The Jambalaya News - Vol. 4 No. 13

VOL. 4, NO. 13 / SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

eels h W n o t r A : O ALS ets!

P t a F o N • e u s Fall Wedding Is

Photo an HF Photography and Brittany Lee Photography Colaboration

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 13

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

NEWS EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com

CONTRIBUTORS Rhonda Babin Leslie Berman George Cline Angie Kay Dilmore Dan Ellender Braylin Jenkins Mike McHugh Christine M. Mocklin, DVM Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com

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

contents

On Cover: The Dawdy Family: Beth, Marilyn and Russ.

Photo by Katy Corbello.

September 20, 2012 • Volume 4 • Issue 13

COVER STORY 13 Marilyn’s Flowers and Catering: And They Lived Happily Ever After…

REGULARS 7 9 10 11 22

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

FEATURES 5 Art on Wheels 12 Does this Collar Make Me Look Fat? 17 What to Look for in a Wedding Planner 19 The Engagement Ring: Getting it Right

ENTERTAINMENT 26 24 29 30 33 36 38

Lake City Beat Red Hot Books Family Night at the Movies Society Spice Jambalaya Jam Local Jam Eclectic Company

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12 17 We accept credit cards!

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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A Note From Lauren Ven Comigo There are all kinds of vacations.

There are the whirlwind, nine countriesin-eight days trips that leave you more exhausted than before you left. Or there are the big adventures, like rock climbing and white-water rafting that are definitely not for everyone. I would rather die than do either activity, for example.

We have found a fabulous, allinclusive resort on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, south of Cancun, that fits the bill for us as far as vacations go.

Only a little over two hours by plane from Houston or Dallas, you can catch the early flight and be there for lunch.

I work so hard and am so constantly “on” that when I go away, I just want to relax and sleep very late. Yes, I know there’s the beach and a beach boy with an exotic drink waiting for me, not to mention a fantastic breakfast, but I am a marathon sleeper and if I don’t have to get up, I will get up when I please, thank you very much.

Phil, on the other hand, gets so excited that he’s up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise. Then he’s running all over the resort, saying “Hola!” to everyone and having his first cup of coffee on the beach before coming back to the room to see if I’m awake yet (he generally has to do this at least three times before I’m up).

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He loves to meet people. There’s nothing worse than coming down to breakfast and having Phil wave me over to a table of strangers and say, “Honey, would you like to have breakfast with my new friends, Brian and Kristin from Chicago?” No, I would not. I don’t want to make small talk with unknown, random people that I will never, ever see again, especially in the morning. But of course, I can’t be rude. Well I can, but that will thwart Phil’s socializing, so I grit my teeth and smile and sit down.

The things we do for love.

We just returned from our latest sojourn there yesterday. We were actually due home on Thursday—but thanks to the friendly skies of American Airlines, we did not get home until Sunday. That saga is another whole story in itself.

At any rate, because we stayed so long, I began to pay attention to the vacationers that the rest of our group, which included Denise Miller, Dorene Gothreaux, and Jay and Maria Cotto, had befriended. They were a cast of characters.

There was the hyper guy from Calgary who had even more energy than my husband. We called him the Calgary Stampede. He was all over the place, downing shots of tequila and talking non-stop. He would stay up all

night and was the first one up in the morning. He claimed that jumping headfirst into the pool every morning cured his hangover immediately.

Then there was Dancing Bear. He was a young, chunky guy from England who had these great dance moves that involved some complicated arm gestures and kicking his feet. Because he was usually dancing on the beach, he’d kick sand with his heels “like a Chihuahua,” Dorene said.

Pia was an Asian woman from New York. She came with her husband, but she immediately met a guy from England who was vacationing alone and for the rest of the week, whenever you saw her, you saw him. The husband only showed up on occasion, usually to play pool with them in the sports bar. She and her new friend went zip-lining with Jay and Maria one day—an all-day excursion. No husband. Interesting.

After a few days, Denise noticed a very little boy running around. “I saw a boy who reminds me of Phil,” she told me. The next night I saw him. I’d seen Phil’s baby pictures and he did look like him—same shape head, same hair and coloring, and with huge bursts of energy.

The next night at dinner, we saw the boy with his mother and grandmother.

We went over to ask permission to take his photo. The grandmother told us that

she’d seen Phil around and had thought that Milan, her grandson, looked like him. Milan looked at Phil and held up his arms for Phil to pick him up—and that was that. Until he and his mother went back to Argentina, we spent as much time with them as possible.

There was an instant bond between the two of them. Milan spoke mostly Spanish, but Phil understood him. He always wanted to hold Phil’s hand and just be with him. Watching to the two of them together made me see what a great dad Phil would have been. His mother, Sami, has my coloring, so it’s not far-fetched to think that this is what our son would have looked like.

On their last night, Milan held Phil’s hand tightly and insisted he walk with him to his room. “Ven comigo,” he said. At their door, he cried when he found out that Phil couldn’t come in and stay with him.

We will never forget this sweet little boy. Thank God for Facebook and emails; we’ve already been in touch with his mother. It’s not often you meet a little soul who touches your heart the way that he did. Because of him, I got to see Phil as a child, and Phil as a father. And what a priceless gift it was.

– Lauren de Albuquerque

TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 13

Sonny Keaton painting helmet

By Rhonda Babin Are you ready to enjoy some unique art and have a full day of fun? Saturday, Sept. 22 is the date for Art on Wheels Ultimate Bike, Auto, & Art Show. This annual Lake Charles event showcases local and regional artists who produce pieces that are, “out of the box,” in the words of Project Director Pamela Person.

“This is a one-of-a-kind art show that has something for all ages and is fun for the whole family!”

Person enthused. “This event helps bring the community together, allowing the proceeds over the show’s costs to help three charities.” St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Buddy Ball & Arts, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Against Childhood Cancer will benefit from the proceeds this year.

Art on Wheels is the brainchild of Marc “Dago” LeFevre. The show premiered in 2008 after LeFevre, the owner of Dago’s Custom Paint, went looking for a place to showcase his type of art, which is primarily airbrushing “anything that will sit still long enough for me to

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paint.” He wanted to exhibit his art and get it in front of an audience that would normally view things only painted on fabric canvases.

His quest to bring his art to traditional brush and canvas gallery-goers led him to the door of the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. At a meeting with past Executive Director Irene Vandever, they discussed airbrushing and the art of many of LeFevre’s peers. The Arts Council became a promoter of the airbrushing that appears on motorcycles, automobiles, 18wheelers, and of the artwork of pin stripers, woodworkers, and ironworkers from the area. This promotion of non-traditional art mediums has grown over the last four years at the annual show.

The Art on Wheels Corporation, a non-profit organization, was created to organize the event. After two successful shows, the non-profit partnered with Waters Edge Riders to grow the art show and reach even more diverse audiences.

Pottery artist Rex Alexander

2011 pin up queen

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Individuals and groups come from all over to showcase the custom artwork on their motorcycles, hot rods, semi trucks, golf carts, and even children’s motorized vehicles. There are also displays from artists who specialize in leatherwork, photography, custom knife making, and tattooing.

Musicians join in the mix to provide live tunes throughout the entire 11 hours of the show.

Popular returning events include the Gumbo Cook Off, Pin-Up Girl Contest, Fun Jumps, and BMX Stunters. Add various food booths to tempt your tummy, door prizes, and vendors displaying a huge array of wares and you get an idea of the variety of activities your family can experience whether spending a few hours or the whole day at this “Art on Another Level” event.

Each year, the event has grown with new exhibitors and activities.

New to the show this year are a “Queens for Cause” beauty pageant, lawnmower races, a washer board tournament, and monster trucks. “We strive to offer something for everyone,” Person said.

This year’s artists include LeFevre’s custom work, pottery artist Rex Alexander (who has displayed at the show since its first year) and Lori Lockwood, who travels the world

Tug-O-War Winners painting oils of motorcycles and hot rods. The artist known for the thinnest pinstripes painted by hand, Sonny Keaton, will be at the show and so will Smith & Sons of Sulphur, who will make custom knives on site.

Monticello Woodworks, Atomic Heart Tattoo, Pat Menard’s handmade leather accessories, Nebula Tattoo, and Iron by Josh round out the displaying artists—up to press time. “People enter their rides and set up booths up until the last minute, so the show grows up until the doors open,” Person said.

The musical acts are all from Louisiana and Texas and include the Von Dukes, Large Marge, and Aniston.

Everbreath, The Ruxpins, Aneus, and Signals to Vega will play sets as well.

The members of Art of Wheels Corporation and several of the Waters Edge church members provide volunteer hours to run the event.

Family members and friends also donate time to help the event run smoothly and make the maximum amount of donation dollars possible to the charities.

The charities that benefit from the fundraiser are selected based on a variety of criteria that includes need, the number of local community residents they serve, and the ability to help children. The three groups

selected this year have unique roles in helping younger citizens.

St. Jude’s was chosen because of the epidemic number of childhood cancer patients Southwest Louisiana sees. Buddy Ball & Arts is a non-profit sports league for kids ages 5-20 with any disability (mental or physical) that would keep them from playing on a regular team. Arts on Wheels funds go towards their uniforms.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand was started by cancer patient Alexandra Scott (19962004) when she was four years old.

She sold lemonade from a front yard stand and donated the money to find a cure for cancers that effect children.

The foundation assists children across the United States with similar fundraising stands.

Supporting these deserving charities is easy. All you need to do is come out to Burton Coliseum, 7001 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. for an affordable, full family fun day.

Adult wristbands are $5 and children under 12 are admitted free. You can purchase wristbands at the gates.

They are also being pre-sold at Dago’s Custom Paint, 1202 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles. For more information about the event, to sponsor a booth, or to enter your ride, call Dago’s at (337) 433-3033. TJN

4410 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, LA (337) 478-1578 Each Office Independently Owned & Operated Licensed By LA Real Estate Commission

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Volume 4 • Issue 13

The

Boiling

P l

Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com

WCCH NAMES SAFETY OFFICER West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital has named J.W. Peloquin as its new safety officer. In this role, he will be responsible for developing and recommending new procedures and approaches to the hospital’s safety program and will assist hospital leaders in enforcing safety regulations and codes. A resident of Carlyss, Peloquin was named professional services director of the hospital in late 2010, a position in which he is responsible for the planning, coordinating and managJ.W. Peloquin ing of several patient care and operations departments. His new role as safety officer is in addition to his current role. Peloquin, a graduate of McNeese State University and Baylor University, has worked at the organization for 16 years.

port administration building, which will serve as the port’s new headquarters.

The Kudla firm is responsible for the design of many notable downtown buildings. The Port of Lake Charles encompasses 203 square miles in Calcasieu Parish. For more information on the Port of Lake Charles, visit www.portlc.

CSE ANNOUNCES NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST CSE Federal Credit Union announces its newest business development specialist, Katie Davis.

Originally from the Lake Arthur area, Davis, a McNeese graduate, has established herself in Lake Charles since 2005. She is excited to start a new chapter with CSE and says her main goal is to provide her select employee groups with excellent service and a long-lasting relationship. To find out how your business or organization may become a member of CSE Federal Credit Union, please call (337) 477-2000.

LAYFIELD RECEIVES WCCH SAFETY AWARD West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Sandy Layfield, an RN in the surgical services department, as the recent recipient of its monthly safety award. The award, which honors employees for their promotion of safety and safety awareness in and around the hospital, is distributed to those employees that demonstrate extraordinary awareness and action in minimizing potential safety risks.

Dr. Ken Moss, alumni president (from left), accepts the donation from CHRISTUS representatives Heather Hidalgo, marketing director and Donald H. Lloyd II, administrator. McNeese photo

CHRISTUS DONATES TO MCNEESE CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital has donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University Alumni Association to help sponsor 2012 Homecoming week activities Oct. 20-27.

PORT OF LC TO CONSTRUCT NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING New construction is planned for the administrative offices of the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District, which operates the Port of Lake Charles. In a 7-0 vote, the district’s board of commissioners awarded Jeff Kudla AIA Architect LLC a contract for site selection and design of a new Volume 4 • Issue 13

Katie Davis

JUDGE MINALDI TO PARTICIPATE IN LAW COMPETITIONS Sandy Layfield U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Minaldi has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2012 fall events and competitions to be held at the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law Center. The competitions include six internal competitions, 25 appellate and trial advocacy teams and two national competitions. Judge Minaldi will sit as a final round judge of the Region VII National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the New York City Bar Association. The competition will involve more than two hundred teams from US law schools vying for the chance to compete in the national appellate advocacy competition in New York City. In addition, Judge Minaldi will sit as a final round judge in the Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition, which is open to second year law students. Finally, Judge Minaldi will preside over a full criminal trial in an aggravated arson case in The Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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MEMORIAL’S CARDIAC REHAB TEAM RECEIVES NEW DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT The Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary and Foundation recently donated a new telemetry system to the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program. The Quinton® Q-Tel® Rehabilitation and Management System is able to produce quality diagnostic telemetry readings that will identify heart beat changes or arrhythmias. The telemetry system has a built-in charting and automated reporting system. The Quinton® system will be used in conjunction with the National Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry that went live this past July.

Assistant District Attorney Christy Rhoades and District Attorney John DeRosier.

Rhonda Alvarez

L’AUBERGE CASINO RESORT ANNOUNCES ANOTHER INSTANT MILLIONAIRE L’Auberge Casino Resort announces the resort in Lake Charles created yet another instant millionaire over Labor Day weekend. A guest from Dickinson, Texas won more than $1.2-million playing a Wheel of Fortune® dollar slot machine. Rhonda Alvarez lined up the winning reels at 7 a.m. on Sept. 1. Alvarez is the second progressive jackpot winner in recent months. In February, a Humble, Texas man hit the progressive jackpot on a 25-cent Wheel of Fortune® linked progressive machine at L’Auberge Lake Charles. The Wheel of Fortune® jackpot is paid when a player plays the maximum bet and lines up all three winning symbols on the appropriate pay line. After the jackpot is verified, the Wheel of Fortune® meter is reset at $100,000.

LAKESIDE FUNERAL HOME APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR Lakeside Funeral Home recently announced the appointment of Mickey Ortego as licensed funeral director. With 50 years of experience in the funeral industry, Ortego has worked for several Louisiana funeral homes. Ortego retired after 20 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army as master sergeant and was decorated with awards on 27 occasions. He was assigned to the Army’s Grave Registration Unit in Vietnam and was an embalmer at the Da Nang Mortuary. He also worked at the Central Identification Laboratory in Thailand and Hawaii. Lakeside Funeral Home is located at 340 E. Prien Lake Road in Lake Mickey Ortego Charles. Visit www.lakesidefh.com or call (337) 6562628 for more information.

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF SWLA ANNOUNCES GRANT RECIPIENTS The Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA acts as our region’s distributing agency for the annual Decentralized Arts Funding grant program on behalf of the Office of Cultural Development and Louisiana Division of the Arts. The Council will distribute a total of $45,021 for arts and cultural initiatives in 2012-2013 to Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis parishes. This year, a total of 33 organizations were awarded funding for organizational support and project assistance. Some of the recipients include the Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival; Artists Civic Theatre & Studio (ACTS); A Block Off Broadway; Bulber Youth Orchestra; Lake Charles Community Band; and the Cajun French Music Association, just to name a few. For more information, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787.

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NEW ASSISTANT DA SWORN IN Assistant District Attorney Christy Rhoades was recently sworn in by District Attorney John DeRosier. She will be assigned to the Domestic Violence Section. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in history, Rhoades earned her master’s in public service management from DePaul University. In 2010, she earned her Juris Doctor from LSU Law Center. Before joining the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, she practiced law in Texas. Rhoades is married to David W. May, an attorney with the Lake Charles firm Spears & Gary, LLC, and they reside in Lake Charles.

THOMPSON RECEIVES AUTOMOTIVE SCHOLARSHIP Jillian Thompson, director of operational marketing for Bolton Ford of Lake Charles, was the recent recipient of the TrueCar® automotive scholarship to attend AutoCon 2012 in Las Vegas. The TrueCar® Scholarship Program awarded a total of 12 scholarships to facilitate cutting edge education for automotive professionals. AutoCon 2012 is the newest industry conference designed to connect car dealers with the latest processes and technology.

AutoCon 2012 offers automotive professionals a choice of over 70 educational workshops that cover important areas of dealership business operations.

JULIO GALAN APPOINTED TO GOVERNOR’S ADVISORY BOARD Family & Youth Counseling Agency is pleased to announce the appointment of Julio Galan to the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Galan is the president and CEO of Family & Youth Counseling Agency, as well as The Family Foundation of SWLA. Governor Bobby Jindal appointed Galan to serve as a representative of private non-profit organizations, as required by statute. The purpose of this board is to use training, experience, or special knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency, the administration of juvenile justice, or the reduction of a juvenile delinquency. The board serves to strengthen the accountability, rehabilitation, and prevention of Julio Galan juveniles either at risk or already found guilty of felonies within Louisiana.

AMANDA COX NEWEST REALTOR AT CASTLE REAL ESTATE Realtor Amanda Cox was recently hired by Castle Real Estate. She returned to her native Lake Charles from Portland, Oregon, and said her vision is to give buyers and sellers a new level of customer service in the sale and purchase of their homes. Cox will also be teaching three Leisure Learning classes at McNeese in the fall: Staging your Home for Sale, Building a LinkedIn Profile, and Pinterest Basics. For over a year she has been a social media trainer and has spoken at events with Zillow and HomeQuest. To make an appointment with Amanda, call Castle Real Estate at Amanda Cox (337) 480-6555, Amanda’s cell at (337) 965-0057, or email her at Amanda@castlere.com. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 13

By George “Tip” Cline

RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT, RAISING MONEY I find it interesting that our neighbors in Texas have raised the speed limit to 85 MPH on their new toll highway linking Austin with San Antonio. Safety interests are not encouraged by this move, but the devil is in the details. As I frequently remind my readers, the concept of “following the money” has again proven to be the determinant for checking this one out. Not only did the good folks in Texas make traveling at 85 MPH legal, they lowered the speed limits on parallel roadways to make the fast-traveling Texans more amenable to paying the toll.

Making conventional roadways less attractive by markedly lowering the speed limit and having the higher speed limit highway generate 20-30 cents for each mile traveled per car will make more cash-strapped states rethink their positions on toll roads and fees.

I do recall hearing that the design speed of the original Interstate Highway System was to be 80 MPH. Of course, it is pointed out that these new toll roads are to be engineered for these higher speeds, thereby keeping public safety a primary consideration. That bridge I have in Brooklyn is still currently available should anyone be interested.

GALLERY PROMENADE On Fri., Sept. 28, the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana will hold its annual, familyfriendly Gallery Promenade from 5-9 p.m. This event is a favorite of art aficionados in the area, as many different locations, galleries and businesses will be featuring art and artists of varied themes and mediums. There is no cost to attend and many locations will be serving hors d’oeuvres and beverVolume 4 • Issue 13

ages. If you have never attended, consider giving the promenade a try, and bring the children along so they can appreciate art. You can visit as few or as many of the event sites as you wish. For more info, contact (337) 439-ARTS or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

READY FOR YOUR FLU SHOT? Now that the fall season approaches, the annual flu vaccination shot will be available. It’s a low cost (sometimes free in certain situations) way to prevent serious illness.

Anyone who has experienced a heavy-duty flu in the past will attest to the value of preventing a bout with it. There are also vaccines for shingles and pneumonia that could be more than beneficial to you and your family. Check with your doctor and find out about these vaccinations, which are available at various pharmacies, clinics and doctor’s offices.

SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP Our shopping survey for this issue consists of lighter fare than usual. This meal features a healthier menu consisting of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fresh green beans, an avocado and iced tea. The prices reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale on Wed., Sept. 12.

The stores surveyed are Albertsons, Country Club Road; Market Basket, Nelson Road; Kroger, McNeese Street and Walmart, Nelson Road.

Avocado, fresh whole, medium size, per each: Albertsons, .98, Market Basket, $.79, Kroger, $1.00, Walmart, $.68.

Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, per pound: Albertsons, $1.98; Market Basket, $2.89; Kroger, $3.66; Walmart, $1.99.

Green beans, fresh, per pound: Albertsons, $1.99; Market Basket, $1.89; Kroger, $1.89; Walmart, $2.12.

Lipton Tea, Natural, 48-bag box: Albertsons, $2.99, Market Basket, $2.95, Kroger, $2.69, Walmart, $2.58. TJN SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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Dang Yankee The

By Mike McHugh

Git-R-Done, Yankee!

Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything that’s going on in my life. I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire—a full time job, a column to write, and a house on a half-acre of rain forest waiting to happen. How’s a guy supposed to keep on top of all that, especially now that football season is in full swing?

I suppose my situation isn’t much different from that of most people these days. Life in the 21st century is just too darned complicated. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Remember that cartoon, The Jetsons? That was how is was supposed to happen. We’d

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fly off to work, lay back in a chair and push buttons all day, and then go home to have robots serve us beer and pretzels. Instead, at the rate it’s going, we’ll get to where we don’t even have time to deal with life’s daily necessities, such as nagging the kids about their choice of wardrobe.

And so, I’ve decided that I really need to get myself organized. It’s not that I don’t have a system now. I do; she’s called my wife. If there were a Pulitzer Prize for honey-do lists, she would have won it multiple times.

And yet, she can do about 17 things at once and doesn’t need any lists her-

self. If she were a musician, she’d be a one-woman philharmonic orchestra.

Somehow, I don’t get much satisfaction from ignoring a list of items made by someone else. I’ve got quite a few projects of my own that I yearn to ignore. That’s why I started looking around for a new time management system. And believe me, there’s no shortage of them out there. There are plenty of gurus who promise you that, if you religiously do what they preach, you will organize all your closets, lose ten pounds, and get completely out of debt—all before breakfast.

These systems seem to come and go. A few years back, Franklin Covey was all the rage. Its roots trace back to Benjamin Franklin, who developed something similar 200 years ago. It was lost for centuries until Nicholas Cage discovered it scrawled on the back of the Declaration of Independence in the movie, National Treasure. Franklin’s system was remarkable, having led him to discover electricity, among other things. Without it, he would have been remembered only for discovering where his wife kept the steel wool pads, which, at least in my house, is a

feat unto itself. (She keeps them in the side pocket of the lounge chair along with the remote control, in case you were wondering.)

Nowadays, everyone is hyping a technique called “Getting Things Done,” or GTD, for short. Not that anyone is actually doing it, but it is something that people love to waste their time chatting about in online forums. I decided to do something radical and actually try it, and so, in keeping with the mission of this column to edify its readers, I thought I’d share with you how GTD works.

The main concept of GTD is to write down everything that you need to do on a list, so that you don’t always have to think about those things. This clears your mind to focus on more important matters, such as whether the McNeese State football team will improve its turnover ratio this season. So the first step in GTD is to sit down with a piece of paper and write down everything that comes to mind.

Last Sunday morning, the very first thing that I thought of was how my foot itched. So, at the top of the list, I wrote: “Scratch foot.”

Now, I was not allowed to actually scratch my foot right away, because of the second important concept of GTD, which is to do only one thing at a time and stick to it until you are finished. So I had to complete the list first. This required a lot of self-discipline, but I stuck to it for almost a full minute, after which time I had what I thought was a pretty good list of to-do’s. It contained these items: • Read the funnies.

• Go pick up a six-pack.

• Watch the ball game on TV. • Depending on the score, maybe take a nap on the couch.

I cannot explain to you in words the sense of exhilaration that came from this exercise. I was finally on my way to a less stressful, more productive way of life. Right away, I showed it to my wife, who read it while she was cleaning the litter box, watering the flowers, ironing the shirts, and making breakfast. “That’s nice,” she said, as she pressed the iron to a pancake.

There’s really a lot more to the GTD methodology, and I’d love to share the rest with you, but that will have to wait for another time, as I have got to bring this column to a close.

My foot really itches. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 13

Meet Neville!

Do you need lots of laughs in your life? If you do, Neville may be your boy! What a sweetie he is! Nev, now 2 1/2, is a big guy with lots of love to give. This smart boy would love to go to obedience training (he learned to sit and shake hands in one afternoon and will do just about anything for animal cracker treats!). He loves to retrieve, run, and just pal around with his person or with other dogs. He is very good with cats, although they seem to have little patience with him. Neville must have a fenced yard and a person committed to training him. He is up to date on shots, and is neutered, microchipped, and perfectly crate

trained. Because of his size, he cannot go to a home with very young children. He would be a great companion for a single guy or girl who has the time to spend with him. For more info, email us at lapaw@bellsouth.net or leave a message at (337) 478-7294. A home visit and vet reference check will be required prior to adoption. Please note: Neville IS NOT available to serve as a guard dog. Although he loves to run outside, he is an inside dog. TJN

Suicide Prevention & Intervention Coalition for Youth Community Walk In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 15 minutes. It is the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults. Suicide Prevention & Intervention Coalition for Youth (SPICY) is a not-for-profit coalition dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through education, and to reaching out to people impacted by suicide. Since 2009, SPICY has provided education and information through public workshops, trainings, videos, and documents. Its primary focus is preventing youth suicide.

In 2012, more than 40,000 participants across the United States will take steps to help save lives by walking in one of the 150 Suicide Awareness Community Walk locations. The local walk on Sept. 22 at Sulphur High School is designed Volume 4 • Issue 13

to help raise both awareness and funds for education and intervention for those at risk of suicide.

The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. with the walk scheduled for 9 a.m. There is no registration fee, but organizers are requesting walkers to collect donations to raise funds to create awareness and education within the community. There will be a memorial balloon release scheduled after the walk.

SPICY serves Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, Jeff Davis and Allen parishes. Men, women and children are invited to participate. For additional information or to register, call (337) 475-3100 or go to their Facebook page under Suicide Prevention & Intervention Coalition for Youth.

TJN

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 11

By Christine M. Mocklin, DVM Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Is your dog looking a little potato-like these days? Does your cat have the same body shape as a marshmallow? Is your Husky a little too “husky?” If you answered “yes,” then you are in the same boat as many pet owners today. Our pets are FAT. Some people think it is adorable. The reality is that obesity in pets, just as in humans, is detrimental to their health and quality of life.

Studies show that approximately 54 percent of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. This means about 93 million of our pets are fat. That’s a “big” problem. A dog is considered overweight when its body weight reaches 5-19 percent above its ideal weight. A dog is considered obese when its weight reaches 20 percent above its ideal weight. That can translate into only a couple of pounds for smaller breeds.

How can you tell if your pet is fat? Take a look at Fluffy.

Does she have a defined “waist” when you look at her from above? Is it hard to feel her ribs if you gently press on her ribcage? Is her belly dragging on the floor? Does she have a

PAGE 12

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

discernible collection of fat at the base of her tail? If your answer is yes, you may, indeed, have a fat pet.

Obesity can contribute to or exacerbate a number of medical conditions including: • Arthritis • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Heart disease • Respiratory disease • Tendon/ligament injury • Back/spinal problems • Kidney disease • Liver disease • Skin/hair coat problems How many times has Sparky looked up at you with those sad puppy eyes as you make a sandwich? You feel guilty. Poor dog, he just needs some love (i.e. snacks).

No. What he needs is to be trained that there is no free lunch.

Mealtimes should be consistent for your pets, with healthy treats given sparingly and used as training tools.

Spend some quality time with your pet; he will appreciate that more.

What can you do about this problem? There are multiple solutions. The main factors leading to pet obesity are too much food and not enough exercise. Sound familiar?

Just as in people, diet and exercise is key to any weight loss program.

There are many commercial diets out there made specifically for this condition, along with several prescription diets available if your pet is having more trouble shedding those extra pounds. There is even a prescription drug out there for dogs that can assist with weight loss. A combination of these techniques will probably yield the best results.

You should talk to your veterinarian before beginning any weight loss program. He or she will be able to tailor a plan that will work best for you and your pet.

They key is to stick with it. You and your pet will be much happier in the long run. And who knows?

You may even reap some of the health benefits from his exercise program! TJN Volume 4 • Issue 13

Russ, Marilyn and Beth

By Angie Kay Dilmore

Fairy tales begin with “Once Upon a Time…” and end with “Happily Ever After.” In the middle, there’s Marilyn’s. Marilyn’s Flowers and Catering and their signature banquet facility, Treasures of Marilyn’s, have met the needs of brides and grooms across Southwest Louisiana for over a quarter of a century.

Whether it’s small and intimate or large and elaborate, Marilyn’s Flowers & Catering will make your dreams come true. With the loving assistance of founder Marilyn Dawdy and her daughter Beth, along with the support of her son Russ and a dedicated staff, brides are able to focus on the big day itself while Marilyn’s does the rest.

Your Perfect Day It’s been said that every journey starts with the first step, and it’s much the same for a wedding. How does Volume 4 • Issue 13

the bride get from Point A (the engagement) to Point B (a pictureperfect wedding day from start to finish)? That’s where Beth comes in. You could say that Marilyn, with her elegance and shining personality, has passed the torch on to her daughter.

According to Beth, planning a wedding doesn’t have to be stressful and it certainly doesn’t have to break the bank.

“We start with a consultation, and that’s where we really start to get an idea of the vision that the couple has for their special day,” she said. “We try to accommodate their budget while at the same time helping them to have the wedding that they really dream about.”

Each couple’s vision is different.

It’s important to not get so bogged SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 13

Treasured Memories at Treasures down in the details that you become overwhelmed.

Some of the obvious things to consider when planning a wedding include location, catering, flowers, photographs, minister, and music.

Marilyn’s Flowers & Catering handles every aspect of a bride and groom’s special day so that the couple and their families and friends can enjoy themselves. Their friendly staff will help to set up the music, stay in touch with the cake company, handle decorations, deal with behind-the-scenes concerns, assist with finding a minister if needed, and so much more. During the reception, an experienced coordinator is assigned to help the bride and her bridal party through the dances, toast, cake-cutting, bouquet-throwing, any unforeseen issues that may arise, and the departure.

“We are the longest standing catering company in the Lake Area,” Beth said. “We work with the elite as well as the everyday bride and groom who have a budget. We help them with the planning and make it a memorable event. [There’s] no mama running around in her stocking feet, trying to pack up things and get them back to the rental store the next day. That’s not how we operate.

“It can get stressful at times, but that’s just because I care so much about these couples,” Beth admitted. “They become like family. And I really want them to have the most amazing wedding and be able to make incredible memories.”

BRIDAL OPEN HOUSE On September 30, Marilyn’s will host their annual Bridal Open House from 1-4 p.m. There will be door prizes and seminars on how to plan a perfect wedding, as well as local vendors featuring formal wear and bridal dresses, photographers, music and DJs, invitations, cakes and pastries, limousines, and more. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and admission is $5.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Treasures is a beautiful 18,000 squarefoot building, designed and built to host wedding receptions. With its rolling wall system, the facility can comfortably accommodate small intimate gatherings or large parties with up to 450 guests. “There’s enough space for people to sit and enjoy themselves,” Beth said. “All the guests can see the bride and groom, the dancing, and cutting the cake. Everyone is together. It works for weddings and other events.”

“When you book our facility, we handle all of the decorating customized to your colors, look or theme,” Marilyn said. “We’re not only Southwest Louisiana’s largest, highest-regarded catering company, we are also one of the most established decorating companies.”

“We customize everything, from colors, styles, and themes,” Beth said. “For one wedding, there might be vintage lace, champagne-colored tablecloths, gold chevalier chairs, lots of wrought iron and greenery, pearls, crystals, birdcages, and mason jars. Another weekend, the hall might be decorated with dramatic red, black, white, and silver accents and unique lighting. Every time you walk in here, it’s something different.”

A couple has several options when having a wedding at Treasures. Many get married off-

Beth introduced client Jessica Owens to photographer, Laura Kelley. Marilyn’s catered the Owens’ off-premise wedding. “It was a wonderful experience,” says Jessica. “Weddings can be a lot of stress. I’m a full-time student and mom, and they helped me tremendously on getting things done. They take a simple idea and turn it into something magical.”

Continued on next page

A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES Between both the events at Treasures and those that they handle off-premise, Marilyn’s caters around 400-500 events a year. Sixty percent are weddings and the other 40 percent include various social/business gatherings. Marilyn’s can provide the facility, food, flowers, festive decorations or any combination of those services.

While floral work for weddings is

the focus, Marilyn’s also provides large arrangements for events, churches, homes and offices, along with exceptional custom floral casket pieces that express the character of your family’s loved ones.

They can host a barbecue for the Boys Scouts or serve tea sandwiches for a ladies luncheon. They can design a menu with a theme, something with a Mediterranean flair or a Mexican fiesta.

Volume 4 • Issue 13

premise and then have their reception at Treasures. Another option is to have both the wedding and the reception at the facility. It has an intimate chapel and an outdoor gazebo, or, you can be married in the reception hall. At Marilyn’s, customized service is key.

And it’s the special touches that make Marilyn’s such a popular wedding venue.

Russ Dawdy is a self-taught ice sculptor and can create a variety of unique ice sculptures. Using a chainsaw, he’s carved a solid block of ice into figures such as fish, doves, and the latest in banquet entertaining – a martini luge.

Not only is Beth a wedding coordinator, she’s also a floral designer. Marilyn’s Specialty Design Center is located adjacent to Treasures’ catering hall. “A lot of people may not realize this, but Beth does everything regarding flowers, down to the last detail,” Marilyn said. The day before the wedding, the bride and her wedding party come to the shop. Beth shows them the flowers and they even get to hold them.”

Although the on-site Treasures (venue, business office, design center and hands-on kitchen production facility) is Marilyn’s main site for weddings and other events, they are able to host events at other locales as well— including outdoor sites, the Lake Charles Civic Center, etc. Once, Marilyn even hosted someone’s event at her home when the business overbooked itself (which rarely happens) and had two events scheduled at the same time.

Volume 4 • Issue 13

The business can do as much as you want, or as little as you want. “We can go to the church, pin on the boutonnieres and corsages, and do the bridal bouquets, if that’s all a client needs,” Beth said. “If a client only needs help with offpremise decorating, we can do that, too.”

Full-Service Catering Then, there’s the incredible food.

For a catering company, menu choices are paramount. Marilyn’s chef, Jacques Broussard, has been with the company for 21 years. With an arsenal of tried and true recipes, he can fulfill most any request.

“This is Southwest Louisiana,” said Beth, who is proud of her kitchen staff. “When people plan an event, you have to serve the core items such as boudin or jambalaya. These are the items people love to eat, especially the people who are coming in from out of town. You have to include some crawfish or crab. I try to customize everything when I sit down with a customer. I ask them what they like.”

She knows that the time of year is important. “If it’s Christmastime, you might not want to serve turkey or ham because they’re getting that everywhere else,” she explains.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 15

SMALL STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

Marilyn Dawdy never had aspirations to become an upscale caterer and wedding planner. But as we all know, when something is meant to be, things have a way of falling into place.

In the 1970s, Marilyn was a pharmacist working in Sulphur. Her husband was a school principal who also owned a company that rented out lawnmowers and tools. To keep the business thriving through the winter months, Marilyn added items that could be used for weddings, such as lattice panels, candelabras and arches.

One day, a customer came in crying because the wedding flowers she had ordered elsewhere were not at all what she wanted. Marilyn cut some greenery and fluffed things up—and the woman loved the results.

That prompted Marilyn to add silk flowers to the rental business, along

Continued from previous page “We might have something different.

If it’s summer, you might not want to do a heavy beef, but rather something a bit lighter, such as chicken.

Everybody’s different, and we can make most anything.”

But Chef Broussard does have his specialties – those dishes that Marilyn’s is known for and that people repeatedly request.

For example, everyone loves his Crab Mornay, a signature dish mastered by Marilyn Dawdy years ago.

Broussard still uses the same recipe.

“We use fresh Louisiana crab from

Cameron – no canned stuff. Also, I would put our spinach artichoke dip up against anyone’s,” Beth boasted.

“Our brisket is outstanding. We also do a great grilled steak. And people always comment on our green beans.

I say we put a lot of love into our green beans. We season ‘em up and make ‘em good. We cook like you’re at your mama’s house. We don’t do a lot of chi-chi food. We’d rather serve really good food.”

Whatever your catering budget and whatever your tastes, Marilyn’s can help. There are several options available depending on the number of guests, type of event and budget con-

with lace tablecloths that she stitched herself and are still used today.

In 1978, she bought a florist shop that had gone out of business and opened Marilyn’s Flowers. “That’s one of my oldest memories, being in the flower shop, wiring flowers with Mom and the florist,” Beth recalled. “I loved being in the flower shop with my mother.”

But it didn’t end there. When a client needed some food for an event, Marilyn started making chicken salad in her own kitchen. Eventually, she found some property in Sulphur that allowed her to have a kitchen and gift shop. From there, she developed a business blueprint that still exists today.

Marilyn opened one of the area’s first banquet halls, The Veranda, in Sulphur, and then built and opened Treasures in Lake Charles in 1998.

After operating both facilities for 12 years, all operations were moved to the facility in Lake Charles. siderations. Marilyn’s coordinators will help brides and grooms find a price and menu to suit them.

From a sit-down buffet to an elegant cocktail reception, the possibilities are endless – and delicious when it comes to in-house catering with Marilyn’s.

For a sit-down, plated dinner, which is perfect for the smaller, formal weddings, menus can be set in advance and include options for each course or for the main course only.

There are many packages to consider, which can be discussed in an initial consultation at Marilyn’s.

“We are a full-service caterer and try to make everything as convenient as possible,” Beth said. “That’s what catering is – full service. Every detail of an event is taken care of. Whether it’s a big wedding or a small wedding, there’s a process of making it work.”

Personal Touches The personal touch is what makes a wedding memorable. Tish Jackson’s son and daughter-in-law held their wedding reception at Treasures last June. “It’s evident that Beth has so much knowledge of the [wedding] industry,” Jackson said. “She did so much more, in my opinion, than what [caterers] are supposed to do.”

Laura Babin Smith and her husband had their wedding reception at Treasures. “It was everything that I envisioned,” she says. “I told Beth what I wanted and she created my fairytale wedding.”

“I wouldn’t want to be a wedding planner anywhere else,” Beth said. “I like the people of Southwest Louisiana.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

I love my brides. We form friendships.

That’s what I love so much about my job – getting to know people.” Recently, a woman who’d had her wedding at Treasures 15 years ago saw Beth and said, “I bet you don’t remember me.”

Beth not only remembered her name, but also the colors at her wedding.

Though now semi-retired, Marilyn is still very much involved in her catering company. She handles a lot of the finances and accounting –the things Beth admits she really doesn’t have time for. Beth spends most of her time working with the clients, coordinating the staff, decorating, and arranging the flowers.

Russ focuses on the front office, the kitchen staff, and anything else that needs to be done.

Beth glows when she speaks of her mother. “Mom worked really hard and she taught us how to work hard.

She taught us to take a lot of pride in what we do. But we had fun, too.

Who else in the 8th grade gets to meet and cater to [the rock band] Alabama? Mom makes me think about every single thing I’m doing, because she’s in my head every day.

She and I have a great business partnership. We’ve worked hard for it. It’s not easy being mother-daughter business partners. But I’m proud of us and I love her so much. I appreciate everything she’s taught me. I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for her.”

Marilyn’s Flowers and Catering is located at 3510 Fifth Ave. Lake Charles, La. For more information, call them at (337) 477-3553 or log onto www.marilynscatering.com.

TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 13

By Lauren de Albuquerque

Congratulations! You’re engaged!

You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting and stressful times of your life—and it goes without saying that you’re going to need a lot of help.

Family and friends, especially your wedding party, mean well. But there’s nothing like having a professional at your service to navigate the often choppy waters of planning your wedding.

The details are enough to make you want to elope. So, where do you begin?

First, you and your fiancé need to set a general date for the big day. Next, set a budget for the amount you are able to spend for the wedding.

From there, ask for wedding planner references from everyone you know— family, friends, friends of friends, etc.

When you call on those referrals, here are some of the questions you should ask: • How long have you been a wedding coordinator?

• How do you charge (percentage, flat fee, hourly)?

• How many times will we meet, and how long will each meeting last?

• Will you meet with our vendors and look over their contracts?

• Do you have a backup in case of emergency and can’t make our wedding? Who are they?

She’s the only one who appreciates your dry humor.

He understands that you and your golden retriever are a package deal.

You can’t imagine your future without them in it.

You’ve found the one; now choose a ring that captures how you feel. Choose from the Bijoux Collection, an exclusive selection of unique wedding sets chosen by our jewelry experts. They are designed to withstand day-to-day bumps and maintain their brilliance for years to come, just like your love for each other.

Volume 4 • Issue 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 17

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• Will you be at our rehearsal and is there an extra charge?

• Can you help plan a wedding within our budget?

• Is there an extra charge for phone calls and email correspondence between us?

• Do you have a preferred vendors list?

• Can you handle last minute changes and emergencies?

• What is the deposit requirement?

• If we cancel our contract, will we get all or any of our deposit back?

• What time do you arrive on the wedding day and what time do you leave?

• If we give you the payments for our other vendors, will you pay them?

Consider the level of professionalism and expertise the planner has.

Someone just starting out may be a lot less expensive, but not have the knowledge and contacts that a more experienced planner has. You generally get what you pay for. At the same time, you don’t want to break the bank.

It is essential that you bond with your planner. Your wedding day is one of the most important events of your life, and you must be able to enjoy the process of planning it together. If personalities clash, it simply won’t work.

Organizational skills are key, but it can also be a planner’s creative vision that transforms your wedding day. She must share your vision for the entire look of the wedding. Consider whether she will reflect your own personal style and taste and can represent you as a couple. You want your big day to look like you, not like your wedding planner. See if you can look at photos of previous weddings to see a sample of her work.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Remember, you need someone who is easy to reach and responsive to your needs. If your calls aren’t returned promptly or she doesn’t seem organized, look elsewhere.

Beware of wedding planners who are getting kickbacks for recommending certain vendors. Make sure you are hearing about vendors who are right for you, and not just those who have a deal with your planner.

For a wedding planner to do the best possible job, it should be all or nothing. Yes, someone can come on board a few weeks before the event when everything has already been planned and organized, but that could be a problem. For example, when the cake arrives, how will he know if it’s the right design or color if he wasn’t involved in the cake consultation meeting? This goes for all the other aspects of the event as well. To do a good job, a planner should know what is going on from the smallest details to the bigger picture.

After you’ve done your interviews, write all the information down, but don’t make a decision until you have looked into everything. Compare the prices and services to the amount of money and time you would have to invest if you had to do these things by yourself.

Go back to the planners you contacted earlier, and choose the best one for the dollar. Finalize plans and make sure to have both sides sign a contract that clearly states what service will be provided and what the agreed-upon cost of that is.

Finally, use your wedding planner. Get his to make all the appointments, recommend suppliers, and work with the venue and catering team. You are paying for his service, so make full use of it—and have a wonderful wedding! TJN Volume 4 • Issue 13

Getting ready to pop the question? Your engagement ring budget will be based on not only your income, but also your knowledge of diamonds, so you’ll have a very good idea of what you can afford and what you want to spend. If you’ve done your homework, there shouldn’t be any big surprises at the checkout counter.

The following information is important: Carat The mass of a diamond is determined by carat weight. One carat equals 200 milligrams while the point unit, which corresponds to one onehundredth of a carat (2 mg or 0.01 carat), is commonly used for diamonds with a mass under one carat.

The price per carat is determined by carat weight and increases correspondingly as larger diamonds are less common, but more desirable and used as gemstones.

Twisted Band

Clarity Clarity measures the internal defects found in any diamond, which are commonly known as inclusions.

Inclusions can be structural imperfections such as minute cracks, which have a whitish or cloudy look, or they could be crystals of a foreign material or even another diamond crystal.

Clarity is impacted by the size, number, color, comparative location, orientation, and visibility of the inclusions.

Color A diamond free of structural and chemical imperfections is perfectly transparent, exhibiting no hues or colors to detract from its appearance. In actuality, virtually every diamond has minor imperfections that can influence its value in one way or another.

A white diamond with a yellowish hue would be valued less, while a diamond with a striking blue or pink hue will be valued much higher.

Cut Diamonds are unearthed in an imperfect condition and must be shaped and polished to become truly gem-worthy. The handiwork of an accomplished craftsman coupled with angles in which the diamond is cut determines the cut. Not to be confused with shape, the cut is determined by a precise mathematical equation developed nearly a century ago.

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PAGE 19

Shape Another factor you need to consider when choosing a diamond is its shape. Although shape and cut are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same. Shape refers to the actual shape or contour of the diamond. There are ten popular shapes including: Round (also called Brilliant cut), Princess, Emerald, Asscher, Marquise, Radiant, Oval, Cushion, Pear, and Heart.

Diamond certification Before purchasing, check if the diamonds are certified or not. Some of the most accurate/popular diamond grading labs include Precision Gem Grading Laboratory, Gemological Institute of America, European Gemological Laboratory, and International Gemological Institute.

Metal The metal selection for the ring will be your easiest decision to make. Let’s face it; she’s probably thrown you a few hints by now. If she wears silver, she’ll gravitate towards platinum or white gold.

Like rounded diamonds, platinum is the most popular choice for engagement rings. It’s extremely durable, although it is expensive. If you’re on a budget, white gold is an ideal and less expensive alternative. Yellow gold, on the other hand, is not as popular and is not as versatile.

Ultimately, whiter metals enhance the luster of the diamond.

RING SETTINGS Halo The Halo setting is the most popular design. It features a border of

diamonds encircling the center stone to emphasize its brilliant sparkle and increase the appearance of its size.

Halo engagement rings often feature a vintage design style, but contemporary alternatives are becoming increasingly popular as well. Unique diamond cuts for the center stone in a halo ring can create a very individual design, which is often complemented by a split shank band or by including pavé set diamonds. An emerging trend in halo engagement rings is to use a plain metal halo around the center diamond, which creates a contemporary look that is often accented by sidestones set on the shank of the ring.

Prong Prongs are like little claws holding a diamond in place. They are usually placed at equidistant intervals around round stones or on the corners of other shapes. The number of prongs varies from three to six or even more. Typically, for round solitaire diamonds, four- and six-prong settings are used. For pear-shaped diamonds, a more typical setting is a V-shaped prong, dictated by the shape of the stone and protecting the corners of the gemstone. The more prongs, the more securely the stone is set in place. More prongs also can give the impression that a diamond is larger than it truly is.

Bezel and semi-bezel A bezel is a band of metal surrounding a gemstone, extending slightly above the stone to better hold it in place. The bezel setting completely envelopes the diamond girdle and its pavilion. It is also highly popular.

Prong Halo

PAGE 20

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 13

Bezel

Channel Channel In a channel-style setting, a series of smaller diamonds form a row around the ring, not separated from each other but typically supported by walls of metal on two sides. A channel can encompass a short row of a few stones or the entire circumference of the ring. Channel settings are often associated with wedding bands, but they are also used to accent larger diamonds or colored gemstones in an engagement ring.

of work done by twisting threads of gold, silver or platinum into an intricate design that looks like lace.

If your special lady loves antiques (and if you’re considering filigree, she probably does) you could purchase an estate filigree ring instead of a modern version. You will be getting a work of art—the way the rings were sculpted in the old days was meticulous and detailed.

Pavé The pavé (pronounced ‘pahvay’) setting derives its name from the French word pavé (paved, like a cobblestone road). The ring’s band is literally paved with diamonds, fit into tapered holes or held in place by tiny prongs in a way that makes the surfaces of the gemstones look like pavé ment. Multiple small stones, commonly round or square, fitted next to each other in the ring’s surface, give the illusion of a continuous diamond surface. Often gemstones are cobbled in multiple rows (three to four rows is not unusual), to accent a larger center stone (a fancy color diamond or a colored gemstone) or simply to create a flat or curved centerpiece in and of itself.

Colored stones Colored stones and rings are becoming far more common recently, perhaps due to Princess Kate’s famous blue sapphire ring.

Whatever the case, the white diamond classic engagement ring is certainly no longer the only choice.

These days, there are a lot more colors and styles, which means that you have a lot more options. A colorful engagement ring makes a bold, non-traditional statement, so make sure this ring matches your lady’s personality.

Filigree In the 1840s, filigree metal works started to become popular in European high society when Paris and London jewelers brought the technique back from North Africa and Portugal. After 30 years, the Russians started working with platinum, which was perfect for creating delicate wires in designing light patterns. Filigree is a delicate type

LATEST TRENDS

Twisted/twirled bands While a dazzling solitaire stone is generally the focus of an engagement ring, there’s something truly exciting going on with the newest bands and settings. Twirled and twisted, these intricate ring designs can captivate with their movement.

Often, pavé-set stones glimmer across the curves.

New directions More diamonds are being set in interesting directions, versus simply up and down the finger. An oval, pear or emerald cut set east to west across the finger is a fresh, unique look. TJN

Pavé Filigree

Volume 4 • Issue 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 21

ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B

It’s in the Stars Pardon me if I seem a little bit excited this early in the McNeese State football season.

It’s only been two (three, at publication time) games, one of which was against a Division II also-ran that a couple of years ago didn’t even have a team mascot.

So, it might seem a bit premature, but it looks like this might be a sea-

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

son to remember for Cowboys fans.

The prematurity thing bugged me, though. So I consulted with various experts, mostly barflies, palm readers and voodoo queens of questionable renown; I threw myself into the literature (books on contacting the spirits, farmer’s almanacs, and The Sporting News) to determine if my excitement was indeed justified.

Turns out, all of the omens and premonitions look pretty good.

What do they say? To see the future you must understand the past?

Something like that, anyway.

For starters, McNeese’s record through the first two games has been indicative of its future successes.

You’d have to go all the way back to 1989, the last year of Sonny Jackson’s ignominious tenure, to find a McNeese team that failed to produce a above-.500 record after winning its first two games of the season (Mississippi College and Samford, if you’re curious).

What’s more, each and every time McNeese has won its first two games since 1989, the Cowboys have gone on to reach the postsea-

son. This is not counting 2008, which officially gives McNeese a win against North Carolina thanks to a series of NCAA infractions committed by the Tar Heels. On the field, however, that game was a 3527 McNeese loss, so, as one tarot card reader told me, that disqualifies that result as significant.

The Cowboys’ first victory this season, 27-21 over Middle Tennessee State, also holds a small measure of cosmic significance to future endeavors. Since 1988, McNeese has made the playoffs each time it has defeated a member of Division I-A/FBS. Granted that’s

Volume 4 • Issue 13

only happened one other time in that year range (2007, 38-17 over You’ll Laugh), but hey, the star chart looked convincing enough.

Secondly, a numerologist I met in the course of my research did some digging and, at least up to this point, it seems that the health of McNeese’s roster has held up quite well.

The last couple of years have seen the Cowboys’ roster decimated by serious injuries to key players, some not even making it out of training camp. Guys like Miguel Gauthreaux, Marcus Wiltz, Champlain Babin, Jacob Bower, and Zack Fourroux were all key players who suffered serious or career-ending injuries in recent seasons.

This year, however, has been very different. Not only is Gauthreaux back on the offensive line (thanks to a merciful NCAA eligibility extension), he is providing both vital team leadership and also flattening defenders while he and Alex Savoie and the rest of the o-line open holes large enough for Scooby Doo’s Mystery Van to drive through.

Not that McNeese needs anything quite so large. The Cowboys are content to send its trio of stud running backs, Wiltz, Babin, and Javaris Murray through those gaping holes in opposing defenses.

Seriously, outside of the stable of running backs at the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, is there a better set of running backs in the entire state? I would argue that there are few teams in the entire FCS with as talented a backfield as the Cowboys possess this season.

Another stat that seems to bode well for the Cowboys is the remarkable lack of personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

If anything, the past few seasons McNeese has been infamous for 15yard flags at inopportune moments.

However, this season the Cowboys have just three such penalties through two games and none of which were in crucial situations.

This to me shows a matured football team unwilling to let the other team get inside its head and draw out dumb penalties. Of course, a mature football team is also less likely to make other mistakes and will stand up well to pressure late in games. As they showed against Middle Tennessee State, the

Volume 4 • Issue 13

Cowboys are more than capable of stiffening their spines when they need to.

About the only low point I’ve seen so far is on kickoff coverage where, for the most part, McNeese is about as organized and on-thesame-page as the scoreboard video guys and the McNeese band. That is to say, it’s dicey at best. And that shaky kick coverage may owe to youth, inexperience, poor coaching, or whatever, but through two games it has only flirted at costing

the Cowboys a game.

Maybe it’s just the universe trying to balance things out. I don’t know.

But the big questions are: Will McNeese continue to play this well all season long? Can they win in the postseason?

Unfortunately, for all my research into the darker recesses of scholarship, I could not find a way to absolutely predict the future.

I did, though, buy a Magic 8Ball at Wal-Mart and, according to it, all signs point to yes.

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

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 23

By Mary Louise Ruehr

Add a Little Sci-Fi to Your Literary Life Science fiction and fantasy are possibly the most imagination-bending of the literary genres. The notion of science fiction often conjures images of futuristic technology, outer space, time travel and extraterrestrials, as it does in these recent titles.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter is a sort of alternate-reality travelogue/adventure, featuring occasional bursts of Pratchett’s trademark humor and delicious silliness.

Instructions appear on the Internet for making a simple home-

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

made, handheld device involving wiring, a potato, and a toggle switch. When the switch is flipped, the user will “step” into an alternate Earth. As a professor explains, this “Long Earth” can be visualized as a deck of cards, or “as a large pack of three-dimensional sheets, stacked up in a higher-dimensional space, each card an Earth entire unto itself.”

At first, I thought this was time travel, but it’s more random than that. As one stepper explains to another, they have not traveled back

or forward in time, but “far across the contingency tree of the possible, on a planet where dramatic but quasi-random extinction events periodically obliterate much of the family of life, leaving room for evolutionary innovation. On each Earth, however, the outcomes will differ, by a little or a lot.” In other words, the possibilities are endless.

A few people find they can “step” without using the machine. One of these, Joshua, is “hired” as a traveling companion by Lobsang, a Tibetan motorcycle repairman reincarnated as a computer/drinks machine. “He was the first machine to successfully convince a court that he was a human being.”

Lobsang is a fascinating character, and his relationship with Joshua is multi-layered. The two travel by airship and encounter a variety of people and bizarre creatures.

For some people, moving through past layers is like “a theme park.” For others, it’s “a place to escape” from their world to another. But not everybody is able to step, for some reason, which leads to jealousy, resentment, and even fear.

This is good storytelling, and I had fun with it, but I wished some of the dropped storylines had been pursued further. The ending provides a launch pad for the promised series, so maybe they will be continued, too.

Nicely done.

In 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson, man has colonized the

solar system, including the planets, moons and asteroids. A woman named Swan is on the planet Mercury, mourning the mysterious death of her politically oriented grandmother, Alex. Swan learns that Alex had secret agreements with people on various planets and moons — plans for protecting the solar system.

One of Alex’s comrades, a man from Saturn, asks Swan to accompany him to the inhabited moons of Jupiter to help finish Alex’s work.

They travel on an asteroid that has been carved out and bioengineered into a giant terrarium with gravity, days and nights, seasons, flora and fauna. In fact, Swan used to design these bio-units. There’s even a love story in this huge, 561-page work.

But I didn’t find the plot nearly as intriguing as the science-fiction — the futuristic geology and terraforming of the planets and asteroids, the way life forms survive in their new environs, the descriptions of the future Earth drowning under the 11meter rise in sea level. Adult situations and language.

Walter Mosley delves into sci-fi with two short novels in one volume.

In On the Head of a Pin, an entrepreneur in Los Angeles has brought together film workers to develop “animation tools that would create highend movies indistinguishable from live action.” We are told what happened by the project’s memoirist.

The focus of the work is “the Sail,” a large fiber-optic tapestry that Volume 4 • Issue 13

will serve as a projection screen.

Explains one of the workers, “No one will be able to tell the difference between reality and our images. …

We will be one step down from the Creator … imagining a world and then making it.” Ooh, sounds like they’re getting a little uppity, no?

And, of course, the Pentagon sees it as a possible weapon. Very “Twilight Zone”-ish.

Mosley’s other novella is The Gift of Fire, in which Prometheus, the legendary Greek hero who was doomed to have an eagle tear out his liver every day because he gave man the gift of fire, escapes to modernday Los Angeles. He meets a sympathetic person and indicates that he has a second gift for mankind.

Both these stories have a strong spiritual element, but Gift is downright messianic. This volume is part of Mosley’s Crosstown to Oblivion series, and the next is due out in November.

Adult situations and language.

The Future Is Japanese, edited by Nick Mamatas and Masumi Washington, includes 13 first-rate stories of science fiction and fantasy in its 365 pages. Among the contributing writers are Pat Cadigan, Bruce Sterling, Catherynne M. Valente, Hideyuki Kikuchi and Rachel Swirsky.

In the first story, 1,021 inhabitants of Earth, who have been evacuated from the planet as an asteroid was about to collide with it, are in a habitat module propelled by a solar sail, heading for a star 300 years away.

In others, a soldier in Africa caught up in a war of genocide is given an operation to make him no longer hate the enemy — sort of; a stranded starfighter pilot has crashed in a “village on a tiny asteroid off the beaten path,” inhabited by “enemy” farmers working with automated ride paddies; and in a post-apocalyptic Japan, one of the islands has been invaded by “pirates” from all over the world, committing “newfangled global crimes that hadn’t been named yet.”

One story features a murderer reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter, and another introduces a professional proxy who specializes in the breakup of virtual marriages. Still others offer speculation, contemplation, and questions of morality and feature robots, monsters, flying sky sharks, ghosts and more. I often forgot they were all translated from Japanese.

Adult situations and language.

Copyright © 2012 by Mary Louise Ruehr. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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A Lot Happening This Fall

kins n e J n ayli

By Br

Southwest Louisiana is the ballad playing in the background during my daily grind of work, relationship and excitement. While moments are forever changing in my life, one thing stays the same. I am a native of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, even though I may not have an accent, I may speak and act a little differently and have the outlook of an outsider. I love my home.

As I’ve mentioned it before, close friends who sometimes feel unattached to this area or openly mention their boredom hang out with me and end up thanking me for showing them a new side of our region. And it has many sides.

I love our ever-growing music scene. You have to have an appreciation for and be open to a diverse style of music to really enjoy what we have to offer, because it’s not what you hear on the radio. When I listen to popular music, I feel that originality seems to be pushed aside when it should be cherished and encouraged.

We have some very talented musical artists in our area. A few of my favorites include the Lochness Mobsters and Bobcat. Other groups are doing big things that are probably overlooked.

Vogue Gang is an up and coming rap

group that just signed with a record label in Atlanta. John Guidroz is releasing a CD and is booking gigs in other cities. There’s Lake Charles native Eleisha Eagle who launched into space developing a fan base not only here at home and throughout the country, but also in Europe. Our Wendy Colonna is a staple in Austin, Texas. We see this trend continuing with Ashes of Babylon and other bands that started here. We should be proud of them and support their talent.

I’m not sure if many musicians would agree with me, but I personally credit the spur of music interest in our area to the documentary film, Cajun Hell. The film, which is still not fully completed, highlights a musician by the name of Criss “Drunk” Bennett, a native of Ville Platte, and his influence on punk, hard rock, reggae metal and other genres. He is now deceased, but in his lifetime, he helped us and our neighboring states embrace those genres.

The film crew Eric Dunn, Dana Cormier and now, well-known photographer Daniel Castro, worked with area venues/restaurants/bars to create fundraising nights for the movie, with three or more bands playing different sets in one evening.

After the documentary crew took

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 13

their break from the film, I noticed that bands I’d never heard of began booking more gigs thanks to a relationship with the business owners established through the Cajun Hell crew. From that point on, more bands and music artists have started teaming up and you see two and three bands doing shows on the same night. Of course, this results in larger crowds—music lovers finding new bands and taking a new interest in genres of music they may have never been open to. I have had the honor of having quite a few local talents on my online radio show and it’s so interesting to talk to the Matt McElveens and the other growing names in music.

More exciting news! The Lake Charles Film Festival will soon hold their inaugural event on Oct. 5-6. I love seeing film and music blossoming in our area in new ways. I encourage everyone to patronize events such as this one.

Go to www.lakecharlesfilmfestival.com for more information.

With October a significant month for Breast Cancer Awareness, I think of Ethel Precht

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and the other organizations that put on events during this time of year and the thousands that show up in support of the cause. If you attend, I promise you will leave feeling more connected and with a greater appreciation for our region.

This is how I got plugged in and met new faces and shared in something much bigger than myself.

I am not sure if you heard about the new program started by the Calcasieu Parish Library, but I am now a huge advocate for what they are working to accomplish. The program is called Community Read 2012: “Finding Common Ground.” The program works to bring the community together through a series of books and conversations .The best part is that you don’t have to show up somewhere on a certain date or worry about being behind. All you have to do is find the book they are reading and begin a conversation in your social circles.

The first book that will be read is The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which the famous film is based on.

The situations that take place in the book helped their community

open up and have a great respect for one another. The community read hopes to do the same thing in a softer manner. You can join in the conversation by visiting a library near you.

In closing, I challenge you to take advantage of the movement happening around us. It will require you to put yourself out there a little bit, but at the same time will be so worth it. It’s all a part of the Lake City Beat. Even if for only an hour, get out and take a breather, because you never know when that chance might just pass you by forever. TJN

Braylin Jenkins

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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Apples Autumn Bonfires Chill Corn

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

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

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Volume 4 • Issue 13

r m ende's Museu l l E an en

By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire

The Words

(Distributed by CBS Films) Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) is a young, aspiring writer. Living in New York with his girlfriend Dora (Zoe Saldana), Rory sponges off his Dad while he tries to make it big with the novel he’s writing. But wait!

He’s just a character in a story, being read by Clayton Hammond (Dennis Quaid).

Clay is reading parts of his new novel, The Words, to an auditorium full of fans. One very aggressive fan is Daniella (Olivia Wilde), a university student. During Clayton’s reading, she flashes her smiles like someone taking flash pictures. What is going on here?

This tumble of events is the beginning of The Words. We have a story within a story going on here, and I might as well tell you, a story within that. The good news is that we have some excellent actors in the cast.

Rory, as the central story goes, honeymoons in Paris with Dora, and returns with an antique portfolio as a souvenir. He finds a manuscript in the portfolio, a story about Paris after World War II. The story is so profound and well written that he types it into his laptop, just to feel these words flowing through him.

One day Dora reads the story while Rory is out, assumes he has written it, and urges him to find a publisher.

Did I mention that during all this time, Rory has basically realized that, as a writer, he’s something of a failure?

That he’s taken a regular job, waiting for his big break? And that he’s all but given up trying to write anything?

Meanwhile, in perfect Inceptionesque style, the external story of author Hammond and his stalker fan Daniella is moving along with flirting and highbrow repartee. Add in flashbacks to World War II where the mystery manuscript takes place.

As we watch Rory wrestle with his decisions as a writer, the lines between fiction and reality get confusing and blurred. But the passions involved are very real. The Words is an actors’ movie, and every scene is choreographed to have a certain unreality to it. Some of it is pure cliché, which falls right into the idea that Rory is not much of a writer. I want to point this out because I think a lot of people seeing the film will miss this.

All through this movie of life decisions and struggles, I found myself wondering what I would do given the choices Rory has to make.

Would I put my name on a story I didn’t write? Even though we all

might say no, The Words gives some very strong motivations to do so.

Bradley Cooper, to me, always plays a character who’s a little seedy, or fallible, or whatever less-than -heroic term you want to use. In The Words, he uses this quality to great advantage, leaving us wondering just what kind of person he really is.

At a few points, The Words gets a little tedious. To top it off, the ending is not your typical big finish. In fact, you may leave the theater wondering what you just saw. All of which goes to say, you’ll either like the movie or hate it. At least that sums up the reactions I’ve heard so far. Personally, I like movies that make me think.

They seem to be a novelty these days.

All in all, The Words is a great date movie, but I don’t think kids would need to see it or care for it.

One strong four letter word used once and not-too-excessive kissing and cuddling give it a PG-13 rating.

Have fun! TJN

GREAT RATES!

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(337) 263.4736 Appointment Only Volume 4 • Issue 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 29

DEDICATION SERVICE OF ST. CHARLES ANNEX Immaculate Conception Cathedral School recently dedicated its new addition, the Saint Charles Annex. It was a celebration of the past, present and future of ICCS as students, parents, alumni, faculty and supporters toured the building, which provides the space needed for classes, offices, a library and new classroom technology. It’s easy to see that ICCS is a strong viable source of Catholic education that will live on for years to come.

Laurie Cormier, Susan Blevins and Tina Fuselier

Jimmy Jones, Channin Sells and Nathaniel Jones

Amy Yokubaitis, Sofia Reggie and Katie Yokubaitis

Dawnita LeLeux and Virginia-Kate Mather

Mel Moreau, Cheryl Fuselier and Roni Kimerly

Lisa Foret, Emma Bouillion and Claudia Mayo

Carmen Lejeune, Katie McCall and Clara Lang

REAL COWBOY ASSOCIATION BLACK RODEO It was “The Baddest Show On Dirt” for one night inside the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. The Real Cowboy Association Black Rodeo was a lot of fun for the whole family as they watched 300 brave cowboys from all over the country perform amazing tricks that only professionals should try! Lil Nathan and The Zydeco Big Tymers cranked up the music and the tailgate party kicked off the event with hearty food. Ride ‘em, cowboys!

Latoya and Larry Holston PAGE 30

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Trina McKay and Eric Malbreaux Volume 4 • Issue 13

Victoria Roach and Luke Picou

Clayton Reed and Jayvontis Pierre

Andrew and Charles Lee

HEALTHY WOMAN Over 400 Lake Area women came together for the Women and Children’s Hospital’s second annual Healthy Woman event at L’auberge. Vendors demonstrated ways to improve our health, appearance and overall attitude. There were fabulous door prizes, a creative healthy Mediterranean buffet and the one-woman show by comedian Kelly Swanson brought laughter, tears and motivation to each and every one of us! Congrats to the Healthy Woman board for a job well done.

Ann Sumner and Camille Giroud

Karla Mack and Patsy Dugas

Ashley Schexneider and Morgan Heard

Angel Mefford, Ginger Karcher, Rosie Meaux, Melissa Nunez and Christy Fontenot

Marisa Guzman, Sarah Ford and Jennifer McHaffie

Jessica and Nicole Arabie

Jengi Miller and Delaine Desonier

Sandy Desadier, Diana Williamson, Faye Drake and Brenda Miller

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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DRESSES AND DESSERTS FASHION SHOW Supporters of the League of Women Voters were in for a sweet treat as the LWV joined forces with TeCi’s Ladies Apparel, Sophia’s Ladies Fashions and The Perfect Fit to present a fall fashion show and tea at Lydia’s Event Center. Fashions were carefully selected to flatter each of the models, showing an array of the latest and greatest musthave colors and styles this season. The ladies from Nobless Oblige served up spiced tea to accompany an array of tantalizing cookies, brownies, teacakes, cheesecake and more from various local providers--well worth the calories!

Local talent Angie Manning provided the entertainment. Let’s do it again next year! TJN Kay Andrews, Ginger Beningo and Leslie Landry

Julie Guillory, Francessca Howard and Monique Latchison

Janice Shillow, Nancy Roach and Molly Morgan

Belenese Buckley, Shyrece Celestine and Larvenia Celestine

Jessie Kelly, Stephanie Hardy and Angie Manning

925 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA • (337) 377-6616 PAGE 32

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 13

LA CHORAL FOUNDATION DINNER MUSICAL REVUE SEPT. 21 The Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale launches its 20122013 season with a Dinner Musical Revue entitled “Louisiana – The Brightest Star” on Fri., Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Guests will be treated to an original musical revue performed by members of the Chorale celebrating Louisiana’s Bicentennial. A dinner featuring flavors of Louisiana will be served to the live music of Chris Miller and Bayou Roots. The celebration gala will be at Paxton Hall of First United Methodist Church at the corner of Kirkman and Broad Street in Lake Charles from 6-9 PM. Tickets for limited seating ($35 per person) are available at Swicegood Music or by calling 491-9348. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter and their website www.lachoral.org.

TUNNEL BOAT RACES SEPT. 21-23 Enjoy the excitement of boat racing at its best on the Sabine River in Orange, Texas Sept. 21-23. Enjoy food and craft vendors, display vendors helicopter rides, pony rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, water slides and more for families to do and see. Admission and parking are free. Bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen, and mosquito repellant and spend the day on the levee of Sabine River watching the water churn beneath the speed of the boats. Canopies or tents allowed only on the top of the levee. No pets, no coolers (beer vendor on site), no bicycles. This is a City of Orange-hosted event. For more details, call (409) 8831011 or visit www.orangetexas.org.

CAYENNE KAYAK CHALLENGE SEPT. 22 The Pelican Paddlers Club of Southwest Louisiana announces the 6th Annual Cayenne Kayak Challenge on Sat., Sept. 22 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the west

Volume 4 • Issue 13

end of Lake Charles North Beach along Interstate 10.

Anyone interested in getting involved in canoe or kayak sports is invited. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and events get underway at 9 a.m. Includes a cardboard kayak race, a kayak skills relay race and a paddle around the lake. Food, fun and music will be offered. A variety of boats will be available courtesy of Ship to Shore. Cost is $10 per person. For more information, contact Paul Hearn at hearnp@bellsouth.net, Dan Plummer at danplum@aol.com, or call Ship to Shore at 474-0730.

ART ON WHEELS SEPT. 22 Family fun at Burton Coliseum! Art on Wheels will showcase motorcycles, hot rods, semi trucks, custom golf carts and kid’s motorized vehicles. Enjoy food, music, beer, vendors, contests, fun jumps, a live auction, pin-up girl contest, lawn mower races, tattoo expo, kid’s talent show, beauty pageant, gumbo cook-off, and more!

Adults: $5/Kids 12 and under get in free.

Call 433-3033 or email dagoscustomcycles@yahoo.com for more information.

MACIFEST SEPT. 22 MaciFest will be held on Sat., Sept. 22, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Coliseum at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person, and the cost for families will not exceed $40. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. American operatic tenor Paul Groves will perform, along with other local talent. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, rock-climbing walls, robo-surf, fun jumps, face painting, a pirate ship, a mechanical bull and an Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course for kids and teens. For more information or to make a donation, contact Nikki Fontenot at (337) 802-7392 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/macifest.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY SEPT. 22 On Sept. 22, Conductor Bohuslav Rattay will lead the Lake Charles Symphony as they perform “Die Moldau,” by Bedrich Smetana and “West Side Story Suite,” by Leonard Bernstein. Fred VanNess, tenor, will be making his debut with the Symphony at 7:30 p.m. at the Rosa Hart Theatre. Call (337) 433-1611 or visit www.lcsymphony.org for more information.

INTRODUCTORY NICHIREN BUDDHISM LECTURE SEPT. 23 The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) USA Acadian District will explore the history and philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism over the last 2,500 years. Teachings as well as information of current events and activities of Nichiren Buddhism will be presented. SGI-USA is a lay-Buddhist organization based on the teachings and philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, which places the highest emphasis on the sanctity of life. The lecture will be held at the Yoga Center of Lake Charles at 321 Broad St. from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Lecture is free to the public. For more information, contact Angie Guillory at 842.6001.

SWLA HEALTH CENTER GALA SEPT. 23 The SWLA Center for Health Services will host its 10th Annual Gala & Roast, “Celebrating Community Bridge Builders” on Sun., Sept. 23. The event will start at 6 p.m. in the ballroom of L’Auberge Casino Resort. This year’s honorees will be Healthcare 2000’s Lisa Sterling Walker, LC Memorial Hospital’s Larry Graham and Sheriff Tony Mancuso. Tickets are $50 per person, and sponsorships, donations and in-kind services are available at various levels. Proceeds will go to support patient education programs at the Health Center and student scholarships. To reserve tickets or tables, e-mail dross@swlahealth.org or call (337) 439-9983.

THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT SEPT. 26-30 McNeese Theatre’s 73rd season opens with Stephen Aldy Guirgis’ play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Sept. 26-30 in the Shearman Fine Arts Theatre. The play takes a close look at the eternal damnation of the Bible’s most notorious sinner, set in a time bending, seriocomically imagined world between Heaven and Hell. Directed by Joy Pace, this production includes coarse language and adult themes and is not recommended for persons under the age of 17. Season subscriptions are $45 for adults and $30 for McNeese faculty and staff, senior citizens and youth (K-12). All season subscriptions support McNeese Theatre scholarships.

Tickets are also available at the door. For more information, call (337) 475-5040.

SENIOR CITIZEN’S FISHING DERBY SEPT. 28 The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office will host the Annual Senior Citizen’s Fishing Derby on Fri., Sept. 28 from 7 – 11 a.m. at the CPSO Farm Pond behind the Calcasieu Correctional Center at 5400 E. Broad Street in Lake Charles. Participants are asked to bring their own fishing gear (only one per person, please). The CPSO will provide help in baiting the lines, removing fish from the hook, if requested, and bait shrimp for catching catfish. Refreshments will be furnished. All senior citizens in the parish are invited at no charge. For more information, call 263-4563.

GALLERY PROMENADE SEPT. 28 The Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA announces the Gallery Promenade, scheduled for Fri., Sept. 28 from 5-9 p.m. Galleries and art spaces will open their doors in a simultaneous exhibition of local art to showcase the value of the art space itself to our community and our culture. Businesses and galleries across the Lake Area will be participating, including the newly renovated downtown Lake Charles area. Exact locations and artists will be announced in the coming weeks. If you’re a fan of

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

the Spring Art Walk, then you’ll love Gallery Promenade. For more info, contact (337) 439-ARTS or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL SEPT. 29 Celebrating 65 years! There will be games, crafts, food (hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn) and tables with gently used items for sale (scarves, jewelry, purses, white elephants, and more). Come and have fun with your neighbors and bring your kids and grandkids! The event is from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 3501 Patrick Street, Lake Charles. For more information, call 477-2003.

CLEOMA OCT. 4-6; MAGNOLIA SISTERS OCT. 6 Share a foot-tapping evening with Cleoma! Set in Crowley in the late 1930s, Cleoma, a feisty, rule-breaking Acadian woman made her living in the man’s world of Cajun music. Twice Grammy-nominated Louisiana musician Ann Savoy will read the script in authentic costume that she has designed, and will play tunes woven throughout the script. This production is its world premiere, and is the 13th monologue from playwright/director Carolyn Woosley’s 13-play cycle of Louisiana Women.

Seating is limited in the intimate annex of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum. Performances will held Oct. 4-6 at 7 p.m. Following the Oct. 4 premiere, there will be a Q & A with the performer and author. Following the Oct. 6 performance, the Grammy-nominated female troupe Magnolia Sisters will play two sets of a blend of musical genres. Admission is $10.

For more information, call 436-6275 or email carolyn@itineranttheatre.com.

LA FAMILIA EXTRAVAGANZA OCT. 5 The Third Annual La Familia Extravaganza: New York Vogue Experience is scheduled for Fri., Oct. 5 at the Historic Calcasieu Marine National Bank. It will feature individual store-sponsored segments from Mimosa Boutique and Accessory Zone, with Signatures Salon and Estee Lauder providing hair and make-up. Doors open at 7 p.m. Highlights include a live New York-style fashion show, live DJ, VIP Lounge area, silent auction, and a $500 raffle shopping spree. All VIP guests will be granted access to the exclusive VIP lounge to socialize and network and enjoy specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and waiter service. VIP guests are also granted access to front row seating and valet parking. For more information, call Erica Brown (337) 312-2906. Tickets are now available online at www.lafamiliaextravaganza.eventbrite.com.

ACTS PRESENT 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL OCT. 5-7, 12-14 Artists Civic Theatre & Studio Lake Charles will present Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical as its opening production of the 47th season. The Lake Charles premiere of the ACTS production will be on Fri., Oct. 5 at the 1 Reid Street Theatre under the direction of Damien Thibodeaux.

Additional evening performances will be held on Sat. Oct. 6, 12 and 13 and matinees on Sun. Oct 7 and 14. The opening performance will be a Gala Opening Night Celebration, benefiting the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter and featuring hors d’oeuvres with wine and champagne. A portion of the $35 ticket will be donated to the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter.

During the run of the show, ACTS will be accepting donations of women’s business attire to be used by shelter clients they prepare to reenter the job market. Tickets for the regular performances are $25 each. Reserved seating may be purchased online at www.actstheatre.com or at Lakeshore Medic Pharmacy, Moss Bluff Florist and Gift, Lake Charles Civic Center, or by calling (337) 433-ACTS.

Volume 4 • Issue 13

HOLY TRINITY PUMPKIN PATCH OCT. 7-HALLOWEEN The Pumpkin Patch will be open until October 31, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m.

Sundays. School classes, daycare facilities and grandparents can bring children to Pumpkin Patch Storytime, which is conducted by a former kindergarten teacher.

There are two classes on ten different days. Storytime is a gift to the children of the area from the church.

Call Frances Wynn at 527-5179 to schedule a visit. Picnics can be held in the Pavilion if arrangements are made beforehand. Proceeds from the sale of pumpkins, gourds, and pumpkin bread fund Holy Trinity’s outreach projects. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 1700 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur. For more information, please contact Cyndi Khoury at 527-8787 or the church office at 625-4288.

LCMH 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA OCT. 6 Lake Charles Memorial Health System will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a “Sensational 60th Celebration” at L’Auberge Casino Resort. The event will take place Sat., Oct. 6 in the grand ballroom from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event will feature music by Johnny Rivers, Chapter One and The 1944 Big Band. Proceeds will benefit The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. All gifts to The Foundation are tax-deductible. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased by calling 494-3226 or going to www.lcmh.com/gala.

PRESENT

3rd Congressional District Candidate Forum

Bryan Barrilleaux – Republican

Tuesday, October, 9th, 2012 6pm to 7pm South Regional Library 6101 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503 Pam Mattingly, Moderator Become an informed voter by listening to the candidates as they present their positions on current issues.

Ron Richard – Democrat

*Charles W. Boustany, Jr. and Jeff Landry are unable to attend

League of Women Voters-Lafayette 337-412-8077 • Email:contact@lwv-lafayette.org Website: www.lwv-lafayette.org League of Women Voters-Lake Charles 337-474-1864 • Email: info@lwv-lc.org Website: www.lwv-lc.org Facebook: Lake Charles League of Women Voters

Jim Stark – Libertarian

WOMEN’S COMMISSION FALL CONFERENCE OCT. 18 The Women’s Commission of SWLA, Inc. invites you to mark your calendar for Thurs., Oct. 18 for its annual Fall Conference at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The MarketPlace offers selections from numerous local businesses and agencies that will provide a sampling of their services. Workshops offer fun, personal development, career planning, emotional and, spiritual activities to build your personal values and self-esteem. Keynote speaker Joan Lunden will deliver a motivational and moving presentation during a wonderful luncheon, where the Jack V. Doland Citizen of the Year Award will be presented.

For more information, contact the commission at info@womenscommissionswla.com and visit their website at www.womenscommissionswla.com. TJN

Alcoholic & Non­Alcoholic Fun for Everyone!

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PAGE 35

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The

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Caleb Smith @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

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

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 • Travis Benoit & Allons Dancer @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Open Mic Night @ The Porch, 8 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Street Side Jazz Band @ Luna Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Illusion Five/SugarSkull @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• John Guidroz @ Micci’s Piano Bar, 9 p.m.

• Brian Moore @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• Sean Vidrine @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

• Blues Master @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

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

PAGE 36

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 • TBA @ Art on Wheels Festival, Burton Coliseum, 9 a.m.

• Al Roger & Louisiana Pride @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Radio La Chusma @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Mark Reeves Band @ He’s Not Here, Carlyss, 8 p.m.

• John Guidroz @ The Porch, 9 p.m.

• Mickey “Huber” Smith @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• Sara Evans @ Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 9 p.m.

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

• Blues Master @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 • Lee Sonnier @ The Porch, Noon • Crystal Creek Band @ Mary’s Lounge, 5 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 • The Originalites @ Luna Bar & Grill, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Mia Borders @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Paul Gonsoulin @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

• Black Tie Affair @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 • Scotty Pousson & The Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Craig Morton & Slingshot @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

• Musician’s Open Mic @ The Porch, 8 p.m.

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

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 • Megan Brown & T’Monde @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Street Side Jazz Band @ Luna Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Broken by the Burden/Ashes of Eden @ Twiggy’s, 8 p.m.

• Twangsters Union @ Mary’s Lounge, 8 p.m.

• Prophets & Outlaws @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Big & Rich @ L’Auberge Event Center, L’Auberge Casino, 8:30 p.m.

• Kade Fontenot @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• X-It 43 @ Linda’s Lounge, 9 p.m.

• Karma @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 • Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• David Locklear @ Luna Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Giant of the Mountain @ Twiggy’s, 7 p.m.

• Pookie Marceaux Band @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

Volume 4 • Issue 13

• The Shiz @ The Porch, 9 p.m.

• TBA @ Cigar Club, 9 p.m.

• Karma @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9 p.m.

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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 • Brad Brinkley & Comfort Zone @ Mary’s Lounge, 5 p.m.

• Asian Concert @ L’Auberge Event Center, L’Auberge Casino, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Jerry Dee & Rocking Randy @ VFW Post 2130, 7 p.m.

• Jacob Cooley @ Cigar Club, 8 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• Luke Wade & No Civilians @ The Porch, 8 p.m.

• Gary Helms Band @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m. TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 13

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

PAGE 37

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.

Box” ants e u l “B ne w Friday and I for o lot more. nsored o e , e show ear a whol s jointly sp l Music oodby dle G “ h a h n t w i o a in a d ed to festival raditi present it er a d us w cowboy fi ate T e l e d a h g n e a T e i to Isl or Af t om y I assoc Long h used unds. an, wh ayed s a by the ation, whic seum’s gro h the Gorm int” and pl cy I can’t s 2011’s A , i r u a a it Assoc istorical m med up w al to hono r, Old P ith a delic last release my favorite v a w e s i h f local LITMA te ed the fest rry” Reim tunes wboys. Hi udes one o he Range” , o e l T v k s c i c g a hiatu rs and rev raldine “G er and sh with ’s Call, in Home On scouragin r e “ i v e e , d d e o G n d s e e Ben mory of Her ood song heard / a usic m ooked coff lk onder rd w m f e l c s h i i e t m d s s l b fo o e the -to acou chi seldom ht-year-old bout the w ty. Sh a longtime n, e n r o e u g h o a g e r th (“w – my ei , had as su statio folk C aging eekrd” in Suf d concerts ny Brook’s io show iscour y songs I w w o r d f e w o o s t bo rad Sto s an sa was t a lo ur house n WUSB ( a feminist !), and wa r what ”) and cow I knew.

I spen pany of o , e back ny d h t n t e o m a s d n r h i o i e m d t e Q o “seld to discov ard them Bugs Bun ld show ce featur n, the ar o took OSSL er in the c eather Woo cal h P w e n o e u s d h o r d i o h e l e t i T l mm friend H ing mus tha pris ust have them teach am an else w ster A his su t a r mite S cause how and Im my si ndergarten rm to show eimer e s y o b ends t s folksinge me interes show her Y .R s ki d of ’s Fa o o gie o, be gies” tireles to Benner comes from nonprofit groun ns years ag , Little Do rairie.” Do famou at’s led to s se we like t s g P a o h classe food really ember of arming and carto “Git Alon The Lone ing his cow and t ures, becau to the up t n r s t f w t n e u n w y where e a board m d to teach sent tradiI kno Me Not O lbum feat has “Stree adve ime. d, we val, literall n e d e e a t ” k , t y m n r s e r r r d l a a a ie bec nners sta , and to p e heir 15-acr “Bu goo s past we olk Festi ’s 15-acre n earl Waddie P olm Trail,” ate a , s t e c l i l e B i n s Thi ddle & F r family o e e -t sk ish so the Mu nd, “Th he l a tr ld Ch aking er’s go ration nne d Fi hind rom t a na foodm o new gene as the Benn boy b do,” “The O favorites f t and raco revive d at the Be ed away be stival was e a e e t e tions tead. She w ganizer. of Lar my all-tim obo, proph he the ro c farm tuck ade. The f nyard anir ut the ç s d r i f T h a a e hom program o know abo heir alle- , one o organizer, Phillips, “ t the hard organ uburban f ent with b to ride, an I t r u ” s g . v music ich is why farm, and his summe ll IWW ruce “Utah Trail,” abo es. lined -friendly e t tire swin les to buy e a b t h g r v v n y B i i a i l n a r t t r e , i i i m W e e g -a g teur ight Lov n cattle d Island na fam and th usic. Earli flew in fro y, pet, a eirloom ve loudy-with ns r o n e t o e d n s s d , o l a y m n y o ia c h c ho lk hd Be bo Go ma mil uggy, e birt was R Gerem f cow tlimate picked Q’s fa e to fo or gianc he POSSL is mileston as we wan n lives o headliner sician Paul lues guitar fresh- as a hot, my, and the c do watch f t e w b h i d a a u e y Th when celebrate ith us, an e all took But it -of-rain d ued a torn a week lues m lay countr who of th b c i t w o e w t r i s t s c e s , , ’s p who d a hand over usi stayed ood time ert. It fea acou arned to chan aks had i 9 p.m. aft torms. So e e om a S g c r e s sister how her a Porch con Island perwho l rmonica fr val, he play that protrol-fr a from 5 – d thunder ival was fa t e i s a r n k s r t g a a h s c e a o t . n i t e a F f d ger o u ed and our with rain hat the ner’s B Jacobs, a L s a folk sin eserve At the a Gibson g sound, and uffle n d t . e s t y t i g B v a n a e n i e a a is d th gr he of a to m py of laudia knew ously surpr ded th a gran ion, a de co arm caress that tends th in an red C nown vari ,” who we er a u t m wasn’t ightly atten came had s s r e ity aw rk , ma l ms f ht h d fo forme bluesy ma just caug , the duces the humid od, he hel e and tasty more those who all-day ja a couple o “ d n ’ e t o n t t e a i d u i a e n f w s B e an as o nc and because w local eve desp sonating at is s bscure blu opehere w singalong p the audie s h t T r e t

e r e . l u e h al. up ee ycl wa abo ing anot fine tated sty iar and o tim Festiv n enc wing s me, s, ed gro rs to k il e under g the fam roes with a an’s deft et emce lands’ Folk other lifeti sh plann with calle usic for vie g bluegras n m i s s n n e i g Wood rs ago, in a at the Jew hich cover f all our h a journey to let him dance Plus, the m r acts playi songs (plu o d d a . y w u e Ye and, form tunes owledge an as a shame ge. active us. The fo nd cowbo ina ia per of Long Isl m D a a o n w e t d i s o t s g k c t u e s i i e a n a l c u o s t l , l i e o l s u l l e C b d d t hour elp fro as so we estiva Porch n stag ecois, lin vir Arts F ized with h . Claudia w ge touch ith only an the Back n, and then Queb d grad vio ng the mai es) took d a n i h e n r w o I orga a’s mom Re nwich Villa st Juillia enko cover ical flouris ith hay bal h away remia playe he afterno le to take o i e t s r t e w b e s i d e r h a a t u G l w t p s g a G c u s e u ive, Fa a Cl Ne s with a barn set Porch stag ant y thro he CD sale he covered d art of er cooperat ler e a p g w n n d a e i t n , e t p a in th m ch ck up at ngwri nstage nson turns ut sam rks he Ba hich m folk so hich put o mbers’ wo settled uestions. O Robert Joh nes In My short s and on t seating, w e. e e o v w e q t i d h , k t m ’ n S op .”

Folk and benc nt sightli n alterna d the Bac d fans n’ Wolf an ll, sang “ sletter s of co und” e a e r e i album nthly “new Howl illie McT er City Bo and maybe excell as always ound towa r and roast o W t r w e lv as a m Blind y” and “Si er’s Blues,” RVS-FM’s there moseyed a e hamburg and a shor K t a g h o f t w n o o s We o d s p l h s i n k an Pa ga ps stage r to fa g Cra nger S he sin “Dyin ers familia Porch and from t cowboy si t h m ten ot corn s set fro

, g n i m ar F c i s Mu ally r u t a N

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 13

Claudia’s one of those deep/big-voiced women who can sing blues and country, rock, jazz and folk, who don’t get enough props from the mainstream music industry because they’re hard to pigeonhole, so they fall outside the major labels’ publicity and sales forces skillsets. At Benner’s, Claudia’s band included some excellent musicians – Greg Galluccio (slide guitar), James Hubbard (trombone – and what a fine bass instrument that proved

to be) and Dan Weymouth (keyboard). Together they covered a lot of artistic territory in a couple dozen songs. Claudia alternately belted and crooned her repertoire, and the guys played tasty licks behind, around and out front of her. You can hear them on Jacobs’ new CD Rally On! that showcases ten Jacobs-penned songs, and covers Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain,” and Ray Davies’ “Looney Balloon,” which I think covers the waterfront quite nicely. TJN

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25 Years of Experience

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Killin’ Time Crossword ACROSS

DOWN

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Volume 4 • Issue 13

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43. Cost of living?

44. "I'm The One That I Want" performer Margaret 46. ___ Moines, Iowa

© Lovatts Publications Pty Ltd SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

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