The Jambalaya News - 10/23/14, Vol. 6, No. 15

02 October 23, 2014

Vol. 6 • No. 15

October 23, 2014 • Volume 6 • Issue 15

715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@thejambalayanews.com

Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie Dori Bell George Cline Dan Ellender Mike McHugh Roger Miller Britney Blanchette Pitre Mary Louise Ruehr Jody Taylor Karla Tullos David Yantis Sales sales@thejambalayanews.com Managing Editor Calvin Tyler Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk Business Office Manager Jeanie Taggart

On cover: Oliver “Jackson” Schrumpf, Candidate for District Judge, Division A

COVER STORY 20 Oliver “Jackson” Schrumpf: To be a Judge REGULARS 6 We Are SWLA! 8 The Dang Yankee 8 Adoption Corner 9 Tips from Tip 10 Huntin’ Tales 13 Stir Dat Pot 14 Soul Matters 15 A Ruff Life FEATURES 5 The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

For Me

8 10 13

12 Dad, Daughters and Hunting

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18 Mastering the Nap THE SPICE OF SWLA 24 Event Guide 27 Family Fun Night at the Movies 28 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center: Three New Exhibits 30 Red Hot Books

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32 Nightlife Guide 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.

Vol. 6 • No. 15

36 The Lost Hollows: A Peek Behind the Curtain 40 Funbolaya 41 Society Spice

36 October 23, 2014 03

A Note From Lauren Remembering Taunton face as he peered to see if the It’s that time of year again.

No, I’m not talking about Halloween. On November 3, it will be 11 years that we moved to Lake Charles. It seems like I’ve been here all of my life. How could I have lived anywhere else?

When we decided to move, we got mixed reactions. I remember my doctor rolling her eyes and asking me how I could leave Boston for a small Southern city on the Texas border.

It was so easy, because we didn’t transition right from downtown Boston, which would have been a culture shock, to say the least. We’d sold the condo right after we got married and moved to Taunton, a back-in-time, sleepy city near Rhode Island. It had great Portuguese restaurants, beautiful state parks and rivers, and a lot of odd people that we got a kick out of. When the mayor ran for a second term, his campaign slogan was “No One Said It Was Going To Be Easy.” He won by a landslide.

There was a show on cable that came on every Thursday night called “Old Tyme Taun-

04 October 23, 2014

ton.” The host was a balding, affable guy named Charles Crowley, who had a wealth of information about the history of the area and would invite people to call in during the show. Invariably, he’d get the giggling kids who’d ask him how deep the Grand Canyon was or what time it was in China. He’d tell them that their phone numbers were being traced and the police would be showing up at their door shortly. He became mayor after the guy with the bad campaign slogan.

I still worked in Boston, taking the commuter rail in every day, which was a great way to catch up on my reading. There was no train station in Taunton, so Phil would drive me to Mansfield, which was about 20 minutes away. While we sat in the car waiting for the train, we’d see the same people every day and gave them nicknames: Mr. Popularity (young guy who was always surrounded by women), Take an Amish to Work (bearded man who looked, well, Amish), The Face (guy who would make a squinty

train was coming), the Movie Star (older guy who was in community theater in whatever town he came from and kept bragging to everyone that he “got the lead”) and so many more.

We lived in a huge house built in 1845 (coincidentally for the first mayor of Taunton, Edmund Hatch Bennett) and had four rental apartment units in our building. Our tenants were rather unique: One couple worked as historical reenactment actors at Plimoth Plantation and would leave the house each morning dressed like Pilgrims. A family from Greece lived on the second floor. Mike was an architect and Maria was a teacher. They didn’t speak English very well, so they worked at a pizza parlor while they learned the language in hopes of someday getting jobs in their professions. They were the sweetest people. Rather than leave the rent check in our mailbox, they would invite us up for a delicious dinner once a month, followed by plenty of ouzo.

We’re still in touch with

Vicki, who lived on the top floor with two parrots, Sam and Jose-Maria, and a cat named Wilder. Sam had the vocabulary of a small child. I would go upstairs and knock on the door when I knew she was out, just to listen to him. “Who is it?”

“There’s someone at the door!”

“What do you want?” “Go away!” Then there was Keith the Drug Addict on the first floor, whose disgruntled girlfriend spray-painted obscenities on his door one time when they got into a fight.

We will never forget Taunton. It came at the right time in our lives. But then it was time to move on. And that’s when we discovered the very best place we could possibly be. Thank you, Southwest Louisiana, for welcoming us with open arms.

We’re here to stay.

Lauren de Albuquerque

Vol. 6 • No. 15

By Calvin Tyler Some like Thanksgiving, some like Christmas. Some enjoy Kwanzaa, some prefer New Year’s Eve. When it comes to the question “Which holiday do you look forward to most, Calvin?” my reply is Halloween. Thanksgiving’s got food. Christmas has gifts. Kwanzaa is awesome. And New Year’s Eve gets a bit blurry. But Halloween, my friends, has all of this and more.

As a child, I loved wearing costumes year round. If you knew me, you knew I could be a Ghostbuster, the Lone Ranger, Popeye, Indiana Jones, or a combination of all four.

Now that I’m a grownup, people look at my costumes like I’m weird.

What’s weird about wrapping your face with gauze in January? It’s cold outside, and my nose is sensitive!

Anyway. Halloween is the bestest, number one-iest, hellafun-iest holiday of the year. If you disagree with me, you didn’t have a childhood, your parents hated you, and I wouldn’t trade all of the whiskey in Ireland to be you. But, just like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, things can change for you, you sad, lonely, miserable soul.

First step is to figure out who you wish you could be. Somebody obviously cooler and more well-known than your never-opening-the-curtains-shut-in self, of course. Second step is to call your only friend and see if any of their friends are throwing a Halloween party. The final step is the hardest for someone like you. This is the moment where you must be around actual human beings who know what fun is.

Don’t let this worry you into anxiety, though. As long as you just sit on the couch, never take off your Adventure Time’s Finn mask and Vol. 6 • No. 15

backpack, and be completely silent, everybody will still never know you exist. But, I promise the fun will rub off and your life will change for the better. Because that’s what Halloween does to people.

Halloween brings hope to a sad and scary existence. One day out of the year you can walk up to a stranger’s house wearing an executioner’s mask with an axe in hand, and instead of being arrested, you get free candy for your efforts. If you’re not one to dress up and make the world a better place, Halloween has something to offer even you. All of those cool kids out there dressed as superheroes, ghosts, and witches aren’t just walking around to get exercise. They’re trick-or-treating.

They need people who never have anything fun to do--people like you--to sit at home and answer the door when they knock.

Since there is no way a buzzkill knows what is expected, I’ll give you some pointers: Nobody likes candy corn (let me check my iPhone 6 to see what year this is), apples (no matter what they’re covered in), and off-brand chocolates (something is missing), and most hard candy items you’ll want to buy but shouldn’t. Kids aren’t like you. Their future is bright and full of potential. Buy decent candy.

No matter what you do this October 31, make sure you do it responsibly. Be safe, be kind, and be grateful. You’ve only got one day to get the most out of that horse-head mask--then it’s back in the lockbox.

October 23, 2014 05

Kelsey Swire is First Lake Charles CW Host The locally owned Lake Charles CW TV station, ranked number 1 in the nation, is pleased to introduce Kelsey Swire as the first host for The Lake Charles CW TV station. Swire graduated from Sulphur High School in 2005 and received her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from McNeese State University in 2009. Her goal as the new Lake Charles CW Host is to bring a new, more exciting level of entertainment to SWLA. “Kelsey is well-rounded. She is a McNeese State Mass Communications Graduate, the Kelsey Swire camera loves her, she brings the enthusiasm and determination we need to represent our CW station” said Sofia Simancas, Promotions Director for The Lake Charles CW.

SOWELA Presents First Tracy Beaugh Scholarship

March of Dimes Recognizes LC Memorial

SOWELA presented the inaugural “Rising Star Tracy Beaugh Scholarship” award to graphic design student Brandon Harrell.

The award was created in memory of former faculty member Tracy Beaugh of the Graphic Art Department. “I know in my heart that Tracy would be extremely happy for any student receiving this scholarship,” said Darrell Buck, graphic arts instructor. “She always went to great lengths to help her students, and she had such a great heart that she could never turn any of them away. I am pleased that we have this scholarship, and I believe this is a perfect way to remember her.” For information about SOWELA and its programs, visit www.sowela.edu or email randy.jolly@sowela.ed.

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women was recognized by the March of Dimes and Louisiana Hospital Association for the work it has done in eliminating unnecessary early deliveries. The hospital has eliminated all early elective deliveries before the 39th week of pregnancy for the past three years. Memorial for Women is one of only 18 hospitals in the state and the only one in southwest Louisiana to meet the criteria for recognition. The criterion is a less than 5 percent early elective delivery rate before 39 weeks.

The hospital received a recognition banner for its work.

Chennault Airport Celebrates Hangar H Ribbon Cutting With a celebratory ribbon cutting, Chennault International Airport announced the official opening of Hangar H, a 112,000-square-foot, $21.5-million facility. Local, state and federal dignitaries were in attendance, including U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany. Hangar H can accommodate up to C-5 sized aircraft. The hangar includes an additional 6,000 square feet of office space. Hangar H is being occupied by AAR Aircraft Services, a global aerospace and defense contractor and the biggest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) provider in the country.

McNeese 2014 Homecoming Court

L to R: Eric Jessen, graphic art program coordinator, Darrell Buck, graphic art instructor, Brandon Harrell, graphic art student, Jessica Beaugh, daughter of Tracy Beaugh and Michelle Lee, VP of finances for Krewe of Athena

Merchant Named WCCH Safety Award Recipient West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Michelle Merchant, certified nurses assistant, as the recipient of its Safety Award. The award, which honors employees for their promotion of safety and safety awareness in and around the hospital, is distributed to those employees that demonstrate extraordinary awareness and action in minimizing potential safety risks.

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Joel Berken, an agricultural sciences senior from Jennings, and Kourtney Kennedy, a business education senior from Moss Bluff, have been named as McNeese’s 2014 Homecoming King and Queen. The royal pair and court were presented during the McNeese vs. Abilene Christian football game on Oct. 18. Other court members are: Will Hansen, Sulphur, Heather Morrissey, Moss Bluff, Ashlyn Simien, Lacassine and Matthew Thibodeaux, Central, seniors; Lee Butler, Rosepine, Dalton Hinton, Moss Bluff, Caryn Meschwitz, Lake Charles and Truclinh Truong, Lake Charles, juniors; Aaron Myers, Elton and Rosemary Prejean, Lake Kourtney Kennedy and Joel Berken Charles, sophomores and Keifer Vol. 6 • No. 15

Ackley, Sulphur, Taylor Ashworth, Starks, Ansley Rosett, Shreveport, and Hunter Self, Lake Charles, freshmen.

CITGO LC Celebrates 70 Years in Louisiana The CITGO Lake Charles Refinery recently celebrated 70 years of operations in Louisiana. The refinery, which first went online in 1944, is the largest CITGO refinery and produces more than 3.2 billion gallons of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other finished petroleum products every year. Hundreds of employees – current and retired – as well as local officials, community leaders and organizations joined CITGO to participate in the celebration.

McNeese Receives Donation Retired Judge Fred R. Godwin donated $25,000 to McNeese State University through the McNeese Foundation to establish the Jeaneal White Godwin Memorial Recruiting fund. The fund will assist the McNeese Office of Admissions and Recruiting with its recruiting efforts.

Godwin, left, presents the donation to Kara Smith, director of admissions and recruiting

L to R: Eduardo Assef, VP of Refining, CITGO; Mayor Chris Duncan, Sulphur; Tomeu Vadell, VP/GM, CITGO Lake Charles Refinery; Mayor Randy Roach, Lake Charles; Colonel Rock Palermo, Civil Air Patrol; Don Rowland, COO, Civil Air Patrol

Southwest Beverage Supports SWLA Development Southwest Beverage donated $10,000 as part of its 5-year, $50,000 commitment to support the SWLA Alliance Foundation’s SWLA on the Move campaign.

The current plan of work under the campaign is to address the critical issues facing our region: workforce development, business recruitment, business retention and expansion, regional marketing and building a single voice for a true regional partnership.

FOX29 & The Lake Charles CW Donate to Ethel Precht Breast Cancer Foundation FOX29/The Lake Charles CW hosted the 6th Annual Pink Celebration Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast in support of the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer Foundation at L’Auberge Casino Resort with over 400 in attendance. Thanks to local sponsorships, ticket sales, raffle ticket sales and donations, the a check for the value of $32,070 was presented to Ethel Precht to be distributed to breast cancer patients and survivors in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes through the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.

Vol. 6 • No. 15

October 23, 2014 07

No Cables Attached My wife and I declared our independence last week. Not from each other—heavens, no! If not for my wife controlling what goes into my mouth, I’d likely be dead from an overdose of Buffalo wings and Lone Star beer. And without me, my wife would die of withdrawal from America’s Got Talent, she not being able to figure out the workings of the universal remote.

The independence I’m talking about is from pay television of the cable/satellite variety. Last month, our one-year special price deal expired. The new monthly bill was more than it would have cost us to buy our own Congressman.

You have to know my wife to understand how incensed she was when she opened that new bill. If she were a superhero, her name would be Super Saver.

The only difference between her and Jesse James is that, whereas

Jesse carried a gun, she carries coupons. After her fainting spell passed, she picked up the telephone and called our service provider.

Our special first-year deal had given us access to 150-plus channels. Sure, about 140 of them carried programs that were devoted exclusively to offers of rock-bottom deals on the latest diet and exercise fads. But we were cool with that, despite my carpal-tunnel procedure that resulted from repeated surfings of the channel guide to find ESPN. My wife, who could normally beat William Shatner in a oneon-one Priceline Negotiator face-off, spent an hour on the phone, going through several levels of call-handlers from a greater number of time zones.

After she hung up, she burst with pride into the den, where I’d suddenly lost the feed for the football game I’d been watching.

“I did it!” she exclaimed. “I got our bill back down to what we were paying before!”

“And how exactly did you do that?” I asked.

“I just changed our package.

And we still get almost as many channels as we got before!”

I’d have been fine with that if I were more into shopping for exercise equipment than I were into exercising my elbow while watching a sports telecast. But I didn’t want to burst her bubble.

“I’ve got a better idea, one that can save us even more money,” I said.

I could read her glance. It’s the same one Mike Tyson might give if Pee Wee Herman faced him with his dukes up. “Why don’t we just cut the cable completely? That we’ll have no bill at all.”

“No way,” she said, arms crossed. It was the unmistakable look of an America’s Got Talent

addict.

But I was ready. “We can still get the local stations,” I said.

“They’re free. All we need is an antenna. Think back; you remember antennas? They’re those things we had on our houses before they invented cable bills.”

“Ohhhh…yeah,” she pondered. “And so I can still watch AGT?” “Absolutely!”

“But your football games.

Can you still get those?”

“Well, I could,” I told her.

“But for that, there’s just one more thing that we’d need in addition to the antenna.”

“What’s that?”

I answered her, “A good line of credit at the local sports bar.”

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 LAPAW Rescue Contact us at www.lapaw.org If you are Calico lover, this girl’s for you! She is about three years old and is super friendly with a beautiful purr and gorgeous green eyes. She is a good-sized girl with lots of love to give. In her current placement, she shares her room with two other cats but would love to be your one and only. She is spayed and fully vetted—ready to begin her new forever. Note: All LAPAW Rescue cats are “indoors only.” They have been fostered in homes and have never been exposed to life outdoors. For more information on Jasmine, call or email: (337) 478-7294; lapaw@bellsouth.net. Hurry, Jasmine is waiting!

For more information, call or email: (337) 4787294, lapaw@bellsouth.net. Vet check and home visit required prior to all adoptions.

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Vol. 6 • No. 15

‘Healthy’ Soft Drinks?

The soft drink manufacturers are starting to push the smaller 7 to 8 ounce cans as the decreased demand for those particular products erodes their financial returns. The consumers’ tastes have started to change in favor of water and flavored water products, thereby costing market share for carbonated drinks.

Manufacturers are trying to emphasize the “healthier” aspects of the fewer calories in these new serving sizes. We all realize that calories from soft drinks are effectively empty calories, meaning they have no real nutritional value. If they can convince you to purchase a smaller sized container at a higher price, they get the best of all worlds: higher per unit of volume profit.

At the supermarket, you will notice that the smaller containers (cans and bottles) reflect a higher price than the normal 12-ounce size. It would make economic sense to purchase the larger size and throw away what you don’t consume rather than buy the touted “healthier” size product.

Madison Avenue has made the American consumer easy prey to manufacturers’ advertisements; we almost want to believe what they present as acceptable logic.

Buy more for less with your dollar.

Suddenlink vs. Viacom There has been much in the news of the rift between Suddenlink and Viacom over the Vol. 6 • No. 15

content fees that are paid to carry the different programming channels. Both sides claim the other is to blame (like that’s unique). It appears to be a power struggle with the consumer in the middle. We pay $75 per month to watch our own television sets with “Basic” and “Expanded Basic” television packages (many pay more for additional premium material). Some of the included channels are ones that we never watch and flip over rapidly in pursuit of entertainment.

We all have our favorites and no one size fits all.

It is unfortunate that we are the pawns in the game of television viewing. The cable companies claim they give great value for the money while the providers seek more and more for their product (sounds familiar). We can only hope that a cafeteriastyle option would become the norm where each household selects the channels they desire and not have to pay for those that they would like to block out. The providers need a fair return, the deliverers need a fair return and the customers should get a reliable product of their own choosing. Like a menu at a restaurant, the price could be listed and you could get what you select at a posted price. There have been too many promises made in this industry and far too many of them broken.

The planners had rain ponchos (emblazoned with the Rouge et Blanc logo) available for the maybe 20-minute drizzle--great planning! Even the volunteers went around with towels to wipe the chairs dry afterwards. The surrounding buildings made for popular retreats for those wanting to avoid the light misting rain. No one minded the chance to get into A/C even though the temperature seemed much milder than in previous years. We can only hope that Banners will utilize this location for the coming years.

Everyone I have heard from wants it to stay at McNeese.

Supermarket Roundup With the cooler weather, the fresh morning air allows enjoyment of the morning coffee out on the patio, balcony or some other outdoor location. Louisiana means café au lait (at least a quick home version) which requires our use of cream and sugar; therefore, our shopping survey for this issue, taken on Wed., Oct. 15, will re-

flect home ingredients. The prices listed here reflect the price posted on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. The stores we checked were: Albertsons-Ryan Street, Market Basket-Ryan Street, Kroger-12th Street and WalmartNelson Road.

Community Dark Roast Coffee, Ground 12-ounce package: Albertsons $6.49, Market Basket $4.50 (2 for $9), Kroger $6.49, Walmart $6.38.

Community Dark Roast Instant Coffee, 7-ounce jar: Albertsons $5.99, Market Basket $6.19, Kroger $6.79, Walmart $5.78.

Half and Half, store brand, 1-quart container: Albertsons $2.59, Market Basket $2.99, Kroger $1.99, Walmart $1.98.

Sugar, store brand, 4-pound package: Albertsons $2 (2 for $4), Market Basket $2.09, Kroger $.99, Walmart $1.68.

Rouge et Blanc Having partaken in the 2014 Rouge et Blanc event, the main fundraiser for the McNeese Banners Series cultural program, I must commend the organizers for taking it to their home ground of the university campus. Even with a mild rain, the well-planned event went much smoother than many had expected. The campus environs with the oaks of the Quad adding their acorns to the mix made it just seem to be where the event needed to be held.

October 23, 2014 09

Hunting Humor Hunting humor is more often than not of the “You had to be there” variety. I have written about my flatulent Irish Setter, blackbird shadows as lures and terminal hangovers. Those tales may have amused you, made you smile, or even evoked a chuckle or two but they were not laugh-out-louders.

Jokes told at hunting camps are often crude, rude and socially unacceptable.

10 October 23, 2014

Practical jokes done afield, John Hood’s glitter skeet shell to Ray Thibodeaux’s Christmas lights on Dr. Lacoste’s blind, may bring a twinkle to your eyes and a smile to your lips, but they don’t evoke laughter.

One of Dr. Alan Lacoste’s childhood friends was Bob Dennie, a quiet unassuming man. The first couple of years that he came down to Lacoste Lodge to hunt, he might

have said a hundred words.

I called him The Quiet Man. I would have never known he was editor of Louisiana Conservationist magazine if Doc hadn‘t told me. One night, after the usual culinary delight prepared by yours truly, we were all gathered at the long table shooting the uh, bull. Anyway, The Quiet Man began to tell jokes.

For an hour he held us enthralled, if we weren’t literally falling off the benches laughing with his humor. No ethnic group, especially Cajuns, was ignored.

Anything that any of us might have held sacred was satirized.

He was a priest, a rabbi, a hellfire and brimstone preacher, a Cajun hunting guide, a piney woods redneck, and much more. He was even former Gov. Earl K. Long and Japanese Admiral Yamamoto.

In the span of an hour, his face contorted, his body

altered and his voice was a spot-on imitation of whomever he was portraying. I’ve seen professional comedians in Las Vegas and at L’Auberge in Lake Charles, but I hadn’t been seated to their immediate left.

The next morning, our sides hurt. We were bruised from our crashes to the floor.

Even our faces hurt from almost excessive laughing and smiling ear to ear. All that was done sober, no less. Ask Doctors Fasterbend, Walker or Kent, banker Glenn Bergeron, City Judge John Hood, or McNeese photographer and Bayou Fire and Safety’s Ron Foreman what they remember of that night.

They will smile as I do.

“Bob, what took you so long, Podna?” I asked. “In three years you’ve said a hundred words and last night you did an hour of standup.”

He glanced up from his morning coffee and answered in a soft-spoken New Orleans accent, “Part of my job as editor is to do after dinner speeches for the Louisiana Conservationist. Must do Vol. 6 • No. 15

about 70 of them a year. I come down here to relax.”

End of conversation and the return of The Quiet Man. He died recently after a long bout with skin cancer. You can read his lengthy obit in NOLA’s Times Picayune. Dennie was not only the longtime editor of the Conservationist; he was an award-winning writer, photographer, and mentor to a generation of outdoor writers. To top it off he is in the Louisiana Sportsman’s Hall of Fame. What I remember is The Quiet Man who came to relax and just once didn’t.

Instead, he gave us a night of laughter. It was his gift.

There are other moments that make me smile. One bitterly cold morning I was checking to see if two doctors (names I omit lest they operate on me one day) were ready to head out to hunt. Picture, if you will, two grown men normally in surgical scrubs wiggling into panty hose. While I gawked, they hastily explained that they ONLY wore them on very cold days and that this really helped keep them warm. To borrow from Jon Lovitz and SNL, “Yeah. That’s it. That’s the ticket.” Real men shop Cabela’s, not the wom-

en’s lingerie section.

Hunting one fine sky so clear-cold-and-blue-it’llhurt-your-eyes days, I was with my two favorite Yankee docs working a flock of reluctant pintails. This is their whispered conversation while I called and whistled to the flock of sprigs, trying to serenade them in.

“Say, who was that woman you picked up last night? She sure was fat and ugly,” Doc 1 said.

“What’d you mean? She was gorgeous!” Doc 2 replied.

“Gorgeous?” That’s tequila hyperopia talking.” Doc 1 said.

“Whistle. Tweet. Quack.

Whistle. Tweet. Quack,” I called in my most plaintive manner over their banter.

“She was gorgeous, I tell you.” Doc 2 added firmly and too loudly.

“Gorgeous? (Drum roll, please) Man, she was so ugly I spent 15 minutes trying to unzip her. Thought she was my duffel bag.”

Raucous laughter. One spit out duck call. An entire flock of decoying pintails flaring.

Yep, these are the same two who had a bateau, boat cushion, and push pole joust after every hunt. Still makes me smile. And you did, too.

Miller in deep poop Vol. 6 • No. 15

October 23, 2014 11

when in fact that’s exactly what Louisiana biologists and conservationists have done. Conservation isn’t exactly a simple thing, thus the reasoning behind needing a team of highly educated scientists to determine when and how much of what you can legally hunt and kill. Not only

By Dori Bell are there very specific times and dates, there are also strict weight I barely remember the first time I went and size regulations. Guns and ammo are hunting.

All of the early trips are bundled together also closely regulated and violations can result in confiscation of weapons and hefty in my collective memory. I can vaguely refines. I would advise anyone who is a novice member my slightly older sister and I being on hunting and regulatory practices to visit awakened incredibly early and then putting the state office on Lakeshore Drive and visit on layer after layer of clothing tinted in with an officer. Many game wardens are shades of green and brown. I recall a long avid outdoors people and love the opportudrive and lots of walking through marshy nity to educate. terrain. Goose hunting.

Many people subscribe to the idea that I can remember my game warden father hunters and fishers are backwoods, lowbrow, telling us not to point our flashlights toslovenly, uneducated, and lazy people who wards the deep dark pre-dawn sky, lest we relish in killing and maiming innocent anialert the geese of our presence. I, of course, mals. While those types may certainly exist, promptly disobeyed. He took it in stride.

I’ve never met any.

We were two young girls marching into the The hunters I have met have all been Louisiana night with our father. When we respectful of regulatory practices (I’m also reached water, he hoisted us up and carried aware that this could be because they knew us, as we didn’t have insulated hip boots, my father’s former profession) and have a and we climbed into a water-logged blind strong appreciation for nature and conservabefore the sun was even thinking about tion efforts. Therefore, many of the sterecoming up. We sipped on hot chocolate otypes about hunters are false. while probing our father about the arrival One of the most popular is the idea of of the geese. “Where are they?” “When will strapping a freshly killed deer to the hood they get here?” of an oversized truck. First, a hot motor One question I distinctly remember will ruin meat quickly, and obviously one asking was, “Does it hurt when you shoot of the main reasons people hunt is for food. them?” Even at 4 or 5 years old, I was a Second, a huge truck would scare away any sucker for animals and their feelings. My hope of seeing a deer and furthermore, dad then explained, in great detail, that that vehicle wouldn’t even remotely stand a while it does in fact hurt the geese, it’s all chance of fitting between intermittent pine part of a greater effort to maintain sustainable geese population and in turn, that helps trees.

Hunters often have to wear different regulate many different aspects of conservahats: butcher, tracker, chef, sniper, ghost. I tion efforts. saw my dad shoot a squirrel once and then, As a game warden, my father was somewhen he went to pick it up, it was still alive. what a steward of the state, making sure Louisiana’s many sportsmen obeyed the laws He then had to go all primal on it and smash its head against a pine tree. It was brutal, and regulations. These guidelines are deterbut he explained how he didn’t want it to mined by biologists and scientists through suffer. It’s much the same thing as when extensive research, and they fluctuate achunters wound deer, which is why it’s so imcording to our state’s specific needs. These portant to find them after they’ve been shot. guidelines, along with the presence of game As much as I understand the intricacies wardens, ensure that Louisiana’s hunting and fishing practices stay intact all the while of hunting practices, I still can’t do it. I killed a raccoon once, and even though my contributing to the state’s conservation effather was incredibly proud of the accuracy forts. of my shooting, I still cried myself to sleep Many people question how hunting and that night. And no, it’s not something I’ve fishing can encourage species to thrive, 12 October 23, 2014

grown out of; I hit a rabbit the other night and I cried over that little critter too. Now, I fall into that dreaded, but not uncommon category of people who can’t kill, but will eat.

When the sun finally rose on our somewhere-near-Sweetlake goose blind, the geese showed up and our father did kill several huge ones. Seriously, one of the things I remember most about childhood hunting trips was the imposing size of these geese! They were as long as my sister and I were tall. We marched again through the marsh to the truck and headed home, but along the way I petted the velvety soft geese and ran my tiny fingers along their wings, thus creating a life-long obsession with all things scientific or biological.

Down the road, I became familiar with all the names of their specific feathers and their anatomical functions. We had a neighbor that had ducks and I would catch the mallards with a dip net and compare their features to the geese. Curiosity caught the duck.

Another very important lesson was learned that day: when you kill something, you have to clean it. When we got back home, our mom fixed us coffee-milk and we accompanied our father to the swampy area behind our house to take of our morning kill. In other words, we had to pluck some geese. It seemed as if we pulled enough feathers to stuff a comforter, but in all actuality, it probably wasn’t that much. I remember the frustration that was stubborn pinfeathers and I remember the satisfaction that was a smooth, clean goose. After, our father skillfully dissected and fileted our birds.

As young girls, we were lucky to have a father who not only encouraged us to be outdoors people, but also never subscribed to typical gender tropes. We hardly ever had to wear pink, which also had to do with the fact that our mother hated the color, and we were never afraid to get dirty. Our parents let us read National Geographic and when I wanted to write letters to The World Wildlife Federation, my father helped me find the address and then helped me color posters to help save the tigers in India.

We were instilled with an overwhelming sense of responsibility to sustain and protect a certain way of life. My younger brother actually became a biologist and works daily to ensure the conservation of our wetlands.

If I have to thank my father for one thing, it would be carrying my sister and me to a dark, cold, goose blind, and supplying us with a severe appreciation for all things Louisiana.

Many thanks to Laura Bell England for contributing to this article.

Vol. 6 • No. 15

Hey, everyone! It’s time to Stir Dat Pot once again.

Today, I’m going to stray into dessert territory, one of my favorite places. Out at Grosse Savanne Lodge, we serve dessert with both our mid-day and evening meals, so I get my fair share of practice. We have groups who come multiple times a year and often will request a dessert. This is one I get asked for quite a lot--my Famous Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. To do this right, you’re going to need a two-week prep period. So two weeks before, sweat two pounds of pecans in a 350-degree oven for about five minutes, and then soak them in sealed mason jars filled with good quality bourbon. Remember, all bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon.

Two weeks later, you’re ready to make some pies.

I make five or six at a time and use the bourbon that the pecans are soaking in where my recipe calls for bourbon. When all is said and done, any leftover pecans or bourbon make a nice snack.

Tonya Meche Wants Your Recipes!

You’ve all enjoyed “Tonya Meche’s Kitchen” in every issue as she brings us quick and tasty recipes that have been passed down in her family. Now, Tonya is asking for YOUR recipes! Just email them to lauren@thejambalayanews.com. She’ll try them out in her kitchen, and if she likes them, they’ll appear in The JAM! So pull out those cookbooks and send some good cookin’ ideas our way!

Grosse Savanne’s Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie What You’ll Need 1 9-inch pie shell 1 cup sugar ½ cup light corn syrup ½ cup Steen’s cane syrup ½ cup butter (real butter, none of that fake stuff ) 4 eggs, beaten ¼ cup bourbon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped pecans

What You’ll Do Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine sugar, syrups and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until butter melts and sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, bourbon, vanilla and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar/butter/ syrup mixture into egg mixture, whisking constantly. Note: if the sugar/butter/syrup mixture is too hot, it will cook the eggs and you won’t be able to blend the mixture properly, and it will ruin your pie and no one will eat. You, on the other hand, will blame me because I gave you the recipe, which as we know by this note is wrong.

Stir in chocolate chips and pecans, and then pour into pie shell.

Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is golden brown.

May be served warm or chilled with your choice of topping--I like whipped cream.

I use a basic pie crust, but if you want to just buy one, I promise not to tell anyone.

See y’all soon and don’t forget to... STIR DAT POT! Vol. 6 • No. 15

October 23, 2014 13

The perfect girl that I tried so hard to be for other people in my life is gone. It’s time for me to be truthful to myself.

What makes us lose the connection to our inner child? What does your reflection show? It can get a little lonely shedding the old and becoming the new creation.

We have such a difficult time seeing the light that guides us to the truth. We don’t truly see where we are meant to go.

When the world you know changes and you begin to see with new eyes, it can knock you down to your knees.

Why do we choose to hold onto the things that weigh us be shining brightly on the The beauty of your heart opens and reveals the reflec- outside. Our love is meant to down in our lives? We have so much that keep us touch others. tions that lead you to the Recently, I was given a gift busy and distracts window of your soul. Then us from seeto see into my own heart. you see with God’s light, the ing the truth.

Looking within isn’t an easy art that paints pictures of Wouldn’t you task. You must be ready for who you truly are. what will be revealed to you. enjoy let~Nicole Shuff Arabie ting all those Inside my heart...I saw walls down three heart-shaped doors.

Attend, my people to my for just one Under the doors, I could see teaching; listen to the words day so you a diamond covered in dirt. of my mouth. I will open my could be your After cleaning the diamond mouth in story, drawing lesoff, it began to shine. Flowers true self ? sons from the old.

When you appeared in a circle below the ~ Psalm 78 look into your diamond. One by one, they opened up, blooming beauty heart, the vision is Why do we deny love? clear. You awaken to revealed from deep within.

Why do we make loving difdiscover the world within Then I saw water flowing ficult? Why do we allow fear you. The beauty comes from to stand in our way of loving? around in a circle. Fish scatthe thoughts in your mind. tered around in the water Many of you who know me The love inside of your heart and began to swim together, also know that God uses my finally in the same direction. feels warm and rich. Search eyes to see the light of truth for the seed of goodness that The water then gushed out within others. I believe that of my heart on the right side, was planted when you were we all have been given gifts. and began to flow on its own. created. When you discover Some of us choose to see the it, you will discover a preWhat’s around the river light, while others allow the cious shield that will forever bend? Is the water smooth light to become dark. When guard you through the darkyour light becomes dark, you or rough? It’s right there, est areas you encounter. Find can’t see what is right in front just around the river. This is it and you will blossom, just where I’m supposed to be. I of you. like the flowers did inside my I see into the hearts of oth- just have to remain strong.

If you are seeking life, you heart. The diamond was my ers. A story that comes to life. seed that was planted by God are like the fish looking for I would describe it as the art when He created me. The water. If the river is truthof your soul. The art of love. ful, it does not long to return dusted-off diamond began God works with me and to shine after I discovered it to the ocean, but just enjoys through me so that others being itself. The water in my within my heart. Love is alive can clearly see how much heart flowed out and became if you allow yourself to see it. love they have inside themOur heart is the center, it’s a river. The river of truth. selves. This love should

Reflections

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God’s LOVE. It grows and blesses the family. His love is HONEST, HOPEFUL, and HEALING. God’s love is eternal. When you BELIEVE and are no longer blinded by your own pain, when you TRUST Him with all your heart, The Lord will open your eyes to a whole new world. Faith is the evidence to the eternal.

I discovered the LOVE STORY that God wrote inside of my heart. I kept digging while TRUSTING my HEART and having FAITH, and my broken heart revealed itself. My FAITH guided me deep within and I opened up the doors to my broken heart. There I discovered the seed (diamond) of goodness inside the garden of my heart. The “flowers” began to blossom from their death.

The warmth and richness to love and my life allowed the water to spring up from the well within my heart, washing away all that was hindering love and removing so many painful layers. There was always a current hidden deep under all of the barriers. Once it was removed, it began to flow.

If we choose to ignore love as it enters into our life, we become bitter to all that love is and those walls we have built around our hearts will never fall down. Remember, God’s love will never fail you!

Love is the TRUTH. XO Nicole 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. 15

Chewing Chewing is a natural and healthy behavior for dogs.

However, it can be quite frustrating, and expensive when Fido decides to chew your shoes, remote, phone, glasses, etc.! There are many very simple solutions to teach your dog what is appropriate to chew and what is not.

The most important thing to remember is that you cannot stop unwanted behavior, and you cannot reward wanted behavior unless you are actually there to witness the dog in the act of chewing. Dogs live in the moment, and they don’t have morals like we do.

So, if your dog chews something, and you were not there to actually witness it, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. You must be preemptive and proactive, rather than be reactive. In other words, you must set your dog up for success. Don’t wait until the dog chews on something to react—make it so that chewing your things is not an option.

The first thing you need to do to set your dog up for success is to place items that you do not want chewed out of her reach. Have a good variety of toys, and change them out every few days so that she does not get bored. Also, your dog needs to be supervised 100 percent. When 100 percent supervision is not possible, she needs to be confined to a small area, like a kennel/ Vol. 6 • No. 15

crate, a utility room, a hallway, or a bathroom. This is called being proactive—you are taking away all opportunities for her to chew your belongings.

There are some other ways to be proactive, rather than reactive. Daily walks on a leash around your neighborhood are a must! This is different than letting your dog run around freely in your yard, or playing with another dog.

When you walk her, she smells new smells, sees new sights, hears new sounds, and she has to pay attention to you— where you’re walking, where you’re turning, etc. Also, the walk is controlled. Due to all of these factors, your dog is being physically and mentally stimulated. Running around in the yard may be great exercise and physical stimulation, yet there is not much mental stimulation occurring. When a dog is both mentally and physically stimulated, she is not

bored or anxious. When a dog isn’t bored or anxious, she doesn’t feel the need to chew, bark excessively, jump, etc.

Another great way to stimulate your dog mentally and physically is to get rid of the food bowls. Yes, you read correctly—get rid of the food bowls. Instead of feeding her out of a bowl, feed her out of an interactive dog toy. There are literally dozens of great interactive toys and dog food puzzles available at our local pet stores, and online. Two of my favorites are Kong Wobblers and Buster Cubes. Rather than pouring your dog’s food into a bowl every day, fill up one of these toys, and then watch her have so much fun at mealtimes! By the time she is finished eating, she will be worn out—mentally and physically. Plus, she will also have a full belly! I know I don’t want to do much when my belly is full! These toys are very durable, and can be cleaned just as easy as a bowl.

Last, you need to know what to do when you DO actually catch your dog in the act of chewing. First, remember to always substitute an unwanted behavior with a wanted behavior. Also, as previously mentioned, dogs do not have morals like we do, so there is no point in punishing

with physical punishment— ever! If you punish your dog when you catch her, you will teach her to only chew when you are not present. Also, physical punishment triggers a dog’s fight or flight response, thus eventually making her aggressive, and/or highly anxious.

So, instead of punishing, redirect your dog to a toy that is appropriate for chewing.

When you catch her, say, “eh eh,” take the item away from her, and give her a chew toy.

When she begins chewing the toy, be sure to give lots of praise! You will have to redirect many times until she gets it. I like to use “eh eh,” rather than “no” because we use the word “no” so much in daily conversation. Your dog can easily be desensitized to the word “no.”

Be patient. Remember that chewing is natural for dogs, and learning takes time. Do not give up. Your dog will eventually get it. You will not have to confine her for the rest of her life when you cannot watch her 100 percent. Chewing is like potty training—it will take some time and there will be some “mistakes” here and there along the way. I am confident that you and your fur baby can do it!

Until next time, happy training!

Britney Blanchette Pitre, CPDT-KA, Bons Chiens Dog Training, LLC.

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Sewing With a Purpose:

Capes for CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a division of Family & Youth, has teamed up with Niche Fabric & Studio for their S.W.A.P project to provide costumes to underprivileged children this Halloween season.

S.W.A.P. stands for Sewing With a Purpose and is an initiative of Niche Fabric & Studio. Local seamstresses and sewing groups can donate homemade boy or girl capes for Capes for CASA. The capes will then be distributed to underprivileged children in the Southwest Louisiana area who may not be able to afford their own costumes this Fall. Capes can be made in all sizes. Other homemade accessories like masks, cuffs, and crowns can also be donated.

Donations may be dropped off at Niche Fabric & Studio, located on 4700 Common St. in Lake Charles. Niche Fabric & Studio also encourages everyone to visit their shop to create Capes for Casa.

Supplies, a pattern, as well as free studio time, is available to anyone who wishes to help out and needs a place to work. For more information contact Niche Fabric & Studio at 337-4773810 or nichefabricstudio@ gmail.com.

CASA are volunteers who speak in court for a child’s best interest. Judges appoint a CASA volunteer to an abused or neglected child who has been removed from Vol. 6 • No. 15

his or her home. The CASA volunteer helps to ensure that the child receives appropriate care, whether from a foster home or relative’s home while he or she is in the court system.

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Mastering the Nap The holiday season is nearly here. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with everything that has to get done during the hustle and bustle of the season. Whether it’s multiple trips to the grocery story, a cleaning frenzy

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in your house or working on decorations and gift buying, you’re sure to be busy in the coming weeks. Long days may soon turn into late nights and by the time all is said and done, you may just find yourself needing a day-

time nap to recharge.

According to Dr. Jana Kaimal, medical director of the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana, not all naps are created equally and there are some basics you need to know in order to get the most out of your siesta. “While a nap will not necessarily make up for inadequate or poor quality nighttime sleep, a short nap can improve your mood, alertness and performance,” he says.

What you get out of a nap depends on the length of time you sleep.

“A 10 to 20-minute nap is what is often referred to as a power nap,” says Dr. Kaimal. “It is ideal for a boost in alertness and energy. It limits you to the lighter stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep which makes it easier for you to hit the ground running when you wake up.”

A 30-minute nap may cause what is known as sleep inertia, according to some studies. “This is basically a hangover-like groggy feeling that can last up to 30 minutes after you wake up,” Dr. Kaimal adds. “You’re likely to not feel the restorative benefits of the nap until this feeling wears off.”

Dr. Kaimal says napping for an hour is your best bet for memory improvement.

“If you want help with better remembering facts, names and faces, then set aside time for a 60-minute nap. This amount of time allows for slow-wave sleep, the deepest type. You may feel groggy upon waking, however.”

A 90-minute nap allows for a full cycle of sleep, including REM or rapid eye movement sleep. You’ll benefit by gaining improved emotional and procedural memory as well as creativity. “If you can block out an hour and a half for a nap, you’ll likely be able to avoid sleep inertia, making it easier to wake up,” adds Dr. Kaimal.

Finally, Dr. Kaimal says whether you block out time for a mid-day nap or not this holiday season, it’s important to remember that sleep is a priority. “It’s easy to get caught up in late-night visits with visiting relatives and friends, but in order to stay healthy and to have the best holiday season possible, a good night’s sleep should remain at the top of your to-do list.”

For more information, call 310-REST or visit www.sleepdisordercenterofla.com.

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October 23, 2014 19

Oliver “Jackson” Schrumpf is a busy man—and he likes it that way.

He maintains a thriving law practice, holds leadership and board positions in several civic and community organizations, plays in the Community Band, volunteers for any good cause that touches his heart, and rides herd over a large extended family. (Jackson and Judy Schrumpf have seven children and 12 grandchildren.)

With his life full of cases, causes and kids, it seems that Schrumpf is always running. But now he’s running in a different way: he’s a candidate for 14th Judicial District Judge, Division A. How did he decide to make the leap into a judicial election?

“I feel I’m at the top of my game now. I’ve reached a pinnacle with my law practice. I have maturity, and I hope I’ve gained a good bit of wisdom over the years,” Schrumpf said.

“I have lots of experience in the courtroom—38 years trying all kinds of cases. So, with me, it’s ‘what’s next?’ After a lot of reflection and counsel, I decided that my ‘next’ was to offer myself to serve as a judge. I guess you could say that I have a passion for our justice system, I know how our district court works, and I’m eager to get busy and be the kind of judge we need on the bench.

Schrumpf said that he has been told that he has the “judicial temperament” that it takes to be a good judge. “I must say that I’ve tried hard to develop those qualities throughout my life: compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias,” he continued. “I realize that judges are human, but they have to hold themselves to a high standard of intellectual honesty and impartiality.”

Schrumpf, 64, is proud that he has worked hard all his life. He was mowing lawns at 10, throwing newspapers at 12, bagging groceries at Piggly Wiggly at 16 and working construction as a pipefitter apprentice and welder at 17. As the oldest of five children, he worked his way through college at McNeese and law school at LSU, then helped his younger siblings get through school.

His friend Randy Robb, who serves with him on the Chennault International Airshow board, said, “Jackson has been working for this community his entire career. He’s one 20 October 23, 2014

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of the reasons this community is a great place to live and work.”

If the pursuit of widely diverse interests adds breadth to a judge’s worldview, Schrumpf ’s view is broad indeed. His roles in life have included attorney, public servant, actively involved citizen, college debater, pipefitter apprentice, coach, scoutmaster, boater, hunter, musician, pilot, and craftsman—as well as husband, father and grandfather.

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“When I decided to run for judge, I recalled the words of my namesake, a famous Oliver,” Schrumpf said. “Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., stated that ‘The character of every act depends on the circumstances in which it was done.’

“I truly feel that the circumstances are right at this moment for me to serve as judge. I’m prepared. I’m eager to take on the responsibility and work hard. I’ve ‘done my homework’ and I’m ready to give it my all.”

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Holy Trinity Episcopal Pumpkin Patch Through October 31 The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Pumpkin Patch will be open through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and noon- 6 p.m. Sundays. School classes, families, etc., can bring children to Pumpkin Patch Storytime. There are two classes on ten different days. Call 527-5179 to schedule a Storytime visit. Picnics can be held in the Pavilion if prior arrangements are made. 1700 Maplewood Drive, Sulphur (337) 527-8787, (337) 625-4288.

Bludd Vessel Through November 1 The USS Orleck Naval Museum becomes the Bludd Vessel—an experiment in terror every Thursday-Saturday as well as Tues., Oct. 30, Wed., Oct. 31 and Thurs. Nov. 1. Prepare yourself for suspense, chills and frights for 15-18 haunted minutes if you come out alive! Gates open at 6 p.m.; ship hatches open at 7 p.m.; ticket sales close at 11 p.m. $15 general admission (337) 214-7447. No child under 10 allowed.

Scarecrow Festival Through November 1 See funny, wacky and weird scarecrows designed by local businesses, groups and families at the 6th Annual Scarecrow Festival at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, Texas. Visitors can vote for their favorite scarecrow and prizes will be awarded at the event finale, Autumn Fair, Sat., Nov. 1. The Autumn Fair event will include face painting, pumpkin decorating and a variety of fall-inspired games throughout the Gardens. www.shangrilagardens.org.

Movies Under the Stars October 24 Free and open to the public; begins at dusk around 7 p.m. at Prien Lake Park. Seating is first come, first serve; bring lawn chairs, blankets and refreshments. Food can also be purchased on-site. The Lego Movie will be shown Oct. 24. 3700 West Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles. In the event of inclement weather, dates may be cancelled. (337) 721-3515.

McNeese Poetry Reading October 24 Award-winning poet Dr. Stella Nesanovich will give a free reading at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in the Business Conference Center at McNeese State University. Nesanovich, professor emerita of English at McNeese, is an accomplished poet. She was a recipient of an artist fellowship from the Louisiana Division of the Arts and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. (337) 475-5326.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s October 25 The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 at Prien Lake Park in Lake Charles. Registration and check-in opens at 9 a.m.; opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Register today at alz.org/walk. No fee!

There will also be a Jambalaya Cook-off sponsored by SouthernCare Hospice to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Registration is $125.

(337) 474-3743/540-7291.

Culture Fest October 25 The 4th annual Culture Fest Louisiana is Sat., Oct 25, from 10 a.m.

- 6 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Enjoy Flamenco dancers, Gypsies from India, Irish bagpipers, storytellers and a Blue Grass Band.

Free admission. info@culturefestlouisiana.com

Dutch Oven Society Jambalaya Cook-off October 25 The Southwest Section of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society announces their third annual Jambalaya Cook-off at Sam Houston Jones State Park on Sat., Oct. 25 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and all are invited. This is a part of the Le Chein Cookers’ monthly Dutch Oven Gathering (DOG) at the park. For a suggested $5 donation, the public will be able to sample every jambalaya and select the one they like the best. Proceeds will go to a local nonprofit hunger-fighting organization. (337) 912-9394

Free Mickey Smith Concert October 25 Saxophonist Mickey Smith will be performing live at a free “JAZZ IT UP” concert on Sat., Oct. 25 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Lake Charles from 2-5 p.m. Open to the public and includes food and children’s activities. The concert is outdoors in the church quad, so bring lawns chairs or blankets. Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed. 4020 Hodges Street (corner of E. Sale Road across from McNeese University).

477-6166, www.standrewpres.com.

ArtsFest 2014 October 25 SWLA Arts Council and the City present ArtsFest 2014, a free arts festival for children from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Coliseum. Children will create art and there will be live music, face painting, one-on-one pottery lessons, and performances by Lake Charles Dance Academy and Young Band Nation. In the spirit of Halloween, children who come dressed in their Halloween costume will receive a treat. (337) 439-2787 or visit www.artscouncilswla.org.

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Sax in the City October 26

Veterans Day Activities November 11

Get your tickets NOW to see Huber “Mickey” Smith’s Sax In the City on Oct 26 at 7 p.m. at Chateau du Calcasieu, 932 Enterprise Blvd in Lake Charles. Tickets are $15 and are available at Swicegood Music (LC) and Bearden’s Music (Sulphur) Includes hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the SWLA Arts Council.

The City of Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission will host the City’s annual Veterans Day activities beginning with the Veteran’s Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, Lakeshore Drive, on Sat., Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. A free Gumbo Cook-off will take place at the park after the ceremony. There will also be a “Kid’s Fun Zone.” Individuals, teams and organizations interested in competing in the Gumbo Cook-off should contact Roy Sanders at (337) 794-6163 for details and registration by Oct. 31.

Halloween Harvest Fest October 31 The City of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks Department will host Halloween Harvest Fest 2014 on Fri., Oct. 31 at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr., from 5-8 p.m. A variety of games, prizes, and trinkets will be available, including trains, face art and balloons; a costume contest in the Coliseum and “Tiny Tots World” in the Exhibition Hall. Admission is free and costumes are not required. Concessions will be on-site.

‘On the Town’ with Sheena Easton November 1 The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital presents “On the Town Las Vegas” starring Sheena Easton and featuring Leif Pedersen’s 1944 Big Band and Limited Edition with Kathy DeRouen. The event will be held at L’Auberge Casino Resort on Sat., Nov. 1. Tickets are $100 per person and include a four-course dinner and open bar. Cocktail attire. All tax-deductible proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund of the Foundation at LCMH. (337) 494-3226, www.lcmh.com/on-the-town

Life Matters Banquet November 11 ABC Pregnancy Resource Center is dedicated to offering life-affirming support and compassion to women facing an unplanned and/or crisis pregnancy. The annual “Life Matters” Banquet will be held on Tues., Nov. 11 at Treasures of Marilyn’s, 3510 5th Avenue in Lake Charles.

Doors open and silent auction begins at 6:30 p.m., dinner and entertainment at 7. Tickets are $50 per person. Sponsorship opportunities available. (337) 433-2797; www.abcprc.com.

Sordid Lives November 13-16, 21-23 KC Productions SWLA presents Del Shores’ Sordid Lives, described

Musicale November 1 The third annual Musicale benefitting the Literacy Council will be held Sat., Nov. 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Entertainers include the Street Side Jazz Band and the Flamethrowers. General tickets are $10; reserved seating is $100 and includes meal and a drink.

494-7000 or www.literacyswla.org

Tasting on the Terrace November 6 Come to L’Auberge Casino Lake Charles on Thurs., Nov. 6 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. to sample more than 50 unique wines and beers while also enjoying delicious complimentary foods. Tickets are available at the L’Auberge Business Center or Ticketmaster for $75. Limited $99 hotel rooms are available by calling (866) 580-7444 and use discount Code: STT6. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Family & Youth Counseling Agency. Tickets may be purchased at Legends, the L’Auberge Business Center, ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 7453000.

Free US Army Field Band Concert November 7 The US Army Field Band of Washington, DC, will be performing at the Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center, on Fri., Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

Sponsored by the Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission, the concert is free. Doors open at 6 p.m., tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office or at www.armyfieldband.com.

Sister Act November 8 See Sister Act, the on-stage story of a wanna-be diva who witnesses a crime and is hidden in a convent where she helps her sisters find their voices while rediscovering her own. Performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Sat. Nov. 8. Tickets are $45 – 65 at Lutcher Theater, 707 Main Ave., Orange, Texas. Box office: (409) 886-5535 / boxoffice@ lutcher.org / www.lutcher.org

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as a “black comedy about white trash.” Directed by Keith Chamberlain, performances will run Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 21-23 at Lake Charles Little Theatre, 813 Enterprise Blvd. $20 admission – reserved seating. Tickets & Information: kcproductionsswla.org / (337) 302-2259. This production contains strong language and adult content.

Reins of Hope Horse Show November 22 Family and Youth Counseling Agency, Inc. and The Stables at Le Bocage will host the Reins of Hope Charity Horse Show on Sat., November 22. The event will take place at The Stables at Le Bocage, 450 South Park Rd., Lake Charles. Proceeds will benefit the children participating in programs at the Shannon Cox Counseling Center, a division of Family & Youth. (337) 436-9533.

Westlake HS Presents The Mousetrap November 20 The Westlake High Theatre Department announces the school performances of Agatha Christies’ The Mousetrap directed by Kerry A. Onxley. When a group of strangers are trapped together at a manor house during a snowstorm, they soon discover one of them is a murderer! School performances are scheduled for Thursday, November 20 at 10:00AM at Westlake High School’s state-of-the-art theatre located at 1000 Garden Drive in Westlake, LA. Tickets are $7 per person. (337) 217-4950. kerry.onxley@cpsb.org

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Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day (Disney, 2014) In yet another movie based Because the Coopers are no ordinary family. on a children’s book, Disney I’m sure you’ve taken your brings us Alexander Cooper children to the movies, to see and his family. animated heroes saving the Alexander is going to be world, most likely. But partwelve tomorrow, and no ents, when was the last time one is coming to his birthyou saw a family movie at day party. This is normal for the movies that was actually him. Every day is bad. On the other hand, the rest of his about a real life family? Alex Cooper’s parents don’t own family seems to be all smiles and movie stars. (Not hard to a zoo. They’re not wizards.

What an original idea! act that way when you are a True to Disney form, Alexmovie star.) So, after another ander sports a crew of exin a string of bad days, Alex cellent actors, with Steve makes a wish: that his family Carrell as Ben Cooper could just once see what it’s and Jennifer like to have a really bad day.

The rest of Alexander plays Garner as his wife Kelly. The kids are out showing what happens also talented, espenext. In the morning, everycially Alex’s older one except Alexander oversleeps. Car batteries are found brother Anthony (Dylan Minette.) drained. A baby pees on the floor. Somewhere, an adult is Really, this guy is stifling a curse. This is a com- a natural comic talent, maybe the edy for kids, and most of the scenes are funny in a physical next Tom Hanks. way. You get the idea. But also Big sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey,) our story touches on adult a wannabee acproblems, with Mom’s job on the line and Dad having a job tress, practices her school musical interview after being unemnumber out in the ployed for eight months. family car with the When all these bad things windows up. continue happening, Alex reBut the real treat alizes that his wish has someis Alex himself how come true. It’s his entire (Ed Oxenbould.) fault. And that’s where things This kid is sincere, go from funny to interesting.

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sensitive, and really concerned when he sees his family messing up. As such, the movie has a Leave it To Beaver feel, kind of retro, a little corny, but also something kids may not have seen before.

As the Coopers go through their horrible day, we begin to see that they’re really a close family. They eat meals at the dinner table. Unemployed, Ben stays at home with baby Trevor. They carpool when necessary, and the kids even talk to their parents. There’s a lesson here somewhere, kids.

Speaking of closeness, I’m warning you conservative families, Mom sees Anthony’s penis in this movie. Later they have a talk about it (Anthony: “Mom, you saw my penis!”

Kelly: “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before. I’ve seen

your penis, his penis. I’ve seen every penis that’s in this car!”)

By the end of the movie, everything resolves as you would expect. But Alexander gives us all hope that tomorrow might be better than today.

Grandparents (like me) might get a little bored with Alexander because we’ve seen all this before, growing up with Andy Griffith and Danny Thomas. But I believe today’s parents will enjoy seeing the busyness of their modern lives parodied by a talented crew.

But for sure, elementary aged kids and maybe some younger middle school kids will love it.

Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day is rated PG for use of the word penis. Hilarious. Enjoy the movies!

October 23, 2014 27

David Hockney “The Boy in the Hidden Fish”

The City of Lake Charles will open three new exhibitions at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center on Friday, November 7. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with a gallery talk beginning at 6 p.m. The event will be open to the public and refreshments will be served.

David Hockney: Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm November 7, 2014 –January 10, 2015

In 1970, David Hockney and Petersburg Press released Six Fairy Tales, a compilation of 39 etchings and the texts of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s fairy tales. The tales are drawn from centuries of folklore.

28 October 23, 2014

David Hockney “A Black Cat Leaping”

Michael Elliottsmith “A Day at the Beach”

As Hockney points out: “The stories weren’t written by the Brothers Grimm...they came across this woman called Catherina Dorothea Viehmann, who told 20 stories to them in this simple language, and they were so moved by them that they wrote them down word for word as she spoke.” Some of the tales are familiar, like Rapunzel and Rumpelstilzchen; others, such as Old Rinkrank, Fundevogel and The Little Sea Hare are little known.

In this exhibition, Hockney has given each fairy tale his own interpretation.

Rather than illustrating the stories literally, he has chosen vivid images to encapsulate a mood or detail. His contemporary and often humorous approach to the tales is reflected in the

quirky nature of the images. The etchings were drawn directly onto copper plates by Hockney between May and November 1969. He has always loved Grimm’s Fairy Tales and had read all 220 of them. He especially enjoyed the elements of magic in the tales, and his images focus on his imaginative response to the descriptions in the text rather than attempting to concentrate on the most important events in the narrative. They are therefore more than simply illustrations: they stand on their own as images, independent of the stories.

Two Points of View by Michael and Leslie Elliottsmith November 7, 2014-January 10, 2015

Join the Elliottsmiths for a gallery talk at 6 p.m. on Friday November 7, as they explain the process of creating the scene through a series of layered images. The result is a new reality within the composition; something not seen in the real world. Two Points of View includes bodies of surrealistic works by both artists. As individual artists, Michael and Leslie have different visions for their photography. Sharing a household as husband and wife and taking photographic trips together would seem to mean that the photographs would be similar.

However, Michael has always worked Vol. 6 • No. 15

in photography and comes from a darkroom background, while Leslie has a Masters in Fine Arts in printmaking and painting. Theirs is a unique relationship of competition, admiration, and education; each bringing something to the table. The couple currently resides in Alexandria, Louisiana and both are former winners of the Louisiana State Artist Fellowship.

The surReality Show November 7, 2014-January 10, 2015

In conjunction with Two Points of View, Television Production students at Lake Charles-Boston Academy of Learning will present The surReality Show. Thirty four students from Barbe, LaGrange, Sam Houston, WashingtonMarion, and Westlake High Schools produced a collection of short videos using green screen and other special effects techniques to create surreal scenes and backgrounds for their skits.

The videos were inspired by the surreal themes of the Elliottsmith’s exhibition and will be showing in a screening room on the third floor.

Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

For more information, call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

The surReality Show

Leslie Elliottsmith “From Pillar to Post” Vol. 6 • No. 15

October 23, 2014 29

Hauntingly Good Halloween Treats for Readers Halloween is approaching: It’s time to find and find out who is vandalizing it. some scary, spooky reading, just for fun.

Horrorstör is a novel by Grady Hendrix.

The book takes the form of a retail catalog for Orsk, a “chain of Ikea knockoff stores.”

Along with the text, the “catalog” has diagrams of the floor layout, lists of furniture, an order form, and more.

Orsk has 112 locations in North America, and strange things have been happening at the local branch store. Several floor partners have been receiving texts on their personal phones, reading “help.” Graffiti has appeared on the walls, and “Opening shift is finding damaged merchandise every morning. Mirrors, dishes, picture frames, curtains yanked down from the walls.”

The manager asks two of the women sales associates to stay overnight in the store

30 October 23, 2014

Without their knowledge, two other employees have set up ghost-hunting equipment. When the co-workers hold a séance, bizarre noises and mayhem ensue, and characters become panicked. Now the reader sees that this is a haunted house story, only set in a giant retail store.

The tale becomes progressively more scary, more violent, more ghoulish: “Terror singing in her veins, she began to crawl on all fours ... and soon she could hear a raspy breathing, along with another less human noise, like something sticky being stepped on over and over.” By the end, the whole thing is heading for catastrophe. But then, for some, it may never end. Not for little kids, but fine for teens and up.

For little kids, turn to Switchcrafted: The Story of the Switch Witches of Halloween

by Audrey Kinsman with Pam Hatcher, illustrated by Milena Kirkova.

This is very clever. First, there’s a nice book with pretty pictures for kids age three and up. It comes in a hardcover, reusable box, along with a trick-or-treat bag and a cute witch doll with bendable arms and legs.

According to the book, witches need candy to fuel their flying brooms, heat their homes, etc. So on Halloween night, they make a deal with good girls and boys: “If you leave us your candy, we

will Switchcraft it for toys!” (But they will NOT Switchcraft the candy of “naughty” children.) Good kids are supposed to write a note to the Switch Witch and tell her what toy they’re hoping to get; then, after trickor-treating, they are to leave the note and the candy for the Switch Witch. In the morning, they wake up and find their new toy.

This is a good way to get kids to give up some of their way-too-sugary trick-ortreating swag. But remember, the “witch” or somebody is going to have to provide a toy after Halloween -- it’s part of the deal; but it’s a good deal if it keeps them from overloading on unhealthy treats.

Kids and parents can also check out the website Switchcrafted.com, for healthy recipes, DIY crafting ideas, and games.

But what do you know about real witches?

The Penguin Book of Witches is a nonfiction compendium of actual witch history, from the Bible to medieval Europe and colonial America, edited by Katherine Howe, author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane.

Howe follows the cultural and religious motivations behind witch-hunting, mostly in the 16th to 18th centuries, and especially in Salem, Mass. Here are the stories of real peoVol. 6 • No. 15

ple -- almost always women -who were accused of witchcraft and how they were prosecuted and persecuted. Howe looks at the so-called evidence, accusations, arrest warrants, witness statements, trials and punishment.

Women sometimes garnered suspicion “as a result of socially deviant behavior,” and often evidence against women “mainly

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consist(ed) of unsubstantiated gossip,” with prejudice against the poor, unattractive, or different. “Witches served as both literal and figurative scapegoats for frontier communities under profound economic, religious, and political pressure,” Howe writes. “The witch -- ever the embodiment of the oppositional -- served a vital role in the formation of what would eventually be a new united nation.

That’s one of the reasons that she and the events of Salem persist in our political discourse and in our popular culture. We need her in order to know who we are not so that we can begin to imagine who we are.”

Finally, what could be better for Halloween than a book set in a cemetery? Volume 2 of The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman, graphic adaptation by P. Craig Russell, has just been published, with illustrations by Russell, David LaFuente, Scott Hampton, Kevin Nowlan and Galen Showman. A

different artist has drawn each chapter, yet their styles are pretty close, and it isn’t jarring at all to move from one chapter to the next -- probably because it’s all overseen by Russell to give it uniformity.

The hero of the story is a boy whose family was murdered, but

who survives by escaping to the graveyard down the street, where he is sheltered and raised by the ghosts. No one knows the toddler’s real name, but the ghosts name him Nobody -- Bod, for short.

As Bod grows up in the cemetery, he meets people, encounters good and bad spirits, learns from his neitherdead-nor-alive guardian/mentor, and has adventures, being chased first by spirits and later by living bad guys.

This is gorgeous, and it’s an excellent presentation of Gaiman’s Newbery Medal-winning novel for anyone from about grade three up, including adults. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it highly. The two-volume set would make a beautiful gift for the upcoming holidays, too.

Copyright © 2014 by Mary Louise Ruehr.

October 23, 2014 31

Thursday, Oct. 23 Live Piano 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Nichole Marceaux & Twisted Fate 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

River Katz 8 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles ISIS 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Tantric 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles

DJ Cage 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Flashback Friday 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles

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

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 32 October 23, 2014

Gabriel “Fluffy Guy” Iglesias 6:30 p.m. @ The Pavillion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder 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 Tyler Darby & Train Wreck 9 p.m. @ Longhorn’s (Club) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton Reed Planchard 9 p.m. @ Longhorns (Casino) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton

Drivin Dixie 9 p.m. @ Longhorns (Club) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton

Larry Tillery 7-11 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles

Good Times and Cold Drinks 8 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Wayne Dylan 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles

Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles

Live Music 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Linda’s Lounge 4338 Lake St., Lake Charles

DJ Night 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Flashback 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Flashback 9 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Friday, Oct. 24 Travis Corbello and Dustin Landry 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

Saturday, Oct. 25

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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 Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles

Acoustic Pie 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles

Comedy Night with Jeff DeRouen!

3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

11 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Karaoke Night 7 p.m. - Midnight @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Oct. 26 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Live Music 9:30 p.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles

Live Music 5 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

Rosco Bandana 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Tuesday, Oct. 28

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Live Music 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s

DJ Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Movie Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Wednesday, Oct. 29 Louisiana Night & Abita Pint Nite $2 Louisiana Beers $3.50 Louisiana Spirit/Cocktails 6 p.m. - Midnight @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles

Live Music 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Kory Fontenot 8-11 p.m. @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Music 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Thursday, Oct. 30 Live Piano 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Brad Brinkley 6 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles Dr. ZOG 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

October 23, 2014 33

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

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 Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee 319 Broad St, Lake Charles

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Friday, Oct. 31 Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

34 October 23, 2014

Live Music 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

JC Melancon and the Bayou Rock Band 7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Gyth Rigdon 9 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House

3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles The LACS 9 p.m. @ Longhorn’s (Club) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton Live Music 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Linda’s Lounge 4338 Lake St., Lake Charles Flashback Friday 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles 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

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8th Annual Halloween Party w/DJ Crush 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Halloween Costume Party 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Dance Night 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Flamethrowers 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Dancing 11:30 p.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Live Music 9 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Saturday, Nov. 1 Live Music 7 - 11 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Good Times and Cold Drinks 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles DJ Night 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Pat Ryan Band 9 p.m. @ Longhorns (Club) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton

Bronco Jr. 9 p.m. @ Longhorn’s (Casino) 2374 HWY 109 S., Vinton Live Music 9 p.m. - Midnight @ The Cigar Club 1700 E Prien Lake Rd, Lake Charles Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Saturday Night Party Time 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer and Bar until Midnight 5329 Common St., Lake Charles

There’s a new restaurant in downtown Lake Charles!

Cowboys Mexican Bar & Grill, located at 723 Ryan St., has something for everyone with weekly specials, authentic Mexican food and a wide selection of drinks.

Margarita Madness Mondays: All Classic Margaritas $4 Thank You Tuesdays (Service Appreciation Night): 10% off meals for all police, fire, military and EMS. Wacky Wednesdays: All draft beer $2.50, $2 tequila well shots, $4 you-call-it selects Thirsty Thursdays/Ladies Night: $5 Select Cocktails.

Hours: Monday -Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Friday 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

(Fridays: Food Menu Available Until 1:30 a.m.)

Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight (Saturdays: Food Menu Available Until 11:30 p.m.)

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October 23, 2014 35

Special Event Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Sean Ardoin

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Nov. 2

10 p.m. @ Luna Live 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Live Music 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles

Live Music 5 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

Monday, Nov. 3 Karaoke Night 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles

Tuesday, Nov. 4 Live Music 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles

Karaoke Night with DJ Verrett

By Jody Taylor In 2013, I reviewed the Lost Hollows as a customer/victim and had so much fun that I decided to volunteer as an actor this time around and give readers a peek behind the curtain. In mid-August, I drove out to meet with Cynthia and Larry Eagle, proprietors of this open-air haunted attraction. I toured the trail, saw the newest updates, and by the end of that day, had my evil clown mask and costume picked out from the extensive inventory on site. Didn’t have to buy a thing.

When there’s no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the earth: It’s opening night on Friday, September

26 and I’m listening to the Return of the Living Dead soundtrack, setting a tone for the evening on my way to Lost Hollows.

I arrived at the site around 6 p.m. to find a gathering of ghouls around the costume trailer and final touches being made to makeup and clothing. Soon, darkness falls across the land and all the volunteers are in their places, a palpable sense of excitement in the air. This is the true beginning of the Halloween season for us, looking ahead to all the trailers full of fresh victims, ripe for

Clowning C Cl loow wni ning ing aaround: rooun u d: d K Kristen rist ri sten st enn M Menard e ar en ardd appl appl ap p ie i s th tthee gr ggreasepaint ease ea seepa sepa pain intt tth in hat a ttra raans rans nsfo form fo rms rm ms applies that transforms Jody TTaylor Jo aylo ay ylo l r in iinto ntoo a ffearsome ears ea arsom rssom omee cl cclown. lown ow wnn..

Jody

36 October 23, 2014

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7 p.m. - Midnight @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles Karaoke Night 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles Dancing 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Wednesday, Nov. 5 Louisiana Night & Bayou Rum Night $2 Louisiana Beers $3.50 Louisiana Spirit/Cocktails 6 p.m. - Midnight @ My Place 630 W Prien Lake Rd # G Lake Charles

Thursday, Nov. 6

319 Broad St, Lake Charles

Katelyn Johnson Band 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystals 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Avenue L’Auberge, 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

Live Music 9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles

Music 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., Lake Charles

Friday, Nov. 7

Cajun Night 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s 3748 Louisiana 3059 (Old Town Rd.), Lake Charles Mic Night 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

the scare.

The Eagles work all year on the Lost Hollows, planning and building new sets, updated scares. Their efforts have paid off again, as the Halloween spirit is undead and well here. Cynthia is an interior designer by trade, and Larry is an elementary school art teacher, so their artistic skills shine in imaginative sets like the Slaughterhouse, the Graveyard, and of course, the Carnival.

This set was a great place to cut my teeth as an actor in a haunted attraction, because it’s such a unique scare. Most other sets allow people to run on by, but guests in the Big Top can’t find the exit right off, so they’re trapped with an alley of evil clowns.

We can’t be one-trick ponies. I pulled from countless hours of horror movie knowledge and watched other experienced volunteers to soon be stalking, mocking, dancing, and intimidating with the best of them.

We all go a little mad sometimes: I’d trick guests by pointing towards a fake exit (one guy told his girlfriend, “Don’t trust this one. He’s a

Vol. 6 • No. 15

Live Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee

liar.”). I’d circle the center post, cackling to myself. I’d run up and get in their faces, honking my horn. It’s very strange to behave this way. Having zero experience with acting in any form, it was interesting to dive into this ludicrous persona.

The Big Top is very disorienting, even to the actors. Strobes pulsed continuously for five hours straight.

Guests would stumble in and I’d lose myself stalking them around the circular room, until a helpful co-clown told me to look up at the moon peeking in from one corner of the tent.

They’re all going to laugh at you: There was a bit of downtime between groups and we’d pal around “backstage”. I’m very appreciative of tips from Charisse the Snake Lady, Michael, Reggie, and Cynthia and Larry, of course. I learned that quiet creeping can be truly effective, unless you have a sinister laugh like Poppy the Clown or a downright goofy one like Skittles.

It’s a tightknit, but welcom-

Flashback Friday 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles

ing group of fear-mongers. They have their own jargon and compete for best scares. Some actors seem addicted to this feeling.

So why do they do it? “A lot of what keeps me coming back is just how fun it is,” Josh Esthay said. “Watching grown adults be terrified, the rush you get after a good scare, and finding new and different ways to scare people by doing what’s unexpected.” Esthay, a veteran of the Big Top, created a welldeveloped character in the cynical Poppy, who comes off as a nightmare version of Oscar the Grouch. Reggie Marshall, Jr. has been volunteering since 2013. “I love that there’s actually something like this in the Lake Charles area,” he said. “It’s exciting, the scares continue to expand, and it’s a great event for the month of October.”

The whole experience of haunting started to get in my head. I was Googling bearded clowns and binge-watching Killer Klowns from Outer Space for tips.

On my third night of volunteering, Kristin Menard did an incredible job on my makeup and

October 23, 2014 37

Dirty Word 9 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 Live Music 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Linda’s Lounge 4338 Lake St., Lake Charles

Live Music 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Coffee 319 Broad St, Lake Charles Good Times and Cold Drinks 8 p.m. @ Cooler’s Ice House 3622 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Saturday, Nov. 8

Dirty Word 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Live Piano 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar

Live Music

I felt much more comfortable in this new skin, getting better scares and really inhabiting the role. On this night, the evil clowns were in top form, an awesome group of volunteers that worked well together towards the most frightful experience for guests.

At the end of each night’s work, usually in the midnight hour, everyone makes their way to the front,

38 October 23, 2014

777 Ave. L’Auberge, Lake Charles

congregating at the concession stand for pizza courtesy of Rick Shetler at Mr. Gatti’s (or a homemade meal thanks to the Eagles!), and play-by-plays of everyone’s best scares from that night.

My personal favorite so far was the guy who came into the Big Top acting tough, threatening the next person who jumped out at him.

Let’s just say he didn’t get the response desired.

By the way, this is a great opportunity for a PSA moment. Please do not kick or take a swing at the actors. It’s okay to be a scared tough guy, and there are cameras on the trails, so don’t do anything that would embarrass your momma.

It’s Halloween, and everyone’s entitled to one good scare: You still have plenty of time to visit The Lost Hollows. The trails, including Spooky Timbers for the kiddies

9 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles DJ Night 9 p.m. - Close @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., Lake Charles Flashback 9 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 5329 Common St., Lake Charles

(with no live actors), will be open this Friday and Saturday, plus extended dates for the week of Halloween, open Thursday October 30 through Saturday November 1. Purchase tickets at the Spirit store on Derek Drive or on the official website at thelosthollows.com to beat the lines. Closed-toe shoes are required…and be careful out there. The next scream you hear may be your own.

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Costumes Frightful Ghosts Halloween Haunted

Horror Monsters Scream Skeleton Spooky

Thriller Trick or Treat Vampire Witch Zombies

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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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Vol. 6 • No. 15

LA FAMILIA FASHION SHOW Lights! Camera! Action! La Familia Resource Center’s Annual Fashion Show Extravaganza was held at the Isle of Capri Casino. Prominent community celebrities modeled fashions from JC Penney, Chico’s, and Men’s Wearhouse. Guests enjoyed good food and cocktails and participated in the silent auction.

Congrats to Sylvia Stelly and her crew for a great event!

Leslie Harless, Lindsay Popillion and Brandy Berry

Alexis Wesley and Adam Stelly

Sylvia Chaves-Stelly with Nora Popillion

Miranda Showers, Stephanie Berard, Valencia Goodwin and Jacob Thibodeaux

Lauren de Albuquerque, Eliza Mariah, Maria Cotto, and Sofia Simancas

ETHEL PRECHT BREAST CANCER 3K WALK If it’s October, it’s time for the Ethel Precht Breast Cancer Walk! Held on the grounds of the Lake Charles Civic Center, there was a big turn-out to support breast cancer survivors and their loved ones. Lake Area high school cheerleading squads were on hand to rally in the walkers! A day of, food, fun, friends, fellowship and faith!

Markesha Marks, Sadie Roberts, Karley Corbello, with Jesse and Joe Dupis

Paige Huffer, Buddy, and Mary Braddock Vol. 6 • No. 15

Tricia Matte and Melani Grantham

Kathy Beard, Vicki Detwiler and Kelli Anderson

Ethan and Zoey Miller with De Sonier, Ashanti Curtis, and Jessica Authement October 23, 2014 41

CAL-CAM FAIR Wow, the West Cal Cam Fair returned for its 91st year!! This annual fall tradition was held at the West Cal Arena in Sulphur and was a long weekend of fabulous food and fun for both children and adults! There were carnival rides, a livestock show, beauty pageants, wildlife exhibits, games, arts and crafts and so much more! See you next year!

Josh, Cynthia and Amber Laughlin

Alivia and Ashley LeBleu

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Chris Jozwiak and Brandi Jackson

Marvin and Hadley Simon with Riley Harrington

Jalynne Brazzell, Venya James and Katie Khoury

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OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL CARNIVAL Our Lady Queen of Heaven School held their carnival under a sunny sky! Crowds of students and their families and friends turned out to support the school and listen to live music and enjoy games, pumpkin face painting, fun jump slides, BBQ dinners and sweet treats. Always a big success!

Bailey Helms, Kallen Stough, Emily Booth, and Sydney Helms

Aubrey, Brandi, Brandon and Halli Soileau

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Conner Williams and Lexi Heisser

Isabelle Moreno and Andi Buisson

Layla Jackson, Deloris Johnson and Jayden Olive

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