July 31, 2014 • Volume 6 • Issue 9
715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.louisianajam.com Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@louisianajam.com
Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie George Cline R. Patrick Diamond Dan Ellender Mary Hendrie Braylin Jenkins Mike McHugh Roger Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Jody Taylor Karla Tullos David Yantis Sales sales@louisianajam.com Assistant Editor Calvin Tyler Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk Business Office Manager Jeanie Taggart
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 Jambalaya Media, 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 self-addressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.
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On cover: McNeese State University
COVER STORY 13 McNeese State University: 75 Years REGULARS 4 We Are SWLA! 6 The Dang Yankee 6 Adoption Corner 7 Tips From Tip 8 Fishin’ Tales 10 Soul Matters 11 Stir Dat Pot! FEATURES 19 SOWELA 24 Unitech 26 Institute of Massage Therapy 27 Immaculate Conception Cathedral School 28 St. Louis Catholic High School 30 Our Lady Queen of Heaven 31 St. Margaret’s Catholic School 33 Partners in Education 34 Growth in Lake Charles: A Historical Perspective THE SPICE OF SWLA 42 Event Guide 44 Family Fun Night at the Movies 45 Funbolaya 46 Red Hot Books 48 Nightlife Guide 51 Lake City Beat! 52 When the Word Was Sound 53 Mario Kart & 3Topia 54 Society Spice
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A Note From Lauren
Modern Times Modern Technology. It can be a bane or a boon, depending on the circumstances. Nine times out of ten, it’s a boon. But when things go wrong—wow, can they go wrong, You never realize how much you depend on something until it’s gone. And when your business depends on it, that’s even worse. I got my MacBook Pro when we started the Jam back in 2009. So for all intents and purposes,
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it’s a dinosaur. Technology moves so fast now that in the blink of an eye, there’s something new on the market to replace the newest thing on the market. And so it goes. I’ve known for quite some time that I’ve needed a new laptop. Lately, it crashes about once every few months and I have to rebuild the database, which takes hours. Ridiculous. But then it’s up and running fine, and I’m so busy with a million other things that I forget that I really should get a new one. And then it crashes once again. Vicious cycle. Well, a few days after the last issue came out, I knew it was going down for the zillionth time. It always gives me a warning. I type and no words come
out. There’s a long pause and then it spits out what I’ve typed. It’s as if I spilled something on the keyboard and the keys are stuck. Then it dies. So it happened again. But it was a Friday. It was after deadline. No biggie. I’ll just do what I always do—rebuild the database, I think. Except this time, it couldn’t be rebuilt. It had crashed one time too many. It was all over. And naturally, it happens on a weekend. Murphy’s law. So there’s no help until Monday. Oh, and about three weeks ago, I got a new iPhone. It was working fine for a bit. Then, all of a sudden, that same weekend, emails start to disappear from my phone, never to return. Important emails. Computer down, phone down. Talk about being totally incapacitated. I am not going to go into all the trials and tribulations of the following week trying to save what was already on the laptop and the trips to Verizon, whose employees ultimately could not figure out what the problem was with my phone and who basically told me that emails were not Verizon’s problem anyway. Meanwhile, we are only
working on the biggest issue of the year so far. The back to school issue. And I’m twiddling my thumbs in technology hell. Freaking out. This can’t be happening. Everything is delayed. Burn gets some time off that he doesn’t expect. Calvin keep reassuring us that everything will be okay as he sells another ad. With time running out, everything gets resolved, for the most part. Right now, it’s Tuesday evening at the zero hour. I am writing my Note as the issue goes to bed. Bed. What a sweet word. The great, patient folks at Bayou Technologies and National Networks came through for me and saved my sanity. I did not pull all of my hair out (thank God, as there is so much of it). The issue is fabulous. And I’m getting a new computer. Tomorrow.
Lauren de Albuquerque
July 31, 2014 03
CHRISTUS Performs Region’s First ‘Awake Craniotomy’
Onxley Inducted into Hall of Fame
Kerry Onxley
Kerry A. Onxley, Artistic Director of The Children’s Theatre Company and Director of Theatre at Westlake High School is this year’s national inductee into the Educational Theatre Association’s Hall of Fame. Onxley, recognized for his 20-plus years of service and commitment to educational theatre, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cincinnati on July 25.
McDonald’s of SWLA Provides School Supplies for Needy Students McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana contributed $5,000 to the Salvation Army to purchase school supplies for low-income families. The donation was part of a “Pack the Bus” school supply drive coordinated by Fox 29. McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana (10 restaurants throughout Calcasieu Parish) is dedicated to serving and assisting the Southwest Louisiana community. For more information, visit www. mcdswla.com.
CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Neurosurgeons, Dr. Brian Kelley and Dr. Erich Wolf, recently removed a high-grade brain tumor from a patient during an “awake craniotomy” procedure, the first of its kind to take place in Southwest Louisiana. An awake craniotomy is an innovative, high-tech procedure that enables neurosurgeons to more accurately remove tumors located near sensitive, high-functioning portions of the brain. The brain mapping and patient interaction functions associated with the procedure have been shown to offer better outcomes and more functionality preservation than other treatments while allowing for the maximum amount of tumor to be safely removed.
Dr. Brian Kelley
Dr. Erich Wolf
Notable Networker Awards Given Lake Charles Founder BNI President Michelle Miller presented Notable Networker awards to Liz Baker with Juice Plus, Amber Mize of Sam Hebert Financial Group and Becky Goad of Premier Jewelry. This award is given to people who are skilled at networking and committed to the idea that givers gain. They are more committed to helping others grow their businesses and get new clients or customers before they get new business sent their way. For more information about the local BNI chapter, go to their Facebook page.
Webb, Cowgirls’ Track Team Recognized
Doug Gehrig (left), owner and operator of McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana, presents a $5,000 check to Major David Craddock (right) of the Salvation Army. Pictured with them are Sofia Simancas, Madelyn Bonnot and Johnette LaBorde of Fox 29. 04 July 31, 2014
McNeese sprinter Jasmine Webb, along with the Cowgirls’ track and field team, has been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association by earning all-academic honors for the 2013-14 season. Webb, the two-time Southland Conference Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year who wrapped up her collegiate career this past spring after participating in the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary Round last month, is one of eight women athletes from the Southland Conference to earn all-academic honors by the USTFCCCA. Webb, who also earned all-academic honors by the SLC and Vol. 6 • No. 9
was named to the SLC Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll, posted a 3.33 grade point average in management. In addition, the Cowgirls’ track squad was recognized by the USTFCCCA as one of 208 teams in the nation to earn Division I All-Academic Track & Field team honors with a team GPA of 3.32.
FNBD Lake Charles Branch Welcomes Nichols and Forman In September 2014, First National Bank DeRidder will open their new Lake Charles branch on Nelson Road. They welcome John R. Nichols, FNBD Regional President of Calcasieu Parish, Chief Credit Officer and Advisory Board Member, who will specialize in commercial lending, and Ashley Forman, FNBD’s Lake Charles Branch Manager and Lending Officer. Nichols has 36 years of community banking experience. He is a graduate of LSU in Commercial Banking, and has received diplomas from Gradual School of Banking at LSU, ABA National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma, GSBS Shesunoff Masters in Banking, and AIB. Ashley Forman brings 16 years of banking expertise with her from MidSouth Bank, where she served as the Retail Banking Center Manager. Her training and certifications include Commercial Lending School Certification from LBA, Interim Construction Specialist, Secondary Market Origination Experience and Small Business Lending.
John R. Nichols
Ashley Forman
Jonathan J. Boudreaux Named Assistant VP at Business First SWLA Jonathan J. Boudreaux has joined Business First’s banking team as Assistant Vice President. Boudreaux previously worked at the Business First Banking Center in NWLA and brings many years of business and private banking experience to his new position in SWLA. A graduate of NorthwestJonathan Boudreaux ern State University, Boudreaux has also earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and has completed the Barrett Commercial School of Lending. Business First Bank is a full-service, FDIC-insured, “business” bank serving businesses and professionals throughout Louisiana.
Amy Soileau, MD, Joins WCCH West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of Amy Soileau, MD, family medicine physician, to its medical staff. Originally from Basile, Dr. Soileau earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts from Northwestern State University – Louisiana Scholars College. She received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed her residency in family medicine at the LSUHSC Family Medicine Program at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. Dr. Soileau will practice alongside Drs. Lannan, Ramm, and Thomas at The Cypress Clinic located at 622 Cypress Street in Sulphur. Dr. Amy Soileau Vol. 6 • No. 9
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A Backyard Bar-B-Cuckoo My wife loves to entertain, and in the summertime, that means a backyard barbecue. And a backyard barbecue means that yours truly assumes the cooking duties. This, I believe, is why she likes to have guests over this time of year, so that she can laze around in the pool with all our friends while I’m running back and forth like a man possessed, wondering where she put my grilling utensils. She always puts them in a different kitchen drawer, among other places. Once I found them stowed away in my tool chest. The worst of it was that I couldn’t even remember where I kept my tool chest. I think it was her subtle way of reminding me of the work that needed to be done on our fence. The primary excuse for our most recent backyard fling was to celebrate several friends’ birthdays. That’s the thing about
having a large circle of friends. No matter what the time of year, it’s bound to be somebody’s birthday, and of course, you’ve got to celebrate it. You can’t leave someone out and deny him the occasion to receive enough gifts of cheap wine to keep every bum in the French Quarter happy for a year. Another excuse was that we needed to christen the new bar that I’d bought at a silent auction. We’d decided to name it the “Coconut Bar,” after a decoratively carved coconut that my daughter had given me for Father’s Day that graced its top. I thought it a wonderful gift, certainly better than a tie, especially considering that the “Tie Bar” doesn’t have much of a ring to it. The normal practice at our barbecues is that I provide the meat and each guest brings a side dish. It’s a common arrangement, except that my wife
adds the stipulation that the guests must take their leftovers home after the party. She does make an exception in isolated cases, particularly when it involves a veggie tray. That she knows I won’t be anxious to gobble it up at the first opportunity, as I would, say, a peach cobbler. By the same reasoning, she also insists on buying the meat herself. She’ll carefully calculate exactly how many pounds it would take to feed everyone with none left over. She’s so good at it that if MIT had a Home Economics department, they’d make her the chairwoman. Of course, no backyard barbecue is complete without a swimming pool. Ours is an aboveground installation, making it the equivalent of a house trailer as pools go. But the guests don’t seem to mind, particularly given the large deck we had built around it, which
in itself cost so much that we’d have probably made out better if we’d bought our own lake. The highlight of our recent party was when I set the barbecue pit on fire. Luckily, this occurred after I’d taken the meat off, in a misguided attempt to burn the fat deposits off of the grate. I mention this as a caution to readers who might get a similar idea. In my case, the pit spewed so much smoke that a Native American tribe picked it up and answered the signal from 30 miles away. I can’t interpret smoke signals, but my friend Jimmy, who christened the bar for us, claims that he can. He told me that the response was something along the lines of, “Check out this pale-faced dimwit.” Mike McHugh is a syndicated columnist from Lake Charles. You can follow him on his blog at thedangyankee.com or on Twitter @dang_yankee.
Featured by Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue Contact us at www.lakecharlespitbullrescue.org “Nimbus” is a 6-month old male mastiff mix for adoption with Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue. Nimbus is wonderful with kids and other dogs, and loves to play and get belly rubs like a good puppy. He’s a gentle giant.....literally; this boy will be large when fully grown. For adoption information or to arrange a meeting with Nimbus, email meganlcpbr@yahoo.com. Hurry, Nimbus is waiting! 06 July 31, 2014
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tip to the attendant also helps.
Tipping Tips from Tip
Valet Parking Valet parking is a greatly appreciated service. We all like to avoid the inclement weather that may occur as we arrive at our destination. Taking the bloom off the rose, it can be frustrating when your car is returned and you find the A/C reset and the radio playing some station you didn’t even know existed. You can expect the seat and mirror to be readjusted, as you do want the driver to be able to safely use your vehicle. I am not even going into the criminal act of rummaging through the glove box, etc; that is attempted theft at best and a whole different situation from the mild inconvenience I refer to. Some vehicles have a valet mode built into the control interface to prevent tampering with your personal settings (other than to drive the car), which is very important with the keyless ignition systems that are becoming more standard. Still, a majority of our automobiles don’t have those features and rely on a key, which should be kept on a separate key ring, since there is no good reason for a parking attendant to have access to anything other than entrance to the driver’s door and the ignition switch of your car. It may be helpful to politely mention that you would like your climate control and sound system left as is. And a Vol. 6 • No. 9
Keeping with the subject of tipping, the practice of an automatic gratuity is a much-debated subject. Some people really like the convenience of not having to figure the mathematics of tipping, some dislike being forced to give a prescribed amount and then, there are others who prefer to base their tip on the quality of service provided. Servers depend on their tips more than their salary; it’s their living. The automatic tip protects the server and an increased additional amount is always an option. However, a situation can arise in which customers are not aware of the automatic tip and include a normal tipping amount in the payment. If the service was poor, then that tip becomes excessive for this particular situation. I like having the tip included, but it would be beneficial for the waiter to mention that an X percent tip has been put on the tab. I recommend that you scrutinize your check every time. There is no sense in having a bad taste in your mouth after you are through eating.
were: Albertsons-Country Club Road, Market Basket-Nelson Road, Kroger-McNeese Street, and Walmart-Nelson Road. Rib eye steak, bone-in, per pound: Albertsons $8.98 (Choice), Market Basket $8.99 (Select Angus Beef ), Kroger $10.49 (Select), Walmart (only carries boneless) $11.98 (Choice) $10.98 (Select). Russet potatoes, per pound:
Albertsons $.99, Market Basket $.99, Kroger $.99, Walmart $.98. Mushrooms, whole fresh white, per pound: Albertsons $2.39, Market Basket $1.79, Kroger $2.19, Walmart $1.78. Butter, unsalted (store brand, per pound): Albertsons $3.49, Market Basket $2.99, Kroger $3.28, Walmart $3.68.
Supermaket Roundup Being in the mood for a good steak dinner, my shopping survey for this issue reflects that: a nice rib eye, some sautéed mushrooms, a baked potato and butter. The prices were obtained on Wednesday, July 23 and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. The stores we used July 31, 2014 07
Ah, the Dreams of My Youth Back in the day when Jennings was a ‘50s Mayberry/ Smallville town, fishing was our PlayStation. As soon as we could peddle our bikes the seven blocks to the Rice Canal, we did. Most kids had cane poles they somehow balanced on their handlebars cutting a wide swath in their quest for fun. We were all Tom Sawyers or Huck Finns and most had actually read the books. We were Innocents Abroad with fish stringers tucked in the back pockets of our jeans. Our parents reluctantly ap-
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proved of our angling expeditions. Those were far better than having to keep an eye on us as we whooped and hollered about our neighborhoods. They feared our drowning but the Rice Canal doubled as our inner tube-dotted swimming hole. Having tried to fly as a five year old by ejecting myself from my rope-pumped swing set peak, I broke my left wing. My mother much preferred a canal to whatever mischief I could get into on dry land. We fished from the bank anyway. The Rice Canal that
ran through east Jennings was wider than and as long as Lake Charles’s Contraband Bayou and flowed all the way to the Mermentau River. Catfish, gars, choupique, brim, caccalait, and even small bass abounded. Not really, but there were more than enough to keep my worm-digging, bait-hooking, cork-disappearing exhilarated peers entertained. On one particular occasion, I actually caught enough perch to make an impressive stringer. Hooked to the outside of my handlebars and dangling far enough away to stay out of the spokes, I rode triumphantly Pier 1 home. Caesar’s entry into Rome had nothing on me as I waved to passing cars with the zeal of a homecoming queen. Home now, I pulled a CocaCola crate up to the fish-cleaning sink in our garage. I began to use a spoon to scrape the scales and my official Cub Scout knife to gut my catch. My always-busy
Country Doc of a Dad drove up. Bursting with pride, I ignored him. He’d probably criticize my technique anyway. This was my day in the sun and I wasn’t going to let my hypercritical father spoil it. “Nice catch, son,” he said as he rolled up his white dress shirtsleeves and loosened his tie. Next, Dad grabbed the spoon and filet knife that was always there. Using his surgeon’s skill, he actually helped, all the while commenting on the number and size of the fish. I jabbered and bragged to my heart’s content and for once, he just smiled. Fish prepped, we placed them on the surgeon’s tray he kept there for that purpose. Then we used the pumice soap to wash our hands like doctors do, forearms and hands extended upward at the elbow. Surgeon’s blue toweled down, we brought my catch into the house for supper. Mom was seated at the card table playing her usual game of Solitaire, awaiting the return of her wayward son and usually fatigued husband. What she got were two grinning fools with supper. “Looks like we having a fish fry for supper, Ruth,” Dad said. “Yeah and I caught ‘em Vol. 6 • No. 9
is no way to regain any dignity climbKemah Lighthouse ing up a wharf to an applauding chuckling crowd. I laughed as heartily as they. Consider, if you would, that it’s the summer of 1998. My cast arched and then dropped the yellow and black trebled hooked Devil Horse lure damn near smacking the harbor rocks. Lake Conroe, Texas spread out before me placid gray turning dawn’s gold. The harlequin stripped lighthouse dimmed its daylight-sensored all!” I proudly exclaimed. beam. My wrist snap popped We dined on fried brim in a beer batter, fresh cut French the lure and a strike tore it away. I didn’t have to set the fried potatoes and garden hook; the bass had taken care crisp coleslaw. Even my of that. I kept my rod tip up sibling rival and older sister and reeled my Abu-Matic as Marilyn enjoyed the fete and slowly as I could get away actually had nice things to with, savoring the moments. say to her ever-troublesome Another day, another catch, brother. I dreamed all this another memory to cherish. anew last night after I fell As the bass neared the beach, asleep while pondering how it breached and tail-slapped to write this. Thomas Wolfe the water. I easily slipped the was wrong; you can go home net under him and lifted him again, if only in a dream. out. Flash forward to a grown “Nice fish. Must weigh Roger lugging the old dethree and a half to four pendable black Mercury 9.8 pounds,” I thought. outboard down the pier at Sliding my hand careNichols Landing on July 4, fully around him, I eased the 1985. I was still pursuing hooks out and slid him back brim and living the dream. into the lake. Every year, a Chatting with Lee Nichols dear friend loaned me his about where to fish and what beach house so I could reto use, I walked right off the cuperate from the rigors of pier, motor in hand. It was teaching summer school. And only chest deep so I wasn’t each year for 20 years, I stood hurt. Spitting out the water on this beach at daybreak and I swallowed, I surfaced to a fished the harbor entrance standing ovation from the bustling park crowd gathered shoals, living the dream. Twain once said, “Ah the to celebrate and BBQ on the 4th. Momentary solace from dreams of our youth, how beautiful they are and how embarrassment came as I quickly they perish.” dove down and retrieved my Not if you have truly lived, Bundick Lake soaked motor. I hurled it up on the pier to a laughed heartily and been bent-over laughing Lee. There your dreams. Not if. Vol. 6 • No. 9
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Love is... Why do we fear love? Why do we push it away? Why don’t we feel deserving of love? At the same time, why do we look in so many places for acceptance? Acceptance from another won’t really give us what we think it will, even though we tend to believe that we can’t live without it. We cringe when we think about the possibility of rejection and loneliness. Acceptance becomes our number one goal. We search and fight for it beyond all costs, giving up our values and compromising our beliefs. We hold back and don’t let our feelings show. We need to just let go of this foolish pride and allow love to flow. We all have to leave something behind to get to where we belong. Even if we move on, a part of our hearts will always remain with the ones we once loved. We meet and our hearts say hello and we begin to start feeling at home within our hearts. Don’t be scared; it’s only love. Let it breathe life into your heart. Let everything you do be beautiful and loving. Don’t stop believing that you will find the love you seek. Give all your love, always. We have a lot to learn about love and loving one 10 July 31, 2014
another. If we decide to love, we run the huge risk that we might end up heartbroken. The heart has a tremendous capacity to love, but also to ache. Love is... handing your heart to another and taking the risk that they will hand it back because they don’t want it. It aches inside when we give a part of ourselves and it wasn’t wanted. Love is.. giving up control. It’s surrendering the desire to control the other person and surrendering all of the desires within us to manipulate the relationship. When we show up with power and try to control, we scare people off. Choose the path of love, not power. Compassion rather than control. It takes backbone to turn the other cheek. It takes enormous strength to love your enemy. Pray for those who persecute you. Maybe you are living through a relationship that fell apart. You have to allow those moments to rise up: the parts that hurt and the awkward conversations and the anger and the failure and the misunderstanding and the betrayal. You have to welcome and acknowledge them before you are ever going to heal. Why? Just know
that it will be worth it. The tragedy would be you shutting down, allowing a wall to be built around your heart, and for something inside of you to die. A decision not to risk again is a decision not to love again. The Bible tells us about a living being who loves and who continues to love even when that love isn’t returned. God refuses to remove our free will; He respects our ability to make decisions, He lets us make the next move. There are four Greek words for love that we need to understand. They are agape, phileo, eros and storge. Three of them appear in the Bible. Agape is a classical Greek word for love. You will find it all over the New Testament describing God’s love for us all, as in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world.” God so “loved” (agape) that He gave His Son. It did not feel good to God to do that, but it was the loving thing to do. Christ so loved (agape) that he gave his life. He did not want to die, but he loved, so he did what God required. A mother who loves a sick baby will stay up all night long caring for it, which is not something she wants to do, but is a true act of agape love. The second word for love is phileo, which means “to have a special interest in someone or something, frequently with focus on close association; have affection for, like, consider someone a friend.” The word phileo implies a strong emotional connection, and thus is used when describing the “love,” or deep friendship, between friends. You can agape your enemies, but you cannot phileo them.
The Greek word for sexual love or passionate love is eros, where the English word “erotic” comes from. When eros was used as a proper noun, it referred to the Greek god of love. Eros does not appear in Biblical text, but it has had such an impact on English and our view of sexual love that it is important to mention. The fourth Greek word we need to understand is storge, which is the love and affection that naturally occurs between parents and children. It can exist between siblings, and also between husbands and wives in a good marriage. It occurs in Romans 12:10 in the word philostorgos, which is a compound word made up of philos (the noun form of phileo) and storge. Romans 12:10 is a very important verse, directing us to be very loving and kind to each other. We need agape love because some of the things that God requires of us are not fun or easy, but need to be done. We need to have phileo love because we need true friends to stand with us, people who are emotionally connected to us and with whom we can share our deepest thoughts and feelings. Lastly, we need to have storge love between us, a deep family affection that comforts us and helps us feel connected to our spiritual family. It’s amazing when you meet someone that can speak right to your heart. Look into my heart and take me as I am... To book a Soul Matters Session with Nicole Shuff Arabie, call (337) 540-6573. You can also go to her Facebook page at www.facebook. com/DeclutteringYourSoul Vol. 6 • No. 9
for a recipe, I never refused. So, having said that, today we are going to make one of my favorite dishes and a good one to have in the your “wheel house.” We’re making Shrimp Creole. For this recipe, I use canned tomatoes because I have to have a consistent product. If you have a overflow of tomatoes in your garden and want to use fresh, feel free. But remember to cook the dish a little longer to insure tenderness.
Shrimp Creole Hello again, everybody! How y’all doin’? When I was asked to write this column, I was a bit reluctant at first. I pretty much have my hands full at work. But as Lauren de Albuquerque put it to me, “You owe it to the world to share your knowledge.” What a saleswoman. So as you can tell I agreed. There was a little concern on my part about posting recipes, but I got over that. After all, if anyone had ever asked
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What You’ll Need 1 small can of tomato paste 1 can Rotel tomatoes 1 28 oz. (or thereabouts) can of diced tomatoes 2 cups diced onion 1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced bell pepper 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1/4 cup olive oil 2 pounds shrimp (any size, peeled, deveined, no tails) salt and pepper to taste Hot sauce (optional) yeah, right!
Tonya Meche Wants Your Recipes!
You’ve all enjoyed “Tonya Meche’s Kitchen” in every issue as she brings us quick What You’ll Do and tasty recipes that have In a large Magnalite pot, been passed down in her cook down the garlic, onion, family. Now, Tonya is askcelery and bell peppers in the ing for YOUR recipes! Just olive oil for about five minemail them to lauren@theutes over medium heat. Drain jambalayanews.com. She’ll the tomatoes, but not the try them out in her kitchen, Rotel. Add to the pot and stir and if she likes them, to combine. Add the tomato they’ll appear in The JAM! paste, lower the heat a bit and stir that in, too. Add a little salt So pull out those cookand pepper until you’ve got the books and send some good cookin’ ideas our way! taste you’re looking for, and add the shrimp. Bring back up to a slight boil, stirring as you go. Once there, cover and remove from heat. The shrimp will cook up nice and plump and will not be crumbly and overcooked. Make yourself a nice pot of Louisiana rice and some garlic bread for sopping and eat up. This will serve around 4-6 people. Y’all have yourselves some fun and don’t forget to.... STIR DAT POT!!!
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For the children, all the fun is over and it’s back to work. For the parents, on the other hand, it’s…woohoo! Back to school! Pack the sacks and hit the naps, the kiddos are busy all day and tired when they get home. But education is also a serious business--even for adults continuing theirs into college--and the wonderful schools of Calcasieu Parish are ramping things up to be bigger and better than ever. Here to welcome everyone back is the mayor of Lake Charles, Randy Roach.
A Message from Mayor Randy Roach “The ‘summer recess’ is almost over. As we approach the start of another school year, I want to send my very best wishes to all our returning students for a great school year. I hope you enjoyed some free time over the past several weeks and re-energized your ambition to learn. I also want to encourage you to look forward to the new school year with a spirit of optimism and the determination to do your very best in your studies. “Our Partners in Education deserve special recognition as well. They have enabled our students to grow educationally by helping provide some needed tools in the form of various school supplies as well as through generous donations of money, time and other forms of giving. They have helped bring together the private and public sectors in our area for the common good of the community. I congratulate Partners in Education for all its many accomplishments.”
Thank you, Mayor Roach, and thanks to all of you who dedicate your time, energy, and resources to bettering the state of local education, for you truly support the future of SWLA. And to all of the kids out there who are bummed out to be returning to classes, try and see the bright side: you get to spend all day with your friends, weekends are going to feel great, and the fun of summer can only tease you for the next nine months.
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75th ANNIVERSARY Since opening its doors in 1939, McNeese State University has focused on providing academic excellence and opportunities for lifelong learning and cultural engagement. Through the years, the McNeese campus has grown and the University has expanded its academic program offerings, student services and leadership opportunities. The 75th anniversary slogan, “Celebrating the Past~Pioneering the Future,” captures the essence of the University’s transformation from its beginning as a junior college to a regional university of national prominence. McNeese is nationally recognized as one of the best universities in the south and for offering affordable tuition with high average salary earnings for graduates. It offers more than 70 areas of study to almost 8,500 students in six academic colleges - Business, the Burton College of Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Science – and the William J. Doré School of Graduate Studies and Extended Education. Southwest Louisiana is preparing for an economic boom that may exceed $65 billion in investments over the next five years. McNeese graduates will be in high demand for the widely varied job opportunities that this regional economic growth will bring.
McNEESE DUAL ENROLLMENT AND EARLY ADMISSION The McNeese early admission and dual enrollment program serves over 700 high school juniors and seniors from 36 schools in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes. Students can earn both high school and college credit in language arts, science, math, history, psychology and introductory classes in athletic training, biology, chemistry, engineering and education. Many of these classes can be utilized to meet TOPS requirements and can be accessed at the student’s high school. Early Admissions students have the opportunity to earn college credit at a greatly reduced tuition cost. Last year, McNeese Early Admissions students earned over 5,500 college hours of credit. Registration for the fall semester at McNeese is currently underway through Aug. 18. Classes begin Aug. 25. For more information, call (337) 475-5615.
STUDENT INNOVATION CENTER The Student Innovation Center, located in the SEED Center, is designed to promote a creative, interactive learning environment to encourage students from all majors to become innovative decision makers and problem solvers. McNeese was just the second university in the country to offer these courses that lead to a minor in Innovation. Students use the Innovation Lab to brainstorm, generate ideas, test theories and create solutions, while the Incubation Studio offers students access to resources, technology, tools and mentors to support their ideas for business development and entrepreneurship. Vol. 6 • No. 9
By focusing on academic excellence and providing students with opportunities for leadership, professional internships, to work sideby-side faculty on real world applied research and to develop an innovative spirit, McNeese graduates will be ready and prepared to be the professionals and business leaders that will grow this region’s cultural and business economies for future generations.
FORT POLK CAMPUS McNeese has signed an agreement with the U.S. Army to offer classes and academic support services to soldiers, new and previously enrolled military students, family members and civilians at Fort Polk. McNeese offers courses leading to both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
IEEC The McNeese Institute for Industry-Education Collaboration is the Southwest Louisiana region’s recognized provider of innovative, measurably effective training, continuing education and post-baccalaureate certificate programs. These programs are specifically designed to help industry enhance employees’ technical knowledge and prepare them for very specialized areas in their professional field.
CAMPP McNeese is one of just a few four-year universities to have a state-of-the-art meat-processing and production facility: the Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing (CAMPP). The Center - located on 16 acres just off I-10 near Lacassine - is used by faculty and students to conduct applied research and provide assistance to area meat producers. CAMPP also supports workforce development by preparing students for a wide variety of jobs in the agricultural and food science industry. July 31, 2014 13
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS Students from departments across all majors can benefit from the one-on-one support and guidance from faculty mentors while developing academic interests that will give them an advantage in gaining admission into graduate and professional schools or opening doors to new professional opportunities. Sponsored by the McNeese Alumni Association, students present their research projects each spring and compete prizes and the opportunity to represent McNeese at the annual University of Louisiana System Academic Summit. Research by McNeese faculty may lead to discoveries of new antibiotics, healthier beef and pork products, mosquito control strategies, coastal restoration and innovative ways to use native plants for their natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
ONLINE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS McNeese has expanded its online program offerings to assist students in meeting their educational goals and advancing their careers. Several baccalaureate and graduate degree programs are offered completely online that provide students with the flexibility and convenience of completing coursework on a time schedule that is compatible with work or family obligations. Online baccalaureate programs include criminal justice, family and child studies, management, organizational leadership, RN to BSN and sociology, while online graduate degrees are offered in criminal justice and nursing. McNeese also offers post-baccalaureate, post-masters and graduate certificates that provide individuals with an undergraduate degree an opportunity to complete a condensed, concentrated course of study to prepare them for very specialized areas in their professional field. Among the certificate programs offered online at McNeese are: educational diagnostician; family nurse practitioner; nursing case management; psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner; reading specialist; and school librarian.
McNEESE/SOWELA PARTNERSHIPS McNeese and SOWELA Technical Community College have signed agreements for cross enrollment by students from both institutions and for residential housing at McNeese for SOWELA students. The McNeese Recreational Sports Complex is also available to current SOWELA students, faculty and staff. These collaborations benefit the students at each institution and the educational interests of Southwest Louisiana.
PREVIEW DAY Each fall and spring, McNeese invites high school and transfer students - along with their families - to a campuswide open house to see what McNeese has to offer. On Saturday, Nov. 22, McNeese personnel will be on hand to answer questions about degree programs, admissions, financial aid and scholarships. There are opportunities to tour the campus and residence halls and meet faculty, staff and current students. Cap off the day with tailgating and the home football game against Lamar! For more information, call (337) 475-5539.
Cowboys: What’s in a Name? Several factors influenced the naming of the McNeese sports teams “Cowboys.” When McNeese was founded in 1939, it was through a joint effort between the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the Southwest Louisiana Cattleman’s Association and the Works Progress Administration. The Cattleman’s Association wanted an arena, the Police Jury wanted a college to educate its citizens, and the WPA wanted an auditorium to stage musical, oratory and theatrical performances. In the early days, cowboys figured prominently in the culture of McNeese and rodeo was a major activity in the area. In 1940, the basketball team (the only official sports team on campus at the time) chose “Cowboys” as their team name from several choices, including Broncos, Bucs, and Eagles. In the late 1940s, sports fans began using the name “Cowpokes,” which was soon shortened to “Pokes.”
THE PRIDE OF McNEESE The McNeese band made its public debut on October 26, 1940 at a football game against Louisiana College under the direction of Dr. Francis Bulber. The Pride of McNeese marching band includes students from all majors and is a fan favorite at football games. The Cowboy Basketball Band plays at all home basketball games and the McNeese Blue Color Guard will begin competing in the Louisiana-Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit in spring 2015. 14 July 31, 2014
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McNEESE RODEO McNeese intercollegiate rodeo began in 1947 and remains the only collegiate rodeo team in Louisiana. McNeese rodeo teams have qualified for the national championship finals for 23 consecutive years, winning three consecutive men’s national team championships and capturing 13 national individual rodeo championships. This season in the Southern Region circuit, the women’s team finished in first place and the men’s team in third. Seven men’s and women’s rodeo team members qualified for the 2014 College National Finals Rodeo that included teams from more than 100 universities and colleges.
GEAUX BLUE FRIDAYS It’s a tradition on campus and in the community to wear your McNeese Blue on Geaux Blue Fridays all year long to support the University. The McNeese Bookstore has so much more than books! It has everything McNeese – apparel, gifts, glassware, cowbells, caps and so much more. Drop by to purchase your Cowboy gear for the fall football season. The bookstore is open MondayFriday from 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturdays of football home games. Visit mcneesecowboystore.com for store hours and ideas! McNeese merchandise is also available at many local vendors and online. Geaux Pokes!
COWGIRL KICKERS 1980 became a milestone in McNeese history when the Cowgirl Kickers Dance Line was formed. These highly talented dancers must audition and demonstrate difficult dance skills and routines as well as meet and maintain academic standards. In addition to promoting school spirit, the Kickers commit to representing McNeese through community service. They perform at all home football and basketball games and for McNeese functions, community celebrations and charity events. The Cowgirl Kickers have been invited to perform in Nice, France, at Walt Disney World, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets basketball games, New Orleans Saints football games and at the Pearl Harbor military facility in Hawaii.
McNEESE THEATRE Audiences have enjoyed McNeese theatre performances since 1940 when faculty and students brought Thornton Wilder’s Our Town to the stage. With four major productions each year, students of all majors have the opportunity to audition to be on stage or to volunteer for behind the curtain roles. McNeese students can enjoy all of the theatre performances free of charge! Students earning a degree in performing arts have many opportunities to develop their talent and potential for professional careers as creative artists in music or theatre or as music educators in a program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Vol. 6 • No. 9
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Academic Facts
•McNeese State University opened in September 1939 and it is the only public university in Louisiana named for an educator. •Students come from: -50 parishes -30 states -40 countries
A REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION From three buildings on 86 acres of land in south Lake Charles to more than 70 buildings and over 2,500 acres of property in three parishes, McNeese has grown tremendously over the past 75 years. More than $117 million in capital improvements have been completed since 2000, or are in progress now, and an additional $72 million in projects are in the planning phases. New construction includes academic buildings, a student parking garage, residence halls and apartments, athletic facilities for women’s sports, a track field house, sports medicine and training facilities, computer and forensic labs, the SEED Center and a radio station. More than $3 million in improvements have made the campus more accessible and parking lots have been added as well as campus lighting and emergency notification systems. Renovations are underway at the Frazar Memorial Library, the original portion of the Shearman Fine Arts building and Frasch Hall. Chozen Hall will soon become the front porch for the south side of the campus and offer a one-stop facility for admissions and financial aid. The old married student housing will be demolished and replaced with a Health and Human Performance Educational Complex. The three original buildings--Kaufman Hall, the arena and Bulber Auditorium— are still in use and represent the strength of the first 75 years, but McNeese is clearly focused on the future!
INTERNSHIPS Internships provide McNeese students with invaluable, hands-on experience and unique opportunities before they graduate. At the same time, the program matches employer needs with student skills. This creates win-win situations for employers as they get high-quality, low-cost employees, while students benefit from the experience and networking opportunities. These partnerships can often lead McNeese students to permanent job offers and lifelong professional mentors. McNeese students from all majors participate in the Internship Program. They have completed internships at hundreds of corporations, medical facilities, retail businesses, non-profit organizations and industries in Southwest Louisiana and throughout the world. Students have interned in places such as: • Vervet Monkey Foundation in South Africa • Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal Fisheries Division • The Walt Disney Company • Kerr Wildlife Management Center in Hunt, Texas • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. 16 July 31, 2014
•McNeese awards nearly 70 percent of the public four-year college degrees earned by residents of Southwest Louisiana and has had over 15,000 graduates in the past 10 years. The College of Business is among just 5 percent of the world’s business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. •Nursing students are using state-of-the-art high definition clinical simulation in a computer-controlled environment to learn, practice and repeat procedures and improve their skills. McNeese nursing graduates make up approximately 80 percent of all nurses working in Lake Charles and the five-parish area. •Approximately one-third of the engineers working in the local chemical and petrochemical industry are McNeese graduates. •The McNeese Autism Program is the only university-based program of its kind in Louisiana. Through this community partnership, the staff and student interns provide clinic-based services, consultation and training services to families with children and adults with developmental delays. Radiologic sciences graduates have had a 99.7 percent pass rate on the national certification exam since the program was established in 1980. •McNeese was the first university in Louisiana to offer a concentration in forensic chemistry. It is one of the first schools in the nation to offer a concentration in terrorism, preparedness and security. •It is one of the few four-year universities, and the only university in the University of Louisiana System, to have a model chemical plant to train future engineers and current area industry employees. •The Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences maintains over 2,100 acres of farmland in three operating farms located in Allen and Calcasieu parishes. Students gain practical experience to prepare for careers in agribusiness and farm operations and McNeese is the only university in Louisiana that allows freshmen to engage in hands-on experiences on working farms. •Over the last 10 years, McNeese graduates have had an acceptance rate into U.S. medical schools almost double that of the national percentage rate. McNeese education faculty members are partners in the innovative, hands-on educational programming for the National Hurricane Museum & Science Center in Lake Charles. A McNeese assistant professor of geography was selected for a 2014 Fulbright Award to teach and conduct research for a semester in Brazil. He is the 15th McNeese faculty member selected as a Fulbright Scholar to share expertise and research with international colleagues. Vol. 6 • No. 9
SEED CENTER McNeese is the site for the SEED (Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development) Center that serves as a hub for economic development for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes as well as provides internship and small business development opportunities for McNeese students. The SEED Center serves as a one-stop shop for the creation, retention and recruiting of businesses and high quality, diversified jobs and is a partnership between McNeese, the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the city of Lake Charles. McNeese may be the only university in the nation with a regional chamber of commerce on its campus.
SAGE LECTURE SERIES McNeese offers a series of short lectures and discussions each fall and spring that are centered around a specific theme. The program is open to all ages and the lectures are held on Monday afternoons on the McNeese campus. Among the presenters for the fall will be: •Bill Jones – author of Louisiana Cowboys and a former state senator from Ruston. •Dr. Michael Martin – director of the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and author of Russell Long: A Life in Politics. •Brian “Fox” Ellis – acclaimed author, performer and storyteller. •Chef Marcelle Bienvenu – food columnist, author of Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic and Can You Make a Roux? and an instructor at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University. •Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser – professor of history at ULL and author. For more information on the cost, dates and topics for the Fall SAGE Program, call (337) 475-5616.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS McNeese has a long history of student involvement and has over 100 registered organizations, including the student government association, speech and debate team, campus newspaper and yearbook, student activity board, over ten religious organizations, 15 Greek-letter social organizations, a variety of multi-cultural groups, honors clubs, political groups and a diverse range of special interest organizations.
BANNERS SERIES BEST IN THE STATE The McNeese State University Banners Cultural Series was selected as the 2014 Louisiana Outstanding Arts Organization of the Year presented by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development. The award is part of the annual Louisiana Culture Awards that recognize outstanding contributions to Louisiana’s culture by organizations and individuals for work in communities, education, archaeology and historic preservation. Banners also received a 2014 Partner in Tourism Award from the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for Rouge et Blanc, the fall premier food and wine event that is an annual fundraiser for Banners. For more than two decades, Banners has delivered entertaining and unique arts and humanities programs to the citizens of Southwest Louisiana and educational programming to area K-12 students. Banners is supported by corporate sponsors, memberships, grants and annual fundraisers including the immensely popular Rouge et Blanc food and wine event. The Banners Committee is made up of volunteers and includes community members and McNeese faculty, staff and students. The 2015 season calendar, membership packages and individual ticket prices can be found at www.banners.org or by calling the Banners office at (337) 475-5123.
KBYS/McNEESE MOBILE APP McNeese’s radio station - KBYS - is now on the air. KBYS is broadcast at 88.3 FM and streamed at KBYSFM.com and is Louisiana’s first university-community non-profit radio station. Staffed by volunteers from the university and the community, the station’s format will broadcast several music genres, special hosted shows, information about McNeese cultural events, news and announcements related to weather and road conditions. KBYS is located on Ryan Street across from the main campus. Listeners can also access KBYS wherever they go with the free McNeese Mobile App available for Apple and Android devices. You now have access to information on events, campus news, athletics, Banners, a campus map, the library and so much more. Stay connected to McNeese by downloading your McNeese Mobile App today! Vol. 6 • No. 9
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HOMECOMING 2014 Homecoming was originally called McNeese Day and included a parade, bonfire and pep rally to support the football team. Today, homecoming includes an entire week of activities and events for McNeese alumni, students and friends of the University. “Cowboys Forever” is the theme for Homecoming 2014 and to celebrate the University’s 75th an-
niversary, there will be college and departmental open houses, reunions and a special Diamond Jubilee event for Southwest Louisiana on Friday, Oct. 17! The traditional parade will roll down Ryan St. on Thursday, Oct. 16 and community groups and organizations are invited to enter floats in the parade. For more information, call (337) 475-5706.
Homecoming Week activities include:
Calling all performing arts alumni. Sign up to participate. Call Jan Scott at (337) 475-5025.
Ladies Champagne Bingo, Oct. 11 Call the McNeese Alumni Center at 337475-5232 Social Media Contest: Facebook – Photo Scavenger Hunt, Oct. 13-18 Participate in an exciting scavenger hunt through Facebook as you capture the fun at the McNeese Homecoming events. Performing Arts Alumni Recital, Oct. 13, 8 p.m., Shearman Fine Arts Performing Arts Theatre
Homecoming Parade, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Ryan Street to McNeese Street to Cowboy Stadium. To enter a float or group call 337-475-5706. Homecoming Pep Rally and Fireworks Oct. 16, 9 p.m., Cowboy Stadium Alumni/Friends Golf Tournament, Oct. 17 Call the Alumni Center at 337-475-5232 College/Department Open Houses
Everyone is invited to Cowboy Stadium following the parade for the homecoming court announcement, pep rally and a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by the McNeese Alumni Association. The first McNeese homecoming queen, Adrienne Managan, was presented in 1946. In 1997, Jarvis Parsons was named the first McNeese homecoming king. Oct. 18, 9:30-11 a.m. Reunions: Oct. 18, 10:30 a.m.-noon Tailgate/Cowboy Corral, Oct. 18, 2-6 p.m. Lot A – Cowboy Stadium Pre-game Alumni Tailgate Alumni Grove, 3:30 p.m. Football Game – McNeese vs. Abilene Christian University Oct. 18, 7 p.m. Cowboy Stadium For tickets, call (337) 562-4MSU, go to www.mcneesesports.com or drop by the ticket office in the Jack V. Doland Field House.
McNEESE ATHLETICS More than 300 student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA men’s and women’s sports including football, basketball, indoor track, cross country, outdoor track, baseball and golf for men and cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, tennis, golf, volleyball, basketball, softball and soccer for women. The Cowboys and Cowgirls have won more than 40 Southland Conference championships, made over 26 NCAA, three National Invitational Tournament and two Women’s Basketball Invitational appearances. Athletes are students first and all 16 McNeese teams exceeded the 930 mark on the NCAA Academic Progress Rate report. Five sports-men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s indoor and outdoor track, and women’s golf--each posted a perfect APR score of 1,000. McNeese posted the second highest four-year average among SLC schools with an
average score of 966.5. McNeese had 120 student-athletes named to the SLC Commissioner’s 2014 Spring Academic Honor Roll. Among those students, McNeese had a record five student-athletes named the SLC’s Student-Athlete of the Year for their respective sports – Allison Baggett (women’s basketball), Jasmine Cornelius (women’s indoor track and field), Alanna Divittorio (softball), Kevin Hardy (men’s basketball) and Klaudia Gawlik (women’s tennis). McNeese recorded a SLC-high 21 student-athletes that carried a 4.0 grade point average in the spring. The Cowboys will play six home games this year. Season tickets and reserved parking are still available and there are ticket packages for corporate groups and families. For more information, call the Ticket Office at 562-4MSU.
2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 6••••••••••••••••••••••••AT Nebraska (ESPNU) Sept. 13••••••••••••Prairie View A&M--Cowboy Stadium Sept. 27••••••••••••Arkansas Tech--Cowboy Stadium Oct. 4••••••••••••Nicholls--Cowboy Stadium Oct. 11••••••••••••AT Sam Houston State (Southland TV) Oct. 18••Abilene Christian--Cowboy Stadium (Homecoming) Oct. 25••••••••••••AT University of the Incarnate Word Nov. 1••••••••••••AT Northwestern State University Nov. 8••••••••••••Stephen F. Austin--Cowboy Stadium Nov. 15•AT Southeastern Louisiana University (Southland TV) Nov. 22••••••••••••Lamar University--Cowboy Stadium
Don’t forget--home games kickoff at 6 p.m. this fall! 18 July 31, 2014
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The news of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation in June was a seminal event for SOWELA. Not only does the accreditation place SOWELA on a level playing field with other colleges and universities, it marks the culmination of over ten years of effort by faculty and staff. Despite almost total devastation caused by the hurricane, the faculty and staff at SOWELA continued to press toward the ultimate goal of rebuilding the College into a comprehensive technical community college focused intently on providing the higher education and job skills training to give the people of the five parish area increased opportunity. While the SACSCOC accreditation places SOWELA on the map scholastically and academically and puts the College in peer status with the other colleges and universities in the region, it also signals to our students and business partners that SOWELA is a prerequisite for a well-trained workforce. The accreditation process was rigorous and required the involvement of SOWELA’s entire faculty and staff. This accreditation enhances our ability to provide the quality education our students need while meeting standards of SACSCOC. It also means that the education is immediately transferrable to other colleges and to specific jobs in industry. In addition to the accreditation milestone, SOWELA has actively sought the involvement of our industry partners. The $2 million Phillips 66 Petrochemical Technology building is an example of industry’s involvement in the fortunes of SOWELA. If you step foot on campus today, you’ll see the Phillips 66 building that is already near capacity as our Process Technology program continues to be one of the fastest growing programs
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on campus. Across the street from the Chennault Airport headquarters building, you’ll see the brand new Nursing and Allied Health building scheduled to officially open in October. The building will house some of the most advanced training equipment in the industry allowing our nursing and allied health students to enter the workforce ready and prepared to do their work from the first day on the job. Behind the new Nursing and Allied Health building is the Arts and Humanities building that was completed in 2012. In addition to housing most of our General Education programs and the Chancellor’s office, the facility is home to a modern and spacious library that is the focal point of the campus. Multi-purpose meeting rooms are also an important part of the building’s features and have been the venue for seminars, civic events, and the place where more and more National and State government leaders want to hold their meetings with the public. The 13-acre “trailer park” located across the street from SOWELA was purchased in 2013 by the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and the Chennault International Airport. The property was transferred to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and will be used by SOWELA to build a Regional Training Center to help produce the workforce needed for the massive 60 plus billion dollar petro-chemical expansion taking place in Southwest Louisiana. Construction on another new facility, the Student Success Building, will begin in 2015 so that by the end of 2016 the Lake Charles campus and the new facility being built in Jennings will
reflect what SOWELA really is – a comprehensive technical community college. Our corporate sponsors and industry partners are helping in so many different ways. The governmental entities in the area realize how important SOWELA is to the supply of an educated workforce and have backed us in exceptional ways. The petrochemical, automotive, and aviation industry are stepping up in significant ways to provide financial and practical support so that our students have the opportunity to learn and the possibility to work in careers that will abound in the area. But most important to the growth of SOWELA are our faculty and staff and the students we serve. We have a very experienced faculty with the desire to pass on their knowledge and experience to students that are hardworking, disciplined, and willing to put forth the effort to learn. In talking to our students, we realize that each of them has a special story of why they selected SOWELA. Many relate how they work full and part time jobs and juggle family responsibilities in addition to their schoolwork. They give various reasons why they are pursuing specific careers, but they almost universally say that the reason they chose SOWELA, in addition to location and affordability, is the personal attention they get from faculty. They state that the education they receive at SOWELA is relevant and prepares them for the careers they want. Listening to the student stories remind us that the true story of SOWELA is made up of the stories of our students’ success.
Dr. Neil Aspinwall Chancellor
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PTEC
PROCESS TECHNOLOGY FAST TRACK PROGRAM
Adapting to Industry Needs
In order to meet industry needs, SOWELA has developed the Process Technology (PTEC) Fast Track program. This innovative approach to training is providing opportunity for motivated individuals who desire to make a career change and want to take advantage of the new high-paying careers that are being created as a result of industry expansion. This approach is not a shortened version of SOWELA’s well-established two-year program, but rather, the same courses offered in a compressed format. Instead of the traditional two or three day a week semester style course offering, the courses are offered Monday through Friday and stacked as three or four classes per day to offer a full load. This full load offers all of the core Process Technology courses, which consists of 40 credit hours in 16 weeks towards the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. As a compressed version of
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SOWELA’s existing program, students can plan to spend less time transitioning into a new career. The repetitive and immersion style approach to teaching the required materials keeps students connected through a building block approach to learning. The Fast Track PTEC program has the capacity to graduate as many as 120 graduates per year and is specifically designed to help those with an Associate’s degree or higher to attain the AAS degree in Process Technology within as little as one semester. The 16-week program takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The program cost $6,200 for tuition and fees plus approximately $1,000 for books (if purchased new; however, books may be rented or purchased used). The deadline for finalizing applicants for the next cohort will be August 15.
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Making an Immediate Impact Southwest Louisiana is currently preparing for a $60+ billion dollar expansion in the petrochemical sector. The expansion brings with it a unique opportunity for SOWELA to offer a wide range of highly specialized skills and training that will provide a well-educated workforce. It is projected that over the next five years, local industry will need between 35,000 – 40,000 trained construction workers. It is estimated that the petrochemical sector will employ up to 5,000 new welders as new facilities are built and existing plants expanded. SOWELA’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development has created a short-term, compressed welding training program that provides students with the skills they need to enter the workforce as soon as possible. “It’s an ideal partnership with business and industry,” said Dr. Joseph Fleishman, Vice Chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development at SOWELA. “We partner with business and industry to determine their specific needs, what kind of skills training they need, and customize our short-term training programs to meet their needs. As a result of the close working relationship with industry, we are able to recruit, train, and produce skilled workers that are job ready when they interview with our industry partners.” This fall, SOWELA will be introducing two new short-term, compressed welding programs offered during the day and evening. Many of these non-credit programs are ineligible for Federal financial aid. However, Capital One Bank has partnered with SOWELA to make available partial scholarships to individuals interested in enrolling into these short-term training
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programs. Such forward thinking generosity by Capital One Bank will directly impact the lives of people seeking careers that will last a lifetime. SOWELA is hopeful that other area businesses will follow the example of Capital One. SOWELA is uniquely positioned to provide quality, industry-based training that will provide an immediate impact on the workforce needs in Southwest Louisiana. For more information about SOWELA’s industry based, short-term compressed welding programs, call SOWELA’s Workforce Development Office at (337) 421-6964 or email rosemary.august@sowela.edu.
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The SOWELA Campus Takes Shape The physical change of SOWELA from a little vocational school into a comprehensive technical community college started with the addition of the new Phillips 66 Process Technology building that allowed one of our fastest growing programs to have a space of their own for equipment specific to their needs. Since then, the College has developed a Master Plan that includes landscaping and campus revitalization to transform SOWELA into a modern and attractive place. Also, the College has built a 45,000 square feet Arts & Humanities Facility that houses the library, Liberal Arts classes, computer classrooms, a multipurpose room, and the Chancellor’s office. The new Nursing and Allied Health Facility is a 35,000 square feet “State of Science” facility featuring a simulation suite, classrooms, computer rooms, biology lab, nursing labs, and a nursing lounge area. The grand opening for the nursing building will be in October. In addition to the campus improvements on the Lake Charles campus, the Morgan Smith Site in Jennings is getting a new home. The City of Jennings, the Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury and Board of Education, along with capital outlay funds, purchased 10 acres of land adjacent to the Jennings High School. The new
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site will allow existing programs to grow and new programs to begin. Construction on a new campus will begin in 2015. As a result of ACT 360, SOWELA will add a new Student Success building that will house one-stop-shop student services, recreational facilities, a food court, and many other student-oriented amenities. Construction will start in 2015. A 70,000 square feet Regional Training Center focusing on workforce development will be built in 2015-2016. It will contain the flexible lab space needed to provide different types of technical training to meet specific industry needs. There will be a 300-seat auditorium, numerous conference rooms, classrooms, computer rooms, and office space. This modern facility is being designed and is on a fast track to start construction in the month of
August 2014. With record enrollment exceeding 3,500 students and with a very conservative goal of 5,000 students by 2016, SOWELA’s mission is to be the catalyst for workforce training with the physical plant of the same quality and relevance as the programs being offered. SOWELA is in the right place at the right time... and we are ready!
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Accreditation Expands SOWELA’s Value.
With SACSCOC accreditation, SOWELA has become an even greater value to first-time freshmen, students wanting to get back to their education pursuit, and students needing credit hours to transfer. Though it’s always up to the receiving institution as to what credits they will accept, SOWELA’s credits are now on a par with any regionally accredited four-year institution like McNeese and LSU. Students who come to SOWELA for two years taking general studies courses actually save enough money on tuition to be able to pay for the third and fourth years at four-year institutions. To underscore the quality of SOWELA’s curriculum and faculty, one of the most repeated answers by our students to the question of, “Why SOWELA?” is “...the hands on experience and personal attention I received from my instructors.” Make SOWELA your story too!
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Carrie & Alex Chaumont Owners
The Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy (LIMT) offers quality education students can trust. The Institute was started by massage therapists, is taught by massage therapists, and has been operated by massage therapists since 1987. LIMT was one of the first massage schools to be licensed by the state of Louisiana and is one of the first massage schools to provide continuing education classes. We are the oldest continually
operating massage school on the Gulf coast and are still privately owned and operated. Susan Salvo is Director of Education, and is still inspiring students in the classroom. Many of our faculty are regarded as experts in the massage field. Graduates from our school are awarded a diploma, which qualifies them to apply for National Certification and licensing exams in Louisiana, Texas, and many other states. The program offered by the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy is licensed and/or
The goal of the Institute is to provide its students with a comprehensive curriculum designed to blend the following elements: • Develop a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the scientific studies of human anatomy, physiology and pathology and the effects of massage therapy; • Develop the knowledge, confidence, and practical skill necessary to practice massage therapy; • Develop knowledge in theory and practice of different disciplines of massage therapy; • Achieve an understanding of the benefits and limitations of massage therapy and gain the knowledge to assess the clients; referring them to other healthcare providers when appropriate; • Teach business skills necessary to either work as an employee or successfully operate a massage therapy practice; • Foster respect and concern for the client by understanding professional boundaries and ethics; and developing skills in interpersonal communication and draping.
Our next class begins Sept. 12 Register now by visiting LAMassageSchool.com
Weekend Classes Available! 26 July 31, 2014
• Have students understand and appreciate their own bodies and practice self care, including proper movements during massage for safety and injury prevention; . . . in order to prepare the student to serve the public with the highest quality healthcare possible.
Reserve your $25 Massage Now! Our next student clinic begins August 19.
Call or email us to reserve your appointment!
337.474.3737
approved by: LA State Board of Regents, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Louisiana State Board of Massage Therapy, and Louisiana Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Classes begin every March and September. We offer two Weekend Classes a year (every other weekend, 11 months to complete) and one Day Class a year (MWF, six months to complete). The Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy’s curriculum was developed from workshops Salvo created and taught in the early 1980’s, formally establishing the Institute in 1987. Ms. Salvo and the Institute continue to win awards for excellence in the fields of massage therapy, education, and business. To further support students in their quest for knowledge, Ms. Salvo used her curriculum as a guide to write the bestselling textbook, Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice. In early 2000, Ms. Salvo completed her second book, Mosby’s Guide to Pathology for Massage Therapists. The Institute is truly proud to be able to provide its students with a professional textbook written by its founder. The Institute continues to produce graduates that are among the most successful in the South. The Institute maintains this high standard by frequently improving the curriculum and by having this curriculum taught by a faculty made up of highly qualified and dynamic instructors.
Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy 3750 Nelson Rd. Lake Charles, LA 70605 (337) 474-3737 LAMassageSchool.com Vol. 6 • No. 9
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The Next Step in Catholic Education
Principal’s Welcome Fellow Saints, As the 2014-2015 School Year rapidly approaches, it is with great pleasure that we welcome all new and returning families into the St. Louis School Community. As the Principal, I can tell you firsthand that the faculty and staff have diligently prepared for the start of a new school year. The campus has been alive with the energy of work, effort, planning and prayer that only the start of school can generate. Having had the opportunity to rest and relax during the summer, all have had the opportunity to prepare for a productive year of teaching and learning. It is with great anticipation and a commitment to excellence that I truly look forward to leading the school that means so much to many individuals and families, as well as to the entire Diocese. While the challenges may come, we will, without fail, “Honor and Praise God… in ALL ways!”
St. Louis Catholic High School, established in 1970 and formed from its parent institutions, St. Charles Academy, Sacred Heart High School and Landry Memorial, continues a long tradition of providing its students with a Catholic education. St. Louis Catholic High School serves as the only Catholic high school in the Diocese of Lake Charles and provides a quality education to students while addressing the needs of the whole individual—mind, body, and soul. SLCHS currently enrolls 580 students, grades 9th—12th. The educational needs of students are met by a faculty of 51 teaching positions, with 92 percent certified and 32 percent holding master degrees. The average teacherto-student ratio is 1:22. SLCHS is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a division of AdvancED and offers regular, Pre-AP, Honors and Advanced Placement courses. St. Louis Catholic students consistently score higher than the state average on the ACT. During the 2013-2014 school year, the average ACT score was 22.8 and St. Louis Catholic graduated 158 students (100 percent graduation rate). The class of 2014 had 50 honor graduates and received $4,123,992 in scholarship monies, not including the TOPS scholarship. During the 2014-15 school year, St. Louis Catholic High School will be using the ACT Aspire Test to track student progress at the fresh-
men and sophomore level on curriculum standards and performance. Additionally, the test series given in Math, Science, Reading and English will track student’s trajectory toward ACT potential performance. The One to One Initiative at St. Louis Catholic High School is an innovative technology program that places computer tablets in the hands of every student and teacher on campus. Through this program, students have access to the latest technology at all times. In the classroom setting, students take notes on their tablets, learn how to organize information digitally, collaborate with teachers and classmates, research online and participate in multi-media projects. Teachers are able to offer a more learner-centered environment with differentiated instruction for each student. In 2013, St. Louis implemented Phase III of the One to One Laptop Initiative, where students ran and operated a Help Desk led by IT Director and teachers attended 30 hours of technology training. St. Louis Catholic High School owns and maintains the laptops and provides the necessary software to meet instructional requirements. The expectation is that the computers will be replaced
on a four-year cycle. The school owns the laptop in order to ensure that there is only one model used by students on campus, SLCHS can maintain the consistency of software purchased with the appropriate licensing and SLCHS can have oversight of student usage. However, the tablet is the student’s to use at home during the evening, weekends, holidays and even summer vacations. Professors in the Burton College of Education at McNeese State University jumped on the chance to be a part of our One To One Initiative. In collaboration with SLCHS, they are conducting research on the success of this program, the first in Southwest Louisiana. Led by Christopher Fontenot, Principal; Ted Nixon, Assistant Principal; Rev. Marcus Johnson, Rector and Dee Butts and Tony Johnson, Dean of Students, St. Louis Catholic High School is committed to providing an education that is current, relevant, and effective so to prepare our students to become leaders of the future. Our academic excellence has been achieved through the opportunity to grow in a school community that encourages spiritual formation, stewardship, and learning while building lasting friendships.
Mr. Christopher Fontenot Principal St. Louis Catholic High School 28 July 31, 2014
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St. Louis Catholic High School Sports
St. Louis Catholic High School’s Motto “Honor and Praise God... In All Ways”
The 2014-2015 school year promises to be an exciting year for St. Louis Catholic High School athletics. “There are a lot of new faces that will coaching at St. Louis Catholic, and I feel that our new coaches bring an excitement and motivation to continue the excellence in athletics that has been established at St. Louis Catholic over the last two decades,” says Jason Oertling, Athletic Director of St. Louis Catholic High School. “Last year, St. Louis Catholic High School won 11 District Titles, 4 semi-final finishes at the state level and our Saints Boys Golf Team was state runner-up while the Lady Saints Track Team brought home another State Championship Title. We are looking forward to another great year with new faces on the sidelines!” On Monday, February 24th, St. Louis Catholic High School announced Charlie Cryer as the New Football Coach for the Saints. Cryer comes to Lake Charles from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Natchitoches, La., where he has served as the head coach since 2009. While at St. Mary’s, his record was 43-16 and his team advanced to the play-offs each season. His most successful run was this 2013 season when the Tigers reached the Division IV quarterfinals. Coach Cryer replaces Mike Johns, who retired at the end of the 2013 football season after 13 years on the St. Louis Catholic sidelines. “It was a good situation and hopefully we can continue the success they’ve had in the past,” Cryer said. “It’s an opportunity to live in a bigger city. St. Louis is a big
program. Coach Johns has done a great job there. It’s an opportunity to win and coach a program of that stature.” Also new to the St. Louis Catholic Athletic Department this year is John Michael Collins, Head Baseball Coach and Jonathan Fagan, Head Track Coach. Stephen Wren will move to coach the Lady Saints Softball Team. Returning for his 22nd year, Coach Jason Oertling will continue to lead the very successful Saints Soccer Program. The St. Louis Catholic Boys soccer program has won 10 State Championships and in 2014, the Saints won its program’s 21st district title and were State Semi-Finalist. The Lady Saints Soccer Program has 3 state titles and will compete this 2014-15 school year for the program’s 10th consecutive district title. The Lady Saints Volleyball Team, coached by Luke Pousson, won their 30th District Title for St. Louis Catholic High School and advanced to the semi-finals in 2013. The Lady Saints’ first home game will be on September 4 against St. Thomas Moore in the SLC Gym. In 2014, his second year at St. Louis Catholic High School, Coach Rick LeBato led the Saints Boys Basketball team to the Quarter Finals in the State Championship. Rick LeBato was also named Southwest Louisiana Coach of the Year by The American Press. For more information about St. Louis Catholic High School’s athletics and individual sport schedules, please visit www.slchs.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
St. Louis Catholic High School’s Mission Called as friends of Jesus Christ and led by the knowledge and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, St. Louis Catholic High School gathers to honor and praise God the Father.
August 14 August 22 August 26 August 27 August 27 August 28 Sept. 1
Start of the 2014-15 School Year Football Scrimmage vs. Crowley at SLC Field Volleyball Jamboree, SLC Krajicek Gym School Board Meeting, 6 p.m. New Parent Technology Training, 6 pm Football Jamboree vs. Iowa at LCB Cougar Stadium Labor Day Holiday
ACT Prep classes will be held on each Saturday during the month of August.
St. Louis Catholic High School 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601 337-436-7275
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Our Lady Queen of Heaven School offers high-quality education for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Since its founding in 1958, OLQHS continues to set the pace for excellence in Catholic education, focused on its mission of learning and living the Good News; fostering academic success for all students. OLQHS challenges each student to develop his or her greatest potential – intellectually, culturally and spiritually through meaningful educational experiences. Students are encouraged to use their God-given talents, building a life-long commitment to Christ-like leadership. With a gifted and dedicated faculty of 30 classroom teachers, as well as full-time art, Spanish,
music, technology, and physical education teachers, OLQHS offers excellent learning opportunities, enhanced by enrichment studies and activities. This fall, OLQHS will celebrate
the opening of a newly constructed, state-of-the-art, middle school building, as well as renovations to existing classrooms. This expansion provides students with a new, modern and spacious learning environment, as well as room for growth and future development.
After the completion of the new and updated facilities for prekindergarten through eighth grade, the OLQHS community will soon look to its next project, the construction of a new Early Childhood Center. The Early Childhood Center provides loving care and the beginning of faith and educational development for the youngest members of our community, ranging from 6 weeks to 4 years of age. Plans for the new Early Childhood Center are now underway, with the hopes of construction starting within the year. If you would like more information about Our Lady Queen of Heaven School or the Early Childhood Center, please contact the school office.
UPCOMING DATES Location & School Hours 3908 Creole Street Lake Charles, LA 70605 (337) 477-7349
www.olqhs.org Hours: 7:50 am – 3:15 pm
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• August 6–8 (8 a.m.–noon): Back to Business Days for Current OLQHS Families • August 14: First Day of School • August 15 (9 a.m.): Feast of the Assumption Mass (grades 3–8) • August 20 (6 p.m.): PTC Open House • September 5 (9 a.m.): Opening School Liturgy (grades Pre-K–8)
OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLE For information on enrollment or to schedule a tour, please contact Megan O’Quin, Director of Advancement, at moquin@olqhs.org or 4777349. OLQH School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, nationality or ethnic origin.
A Message From the Principal Our Lady Queen of Heaven School is a wonderful place to be! For more than 50 years, we have been providing excellence in Catholic education to children in the Lake Charles area. Our mission of living and learning the good news has remained constant and our vision focused on providing the best learning environment for our students. Beginning in 2012, our community began working together to raise funds through our Cornerstone Capital Campaign, actively planning for the future of our school. It is with great excitement and gratitude that this August we will open doors to our new middle school building, as well as the newly renovated classrooms, which will house our pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and fourth grade classes. These changes and improvements are the direct results of the success of our Capital Campaign thus far and the generosity of our community. The new facilities allow us to provide a safe, state-ofthe-art environment where our faith community can grow and flourish. We look forward to the growth in the Lake Charles area and to introducing new families to our wonderful community here at Our Lady Queen of Heaven School. The gift of Catholic education provides children a strong foundation built on faith, family and community. At Our Lady Queen of Heaven, we prepare our students for life, for living independently and successfully in a rapidly-changing world. The values children learn here will last a lifetime and prepare them to live their dreams and fulfill a world of potential. If you are interested in joining our school and faith community or learning about how you can help with the Cornerstone Capital Campaign, please contact our front office at (337) 477-7349. We would love to share with you what Our Lady Queen of Heaven School is all about! Sincerely, JoAnn Wallwork Principal, Our Lady Queen of Heaven School Vol. 6 • No. 9
Are you looking for a place to educate your child that is more than you expected? Have you ever considered Catholic School? Let’s talk about a little school embedded in a part of Lake Charles that has its own unique look and character. St. Margaret Catholic School is a pre-K thru 8 school located on Enterprise Boulevard on the same block as the church. The school can be found in a well-established area of central Lake Charles on a street lined with huge oak trees that draw you in with their beauty. When you arrive at the school and church, you feel a sense of peace and security. That tells you the Lord is present. “Nurturing all children and achieving academic success in the Spirit of Christ” is its mission. It is the goal of the faculty, staff, and administration to educate children to their fullest potential, keeping Christ at the center. “We grow young people spiritually, academically, and communally,” says principal Wendy Wicke. “We produce graduates that are lifelong practitioners of their faith. With these qualities, we create leaders in church and society.” St. Margaret’s is celebrating 65 years in educating leaders in our community and state, and is steeped in tradition. “We are very proud to continue to develop young leaders who are cognizant of their roles as stewards of their environment, community, and church,” Wicke adds. The teachers and staff are dedicated to educating the students that enter the doors of this fine establishment. “All teachers, staff, and administration love St. Margaret’s and would work nowhere else,” Wicke says. “This is evident in the time, talent and treasure they provide every day for the betterment of their charges.” Wicke says that Christian formation and values are vitally important in the development of
a child, and the entire St. Margaret community is cognizant of the part they play in that development. With religion as part of the curriculum, Mass is attended weekly and Holy Days of Obligation are honored. “Many of the families are generational and believe St. Margaret’s to be a part of their life. The families are very devoted and loyal to the school and the church community.” The school offers core subjects such as math, reading, English, science and social studies with enrichment classes in physical education, computer literacy, art, foreign language and library. Elementary teachers are trained in the Spalding Program that is systematic in the teaching of phonics and spelling. It also offers the ACT Aspire College and Career Readiness System to assess students’ knowledge and skills. The Junior High Science program is in a class all its own, and has won several honors on both a state and a national level. Students participate in many competitions throughout the year, honoring St. Margaret’s as science/social studies fair district winners and state finalists. In addition, St. Margaret’s recycles paper, aluminum, cardboard, metal and technology equipment and is proud to have been named Louisiana Green School of the Year 2013 – 2014. It was also named NEED School of the Year 2012 – 2013 and was a NEED School finalist the following year. So, what sets St. Margaret Catholic School apart from the rest? The school offers the “3 R’s” and enrichments. It provides a rigorous curriculum that challenges students to be their best. But most important, it offers a spiritual and moral education that develops lifelong practitioners of their faith and leaders in church and society.
St. Margaret Catholic School 2510 Enterprise Blvd. • Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 436-7959 • www.stmcs.com Vol. 6 • No. 9
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Partners in Education A Step Towards the Future Our children deserve the best education and the best opportunities to plan for that future. That’s why the Partners in Education program is so important. A project of the Calcasieu Parish School Board, it creates a partnership between a business and a school by enriching the educational process with the company’s direct involvement. The goal is to improve education with the assistance of the private sector. The program, established in 1988 as a collaborative project between the CPSB and the Chamber/Southwest Louisiana, is an opportunity for the school system and the business sector to share its resources, time, talent and expertise. It connects schools and businesses to improve student achievement and foster lifelong learning for the students. The following businesses have partnered with schools in Calcasieu Parish:
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LAIA Member Company Air Liquide Alcoa Carbon Basell GRACE CertainTeed Chemical Waste Management CITGO
Trunkline LNG Phillips 66 Entergy Firestone Grace Davison PPG
Sasol North America Westlake Group
Partner in Education R. W. Vincent Elementary, Sulphur Henry Heights Elementary, Lake Charles Cooley Elementary, Lake Charles Barbe High, Lake Charles W. T. Henning Elementary, Sulphur Our Lady’s School, Sulphur W.W. Lewis Middle School, Sulphur Calcasieu Alternative School E. K. Key Elementary, Sulphur Sulphur High, Sulphur Sulphur High 9th Grade Campus, Sulphur Oak Park Middle, Lake Charles LaGrange, Lake Charles Westlake High, Westlake S. P. Arnette Middle, Westlake Moss Bluff Middle, Moss Bluff Barbe High, Lake Charles Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles Sam Houston High, Moss Bluff Vinton High, Vinton Western Heights Elementary, Westlake Westwood Elementary, Westlake Maplewood Middle, Sulphur Vincent Settlement Elementary, Carlyss
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By R. Patrick Diamond, ABR, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI With all of the talk about a huge growth spurt in the Lake Area’s future, I thought it might be interesting to put the potential into a historical perspective. Lake Charles has always grown in fits and starts, beginning with its becoming the Parish seat of Calcasieu Parish in 1852 when the courthouse was literally moved by barge from Marion (Old Town) to the eastern shore of Lake Charles, which was then called Charlestown. The lumber business was booming and the sawmills of Jacob Ryan and Daniel Goos were expanding. Much of the output of these two mills was used in constructing the early homes and businesses in the town. In 1858, Daniel Goos began using his schooners to ship lumber to Galveston and bring back goods to be sold by the local merchants in Charlestown. By the beginning of the Civil War, there were seven sawmills operating in the area and the population was estimated at about 400. This was probably a little high and included surrounding areas that were not in the limits of the town. After the Civil War ended in 1865, the area lumber business continued to flourish due to the demand both in Louisiana and the rest of the United States to rebuild. In 1867, the residents of the town petitioned the state legislature to change the name of the town to Lake Charles. The law was passed 34 July 31, 2014
and Charlestown officially became incorporated as Lake Charles with a mayor and five aldermen. It is interesting to note that there were very few land transactions during this time as most of the land was owned by the government. However, men cut logs wherever they could as long as they were close to the rivers and could be floated to the mills in Lake Charles. The 1870s continued to see slight growth in the area. In 1872, a new courthouse was built replacing the small wood frame structure that had been moved there earlier. But it wasn’t until the end of the decade that things began to improve. In 1877, George and Jacob Ryan built a shingle mill and also a small rice mill. Several new businesses appeared on Ryan Street and a new steam-powered sawmill was opened by Locke and Company in hopes that the railroad would soon be completed. While Lake Charles didn’t suffer as much as some areas of the South during reconstruction, it didn’t prosper as much as it could have. In 1880, the first census to include Lake Charles showed a population of 838. Then, as now, most population growth appeared to be outside the city limits with the parish showing a population of 12,361. The year 1880 also saw the completion of the railroad from Lake Charles to Orange, which linked Lake Charles by rail to Houston and the
rest of the country. This was the key to the expansion of the area as the 1880s became known as the era of Northern immigration. JB Watkins was instrumental in promoting the area in not only the northern part of the United States but also in Europe. He even started a newspaper in New York City to promote Southwest Louisiana called The American. Subsequently, settlers from the Midwest and Northeast flocked here. In 1881, the local newspaper, The Echo, reported that large numbers of people were coming through Lake Charles but could not find houses to rent. (Sounds sort of familiar today.) Watkins formed a company called North American Land and Timber Co. and raised two and a half million dollars to buy land in the area. He subdivided the land into 5 to 10 acre tracts, which he sold for $200 down, and the balance on installments. His accomplishments are reflected in the records of Calcasieu Parish as the number of deeds increased dramatically, totaling almost 6,800 from 1880 to 1890. The population of Lake Charles also increased to 3,442 in the 1890 census. The period from 1890 to 1910 saw the city continue to grow as the population reached 6,680 in 1900 and 11,449 in 1910. The First World War saw the first military installation in the area at Gerstner Field located southeast of Lake Charles
near what is now Holmwood. Some of the first oil, gas and sulfur companies were formed in the early 1900s to exploit the minerals being found in the area. Real estate boomed in the 1914-1915 years. New subdivisions sprung up east and north of Ryan St and Railroad Ave. By 1920, the population of Lake Charles had only increased to 13,088. Many said the city passed up some great opportunities such as not voting in favor of one of the railroads placing their terminal in Lake Charles. Instead, it went to Beaumont and Port Arthur. Consequently, in the 1920 censust, Beaumont had a population of 40,422 and Port Arthur 22,251. In the 1920s, Lake Charles again begin to make strides, voting in favor of deepening the channel to the Gulf of Mexico in 1922. This was said to be one of the best decisions ever made to improve its prospects. Lake Charles continued to develop and was rapidly becoming a city of fine homes and many businesses. At that time, the Union Sulphur Company was the largest employer in the parish. Forty-seven new homes were built in Lake Charles in 1924 at a cost of $250,000. One of the largest was the home of Matilda Gray, which cost $10,000. The years 1925 and 1926 continued the building boom with several million dollars of new construction, Vol. 6 • No. 9
including warehouses at the City Dock. The completion of the deepwater channel was bringing cargo ships here from around the world and the future of the city never looked brighter. In 1928, the City Council failed to pass a law to expand the city limits of Lake Charles and by 1930 the population of Lake Charles had increased to only 15,791. However, the areas around it continued to grow. During the 1930s, Lake Charles languished like most of the nation, but several noteworthy events happened that allowed the city to continue to grow. Congress authorized the continued dredging of the Intracoastal Canal, which allowed the Port of Lake Charles to expand. By 1940, the population of Lake Charles was up to 21,207. The dredging of the Calcasieu Ship Channel to a depth of 33 feet allowed several industries to be attracted to Lake Charles in mid-1941. These included Continental Oil, Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) and Firestone. The United States’ entry into the Second World War in December of 1941 accelerated the industrial expansion along the Ship Channel. The influx of new jobs in the industrial sector of the economy pushed the population of Lake Charles to 41,272 by the 1950 census. The Korean War in the early 1950s slowed things only slightly as the effort required more aviation fuel and diesel fuel, which was produced by local refineries. The shift to a consumer economy placed heavy demands on local industries and they began an expansion strategy in 1952 that produced one of the largest growth spurts in Vol. 6 • No. 9
Lake Charles history. From 1952 to 1960, several large residential developments were started. Local businessman Harry Huber laid out the plans for Oak Park, a subdivision located just south of the city in 1947. Construction had started on a number of homes just south of 12th St. and north of the railroad tracks east of First Avenue. He had also laid out plans for Oak Park to stretch all the way south to Prien Lake Road, which at the time was a two-lane gravel road. The growth spurt of the ‘50s saw almost a third of the available lots built upon, which totaled almost 500 homes. At the same time, an Easterner named Ray Grein bought several large tracts east and south of Oak Park and commenced building homes in Greinwich Village. They were small two and three bedroom homes of about 900 to 1,200 square feet and were available to returning servicemen on GI (VA) financing and to others on FHA financing. He constructed over 600 homes in Greinwich Village and another 650 homes in Greinwich Terrace. Another local businessman, Tom Hall, built another 400+ homes in Sunset Acres during this time. So, in the space of eight years, 2,500 to 3,000 new homes were built in the Lake Charles area. By 1960, the population had increased to 63,392. This was the last time Lake Charles saw “national” builders constructing houses in our area. Since 1960, most homes have been built by local builders, with most building only a few homes per year. Several larger builders like Sparky Myers in Lake Charles and Joseph Palermo, Sr. in Sulphur
might build 100-plus in a good year. The population of Lake Charles rose to its high of 77,998 in the 1970 census. Since then, the population has been erratic, falling to 75,226 in 1980 and 70,580 in 1990 following the recession in the mid-1980s. It rebounded slightly, rising to 72,154 in the 2000 census but falling again in the 2010 census to 71,993. So, where does that leave us today as we project into the future? Over $62 billion in industrial expansion is slated to occur over the next seven to 10 years in our area. How do we take advantage of this good fortune? Those are the questions that must be answered. Fortunately, the Southwest Alliance and local governments have been studying the steps that must be taken in the areas of transportation and infra-
structure. We, the citizens, are going to be asked to step up and commit to funding some of the improvements. Whatever occurs, it is in our hands. Lake Charles has always had the potential to be one of the great cities on the Gulf Coast. Let’s not let this opportunity pass us by yet again! R Patrick “Pat” Diamond is broker/owner of RE/MAX Realty Pros, a full service real estate firm located at 1180 E McNeese St, Lake Charles, LA 70607. E-mail any questions about real estate to r-patrickdiamond@remax.net. His company’s website is www. swLouisianaHomes.com or www.remax.com. Mr. Diamond is a three time past president of the Southwest Louisiana Association of Realtors® and was the 2001 President of the Louisiana Realtors®.
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Back to School Flyers Issued to Motorists Aug. 11 and 12 On August 11 and 12, officers of the Lake Charles Police Department, firemen of the Lake Charles Fire Department and deputies of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff ’s Office will be issuing back to school flyers to motorists at various locations throughout the City. The purpose of the joint operation is to remind motorists of School Zones and, most importantly, to remind them to “WATCH FOR THE KIDS.”
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Party By the Pool July 31, Aug. 7 It’s time to Party By the Pool at L’Auberge Casino Resort! Don’t miss Better than Ezra on July 31 and the Molly Ringwalds on Aug. 7! Purchase your tickets at www.ticketmaster.com, the L’Auberge Business Center, or Legends at L’Auberge the night of the show. Must be 21 to attend.
Poetry Reading at Stellar Beans July 31 The Arts Council of SWLA will present a special poetry reading by former Louisiana Poet Laureate Darrell Bourque on Thursday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at Stellar Beans in Lake Charles. Bourque, who served as Poet Laureate from 2007 to 2011, will read from his most recent chapbook. Lafayette poet, J. Bruce Fuller will also read with Bourque. 319 Broad St., Lake Charles (337) 564-5739.
Cameron Fishing Festival Aug. 1-2 Sponsored by Cameron Lions Club the first weekend in August, the festival includes a saltwater fishing rodeo, live music venues, good local food, children’s activities, and a Queen’s contest. It will be staged at end of Davis Road at the Cameron Jetty Pier Pavilion at 799 Davis Road, Cameron. For
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more info, check out their FB page.
Mad Hot Ballroom Aug. 2 The Mad Hot Ballroom Celebrity Dancing Gala is a fundraising event for The Whistle Stop’s Dancing Classrooms program. It will be held at L’Auberge Casino Resort Aug. 2. Event starts at 6 p.m. For more information, go to celebritydancingswla.com.
National Night Out Aug. 5 National Night Out is designed to heighten community awareness of safety and fire prevention issues and crime and drug prevention. There will be entertainment, free food and drinks, antique cars and crime prevention displays! It will be held at the West Cal Arena in Sulphur on Tues., Aug. 5 from 6-8 p.m. Call 527-4500 for more information.
Movies in the Square Aug. 9 Bring the whole family (along with lawn chairs and blankets) to The Grove at Heritage Square (1211 Ruth St.) in Sulphur on Sat., Aug. 9 to see The Little Rascals. Free admission! Begins at dusk. (337) 527-4500.
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Whitetails Unlimited Banquet Aug. 9 Southwest Louisiana Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited will hold their annual banquet on Sat. Aug. 9 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Games/ Raffles & Social Hour – 4:30 p.m. Dinner – 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $40 single, $25 spouse, $15 child (15 & under). Contact Misty Kelly for more information @ (337) 263.8682 or mistykelly@bellsouth.net.
Arts & Crabs Fest Aug. 16 Arts & Crabs Fest celebrates SWLA’s seafood and its culture at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. Local chefs compete for the Best Crab Dish of 2014, and you get to choose the winning chef. Tickets are $25 and only those 21 years of age or older are allowed. Tickets can be purchased online at www.artscouncilswla.org or at the Arts Council office at 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles.
and local firearm ordinances and laws must be obeyed. Admission: Adults $8, children under 12 free. Go to www. gatorguns.com for more information.
Seersucker and a Solitaire Aug. 28 Come on out to Touloulou’s at L’Auberge Casino Resort on Thurs., Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. for Seersucker and a Solitaire Dinner and Diamond Drop to benefit the St. Nicholas Center for Children. Live entertainment, casual summer attire, $100 a ticket. For more information, call (337) 491-0800.
Bayou Gator Hunt Sept. 5-6
Evergreen Life Services still has spots available for their 2014 Bayou Gator Hunt scheduled for Sept. 5 & 6. Overnight accommodations and dinner on Friday will be at the Intercontinental in downtown New Orleans, followed by the alligator hunt the next day in Delacroix, LA. Registration BB/BS SWLA Golf Tournament Aug. 22 is $1,500 and includes all necessary hunting equipment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana is lining hunting license, accommodations and dinner Friday night, up sponsors for their first Golf Tournament on August 22 at snacks and beverages during the hunt, lunch on Saturday-the Lake Charles Country Club. Lunch will start at 11:30 plus you get to keep your alligator! Proceeds will benefit the a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. There will be two individuals Evergreen serves in the Calcasieu area who have chances to win a vehicle thanks to Jack Hebert All-Star & intellectual and developmental disabilities. Registration Auto Plex 2000. Sponsorship levels range from $5,000 to deadline is Aug. 11. Call or email (337) 564-2987 or peggy. $100. Team registration for four is $400. For more informa- johnson@evergreenls.org. tion, call (337) 478-5437.
Imagination Celebration Aug. 23 It’s time for the Children’s Museum’s 12th annual Imagination Celebration! It will be held Sat. Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center featuring the Celebrity Karaoke Contest, a Restaurant Showcase with fabulous food from 20+ area restaurants, a cash bar and music and dancing from the 1980s with the Other Blues Brothers! For tickets and table sponsorships, call (337) 433-9420.
Gun Show Aug. 23-24 The Gun Show will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center and is hosted by Gator Gun and Knife of Louisiana. All federal, state Vol. 6 • No. 9
July 31, 2014 43
nerves. When he finds out Dusty is the world-famous racing plane, Mac invites him to the VIP party at the new lodge. Parents, the plot of this kid’s movie is simple and slow. But the details are where Fire and Rescue shines. These rescue planes and smoke jumping utility vehicles are serious about their safety procedures, to the point that the movie feels like a training course. As various vehicles get into (2014, Disney) peril, the rescue team plays along and he has to be the Everyone knows a child by the rulebook and does one rescued because of his like this: it’s usually a littheir job. There are plenty carelessness. tle boy, and he’s enthralled of jokes and puns that adults Fire and Rescue moves by trucks, cars, planes, fire will appreciate, but they’re a little slow, but isn’t at all engines, trains; anything overshadowed by the emdull. Dusty’s co-workers mechanical. Some of them phasis on a child’s dream of include an Apache Helicop- rescue work. grow out of their interest, but we’ve all seen them, dig- ter (with Native American Sometimes I think we know-how) and mechanical forget how serious kids can ging a ditch, driving little forklifts and trucks that all trucks around, doing conbe in their play, but Fire and have stories to tell. There’s struction projects. Planes: Rescue is definitely workalso a female plane that has Fire and Rescue is a movie ing this idea. Eventually, her eye out for Dusty. made for that child’s heart. Dusty becomes one of the Meanwhile, the slick Cad And for once, it’s a sequel team, but not before some Spinner (a luxury SUV) is that doesn’t lean heavily on first-rate heroics and broplanning to open a resort its original. bonding with Blade. lodge near the rescue faciliDusty Crophopper is a Fire and Rescue is like ty and is frazzling everyone’s a little boy’s answer to racing crop duster plane. His world of fame is about to end, as his gearbox is damaged, and the replacement part is out of production. (Yes, this is actually a movie for children.) Unable to fly fast enough to race, Dusty decides to get a job in the Fire and Rescue business. It sounds adventurous and fun. But when Dusty gets to Fire School, he finds out that his new vocation is hard work. His teacher, Blade Ranger has it in for Dusty, putting him through courses in fire retardant dropping and rescue exercises. Dusty, always eager to show off, gets into trouble when a real fire comes
Planes: Fire and Rescue
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Disney’s princess movies. For what it’s worth, I found it refreshing to see a movie that’s not about guns, swords, and battles. The fans of this movie are the ones you can envision becoming Eagle Scouts. As always, the animation is engrossing, and has an all-star cast, with Ben Harris as Blade and Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara as a couple of aging RVs on their anniversary. There’s even a humorous jab at the old CHIPS TV series, with Erik Estrada voicing the sidekick of a series called CHOPS. One word of caution: Small children aren’t going to like the forest fire scenes at all. I wouldn’t bring a three year old to see this movie unless you want to leave after the first 15 minutes. But children four and up, especially those into cars and trucks, will be fine. Just don’t expect a movie all about laughs and cuteness. These planes are serious about safety. Rated PG for fire and peril. Enjoy!
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Players take turns connecting two dots. When you make a square, put your initials in the box and take another turn. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.
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July 31, 2014 45
Thrilling Summer Reads If you want a summer read you can really sick your teeth into, these are perfect. I had a great time reading these two books. Don’t miss them! The Martian by Andy Weir is tremendous fun. Here’s the setup: In the near future, astronaut Mark Watney is one of the crew aboard the spaceship Hermes, which has landed on the planet Mars. The crew has just set up their camp and equipment (in “the Hab” or habitat) when a minor catastrophe has everyone scrambling back to the ship.
46 July 31, 2014
Because they believe Watney is dead, he is left behind as the ship is relaunched for the return to Earth. But he survives the wound the crew thought was fatal. “I wondered why I wasn’t more dead,” he tells us, and then discovers he’s marooned on Mars: “So that’s the situation. I’m stranded on Mars. I have no way to communicate with Hermes or Earth. Everyone thinks I’m dead. I’m in a Hab designed to last thirty-one days. If the oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the water reclaimer breaks down, I’ll
die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death.” Yeah, it’s not looking good. Watney has a background in botany and he has a great engineering mind. He figures out how many sols (Mars days) it will be before the next Earth ship is scheduled
to land on Mars, adds up how much oxygen, water and food he has, and gets busy on “the ‘Mark Watney doesn’t die’ project.” He figures “I just need to survive for four years,” but “There’s about a
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thousand days of food I don’t have. And I don’t have a plan for how to get it.” Ah, but he does come up with a plan -- several plans, in fact -- some of which are “incredibly dangerous.” One, he tells us, “provides many opportunities for me to die in a fiery explosion.” The bottom line is that he’s “the first person to be alone on an entire planet.” He tells us “I’d give anything for a five-minute conversation with anyone. Anyone, anywhere. About anything.” This is so much fun! You have got to love this guy. He’s clever, resourceful, selfdeprecating, and funny. He keeps himself entertained by listening to one of the crewmembers’ Beatles albums, watching another’s “crappy TV shows” on DVD, and reading Agatha Christie. He jury-rigs and MacGyvers his Vol. 6 • No. 9
way around the planet with wires, glue and duct tape. “Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.” The science seems genuine -how would I know? But it’s also understandable. He explains everything he’s doing, as the book takes the form of his log, to be found after his death. I could always figure out what he was talking about. It was NEVER dull. I was rooting for him all the way, to the very last page. He tells us, “It’s true, you know. In space, no one can hear you scream like a little girl.” There’s a bit of profanity, but if I were marooned on Mars, I’d be swearing, too. Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King is another superb showcase for the master writer’s talent. But longtime King fans may not recognize this work as his. At a job fair, a Mercedes plows purposefully into a large crowd, killing and maiming several people. The perpetrator is never found. A year later, retired police detective Kermit William Hodges receives a smug, teasing letter from the person who drove that car. The killer wants to entice the retired, depressed ex-cop to commit suicide. But the letter reinvigorates Hodges’ determination to go out and find the Mercedes killer.
In Hodges’ renewed investigation -- which of course he has to do in secret because he’s retired now and has no right to be doing it -- he befriends the sister of the woman who owned the Mercedes used in the crime. It turns out the killer had contacted the car’s owner and tried to drive her to suicide -- successfully. Hodges describes him: “He’s broken ... and evil. Like an apple that looks okay on the outside, but when you cut it open, it’s black and full of worms.” This is not a mystery -- not for the reader, anyway, who is told everything. We’re introduced to the killer right away, and we watch him at his two innocent-appearing jobs that give him access to people’s lives. He’s a sick puppy. He has a weird psycho-sexual thing going with his mother, and they refer occasionally to the time he killed his own
brother. It’s no news that King recognizes the depths of depravity to which men can sink, and he knows how to create suspense. Once the tension starts building, the reader doesn’t want to walk away from the action. The killer reveals that he’s planning another crime -- something bigger -- much bigger. Can the psycho be stopped? How? It seems impossible. How many more lives will be lost before he’s caught? This is another can’t-putit-down read with a likable hero and a thoroughly despicable bad guy. It’s a sort of psycho-detective story. Leave it to King, always experimenting with genres. No monsters, no aliens, no magic. Just great storytelling. Adult situations and language. Copyright © 2014 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
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Thursday, July 31 Thursday Dollar Night @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer and Bar all night Free cover til 10 p.m. w/College ID 5329 Common St., Lake Charles Live Piano 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Live Music 6 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles Legends In Concert 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Thirsty Thursday $2 Beer 7 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Better Than Ezra 7 p.m. @ Party by the Pool’s Liquid Society L’Auberge Casino Resort Pool 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Admission: $25 DJ Knubz 8 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles Bernie Alan 8:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles Stratton Doyle & Mike Dolan 10 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles DJ Cage 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles 48 July 31, 2014
Friday, August 1 Travis Corbello and Dustin Landry 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles Live Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee 319 Broad St, Lake Charles Legends In Concert 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Flashback Friday 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Wayne Dylan 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Live Music 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Linda’s Lounge 4338 Lake St., Lake Charles
John Guidroz & Kevin Lambert 10 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles The Crush 10:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder DJ Cage 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Saturday, August 2 Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Legends In Concert 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Live Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee 319 Broad St., Lake Charles Ladies Night Ladies Get $1 Domestics All Night 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Micci’s Piano Bar, 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Mike Fulmer 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Karaoke with DJ 8 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Sinners (CD Release Party) 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Gary Allan 8:30 p.m. @ The Pavillion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder
$2 Beer Night 10 p.m. - Midnight @ Micci’s Piano Bar, 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Vol. 6 • No. 9
DJ Night 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Luke Cooper and The Alibis 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Music 10:30 p.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Kevin Lambert 8 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Brandon Ledet & Creole Touch 9 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Bill & Kev’s Excellent Adventure 10 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Monday, August 4
DJ Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Saturday Night Party Time 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer and Bar until Midnight Free Cowboys Kool-aid 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
The Crush 10:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder
Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Michael “Blackbird” Fruge 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles
Choke & Purapharm 9:30 p.m. @ My Place 630 W. Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles
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DJ Cage 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Sunday, August 3 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles La Bayou Band 5 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles
$5 Wine & Martini Night 7 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Jen Kober 8:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Tuesday, August 5 Street Side Jazz Band 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Karaoke Night 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles Karaoke Night 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles
2 for 1 Tuesday 2 Beers for the Price of 1 9 - 11 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Movie Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Wednesday, August 6 Louisiana Night $2 Louisiana Beers $3.50 Louisiana Spirit/Cocktails 6 p.m. - Midnight @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd #G, Lake Charles Guys Night $1 Off Beer and Silver Shelf Drinks 7 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
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Kris Harper 8 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Live Music 8 - 11 p.m. @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles
DJ Eric Scott 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
The Good Wood 8 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles Music 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Thursday, August 7 Thursday Dollar Night @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer and Bar all night Free cover til 10 p.m. w/college ID 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Live Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee 319 Broad St, Lake Charles Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles Paul Gonsoulin 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Whiskey South 9 - 11 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Live Piano 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Live Music 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Linda’s Lounge 4338 Lake St., Lake Charles
Molly Ringwalds
Flashback Friday 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles
7 p.m. @ Party by the Pool’s Liquid Society L’Auberge Casino Resort Pool 777 Ave.L’Auberge, Lake Charles Admission: $10 Thirsty Thursday $2 Beer 7 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Sarah Meeche 8 - 10 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles DJ Knubz 8 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles 50 July 31, 2014
Friday, August 8
Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Ryan Bunch 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Dance Night 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Bujie & The Highrise, The Pears 9:30 p.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles $2 Beer Night 10 p.m. - Midnight @ Micci’s Piano Bar, 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles John Guidroz & Kevin Lambert 10 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Modrag 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles DJ Eric Scott 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Dancing 11:30 p.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Saturday, August 9 Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Ladies Night Ladies Get $1 Domestics All Night 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Micci’s Piano Bar, 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Tom & Mitch 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Twangster’s Union 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House, 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles Karaoke Party 9 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Frayed Soul 9 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Vol. 6 • No. 9
5313 Common St., Lake Charles
710 Ryan St, Lake Charles
DJ Night 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Saturday Night Party Time 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer and Bar until Midnight Free Cowboys Kool-aid 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
Greywolvez 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles
Paul Gonsoulin 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles
Special Event Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays
Scarab (The Journey Experience) 10 p.m. @ Luna Live
Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles
Luna Bar & Grill South! Lake Charles, we have lift off ! I would like to share exciting news for those who live/frequent areas south of Prien Lake Road. Dave Evans, the owner of Luna Bar & Grill and Luna Live in downtown Lake Charles, confirmed that Luna Bar & Grill South is currently in the works. “Demo is currently underway with renovation about to start,” he told me. The new location will be on the corner of McNeese Street and Nelson Road. There are other projects still under wraps that will be a positive addition for those of us who enjoy a great meal. You will love the new options! Be sure to keep a close eye on my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates.
Music Art Showcase Summer Series I have to give a shout-out to the young talented people (John Paul Vol. 6 • No. 9
DJ Eric Scott 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Sunday, August 10 Reed Planchard & Drivin Dixie
Primeaux, Raven Dobbins, Jasmine Griffin, Kaleb LeDay and Caden Gillard) who have performed thus far for the MAS (Music Artist Showcase) Summer Series, which we incorporated into our LA ON AIR with BRAY J online radio show. The six-week series began June 30 and wraps August 4. In addition, some well-known locals performed, such as Canebreakers (formerly known as Dead Relatives) and Charles Lyons of the band Sinners. Sinner is releasing their debut album “Dog Hill” on August 1 at 9 p.m. at Luna Live, where Tim Norris and The Lake City Free Throw Champs will perform. So Suede stopped by on his birthday, the same day he released his “Southern Playa” EP. Other guest performers include Ashley Phelps Gatte and Amy Collins Kerwin of Elms District (who just announced their fall tour with the band Consumed By Fire) and Kimberly Stegall and James Hebert, members of Consequence of Silence. We also had guests like Alexander & Burris, LLC stop by to share information about Fall Fashion Night (recently held at the Chateau du Calcasieu) and Victoria Bradford talked about her new projects, Sunday Soup and Free Swim. We also presented some health segments, which included a Partnership for a Healthier Southwest Louisiana, PE Gym, Pure Press Juicery, Cash & Carry Farmer’s Market and Our
5 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Dancing 11 p.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Monday, August 11 $5 Wine & Martini Night 7 p.m. @ Micci’s Piano Bar 3606 Ryan St., Lake Charles Karaoke Night
Garden Grows, LLC. It is great to see how many health-focused groups and businesses are opening here. You can visit Facebook and search for any of these above-mentioned entities for more information. The MAS series is only the beginning and we’re looking forward the next phases. We are very thankful to Tipitina’s Music Office Co-Op Lake Charles, which allows us a great space to do our show and series. Schools reopen in August and in September, you will have a new option to connect to what is happening locally throughout the community and on McNeese State University’s campus when KBYS 88.3 FM goes live on the radio. While you can currently hear me in the morning on weekdays randomly on 88.3 FM and KBYS.FM, in September, we expect to be in the new KBYS Studio on Ryan Street live and on the air. Following our MAS Summer Series, we will officially begin our larger MAS Fall Series presented by HeyBrayJ.com powered by The Lab Design Group. All of the details will be coming soon to www.heybrayj.com The Lake City and Southwest Louisiana region as a whole is moving at a quicker rate we may realize. While new residents will soon call Southwest Louisiana home and adapt with the area as it grows and transitions, I hope those of us who are already here can enjoy what is taking place and not feel overlooked. Now is the time to get involved if you have ever thought about joining an organization or maybe even submit concerns or comments that would be helpful to our area. Remember to make it a great one, Southwest Louisiana! July 31, 2014 51
10 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles
Tuesday, August 12 Street Side Jazz Band 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles
By Mary Hendrie When the Word was Sound is a unique band from Lake Charles made up of only two members, Brandon Pittman and Amanda Sonnier. The pair has played music together for 10 years, and in September it will be eight years since they formed WtWWS. Their music is a soundtrack for doing yoga or getting high or writing code or maybe interpretive dancing in the kitchen. This is music you can get lost in if you are really paying attention. Or you can just play it in the car and talk with your friends about whatever comes to mind. This may be the kind of music that does not like to be written about
52 July 31, 2014
Karaoke Night with DJ Verrett 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Dancing 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Karaoke Night 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
Mic Night 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
because it would rather you just shut up and listen. This is the kind of music that wants to be experienced. It has a texture like whipped cream mixed with glitter. It’s weird and lovely. It’s trancy but organic, and a little dirty around the bass. You will find yourself dancing without meaning to while listening to WtWWS. On first listen, these tracks may not scream “party music,” but I can picture the 15 coolest people I know hanging out in a room drinking fancy stuff and getting along swimmingly, while WtWWS provides the audio equivalent of social lubricant. The lyricless tracks look to electronic instruments
Wedesday, Aug.13
and stellar drumming to create a sonic landscape, which listeners can fill with a story of their own. Pittman and Sonnier shape their albums around themes that are both natural and experimental. A previous album, “Wormhole to Wonder,” links space and the path to spiritual growth, while their upcoming LP, “All Lines Leading Inward,” explores how external factors become internalized, and many of the songs are named after disorders. The new record will be more structured and have straightforward drumbeats for most of the tracks, Sonnier says. Her complex drumming carves, shapes and creates a pulse in the otherwise ethereal sound, so a different style of drumming could mean a vastly different record. The band is cautiously optimistic that the new LP will be ready for release in the next couple of months. After that, they plan to return to playing live and have enlisted the help of Happy Nomad Booking with hopes of expanding their territory. But first, “Finishing the record is priority one,” says Pittman. Vol. 6 • No. 9
Jim Pharis 8 - 11 p.m. @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder
Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles Kory Fontenot 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles
REVIEW: Mario Kart and 3topia This Chucker entered CyPhaCon’s Mario Kart Madness tournament last night at 3topia with high hopes. Sure, I’d never played this newest installment, Mario Kart 8, and have never even touched a Wii U, but I was a KILLER on the OG Super Nintendo version. Hell, I could take this all the way. Got to 3topia early for registration and a bite to eat, and the bar food was great. We ordered meat pies (two to an order, juicy, and sizable) and a Stack-O-Fries, which according to the menu was waffle fries covered in bacon and cheeses. Instead, we were treated to regular fries covered in said bacon and cheeses, with surprise BBQ brisket hiding underneath. While eating, I’m sizing up the competition and starting to get a bit worried. These folks are obviously acquainted in the ways of the Kart. Several participants practiced while gamers filed in in droves and paid their $5 tourney fee. The entrants consisted of all age groups, from 6-7 year old tots up to lifers in their 40’s. 3topia is the perfect environment for this event. Besides the bar and dining area, there are three separate lounge areas VIP-style with at least a couple of TVs each, and the CyPhaCon people set up two of these “rooms” for tournament play. After a great meal and several beers, the host called my name, Jonan the Xorbarian, in the third round and it was time to show Vol. 6 • No. 9
my stuff. Each round consisted of four races, with the winners determined from total points scored. I’ll chalk it up to drinking and driving. Damn those $1 Coors Lights in a can. For almost the entire first race, I was looking at the wrong screen, and couldn’t figure out: 1) why the controls were so unresponsive, and 2) why was everyone laughing so much? I, of course, did not advance. Sad, sad Jonan. But there was still hope thanks to the losers’ bracket, a reality-TV style trick where one lucky loser has one more chance to make the finals. This time, I’ll know exactly where my character is and I’ll shock everyone and win an award for most improved racer. I can at least take pride in being dead last, the worst racer in the room. And hey, people say this a lot when facing an epic fail, but I truly did have an awesome time. Check out 3topia for gaming, sports, bikini babe pageants, and lots of other creative events that no one else in Lake Charles is doing. And most definitely keep an eye on the good people at CyPhaCon, who are hosting these sorts of geek paradise events all summer. Thanks for a great time, y’all! Jody Taylor is a vinyl collector, Braves fan, and editor at TheChuckLive.com, a hub site for Lake Area entertainment info.
Thursday, August 14
Weezer
7 p.m. @ Party by the Pool’s Liquid Society L’Auberge Casino Resort Pool 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles
DJ Knubz 8 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles
Lake Charles Film & Music Festival Seeking Submissions Deadline: 8/13 The third annual Lake Charles Film & Music Festival will take place October 10-12 with independent film screenings, live music, seminars and workshops in downtown Lake Charles. The festival is currently seeking entries for films that have been completed after January 1, 2012. There are submission categories for Feature Film, Documentary, Short Film, Foreign Film, Home Grown, Student, Music Video and Animation. These films will compete to win a “Scallywag” award and cash prizes. More information and submission forms are available on www.lakecharlesfilmfestival.com. The deadline for entries is August 13. “Last year’s festival was such a success, that we are expanding this year and adding a music festival component. We’ll be taking music submissions from bands and solo artists,” said Patrick Bennett, executive director of the Lake Charles Film & Music Festival. “Our Foreign Film entries this year already include films from countries such as the U.K., Germany, Canada, Spain, Turkey, Israel, India, France, Vietnam, Romania and other places around the globe, making us a true international film festival.” In addition to viewing films, this year’s festival includes a celebrity guest
appearance by actor, writer, producer, director and singer Wesley Eure. Eure starred in the TV series “Land of the Lost” and was on “Days of Our Lives” for nine years. He also appeared in the feature film, C.H.O.M.P.S. with Valerie Bertinelli. The film festival will include seminars and workshops on screenwriting, acting, filmmaking, stop motion animation, making a TV series and much more. New Orleans based Rockabilly band “Gal Holiday & the Honkey Tonk Revue” will begin the music side of the festival on Friday, Oct. 10 for the Festival Kick-Off Party. Saturday, Oct. 11 will consist of film screenings, seminars, workshops, awards ceremony and the wrap party with live music by “Tempura Cool.” Saturday’s music festival component will feature live indie music in multiple genres. On Sunday, Oct. 12, there will be a movie character costume party with “Best of Fest” film screenings and live music. The Lake Charles Film Festival is produced by Louisiana Film & Video Art, Inc., a non-profit organization formed to bring quality independent film festivals, special film screenings, and educational filmmaking workshops to Lake Charles and showcase the artistic talents of Louisiana filmmakers around the world. July 31, 2014 53
FALL FASHION NIGHT
Jada King and Kelsey Manuel
Elena and Jacey Royer with Allie Terry
Asia LeBlanc and Avianna Reney
The Chateau du Calcasieu Event Center on Enterprise St. was the place to be as Alexander & Burris, LLC proudly presented their second Annual Fall Fashion Night hosted by local celebrity Braylin Jenkins. The beautiful models on the catwalk showed off the latest fall fashions and trends from JC Penney’s and local boutiques and designers. DJ NuWave Productions supplied the music, and there were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for all. Looking forward to the next event!
Ashlyn Wesley, Renee Arsement, Tiffany Smith and Kimberly Wood
Brookin Alexander, Kimberly Stegall and Braylin Jenkins
MARSHLAND FESTIVAL The 25th Annual Marshland Festival was a fun-filled food and foot-stompin’ weekend at the Civic Center! The crowds partied to Geno Delafose, Whisky South, Louisiana Express with Johnnie Allan & G.G. Shinn, Horace Trahan and other great entertainers while enjoying the food booths, games, arts and crafts and so much more! It’s always a party in SWLA!
Ronnie Nunez, Terry Buford and Byron Moress
Christine Cormier, Haley Marshall and Madey Martarona 54 July 31, 2014
Rachel Thibodeaux and Ava Lewis
Shelley Mancuso, Andrew Hayes and Sadie Cambell
Jourdan Fruge, Kynadee Touchet and Lexie LaFleur
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AMAZING THURSDAY AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Kids were making a splash with books, songs and other activities related to water and hydrology on Amazing Thursday at the Children’s Museum in Downtown Lake Charles! Orchid Robinson from the Calcasieu Parish Library entertained all with “Storytime.” Then it was time to catch crabs on the Crabbing Pier and paddle Down the Bayou in the Miss Sunshine and King Louie Shrimp Boat to the home of Maya, Lola and Iggy Iguana in the Nature Center. Fun!
Alayah and Aason Malveaux
Emma Fontenot and Ashlynn Dyer
Kinsley Matlock and Elissa Lounsberry
Harper and Haley Heslep
Gavin Matlock, Logan Lounsberry and Kinsley Matlock
MICKEY SMITH’S ‘SAX IN THE CITY’ You talk about a show! Talented saxophonist and singer Mickey Smith and his band performed before a sold-out crowd at Jag’s Bistro recently. Along with the great music, there was a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres and the divine food bar. All in all, it was a fantastic evening. Check out Mickey’s Facebook page to find out where he’ll be performing next!
Andrea Citizen, Laura Guidry and Mary Guillory
Jeffery and Crystal Malbroux with Trey and Kayla Ardoin
Vol. 6 • No. 9
Addie Anderson and Jasmine Harris
Kristin Ramsey and Christopher Green
Etha Marie Fisher and Veronica Woodard
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