The Jambalaya News - Vol. 4 No. 18

VOL. 4, NO. 18 / NOVEMBER 29, 2012

ALSO: • Christmas Events in SWLA • CSE Credit Union • Pearl Harbor: A Day of Infamy

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

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 Mike Louviere Monica Hebert Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Karla Tullos ADVERTISING sales@thejambalayanews.com

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

contents

November 29, 2012 • Volume 4 • Issue 18

COVER STORY 22 Holidays & Home Cookin’ with Honey-B Ham

REGULARS 7 11 12 26 41

22

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

FEATURES 5 14 16 18

Purple Stride 2012 Bayou Biz: CSE Credit Union A Day of Infamy Christmas Events in SWLA

ENTERTAINMENT 28 31 32 34 36 38 40 42

Red Hot Books Family Night at the Movies HeArt of SWLA Society Spice Jambalaya Jam Local Jam Eclectic Company Funbolaya

16 18

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Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by The Jambalaya News, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

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

On Cover: Honey-B Ham Lake Charles owner Joe Heinen. Photo by Danley Romero of Romero and Romero Photography

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A Note From Lauren Here we Come A-Caroling

It’s that time of year again, when the airwaves are filled with the joyous sounds of Christmas music.

Please.

I understand the need for seasonal music. It gets you in the mood as you trim your tree and wrap your presents, usually by an open fire, with chestnuts roasting on it, while the weather outside is frightful. Or something like that.

I have some problems with Christmas music. First, it starts way too early. Not as early as the store decorations, which seem to come out right after Labor Day, since the Halloween stuff comes out July 5.

Somehow, retailers have got it in their heads that summer ends after the Fourth of July. It doesn’t help that the poor kids go back to school so early, either. It may be a sweltering 98 degrees on the first day of school, but if the kids are back in the classroom, by golly, it’s fall!

Stock those fleece jackets and boots in all the stores and make sure there are pumpkins and orange leaves decorating all the circulars.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Which brings me back to Christmas music. This year, it started before Thanksgiving. There is no reason for this nonsense. We don’t need to hear “Silent Night” before we’ve even had a bite of a fried turkey leg. We’re going to hear it enough from here on in.

One excuse I’ve actually heard is that “There’s no Thanksgiving music.” Do we need Thanksgiving music, really? We don’t have Easter music, except the hymns sung in church. So I’m not buying that one.

Then there is the sheer repetition of it all. The same songs, over and over and over again on the radio.

There are a lot of holiday songs out there; but it seems that all we hear is a continuous loop of about 15 songs and that’s it. You don’t get anything other than those 15 songs.

So, if all you’re hearing are a few songs, why would you want to hear them ahead of time? Aren’t you sick of them by the time Christmas finally rolls around—after hanging around for what seems like months?

And some of them are just dreadful. How can Willie Nelson’s

“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” put anyone in a good mood? Not to mention it goes on and on. Just when you think it’s over, there’s another stanza. Maybe it was cute the first time (not really, I’m just being nice), but will someone please pull it out of the loop?

I don’t have any memories of Christmas songs starting early when I was little, but I’m sure they didn’t, because they never rushed the seasons back then. I do remember the nuns passing out little books with the words and music to all the old carols, and we’d practice them in music class so we’d be able to sing them at the Children’s Mass every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. during Advent.

Richard and I would bring the booklets home, so after Christmas Eve dinner, we’d have a sing-along at the table. Aunt Jeannette had this wobbly soprano, which Richard and I thought was hysterical, so before the singing even began, we’d start to giggle in anticipation. Once we heard her voice, we’d start kicking each other under the table, which only made us sillier. My mother

would shoot daggers at us, but my aunt Gloria would roll her eyes and giggle along with us because she didn’t like Jeannette. Jeannette, in the meantime, was so wrapped up in her own singing (which she considered to be stupendous—like everything else she did) that she was oblivious to the mockery going on right under her nose.

My husband loves Christmas music and can listen to it all year long. I don’t think I realized this before we became engaged, otherwise, I may have thought twice about accepting his proposal. When I ask him why, he doesn’t have an answer, other than, “I like it.” He has his favorite holiday CDs, bless his heart. He also loves “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph” and makes me research when they’re on television. Which reminds me, I need to do that—although it’s probably too late. I think they already aired in October.

– Lauren de Albuquerque TJN

Volume 4 • Issue 18

By Rhonda Babin

The month of November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Wearing purple in the month of November makes a statement. It says that you are aware of and want to fight this terrible disease. After a month spent educating and signing up participants, Purple Stride Lake Area 2012 will be held on Dec. 8 at Prien Lake Park.

Kristi Remy is more than aware. She lost the love of her life and her best friend, her husband Wayne Remy, to Stage 4 pancreatic cancer after a brief four-month battle with the disease in 2003. After he passed, she began a personal crusade to change the statistics of this killer.

“I have dedicated my time and energy to the fight against pancreatic cancer in the hope that one day, when someone is faced with the same diagnosis that my husband had, they will have a fighting chance,” Remy explained.

“Together, we can make a difference. We can

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Pictured below: Top: Some members from Team Crookshank.

Middle: Kenneth Marks and Kristi Remy.

Bottom: Christus St. Patrick's Team Bottom Left: Team Crookshank

bring support and hope to our community.

I cannot change my fate and what happened to Wayne, but I will not see others face this diagnosis with such hopelessness.”

Four years ago, Remy’s crusade brought her to Washington, D.C. There, she joined with 500 other volunteers from the national organization, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, to lobby for more funding for pancreatic cancer research.

Serving as the volunteer event coordinator for Purple Stride Lake Area is another way Remy fights pancreatic cancer. “This will be my eighth year leading the crusade in the Lake Area,” she said. “If we are to advance research, we have to start in our local communities and then broaden our approach nationwide. As an example, look what happened when breast cancer awareness was brought to Capital Hill. The Susan G. Komen nationwide walks started small in local communities because people cared.”

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Remy said she has a simple belief.

“If we can get monies into the hands of brilliant researchers the gates will open and early screening methods and competent treatments will come through,” she said. “Pancreatic cancer research is 40 years behind the other top cancer killers. The only way this will change is to raise awareness and funds.”

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. It is also the least funded cancer in the top five and therefore, has the lowest survival rate upon diagnosis.

Breast, prostate, lung, and colon and rectal cancer all have survival rates that have increased proportionately with the amount of research funds granted. It is estimated that between the years 2015-2020, pancreatic cancer deaths will rise to the number two spot, right behind lung cancer.

Pancreatic cancer can go undetected since there are no tools to diagnose the disease when it is in its early stages and surgical removal of the tumor is still possible. Because the symptoms can be vague and usually involve the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract, different conditions are looked at before the possibility of a tumor caused by pancreatic cancer is considered.

That was the case with Belinda Bentley. She was diagnosed with pan-

creatic cancer in 2010, although she had symptoms since 2008. It went undetected while she was treated for gall bladder disease and other stomach ailments.

Bentley moved to the Lake Area in August 2012 with the understanding that she would have to fly back to her home state of Michigan to continue treatments that would save her life.

Her doctor explained that the tumor she had was hidden inside the body of the pancreas behind the area where the bile duct is located. They could not biopsy the tumor due to its location. The prognosis, as with most pancreatic cancer patients, was grim.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis with this disease in the metastatic stage is just five to seven months.

“I just broke down,” Bentley remembered. “I have four children and grandchildren as well, and I wanted to be here for them.”

She explored some limited options, even looking outside the United States for a physician that could perform a surgery that would require a common bile duct tissue donor. She would have a one-in-three chance of survival with the procedure.

Opting to join a University of Michigan research trial, Bentley received Cyberknife Radiation. This type of radiation takes an image of

the tumor and using a robotic machine, delivers the radiation to just the tumor. The procedure was successful. Her tumor shrunk. An MRI this past May still shows her to be cancer free.

Bentley learned about Purple Stride Lake Area at a breast cancer walk. She will be walking in December because of a young participant in her research study group.

“There was a nine-year-old child in my group,” she said. “He was born with the disease and his life ended while I was still undergoing treatments. He had been fighting since he was born. I am inspired to fight. If he didn’t survive, I will help someone else who will.”

Sulphur resident Kenneth Marks will also be walking.

One morning at breakfast, his daughter asked if he felt all right because he was yellow. He eventually discovered he was jaundiced due to a lesion on his pancreas that was pressing on his gall bladder and causing bile to back up in the organ.

Marks received a stent to relieve the build-up and surgery was performed. The Whipple Procedure is well known in the pancreatic cancer community. This surgery removes the head of the pancreas, a portion of the bile duct, the gall bladder, and duode-

num. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments followed Marks’ surgery.

He has been cancer-free for nearly three years.

To others who face similar battles Marks says, “Giving up is not an option. Every day the chances of survival are increased. Have the will to live and don’t ever stop.”

His story will be shared at Purple Stride. The two-mile walk starts at 7 a.m. There will also be kid-friendly activities and a silent auction from 710:15 a.m. You can bid on such fabulous items such as autographed framed prints of Drew Brees, wines, a duck hunt, and a day of spring cleaning. Raffle tickets will be sold and the winner will receive a Christmas tree decorated with gift cards valuing close to $1,000 dollars.

Come out and join in the fun and help Purple Stride Lake Area 2012 reach their goals of raising $70,000— and doubling the survivor rate by 2020.

To join the local effort, visit the Purple Stride website at www.purplestride.org/lakearea or register the morning of the walk. For more information on fighting pancreatic cancer, visit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network website at www.pancan.org or by calling (877) 272-6226. TJN

2770 Third Avenue, Suite 125, Lake Charles, LA 70601 Located in the Medical Office Building on the Lake Charles Memorial Hospital campus.

Phone (337) 494-AMRI PAGE 6

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

The

Boiling

P l

Please submit press releases to lauren@thejambalayanews.com

GRADUATION AT LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY The Calcasieu Parish Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy completed its 103rd Basic Academy by conducting graduation ceremonies today for 46 officers representing 16 agencies in the five-parish area. There were 44 officers who completed 320 hours of instruction in all phases of basic law enforcement and two officers who completed a refresher course of 90 hours of instruction. All 46 law enforcement officers passed the Louisiana Peace Officer Standard Testing exam and are now certified as Basic Peace Officers.

Medicare & Medicaid Services pay for performance program, a program that rewards hospitals with reimbursement based on the quality of care provided and the patient satisfaction.

COUSHATTA PRINCESSES NAMED Elton High School honor student Hannah Jane Nichols, 17, was crowned Coushatta Tribe Princess and 12-year-old Leigh-Anne Michelle Thompson, Elton Jr. High student, was named Coushatta Jr. Princess during a pageant held recently in conjunction with the Coushatta Farmers’ Market. Nichols represents the Beaver Clan and is the daughter of Raymond and Phyllis Nichols. Thompson is the daughter of Debra Thompson Leigh-Anne Michelle and Arnold John and is from Hannah Jane Nichols Thompson the Bobcat Clan.

(Left to right) Memorial Sports Medicine Director Jamey Rasberry, trainer Naomi Stauth, Memorial Senior VP of Philanthropy Leif Pederson, assistant principal Scott Nunez, and coaches Jason Leonards and T.J. Hoffpauir.

FOUNDATION FOR FAIRPLAY DONATES TO BELL CITY HIGH SCHOOL The Foundation for Fairplay Fund (F3) recently donated $1,600 in athletic medical equipment to Bell City High School. The money purchased a Mettler Sys*Stim® 226 neuromuscular stimulator. F3 was established by The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital to provide a more level playing field in the areas of preventable injury needs. The fund will assist schools in acquiring training room equipment needed for the rehabilitation of sportsrelated injuries and creating safe physical fitness surroundings. To learn more about F3 or to make a donation, call 494-3226 or visit www.lcmh.com/f3.

Pictured is Gena Tyson and Clarence Wilson of Tyson Foods and Doug Gehrig of McDonald's of SWLA, along with representatives of numerous nonprofit organizations.

WCCH HONORED FOR PATIENT SAFETY, QUALITY AND SATISFACTION West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital was recently recognized by three independent organizations for scoring highly in the areas of safety, quality and patient satisfaction. WCCH was awarded with a Grade “A” Hospital Safety ScoreSM by the Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit.

WCCH was also awarded a 2011 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures award by the Joint Commission for exceeding the 95 percent or better performance rate in key quality measures that are considered best practice for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care patients. WCCH was also informed that it exceeded performance criteria in the Centers for

MCDONALD’S AND TYSON FOODS FIGHT HUNGER IN CALCASIEU PARISH McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana and Tyson Foods donated 31,000 pounds of boneless chicken to the Abraham’s Tent Food Bank. Other local nonprofits including the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter, Greater St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, Faith and Friends Food Pantry, the Potter’s House, Oasis Women’s Shelter, City of Refuge, Dorcas Ministry, Matthew 25:40, Friends Ships Unlimited, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and St. John Baptist Church also received donated chicken through Abraham’s Tent, which serves more than 250 meals a day in Calcasieu Parish, totaling 64,000 meals a year. The food bank also provides food for emergencies through the

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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United Way in the five-parish area of Southwest Louisiana. In addition to meals, Abraham’s Tent also provides clothing, basic medical services such as blood pressure checks and physician visits to those in need.

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PROMOTION AT IBERIABANK IBERIABANK is pleased to announce the recent naming of Kyle Duplantis as assistant VP and business banking relationship manager for SWLA. Duplantis joins the company with 16 years of banking experience, including business and consumer lending and investments and branch management. A graduate of Nicholls State University, he most recently served as the business and finance manager for Billy Navarre Automotive Group. His office is located at 2901 Ryan Street in Lake Charles. He can be reached by phone at (337) 312-7107 or by email at kyle.duplantis@iberiabank.com.

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David Benada, Louisiana Chidren’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana Board Member; Kerry Andersen, Corporate Director of Media Relations & Public Affairs for Pinnacle Entertainment and Family & Youth Board Chair; and John Wyble, Executive Director, Louisiana CASA and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana.

FAMILY AND YOUTH NAMES BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR Family & Youth is proud to announce that the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana recently named Kerry Andersen as Board Member of the Year. Andersen currently serves as chair of the Family & Youth board of directors. She has served on the board since 2004, and has also served as a member of the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana Board of Trustees since 2006. Kerry recognizes what it takes for an organization like Family & Youth to be successful, and has organized and/or been a part of numerous events to ensure that success. In her professional capacity, Kerry has been instrumental in focusing L’Auberge’s philanthropic efforts on children and families. In addition to her professional influence, Kerry volunteers her personal time as well.

Paul Lungaro, Capital One Vice President; Karen Thomas, Capital One Branch Manager/Assistant Vice President and JASWLA Board Member; Meg Lovejoy, JASWLA District Director; and Greg Webb, Capital One Market President.

CAPITAL ONE CONTRIBUTES TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT Capital One has made a $24,000 contribution to Junior Achievement of PAGE 8

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Southwest Louisiana to promote financial literacy to area students. Capital One will sponsor JA Finance Park for area 8th and 12th grade students Jan. 9 – 18, 2013. Contact jaswla@sbcglobal.net for more information.

McNeese College of Science Dean George Mead, from left, and Dr. B.E. Hankins, himself a Professor Emeritus, present Dr. Kalil P. Ieyoub with a certificate honoring him as Professor Emeritus. McNeese Photo

DR. IEYOUB NAMED PROFESSOR EMERITUS Dr. Kalil P. Ieyoub, retired chemistry professor, chemistry department head, dean of the college of science and vice president for administration and student affairs at McNeese State University, was recently honored by the university with Professor Emeritus status. A native of Lake Charles, Ieyoub received his bachelor’s degree from McNeese and both his master’s and doctorate degrees in organic chemistry from LSU. Emeritus status is specifically granted to honor retired faculty and administrators who have made distinguishing professional contributions and have served significant portions of their careers at McNeese. Only a select few receive this recognition for their service to the university.

(Left to right) Kerry Andersen, director of media relations & public affairs for Pinnacle Entertainment; Julie Ragusa, L’Auberge VP of marketing & LCCB board member; Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough, LCCB Artistic director; Donita Helms, LCCB President and members of the ballet company.

PINNACLE DONATES TO LCCB The Pinnacle Entertainment Foundation, operated by the parent company of L’Auberge Casino Resort, recently donated $5,000 to the Lake Charles Civic Ballet. LCCB will be performing Christmas in Louisiana: Once Upon A Time Dec. 6-8 at the Rosa Hart Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at www.lakecharlescivicballet.com.

KEN DEWEY RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD Volunteers of America nominated and awarded long-time volunteer, Ken Dewey, for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Dewey has been a volunteer with Volunteers of America since April 2008. Since then, he has given over 1, 100 hours of service in the CHOICES Day Program by providing recreational activities with the clients in the program. For his service, Dewey received a framed award certificate, a congratulatory letter from President Barak Obama and bronze service pin. Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach also personally awarded Dewey with a certificate for his service and a key to the city lapel pin. For more information about Volunteers of America, call (337) 497-0034.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

Dental Assistant: Starts Dec. 10 • 10 Weeks Physical Therapy Technician: Starts Jan. 7 • 8 Weeks Phlebotomy Technician: Starts Jan. 7 • 10 Weeks Medical Ins. & Coding Specialist: Starts Jan. 14 • 4 Weeks EKG Technician: Starts Mar. 4 • 4 Weeks Medical Office Assistant: Starts Feb. 11 • 8 Weeks "I chose Academy of Acadiana over the others because of their friendly, helpful staff, positive campus atmosphere, and full hands on experience. This school gave me the confidence and education I needed to achieve my goal of becoming a dental assistant." — Jessica Oldham NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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BILLY NAVARRE DONATES TO ST. LOUIS HS ATHLETICS Billy Navarre Chevrolet Cadillac donated $12,000 to sponsor St. Louis High School Athletics. This donation will allow the school to keep up with their current athletic programs.

LAKE CHARLES

DR. OLIVIER RELOCATES MEDICAL OFFICE Maureen Olivier, M.D., board certified dermatologist with Imperial Health, has relocated her medical practice to 4150 Nelson Road, Building E, Suite 1, in Ryan Navarre presents the check to St. Louis Lake Charles. Dr. Olivier has High School Head Baseball Coach Chad Hebert. practiced medicine in the Lake Charles area for 29 years and offers a comprehensive range of general dermatology and cosmetic skin care treatment options for patients of all ages.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (337) 474-1386.

3113 Ryan St, #1 (337) 491-0925 4435 Nelson Rd. (337) 477-5014

SULPHUR 190 N. Cities Service Hwy. (337) 626-0925

www.ASTtanning.com

(Left to right) Don Dixon, Richard H. Reid, executive VP of the McNeese Foundation, and Alan Heisser. McNeese Photo

COPS AND JOCKS DONATE TO MCNEESE Cops and Jocks donated $30,000 to the McNeese State University Foundation for both the Don Dixon and Alan Heisser Academic Scholarship and the Enforcement Scholarship. The funds for the scholarships were raised at the recent Cops and Jocks golf tournament held at L’Auberge Casino Resort.

BROUSSARD RECEIVES NATIONAL TAXIDERMY CERTIFICATION The National Taxidermists Association recently announced that Todd Broussard of Lake Charles has received certification at the national level in the category of Bird Taxidermy. Only 105 taxidermists have been admitted nationwide into the program. Broussard has distinguished himself through winning at taxidermy competitions and the desire to improve through educational workshops and seminars. The National Taxidermists Association certification program is designed to recognize those taxidermists who have won awards for high quality standards in their work. It also offers sportsmen a standard by which they can select a qualified taxidermist. Those taxidermists who have passed the qualifying procedure have exclusive use of a specially designed certification emblem for Todd Broussard their use. For more information, go to www.broussardstaxidermy.com. TJN

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

By George “Tip” Cline

FOOD WASTE When you make your produce selections from your favorite purveyor of foods, you probably don’t even think about the massive quantities of those items that have been gleaned from the shelves and thrown into the dumpster. Is there a better resolution for vegetable and fruit that are approaching deterioration? Some stores gather the best of them and package them at reduced pricing before they’re no longer edible. Market Basket and Kroger appear to be the most conscientious in not only preventing the waste but getting some return on their purchase. It’s a real shame for good food to be thrown out when there are those who can enjoy it.

HURRICANE RUMORS In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, there were rumors that outof-state, non-union electric crews were turned away. I find it hard to believe that the devastated coastal areas in New Jersey and New York would not accept help from their fellow utility workers. In every case I could track down, no one refused help. There were some crews that did turn around due to duplications in particular parts of the states, but no crew was rejected for its lack of union membership.

In our own recovery from Hurricane Rita, utility crews from all over came to help. We were not checking union cards. In our neighborhood, like so many in Lake Charles, the lights were out for a couple of weeks. I know in some areas it was much longer than that.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

The crew that came to get our street back on line was from Tennessee and was caring, polite and courteous—from apologizing for having to cause ruts in lawns, to making sure there was adequate room for cars to pass, to just being kind and giving us warm smiles.

As they neared the end of the repairs, my neighbors and I felt so appreciative that we all got together to give them a “thank you” barbecue. We did burgers, hot dogs, sausages, pork steaks and just about anything else we could grill, along with ice tubs full of cold drinks, water and beer. We could not thank these workers enough. I feel sure that they would come back in a heartbeat if, heaven forbid, we needed them again.

POSITIVE RESPONSE We were most gratified by the positive responses to last issue’s column on appointment etiquette and behavior on both sides of those relationships. It is our objective to pass on “Tips” where we find them to our faithful readers. Your positive feedback makes our efforts worthwhile and we appreciate your taking the time to share your feelings.

SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP In the spirit of the holidays, baking different goodies is a major part of many family traditions. Sugar cookies are popular at gatherings, so with that as an inspiration, we will do our shopping survey on some of the main ingredients used in their creation.

We will need all-purpose flour, baking powder, butter, sugar and eggs. The stores we checked this time are: Albertsons, Country Club

Road; Market Basket, Nelson Road; Kroger, McNeese Street and Walmart, Nelson Road. These prices were obtained on Nov. 19 and 20 and reflect the prices posted on the shelf where the product was placed for sale.

Gold Medal All Purpose Flour, 5-pound package: Albertsons, $3.39; Market Basket, $1.59; Kroger $2.67; Walmart $2.44.

Sugar, store brand, granulated 4-pound package: Albertsons $2.49; Market Basket, $2.99;

Kroger, $2.48; Walmart, $2.48.

Butter, store brand, one-pound package: Albertsons, $1.97; Market Basket, $2.99; Kroger, $2.38; Walmart, $2.48.

Clabber Girl Baking Powder, 8.1-ounce package: Albertsons, $2.19; Market Basket, $3.59; Kroger, $1.79; Walmart, $1.58.

Eggs, fresh, per dozen: Albertsons (AA Grade), $1.58; Market Basket (AA Grade) $2.02; Kroger, $1.69 (A Grade); Walmart $1.68, (A Grade). TJN

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

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Strand Theatre, 423 N. Main St., Jennings, La Doors open @ 11 • Competition begins @ 11:30

2013 REGISTRATION

The Squeezebox Shootout is open to Cajun (single-row diatonic) accordion players of all ages and performance level.

There is no registration fee for the 2013 event.

TO REGISTER: Fill out the automated form at www.jeffdavis.org & email it to polly@cityofjennings.com or fax it to (337) 821-5545 or visit the W.H. Tupper Museum located at 311 N. Main St., Jennings and fill out a form. You must REGISTER in order to compete.

The deadline to enter is Tuesday, February 5, 3:00 p.m.

THERE ARE FOUR DIVISIONS: Youth Division: Age 13 and under • Junior Division: Age 14-20 Adult Division: Age 21 and older • Professional Division: All ages Cash Prizes & Trophies will be awarded.

General Admission $5.00, Under 12 FREE For more information call (337) 821-5532 or email: michelle@cityofjennings.com Proudly sponsored by the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission, the City of Jennings and the Jennings Festival Association.

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Dang Yankee The

By Mike McHugh

Burn This!

Dress Up Your Home for the Holidays. The holiday season is right around the corner.

Why not take advantage of extraordinary savings from Hunter Douglas to make your home even more style perfect, warm and welcoming? Celebrate the season and save $100 or more on an array of window fashion options—now through December 15th.

Be sure to visit your local participating Hunter Douglas dealer for complete details today.*

* Manufacturer's rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 9/15/2012 - 12/15/2012 in the U.S. only. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of any of the product models set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. All rebates will be issued in U.S. dollars, in the form of an American Express® Prepaid Reward Card.

Alustra® Collection products are included where applicable. This rebate offer may not be combined with any other Hunter Douglas offer or promotion. See participating dealers for details.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Some friends recently invited us to their mortgage-burning party. I wasn’t all that excited about going, particularly since we had just re-upped with our lender for few more decades.

My wife saw things differently, however. “Why should it matter?” she asked me. “The fact that you’re not Mexican doesn’t seem to keep you away from the margarita machine on Cinco de Mayo.”

“Besides, I’d want our friends to celebrate with us when we pay off our house note,“ she continued.

“Okay, fine,” I said. “I’ll go prepare the invitations. How’s this sound: ‘Come celebrate the retirement of our house note, or our wake, whichever comes first.’”

But as usual, my wife prevailed, and we went to the party. “We are debt-free!” our host Larry proclaimed as he dropped first the mortgage document, and then, as a bonus, his car note, into the fire.

Quite frankly, I’d expected more of a spectacle.

The mortgage was printed on a single sheet of paper, unlike the one I had just signed, which ran 56 pages and ended up putting my arm in a sling. I‘m going to need a permit from the fire marshal if and when I finally get the chance to burn it.

But that’s how it is these days. You can’t even sign a permission form for a school field trip anymore without risking carpal tunnel syndrome.

It’s fortunate that things weren’t that way back when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Otherwise, they’d be playing “God Save The Queen” before baseball games, thanks to some loophole.

Imagine how the conversation might have gone following the Battle of Yorktown: “General Washington, despite my unconditional surrender, His Majesty cannot recognize the colonies’ independence.”

“How can that be, Lord Cornwallis?

We just kicked your red-coated tails.”

“Yes, technically speaking, you did; but, unfortunately, Mr. Hancock failed to initial page seventeen of the addendum where indicated. This renders your Declaration null and void.”

But, luckily, our nation gained its freedom in a simpler time, when gypsy moths still threatened our forests more than the lawyers did. A time when you could draft a fully legal mortgage on a Post-it note.

Speaking of Post-its, Larry happened to have some on hand for the occasion, thus giving us all a chance to add some fuel to the fire. Setting them on the table, he encouraged us to create our own notes and drop them in the flames.

“He’s got to be kidding,” I said to my wife. “What can be the purpose of this?”

“You write down your cares and worries,” she replied. “Burning them in the fire helps you to put them behind and move on.”

“I can’t think of anything,” I said.

“Come on, you’ve complained enough in the past week to fill up a whole pad yourself.”

“Okay,” I challenged her, “Help me, then. Name one thing.”

“Well, start with the name of someone you’ve been holding a grudge against. Like maybe some busybody who keeps giving you unwanted advice.”

I thought for a minute and jotted a name.

“Who’s Dave Ramsey?” she sneered, peeking over my shoulder.

“You know. He’s that guy on the radio who’s always spouting off about getting debt-free.”

“Oh, you’re impossible,” she replied as she scrawled a name on the notepad and strutted off to the fire.

I caught a glimpse of what she wrote just before the flames consumed it.

“Hey!” I protested. “That was my name!” TJN Volume 4 • Issue 18

Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 13

Bayou

Biz

CSE Credit Union

Strong Roots in our Community

By Lauren de Albuquerque

Most of us put our hard-earned money in the bank. But, there’s another option: the credit union. And CSE Federal Credit Union may be just the place to keep your money. It’s a homegrown entity with strong roots in our community.

HISTORY CSE Federal Credit Union was established on Dec. 7, 1943, when the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation granted a charter to establish a federal credit union.

Originally, membership was limited to employees of Cities Service Refinery Corporation in Calcasieu Parish, CSE FCU employees, and members of their immediate family.

The credit union held its first board meeting on Jan. 6, 1944, and R. L. Christian was elected the first president/chairman of the board. At the end of 1944, the credit union had 78 members. In 1948, CSE FCU operated in the home of Mary Freeman, who was the appointed treasurer at that time. The credit union continued to grow, and in 1951, CSE FCU was moved from the Freeman home to the clock house at Cities Service Refinery. Richard S. (“Dick”) Freeman succeeded his wife as treasurer.

Membership increased to 3,000 by 1960, aided by the addition of employees from the Cities Service Petrochemicals division, known as Cit-Con, to the field of membership. CSE FCU quickly outgrew PAGE 14

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

the clock house room at the refinery and land was purchased on Cities Service Highway in Maplewood for a new office building. The credit union moved into the new building in 1961. CSE FCU operations were then moved to the current Swisco Road location once completed in 1994.

When the decision was made to open a Lake Charles location on Nelson Road, a temporary office was opened during the progression of the new Main Office location, which was opened in 2008.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CREDIT UNION AND A BANK? CSE FCU is dedicated to providing members exceptional amenities and a better value on financial services.

“As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we at CSE FCU are generally able to offer our members better rates and lower fees than other financial institutions,” said Director of Marketing Colleen Desselle.

“Our members also find we place a higher priority on personal and friendly service.

Our credit union is directed by a board of volunteers comprised of credit union members.”

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Unlike most other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or paid dividends to outside stockholders.

“At CSE FCU, our earnings are returned to our members in the form of lower loan rates, higher rates on deposits, and lower fees,” she said.

Once you become a credit union member, your immediate family members are eligible for membership. Today, CSE FCU is federally insured by the NCUA and an Equal Housing Lender.

“We are the sixth largest credit union in Southwest Louisiana, with membership exceeding 32,000 and assets in excess of $250 million,” Desselle said.

SERVICES CSE FCU offers a wide variety of products and services to members.

Products include variations of checking, savings, and business accounts along with loans. Additional services include mobile and online account access and 50,000+ surcharge Free ATMs nationwide.

CSE FCU is an affiliate of CU Service Centers, which are credit union facilities that are owned and shared by a group of credit unions.

Wherever you see the “swirl” logo, that institution falls under the CU Service Center network. At these locations, members can access their accounts as if they were transacting at their local credit union.

ment with Select Employee Groups and immediate families.

An individual is eligible to join CSE FCU if they are a current or retired employee of a Member company or a “Member of the Immediate Family” of a Primary Member.

Not a member? Not a problem!

CSE has over 350 ways that you could join the Credit Union. Interested in joining the “elite” group of Select Employee Groups? Contact a CSE Business Development Representative today by email, csemarketing@csefcu.org or phone (337) 310-5730 or (337) 310-5761.

For more information on membership eligibility or how to join CSE FCU, please contact CSE Federal Credit Union at (337) 477-2000.

Main Office: 4321 Nelson Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605, (800) 6255747, (337) 477-2000, Fax: (337) 562-3109.

Sulphur Location: 2154 Swisco Rd., Sulphur, LA 70665, (800) 6255747, (337) 625-5747, Fax: (337) 625-5769.

Hours: Mon.- Fri., Lobby, 8 a.m.5 p.m.; Drive-Thru, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Wed.: Lobby, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; DriveThru 9 a.m.-6 p.m. TJN

STRONG, SOUND AND SECURE Since 1943, CSE FCU has survived many decades of economic change. Throughout 69 years of service, CSE FCU still remains strong, sound and secure.

“We have come a long way since our organization formed in 1943, but our mission and goals have never changed. The only reason for our existence, and our highest priority, is to serve our members,” said current President/CEO, Clark J. Yelverton.

CSE FCU’s mission is to experience the joy of helping its members achieve their financial goals. On a daily basis, CSE provides financial direction for those seeking financial help.

CSE FCU strives to remain true to its slogan, “strong heritage, smart future.” CSE will continue to utilize all means necessary to maintain and ensure member satisfaction. “Our number one priority is our members and our main goal is to help them achieve their financial goals,” Yelverton said.

ELIGIBILITY Membership with CSE is exclusive and is only available through employVolume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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By Mike Louviere The story of how a quiet Sunday morning in Hawaii turned into “A Day of Infamy” has been told and retold for 71 years. It is one of the most important days in American history and is one that should never be forgotten.

Two of the ships that were attacked in Pearl Harbor still lay to this day where they were berthed during the attack.

The USS Utah was an old battleship that had its decks overlaid with 6x12 timbers so that she could withstand practice bombs being dropped on her decks. The oldest of the nine battleships at Pearl Harbor, she was known as a “target ship.” The Japanese did not realize that she was only a target ship; they attacked her because they thought she was an active battleship.

On the other side of Ford Island from the berth of the Utah was Battleship Row. Seven on the Navy’s battleships were docked here, lined up in a neat row. In one pair, the USS Arizona was on the inside, with the USS Vestal, a service vessel, tied on her outboard side. The Arizona and the Vestal were moored behind the battleship Nevada, ahead of the Tennessee and the West Virginia.

East of the Arizona, among other heavy cruisers, near the submarine docks, was the USS Honolulu.

On December 7, 1941, the Sunday morning routines on the US Navy Pacific fleet were underway. Crews on the three ships were eating breakfast.

Until about 8 a.m., it appeared a normal, quiet Sunday morning.

THE ATTACK Bill Stephenson, a native of Jasper, Texas had enlisted in the Navy in early 1941 “to see the world and get out of East Texas.” Assigned to the heavy cruiser Honolulu, he was below decks at his station in the powder room that Sunday morning.

Stephenson’s job was to load the big deck guns on one of the Honolulu’s three turrets. He would perforate the powder canisters and then load them on the elevator that carried them up to the gun in the turret. A plunger would then push the projectile and the powder canisters into the breech of the gun. The breech plug would be swung into place and locked in position. The gun was then ready to be fired by the gun crew.

Stephenson was on the third deck, two decks below the main deck.

“We heard some planes and some guns going off and some explosions, but they sounded way off,” he remembered.

“We thought it was just some practice by our planes and guns. I had no idea what was happening until this big explosion happened and shook the hell out of the whole ship. Our lights started to go on and off and all of a sudden, people started hollering to get to the main deck and get out of the ship.”

The Honolulu had been bombed, but the bomb was a near miss as it went between the ship and the dock.

The men inside the ship had heard the explosion and felt the concussion from it.

“We got on the main deck and an officer told me and another guy to get on one of the 20mm guns,” Stephenson said. “I had seen them, but had never been shown how to fire one. He told the other guy to turn a couple of wheels to move the gun around and told me to turn one to make the gun move up and down, and showed me the lever to pull to make the gun fire.”

Stephenson said they shot a lot,

but never hit anything. “Everywhere we looked there were airplanes,” he said. “We did see one get shot down, but I have no idea who shot it down.”

Damage to the Honolulu was minor—mostly to the electrical systems—caused by the concussion of the near miss.

THE ARIZONA There was a huge explosion and a ball of fire that Stephenson found out later occurred when the Arizona blew up. The explosion was caused when an armor-piercing bomb penetrated the vessel and exploded in the main powder magazine. Nearly one million pounds of powder exploded.

Among the more than one thousand men killed on the Arizona that morning was Eston Arledge. Arledge was from Vinton and had been raised in the Niblett’s Bluff community. He was a signalman, possibly on duty that morning in the signal bridge high above the main deck. His body was never found.

“After the Arizona blew up and the other ships around us were hit,

Map of Pearl Harbor showing damage to the fleet.

USS Honolulu underway in 1939.

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The USS Arizona Memorial.

Remains of the USS Utah and its memorial. there was burning oil all over the water,” Stephenson said. “There were men that would try to swim through it. If they were lucky, they could hold their breath and swim underwater. A lot would try, but couldn’t do it and they would come up in a pool of oil and fire. It was really bad.”

Stephenson said that as bad as he had it, a lot of people had it a lot worse. “I had a friend on the Vestal, his name was Matthews. He had to go around and pick up bodies.”

It was nightfall before Stephenson finally got to his bunk to try to rest.

He was as dirty as he was tired. He still has a blanket from that day with oil on it.

“The saddest thing I remember about that day was that every one of the Arizona’s band was killed,” he said. “They had been having the ‘Battle of the Bands’ the night before, and the Arizona’s band was one of the

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best. That morning, they were setting up to play the National Anthem for the morning flag raising. When the attack started, they all went to their battle stations and the big bomb killed them all.”

The big ships all had a ship’s band and held annual competitions. The band award was later renamed “The USS Arizona Band Trophy,” in memory of the 21 band members who lost their lives.

In 1964, a memorial was built across the deck of the Arizona. Some of the ship’s structures that remained above the waterline were removed and reused in the war effort, and some of the steel from the ship is still in a remote area of Pearl Harbor Her lost crew is memorialized on the large marble wall inside the memorial, which thousands visit annually.

Contrary to some rumors, the Arizona is not a commissioned ship,

but passing ships do give her the respect she is due.

THE UTAH Three torpedoes dropped from the attacking planes hit the Utah on her port side. The hits caused the big ship to roll over and sink in 14 minutes. Fifty-four men remain trapped inside her. She remains where she was at the time of the attack with a small memorial at her site.

YOU NEVER FORGET “I’m asked if I have problems from that day. Yes, I do!” Stephenson said emphatically. “When you go through what we went through that day, you can never forget. I remember the smell of the burning oil, and I remember seeing men get killed and I remember seeing bodies floating on the water and all the smoke and fire. I have nightmares once in a while. I guess I

never will be able to forget all that happened and what I saw that day.”

After his wartime service (he had the opportunity to retrain as a radio operator and was assigned to the USS Copahee, an escort carrier), Stephenson settled in Beaumont for a few years and worked for McCarthy Chemical Company in their Winnie, Texas office. When a better opportunity arose, he changed jobs and became an electrical-instrument technician for Firestone in Orange.

Now 89, he lives in Vidor near his son. He has a few health problems, but is able to remain active. It is only recently that he has talked about his experiences in World War II, especially those related to Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Day is set aside to remember the sacrifices of the attack; sacrifices of a generation of men and women that became known as our “Greatest Generation.” TJN

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Jack Frost may not actually be nipping at our noses, but the holiday season has arrived—with all of its magic and excitement! What is there to do in the Lake Area?

Read on and find out! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!

DECKING THE HALLS IN DEQUINCY

HOLIDAY INSPIRATION IN IOWA

• Christmas Parade Nov. 30 – Sponsored by the DeQuincy Chamber of Commerce, the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. from Nicholls, with a Christmas program at Pocket Park at 6:30 p.m. in downtown DeQuincy. The festivities end with fireworks at the ballpark at 8 p.m.

• Iowa Christmas Parade Dec. 8 – The Parade begins at 2 p.m., followed

by Christmas in the Park at Lawrence Toups Memorial Park Pavilion at 6 p.m. with gumbo, cookies, choirs and Santa. Call (337) 582-3535 or go to www.iowala.org

• Christmas at the Railroad Museum Nov. 30-Dec. 31 – Thousands of exterior lights including a laser show and multiple indoor trees with clear lights come on at dusk each day in December. Visitors may drive through the museum parking lot and walk around the building viewing the indoor trees. The museum is available for private events. Call (337) 786-2823 for information regarding night tours.

JOYOUS IN JENNINGS

• Taste of the Holidays Dec. 1 – The DeQuincy Civic Club will celebrate the holidays with a tour of several beautifully decorated homes beginning at 4:30 p.m. followed by the tasting at the JCE Center at 6 p.m. Patrons will be given a commemorative cookbook, including the recipes from the event.

Tickets are $10. Call Krystal at (337) 274-3572 for more information.

ENCHANTMENT IN ELTON • Christmas Parade and Concert Dec. 1 – The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will once again join the City of Elton as co-hosts for the 2012 Christmas Parade on Sat., Dec. 1. The parade will take place in downtown Elton at 1 p.m. and will coincide with the popular Coushatta Farmers’ Market, which opens at 7:30 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. The parade route will pass in front of the market grounds, where there will be fresh produce, food, arts and music. The parade will feature an appearance by Santa Claus, and a variety of floats from area organizations. There will also be a free Christmas concert at the Koasati Plaza, before and immediately following the parade, featuring area church choirs. The event is free and open to the public. For more information call (337) 584-1435.

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

• Christmas Parade and Gumbo Cook-off Dec. 1 – Enjoy a gumbo cook-off at I-10 park, bonfire, craft and food vendors, entertainment provided by local groups, the introduction of local pageant royalty, the wonderful Christmas parade that rolls down Main St. at 5:30 p.m. and a gigantic fireworks display in the evening. Free admission.

LIGHT UP LAKE CHARLES • L’Auberge’s Wonderland on Ice – Visit L’Auberge Lake Charles’ Wonderland on Ice! The pool area has been transformed into a winter wonderland featuring an ice rink. Cost is $15 per person/per session; tickets are available at Desserts, the Rink Grill, Legends or Ticketmaster. Parents must be present at rink to supervise minors ages 6 to 17 at all times, but do not have to skate with them. Parents must be on the ice rink with any child under the age of 6. Children’s size 11-4 and adult’s sizes 5-15 skates are available, and skates are required at all times to be on the rink. Food and drinks are available for purchase. For more information, go to www.llakecharles.com/entertainment/wonderland-on-ice/ • Seasonal Lights at Prien Lake Park – The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s annual Christmas Light Display has returned to Prien Lake Park through Jan. 2. Toy soldiers, Santa’s elves and reindeer will illuminate the park for patrons to enjoy this holiday season. Young and old can walk or drive through the winter wonderland. Admission is free. 30,000+ lights make up the sweeping Volume 4 • Issue 18

display that stretches across most of the park’s outdoor area. At the center of the display is the most prominent feature, the regal Christmas tree, which stands at 30 feet in height. It takes parks crews with the Police Jury approximately six weeks to construct the expansive array of lights. For more information, call Jason Barnes at 337-721-3595.

• A Christmas Story Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2, 7-9 – Artists Civic Theatre and Studio, Lake Charles, announces their upcoming holiday production A Christmas Story on Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 2 and 7, 8 and 9. The play is based on the 1983 motion picture A Christmas Story. Tickets for the regular performances are $20 for adults and $10 for children and students 18 and over with college ID. Purchase them 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. • J&R Carriage Christmas Lights Ride Dec. 1-31 – Celebrate this holiday season the old-fashioned way with family and friends, while riding in a seasonally decorated mule-drawn carriage through the decorated neighborhoods of Historic Downtown Lake Charles. Make this a truly festive occasion, and a holiday tradition to treasure for years to come. J&R Carriages offers evening Christmas light carriage rides along Shell Beach Drive.

Reservations required. Call (337) 842-0778.

• Breakfast with Santa Dec. 1 – Your children will enjoy breakfast with Santa in the Food court at Prien Lake Mall at 9 a.m., along with crafts and storytime. Admission is free. For more information, call 477-7487.

• Cinderella’s Holiday Dining Dec. 1 – Children will join their favorite storybook characters for an unforgettable experience. Character meals include pizza, dessert and a drink. The seating incorporates a visit, photos and autographs from each of these famous characters as they make their way around the dinner table. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite costume. Hot cocoa and gingerbread will also be served. This magical encounter occurs on Sat., Dec. 1, with seating at noon. The cost is $25 per

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person (everyone must have a ticket including adults and infants). Seating is limited and reservations must be made by calling the theatre box office at (337) 433-7323 or visiting www.childrenstheatre.cc.

• Lake Charles Symphony Holiday Gala Dec. 1 – The Lake Charles Symphony and the McNeese Art Department will present “A Holiday Gala” on Sat., Dec. 1 in the Shearman Fine Arts Center, McNeese State University.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m., followed at 7:30 by a performance of the Lake Charles Symphony with Maestro Bohuslav Rattay conducting. Ft. Worth talent Carla Fay White will be performing “December Songs.” As the songs are performed, slides of original oil paintings by local artist Vickie Singletary will be projected onto a screen behind the orchestra.

In addition, artwork by the faculty and students of the McNeese Art Dept. will be exhibited. For tickets, call the Symphony at (337) 433-1611 or go to www.Lcsymphony.org.

• Gingerbread House Contest Dec. 1 – Come and see homemade decorated gingerbread houses and vote for your favorite at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. The awards presentation will begin at noon. The gingerbread houses will remain on display at the bureau throughout the month of December, and all visitors will be able to vote on the People’s Choice Award to be announced Dec. 27. Call (337) 436-9588 or visit www.visitlakecharles.org for more information.

• Light Up the Lake Dec. 1 – Beginning at 2 p.m., local groups will join Santa for the parade starting on Bord du Lac Drive and concluding at Clarence Street. There will be prizes for best in floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles and specialty groups. Santa’s Workshop will take place in the Civic Center Exhibition Hall from 3-5:30 p.m. Kids are invited to join in the reindeer games with prizes and gifts as well as arts & crafts, food, activities, story telling, music and much more. The Community Band Christmas Concert begins at 4p.m. in the Civic Center second floor mezzanine. Gather around the front lawn at 5:30 p.m. for more entertainment by the Barbe Show Band, Gumbeaux Gator, and the Girl Scouts. At 6 p.m., the entire Civic

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Center grounds and Lakefront Promenade will light up! A block party will follow from 6-9 p.m. with the music of Boomerang. Captains are called upon to round up their crews for the annual lighted boat parade at 6:30 p.m. Awards will be given for the best decorated boats. At 8 p.m., the fireworks extravaganza will light up the lake. All events are free for attendees as well as participants. For more information, call 491-9159.

• Lake Charles Messiah Chorus Dec. 2 – The 72nd production will be a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. The chorus will perform at 3 p.m. at Bulber Auditorium, McNeese State University, with a chamber orchestra and four McNeese soloists. For info, call (337) 477-0662.

• Swamp Pop Christmas Concert Dec. 5 – Bask in the golden sounds of Warren Storm, Tommy McClain, David Egan, Steve Riley, CC Adcock, and the gang in an all-new Christmas program - Louisiana style! Lil’ Band O’ Gold will leave you swooning and joyous in the Christmas spirit at the Ben Mount Auditorium at Central School, Lake Charles, at 7 p.m. Call (337) 491-9159 for more info.

in Louisiana, Once Upon a Time at the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theatre and sponsored by L’Auberge Lake Charles. Performances are Sat., Dec. 8, with a matinee at 11 a.m. and the Gala at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and can be obtained by calling (337) 474-0311 or going to www.lakecharlescivicballet.com.

• Holiday Home Tour Dec. 9. – This annual fundraiser for the Lake Charles Symphony will feature four homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance. For tickets, call (337) 433-1611 or go to www.lcsymphony.org/ • Children’s Museum’s Meet Santa! Dec. 22 – Meet Santa Claus from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and make an ornament in ArtSpace throughout the day at The Children’s Museum. Call (337) 433-9420 or go to www.swlakids.org/ for more information.

• Holiday Open House & Art Market Dec. 6 – Visit the Central School Arts and Humanities Center on Thurs., Dec. 6 from 5- 8 p.m. for a festive Holiday Open House. Central School will glow with the joy of the season with extensive Christmas lighting, hors d’oeuvres, music, and holiday ornamentation. Experience the facility’s rich heritage as a comprehensive arts center, and learn about the arts organizations, programs, and events that Central School houses throughout the year. There will also be an Art Market with an array of fine and handmade items, with 10 percent of the proceeds helping to fund area art scholarships. A donation center will be set up at Central School where art supplies such as crayons, markers, drawing paper, paint brushes, paints, etc may be dropped off for at-risk youth. For more information, call (337) 439-2787.

• LCCB Presents Christmas in Louisiana Dec. 8 – Lake Charles Civic Ballet (LCCB) honors Louisiana’s bicentennial year by presenting Christmas

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MERRY IN MOSS BLUFF • Moss Bluff Christmas Parade Dec. 8 – The Moss Bluff Christmas Parade begins at 2 p.m. in downtown Moss Bluff. Don’t miss on all the fun!

Call (337) 855-7522 for more information.

FESTIVITIES IN ORANGE • Orangefield Christmas Festival Dec. 8 – The 2nd annual Christmas in Orangefield, Texas will take place on Sat., Dec. 8, kicking off with a parade at 10 a.m. There will be crafts, games, competitions, food and entertainment throughout the day. The festivities will conclude with a reading of The Cajun Night before Christmas and Christmas lights at dusk. Come help us celebrate the community and the season all while supporting the Orangefield Cormier Museum. For more information, call (409) 293-7340.

SILVER BELLS IN SULPHUR • Christmas Under the Oaks Nov. 29-Dec. 1 – Twinkling lights, holly wreaths and winding oak branches mingled with a soft glow from falling snowflakes in…Louisiana? Yes, it snows every year at Sulphur’s Christmas Under the Oaks Festival, located at the Brimstone Museum Complex in the heart of Sulphur at Heritage Square where music, carnival rides and holiday shopping are at their height!

Festival dates are Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 29-Dec. 1, with shopping available at the Holiday House Fri. and Sat. The Holiday House will also feature a preview party, Thurs. Nov. 29, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. with tickets at $35. Festival hours are Fri., 4 – 9 p.m.; and Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30, carnival rides begin at 4 p.m. Sat., Dec. 1, carnival rides run noon – 10 p.m. Local dance groups will perform 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., with Sulphur’s famed Kiwanis Christmas Balloon Parade at 3 p.m. and live entertainment throughout the evening.

Saturday is also the 10th annual Spectacle of Lights with the traditional lighting of the tree, 100 percent chance of snow and fireworks starting at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact the Henning Cultural Center at (337) 527-0357.

SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM STARKS • Christmas Parade and Dance Dec. 1 – The Christmas parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Starks Memorial VFW Post 4759. Free gumbo will be served after the parade at the VFW Post, sponsored by the Starks VFW & Ladies Auxiliary. Later on, there will be a dance that will run from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

Tickets are $8 for one person; $15 per couple. Come out and pass a good time with family and friends to the sounds of Zydecane playing Cajun, Swamp Pop and more! Starks Memorial VFW Post 4759 is located at 4402 Hwy. 12. For more information, call (337) 743-6409.

A VERY MERRY VINTON CHRISTMAS • Trees of Hope Dec. 3-21 – Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel invites you to come out and vote on local charities’ unique Christmas tree decorations in the Delta Promenade. Cash awards will be given to 15 charities at the awards ceremony on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Doing your part to give back is easier than you think; all you have to do is cast a vote between Dec. 3 and 19. For more information, call (337) 589-7441.

WASSAIL IN WESTLAKE • Westlake Christmas Festival Dec. 8 – The festival begins at noon in downtown Westlake with a gumbo cook-off, an ornament contest, bake sale, and arts and crafts booths. Parade begins at 4 p.m. followed by a tree lighting ceremony at City Hall. Visit Santa and enjoy hot chocolate! Call (337) 433-0691 for more info. TJN

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By Angie Kay Dilmore

Joe Heinen

What’s a traditional holiday meal without a honey-glazed ham or a perfectly roasted turkey as the centerpiece of the table? Locally owned Honey-B Ham has been satisfying customers with their hams and turkeys for 17 years.

“We have a good reliable product that looks good, tastes good, and will make your family happy,” said Joe Heinen, 58, owner of Honey-B Ham, located at 506 E. Prien Lake Road.

On a typical November day, customers line up to place their orders for tender BBQ brisket plate lunches, tuna salad, and of course, ham sandwiches. The phone rings non-stop with folks ordering hams and turkeys for their holiday meals and parties. Heinen mingles and chats with his regular customers or oversees the kitchen and counter staff. The store is open daily, serving deli items and plate lunches year around. But the holidays are the busiest time of year for Heinen.

“I do 85 percent of my yearly business in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he said. He sells thousands of hams and turkeys, both to individual families for their holiday meals and to business owners who give them as gifts to clients and employees.

THE GANG’S ALL HERE Heinen reminisced over Thanksgivings from his own childhood.

“When I was growing up, Mom was always in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day,” he said. “She’d get up at 3 a.m. and put the turkey in the oven. She’d serve the meal around noon and pretty soon, everyone had to go home.

Or everyone would watch the football game. By that time, Mom was tired.”

But times have changed since Heinen was a young boy. Now, many women work outside the home. It’s harder for them to put the meal on the table.

“Take Mom out of the kitchen and let us do the cooking for you!” Heinen said.

He pointed that that many relatives live far away from each other and

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Friendly staff at Honey-B Ham.

don’t see each other frequently. “Families don’t get together as often as they used to. When they do gather, it’s a special occasion and they want a good product.”

Heinen says his sales pick up a little bit each year.

“Last year, we had a record year. I think people have learned to trust us to put their meal on the table.

They’ve become accustomed to us and know one call does it all. They know we’ll have their ham or turkey and they know it’s going to be good.”

HISTORY OF A HAM MAN Joe Heinen grew up in the small farming community of Mowata in Acadia Parish. He planned on making a career out of farming, and indeed, while his first farm in Texas didn’t work out so well, he now runs a profitable crawfish farm north of Jennings.

In 1996, he bought the Honey-B Ham franchise in Lake Charles and has worked at making the small shop a success with the help of one of his stepsons. Heinen is always looking for new and better ways to serve his customers, and he’s seen increased business with each passing year.

MEATS, SIDE DISHES, AND DESSERTS . . . OH MY Heinen means it when he says “one call does it all.”

While Honey-B Ham may be known for their hams and turkeys, they also offer brisket, sausage, or chopped beef. To compliment the main course, customers can choose from delicious side dishes such as sweet potato and baked potato casseroles, cornbread dressing, cheese broccoli rice, and the ever-popular green bean casserole.

Don’t forget the turkey gravy and cranberry relish!

Tantalizing desserts include pumpkin and pecan pies, cake, and peach cobbler. They also sell homemade fudge – a big seller during the holidays that is made the on the premises. The staff experiments (especially around the holidays) with various flavors such as candy cane and pistachio. But Heinen’s favorite is chocolate, plain and simple.

ONE HAM, MANY MEALS Of all the choices on Heinen’s menu, his favorite by far is the ham. Always has, always will be.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

“There’s so much versatility to a ham,” he said. “You can have it for the holiday meal, you can snack on it later that night. Next morning, you can have ham and eggs, then ham sandwiches the next two or three days.

Pack the rest in one-pound Ziploc bags and freeze it.

Then use the bone for soups and beans. It doesn’t go to waste, and it’s easy to store.”

Heinen believes in the quality of his product 100 percent. He takes pride in the business he has built and his reputation for having a quality product.

STOP IN FOR LUNCH Honey-B Ham’s deli offers a great selection of sandwiches and plate lunches if you’re looking for an affordable alternative to fast food.

Big sellers include brisket and ham and cheese sandwiches, but patrons can also opt for Cajun roast beef, smoked turkey breast, chicken, tuna, and ham salads. They offer gumbo every Wednesday, year around, and they’re open Sundays for BBQ. FARM-FRESH CRAWFISH Heinen has been raising and selling crawfish since 1978. He offers them live or boiled and he loves to cater crawfish boils. Even though he has always sold crawfish through his ham shop, it’s taken some time for the word to get around that he offers this regional delicacy. But Lake Area customers are finally catching on.

“We do a great business with the crawfish,” Heinen said. “In fact, in the past, about 85 percent of our business was hams and turkeys, but now, about 60 percent of the business is hams and turkeys and a large portion of it is crawfish.”

He said that from around Mardi Gras through about mid-June, he sells lots of crawfish and can’t seem to keep enough of them.

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 23

“Look, in this day and age, you can’t just do one thing,” he explained.

“Product costs go up for everyone, including us. There are constantly adjustments. One thing has never changed, though. I run an honest business and one that specializes in quality products at reasonable prices.

Our customers are extremely loyal and have kept us in business all this time. I’m very thankful for that. And I’m always thinking of new ideas to keep the business fresh.”

GOOD FOOD THAT’S GOOD FOR YOU Many consumers these days are health conscious and desire to eat more healthy foods. Honey-B Ham has been certified by Christus Hospital in Beaumont as being lower in sodium than other commercial hams. If you are cutting back on sugar, you can opt to get the ham unglazed. If you want a turkey, choose roasted rather than

fried.

Healthy eating can still taste good!

BRINGING THE FOOD TO YOU Honey-B-Ham offers full-service, self-contained mobile catering services. Heinen specializes in business catering, providing meals for holiday parties, company lunches, conferences, and crawfish boils. Choose from his traditional main courses and sides, or opt for his popular deli sandwich trays, meat and cheese trays, or box lunches. He is also available for disaster relief catering. Just tell Joe Heinen what you need and he’ll do his best to accommodate your plans.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE In 2007, Heinen was in a serious car accident.

“I broke my ankle, my knee, my pelvis in two places and my back in Continued on next page

Ham Fast Facts

• The Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota sold the first canned ham in 1926.

• Hams can be aged, cured, smoked or cooked. The ham you buy at the store is generally wet or brine cured.

• To age hams, they are hung in a special room with exact temperature and humidity controls.

They can spend as much as 5 years aging.

• A ham is the rear leg of a hog, usually preserved by salting, smoking or drying, or a combination of these methods. Fresh hams are also available. In the U.S. pork shoulders are frequently processed into hams and marPAGE 24

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

keted as picnic hams, shoulder hams, etc.

• Ham is one of the oldest meats of civilized man, although Larousse Gastronomique claims that the salting and smoking of pork to produce ham is a French invention.

• Chicago artist Dwight Kalb made a statue of Madonna from 180 pounds of ham.

• Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham on a bet that he couldn’t write a book with 50 or fewer distinct words.

• There are 13,564 people in the U.S. listed on whitepages.com with the last name “Ham.” Volume 4 • Issue 18

three,” he recalls. He could have died or been paralyzed for the rest of his life. Though he walks with a cane and deals with chronic pain, he feels lucky to be alive.

“Everyone has problems. But you have to overcome them,” he said.

Heinen remains optimistic about the future of Honey-B Ham and doesn’t allow his injury to keep him away from his store and having a hand in the day-to-day operations. He’s proud of the business and reputation he’s worked hard to build.

HANDS-ON PHILOSOPHY Heinen would love to cut back on his hours at the store, focus more on his crawfish farm, and semi-retire, so to speak. But he realizes that the best run, most successful businesses are those where the owner/manager is on-site and takes an active role in the day-to-day operations.

“To be really successful in your business, you need a good manager and staff, but you also need to be there and to be hands-on,” he said.

“I’m very hands-on in my business.”

Heinen will always go the extra mile to make a customer happy. “I will move heaven and earth to make sure that a customer gets his or her order and gets it on time,” he said.

“Oh, I’ve had near-disasters. I’ve had all kinds of things happen. An order can get lost, there are shortages; any number of things can go wrong.

Sometimes, I’ve had to call one of our other stores to get a ham. I’ll literally rob Peter to pay Paul. But I’ll do whatever it takes. I will do almost anything to fill an order and make a customer happy.”

Call Honey-B Ham and allow Joe Heinen and his staff to provide a meal you and your family will love.

It’s his pleasure to serve you and he guarantees you’ll be satisfied with his products. “I enjoy being a part of people’s families,” said Heinen. “I enjoy being able to make people’s holiday meal dreams come true.”

Honey-B Ham is open Mon.-Fri. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun. For more information, visit the store at 506 E. Prien Lake Rd.; call (337) 478-3354; check out the website at http://www.honeybham.net, or find them on Facebook. TJN Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 25

ker n Shouma o d n a r B y B

Reasons to Cheer

If there’s one rule in sports journalism that all journalists should know, should have encoded into their DNA, it is this: There is absolutely, positively no cheering in the press box.

None.

It is one of the first things, if not the very first thing, most sports editors tell their cub reporters before

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

sending them out into the wilderness to cover a game. You might have been ole’ state college’s number one fan before you became a reporter, but that stuff is in the past.

You used to be a fan. Now you’re a professional and you better dadgum act like one.

God help you if those Fighting Banana Slugs (or what have you) score and you let out a war whoop in a press box full of jaded and stressed-out sportswriters. Even something as lowkey as a triumphant fist-clench would be enough to get you a death stare from anyone near enough to see it.

Bobby Hebert, the living embodiment of the kind of fans who give LSU and Saints fans a bad name, a boorish, loudmouth, know-it-all fool who never attended LSU (or who only started cheering the Saints postSuper Bowl win) and only sets foot on campus on Saturdays, learned this the hard way during the LSUAlabama game this year.

Of course, this golden rule doesn’t just apply to professional or college games; it also applies to high school press boxes.

This brings me to the present.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Southwest Louisiana has done pretty well for itself in the high school foot-

ball playoffs this season. Five area teams (Barbe, LaGrange, Jennings, Iowa, and Basile) have reached the quarterfinal round, the first time that has happened since 2000.

It’s a pretty diverse group, too.

Iowa is making its first quarterfinal appearance in school history, while both LaGrange and Basile are in the third round for the first time in over ten years (1999 and 1996, respectively). On the other hand, Barbe and Jennings are quarterfinalists for the second year in a row.

Regardless, there is a lot to cheer about on the local prep football scene.

As long as it’s in the stands or at home listening to the radio. You know, gotta keep it professional.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

I’m making one exception, however.

Out of all of the area quarterfinalists, and I hope they all win out, I will be cheering on the Barbe Bucs the hardest as they travel to Bossier City to play Parkway High School. I hope they put 100 on Parkway. I hope they make Parkway beg for a running clock starting at halftime. I hope the Bucs flat out embarrass the Panthers.

And there are two reasons why: Parkway head coach David Feaster and Parkway High School principal Nichole Bourgeois.

It’s quite common for high school football coaches to engage in some small-scale shenanigans, but it typically comes against an archrival or in the postseason. Kids stuff, really.

“Forgetting” to send game film to the opposing coach. That kind of thing.

But, let me tell you, Feaster and Bourgeois are playing on another level up there with the Lane Kiffins of the football world.

Now, I’ve interviewed Coach Feaster before and I got no sense he was the type of coach who would stoop to immature gamesmanship to try to gain an advantage.

I was wrong.

According to a September article in the Shreveport Times, Feaster has banned all visiting radio broadcasters from covering Parkway home games, arguing that smaller visiting crowds were hurting the school’s bottom line.

Well, that’s all well and good until you get to the part where he says, “All the guys who come in pull for the home team, naturally. And they say things on the radio like, ‘Oh, that was another cheap shot by a Parkway player, oh the referee didn’t call it; we got the home cooking tonight.’ … At some point, I just asked myself, ‘Why? Why do we do this?’”

Because that’s the only way some people are going to be able to “see” their team play, that’s why. Because some people are too old, or too sick, or too busy working to make a living to drive 100 miles from Farmerville (or wherever) to watch a game.

Of course, Feaster isn’t above publicity when it suits his needs. Like when ESPN came knocking back when he was coaching in Texas. But Feaster’s hypocritical grandstanding is nothing compared to Bourgeois’ actions toward Live Oak head coach Tut Musemeche before the two schools’ Nov. 6 playoff game.

The story is that Live Oak’s band ceded its allotted pregame performance time to the LOHS football team so the players could warm up.

Bourgeois took this to mean Parkway’s band could play instead, Volume 4 • Issue 18

and it marched onto the field while Live Oak warmed up.

Instead of trying to solve an obvious miscommunication, she instead directed the press box announcer to order the team off the field and, that failing, eventually had a Bossier Parish Sheriff ’s deputy handcuff Musemeche and escort him from the field.

Classy. And Bourgeois, as the school’s head administrator, should know better.

Her actions and the actions of the Bossier Parish Sheriff ’s Department are unacceptable and both she and

the deputy who handcuffed Coach Musemeche should be severely punished.

A sportsmanship hearing regarding the Musemeche incident is going to be held on Nov. 29, and hopefully, any punishment Parkway receives will be swift and merciless.

And I will be rooting for all of our local quarterfinalists this Friday, but here’s hoping the Barbe Bucs have the Karmic All-Stars on their side on Friday.

That’s what I’ll be cheering for.

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

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 27

By Mary Louise Ruehr

‘Anything can happen in a garden’ As we head into the shorter, darker days of the year, let’s escape into dreams of a sunlit garden filled with flowers, ablaze with color.

Into the Garden with Charles is a memoir by artist Clyde Phillip Wachsberger. As a child growing up in Manhattan, “I longed for the storybook gardens illustrated in my children’s books,” writes the author (nicknamed “Skip”). “In those gardens, magic happened under huge leaves, flowers smiled or frowned like human faces, and little children discovered worlds much more interesting than

what they knew at home. These were gardens where adventures began.”

As an adult, he channeled that love for plants into his own garden, planning all year, poring over plant catalogues. When he found a little 300year-old white house in Orient, N.Y., on Long Island, that “seemed abandoned and lonely, and my heart always went out to it,” he bought the house and started imagining the garden he would create there: “Longer and longer fantasy borders stretched into the distance, with all sorts of nostalgic flowers popping up out of the ground, bursting into bloom the way they do in animated films, dancing and singing, and now shrubs sprang up, too, unfolding their branches, blossoming, and trees — evergreens, spring-flowering trees, fall-flowering trees, trees in full autumn color — rocketed toward the clear sky like fireworks, a leafy backdrop for my imagined chorus of dancing larkspur, delphiniums, foxgloves, and bells of Ireland, all alive with the buzzings of a garden.”

And so went his solitary life. “I gardened my way into middle age,” he recalls. “The garden was my obsession, the only outlet for my passion, my way to express love.”

Until, that is, he met the perfect companion: an art collector named Charles. And Skip and Charles spent the rest of their time together, working in the garden, appreciating art, and walking their dog. Skip details how he selected and replaced plants; talks about what thrived and what died; and bemoans the invasive (bindweed, passionflower, bamboo) and the odoriferous.

His writing often calls up colorful images: “Orient that week in June was redolent of beach roses and honeysuckle, their commingled fragrances carried on saltwater breezes from the Sound and the bays. Flocks-of-sheep clouds gathered in blue skies, nights

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

were starry above shrubbery studded with the lazy rhythm of fireflies.”

The memoir is touching, humorous, warm and surprising, with some almost-magical moments, as when they are visited by hummingbirds.

This book is such a delight — for the pleasure of reading lovely writing, for the visions of living gardens he recreates in word pictures, and for the joy of meeting a dear, quiet, sincere, civilized man you won’t soon forget.

As Charles says, “Anything can happen in a garden.”

The book features 14 of Skip’s pretty watercolor illustrations on slick, heavy paper. It would make a very nice gift.

Embroidered Ground: Revisiting the Garden by Page Dickey is a memoir of designing and creating the gardens at Duck Hill, her home in upstate New York.

“When I came to Duck Hill thirty years ago,” she writes, “I was faced with a featureless canvas, nothing but ragged lawn and rough grass surrounding the house.” In one corner of the large property, she started with a 50-foot-square piece of lawn, added a hedge “to frame and enclose the garden,” a crabapple tree in each of the four corners, and boxwood bushes to mark the four entrances — sounds geometrical, doesn’t it?

Volume 4 • Issue 18

She created a white garden, yellow garden, hemlock garden, herb garden (“a medley of perfumes on a summer’s day”), nasturtium garden (“for something fiery — yellow, red, orange, gold”), vegetable garden, an area of woodland, a meadow and a “stretch of lawn (that) serves as a quiet plane, a negative space, so rare and precious in a gardener’s garden.”

For Dickey, each garden is “a deeply sensual place to linger in or to stroll through on a warm summer day.” She describes them as “rooms of flowers, each with a character and color scheme of its own.” She also planned ahead so that “each month has its show” of bloom and color.

She explains why she chose plants: for their practicality (cooking herbs, for instance), for their scent, color, hardiness, attraction (for hummingbirds, dragonflies and butterflies), or just for fun: “Half the fun of a herb garden, I think, is playing with the richly varied colors and textures of its leaves.”

She muses, “Our gardens are imperfect, ever-changing works of art, but, in the best of worlds, they are the results of a passion, our joyous individual efforts of expression in color, pattern, and texture, woven with leaves and flowers, in partnership with nature.”

The black and white illustrations are by William Atherton.

The classic children’s book Linnea in Monet’s Garden, by Christina Björk and illustrated by Lena Anderson, is back in print in a beautiful 25th anniversary hardcover edition.

Linnea’s story combines art history, travel, adventure, and a mini biography of the painter Claude Monet.

Linnea’s neighbor Mr. Bloom lends her a book about Monet, with pictures of his paintings. As she reads it, she pretends to be standing on Monet’s Japanese bridge, looking down on the lily pond. So Mr. Bloom Volume 4 • Issue 18

makes arrangements for them to go to France to see it.

As the travelers visit Paris and Giverny, Linnea learns about Impressionism — what it means, how it began, and examples of it. She understands that splotches of paint up close may look like just blobs, but when the viewer steps back, they can suddenly turn into a water lily.

The book talks about Monet’s big pink house and his garden — how he planted it, what’s in it, Linnea’s impressions of it (she feels as if she’s stepping into one of Monet’s paintings), and, of course, the lily pond.

The mini biography includes photographs of Monet and his family, the house, and different types of flowers.

There are also reproductions of some of his paintings. Anderson’s colorful watercolor illustrations of Linnea fill the rest of the book.

This is absolutely lovely. It’s a good way to introduce children to art and to the idea of really looking at the plants, buildings and people around them. It would make an attractive gift — especially for a child who likes to paint pictures or to garden — or even a coffee table book.

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

Copyright © 2012 by Mary Louise Ruehr. TJN

FRONT ROW: Jennifer Benoit, Rebecca LeBleu, Carmel Fazzio, Jo Ann McDaniel Niles, Administrator, Jessica Wilson, Yvonne Mullen, Sandra Lapoint, Aimee Smith, Nadine Rayon, Bridget LeBleu, Annie Rowley, Martha Trahan, Mr. Jackie Trahan, and Andrea Celestine.

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 29

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

r m ende's Museu l l E an en

By D e Childr of th r o t c Dire

Skyfall (MGM/Columbia 2012) James Bond is one of the most successful franchises in movie history. Skyfall marks the 23rd film of 007, celebrating 50 years of the series. And what a celebration.

From the opening scene, you’re sucked into a single-minded plot to expose and eliminate British Intelligence Agents. Starting with an action scene that made me think of Steve McQueen (The Great Escape), 007 chases down a thief on a motorcycle, which follows with a major bombing in downtown London.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

At one point, Bond tells doctors he has a new hobby, “resurrection.”

This proves to be an important symbol for Skyfall in more ways than one. 007’s boss, ‘M” (Judi Dench) is being pushed out of her job, because, let’s face it, she’s old. After Bond recovers from major injury (putting it mildly), he’s also feeling his age, as he has to prove to MI6, British Intelligence, that he’s still qualified to work as an agent.

To tell you the truth, this “requalifying” part of the movie seemed a little overdone. We don’t really know why, but Bond is portrayed as being on his last legs, sort of a desperation hero. Meanwhile, the villain in charge of all the killing and bombing is a madman whose intent isn’t so much to destroy the world, but rather to destroy one person in MI6.

The bad guy, Silva (Javier Bardem) is about as sick as they come, willing to send a whole island city of Asians running for their lives just because he wants the view of the ocean for himself. He kills people for sport or just to kill time.

Silva is in the grand tradition of Bond villains, with a swaggering step, an army of thugs, and a really bad blonde wig. Bond fans won’t be disappointed.

At over two hours, we find a lot of scenes where there’s less action than acting. But that suited me just fine, as did the scenery. Bond movies are known for their exotic locations and every one in this movie is over the top, including locations in China, England, and Scotland. Add to that the return of the Aston-Martin Bondmobile from the early movies, and you have one retro film. It doesn’t hurt that the opening credits are filled with sleazy silhouettes and 60’s graphics melting all over the screen.

But Skyfall is very up to date.

Even “Q,” the weapons supplier for MI6, seems more of a nod to computer nerds than the lab-coated scientist type from older films. In fact, the whole tone in Skyfall is of a monu-

mental “passing of the guard,” as MI6 has to somehow justify its existence in a world where the Cold War has given way to the War on Terror.

Skyfall has its cheesier moments (like the opening song by Adele), but what Bond movie doesn’t? It’s almost a requirement. Add in a Chinese casino, an exploding subway, and a shootout at an old castle, and you’ve got one epic film. In the end, Skyfall has it all: Great scenes, a plot as twisting as a Chinese dragon, jawdropping action, and tremendous acting from everyone involved. And after the last scene, if you know anything about the Bond movies, you’ll be scratching your head as to what just happened. Where is the series going next? Like Bond’s Aston Martin with the machine guns under the headlights, wherever it wants.

Skyfall is rated PG-13, mainly for violence. Bond’s romances are very subdued, and any bad language is mostly British, so you won’t even bloody notice it. One last recommendation: sit in the front section of the theater. A larger than life movie deserves a larger than life viewing. You won’t regret it. Enjoy!

TJN

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 31

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

932 Enterprise Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA

(337) 263.4736 Appointment Only

Downtown Lake Charles is home to the potter, Rex Alexander. A swamp is the backyard for painter Marilyn Cox. I find it interesting that the one who uses elements directly from the earth lives in town, while the one who creates beautiful landscapes lives with the ‘gators.

Both are gifted artists.

Living along the swamp for some of us could feel a bit risky. Those pesky creatures of the swamp could easily interfere in a person’s life—even if it is only with one’s imagination. I know I’d think about that and probably more than necessary.

Not so for Marilyn Cox. She sees the beauty of the swamp and embraces it within her paintings.

During a tour of her personal swamp (aka her backyard), she discussed the mystery of nature and her connection.

“As long as I’ve been painting, nature has been my heartfelt focus,” she said. “The landscapes of the great masters also influence my work.” This is evident in the wonderment presented in her landscapes. All are vibrant,

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A Potter and Painter: Artists Among Us

yet lush, which is not an easy combination. As a colorist, Cox is deft at selecting exactly what is needed from the color pallet to create the magic.

There is a twinkle in her eyes when she talks about art; she seems to light up. I confess that I am particularly fond of that. Her eagerness to intertwine her ability to bring the usual landscape alive into the unusual is a gift to the art appreciator, collector and student.

After the tour of her swamp, Cox showed me her studio. It is a former cabin from downtown Lake Charles that was brought to her home and repurposed into a studio. Facing the swamp, complete with a porch and rockers, it is the perfect setting for contemplation and studying the elements. But, there doesn’t seem to be much rocking on that porch, as Cox is always moving about gathering items for her next project.

Collage has captured her imagination lately. This art form is a unique presentation of elements and color to

Marilyn Cox PAGE 32

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

convey a message. Hers are fun Rex Alexander and like her paintings, vibrant.

Not surprising, because Marilyn Cox is a vibrant woman who happens to be an artist.

Let’s get out of the swamp and go back in town to see the studio work of Rex Alexander, the potter.

There is a special quality one can experience when drinking coffee from a mug handcrafted

by Rex Alexander. I have compared drinking coffee from one of my Royal Doulton china cups with drinking from one of his mugs. Nope. Not the same. Sure it’s expensive china, but it doesn’t have the essence of the potter.

For many, the personal touch is the allure of owning and using pottery.

Alexander has a degree in ceramics from McNeese, but he prefers to be known as a potter, again acknowledging the connection between him, the elewere useless and I had to start over,” ments of the earth and those who use he said. It can be a despondent his handcrafted vessels. moment for the potter.

Just like the clay he uses to create, he “Sometimes, I just want to quit is earthy—in the most profound way. and go fishing,” he said. “But then, Rex Alexander bumped into his when it does come out right and bliss while strolling across the often better than I expected, I’m McNeese campus years ago. He happy and glad I did not go fishing.” smelled smoke and was concerned Many in the SWLA area are fond about it. Snooping around looking for of Alexander’s work because he puts the fire, he bumped into a kiln (a spe- so much of himself into it; some cialized oven that bakes clay objects would say his heart. His love for his at a very high heat, converting the pottery is apparent; he treats each one soft clay into a hard ceramics). The with tender loving care knowing it instructor showed him where the pots will go to someone’s home to hold a were created and “I was hooked,” he beverage or even a whole dinner. proclaimed. The potter changed his A vibrant painter who honors us major and never looked back. with her ability to convey the magic There is a gamble to this art. of the swamp and a potter who tenAlexander doesn’t know how anyderly creates vessels out of clay live thing will turn out until he opens the and work among us. Take a moment oven or kiln door. to see the efforts of these two artists.

“Most of the time I am thrilled Both have work in Stellar Bean Coffee with the results, but there have been a Shop on Broad Street in downtown few times when the whole lot of pots Lake Charles. TJN

EARLY VOTING BEGINS - Nov. 24, 2012 EARLY VOTING ENDS - Dec. 1, 2012 Phone: 337-474-1864 • Email: info@lwv-lc.org Website: www.lwv-lc.org Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 33

WINTER WONDERLAND AT L’AUBERGE The grounds of L’Auberge Lake Charles have been transformed into a Winter Wonderland! There’s a skating rink under a large tent that’s guaranteed to get you and your family into the holiday spirit! On a recent weekend, skaters of all ages filled the rink while spectators enjoyed the scene.

Christmas music and decorations added to the holiday cheer. The rink will be open the entire month of December, so make sure you stop by!

Bailey and Camille Dugas with Madalyn Gordon and Madison Haley

Whitney Jones, Malaysia Blue and Mikah Jones

Mary Wharton and Sadie Chatman

Savanna, Amber and Seth Dupree

Nicole and Emma Karam

Faith Robinson, Deidra Fitzgerald, Gabrielle Welch and Mac Fitz

Melanie and Jesus Rios

LAKE CHARLES CIVIC BALLET SNEAK PREVIEW The auditorium at Central School was the place to be for the sneak preview of the Lake Charles Civic Ballet’s Christmas in Louisiana. The talented dancers captured the audience with excerpts from the production and interviews with Fox 29’s Heather Ieyoub. Looking forward to the performances on Dec. 8: Matinee at 11 a.m. and the gala at 6 p.m. Go to lakecharlescivicballet.com for ticket info!

Whitney Hanks, Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough and DeAnn Rosteet PAGE 34

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Olivia Hebert, Grace Helms and Claudia Mayo Volume 4 • Issue 18

Lady Leah Lafargue and Donita Helms

Ashley Eaves and Katelyn Chargois

Leo Huber and Aidan O’Neal

“BLACK THURSDAY” CRAZE Large crowds of shoppers gave up the peace and contentment of Thanksgiving to anxiously wait for the “early” doorbuster mania on turkey day! These shopa-holics had five hours to round up the best possible gifts at bargain prices for the special people on their lists. Lots of local retailers opened their doors in hopes that their special early savings would result in a lot of open wallets. A penny saved is a penny earned and a great way to burn off those extra Thanksgiving calories! TJN Jacelyn and Mandi LeJeune

Vicky Dupuis and Sonja Paris

Austin Fuselier and Hayleigh Golightly

Amber Murry and Ricky Dronet

Paige and Alexis DeBarge

Jessica Smith and Rachel Miles

Brandee Ivy, Alex Reed and Paige Andras

Terrica and Ashely Scott

Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 35

McNeese Art Sale Art by Joe Columbia

MCNEESE ART SALE NOV. 30 The McNeese State University Student Art Association will host its annual holiday art sale from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Fri., Nov. 30, in the Grand Gallery on the first floor of the Shearman Fine Arts Annex.

McNeese art students and faculty will be displaying over 300 artworks produced during the past semester. Works will include wheel-thrown as well as hand-built ceramic vessels, photographs, drawings, artists books, paintings, mixed media works and a wide range of printing processes.

For more information, contact the McNeese Department of Visual Arts at (337) 475-5060.

STRIDES FOR ST. NICHOLAS SANTA RUN DEC. 1 The St. Nicholas Center for Children and Project Fit are hosting a 5K Santa run on Sat., Dec. 1 starting at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School Gym, 1536 Ryan St. Registration begins at 6:45 a.m., and the race will follow at 7:30 a.m. There will also be a one-mile Jolly Jog. The races benefit the St. Nicholas Center for Children, which offers therapies to children with autism and developmental delays. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $20 for the one mile. Register online at www.active.com, or pick up forms at Project Fit, 528 7th St. or the St. Nicholas Center for Children, 314 Broad St. Santa costumes and hats are encouraged. For more information, call 515-3402 or email dynette@stnickcenter.org.

LHSAA CHEER & DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP DEC. 1 Louisiana’s cheer and dance teams will be showcased in its annual cheerleading state champi-

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

onships on Sat., Dec. 1, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The competition will begin with dance and conclude with high school cheer. For more information, go to ww.lhsaa.org.

HECTOR SAN MIGUEL MEMORIAL LUNCHEON DEC. 6 The Hector San Miguel Memorial Fund will hold its third annual luncheon on Thurs., Dec. 6. in the L’Auberge Casino Resort Ballroom.

Nationally known Sports Illustrated author and writer Jeff Pearlman will deliver the keynote address. Hector San Miguel was an award-winning investigative journalist for the American Press. The Memorial Fund honors someone annually for excellence in journalism and/or relentless pursuit of the truth in Southwest Louisiana. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; the program begins at noon. Luncheon reservations, available for $20 per person or $160 for a reserved table of eight, must be made in advance and purchased by check or cash. Contact the Community Foundation at (337) 491-6688 or dvaughan@foundationswla.org for further information.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The Children’s Museum has scheduled the following activities for the month of December!

Fun Friday, Dec. 7: Finger Painting – Join the group anytime between 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the ArtSpace!

Sat., Dec. 8: Sasol Second Saturday Science Show – At 11 a.m., Sasol employee and Jam columnist Mike McHugh will present “A Piercing Experience,” where children and adults can learn about poly-

Volume 4 • Issue 18

mers and chains of molecules, by role playing and piercing a balloon with a bamboo skewer!

Fun Friday, Dec. 14: PlayDough – Join the group anytime between 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the ArtSpace!

DIONNE WARWICK DINNER SHOW DEC. 7 Have dinner with Dionne Warwick! Having been in a partnership with songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most-charted female vocalist with 56 singles including “That’s What Friends Are For,” “Then Came You,” and “I Say A Little Prayer.” She will be performing on Fri., Dec. 7 at the L’Auberge Event Center. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and entertainment starts at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $75 and include a three-course dinner. To purchase tickets, call (800) 745-3000, or visit Legends or the L’Auberge Business Center.

PURPLESTRIDE LAKE AREA DEC. 8 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s PurpleStride Lake Area 2012 event takes place on Sat., Dec. 8 at Prien Lake Park at 7 a.m. This year marks the eighth year of the walk and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. The event also features a raffle, silent auction, children’s activities, a sweets shop and food and refreshments. The fourth most deadly cancer, pancreatic cancer kills more than 35,000 Americans every year. Interested participants may register as a team or individual. Adult pre-registration is $25 with free children registration. Adult registration on the day of the event is $30. For interested parties unable to participate in the event, consider supporting a team or an individual in pancreatic cancer awareness fundraising efforts. For more information or to register for the event, visit the event website at www.purplestride.org/lakearea.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

PAUL GROVES AND MIRAGE DEC. 8 Enjoy classic rock from the 70s & 80s by “Mirage” featuring world renowned tenor, Paul Groves, along with opening act and guest rockers, “Signature.“ The event will be held at the Shearman Fine Arts Theatre at McNeese on Sat., Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. General admission is $25; students, $15. For tickets, call the McNeese Foundation at (337) 475-5588. Proceeds to benefit the Dr. William C. Groves Vocal Music Scholarship at McNeese State University Beer, wine, and soda will be available for sale. For more information, call 475-5588 or go to www.paulgrovesrocks.com.

KIDS BLISS JAMBOREE DEC. 8 Louisiana’s inaugural Kids Bliss Jamboree will be held Dec. 8 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. This is a community event aimed at reinforcing family values within a fun atmosphere while promoting charities. The jamboree will have games, contests, performances and music for children of all ages. There will also be snow cones, snacks and a variety of finger foods available to purchase.

Admission is $7 for adults and children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under get in free. There is also a family pack of five tickets for $20. For more information, please call Mahoganii Essence of JME Group at 646462-0085 or email staff.jmegroup@gmail.com or visit www.kidblissjamboree.com. TJN

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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Sponsored by

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

The

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 • TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Jason Stutes @ Huddle Up Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29 • Briggs Brown & The Bayou Cajuns @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Ivy & Timmy Dugas @ Caribbean Cove, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Tiffany Renee @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

• Flashback @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 • Jamie Berzas @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Tassie Burnette & Hundred Dollar Habit @ Stellar Beans, 7 p.m.

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

• Frayed Knot @ Huddle Up Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• Driftpin @ Happy Hippie Pizza, 8 p.m.

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

• David Locklear @ Otis & Henry’s, Isle of Capri Casino, Westlake, 8 p.m.

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

• Brandon Foret Band @ Yesterday’s, 9 p.m.

• LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

• ISIS @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9:30 p.m.

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

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 • TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Lochness Mobsters/Signals to Vega @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

• Avaris/Every Knee Shall Bow @ Twiggy’s, 8 p.m.

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

• Nothing More @ My Place Bar, 9 p.m.

• LA Express @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

• ISIS @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 9:30 p.m.

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 • Consider the Source @ Luna Live, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 • TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

• The Asteroid Shop/Airplanes Above Us @ Luna Live, 8 p.m.

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 • TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

• Damon Troy @ Mikko, Coushatta Casino, Kinder, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 • Tim Norris @ Stellar Beans, 6 p.m.

• TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• Dionne Warwick @ L’Auberge Event Center, L’Auberge Casino, 7 p.m.

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

• Hold Fast Fables/Mama Tried @ Hippy Pizza, 8 p.m.

• Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 • TBA @ DI’s Cajun Restaurant, Basile, 6:30 p.m.

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

• Paul Groves & Mirage @ Shearman Fine Arts Theater, McNeese State University, 7:30 p.m.

• Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band @ Gator Lounge, Delta Downs, Vinton, 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 • Various Artists @ International Family Day in the Park, Lock Park, 1 p.m.

• TBA @ OB’s Bar & Grill, 7 p.m.

TJN

PAGE 38

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

PAGE 39

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. g our n i r e d r Consi hood obse eviewed e r d l s i Q i h L s ise ngs h SS nc Thi O w .

P o g lar so some surpr the e n i u h c v t i e , g r s s s e o k f vanc igious and ded with refers are Than liday u l p ns on football ho ch I’m i g e the re , and concl songs he Fidelis,” b hat nd whi t s a s a d n s . d w n r o e m o a o s a t d te e l, is ld kn sea ly and fo e Chr , such as “A The Hera ratefu Texas this y , on g h i t y t m l a a u s f h r k s e , t t r a y n g a a r o m us Ia d “H reinbu s alw religio Night” an which ting in Ed ourse is, a recently c t he t a a c r r n th, bu grew up , f r i b y celeb ristmas, o Kwanzaa , Professo ia “Sile s Sing.” ish b rnia) d n ga Ch Angel ’re both Jew m in Califo ht up 25, an ana Karen s at Califor er e b r eml ug We Decem y Dr. Mau ana Studie holiday cel an p Refo hile I (bro ot. As a m I’m u t h n g o c n b (brou hristmas w York) did llege, ated ( air of Afri ng Beach) d Pan Afric kshop o h C ew Co inning a wor ety of w n L C e , a N h d y s t d t i e N e ’s n i l n s a y u w n I a l niver ey dox i ard-w meric ring, iversit ral va c S o ci Ortho Oxford Un hen the aw s’ choir (th the sp Folk Musi ked up an ich State U African-A and cultu celebrated n i k t y g is a ty h ac Bac ber of ith pride w College bo arles and a l bratin communi er 26 and ngs at nd, and I r days for w o s y h w , s a b a amily e cem filled rld famou rriage to C of classic holid ork weeke elebratory lamic ay f gins on D s. c the Is ’s Bodhi Y d f wo CD g ma h o w t n t r e i i s e d i y N b da ion ight- and at Diana’s ases a new clu li’s b for ve l g l i n n i i s l e A s e s v e r r y e r e . g e s nd l . y st da nl st san imp re songs ral) re mas music motional a type tist si clearly a da “Old for Other holi he Buddhi achieved e o e r n a a u y e f r t e t s s r n is he the out m day i ear al Day,” artha certai r and ver of s Chr Turns lly Laugh own birth e small w Yea hich Siddh nese New Y o-month ligiou s a great lo ig fan of a ting with e e r N e y h “B ng e tw nw em t. T .

Chi But a gs, I’m a b music, star White is also ation, whil so pleasan ememberi d Day o t, and the , during th er Solstice on ’s “ as r t n y t c n l i n a n o e f i e at eepy s r Christm ing Berlin ie of the W ns, d n ads of fu nm w jolli m e o e n i i h a s x t a o ” v a s c r s l y r c I , a y u o ov cle pp of sec composer g in the m anny Kaye ’t Tax D of us had l for all the o o consider holida lfall, a that encir n o g t n n D a h n e d n s s a u i e , h i g o s s r c y w m s g n u b w o s I I u o s a so . .

Je cr s ea igress gling and m SSLQ and d with es of s mused eno , there are y mas,” y Bing Cro Vera-Allen lose t d h s c i I t r t a h u O c n a e C s B eP Goo ciate f the ame b cours holida y and on ept us After ay songs, th as is asso ugh ame n ry Cloone movie, or o artet uses s that k it again. Of nd favorite liday songs ss o m t d n i a s u l e i t s e a q r o o l a m g n – s h h h e n h d o n ,u nd no Ros doi tati ly C usic iday h of t tume season e that m- a ed that on body of m me radio s ason, te hol few enoug hat the cos t effect. t e z g favori but we not ive of their s an acade l o e i with a io a s s t i a t s p e p y r a n u h e n g a e g t a t , m o t songs g irrespec ly recalled , or unless or a subs in fact, to k tire Christ riday throu e- harm timents to rs ago, I me able on rad s l a n n r a n e , F il are su purposefu nt) exercis r in a play songs uring the e on Black return and al- my se ouple of ye gs not ava y: “Christm nd o s n c e e r , a d n e o ’r e o i l r s V m A f g d they ntertain n T at anothe busy he first sa , when th as sales at cate istmas s Olan e CD, o w Chr ight in to th ela Phillip hristmas e rom t of January re Christm s. n ic (or found on be enjoyed t enjoying s f aC i ll r Pam for d e h to that fa r Long” by Gimpel in V series, they’r that might u are caugh our sanity the en partment s a few mont w the tune a a y a n T e c e o e e , All Y ed by Eri y favorite Sue movi n fact, if y of season r’s note: I buy d down for wish I kn g “It’s Gon m y I I d o t m n perfor e of one of gel” sung b ristine time. y music ou ered. (Edit ly win ich is why dmark’s so gain” from n A l h a d d i C o A s d o s i p a s W s G n h e n on epi hol ristma compilatio gel is anoth year i When amen rd Christm y Shoes Ke to ly rec !) h f s K o C u y “ e o h i d n t a e . r m e A C M ti an th se Ka ree on redit end a uld lik ki on l And st One th ily ag e only y seas Matsu Presents Ju ld recomm heart s is also th the holida u mean the he Be A C ulous nove ou and wo er my brea u Y b d Thi speak of , yo mt Lavin sure you co o). her fa g Back To g along un shopping eason istmas, fro ts, e s t he w e n n h i w n h e t t i ’m k c r n h al fro er. I more (or e first time istmas whi f you say on of Ch sing t loud w W e f r . l o y e t r s s a y r , d i o u u dozen s will be th nd the Ch visited most ed celebrat ated streets ds with sa d find m metimes o rough Jan on of i e r n r n h i d e h p o u t e t a o s s n t o c T c h r s e a I y e e t e d e l r l h l t b t d ex o fd an st ye a Q and ovem d son omes can ge ir nee ve a c y it igns o OSSL ogether (la Emily an rom N u don’t ha n CD, you had “all P first s -up grand h opping the when I sa f r d r n te t nt If yo music o o. We’ve tions avail seaso randdaugh , texting an ghand li t the curb d what I mea liday after as di ta s a m r g o x t a t o ” I i s r e h u e s i h n d h e h r B t r t u m t n oe wi tre Ch from gs all the ti ars now, a s tinsel. holiday afte . in Ph calling me pportux g n i d n f i i w l v i o n a e a n a d f o D tr ow as son g and ts of o s for y hristm at sun time o ccessi ing hristm ake Charle inding a C for mailin I’ll have lo motes from e is that in close su , beginning be celebrat l C s d y re a so s ,” le f nL out), o take the ch one of u holida few week e Jews will our annu , able i ave troub in the moo Reindeer t n A i h s i a s h r y e e y ’m In a ber 8, w e i r av rB ew nI nit lida r Christm nev ant Fo her’s f l whe et’s se n Ove cem or ho im. L d of the ot hanne ma Got Ru , or “All I W from h on De kah, a min it falls nea children c e d k ire ne rs gets t Hanu ar, but sinc n in which ays!), it’s g “Gran Irish Rove by everyo en! ” n d o d , e e i i calen a celebrat , for eight e gift-giv by th mas Is You Cee Lo Gr h y t and is gifts (dail d in with t Chris h Carey to e e v p i r e a m lu M ia rec

re A s y Holida gain A Here

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NOVEMBER 29, 2012

Volume 4 • Issue 18

seasonal songs. I’m betting I can get him to like Dar Williams’ “Christians and Pagans” and I can count on singing “Adeste Fideles” in Latin and English on many car rides, wrapped up snugly in our fake furry winter hats and coats, on our way to singing sessions and parties for the holiday season.

Correction: Last issue, in writing about a performance by fiddler Kenny Kosek, I mistakenly con-

flated Swedish and Hardanger fiddle styles. Hardanger is a Norwegian style, and Sweden gives us, among many other things, the polska (yes, polka with an “s” and no, they’re not at all related styles). Kosek mentioned Hardanger, but when my back was briefly turned, he began playing something haunting and moving and Swedish, that I’m pretty sure was not a polska. Beautifully. Mea culpa.

TJN

Meet Princess Annie!

Princess Annie, aka Antoinette, would love to have her very own stocking on the mantel before Christmas. This little princess a Yorkie/Poodle Mix. She’s about a year old and only weighs about 10 pounds, but is 100 percent full of love! She is house-trained and fully vetted and will be ready for a new home before Christmas. This little bundle of joy will be a great addition to any home and loves to be with people all the time. If you can

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

see this little girl as a part of your Christmas celebration, e-mail us at lapaw@bellsouth.net. Vet reference check and home visit must be completed prior to adoption. LAPAW is at PetSmart in Lake Charles most Saturdays for you to meet all the pets ready for new homes. If you want to meet a certain pet, please let us know in advance so we can make sure they are at the store for you to spend time with them. Hurry, Princess Annie is waiting! TJN

According to a 2001 study of intentional animal abuse published by the Humane Society of the United States, 13 percent of these cases involved incidents of domestic violence, 7 percent coincided with child abuse and 1 percent with elder abuse.

Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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U A B A O F N LY

CHRISTMAS TIME! - WORD SEARCH

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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 18

Volume 4 • Issue 18

NOVEMBER 29, 2012

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