The Jambalaya News - 01/05/17, Vol. 8, No. 18

January 6, 2017 • Volume 8 • Issue 18

715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262

COVER STORY 18 Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo

www.thejambalayanews.com Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren Abate lauren@thejambalayanews.com

Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie Dan Ellender Patricia Landry Mike McHugh Roger Miller Jason Machulski Justin Morris Russell Pawlowski Terri Schlichenmeyer Sales lauren@thejambalayanews.com

REGULARS 4 We are SWLA! 6

Dang Yankee

7

Soul Matters

7

Adoption Corner

8

Huntin’ Tales

On Cover: Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo

8 10

10 Trippin’ 12 Tales of the Bayou Pickers 13 The Pirate’s Platter

FEATURES 14 St. Margaret High School

12

16 Evangeline Home Health Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk

THE SPICE OF SWLA 22 Event Guide

Business Office Manager Jeanie Rourk

24 Mardi Gras Event Guide 26 Family Fun Night at the Movies 27 Bookworm Sez… 28 Nightlife Guide 30 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles

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

The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by Jambalaya Media, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601.

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

Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

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33 Funbolaya 34 Society Spice

14 26 34 Vol. 8 • No. 18

Meet Once upon a time, I had the best little dog in the world.

You’ve all heard of Cooper.

He was my boy and got me through a rough time in my life. Well, Cooper decided he’d rather be with his dad than with me. Yup. Cooper moved next door and continues to be a booger on his own terms. I see him all the time, but he is no longer my dog.

So what this meant was that I needed my very own dog. I missed walking a dog and sleeping with a dog and playing with a dog. Yes, I have my wonderful cats, but I needed a dog.

So, I put my feelers out and contacted many of the rescue people I know in the area. Wanted: Little dog. Must love cats.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Elke

In less than a month, I was notified about a young female Chihuahua, found running in the streets in Many. As soon as she was vetted and spayed, she would be transported to DeRidder. If I wanted her, she would be brought to my door. Of course I did! A new baby, just in time for the holidays.

So now, there is Elke. One hundred percent Chihuahua.

Which means she Barks at Everything. Cars. People. Birds.

Squirrels. Flags. The wind.

You name it, she doesn’t trust it. It’s the Enemy. It must be annihilated. And if anyone can do it, she can.

Of course, the postman is a Monster. How dare he bring us mail. She tore up the curtain on

the door her first morning with me. So, until she calms down, that curtain will hang in tatters.

No point in getting a new one that she will only destroy.

She adjusted pretty quickly, considering how frightened she was the night I got her. She snapped at me and wouldn’t let me touch her. She sat shivering in a chair in the parlor on blankets. So I brought my comforter downstairs and slept on the couch across from her, hoping that she would find her way to me during the night. Sure enough, I woke up and there she was, curled at my feet. I had put paper down in case she wouldn’t let me walk her, and she had used the paper. Good girl. She did run to the door and eventually I was able to get a leash on her. And she never snapped at me again.

She also didn’t bark at all for a few days. I was very excited about that, but then she stopped being scared and found her voice. Her big voice. It’s so funny to see such a little dog carry on the way she does. I’m hoping she will eventually chill out, but I realize that Chihuahuas are basically nervous wrecks.

Walking her is a challenge.

She came to me at the height of the holiday season, and things were really winding down in

the downtown area. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is especially quiet here.

All of the businesses are closed and there is hardly any traffic. So walks were uneventful and peaceful, for the most part.

January 2 was an entirely different story. The lawn people showed up next door before 8 a.m. with all of their noise. Both lanes of Kirby St. had traffic. It was not a good scene for Elke.

She got all upset and stayed upset all day—barking at every little sound, chasing cats, eating their food, totally misbehaving.

So today, I got up very early before the traffic started and we had a quiet walk and she’s been good all day. So I’m learning, little by little.

In spite of the challenges, it’s a joy to have a new fur person in my life, and it’s the perfect way to start the New Year. Hope your 2017 is off to a good start as well!

Lauren Abate

December 6, 2017 3

Park, 1535 Ryan St., on December 20. Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach and other community leaders unveiled improvements to existing playground facilities. Lock Park was given to the city in 1917 by Ellen Martha Lock in memory of her husband, Capt. George Lock. At that time, Lock set up a fund to provide perpetual care for the park. In 2015 the family established the Lock Family Endowment Fund so that the money dedicated in 1917 will be certain to give back to the community for years to come.

Briggs Equipment Donates to Family & Youth Family & Youth Counseling Agency received a generous donation of $5,000 from Briggs Equipment of Sulphur in support of Family & Youth’s divisions and their mission to help sustain family life in our community.

LAMC Welcomes LaTosha Mackey as Chief Quality Officer

LaTosha Mackey

LaTosha Mackey, RN, BSN, MSN has joined the leadership team and named the Chief Quality Officer and Facility Compliance Officer at Lake Area Medical Center. Mackey obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in leadership and management at Walden University in Minneapolis. She brings 15 years of nursing experience, with five of those years in healthcare leadership.

LAMC Announces 2016 Employee and Managers of the Year Lake Area Medical Center recently named Amie Proctor, shipping and receiving clerk in the purchasing department as the 2016 Employee of the Year. Dawn Lisa Guererro Amie Proctor Dawn Matte Matte, B.S., R.T., (R), (M), director of imaging services, was named the 2016 Clinical Manager of the Year. Lisa Guerrero, B.E.S., director of marketing and PR, was named 2016 Non-Clinical Manager of the Year. The award is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital employee each year. Proctor, Matte and Guerrero were nominated by their hospital peers based on their dedication to patient care, their professionalism and their contributions on the job.

Lake Area Dentistry Announces DeQuincy Partnership Dr. Jeffery Hennigan with Lake Area Dentistry announces a partnership with Dr. Peter Bayles at 824 W. 4th Street in DeQuincy. Patient appointments will continue as usual as Dr. Hennigan and his team joins Dr. Bayles in providing exceptional dental care for DeQuincy and the surrounding areas. Lake Area Dentistry of DeQuincy will serve the Lake Area in conjunction with the Lake Charles office located at 700 W. McNeese Street. For questions, call the DeQuincy office at (337) 786-6221 or the Lake Charles office at (337) 478-8470.

Playground Equipment Donated to Lock Park The City of Lake Charles and the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana co-hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lock 4 December 6, 2017

L to R: Julio R. Galan, president/CEO of Family & Youth; Ellie Courmie, inside sales, Briggs Equipment; and Mark Smith, outside sales, Briggs Equipment.

Memorial Welcomes New VP of Finance Brian Kirk, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, FACHE, CMPE has joined Lake Charles Memorial Health System as its new vice president of Finance. Kirk comes to Memorial with more than 20 years of healthcare financial and operational experience for profit/nonprofit hospitals and health systems. Prior to joining Memorial, he served as the CFO for university hospital and clinics at Lafayette General Health System. Kirk received his accounting degree from Texas A&M University and achieved his MBA from Regis University in Denver.

Brian Kirk

Memorial Welcomes New Chief Operating Officer Anna Cazes, DSN, RN has joined Lake Charles Memorial Health System as its new Sr. VP/COO. Cazes received an Associates Degree in Nursing from Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She went on to achieve a Bachelor in Science in Nursing from Loyola University, then a Master of Science in Nursing from Southern University in Baton Rouge.

Cazes also holds a Doctorate in Nursing Science from Louisiana State University. Prior Anna Cazes to joining Memorial, Cazes worked at Baton Rouge General Medical Center where she served as the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services..

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Gardner is LA Credit Union Hall of Fame Inductee CSE Board Chairman Ken Gardner was recently inducted into the Louisiana Credit Union Hall of Fame. Gardner has been a board member of CSE Federal Credit Union since 1969 and chairman since 1974. A longtime participant of the Lake Charles Chapter, serving as president for four years, he now serves on the League Board of Directors representing the Lake Charles Chapter.

McNeese Ag School Receives Grant The Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences at McNeese State University has been awarded a $3,000 grant by the USPOULTRY Foundation as part of its Industry Education Recruitment Funding program, which provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs. The McNeese grant was made possible by an endowing gift from Cal-Maine.

WCCH Honors Two Employees West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently recognized Leslie Berry, CNS, APRN, and Dena Ford as the November and December Employees of the Month for 2016. Berry serves as a clinical documentation specialist where she reviews patient mediLeslie Berry Dena Ford cal records. She has been with the organization for 21 years. Ford, executive assistant to the CEO, provides assistance and support to the hospital’s administrative team and board members. She has been with the organization since June 2015.

L to R: Students Spencer Albert and Heidi Gruspier; Dr. Chip LeMieux, school director; Angela Queenan, McNeese Foundation board member and agricultural sciences instructor Devin Gandy.

McNeese Photo

Toys for Tots Donation On December 14, the Lake Charles Police Officer’s Association, Local 830 donated $500 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Upon hearing about the donation, Edwin F. Hunter contacted the Lake Charles Police Department to make a donation on behalf of the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.

On December 20, the Lake Charles Police Officers Association met with Mr. Hunter to receive his very generous donation of $2,500.00 which will be given to the Toys for Tots program.

L to R: Sgt. John Russell, Sgt. Brenda Desormeaux, Cpl. Larry Moss, Edwin F. Hunter and Corporal Caleb Young.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 5

Soppy New Year!

Lady Yankee and I like to go camping over New Year’s. Why? Because we can.

This is Louisiana, after all, and the climate this time of year is one of the reasons we like it here. Let’s face it; it’s not because of the politics or a love for mosquitoes.

I, for one, relished the idea that this year we were able to spend Christmas Day basking in the 80-degree sun at my daughter’s house, me in a T-shirt tossing the football around with her friend’s boys.

Meanwhile, in the call to our relatives back in Yankee Land, they reported how they spent the day huddled around the space heater, speculating about whether the salt truck would make it down her road in time

6 December 6, 2017

for them to get home at a decent hour.

Lady Yankee, however, always had mixed feelings about warm weather during the holidays. I’ll admit she is getting better about it. The ritual that she established in our first years here, where she insisted on us donning flannels, parkas, ski caps, and mittens to visit the local Christmas tree farm on a balmy Saturday afternoon, is long gone.

New Year’s is the perfect time around here to go camping. Usually, the evenings bring enough of a chill to enjoy a good campfire—one that’s cheerfully tended by the pyromaniac husbands in our regular camping circle. They arrange well in advance to have the wood delivered by logging truck and can get

the fire started in seconds by virtue of the welding machine that one friend dutifully tows behind his camper. The resulting blaze is sufficient to make S’mores out of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Preferring the contents of my ice chest over S’mores in front of a toasty campfire, I thank the stars shining in the night that the door of my camper is only a short stagger away.

I’m sure I have lots of company in this regard, as the booming share prices of the RV companies indicate.

The one thing weatherwise that can ruin a winter camping trip down here is rain. And it seems like the only time that the weatherman’s forecast is dead-on is when he predicts rain for a planned outing. When this happens, the couples in our circle will proclaim without fail, “Who cares about a little rain? We’re no wimps; we can handle it! And besides, WE HAVE CAMPERS!” Just as predictably, their attitudes do a 180 once we’re there, the rain starts falling, and Mother Nature turns our pop-up canopies into pretzels. Thwarted from doing any of the fun camping stuff like barbecuing, fishing, and shooing

flies off the food, there’s a limit to how many games of Uno one can play in a cramped metal box with the dogs barking before the claustrophobia builds to near panic level.

Over the ensuing day, the campers peel one by one from the circle, eventually leaving only our friends Don and Debbie, who aren’t fazed because their fifth wheel is large enough to board horses. The only exception to this pattern was on one certain trip when we stayed through it with them, if only because Don had strategically parked his rig in such a way that we couldn’t hook up until after he left.

We’re now getting packed for this New Year’s outing, and guess what? There’s rain in the forecast. And although we’d sworn to never again succumb to everyone’s boasting about how tough we all are, we haven’t given a thought to cancelling our campground reservation.

I know, call me crazy, but at least this time I’m going to make sure that Don parks his trailer first. (Editor’s Note: Thought our readers would like to know that the Dang Yankee and his lady were washed out yet again.

Happy New Year!)

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Envision and Create While sitting here thinking about what to write for my first article of 2017, a thought passed through my mind. I am in the present, which is 2016, but am envisioning something that will appear in 2017. It hit me that the new year is a perfect time to envision the future and reflect on your life and on what you want to create.

Let’s first better define “time.”

Wikipedia says that time is the indefinite continued progress of existence and events that occurs in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future. When you’re able to clearly see your future (which is actually just your present when you get there), you’re more likely to make it happen. The definition of envision is “…to imagine as a future possibility; visualize.” Create means “to bring (something) into existence.”

Here are some questions that I have been asking about my own life. What is God’s will for my life? Is God leading me to take this new job? Does God want me to marry this person? Am I going in the direction God has planned?

We can be guided by God through shaping the circumstances of our lives. If we seek to discern God’s guidance the correct way, our very way of seeing and thinking might need to be changed.

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 I am sharing something that I do when I need to receive clarity.

You will need just a few minutes of your time. Find find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Take out a piece of paper

and while in prayer, ask God to help you envision what you see in as many details as possible.

Pray that everything in your life, starting from today, meets or exceeds your highest expectations for what is always best, ask God to help you.

Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? What encourages you in the picture that you are seeing? I want you to step into your future self and think about what you feel for a moment. Closing your eyes can help you to see clearer. If you prayerfully ask God to inspire your thinking, the Holy Spirit will lead you.

“When we allow the Spirit of God to be active in every facet of our lives, then our thinking will also be guided by the Spirit.”

Romans 8:5-6.

The subject of guidance through dreams and visions does reflect my own personal experiences. Some Christians feel most comfortable being guided by thinking, not by visions and dreams. But, I must let the Bible speak. I recognize the possibility of spiritual guidance through dreams and visions. Whether we are sleeping or awake, the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s will to us through inspired visual images.

Throughout the Bible, God communicates with His people through visual experiences. In Genesis 15, the Lord speaks to Abraham in a vision. Several centuries before Christ, the Lord spoke through this Jewish prophet: Then after I have

poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike.

Joel 2:28-29.

The New Testament begins on a similar note, with an angel appearing in a dream to Joseph, telling him that his fiancée is pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20). Not long afterwards, Joseph receives direction to go to Egypt as, once again, an angel speaks to him in a dream (Matt 2:13).

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out!

Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. Acts 18:9-11 It is from my own experiences that I BELIEVE the grace of God still speaks to us, as promised, through dreams and visions.

The vision or image can be a guide for you to move towards and forward. As you question big life decisions in 2017, ask yourself: Is this bringing me closer or pulling me further away from what I want to be.

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

Our newest addition is Carly, a 6-7 month old L ab mix. It is too early to decide the rest of her heritage but she is precious! Sweet, loving, and friendly to all, she will be a wonderful family dog. Good with other dogs, our guess is that she will be good with children as well. And, she is the perfect age for obedience training.

For more information, call or email: (337) 244-4563; lapaw@bellsouth.net.

Vet check and home visit required prior to all adoptions.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 7

Photos by Chris Romero

The Dog Days of December My dog day delights started with local CPA Greg Naquin’s Golden Retriever Candy. Although trapped in her travel kennel, Candy rode patiently in the back of the truck during our trek to just west of the Rockefeller National Wildlife Reser ve. At their lease’s landing, Greg’s teenage son Brandon put the ramp on the truck’s open gate so Candy could waddle down and then be helped into the bateau.

On top of that, she had to be lifted out of the boat onto her dog hide. I mean she’s only six canine years old, 42 in human years.

It was also an awful duck morning. Fog and heat and an occasional mist keep the visibility to damn near nil. Only the mosquitoes had clarity of vision. Somehow, a flock of some ver y foolish teal broke through the haze and tried to light. Five shots later, there were five teal down. Brandon tripled; the old coots got two. It was then that Candy did her usual and transformed from couch potato to Wonder Dog. I wrote about her truly amazing transmutation last year.

Despite knowing it would occur with the first downed bird, the change still awed me.

Not only did she get all five birds, but two of them were hundred-yard-swim-all-theway fetches. Back on the dog hide, Candy calmly dropped the duck in Brandon’s hand.

She wasn’t even breathing hard. This went on through six more retrieves. Then, it was in to landing and Candy immediately reverted to the helped-out-of-boat-up-the-ramp-andkenneled canine. I was bemused. I mean, she didn’t even use her kennel to replace what would have been a phone booth for Super8 December 6, 2017

Vol. 8 • No. 18

man. But yep, the couch potato was back, but with a happy, happy hunting dog smile.

Two days later, local artist of note Frank McDonald and I drove down to Jim B el’s Hackberr y Hilton Hunting Lodge. The winter swelter was to come to an end as a cold front blew through that evening. With a bluster y north wind and a 20-degree temperature drop, we headed out that morning with youthful guide Tayt Little. My pal George Kuffel and I had hunted with the high school junior the year before and his expertise far exceeded his young years.

The truly wonderful surprise was his first full hunting year British Black Labrador pup named Ice. The birds were definitely been-shot-at-all-season blind shy.

No matter, as Tayt worked the birds just close enough for us and Ice did the rest. Not to be outdone by Candy, Ice not only made long retrieves but the retrieve on one pintail was over a hundred yards and the speckle belly goose Tayt dropped from the stratosphere was an even further fetch.

Unlike his normally antsy aggressive American Lab cousins, Ice was mellow. After a fetch, Ice would just drop the bird to Tayt and lay his head on the blind’s edge. Ver y British, you know. It was as if he were saying, “Well, that was fine, ole chap but shall we just do another?” Ice kept that demeanor throughout our 18 ducks and one goose bountiful hunt.

The next day’s hunt brought Kirt Lupe, my Hear4U hearing specialist, and Tayt’s dad, Thad Little. Our other companion was yet another British Black Labrador, Lou. Gone was the bluster y north wind and the low temps. It wasn’t back to the swelter but it was a misty, rainy morning. With rising temps and rain, the visibility was not the near-nil of my hunt with Greg and Brandon, but close.

Like the day before, the ducks were plain end-of-season war y. Thad tried all the calls from var ying mallard quacks, teal bleats, widgeon and pintail whistles to just not calling at the decoy blind shy ducks. We managed to eke out seven birds when we had our morning surprise: two teal actually tried to alight on the decoys.

We quickly brought them down. It was now the usual shut-it-down ten a.m., so we started to unload our guns and pack it in.

We were unloaded except for Kirk’s second shotgun, a ten-gauge goose gun. Just then, two gray ducks swung in just out of range. No problem as BLAM! Kirk reached way way way out and miraculously brought the flaring gadwall down. Not only that but when we picked the duck up, it had been hit from beak to tail.

Now a word ab out t he most imp or t ant of our cre w, L ou t he L ab. He had p er for med his fetches mar velously. L i ke C andy t he G olden and Ice t he Br it ish L ab, L ou j oi n e d t he p ant h e on of onc e i n a l i fe t i m e, t r u ly f in e ret r i e vers I h ave s e e n . I h ave s e e n on ly t wo ot h e rs , b e s i d e s my G ol d e n Pre z , i n my 6 3 ye ars af ield. To have b e en af ield wit h t hem in a f ive-day span was an honor, a once-in-a-lifetime exp er ience w it h onc e - i n - a - l i fe t i m e ret r i e vers.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 9

Seven-night Eastern Caribbean Holland America Line Cruise We are so spoiled here in Southwest Louisiana! Living so close to the cruise ports of Galveston and New Orleans, with departing ships sailing easily to the beautiful sundrenched Western Caribbean, it’s hard for local cruisers to wander out of their comfort zone. But, come on. If you’ve already done the Western Caribbean - Mexico, Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Belize, aren’t you curious to venture to the other side? The Eastern Caribbean. Where even more remote and exotic tropical islands await discovery!

I know what you’re going to say. “But, I have to fly to Florida!” Well, boo hoo! I just returned from a Holland America seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Eurodam and it cost me a mere $206 to fly Southwest Airlines round-trip to Fort Lauderdale from New Orleans. I thought that was a pretty good deal, considering it was the only way I was going to set my bare feet on the breath-taking beaches of Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and the U.S. Virgin Islands “in one fell swoop!”

Holland America Line is known for their “old world” sailing style and small-to-

10 December 6, 2017

medium elegant ships. The Holland America cruiser is typically more mature (55plus) and well-travelled. So, if you’re looking for all the bells and whistles and flash of the new 4,000 passenger mega-ships and want to disco ‘til dawn and climb a rock wall, I will dare to say that a Holland America cruise is not a good fit for you.

The Eurodam was all I had hoped it would be. Smallto-medium size (by today’s standards.) 2,100 passengers maximum. The décor was elegant and sophisticated.

Our balcony cabin seemed quite small, but was ultra clean, comfortable and classic with plenty of storage space.

The bedding superb. And, I must say, embarkation of the Eurodam was a breeze. No standing in long lines outside in the heat like we saw passengers having to do at the large mega-ship terminals our shuttle passed on the way to the ship.

Holland America has a reputation for an elevated quality of dining-- for a cruise ship. Why did I say “for a cruise ship?” Well, I consider myself a foodie and if you do, too, you can’t quite compare a meal at an on-shore good/ fine restaurant prepared fresh

by Patricia Landry JUST for you to mass-prepared food. I mean, the food was all good, but the food was not all great, in my humble but know-what-I’m-talkingabout-when-it-comes-to-food opinion. Do I sound like a food snob? This assessment of the food might not apply to some of the grand ultra-luxury cruise lines. I don’t know.

But, I will let you know when I make one of those sailings!

The Eurodam has eight dining venues ranging from the main formal dining room, an all-you-can-eat anytime international buffet, and a burger and pizza joint. There are also three reservation-only specialty restaurants for a fee.

Steakhouse. Asian. Italian.

For breakfast, I frequently headed for the massive buffet. Everything always looked fresh and appetizing. I usually settled on smoked salmon, cream cheese and a bagel and steered clear of a tempting Grand Slam breakfast. I love Eggs Benedict and did give it a try one morning, but having visited New Orleans many times and know what great Eggs Benedict are, the buffet’s watered-down version just

didn’t satisfy.

For dinner, we chose the Anytime Dining option offered on most cruise ships these days as opposed to the standing reser vation plan. You’re on vacation, so why be forced to stick to some rigid schedule? I looked for ward to the dining experience ever y night in the elegant formal dining room. You naturally dress up a bit and are waited on hand and foot by a swirling team of expertly trained Indonesian and Filipino wait staff for a four-course meal.

I liked being seated at a table with other cruisers, as there was always lively conversation with interesting people from all over the countr y.

But, I must admit on about the fifth night, this routine started getting a bit old for me and I chose to order room ser vice and settle in my cabin with a good movie.

Wouldn’t you know that would be the night the dining room featured Surf and Turf ? LOBSTER! I missed it!

The ship had several entertainment venues and cocktail bars. My favorite was the BB

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King Blues Bar that featured a tight band--horn section and all--and a vivacious Mississippi gal who could really belt out those blues. The piano bar was always crowded and the main stage had performances every night. I only went once and the show was rather lackluster and the sound quality not so great, so I didn’t return. Never an empty seat in the small casino, though! I dropped $20 bucks one night in the slots. Won $16 in three pulls and was out of there with my winnings!

I had fun exploring the ship in the early morning hours.

My favorite spot was the deserted Crow’s Nest lounge.

I was there every morning before 6:30 a.m. with coffee for a panoramic view of the sunrise and to behold the ship slowly approaching an exotic island I was about to set foot on.

First port of call was Grand Turks. At 8 a.m., I was one of the few waiting for the ship to dock so I could be among the first to hit that stunning palm-fringed beach and swim in the turquoise waters.

Luckily, all the other early birds stopped to browse in the touristy shops strategically located at the entrance to the island. So, I can say that I really was the first person on the Eurodam that day to dig my toes into the sand and take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters. I went on a snorkel excursion and it was one of the most memorable adventures of my life!

We didn’t sail into San Juan, Puerto Rico until 1 p.m. so I

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had a lot of company in the Crow’s Nest watching the approach. San Juan Old Town with its cobblestone streets and Spanish architecture is charming and surprisingly hilly. We took a three-hour historic walking tour and were worn out by the time we arrived back at the ship. The absolutely best thing I ate on the entire cruise was the fresh-from-the-sea WHOLE fried red snapper I had at a little restaurant in San Juan!

C’est bon!

We had booked a three-part tour of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and I’m convinced that’s the way to go on a first trip. The tour offered an hour or so to browse the famous duty-free shops in the town of Charlotte Amalie,

filled with some of the most exquisite jewelry you’ve ever seen. On our way to one of the most famous crescent-shaped beaches in the world--Magen’s Bay--the tour stopped at several look-out points to take in the beauty of the beach down below and the surrounding lush green rain-forest covered mountains. Breathtaking photo ops and a chance to buy a fresh banana daiquiri or have a machete-wielding native chop off the top of a green coconut for a refreshing coconut water!

The grand finale port of call was the private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. I only thought the waters of Grand Turks couldn’t get any more sparkling turquoise blue and clear until I set foot

on Half Moon Cay. I have been saving the word PRISTINE for Half Moon Cay! I was so glad that I did not book an excursion so I could enjoy a few hours of strolling this powdery soft sugar white sand beach, lounging on a swaying hammock with a salty ocean breeze blowing on my face, and swimming in what seemed to be the cleanest, clearest and most refreshing waters in the entire world.

Shear heaven!

Would I sail Holland American Line again? In a heartbeat. Would I sail this same cruise, again? Probably not.

Too many other places to see.

Should YOU sail this Holland America cruise ship and itinerary, at least once? Oh, most definitely!

December 6, 2017 11

Ringing in the New Year!

New Year’s Eve has always been filled with parties, family and friends. We light fireworks, pass out the favors and noisemakers for not only the stroke of the New Year, but also throughout the night. There is a collectable value in these party favors.

Although not worth a ton of money, they are still a great pick when I’m out and about. These nostalgic items include noisemakers, party hats and even post cards. Although postcards are really not used much today, postcards were once regularly sent at this time of the year.

One of my favorite brands that I look for were made by the Louis Marx and Company, an American toy manufacturer from 1919 to 1978. Its boxes were imprinted with the slogan, “One of the many Marx toys, have you got all of them?” The Marx logo was the letters “MAR” in a circle with a large X through it, resembling a railroad crossing sign. Because of this, Marx toys are sometimes misidentified as “Mar” toys.

Marx’s toys included tinplate buildings, toy soldiers and action figures, dinosaurs, mechanical toys, toy guns and cars, doll and doll houses and HO and O scale toy trains.

Marx’s less-expensive toys were extremely

12 December 6, 2017

common in dime stores, and its larger, costlier toys were staples for catalog retailers such as Sears, Roebuck and Company and Montgomery Ward, especially around Christmas.

Founded in 1919 in New York City by Louis Marx and his brother David, the company’s basic policies were “Give the customer more toy for less money,” and “Quality is not negotiable,” which made the company highly successful. Initially, the company had no product designs and no manufacturing capacity, so Marx raised money by positioning itself as a middle man, studying available products, finding ways to make them cheaper, and then closing a sale.

Funds raised from these efforts proved sufficient to purchase tooling for two obsolete tin toys: the Alabama Minstrel Dancer and Zippo the Climbing Monkey from toymaker Ferdinand Strauss, one of Louis Marx’s former employers. With subtle

changes, Marx was able to turn these toys into hits, selling more than 8 million of each within two years. Marx then bought the company it had subcontracted to manufacture the toys. By 1922, both Louis and David Marx were millionaires.

Initially, Marx produced few original toys, but was able to predict what toys would be hits and manufacture them less expensively than the competition. The yo-yo is an example: Although Marx is sometimes wrongly credited with inventing the toy, the company was quick to market its own version, and during the 1920s, sold an estimated 100 million of them.

Although the company is now largely forgotten except by toy collectors, several of its toys remain well known. Rock’em Sock’em Robots, introduced in the 1960s, remained popular for years and has been reintroduced by several different companies. Its last hurrah was the Big Wheel ride-on pedal toy, which was introduced in 1969 and became one of the most popular toys of the 1970s.

The noisemakers are increasingly becoming rarer to find as the years go by, so when I do fine them, they are always a welcome addition to my collection along with the many toys manufactured by them. Take a look in your attic and you may be surprised by what you find.

Preserve as much history as you can; even the simplest of items hold the best stories.

Happy 2017 to all, with great hopes that I can preserve, protect and carry on what history is left out there.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Creamy Crawfish Tail Sauce Ever find yourself with leftover crawfish? The Pirate recently went to Alabama on a deer hunt and brought along some leftover red fish and some crawfish tails he had in the freezer. We decided we would season the red fish and pan fry it, but wondered if we could make a sauce for the red fish. The Pirate suggested a cream sauce with the leftover crawfish tails and WOW! The youngest of the hunters (he was 12) suggested we put Cajun Red Head Seasoning in it and so we did. The end result was like dining in a 5-star restaurant. The other hunters called their wives to tell them how badly they were roughing it at the camp--enjoying pan-fried red fish with a crawfish cream sauce. This is a quick, easy sauce that can turn any dish into a 5-star treat.

and boil 2 minutes, then add cream. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer the cream until it thickens and reduces by half, about five minutes. Add butter, creole seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Fold in green onions and serve over already cooked fillets.

Bon Appetit!

Ingredients 1 lb. crawfish tail meat 2 tsps. Cajun Red Head or Creole seasoning ½ cup Chardonnay 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. garlic (minced) 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 tbsp. Tabasco hot sauce 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp. butter (unsalted) ¼ cup green onion (chopped) ¼ cup white onion (chopped) ¼ cup parsley Salt & pepper

Preparation

Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Sauté parsley, white onion and garlic for 30 seconds. Add crawfish and creole seasoning. Sauté an additional 1 to 2 minutes.

Add Chardonnay, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce

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December 6, 2017 13

St. Margaret Catholic School The Best Kept Secret in the Lake Area If you are seeking an alternative to the public schools in the area, St. Margaret Catholic School may be just what you are looking for.

St. Margaret was established in 1949 and continues to impact the community of Lake Charles with its vision of nurturing all children and achieving academic success in the Spirit of Christ. The school was founded by Reverend George A. Bodin and the Marianites of the Holy Cross.

St. Margaret began with students in grades 1 through 3 and has now grown to add grades 4 to 8, along with Pre-K students . “Our current enrollment is 275 students, and we have a long tradition of generations attending here,” says Wendy Wicke, principal of St. Margaret.

St. Margaret Catholic School offers all students the opportunity to learn

14 December 6, 2017

art, music, Spanish, and computer literacy, which are important to developing well-rounded students, says Wicke. “Our students also spend time in physical education and library, and receive rigorous instruction in math, science, reading, social studies, and English.

And our 8th grade students have the opportunity to earn Carnegie credits in Algebra I and Spanish I.” The junior high science program continues to win state and national honors for the school’s success in recycling and promoting a healthier, more green society. “Our junior high science teacher and her students thrive to teach our school and community about the importance of recycling and how to be good stewards of our environment,” Wicke continues. “God gave us dominion over all the birds of the sky and all the animals of the land and sea. It is our responsibility to take care

of them. He did not ask us to abuse them. Our junior high science program does just that: We educate each other on the part we play in keeping our planet healthy.”

Wicke says that St. Margaret is one big family. “We know and celebrate each other’s triumphs, and we are there to help pick up the pieces when times get tough. Our students care and want to make a difference in their homes, neighborhoods, communities, the state and eventually the world. It is our desire as a school to pass along to our students the value of living a virtuous life.”

I asked Wicke what sets St. Margaret School apart from a public school.

“What sets us apart from public school is the ability to teach virtues and use Jesus as the focus of those virtues,” she responded. “We do not separate the two because it is impossible to do so.

When you try to teach virtues without also teaching the source of all virtue, then no real connection can be made.

That makes us different - that sets us apart from Public education.”

St. Margaret is the “best kept secret” in the Lake area. This small school found in the heart of Lake Charles has never lost its identity as a humbly Catholic school that continues to thrive with the help of dedicated school and church community.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Open House

Wednesday, February 1 at 6 p.m. and Thursday, February 2 at 10 a.m.

New Family Registration opens Monday, February 6 Tours and interviews can be scheduled anytime by calling or emailing.

St. Margaret Catholic School 2510 Enterprise Blvd.

Lake Charles, La. 70601 (337) 436-7959 kfontenot@stmcs.com

Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 15

E V A N G E L I N E

H O M E

H E A L T H

The ‘Little Home Health Agency That Could’ Evangeline Home Health is a 501c (3), private, not-for-profit home health agency created in 1972 by the Evangeline Parish Council on Aging in Ville Platte. The agency was established to meet the unmet needs of the rural parish and provide “Home Health Aid, Nutrition, Facilitation of Heath, Adult Education, and Transportation.”

From this simple mission statement in the early 1970s, Evangeline Home Health has grown from a small rural agency into one of the largest single agencies in the state serving the urban areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, and all of the Acadiana Region.

Foundation: Nursing and Public Health In the early days, Deanie McWhorter, RN, provided the leadership and vision that would carry the organization through the formative years. McWhorter’s training and experience at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, where she excelled in surgery and nursing, gave her the medical background to work with local doctors on complex cases.

As Evangeline began to grow, she hired nurses similar to herself: well trained, competent, energetic and devoted to serving others. Evangeline gained the trust of physicians and families around all of the Acadiana Region. McWhorter helped form the organization that would become the Home Care Association of Louisiana and served on the original board of directors. She was recently inducted into the Louisiana Home Health Hall of Honor along with her husband and partner, Edward “Ted” McWhorter.

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Formation: Research, Education, Innovation In 1993 Melicia “Lisi” Coleman, RN, BSN joined Evangeline as a visit nurse after graduating from McNeese University School of Nursing and working as a floor nurse at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Coleman began to help in areas of administration, compliance, quality, and community education. It was also during this time that huge changes in home health reimbursement were taking place and many agencies nationally were going under. Coleman worked with the leadership team that emerged from this crucible of change including the current Administrator, Bekki Miller, RN; Cindy Reavill, RN, Director of Nursing; Nicky Guillory, RN, Director of Operations; and Wendy

Welch, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing.

The average tenure of this leadership is over 20 years with Evangeline and service to the community.

Over the past 45 years, Evangeline has always had a drive toward innovation and research. This emphasis led to a startling and meaningful discovery affecting Public Health in Acadiana. One of the early research achievements of Evangeline Home Health was the discovery of a heretofore unknown gene pool of Tay Sachs disease in a small French community in Northern Acadia Parish.

A baby with Tay-Sachs disease appears healthy at birth, and seems to be developing normally for a few months. Symptoms generally appear by six months of age.

While symptoms vary from one child to the next, there is always a slowing down of development. Gradually, Tay-Sachs

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children lose motor skills and mental functions. Over time, the child becomes blind, deaf, mentally retarded, paralyzed and non-responsive to the environment.

Tay-Sachs children usually die by age five.

Together with Tulane Medical School and geneticist Dr. Emmanuel Schapiro Evangeline nurses tested over 1,600 persons over a two-week period, and identified a carrier rate in excess of 5 percent in the area. This effort was noted nationally in Newsday, The Los Angeles Times and national evening news programs. This effort was done at no cost to the community or the patients.

In 1996, Coleman was working on a Quality Team at Evangeline that was looking into Length of Stay for a certain subgroup of patients. They found a common issue in a majority of these patients: low vision and the inability to take care of activities of daily living. Over the next five years, Coleman developed the HomeSight® Program, a turnkey training program for home health agencies to address low vision rehabilitation in the home. The HomeSight® Program was marketed nationally and culminated in over 100 locations providing the HomeSight® Program by 2004.

Future: Strategic Partnerships, Alignment, and Advocacy In 2011, Coleman assumed the duties of CEO of Evangeline Home Health and is the current President of the Home Care Asso-

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ciation of Louisiana.

Leading a team of incredible professionals, Coleman has added technology, national consulting, and therapy leadership to Evangeline.

The agency is forging a future with a forward thinking strategic plan implemented in 2011 and continues to evolve over the last six years.

Guy Davis, LCDC, LBSW was added to the leadership team as the Regional Director of Strategic Initiatives to discover new partnership opportunities to expand the company’s ability to meet the needs of their patients and the medical community. Through this imperative, they have developed collaborations and relationships with area physicians and other health care entities for expansion of wellness programs, transitional care, medication administration for assisted living facilities, chronic disease management, end of life care and in home aid and attendance for Veterans.

Evangeline Home Health recently joined the VNAA becoming the only free-standing not-for-profit agency in Louisiana to become a Visiting Nurse Association member. VNAA is a national trade association that supports, promotes and advocates for mission-driven

providers of home health, hospice and palliative care. VNAA’s members provide cost-effective and compassionate home health and hospice care to the nation’s most vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

Some of the most recent accomplishments include being awarded highest marks in Quality (4 stars) and Patient Satisfaction (5 stars) by Medicare. Having a 4 Star rating in Quality ranks in the top 25% of home health agencies in the nation. Furthermore, during the last year Evangeline cared for over 1000 patients throughout the service area. From humble beginnings in Evangeline Parish to a multiple parish, multiple award-winning agency, Evangeline truly is the “Home Health Agency That Could!”

December 6, 2017 17

The spectacle of sport, skill, pageantry, and patriotism known as the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo returns to Lake Charles. For 78 years, old and young alike have gathered at the Burton Coliseum to enjoy the sights, sounds, and showmanship of the “greatest show on dirt.” Professional rodeo competitors, including pro world champions and national finals contestants from across the nation, will vie for $250,000 in prizes beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, February 2 and 3, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 4.

The annual livestock shows, which host more than 2,500 4-H and FFA exhibitors and awards more than $50,000 in scholarships, begin at 8 a.m., Tuesday,

18 December 6, 2017

January 31. The livestock shows are free to enter.

The prelude to the big event will be the arrival of the trail riders into Lake Charles and the Western Heritage Rodeo Parade beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 2. The parade will begin on Ryan at E. LaGrange Street in Lake Charles, and travels south on Ryan before ending at McNeese Stadium. The parade is free to enter and applications can be obtained at LakeCharlesRodeo.com During Rodeo Week, local businesses are encouraged to decorate their storefronts in celebration of the Lake Area’s western heritage and to welcome rodeo participants and fans back to Lake Charles. Rodeo Week is Jan 30 – Feb 4.

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The legendary Lecile Harris makes a long-awaited return as barrel man and comic relief at this year’s SW District Rodeo. Known for his mischievous personality, outrageous antics, and quick wit, Harris is a beloved favorite of generations of Lake Charles rodeo fans.

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame, in partnership with the Burton Coliseum, will host an exhibition of rodeo memorabilia and artwork from January 24 – February 4. The exhibit will feature items from the ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s own collection, including clothing, spurs, posters, trophies, photos, and other memorabilia. The exhibition will be open to the public during rodeo performances. A rodeo admission ticket will

Vol. 8 • No. 18

be required and will be valid only for the date and performance indicated on the ticket.

Additionally, the SWD Livestock Show & Rodeo Hall of Fame will induct three new members for 2017.

The induction ceremony will take place February 3 in Burton Coliseum’s Chalkley Room.

Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster online (additional fees apply) and will be available at the Burton Coliseum Box Office beginning January 23. Coupons for $1 off the price of a child’s ticket and $4 off the price of an adult’s ticket will be available at all Jeff Davis Bank locations. For more information, call (337) 944-9710 or visit www.lakecharlesrodeo.com.

December 6, 2017 19

McNeese President Williams to Retire

McNeese State University President Dr. Philip Williams announced today that he will retire on June 30, 2017. Williams has served as president since July 1, 2010.

“McNeese is an exceptional university with extraordinary employees who are dedicated to student success and live the McNeese motto of providing ‘excellence with a personal touch.’ It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as president. Southwest Louisiana is filled with some of the most generous and sincere people that I have ever met. They warmly welcomed Sandra, Grant and me into the community and we will forever be grateful for the kindness shown us,” Williams said. “I am also grateful for the support of the University of Louisiana System Board and staff.”

McNeese is one of nine universities in the University of Louisiana

System. “Dr. Williams is a thoughtful professional and McNeese will benefit from his leadership for years to come,” University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson said. “The southwest region of Louisiana is a hub of economic growth and McNeese is a central component. The System Board and I will work closely with the faculty, staff, alumni and community at large to select the university’s next leader with an emphasis on securing that regional growth.”

According to ULS Board Policy, the ULS Board of Supervisors will conduct a national search for a new McNeese chief executive.

During his time at McNeese, the university has been named one of the best regional universities in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report’s prominent annual “Best Colleges” list. It has been selected as a “Top School” in the 2017

Military Advanced Education and Transition Guide to Colleges and Universities, and in 2016, McNeese was also designated as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media and named a Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus.

“McNeese offers outstanding quality and its affordability provides students with a tremendous value and return on their educational investment,” Williams said.

“Receiving national recognition validates the work of our faculty and support staff and shows that observers on the national level are recognizing the outstanding quality and value that McNeese offers.”

Prior to his appointment at McNeese, the North Carolina native served as president of the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Ala. Williams is the sixth president in the university’s 78-year history and he succeeded Dr. Robert He-

bert who retired in June 2010.

Williams said that he is not leaving McNeese for another university. “I will be turning 65 next month and I am hoping to resume my interests in writing as well as consulting in the fields of strategic planning and management,” he said.

Williams authored several works of fiction, non-fiction and a series of children’s books with his wife prior to his career in higher education.

Robichaux, Mize, Wadsack, Richardson & Watson and Ironclad Title Grant Art Scholarships for McNeese State University Art Students The Lake Charles law firm of Robichaux, Mize, Wadsack, Richardson & Watson and Ironclad Title are proud to announce the presentation of scholarships to two McNeese State University art students.

Rob Younger and Sydney Thomas were each awarded a scholarship for their exemplary project art pieces that will be prominently framed and displayed, along with artist state-

20 December 6, 2017

ments, in the conference rooms at the Robichaux, Mize and Ironclad Title offices located at 1777 Ryan Street.

Rob Younger, a free-lance artist studying print making, submitted a charcoal and water color piece, depicting the firm’s adopted logo, the majestic rhinoceros, in front of a picturesque landscape.

Sydney Thomas submitted a dry point on plexi-glass print meant “to express the boldness and con-

fidence of the firm.”

Mr. John Wadsack, a senior partner of the firm, said, “The law firm of Robichaux, Mize, Wadsack, Richardson & Watson and Ironclad Title are pleased to support the thriving arts and humanities community of Southwest Louisiana, and we thought of no better way to encourage the continued growth and development of local students than to sponsor this

scholarship. We are thrilled with the product and cannot wait for the public to view the pieces in our conference rooms.”

For more information about the scholarship project or the services provided by Robichaux, Mize, Wadsack, Richardson & Watson and Ironclad Title, please contact Kaelyn G. Guillory, Director of Marketing, at (337) 433-0234 or by email at kgg@ironcladtitle.com.

Vol. 8 • No. 18

WWE Live January 9 WWE comes back to Lake Charles for a Monday night! Starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. See WWE World Champion AJ Styles, “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose and so many more!

Tickets range from $15-$95. For ticket info, call (337) 491-1256.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival January 13-16 The festivities kick off with a memorial breakfast, held at Christian World Ministries, 2001 E. Gauthier Rd. on Fri., Jan. 13, at 7:30 a.m., which honors outstanding individuals in the community. This year’s guest speaker will be the Honorable Judge Ron Ware of the 14th Judicial District. On Sun., Jan. 15, at 6 p.m., the the

January Events!

Saturday, Jan. 7 Kids Choice This is a workshop to use extra projects that were leftovers from previous workshops and weekly projects. Available from 10:30 a.m.-noon. on a first-come first-served basis. Limit one project per child.

Saturday, Jan. 14 Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show Sasol continues its 5S Project with “Liquid Nitrogen Isn’t Just Cool…

Its Freezing” program at 11:30 a.m. Kyle Brunner, Craig Mercy, and Rose Lavergne will have several hands-on demonstrations that involve freezing objects and pressure.

Monday, Jan. 16 Diversity Wreath Create a diversity wreath in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children, ages 3 and up.

Saturday, Jan. 28 Chinese New Year Dragon Make a colorful dragon to celebrate Chinese New Year! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children, ages 3 and up.

The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Admission is $8.50 for children and adults. Admission applies to all workshops and activities. (337) 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org.

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Gospel Extravaganza will be held at Throne of Grace Fellowship, 2401 6th St. The celebration continues on Mon., Jan. 16, with Family Day, where you can enjoy live local and national entertainers in the R&B, Zydeco, Blues and Southern Soul genres. Don’t miss the Celebrity Gumbo/Sauce Piquant Cook-Off Contest as well as the exhibition by hundreds of local vendors featuring arts, crafts, Creole and Cajun food. Kids of all ages will get a chance to catch throws at the parade, which leaves the Martin Luther King Center, 2009 N. Simmons St. at 11 a.m. Details on these events and admission can be found at www.kzwafm.com, or by calling (337) 491-9955.

Fur and Wildlife Festival January 13-14 The 59th Annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival will highlight our local, natural resource industries. Enjoy parades, a gumbo cook-off, pageants, a 5k and 1 mile run/walk, dances, Cajun music, exhibits and a carnival complete with amusement rides.

Don’t forget the unique contests such as duck and goose calling, trap setting, nutria and muskrat skinning, oyster shucking and skeet shooting. The dog trials are always a favorite among hunters! The festival will be held on the fairgrounds in downtown Cameron(located at the former Pat’s of Cameron, 513 Marshall Street). For festival times and more information, visit www.lafurandwildlifefestival.com.

Boat Show January 13-15 The annual Central Gulf Coast Boat Show will be packed with the latest selection of boats, fishing tackle, boating equipment and products, jet skis, golf carts, ATVs, scuba gear, resort information and guides. The show will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Louisiana and parking is free. Adults $8; Children 15 and under free (with paid adult). www.centralgulfcoastboatrvshow.com.

Jazz Night II with Ken Poplowski and Friends January 19 Benefit for the Arts in Medicine Fund of the Foundation of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, it begins at 6:30 p.m. at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Enjoy a four-course dinner, complimentary wine and cocktails and a wonderful evening of jazz starring Ken Poplowski and guests. Proceeds will be used to further the Arts in Medicine program of the Foundation.

For ticket information, call (337) 494-3226.

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Harlem Globetrotters January 25 The Original Harlem Globetrotters will have fans on the edge of their seats to witness the ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that thrills fans of all ages. New this season, the Globetrotters will debut basketball’s first 4-point line. The 4-point line will be located 30 feet from the basket: 6 feet, 3 inches beyond the top of the NBA’s current 3-point line. You won’t want your family to miss it! Begins at 7 p.m. Call (337) 491-1256 for more information.

The Symphony Plays Bingo: Beethoven, Buffet & Bubbly January 21 The Symphony’s annual Champagne Bingo Fundraiser returns to the Lake Charles Country Club, Sat., Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Enjoy two glasses of champagne punch and lunch as you listen to the sounds of the Symphony’s string trio. Then, grab your bingo cards and get ready for fun. Exciting prizes donated by local businesses will go to the winners of eight bingo games. Door prizes will be given out to many lucky guests. Individual tickets are $50; half tables of four may be reserved for $200; and a full table of eight may be reserved for $400. Get your tickets at www.lcsymphony.com.

SWLA Abolitionists Meet & Greet January 27 Come hear about the issue of human trafficking and how you can help to end it. Meeting at Waters Edge Gathering, 2760 Power Cewntre Parkway, Lake Charles. Begins at 7 P.M., refreshments provided.

Lake Charles Symphony Concert February 5 Concert 2 of the Classical Concert Series will be held at the Calcasieu Marine Building on Feb. 5. at 3 p.m. There will be a wine and chocolate party before the concert. For more information, go to www.lcsymphony.com.

The Odd Couple February 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 Directed by Denette Delome, the Little Theater presents Neil Simon’s classic comedy, The Odd Couple. For ticket information and times go to www. thelclt.com.

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December 6, 2017 23

Twelfth Night January 6 Mardi Gras makes its flamboyant entrance with the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza inside the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. There will be a lively, mini-parade featuring members of 60 krewes under the direction of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Advance tickets available at: Joseph’s Electric, Gordon’s Drug Store, Moss Bluff Flower Shop, Hamilton House in Sulphur and Party Time Store on Lake Street.

Krewe of the Golden Years February 7 Calcasieu Council on Aging presents the Krewe of the Golden Year’s Annual Mardi Gras Ball from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Wear a mask and dress in your favorite Mardi Gras attire. After a continental breakfast, enjoy an entourage of Kings and Queens representing Calcasieu Parish Nursing Homes, Senior Living facilities and the Krewe of Krewes. Live entertainment will be followed by lunch. Free for seniors 60 and over who must be residents of Calcasieu Parish. (337) 474-2583.

City of Sulphur Mardi Gras Festival February 18 The City of Sulphur’s Mardi Gras Parade will be held on Sat., Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. The parade will consist of Mardi Gras Krewes, merchants, individuals, groups and organizations, and the route will be from Cypress Street through the S-Curve to South Huntington Street. In addition to the parade, there will also be a King Cake Taste Off from 3- 5 p.m. with local bakeries competing to take first place in the various categories!

(337) 527-4500 or mayorsoffice@sulphur.org.

LC Merchants Parade February 24 Local business leaders and social organizations take to the streets on festive Mardi Gras floats from the Lake Charles Civic Center to Ryan Street, ending at Sale Road. Begins at 7 p.m. (337) 661-3361.

Vinton MG Celebration and Gumbo Cook-off February 25 Vinton will usher in the Mardi Gras season beginning with the Knights of Columbus hosting a gumbo cook-off at 10 a.m. and a parade at 2 p.m. The parade will run through downtown Vinton and end at the Knights of Columbus Hall where the gumbo judging will begin at 3 p.m. (337) 589-7453.

24 December 6, 2017

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Gumbo Cook-off February 25 The public tastes from every pot of chicken and sausage, seafood or wild game gumbo in a hot contest of more than 50 teams at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Amateur and professional teams will stir up hundreds of gallons of rich, spicy gumbo. Gumbo contestants begin cooking at 7:30 a.m., and judging is at 11:30 a.m., with gumbo served immediately afterward until 1:30 p.m. In addition to scrumptious food, there will be festive music. Admission is $5, and you can sample from all the different gumbo pots. (337) 475-7393.

Krewe of Omega Parade February 25 The Krewe of Omega Mardi Gras parade will be held in downtown Lake Charles at 2 p.m. The krewe was formed to bring Mardi Gras activities to the black community. To this day, it is the only Southwest Louisiana krewe to hold its own parade. It is held each year on the Saturday prior to Mardi Gras.

Zydeco Dance February 25 Mambo and Zydeco with live bands, following the Cajun Extravaganza/Gumbo Cook-off and the Krewe of Omega Parade from 3- 5 p.m. at the Civic Center. Everyone gets in on the dancing in the spirit of Mardi Gras!

Krewe of Barkus Parade February 25 A parade of costumed pets and their owners makes for a whimsical, carnival atmosphere. The title of “Mystical Dog” is given to the most strikingly costumed participant.

This daytime parade attracts pet-lovers and families. Entry fee applies. Starts at 3 p.m. at 900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles. (337) 439-3300.

Krewe of Cosmos Presentation February 25 The oldest krewe in the area presents their royal court in style with skits, songs and more. Don’t miss this glittering Mardi Gras show at Sulphur High School, 100 Sycamore Street, Sulphur, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Illusions Presentation February 25 Celebrate Mardi Gras with the annual presentation of the Krewe of Illusions. Tickets are $30 orchestra, formal attire required. $18 balcony reserved seating and $15 standard balcony seating, casual attire. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Rosa Hart Theatre. (337) 436-9588.

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Children’s Day February 26 Children’s Day, a free event open to children ages 3 to 11, combines Mardi Gras fun with culture, music and learning on Sun., Feb. 7, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall. Includes exhibitions of performing arts, technology and science, safety and health, and arts and crafts-all interactive and hands-on.

(337) 436-9588.

Children’s Day Parade February 26 A purple, green and gold parade for the young and young at heart. Goes from downtown Ryan St. to Sale Rd. in Lake Charles; begins at 3 p.m.

Taste de la Louisiane February 26 All-you-can-eat traditional Louisiana cuisine for a $7 admission fee. Taste all the deliciousness Mardi Gras has to offer! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., LC Civic Center (337) 436-9588.

Lighted Boat Parade February 26 Be dazzled by the glowing boat parade on shimmering Lake Charles. Begins at 7 p.m. on the Lakefront Promenade.

Mardi Gras Royal Gala February 27 The Cinderella night of Mardi Gras manifests on Lundi Gras at 7 p.m. with a lavish promenade of more than 60 krewes’ royalty in extravagant, glittering costumes before thousands of residents and visitors at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Begins at 7 p.m., tickets are $5 in advance, $6 at the door, children 5 and under are free.

(337) 244-1466.

Iowa Chicken Run February 28 Catch a chicken at the annual Mardi Gras Run on Fat Tuesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 503 E Highway 90, in Iowa. Doors open at 8 a.m., the Mardi Gras floats start lining up at 9 a.m. and the parade rolls at 10 a.m. The event concludes with a Zydeco dance. Admission is $10 at the door for adults and $5 for children.

Second-Line Stroll February 28 Area groups strut their Mardi Gras spirit down Ryan Street to the tunes of Mardi Gras music in this walking parade. Starts at 1 p.m. To participate, visit www.swlamardigras.org for event forms.

Krewe of Krewes Parade February 28 Hundreds of elaborate krewe floats, costumes, beads and more wind through the city in the culmination of the Fat Tuesday celebration in downtown-midtown Lake Charles. Starts at 5 p.m. Catch some beads and laissez les bon temps rouler!

December 6, 2017 25

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney, Lucasfilm, 2016) Long, Long Ago, but not that long ago, but longer ago than the original Star Wars movie, George Lucas dreamed up the Death Star, the real star of Star Wars.

And buried in the original screen crawl of the original Star Wars, you have the whole plot of Rogue One, which took place early in 1977, just before the original Star Wars came out. Just look: It is a period of civil war.

Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.

26 December 6, 2017

During the battle, rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR. Our new central heroine is Jyn Erso, the daughter of the engineer and designer of the Death Star. As a little girl, she sees her father captured by the Empire to make him complete his project which will, of course, be the end of the free republic as we know it. Jyn and the rebels go after the secret plans to the Death Star in the hope of learning a weakness that will destroy it.

So that makes Rogue One

central to the whole Star Wars Saga, right? Wrong. This movie is being billed as a stand-alone movie, for reasons I won’t spoil here. But don’t worry, there’s Darth Vader and a lot of other characters you’ve heard of, even some that came back from the dead to be in this movie.

Along the way, we get to visit several planets we never heard of, one of them that looks mysteriously like the lagoons of Florida around Walt Disney World. (It wasn’t.) And one that looked like Scotland.

(It wasn’t.) But most of the action takes place in space, on outposts and above planets, in lots and lots of star ships.

Rogue One is definitely a war movie, a space opera. I’d go so far as to say that THIS is the universe George Lucas envisioned so long, long ago, before movie effects and dollars could catch up to his dream.

So on that level, at least, Rogue One is a very satisfying movie, even though there’s only one Lightsaber scene, and the characters are somewhat lukewarm. A pleasant surprise is the push back to the 1977 fashions and props that make the original Star Wars so quaint: Tons of TIE fighters and X wing fighters and those oblong helmets that made the rebels look like Tour de France

warriors.

Rogue One is really a back story full of minor characters and they are minor for a reason, they’re just not that interesting. Still, we have a peg-legged space pirate Saw Gerrera (Forrest Whitaker) and a blind Martial Arts almost-Jedi Chirrut that help the story along, where almost everyone else is military. It’s almost like The Longest Day, but without John Wayne. And I think we really needed a John Wayne here.

But like all good battle movies, there’s wall-to-wall action and dramatic death scenes and very little actual blood. Jyn, played by Felicity Jones, even has an almost romantic scene with a fighter pilot and is a pretty good fighter herself, as she faces almost insurmountable odds to get the plans to the Death Star.

Rogue One has the distinction of being the one movie about this galaxy that is almost better than any of the others.

Almost. For fans, I would say don’t miss it. For the rest of the universe, wait for the video. It should be almost as good.

Rogue One is rated PG-13 because younger kids will be mainly bored and confused, and their time is valuable and fleeting. That’s why there are movies for them like SING! Enjoy!

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Television: A Biography and

TV (The Book) The weather outside is frightful.

That’s alright. You’d rather stay inside anyhow, especially in the evening. That’s prime relaxation time, and winter is a great season for catching up on all you’ve DVR’ed for the past few weeks… but where do you start? How about with two books: Television: A Biography by David Thomson and TV (The Book)

by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz.

Once upon a time, TVs were turned on manually.

You’d then (also manually) dial up one of three available channels (more, if you were very lucky) and you settled in (Not too close! You’ll ruin your eyes!) to watch programming in black-andwhite. In 1949, a TV set cost roughly 10 percent of the average U.S. salary and yet, we couldn’t get enough of it.

In Television: A Biography, Thomson looks at the different kinds of fare with which we’ve entertained ourselves through the decades.

Movies gave us the cliffhanger, for example, but television refined the until-next-week craze with shows like The FuVol. 8 • No. 18

gitive and, later, with Dallas and its spin-offs.

Here, we read about how many of Hollywood’s biggest stars made their transition to the small-screen; how talk shows became so popular; how innovators changed the way we watch TV, and why crime shows will never, ever go away.

This book, remember, is a biography. Yes, you’ll find a bit of history inside Television: A Biography, and a few opinions but it’s really nothing like you might expect in a book about TV. It’s actually better.

But, say you want a book about the shows themselves.

What do you think is the best television show ever? A little bit of argument is inside TV (The Book).

Under a wide group of genre umbrellas, Sepinwall and Seitz debate which series top their lists, based on a points-system that takes innovation, performance, consistency, influence, and storytelling into account, as well as when the show was at its “absolute best.” They considered U.S. shows only; and looked at “narrative fiction,”

rather than reality shows, children’s programming, or talk shows. And aside from a few obvious programs that should be on every Best Of list (The Honeymooners and The Twilight Zone, for example), they mostly focused on television from the 1980s.

What’s fun about this book is that the authors dissect the programs as only fans can: there are quotes flung about in each chapter, along with serious examinations of why we can put The Simpsons in front of The Sopranos (or not); why we so loved a show with a “black comic heart” and “shallow” characters; how M*A*S*H lasted longer than the war it was ostensibly about; and why South Park got more points than Taxi.

And if your favorite show isn’t in this book, there’s a reason for that. Read on…

In fact, while it might

seem counterintuitive to read about something you’re supposed to be watching, you can do two things at once, you know. Look for Television: The Biography and TV (The Book) and settle in.

Both are frightfully good.

“Television: A Biography”

By David Thomson ©2016, Thames & Hudson $34.95 / $45.95 Canada 304 pages “TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time” “TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time”

By Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz ©2016, Grand Central Publishing $19.99 / $25.99 Canada 432 pages December 6, 2017 27

Thursday, Jan. 5 Amanda Walker

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Tommy McClain & Louisiana Express 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

3HG 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Derryl Singletary 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Friday, Jan. 6 Amanda Walker

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Michael Krajicek 8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Clint and Sherry Lynn 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Jerry Lee Lewis

8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Tim Burge 8 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton 28 December 6, 2017

Satellite

3HG

9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata

Paws teh Cat

9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

3HG

Sunday, Jan. 8

9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Bryan Trahan

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Velcro Pygmies 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

LA Yard Dogs 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Jan. 7 Amanda Walker

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Blues Tonic 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

TBD

John Ieyoub as Elvis!

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

3HG 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, Jan. 9 Kenneth Espree

8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Velcro Pygmies

Caleb Paul

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

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Satellite

Tuesday, Jan. 10

9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Chip Radford

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Clint Faulk 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Trivial Tuesdays Live Team Trivia 7:30 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St.

DJ Verrett/Karaoke 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Brittany Pfantz 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Zipties 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Shaine Barhill 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Friday, Jan. 13 Wednesday, Jan. 11 Chester Daigle

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Chris Miller & The Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Whacky Wednesday with DJ Mark 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Trey Rose 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Reed Planchard 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Cheap Trick

8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Street Side Jazz Trio 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Thursday, Jan. 12 Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Alabama

Live in Concert!

9 p.m. @ the Pavilion Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster. com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or the Coushatta Box Office

Backyard Boys

Mason Fedduccia

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

8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Vol. 8 • No. 18

Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Allison Collins 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

The Mockingbirds 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Kings of Mojo 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Vol. 8 • No. 18

Saturday, Jan. 14 Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Flashback 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Mason Fedduccia 8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Martina McBride 8 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased

on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Coy Planchard 8 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ San-D 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster

Sunday, Jan. 15

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

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge

The Mockingbirds

Levi Platero

9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

DJ Jose Mata

Orphan Annie

9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Allison Collims

DJ Jose Mata

9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort

9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort

Kevin Lambert

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, Jan. 16

Stacy Bearden

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

DJ Jose Mata 8 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rachael and Ian 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Tuesday, Jan. 17 Kay Miller

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

December 6, 2017 29

Clint Faulk

DJ Verrett

6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Trivial Tuesdays

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Live Team Trivia

DJ Jose Mata

7:30 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St.

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort

I Will Get By. I Will Survive...

We did it, folks. I’m not sure how, but here we stand to say that we survived 2016. However, few were left unscathed artistically or emotionally as it proved to be year of saying goodbye to the artists and heroes that we all held dear. From David Bowie all the way through to Carrie Fisher, the year seemed to pass by as a veritable merry-go-round of “In Memoriams” of the people that shaped our childhoods or gave us a look back into the artistry of days gone by. And while each loss is a considerable measure each their own, the collective sense of loss that dominated and, in retrospect, will come to define the year, is a bit more than the sum of its parts. If you believe that it will pass with the changing of the calendar, I’m afraid that you will find yourself disappointed.

As much as many want to attribute all the sad happenings to the fact that “it was a bad year,” the real reasoning behind it goes far deeper and a great deal of it has to do with the break-neck expansion of media itself over the last 40 to 60 years. If we even look at our parents’ and grandparents’ generations of media accessibility, we don’t have to go far to find those that grew up with only three or four TV stations, and many who 30 December 6, 2017

Charlston & Derek 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Wednesday, Jan. 18

6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Kevin Lambert

Chris Miller & The Bayou Roots

8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Chester Daigle

knew a time with no television at all.

If you think about how many television actors were needed to fill three stations’ worth of content versus how many actors are needed to fill the programming of a seemingly infinite number of channels, you can see what I’m talking about. The same applies to Hollywood, as its volume of product has also grown exponentially ever since its own “Golden Age.” The expansion of traditional media has created many more opportunities for artists and performers to ply their talents and get the fame that could qualify one as a “celebrity.” The bigger the stage, the more actors are needed to fill it.

We Watch the Shows, We Watch the Stars… On Videos for Hours and Hours...

Another factor is the change in content. With the growth of 24-hour news networks, producers have a lot of air time to fill, which tends to lead to a great deal of news coverage of some pretty asinine content. The rise of reality television has made names of these people and because of that, these people make headlines. I can hardly believe that anything that Kim Kardashian does, says or wears can be considered “news,” but how many times has her name fouled up the crawl of your favorite news stations broadcast? This de-evolution of news into pseudo-reality television is not just helping to create celebrities, it’s creating

meta-celebrities: people who are celebrities simply because they are celebrities.

And that’s just addressing traditional mediums. In our grand digital age, we now have YouTube, Twitter and Instagram celebrities, for crying out loud. If you type in “Dan” to Google, the first auto fill option that pops up is Dan Bilzerian and the top link is his IG. What has he done? Well, mostly posted pictures and video of himself running around with a bevvy of scantily clad beauties, an artillery to equip a small regiment and often large and expensive vehicles doing silly things. Has this guy created anything like, I don’t know, a vaccine to cure some horrible affliction, or a timeless movie or a piece of enduring literature? Nope. Just pictures and video of him being “alpha” and blowing his seemingly bottomless trust fund reserves. Yet, he is a “celebrity,” just the same.

Your Candle Burned Out Long Before Your Legend Ever Did...

As negative as I may be sounding, there are some encouraging elements of this media expansion. Internet accessibility has made it easier for people to genuinely fall in love with an artist from before their time. I’ve met young folks that are genuine fans of artists like Bowie and Leonard Cohen and Leon Russell and Prince… artists they were able to invest in, explore and appreciate because they have access to those artists and that music and those movies because of these crazy Interwebs. It’s an endless pit of Vol. 8 • No. 18

Roger Tienken 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Thursday, Jan. 19

Kay Miller and Aaron Sterling 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar

L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Alfred Doucet Band 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

content and knowledge that is essentially there for the taking.

When I first discovered Curtis Mayfield, or Richie Havens or Jim Croce or ELO, the Internet allowed me to hear and learn those artists. I was born 11 years after Woodstock, but I’ve seen Richie opening it up a hundred times if I’ve seen it once. While new media does create its own breed of “celebrities,” it also allows access to others’ work and helps create a fan base that can truly span generations with a few clicks of a mouse or a swipe or two on your smart phone.

Nothing Lasts Forever, Even Cold November Rain...

My point is that as freakish as 2016 seemed, the unfortunate fact remains

The Fuse

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Kay Miller and Aaron Sterling

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Susan Hickman

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

DJ Jose Mata

9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort

Friday, Jan. 20

that every single day, people die and celebrities are no different; years on the road or drug and alcohol use take their toll on the body, even if that lifestyle was long left behind. They’re human enough to get cancer or to have a stroke the day after their beloved daughter dies. Some have called death The Great Equalizer and there is yet profound truth in it. The emotions we feel when we lose an idol is part of that equalization and is our way of relating to those who shared that love and to connect and relate to those idols, themselves.

Just remember that we all will one day fall. This is a continuing call to arms that we should never take for granted.

None of us can avoid the reaper, so we need to invest our time and our hearts in those people and things that make our

Big Jimmy and Reckless 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

lives worth living while we can. Love another human being, rescue a needy animal, support arts and artists that enrich your life, and commit yourself to your art and your inspiration and find ways to make that creative spark flourish.

While I am admittedly breathing a bit easier now that 2016 is in my rearview, I do take heed of the bigger message here and hope to use it to carve a path through the next 12 months that is productive, proactive and prosperous. I wish the very same to each of you and encourage you to realize that this new year and all it can possibly be for you lies in your very hands. Go forward with love and happiness and make this year one to reflect on with a smile. I can promise you that I will be doing the very same.

Something is Happening Here...

There’s plenty of cool stuff on the horizon, but since were are moving to a monthly format, this section may be more bullet points than quirky little descriptions so I can squeeze all the groovy things in here. SO! January 2017--Here we go!!!

Friday, January 6 - Jerry Lee Lewis, Golden Nugget “The Killer” himself is coming to the Lake City! For some “Great Balls of Fire” or a “Whole Lotta Shaking Going On,” don’t miss your chance to see this legend. GO SEE THIS SHOW! Thursday, January 12 - Winger, Delta Downs Eighties fans, get ready as the rockers behind hits such as “Seventeen” and “Headed For a Heartbreak” are Vinton bound! Get your perm on and GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!

Friday, January 13 - Cheap Trick, Golden Nugget They “want you to want them” and they are coming to the Nugget. “Surrender” to the classic rock gods and GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!

And that’s just SOME of the headline entertainment in store for January. Check out our nightlife guide for more shows and details!

Me, Myself, I’m Easy. I Don’t Really Have to Know.

As Long as I’m Still Breathing Then I’ve Got Somewhere to Go...

In the words of the great Richie Havens “Paradise is a hard place to find,” and though we may all have different interpretations of the word, I hope this is a year of finding it and discovering it for yourself, and I send a heart full of love to each of you as you seek it out.

I’m looking forward to a great year with you all. I’ll see you all back here next month and until then… I will SEE YOU AT THE SHOW! Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 31

Roots & Boots Tour 8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Kevin Lambert

The Fuse

8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

KC & the Sunshine Band

Bronco Jr.

8 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

8 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton

Pop Fiction

Kevin Lambert 8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Flamethrowers 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata 10:30 p.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

The Fuse 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Pop Fiction 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Kadillacs 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Jan. 21

Kay Miller and Aaron Sterling 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Frayed Soul 8 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC 32 December 6, 2017

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

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

The Fuse 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Flamethrowers 9 p.m.@ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Paws teh Cat 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, Jan. 22 Kenneth Espree

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

David St. Romain

Monday, Jan. 23

9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

DJ Jose Mata

Bryan Trahan

Josh Taylor 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Tuesday, Jan. 24 Kevin Lambert

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Sofa Kings 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Wednesday, Jan. 25 Chester Daigle

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Trey Rose 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Kris Harper 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Friday, Jan. 27

Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella

Killawatts 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Jan. 28

Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Tony Faulk & Chaos

Chester & Jairus Daigle

Thomas Teague

8 p.m. @ L-Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

The 33’s 8 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Foreigner

8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Mustang Sally

Thursday, Jan. 26

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

DJ Jose Mata

Ronnie Fruge

9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

6 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Plush

Live5

9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush

9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

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

Mason Fedducia & Jake Spinella

Live5

7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

8 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton

Live5 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Tracy Lawrence 8 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Mustang Sally 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Plush 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Vol. 8 • No. 18

Vol. 8 • No. 18

December 6, 2017 33

CRYING EAGLE BREWING NYE BASH The Lake City’s new suds house traded bubbly for brews as Crying Eagle celebrated its first New Year’s Eve with a bash at their South Lake Charles brewery and tap room. Guests drank and partied their way right into 2017. Here’s to a new year at Crying Eagle!

Drew and Casey Rappa

Shyla Gordon and Jeremy Babineaux

Daniel Castro and Chad Peloquin

Rachel Brown, Stephen Tyson and Helen Ware

Katherine Stewart and Krickett Schmidt

NYE AT LUNA LIVE Luna Live got their NYE celebrations started early with a night of music that featured Sinners, Justin Martindale, Bear and DJ R!LLO! Great way to kick off 2017! Cheers!

Jace Verdin with Justin and Emily Martindale

Chad Whited and Brett Manuel 34 December 6, 2017

Isabelle Moreno and Amanda Donaldson

Kayla Fruge and Victoria Roach

Cassidy Riley and Brendan DeVille Vol. 8 • No. 18

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS NEW YEAR’S MASQUERADE

MIchelle Jackson, Marcus Haley, LaToya Francois and Carla Hamilton

Semonia and Kirby Hardy

Samuel and Joyce James with Shirelle Mercers

Harlan Coursey and Karen Pensil

It was a masquerade ball for organizers and supporters of the annual fundraising event that brings NBA and other international professional players to the Lake City to raise money for children’s athletics. Looking forward to see which pros turn up at this years’ tournament. See you guys there!

Ramona Poullard, Jacquelyn Hoskin and Erica Guillory

THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS AT GOLDEN NUGGET Golden Nugget Lake Charles got the year started in style with a New Year’s Day concert featuring the legendary Temps and Tops.

Guests reminisced, danced and sang along to some of the greatest hits of all time. Keep your eyes on the Nugget for the best entertainment the area has to offer. Rock on!

Cynthia and John Smith Vol. 8 • No. 18

John and Rita Jones with Arline Theriot

Delora Comeaux and Donetta Joseph

Jo-El and Bobbye Sonnier

Burnell Gautreaux, Buckie LeBoeuf and David LeBlanc December 6, 2017 35