – Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers): I know it’s kind of sacrilege being that he caught the pass that beat the Saints last year Volume 4 • Issue 10
and all, but, come on. Dude majored in studio art in college and just had a gallery showing in San Francisco. His favorite artist? Michelangelo. W/R – Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs): My favorite LSU wide receiver since the days of Josh Reed. K – Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): It was a toss-up between Gostkowski and Sebastian Janikowski from Oakland, but, I think, honestly, as long as my kicker’s name ends in “-ski” I’m doing alright. DEF – New Orleans Saints: I
don’t know. Something tells me the Saints’ defense is going to be extra motivated this season. Just a hunch. So, there you go. This is my starting team, based on all of the knowledge and observation I’ve collected in my life as a sportswriter. It looks like a solid team; full of guys who can score points in bunches. And if it isn’t, I’ll just plead ignorance and go back to watching the games without giving myself an ulcer each time my quarterback throws an interception.
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
AUGUST 9, 2012
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By Mary Louise Ruehr
Storytellers: Agents of Make-believe Storytellers, bards, minstrels, raconteurs — they’ve been around as long as time, and their tales are as much a part of us as our language. “Do you have room in your mind for a tale of life itself, a tale of wonder, wisdom, and delight?” asks the narrator of The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney. Delaney’s book is the last novel of his Venetia Kelly trilogy, which follows Ben McCarthy as he travels around Ireland collecting tales for the Irish Folklore Commission and seeks his beloved wife, Venetia. This is a solid yarn, set in a political and vio-
lent Ireland where McCarthy finds himself caught between the law and the lawless. But woven in, around and back through this love story are the tales and the lives of three storytellers: McCarthy, his elderly mentor, and John Jacob Farrell O’Neill, who is “regarded (and jealously guarded) by the Folklore Commission as the most pow-
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AUGUST 9, 2012
erful remaining storyteller in the country, and possibly in the world.” O’Neill “was a fireside storyteller in the ‘old style’ — he narrated in the ancient way: his voice orotund, his words full of ornament and color. He was a true, performing descendant of the bards who had entertained kings and chieftains long before Christ was born.” O’Neill is about to take on Ben as an apprentice. What he teaches him about being a storyteller is my favorite part of the book. Of course, there are stories — some very short, some myth-like, some political, and mostly about Ireland. McCarthy reveals that he “had heard all kinds of things: herbal cures, rambling ballads, family curses, jigs and reels played on fiddles and pipes, nonsense verse, riddles and recitations — and above all, stories. Call them legends, call them fragments of mythology, call them, simply, ‘lore’… Some descended from family traditions — a handed-down account, say, of a row over an inheritance. Others…came from the deep and ancient past, from prehistory. Frequently they had fused, and I’d heard many contemporary versions of tales first scribed by holy men of the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries. These clerics had been taught to write so that they could copy psalms and church doctrine, but they hadn’t been able to resist preserving the ancient stories they’d heard around their childhood firesides. (And perhaps
they’d even invented a few.) Those epics became the basis of our literature in Ireland,” says McCarthy. “Stories are our oldest and best teachers,” O’Neill tells him. “If you can get hold of that and use it, you’ll have a happy life.” Very nice. This may be my favorite of the trilogy. The Storyteller of Marrakesh by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya is an eerie collage of stories within stories, side stories and back stories, all purportedly related in some way to a not-so-simple mystery about a foreign couple. Our guide through the maze of tales in this novel is Hassan, who tells us, “I am a storyteller, monarch of a realm vaster than any you can envisage, that of the imagination.” He describes the story he’s about to tell us as a love story and a mystery, but “The truth of mystery is immaterial... What matters in the end is life, the breathing of air, the breasting of waves, the movement of sand on dunes and surf, each grain of sand a mirror of conflicting perceptions and testimonies.” Joining Hassan in the Moroccan square to listen and to add their own version of events are a juggler, an acrobat, a merchant, a fortune-teller, a beggar woman, a drummer, an art student and many more. Hassan’s own brother even becomes part of the tale. Everybody who speaks up describes the missing couple differently and adds testimony—usually conflicting—to the story. The woman was Volume 4 • Issue 10
tall, she was tiny. She wore a ring, she had no ring. She was plain, she was a “rare and dazzling beauty.” The man disappeared, no, only the woman vanished, no, they both went missing. Master storyteller Hassan describes his work: “A story is like a dance. It takes at least two people to make it come to life, the one who does the telling and the one who does the listening.” He adds, “I will weave a magic carpet of words that will soon take you away from this place.” Don’t read the book if you want the straight facts: Hassan gets sidetracked while setting up the story, then goes on to share anecdotes from his boyhood and tidbits from mythology, nature and the Guinness Book of World Records. If you let yourself sink into it, you’ll get an exotic, layered, imaginative love story with a curious ending. On the nonfiction side is The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human by Jonathan Gottschall. Do not miss this one, which is anything but “dry” nonfiction. Gottschall explains how “Story is for a human as water is for a fish,” and describes how stories affect us, using insights from biology, psychology and neuroscience. Stories, Gottschall writes, appear not only in TV drama, but also in reality TV, commercials and even the news. People such as historians, business executives, politicians, sportscasters and lawyers depend on stories for their business. We use stories to entertain, to learn, to find a mate or to sell a product. A story can be wish fulfillment, nightmare, escapist fantasy, moral lesson or practice in handling life’s dilemmas. But our lives are so bound up in stories that we may become “desensitized to their weird and witchy power” to persuade, confuse and convince. The author discusses the role of the imagination, how the brain works, the unreliability of memory, the place for violent and morally repellent stories, national mythology, and the recent trend toward antiheroes. He presents mini stories and scenarios with surprise endings and offers examples from TV shows, fairy tales, literature, sacred texts and Monty Python. This is a fascinating, enjoyable read, as fun as any novel. By the end, the author seems like a friend who’s just started a great conversation the reader wants to continue. But I recommend this for adults, not children. Copyright © 2012 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
TJN
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U A B A O F N LY READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL! - WORD SEARCH
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Coach Drew Brees End Zone Field Goal Football Halftime Helmet Huddle Monday Night Quarterback Referee Super Bowl Tailgate Touchdown Wide Receiver
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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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r m ende's Museu l l E an en By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire
Ice Age 4 Continental Drift (20th Century Fox 2012)
Ice Age is an animated cartoon franchise about events that happened millions of years ago. It’s starting to show its age. Can the latest installment hold up? Ice Age 4 starts off with a sabertoothed squirrel named Scrat trying to snatch and stash an acorn. One of the old-time characters, Scrat is a favorite among fans. Like Wil.E. Coyote after the Roadrunner, he gets foiled again and again with visual and physical humor as his acorn escapes his grasp. At the beginning of our
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movie, his attempt to bury the acorn results in the splitting apart of the earth’s land into the continents. I mean, something had to start those landmasses cracking up! Of course, this event takes place at breakneck cartoon speed. It ends up causing problems for the Ice Age characters, especially Mammoth Manny(Ray Romano), his wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) and their adolescent daughter, Peaches. Previous Ice Age characters include Diego, a sabertoothed tiger, and Sid, a talkative sloth who in this movie ends up taking care of his Grandma (Wanda Sykes). Set against this cartoon version of historic ecological change, we find ourselves involved in mammoth family quarrels, mostly about who Peaches can hang out with. Manny is the typical overprotective Dad and Ellie is the typical go-between Mom.
While I don’t want to spoil the movie for its fans, I can say that the animation is first rate. To me, the geological upheaval was much more interesting than what the characters are doing. Though the plot is a yawner, there’s plenty of action and conflict along with some good villains, so the kids should like it. Sid’s Granny has a habit of getting in the way and is one of the funniest characters in the movie. Although some of the humor is predictably meant to be gross, the family story, which centers on Peaches, should capture the attention of older kids and the approval of their parents, since Manny and Ellie are really trying to do the right thing. If anything, the story highlights and dramatizes some of the heroics that parents go through every day in defense of their kids. Besides trying to survive the splitting apart of the continents, running from pirates, and learning how to have friends, we also have Scrat, bounding through the scenes, still trying to recapture his prize acorn. I’ve never heard of an animated comedy needing comic relief, but Scrat manages to pull this off. There are some glaring logical problems with the story, such as the fact that Peaches is friends with a mole and likes to sleep hanging by
her tail upside down. Also I keep wondering why Diego the tiger doesn’t just kill off all the other animals for food. Now that I think about it, no one ever seems hungry, even though it is the ice age and food is scarce. Oh, I forgot. It’s a cartoon. Never mind. Maybe this crazy disconnect from entertainment and reality wouldn’t bother me so much if it didn’t echo our own preoccupation with technology and the cartoons of life, right in the midst of global weather challenges and forecasts of economic doom. The parallels are disturbing. On the other hand, the tale of families sticking together through tough times is also meaningful. All in all, Ice Age 4 does a fair job of continuing the saga of the mammals. The whole family should enjoy it, especially watching it together. That’s rare. Rated PG for bodily function jokes. TJN
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Area creators of all things crab come together with local art and music In many countries around the world, crabmeat is considered a delicacy, as it is here in SWLA. Our blue crab is considered to be the king of the royal court of Louisiana seafood. The attributes of the Gulf of Mexico’s famous crustacean will be celebrated at the third annual Arts and Crabs Fest on Aug. 18, from 4-8 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. You and your taste buds are in for a special treat. Within the time span of four hours, you can sample crab dishes from 10 different chefs and stroll through the booths of area artists while sipping craft beer and listening to Louisiana music. Yes! It’s a celebration of the blue crab, and I for one am looking forward to it! (I’ve been known to sit for hours picking out that sweet meat from a crab. Now we all can enjoy the delectable crabmeat without the picking!) Crabmeat connoisseurs will be delighted to taste the sampling of personal chef David Janca, who plans to present “Lac des Allemandes Crab Stew.” This savory stew has a tomato base and all the key elements that every good Cajun expects: onion, garlic, bell pepper, celery, lots of crabmeat, Worcestershire sauce, roasted red peppers, and a little bit of his secret ingredients. Certainly makes my mouth water! Janca, like many, left Louisiana for several years where he honed his PAGE 44
AUGUST 9, 2012
By Monica Hebert
Crabs! and Art! and Beer! Oh MY!
skills as an culinary artist. Of note, he created food dishes for Commodore Cruise Lines in San Francisco. According to Janca, “Anyone can cook, but it takes passion and dedication to make a dish sing.” His “singing” skills haven’t gone unnoticed. Most recently, he was part of the team that created a sumptuous meal for Governor Jindal and his guests. Having tasted several of Janca’s creations myself, I know that all of us are in for a special treat at the Crab Fest. In fact, his food may just inspire you to bring home one of the beautiful creations offered by fine artist and potter Julie Dallas, since Janca’s food creations seem all the more exquisite when presented on one of her plates. For Dallas, a Lake Charles artist and Sulphur native, “creating has to happen. There is no choice.” But it took a few years of working and living as a computer analyst before that lesson was learned. “I was about as far away from art as you can get,” she recalls. When life yielded her the opportunity to alter her course, she seized it and entered McNeese for an arts education degree. While pursuing her degree she sort of “bumped” into ceramics. Immediately Dallas became captivated. Here it is! She had found her true calling. She found art she could create totally with her hands. Since childhood, she had always wanted to work hands-on, eager to be with her Dad and brothers as they worked on all sorts of mechanical problems around the house. She just liked using the tools and making Volume 4 • Issue 10
Bike Trail Study Grant Announced for Creole Nature Trail Chef David Janca and Julie Dallas Photo courtesy of www.visitlakecharles.org
things happen. Looking back, she realized that while her Dad shooed her away from mechanics, she never lost her desire to work with her hands. Clay is the perfect medium. There is nothing in all of art creation that is as much hands-on. It is no wonder she has found her stride and is producing beautiful work. There is a simple ease and grace in Dallas that comes through in her creations that is not only pleasing to the eye, but seems to call out for the touch from another. Her unique method of firing her pottery is of special interest. There is a mystery to the work because of the unusual process of “baking” or firing, known as Raku. This system doesn’t allow for complete control; therefore, the creator never really knows what the final outcome will be. Each pot or plate is indeed a work of art and of course, quite useful. Stop by her booth and allow yourself to view the treasures she has created. I think you will be glad you did.
Last year’s event drew 700 participants, with over a thousand participants expected this year. The Arts and Crabs Fest has all of the necessary components to become a fullfledged festival that can encompass a whole weekend. Imagine, a fine art festival featuring the blue crab of Louisiana. Perhaps in due time we will see this. For now, whoever thought of combining arts and crabs was spot on! The Third Annual Arts and Crabs Fest is presented by the Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA in partnership with the SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau. It will be held Sat., Aug. 18, 2012 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall. A $25 wristband is required to enter the festival and can be purchased in advance at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org. For more information, please call the Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA at (337) 439-ARTS (2787) or email director@artsandhumanitiesswla.org
TJN
A Bike Trail Feasibility and Planning Study for the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road was recently funded for $345,600 under the 2012 National Scenic Byways Discretionary Grant Program. “Bicycling is a continued recreational growth market for the nation and our area” says Shelley Johnson, executive director of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “A study is needed to determine if bike lanes along the Creole Nature Trail are feasible in light of the fact that most of the Creole Nature Trail road beds have to be built before the roadway itself can be constructed.” “This study will determine the expected benefits, for both visitors and locals as well as the Southwest Louisiana area, of adding bike lane to the Creole Nature Trail route,” says Monte Hurley, chairman of the Creole Nature Trail District Board of Commissioners. “Input from all parties including bike advocates, public health organizations, government organizations and the public will be utilized to determine if and where bike lanes should be added as well as identify potential funding sources.” Grants from national scenic
byways discretionary funds enable states to undertake eligible projects along highways designated as All-American Roads, National Scenic Byways and state-designated byways. Eligible under this program are planning projects to inventory, preserve and enhance the qualities of a byway, to improve safety, to construct bike and pedestrian facilities, to develop visitor information such as brochures and interpretive facilities and scenic overlooks, and to protect these resources by such means as scenic easements. The first nationally designated byway in Louisiana, the Creole Nature Trail project is among 125 projects in 44 states that will share $37 million in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) scenic byways grants for 2012. This funding helps recognize, preserve and enhance America’s scenic roads and highways throughout the United States. Complete information on the Creole Nature Trail, including a free video tour app for your iPhone or Android, can be found at www.CreoleNatureTrail.org. For more information, contact the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 456-7952. TJN
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AUGUST 9, 2012
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VOLUNTEER CENTER’S CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISER It was a lucky night for this lively crowd of supporters at the Volunteer Center’s Casino Royale Fundraiser held at Reeves Uptown Catering recently! With the roll of the dice, the casino games were off! Guests enjoyed poker, craps and blackjack, and the dealers were wheeling and dealing as the “lucky” players earned piles of chips to put towards purchases on the fabulous live auction items. All proceeds from the evening benefited the Volunteer Center. Vegas, baby!
Natali Barrilleaux, Emily Parker and Kelli Thibodeaux
Sue and Hal McMillin
Arlene and John Bostick
Denise Miller and Alisha Hoosier
Danielle and Jared King
Mike and Tonya Guinn
Lisa and April Altazan with Dianne and Carl LeFrere
MARSHLAND FESTIVAL Folks from all over SWLA came out to show support for kids and community by passing a good ole time at the annual Marshland Festival, held at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The crowd enjoyed local delicacies such as crawfish pistolettes, gumbo, alligator, jambalaya, fried shrimp on a stick, fried pickles and funnel cakes. There were vendor booths, arts and crafts, kids activities and live music—something for everyone. See y’all next year! Kara Leger, Danielle Daigle, Lori Denison and Hannah Williams PAGE 46
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Drew Simon and Garrett LeDoux Volume 4 • Issue 10
Tabitha Tyler and Claire Landry
Helen Lewis and Harley Badon
April Nixon and Ray Credeur
MAD HOT BALLROOM GALA Some Like it Hot! It was a night of mad hot dancing and entertainment at the third annual Mad Hot Ballroom Gala held at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Proceeds benefited the Dancing Classrooms program, whose goal is to bring ballroom dancing to all fifth grade students in Southwest Louisiana. Participating dance contest couples spent countless voluntary hours of practice preparing for the show. Community celebrities paired off with experienced dancers, and tonight was their night to shine, shimmer and dance! Congrats to the winners and all the participants. Keep dancing! Rosemary and Sergio Pimentel
Boo and Dani O’Quinn
Mary Ann Harvey, Fran Avery and Elaine Robb
Jacqueline Smith and Daniel Gonzalez
Joani and Hannah Hamilton
Jessica Hicks, Allison Walker and Niki McCormick
Lisa Weeks and Donald Fontenot
Sheryl Forrester and Angie Peck
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ACTS PRESENTS ‘REMEMBER WHEN’ Fans took a trip down memory lane through a theatrical time machine with old-time favorites such as Annie get Your Gun, Sound of Music, Peter Pan, Cabaret, You’re a Good man Charlie Brown, Hello Dolly and other hits from the past. The musical revue highlighted the history of the ACTS Theatre, bringing longtime veterans such as Daniel Ieyoub and Poddy Champeaux back to perform with theatre newbies. The event was produced by Michael Ieyoub with Marc Pettaway’s assistance. Good show! TJN Brenda Venable and Tish Martinez
Ainsley and Dale DeSonier
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Robert and Velton Vincent
Heather and Anderson Ieyoub
Kevin Broussard and Celia Case
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are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call (337) 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org.
TASTING ON THE TERRACE TICKETS ON SALE NOW! On Thurs., Sept. 13 from 6-8:30 p.m., sample more than 50 unique wines and beers. This fun and informative event will be held on the lush Event Center Terrace at L’Auberge Casino Resort and will feature live music, art and experts from the vineyards. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase for a Private Chef’s Luncheon at Ember Grille & Wine Bar, a one-of-a-kind oil painting created live at the event by celebrated Lake Charles artist Candice Alexander, a L’Auberge Pool Party, wine and more! Limited event tickets are now available through Ticketmaster or the L’Auberge Business Center for $40. Tickets will not be available at the door. All attendees receive 20 percent discount off their meal at any L’Auberge restaurant the night of the event. AUGUST EVENTS AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM • Aug. 9 – Amazing Thursday – Safety Tips and Fingerprinting The Sheriff’s Department Youth Division will talk to the children about safety at 11 a.m. In addition, they will do fingerprinting. • Aug. 10 – Fun Friday – Finger Painting Join us in the ArtSpace anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. for finger painting. • Aug. 11 – Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show At 11 a.m., Sasol’s Tamra Weemes will introduce the pH scale and general acid-base concepts by performing a variety of demonstrations using mostly household products. Hands-on demonstrations will include a rocket launch and a volcano! The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours
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NEW EXHIBIT AT STARK HOUSE THROUGH SEPT. 22 The W.H. Stark House’s new exhibit, “Explore Art: Materials and Methods Revealed” is located in The W.H. Stark House in the adjacent Carriage House at 610 W. Main Avenue in Orange, Texas. It will be on display through Sept. 22. The exhibit explores different materials and techniques used to create art and showcases cut glass, sterling silver and several objects that have never before been on display to the public. Adults and children 10 years of age or older are invited to visit. Located at 610 Main Avenue in Orange, Texas, the W.H. Stark House is open to the public Tues.-Sat. from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call (409) 883-0871 or visit www.whstarkhouse.org. TOURNAMENT OF THE STARS BASKETBALL CLASSIC AUG. 11 - 12 The 18th annual Tournament of the Stars, regarded as the largest pro-am basketball classic in the South, kicks off Aug. 11 at 9 a.m. at various recreational facilities around Lake Charles. The tournament concludes with a championship round Aug. 12 at the Lake Charles Civic Center featuring Glen “Big Baby” Davis and other professional athletes. All proceeds will benefit the McReynolds Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and older; children 11 and under get in free. For tickets, call (337) 491-1466, email tos@cityoflc.us or visit www.tournamentofstars.com/NEWSITE/index0.html. KREWE DE KAROLINE POKER RUN AUG. 11 The 4th annual Krewe de Karoline Poker Run benefiting WCCH Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center will be held Sat., Aug. 11. Registration and breakfast begins 8:30 a.m. at Wayne and Layne’s Deli & Bar, with the last bike out at 10 a.m. Fee is $20 for riders and $15 for passengers. Auction starts at 5p.m. Live music noon - until. For more information, call Karen Campbell at (337) 274-9155. ‘CANDLES AND COCKTAILS’ AUG. 11 The American Cancer Society presents “Candles and Cocktails” at the Isle of Capri Casino on Sat., Aug. 11 beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy a fun night of cocktails, dinner, auctions, live entertainment and more. Cocktail attire suggested. Tickets are $100 per person and $1,000 for a reserved table of eight. For more information, call (337) 433-5817 or email katie.mccarty@cancer.org. FAT TUESDAY PUB CRAWL AUG. 11 The inaugural Mardi Gras Museum Pub Crawl will begin at
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Yesterday’s, 5313 Common St. at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Gordon’s Drugs, Party Time Store, Joseph’s Electric and the Mardi Gras Museum. The ticket includes a drink and snacks at each stop. The crawl starts at Yesterday’s and parties its way down to Frosty Factory, Micci’s, Darrell’s, OB’s and back to a dance at Yesterday’s. All participants must be 21 years of age. LEGIS-GATOR LUNCHEON AUG. 17 The Chamber SWLA’s annual Legis-Gator awards luncheon recognizes Louisiana legislators and members of Congress for their work on probusiness legislation benefitting SWLA. It will be held on Fri. Aug. 17 at L’Auberge Casino Resort at 11:30 a.m. Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer will provide the keynote address, joining House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, Senate President John Alario, most of Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation, state legislators and many statewide elected officials. The cost is $45 for Chamber SWLA Members, $55 for non-members. Contact Lynette Clark at (337) 433-3632 or lclark@allianceswla.org to reserve your seats. The deadline to RSVP is Aug. 10.
Chris Pickering CHRIS PICKERING AND ELLI PERRY AUG. 17 Award-winning Australian singer-songwriter Chris Pickering and New Orleans songstress Elli Perry will be playing at The Porch Coffee House and Café , 4710 Common St., Lake Charles, at 9 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 17. For more information, call 564-5769. SHANNON COX TENNIS TOURNAMENT AUG. 17-18 The Shannon Cox Memorial Tennis Tournament will be held at the Graywood Sports Club, Aug. 17 and 18. All proceeds will benefit Family & Youth’s Shannon Cox Counseling Center. Fri. events include adult/child fun shootout, mixed doubles, Calcutta bidding, karaoke and family fun. Sat.: wacky tennis attire, doubles, local pro Calcutta, live band and dinner. The cost is $95 ($5 discount until July 28) and includes a gift bag, Fri. evening dinner and karaoke, lunch and dinner on Sat. and live band. To register, call 436-9533 or go to www.fyca.org.
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ARTS & CRABS FEST AUG. 18 The Arts & Crabs Fest will return on Sat. Aug. 18 from 4-8 p.m. in the Civic Center’s Exhibition Hall. For a $25 wristband, festivalgoers can access an extensive crab and beer tasting which will feature ten restaurants each offering a crab dish that is representative of their cuisine’s styles and personalities. Each crab dish will be paired with a complimentary Abita beer sample, which will complement each dish’s unique flavors and textures. Zydeco legend Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience will headline the event with his Grammy awardwinning original music. Over a dozen Lake Area artists representing an entire spectrum of art mediums will be featured at the festival, along with local vendors. A limited number of wristbands will be sold, so be sure to purchase yours before the event sells out like last year! Wristbands can be purchased online at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org. CPSO BOATER EDUCATION COURSE AUG. 18 The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a boating education course on Sat., Aug. 18 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the DeQuincy VFW Post 3802 located at the 5416 Highway 27 in DeQuincy. The classes are free of charge and are open to any member of the public, age 10 and up. Louisiana law requires all persons born after Jan. 1, 1984 to complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating education course to operate a motorboat over Elli Perry 10 horsepower, and carry proof of such when navigating on state waters Please pre-register by calling the Sheriff’s Office DeQuincy Law Enforcement Center at 786-2163 or 494-4590. For more information, call the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Division at 491-3614. CAJUN RUG HOOKERS ‘HOOK-IN’ AUG. 18 Drag out your hooking, renew your friendships and come and have fun with us at the “Hook-In” on Aug. 18 at the Family Hall at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church on 123 W. Sale Rd, Lake Charles. Invite a friend who’s interested. Bring finished pieces to show and don’t forget your camera. All rug hookers of any experience, any cut and any pattern are invited. The event is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and includes lunch, refreshments and donation for hall. To register, contact Amzi Collins at 437-3902, or Amzi@Att.Net. FAMILY & YOUTH FESTIVAL AUG. 25 Family & Youth Festival 2012 will take place on Sat. Aug. 25 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets are $2 for children and $3 for adults. Family & Youth Festival is a fun event promoting family life and family values in a safe and exciting environment. It is a day of appreciation to the people of SWLA where families can enjoy games, making crafts, food, and live music in the air-conditioned comfort of the Lake Charles Civic Center.
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Tickets are available from Family & Youth at 220 Louie Street, Lake Charles, or by calling 436-9533, or at the door the day of the event. The festival is an alcohol-free event. IMAGINATION CELEBRATION FUNDRAISER AUG. 25 Join The Children’s Museum for a night of 1960s fun and Celebrity Karaoke featuring Matt Young, Gary Shannon, Jody Barrilleaux, Jason Barnes, and Ebony Durgan! Enjoy amazing food and sweets from the area’s best restaurants and rock the night away with music by the Boomerang Experience. The live and silent auctions will feature unique must-have items. This adults only event will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Call 433-9420 for ticket and sponsorship information. HEALTHY WOMAN ANNIVERSARY SEPT. 6 The Healthy Woman program sponsored by Women & Children’s Hospital will celebrate its second anniversary on Thurs., Sept. 6 at L’Auberge Casino Resort. It includes a women’s health expo from 4 – 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a one-woman show by comedian and motivational speaker, Kelly Swanson. The event is open to women ages 21 and up. Tickets are $20 per person, and sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for businesses that would like to participate with a booth at the event or sponsor a table of 8. For more information, visit www.women- childrens.com/healthywoman or call Nadia Nazeer at (337) 475-4064. TJN
Volume 4 • Issue 10
Sept. 7 • Koasati Pine Golf Course • Kinder Late Registration 11:00-Noon • Shotgun Start at 1:00pm Lunch & Putting Contest 11:30am-1:00pm
4 Person Scramble Entry Fee: $500 per 4-Man Team or $125 per player Register by August 31, 2012 Includes green fees, driving range, cart rental, ditty bag, visor, food & beverages.
Form your own teams or sign up and you will be placed on a team! For more information call (337) 824-0933. Check, Cash or Credit Cards accepted.
AUGUST 9, 2012
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Sponsored by
To list your event e-mail: lauren@thejambalayanews.com
The
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Kory Fontenot @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m. • Soul Vacation @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • Deadbeat Darling @ Luna Live, 9 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 • Homer LeJeune & The Kajun Kings @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Warren Storm/Willie Tee & Cypress @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Vertical Horizon @ Liquid Society, L’Auberge Casino, 8:30 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 • Jamie Berzas @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • The Molly Ringwalds @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Ryan Bourque/Kevin Johnson @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • X-It 43 @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • BB & Company @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m. • DJ Jose Mata @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. • 80’s Bash w/Go Granny Go @ Luna Live, 11 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 • Joe Simon & Louisiana Cajun @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • No Idea @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Street Side Jazz Band @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Damon Troy & Final Five @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Gary Allan @ The Pavilion, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 8 p.m. • Blues Grenade @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Mark Reeves Band @ ET Express, Iowa, 9 p.m. • City Heat @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • BB & Company @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m. • 4Mag Nitrous/Broken by the Burden @ Luna Live, 10 p.m. • DJ Jose Mata @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 • Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys @ Yesterday’s, 5 p.m. MONDAY, AUGUST 13 • Open Mic Night @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 • Pat Sheng Trio @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 6 p.m. • Ryan Bunch @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. • Matt Corey @ McNeese State University, 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • William Christian @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m. • Jason Navo & Jacob Reynolds Band @ McNeese State University, 8 p.m.
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AUGUST 9, 2012
• Space Monkey @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. • DJ Eric Scott @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 • T-Joe Romero @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Joe Harmon & The Harmonics @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Finger Eleven @ Liquid Society, L’Auberge Casino, 8:30 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 • Mack Manuel & The Lake Charles Ramblers @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • MoJeaux @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Dax Riggs/The Marvelous Wonderfuls @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. • Wayne Dylan @ Huddle Up Sports Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. • Joel Martin Project @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Huber “Mickey” Smith @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • Dog Hill Stompers @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m. • Brad Brinkley & Comfort Zone @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • DJ San-D @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 • Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • MoJeaux @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.
Volume 4 • Issue 10
• • • • • • • •
imagineIAM @ The Porch, 8 p.m. Signature @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. James Dupre @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. D.L. Hughley @ Delta Event Center, Delta Downs, Vinton, 8 p.m. When the Word Was Sound @ The Porch, 9 p.m. Street Side Jazz Band @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. The Kadillacs @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. DJ San-D @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 • Brad Sapia & Bayou Soul @ Yesterday’s, 5 p.m. MONDAY, AUGUST 20 • Open Mic Night @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 • Mechanical Heart @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 6 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m. • Paul Gonsoulin @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m. • Troy Markes & No Idea @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.
Volume 4 • Issue 10
• DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • Friends of Louisiana @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Better Than Ezra @ Liquid Society, L’Auberge Casino, 8:30 p.m. • DJ Cage @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 • Travis Benoit & Allons Dancer @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m. • HolleeStar @ Stellar Beans, 7 p.m. • ISIS @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m. • Scent of a Rodeo/Myope @ Luna Live, 8 p.m. • Bag of Donuts @ Yesterday’s, 8 p.m. • Second Nature @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m. • The Posse @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m. • Tommy McClain @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m. • Mojeaux @ Jack Daniels Bar & Grill, L’Auberge Casino, 10 p.m.
TJN
AUGUST 9, 2012
PAGE 53
Leslie B e four dec rman’s career in ades, an music folksing er, mus d includes stin spans ic teach ts as a booker, e c tival dir oncert promote r, coffeehouse r e notes w ctor, music jou , publicist, fesr r nalist, a it e r , a organiz ation pr rtist manager lbum , t e attorney s , and p ident, entertain rade r ment e Museum sident o f She pre of Southwest the Music fe L eclectic rs all things ouisiana. , and musicall GRAM y votes M Recordin Ys as a mem on the g Aca ber o reached at leslie@ demy. She c f the an leslieber man.co be m. iet u q , d n latio n an tensio for punctu e sound co ectly f h s g r t in space plays all o meld pe n play e e e t b , h he d . d ter ha hey joined med an of the drum nes’ tones ore from T h g u a t u a d t ors hear m t the t trio n r and o, and e folk Fathe sic as a du become a had ith th xpecting to got to do a t Setauket a w u o s e I y t a r m d n a E i o I’m in m al in os tha Celtic with Genn se tragic st ns. t Amig Folk Festiv ian Church g mario e o s i s g e t h e c a d r i w r n T r i o f nitar tchin lands oman in eath B ’ imag o Wood iversalist U kids in ma lue leaned for a w d the teens urned-to-d sband wh d y n b e u p e s b U h i d p k l a n r e a n n r a r th he spa e origin icia b ee e sn , white a nd s y s a d b u e , a c h d m i h olk e f T fe er Th ing and July. irts of red a single m of 1960s murd healthy wi a sickly -winn (Raising S zing n Y e h t n o s e r t o M i i a ach had b d that his iries with ld the Cou nize in imitat ll Trio rauss GRAM an am harmo ar necks in had Mitche ver), the ime by the fa ial, he to ry by When ist Alison K ert Plant, fiddling o a t l c en uit fai eC as ed s tr Rob of o cal ing their g nds like th by John D ighters. replac ling. At hi t rid of the ife. This w pand v ckmeister ager winn sage elders l d a e e e e w o n boy b ually head The Lim ancisco chang ’d had to g to save his last presum with r ) was a tee dwest, the erformers, ico d r t e n F n i a r h p (eve on Trio, San eider), Mex y that g in orde ridget the nd. album ts in the M fan club – cers, publi m o r f a t a B n s Kings e Tres hail nist Sam R ist Eddie R burni 5, making lled in Irel saw them, n conte tional folk ters, produ rried that o h i n i I e 9 s o k o d T o a l y e i 8 l r d t w e s n i b 1 s m o s b h c an d in du s– our ters, pro percu t olina list/ac SSLQ ich ha itch to d to a s corp (voca ist, sax and North Car dexter), bu tive w ore the PO e band, wh ian percuspresennd the pres be relegate rauss and , l e n e f i a h h d e e K c o e t , a b n B e tt (vo cists a usic would y the time be us. Sur ), and rist Justin P hem have to ad lef adding Can be (a larg . At h h s a a b n b o t r m t ita wo of Ba djem n drum) Gen nted by l folk folk t memory enough iard, t a few list/gu e n zzi on te d s of al (voca u can tell ne to Juill he third to distan ny were ol performer e fringes of m- augmst Peter Tre hand-bea y’s center o of o o t s a boy, y ic school ( yond, and storyteller sioni ass-shaped nist Societ ck, the trio comp ere young against th y were ano if s e l u n b a a r g e w p to m nds and hour ical Hum months b s riveting, g oon. outhe there bumping u thought th folk music ba th s of S out them s a w in z , E n e e o s w l z f t l o e m e w a i l e e r a j t k h y t b t a o c t W b d f u i r s t per re a ene djem Islan ene, b fame. y to s dgjoin g road). Mo Long guitar and f tunes and songs with the sc nd unlikel limpses of et. And ju n e , o h a y e on t LQ ck my fiddle g medleys e-tradition irdre alies, aught any g happened ers I’ve se POSS orgets to lo house r e n h e i t m E c ’t h D r y n H c y a o t n i l . f i a e T s a s i r p f te t F e d th he ly al h! tha younger p in the car elatory ICE O imes Leslie out about t as intereste love er and voc time fiddle Rose!), a O z m z V o u s t y h long fiddl some e r than ctuall he rev Some can sneak ng. 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T nts were u hours u d back to m r so as not refully back rt i w C r e n e i e t e a ea ne 8 rie anc regular Virg g Bridge ung fiddl about Th ed it c angem st cor had 4 ll be h n u ow a ies and arr Lockman toire. But furthe ’ve just plac sure you’ ourse. n Burni nted by yo n’t told yo io of c er as .I I’m on o e ics, harm bly shaky, entire rep ments, the eir ered ’s desk, so her in due al to be trio fr now I hav wer-folk tr t-assed lyr ’s e a h v o i k i t r d m l o d Les out it fro und Rev stan n the ban acticed m by turns, and I migos, a p s with sma ghab pr r ar r the hi I fo ly as i i e t g , l e o s w e n t w h a i , o t n e m y t i d l i r Tres A /songwrite ies. t e an , and n its ern t Clea n Mean ting voyage e modern even i ere winsom p the room s and mod singer and harmo ing Bridge trick’s Day s e r ith of th e t g u w d a n an in nd byways ’s packed w ld of girls g burned tional son tunes e band Bur sly on St. P Baldino’s fi ’s t r a I i n o . s e i d e s l y ie Th ew wa eley fidd oire of tra g. ipitou r-old Rose a” Gillespi of folk ting th es Ste a n n serend world tes illustra ingers, and repert was kickin k-rock hero lacksmith born hen 15-ye vieve “Gen – had to ca o s B l s w anecd g writers, e extensive To cover ncluded fo or” and “A er Richard 2006, riend Gene lly’s Hedge e party. , n h t t d o ’s l i i i s i a i f r s z a It folk rs, noting se groups. osdling ’s band – G ce at a hou e and her d d ucy S d singer/w tably, Trez not a S e “ p o h t t i ’s s e y o n Span d Me,” a e Lis.” N tra edge, ist, aud ap among dom, I and famil ir appearan lled on Ro (who play e d x l t n n r e r a e g r o o a t e i c t u h n r ss ov no leu Co tha cel t , also 15, ou Baldin oup, amo d fact at percu s did ell’s “F band a L r pick a ther reader Shind g gave the an amazing mmers, he Genn musician oo-wop g decades, an er d r sibly o playin ecause he’s e many dru t to build maste he Platters over three ll, the farm n i k b e s i a T l estr only cause un with other band es Cromw o fill in. e his r t but be how to us many bit like Jamvie Babe), s a o know looks in the m
s k l o F Young
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AUGUST 9, 2012
Volume 4 • Issue 10
know that Woody Guthrie never recorded one of his best-known political songs, “Deportees.” There are loads of fictionalized accounts of real events, attributing known stories to fake folks. I had fun with the stories themselves, but it’s even more fun to ignore the strict instructions of the author, and probably his attorneys, and try to drape the fictional characters onto real life figures. The plot is not all that exciting in itself – boy meets girl, girl
meets song, boy nourishes girl, girl signs a contract and flies away, boy waves goodbye, wishes the girl well, and realizes this is what is best for her. Can you say A Star Is Born? If you want a plot like a well-planned maze, get thee to Robert Ludlum; if you want an insightful look into the modern folk scene, point your browser at www.perpublisher.com and order your own copy of Alarik’s book.
REEVES UPTOWN CATERING 1639 RYAN ST $
15 members, $20 non-members
Guest Speaker – Rep. Charles Boustany, M.D.
TJN
Fri., Aug. 31 from 11:30-1:00 p.m.
Please RSVP to info@lwv-lc.org or call (337) 474-1864 or send your check to PO Box 180, Lake Charles, LA 70602
Killin’ Time Crossword ACROSS
DOWN
1. 4. 8. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 18. 20. 21. 24. 28. 32. 33. 34. 36. 37. 39. 41. 43.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 17. 19. 22.
44. 46. 50. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.
Revolutionary Guevara Disney dog Toll road Lay low Creme cookie Litmus reddener Baby carrier? Terrifies Toast choice Balloon filler Overlook Trunk Pot Priest of the East Bruin legend Bobby Museum piece Acrobat's safeguard Seedy fruit Awnings Fangs Big name in pineapples Sharer's word Holds up Ostentatious exhibition DiCaprio, to fans Mission Urban haze Publisher Ballantine Pendulum paths Despise Sample
Volume 4 • Issue 10
23. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 35. 38. 40. 42. 45. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Munch Search ___ & low Halftime lead, e.g. Haughtier Itinerary abbr. "Agnus ___" Lotus position discipline Walk a beat Diamonds, to hoods Reunion group Asner and Begley Chart topper Onetime Jeep mfr. On ___ (without a contract) Pre-entree course Indian princess "Peter Pan" pirate Feedbag fill Not hard Indy winner Luyendyk Egg on El ___ University school Wall Street purchases Shooter pellet Shack Impetuous Buttonhole, e.g. Eye drop PlayStation maker Stop on a line (abbr.)
51. 52. 53. 54.
Hole number Emergency PC key Nashville-based org. Parking place
© Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd
AUGUST 9, 2012
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925 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA • (337) 377-6616
20% OFF Total Purchase
Must present this coupon to receive offer. Coupon expires August 15, 2012.