The Jambalaya News - 06/18/15, Vol. 7, No. 5

2 June 18, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 • Volume 7 • Issue 5

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

Contributors George Cline Dan Ellender Jamie Gaines Jason Machulski Mike McHugh Roger Miller Justin Morris Brian Pitre Britney Blanchette Pitre Jackie Pitre Terri Schlichenmeyer

On cover: CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital

COVER STORY 20 The Beat Goes On: CHRISTUS St. Patrick Introduces New Chest Pain Center REGULARS 6 We Are SWLA! 8

The Dang Yankee

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Adoption Corner

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Tips From Tip

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10 Fishin’ Tales 12 Tales of the Bayou Pickers 13 A Ruff Life FEATURES 5 The Heartstone Foundation SWLA 14 New Blood Pressure Guidelines

Sales sales@thejambalayanews.com

15 Don’t Call Me Sugar

Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk

18 Brookdale Lake Charles

Business Office Manager Jeanie Taggart

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16 Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

THE SPICE OF SWLA 22 LC Symphony Presents Cirque de la Symphonie 24 Event Guide 26 Family Fun Night at the Movies

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27 Bookworm Sez… 28 Hashtag Dat Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

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

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

Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved.

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

Vol. 7 • No. 5

30 Nightlife Guide 34 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles 37 Society Spice

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39 Funbolaya

June 18, 2015 3

A Note From Lauren Mrs. Indrisano My maternal grandmother died from kidney cancer a few months before I was born. Her name was Laura and I was named after her.

I always regret that I never knew her.

I did get to know her very best friend, however: Maria Indrisano.

Mrs. Indrisano lived on our street, and I would pass her house every weekday going back and forth from school. In the afternoon she would be sitting in the window, holding her prayer book and saying her rosary. And every afternoon I would wave to her as I walked by, which delighted her. If it was a warm day and her window was open, I would hear her call out something in Italian. I don’t remember what she said, but I’m sure it was a blessing of some sort, because she was very religious.

Occasionally, my mother would bring me to her house to visit. Mrs. Indrisano would be sitting in her favorite chair by the window in her living room, which was filled with statues of Jesus and Mary and the saints, votive candles flickering in front of them. When I was little I thought a lot of old people were kind of scary, but never Mrs. Indrisano. She was very sweet and was always smiling and would offer me Italian candy. She adored my grandmother and our whole

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family. She called the Abates the “Bella Famiglia” (Beautiful Family) whenever she referred to us. The name stuck and was passed down through the years. We will always be the Bella Famiglia thanks to her.

Mrs. Indrisano had two sons.

Pasquale, or “Pat,” was a simple man who lived with his mother and never married. Then there was Johnny. Johnny and Pat were like night and day.

Johnny was a professional boxer who defeated five world welterweight champions between 19241934. Along with the crucifixes and holy pictures on his mother’s walls were big framed photos of Johnny wearing his boxing trunks and gloves. At the height of his career, he moved to California with his wife and child. After he put his gloves away, he made a living as a boxing coach for movie stars, eventually becoming a full-time boxing adviser on films. Among the stars he trained were John Garfield, Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant, Mickey Rooney, Robert Ryan, Robert Taylor, Jimmy Durante, Fred MacMurray and Ricardo Montalban. He also worked as a character actor.

Running with the Hollywood crowd, Johnny’s marriage fell by the wayside when he met the incomparable Mae West. He became her bodyguard and eventually, her lover.

Needless to say, his mother was horrified.

Those feelings didn’t change when Mrs. Indrisano met the sex symbol face to face. Johnny brought his famous girlfriend to Barnes Ave., East Boston, to meet his mother. She was not impressed.

“So he brings this bella roba to my house,” she says in her broken English. “And she says, ‘Let’s take your mother out for ice cream.’ Ice cream? This big fancy movie star with all her money wants to buy me ice cream? I told her I didn’t want any ice cream.” Needless to say, the visit did not go well. And in case you’re wondering, bella roba is slang for “loose woman.”

Johnny’s life had a sad ending; he committed suicide on his daughter’s birthday when he was in his early sixties. In his later years, he clearly had regrets about breaking up his family.

One night when I was playing on the Internet, I thought about Mrs. Indrisano and Johnny and decided to Google him. One thing led to another and I discovered that Johnny has a granddaughter in California. I contacted her. She responded. I am now Facebook friends with her.

Joan looks exactly like her

great-grandmother and is living a joyous life on the West Coast.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet, I was able to connect with the great-granddaughter of my grandmother’s best friend. She sent me this photo of her in her favorite chair by the window, taken in 1959.

Sweet memories are made of this.

Lauren Abate de Albuquerque

Vol. 7 • No. 5

There’s a new non-profit in town with an interesting spin to help the homeless in a unique and rewarding way. The JAM spoke with President Greg Breaux and Vice President Kasey Countryman about their fledgling foundation.

JAM: Tell me about your new nonprofit. What do you hope to achieve?

Kasey: Our foundation is called The Heartstone Foundation SWLA. We are a local non-profit, in the process of applying for our tax exempt [501(c)(3)] status. Our goal is to bring a Tiny House Village for the homeless here to Lake Charles. The premise is this: permanent housing solution vs. traditional temporary programs and shelters, and what stance local government takes in solving the problem at hand, namely homelessness.

We want to provide an inclusive village that reintroduces the homeless to a loving society, acting as a buffer while getting them prepared for emergence into regular society. Residents will assist in building their own dwellings and the dwellings of newcomers. For those who cannot perform physical labor, we will offer jobs such as working in the market, kitchen, community center, garden, etc.

The market will be a New York-style food market and supplied from the community garden and by a local food collection system, which will include foods from local companies that still have a shelf life. Meals will be prepared once a week at the least, where residents will help cook. We plan to register with the unemployment office as a workforce rehabilitation program. This will provide participants with marketable skills they can in turn use to apply for work.

JAM: What made you both decide to do this?

Greg: I have never done anything like this before. I do come from a construction background. I’ve always had a heart for Vol. 7 • No. 5

the homeless and have been through hard times myself. I Joined the Navy at 17. While stationed in San Diego, I was exposed to their then-growing problem of homelessness. There would be blocks of homeless at night sleeping elbow to elbow, so crowded that you couldn’t walk between them. It was heartbreaking. After I left the Navy, I fell on hard times--some nights sleeping in my car, some weeks going three days with no food, wondering when I’d eat again. This is not a cry for sympathy, and others go through worse daily, but it is becoming a more common story than people may have imagined.

I was part of a Tiny House enthusiast group for a year or so. I had also driven a few of the local homeless back and forth to church, which exposed me to the need and allowed me to form relationships with some of them. During New Year’s, our pastor gave a sermon on selfless resolutions versus selfish resolutions; doing something for the greater good. Something clicked and I decided to apply the Tiny Houses toward helping the homeless. I went home and started the original group and started liking every page I could that pertained to Tiny Houses. What I found was amazing! Not only are there other cities that have done this, but they have had amazing results, and in some cases, have virtually eliminated homelessness in their area.

Kasey: I have always had a special place in my heart for the homeless as well.

I also have seven brothers and sisters who were adopted out of foster care, so I have experience welcoming strangers into my life, treating them like family, and easing them into friendships based on the time and space they need. I just recently moved to Louisiana from Oklahoma in February and wanted to start volunteering in my new community. When I lived in Oklahoma, I volunteered once a week at the homeless shelter cutting hair for them, and wanted to do something similar here. I was able to build relationships with many of them

and was extremely humbled. I learned the magnitude of a simple smile and a question as simple as, “How are you?” A friend knew about my passion for helping the homeless and added me to Greg’s Facebook page.

From there, I got in contact with him and things immediately took off.

JAM: How do you plan on raising funds?

Kasey: We will be applying for government grants so we can become an actual pilot program like Occupy Madison’s Village. We will have a focus on local industries, corporate sponsors, and national sponsors. We will always welcome donations from the general population and private donors as well.

JAM: What else do we need to know about the foundation?

Kasey: Right now, we are in the middle of our Awareness Campaign. The first step in creating change is to get people educated about the problem and to get them talking. One of the reasons people don’t know there is a homeless problem in Lake Charles is because of our environment.

These men, women and children sleep in the forests, so it’s sort of an “out of sight, out of mind” situation, but it’s definitely a problem that is right here in our own town.

Our mission right now, while we wait for our 501(c)(3) status, is to make people aware of the problem as well as our plan to combat it. We are planning our first fundraiser, which will be held August 15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Water’s Edge Church, 2760 Power Center Pkwy in Lake Charles.

It’s going to be a VERY family-friendly event with a chili and gumbo cook-off, washers, horseshoes, bounce houses, water balloon fights, sno-cones, battle of the bands, and much more. All of the excess food will be distributed to the homeless after the party.

For more information, go to the Heartstone Foundation SWLA Facebook page.

June 18, 2015 5

Memorial Welcomes William Gabbard, MD Memorial Medical Group welcomes William Gabbard, MD, a fellowship-trained nephrologist, to its staff. He will see patients at 2770 3rd Avenue, Suite 345 in Lake Charles.

Dr. Gabbard graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.

He went on to complete his internal medicine internWilliam Gabbard, MD ship and residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville before obtaining a nephrology fellowship from Ochsner Clinic Foundation/LSU College of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Gabbard treats patients for a variety of conditions affecting the kidneys. For more information, call (337) 494-6747.

IBERIABANK Names New PR Coordinator Jennifer Istre IBERIABANK is pleased to announce the recent naming of Jennifer Istre as public relations coordinator for Southwest Louisiana. She most recently served as senior sales manager for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Istre is a graduate of McNeese State University and brings a strong background in marketing and event management. She serves on Jennifer Istre the board of Fusion Five- Young Business Professionals, Kids Can of SWLA and Lake Area Community Tennis Association. She can be reached at (337) 312-7730 or by email at Jennifer.istre@iberiabank.com.

Entergy Supports Chennault International Airshow The momentum of this year’s Chennault International Airshow continues to pick up speed with a $3,500 sponsorship from Entergy. The sponsorship will be dedicated toward expanding the quality of the Airshow’s line-up of stomach-dropping aerobatic stunts and performers. The family-friendly Airshow will also feature a nostalgic array of aircraft of all vintages and kids activities.

American heart Association’s 2015 Heart Ball a Success The American Heart Association’s 2015 Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball was a huge success raising over $175,000 to fight heart disease and stroke, the No. 1 and No. 5 killers in the United States.

Britney Glaser reprised her role as emcee for the event held on May 30 at the Chennault International Airport, Hangar “H” with over 380 guests pledging their support during the silent and live auctions. Kay Barnett, CFRE, executive director of development of the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Foundation served as chairperson for the annual event, which embodied a “Saving Lives with Disco” 70’s theme.

WCCH Names Safety Award Recipient West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Ronda Dickerson, food service aide in WCCH’s nutrition services department, as the recipient of its Safety Award. The award, which honors employees for their promotion of safety and safety awareness in and around the hospital, is distributed to those employees that demonstrate extraordinary awareness and action in minimizing potential safety risks.

Ronda Dickerson

Big Day for SWLA Youth Sports In a unanimous vote, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association agreed to award the Louisiana High School State Baseball Championships to the Sulphur area for another two years. This will be the third time that all seven classes will be competing in one location to earn championship titles. Additionally, LHSAA voted to continue the Top 28 Boys Basketball State Championship at the Burton Complex in Lake Charles for two more years. The decisions were made at the organization’s summer meeting in Baton Rouge.

WCCH Announces Tobacco-Free Campus Policy (L to R) Entergy’s Calvin Thibodeaux, Airshow director Mary Jo Bayles and Chennault director and Airshow president Randy Robb 6 June 18, 2015

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital adopted a tobacco-free campus policy effective June 1, 2015. Tobacco and tobacco-related products are not allowed on any part of the hospital campus or Vol. 7 • No. 5

hospital-owned properties. The policy applies to patients, staff and visitors. According to the 2010 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. WCCH is committed to providing exceptional patient care and is working closely with the nursing and medical staff members to develop coping strategies and nicotine replacement strategies for anyone interested in smoking cessation. For more information and resources on smoking cessation please visit www.quitwithusla.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Galan Elected to Executive Council of Alliance for Strong Families Julio Galan, president/CEO of Family & Youth Counseling Agency, has been elected to serve in the Executive Council of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities in Washington, DC. Executive Council members, through their regular engagement with the CEO of the Alliance, participate in generative discussion of emerging trends and on issues influencing the child and family service field and Julio Galan sector. Galan has been the president and CEO of Family & Youth since 1997, and the president and CEO of the Family Foundation since its inception in 2000. Julio lives in Lake Charles with his wife Maria.

McNeese Agricultural Department Receives Grant

McNeese agricultural sciences instructor Devin Gandy McNeese Photo

The Harold and Pearl Dripps Department of Agricultural Sciences at McNeese State University has been awarded a $2,720 grant by the USPOULTRY Foundation, 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 Sanderson Farms.

New CASA Volunteers Sworn In Court Appointed Special Advocates, a division of Family & Youth Counseling Agency, swore in five new volunteers recently. The newest volunteers in the CASA family are Jason Fuselier, Lynda Thomas, Rebecca Williamson, Shari Trahan, and Telotha Trosclair, who were sworn in by Judge Lilynn Cutrer. CASA volunteers are everyday citizens appointed by judges to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their parents due to abuse or neglect. To find out more about CASA, contact courtney@fyca.org or call Family & Youth at (337) 436-9533.

Volunteers of America Celebrates 25 Years in SWLA The Southwest Louisiana office of Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge opened in May 1990 and is celebrating its silver anniversary of serving the community. Through the years, thousands of people have been helped through the variety of programs the agency provides from its SWLA office. Each month, a Visions of Hope tour is conducted to highlight some of the ways Volunteers of America helps people in our community. Both group and individual volunteers are needed to assist in areas such as clerical help, food and hygiene drives, fundraising and providing support for people receiving services. To become involved or attend a Visions of Hope tour, call Kay Vanchiere at (337) 497-0034.

Phillips 66 Donates to SWLA on the Move Phillips 66 Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex presented a $20,000 to check to the SWLA Economic Development Alliance.

This donation is the most recent investment to the SWLA Alliance Foundation’s “SWLA on the Move” economic development campaign. The current plan of work for the campaign is to address the critical issues facing our region: workforce development, business recruitment, business retention and expansion, regional marketing, and enhancSteve Geiger (center), manager of the Phillips 66 Lake Charles, presents ing the regional $20,000 check to George Swift, President/CEO of the SWLA Alliance (left) and Avon Knowlton, Exec. VP of the Alliance partnership.

Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 7

No Sugar Tonight I believe that my wife was secretly happy when my doctor told me that I was in the early stages of Type II Diabetes. Medical science had just given her a new and powerful weapon in her long-standing assault against my freewheeling lifestyle.

Up to that time, she’d been woefully unequipped to check my steady course toward selfdestruction. It was like trying to stop a runaway train by holding up a “Caution!” sign. But with the doctor’s news, she suddenly found herself armed with the proper tools to derail me.

And she learned how to use them, too, when she insisted on coming with me to the class that my doctor recommended on how to manage diabetes. There, a health professional told us about all of the lifestyle choices one should make to successfully control the disease. Of course, all of them involved no longer doing the things that I liked to do, and instead, doing all of the

things that I hated to do. My wife glued herself to the seat and took copious notes. I sat there sneaking M&Ms from a pack I had concealed in my pants pocket.

From then on, anything in our house that contained sugar was treated as if it were radioactive.

She strung caution tape over the pantry until she could properly decontaminate it.

Another thing that my wife learned was the importance of eating three meals a day, with breakfast being most important.

I barely had time in the mornings to get the crossword puzzle done much less eat breakfast, but who was I to argue? That was before I discovered that the breakfasts she had in mind didn’t involve bacon or creamed chipped beef or anything that came out of a chicken without first being processed to remove every molecule of flavor.

Food wasn’t the only part of her crusade. There was also the issue of checking my blood

sugar. Loath as I am to the sight of the tiniest amount of blood, particularly my own, I resisted her daily urgings to do this.

Eventually, she found a way to drive her point home.

“Did you check your blood sugar today?”

“Uh, no,” I confessed. “Hey, what’s with the ice pick?”

She also insisted that I start exercising regularly. “You should ride your bike,” she told me.

“I have a bike?”

“You bought it five years ago.

It’s in the garage hidden behind all of the broken-down lawn equipment that you never got around to getting fixed.”

Dragging out the bike was one thing, but conjuring the motivation to ride it was another.

But my wife covered me there, refusing to let the issue drop until I did so. It worked, but my begrudging compliance wasn’t enough for her.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her one time as I huffed out of the

bedroom in my sweats. “I’m riding my bike, aren’t I?” “Yes, but you’re not doing it for the right reason. You should do it because you care about your own health, not because I’m telling you to.”

“Well, that’s easy to fix,” I offered. “Just stop telling me.”

“You know I can’t do that,” she answered. I felt worse than Napoleon at Waterloo. At least when he surrendered, he went away to an island and found some peace.

I realize that my wife does all of this because she truly loves me and wants me to stick around for a while. And thanks to her, I know I needn’t worry about dying from any diabetes-related complications. What I’m trying to figure is how to avoid being loved to death.

Mike McHugh’s column has appeared in the Jambalaya News since 2009. If you can’t get enough of The Dang Yankee, you can read more on Mike’s website, thedangyankee.com.

Meet Hal, our 4-year-old, handsome German Shepherd mix. Hal was adopted and lived happily with his family until a move resulted in his being returned to us. He is a super friendly boy and does well with other dogs and with children (5 years or older). Hal would love to have his own family again. Although he is perfectly crate-trained, he loves to be outside in a large fenced yard. No doubt, he would excel in obedience training classes. If you would like more information on Hal, please email or call lapaw@bellsouth.net; (337) 478-7294. You can meet him at PetsMart any Saturday from noon to 3:30 p.m. Vet check and home visit required prior to all adoptions. Hurry, Hal is waiting!

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Vol. 7 • No. 5

Lake Charles is Going to the Dogs...

Blue Dog, That is!

I have it on good authority that we are soon to be blessed with a Blue Dog Café in Lake Charles.

It will be located downtown on Ryan Street in the building that Sha Sha’s vacated. The Lafayette hot spot has decided to expand to Lake Charles and with its reputation, it should become a fixture here. The George Rodrigue-inspired restaurant, with Blue Dog artwork on display and a menu to invite drooling will fit right into our environs. We anxiously await the opportunity to avoid the 75-mile drive to Lafayette to enjoy the smoked duck quesadilla followed by their “World Acclaimed Seafood Platter.” My wife especially treasures the corn and crab bisque. Do I now have your attention?

the street you live on. There is a free app available that makes these questions instantly answerable. Provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, “Geaux Vote” is available for both Android and Apple phones, permitting the user to know the answers to just about anything having to do with elections and their results in Louisiana.

Enter your zip code and street address and the program responds by listing every district you are in and the officeholders’ names, phone numbers and addresses. This information can be extremely valuable should you want to contact the elected official responsible for your district (Police Juror, City Councilman, Public Service Commissioner, etc.).

Should you have a problem or a concern, it is always good to know who to contact and how to get in touch with them.

tags placed on the shelves, such as where I get my data on the supermarket surveys I routinely include in these columns. She spoke of encountering friends that did not realize that in addition to the product price posted on the tag, there is often another number that indicates the price per unit of measurement (ounce in most cases). This information lets you compare costs of differing sizes of the same product so you can determine which size gives the most value.

It can be confusing to do the calculations to determine the best deal, but the price information provided lets you know immediately whether to purchase size A or size B. Often, the larger sized packages are perceived as the best value and they can be--but not always. You can save some money if the product is one that you normally use. If it is for a one-time use, then purchase the size that will best fill your need.

Supermarket Roundup For our pricing survey, we decided to check on the prices of a few staple items found in just about every-

one’s pantry. These were surveyed on June 11 at the following locations: Albertsons-Ryan Street, Market Basket-Ryan Street, KrogerMcNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road. These are the posted prices on the shelf where the product was placed for sale.

Heinz Ketchup, 38-ounce bottle: Albertsons $3.99, Market Basket $3.15, Kroger $2.49, Walmart $2.48.

Swanson Chicken Broth, 32-ounce container: Albertsons $2.99, Market Basket $2.79, Kroger $2.79, Walmart $1.98.

Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, 10 ¾-ounce can: Albertsons $1.19, Market Basket $1.15, Kroger $.93, Walmart $.88.

Camellia Red Kidney Beans, 1-pound package: Albertsons $1.99, Market Basket $1.99, Kroger $1.99, Walmart $1.78.

Mahatma Extra Long Grain Rice, 2-pound package: Albertsons $2.49, Market Basket $1.99, Kroger (1-pound package $1.19), Walmart $2.16.

Geaux Vote App! Knowing who your elected officials are can be confusing. Your district or precinct can vary according to which side of Vol. 7 • No. 5

Price Tag Info One of our faithful readers recommended that I mention the information provided on many price June 18, 2015 9

On the Rocks Wind out of the north. Calm.

No rain for a week. Before or after hurricane season. The water is not shaken clear. Stirs only with specs. Or reds. And bait fish. A recipe for success. On the rocks.

Back in the ‘80s and 90s, Lake Charles’ sportsman mayor Randy Roach was our state representative. He and Roger Burgess, now of Baggett, McCall & Burgess, hunted 6.2 miles west of Holly Beach and across the canal from Lacoste Lodge where I hunted.

Randy, I claim, might have had his epiphany watching me fish

the three sets of rocks and the old pier line that had been there since the 1890s. Why not put more granite rocks about 100 yards off the beach? This would build the beach up, further protect the shoreline and most important to me, attract the fish.

Randy went back to his podnas in the Louisiana Legislature, talked with the chair of the natural resources committee, and started hustling support.

Meanwhile, he brought members of the committee and the legislature down to Lacoste Lodge to see the broadened beach across

from our camp. Of course, le chef extraordinaire, moi, fed them redfish coubillion as proof that the rocks also attracted fish.

Delicious ones.

Next, Randy hustled the Corp. of Engineers, talked with our national congressional delegation and after years of planning, “Roach Rocks” were created.

Sorry about the moniker, Randy, I just couldn’t help myself. I just love people’s expressions when I call the granite boulders that line the shoreline from the mouth of the Cameron Jetties to Sabine Pass the Roach Rocks. Chuckle.

For those of you planning to fish the rocks, you’re about to receive the benefit of my years of fishing them. First trick is to find someone who lives along the rocks and beach so you can call them or they can call you when the water is clear, the baitfish are in and the fish are there. It’s a 50-60 minute drive from Lake Charles. That’s a long way to go for no fish.

I used to call Rodney Guillbeau, the former postman in that area. Now it’s Paul Hannum, who lives along the beach west of Constance Beach. I’d give you his

Roger before the new surf breaker rocks were put in 10 June 18, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Dr. "Rocky" Kent

phone number but I love the guy and his wife Kitty would stake me out in the surf at low tide. Find your own source and call them.

Once you know the conditions are right, head on down and arrive when the tide is moving out or in. You need some bait shrimp to add to your lure as a teaser in case your lures don’t produce fish. Bring your big tackle box because you never know what they’re hitting on. I’ve caught specs and reds on plastic grubs, Mr. Champs and even the biggest Lucky 13 I had in my box and more. Carry a fine mesh net in case the baitfish are running. Scoop up some and they’ll produce fish. Or not. Remember to bring some popping corks as they work marvelously on certain days.

As to how deep to fish, if you’re using a cork, you’ll probably be standing in waist-deep water, so slip the cork down to halfway to the bottom and work up and down from there until you’re catching fish. Once you hit the fish, you’ll need to be sure you’ve brought your trusty fish stringer. It’s a long and tiring walk back to the beach, icechesting the fish and then back out to where you were fishing.

One March, I watched a Vol. 7 • No. 5

guy fly-fishing for specs. After observing him fight the fish to the beach and then wade back out three times, I was exhausted just from watching. He was truly appreciative when I trudged back in, retrieved my extra fish stringer and brought it to him.

Fish the drop-off just short of the rocks. That’s where the fish run. Speaking of those rocks, Do Not Try To Fish From Them. You’ll either cut yourself up or break a leg or two. Which leads me to another point.

Either wear an old pair of jeans, socks and tennis shoes or wear waders. Wade fishing is not for wimps. The scattered rocks just short of the main pile will cut your legs or feet up, trip you and even grab a bait or two if you’re not really careful.

Enough of my sagely advice learned the hard way and on to my favorite memory of Roach’s Rocks. One afternoon during the first split of duck season, I went out to check on Roger Burgess and Dr. “Skeeter” Berry.

During the long wade out to them, I watched each haul in a good-sized redfish and chunk it into one of those white Igloo ice chests with the rope handles they had set up on the rocks.

Staying out of their fishing area, I inspected the ice chest. It was FULL of reds and specs. And that was not unusual for those two. They were staying right there at Lacoste Lodge, so they knew when conditions were perfect by just checking it out from the porch.

Dr. Richard “Rocky” Kent and now Police Juror Hal McMillan both figured out you could either launch at the ferry and travel the 12 miles to Roach‘s Rocks or launch right there at the beach.

The pic on this page of “Rocky” is spec proof. My angling podnas, Mark Fontenot, Jake Shaheen and Randy Jester are vocal advocates of fishing the rocks along with a veritable armada of kayaks that were fishing there last week. Only the three amigos and moi have Paul’s phone number. Find your own info source, tread or paddle or anchor carefully and enjoy fishing Roach’s Rocks.

June 18, 2015 11

Pickin’ the back roads is an all-time favorite of mine. Not only do I get to find new and exciting artifacts, but it also allows me to travel to new and exciting destinations. I recently went on the road to Natchitoches with the intentions of having a relaxing weekend, but it ended up being much more than that. It was a historic blast into the past. Every corner is an American piece of history.

Natchitoches celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2014 and is the oldest city in Louisiana. It started out as a French colonial settlement established in 1714

by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, near the Natchitoches Indian village on the Red River. During the Civil War, Natchitoches was set on fire by Union soldiers who retreated through the town after their failed attempt to capture Shreveport. Confederate cavalry pursued the fleeing soldiers and arrived in time to help extinguish the flames before the town was destroyed.

Just walking in the oldest city

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in the state makes you think history preservation at its best--not only the city’s history, but also the food! It’s the home of the famous Natchitoches Meat Pie, popular here since the late 1700s.

Gone are the street vendors chanting “Hotta meat pies! Get your hotta meat pies right here!”

But a native who remembers those cries from childhood has made sure the legend lives on.

James Lasyone opened Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen and Restaurant almost 35 years ago, and it remains a popular place to enjoy the spicy filled pastries.

Even his restaurant building is historic. In 1967, Lasyone rented out the bottom half of a building that was once home to Phoenix Lodge #38, built in 1859.

While the Masons still occupy the top portion of the building, the restaurant is in full swing underneath.

The Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile is the oldest general store in Louisiana. Walk in and you are surrounded by history on every wall, from old tools to tricycles. They still use the 150-yearold freight elevator. I was amazed that it was still functional.

The all-new Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest

Louisiana History Museum is located downtown and manned by friendly staff. I had the privilege of seeing the artwork of Clementine Hunter, Louisiana’s most famous female artist and one of the most important folk artists of all time. Her work can be seen in the Smithsonian Institute, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Museum of American Folk Art in New York and is in many other museums and private collections across the country. Do a quick Google search and read her heartfelt and amazing story.

As the night closed in, we were planning on returning home, but while browsing in an antique shop, I inquired if they knew of a place that would have an available room. A phone call later and we jumped in the car and traveled down the road to Green Gables Bed & Breakfast.

A Queen Anne center hall one-story Victorian cottage built in the 1890s as a wedding gift by Estelle Ducournau Plauché for her niece, Green Gables remained in the hands of two families for her first 100 years. After being restored back to

her original grandeur including ornate fireplaces, 12-foot ceilings, stained glass windows, and a wrap-around front gallery, she opened her doors to B&B guests.

We were met at the door by the owner, Lauren Kollar, and literally walked into a museum. Books dating back to the early 1800s lined the bookcases and Civil War artifacts adorned the library entrance. There was antique furniture in every room, with some dating back to the late 1700s.

Lauren and her husband Ed had a story about every piece, and I could see their passion for preserving history. Next time you’re in Natchitoches, stop by and tell them Bayou Pickers sent you.

There’s no telling where I will end up next, but with every trip, there’s history no matter where you go. So load up, get out there and experience what life has to offer. Learn all you can and share it with family and friends. Sharing is preserving!

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Caring for Senior Dogs As your dogs age, they go through different developmental stages, just as we do. The senior stage can be one of the most challenging. However, there are many things you can do keep your senior dog at her happiest, most comfortable, and healthiest.

Don’t know if you have a senior dog? The larger the dog, the faster they mature. So, a giant breed (Great Dane, Mastiff, etc.) will usually reach the senior stage around 5-6 years of age.

Large breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, Golden Retriever, etc.) reach the senior stage around 8-10 years of age. Lastly, small dogs like Yorkshire Terriers and Pomeranians usually do not reach maturity until they are approximately 10-12 years.

If you do have a senior dog, here are some tips to help her live out her years with ease: • The most important tip is to be sure that she is seeing her veterinarian on a regular basis.

Ask your vet how often your particular dog should have maintenance checkups.

A dog that appears healthy, no matter Vol. 7 • No. 5

what age or developmental stage she is in, should definitely see a vet once a year. “An ounce of prevention…”

• Feed your dog a high-quality all-natural food that is appropriate for her breed and activity level. If her activity level has declined, a food that is high in calories and carbs would not be an ideal choice. A dog with hip and joint problems may need a food with added supplements

like glucosamine, chondroitin, etc. Speak with your veterinarian about a food that is right for your dog. Great informative websites like www.dogfoodadvisor.com, and www.wholedogjournal.com can definitely help you out, as well.

• Exercise your dog! Don’t just rely on playing fetch, or your dog playing with others.

Walking dogs provides tons of mental as well as physical stimulation. When playing fetch, and/or playing with other dogs, there is more physical stimulation than mental. As always, consult with your dog’s vet first before implementing a new walking routine. In general, if your dog is a large or giant breed, then a 15-minute walk would be a good starting point, whereas, for a small breed dog, 5-10 minutes would be a fine. Be sure not to let them overheat, either! Between noon and 3 p.m. would not be the best time to walk your dog in the summer, since it’s the hottest point of the day. Also, if the concrete is too hot for your bare feet, then it is too hot for your dog’s pads!

• Have your dog receive regularlyscheduled teeth cleanings performed by her vet. In between clean-

ings, be sure to maintain that healthy smile by brushing her teeth, giving her dental chews like Greenies, and feeding her a great high-quality food!

• Pay attention to changes in your aging dog. For instance, a dog that is “all of a sudden” behaving aggressively may just be in pain due to bones deteriorating, resulting in a fracture or break. A change in appetite may be a sign of cancer, or another serious illness. A dog that has been potty trained for years and is now soiling in the house may have developed incontinence, or she may be developing canine dementia/canine cognitive dysfunction. Does it seem like your dog is being stubborn, and not listening like she used to? It may be due to vision or hearing loss.

Having a senior dog does not have to be hard for you or your dog. As I always say, BE PATIENT! You are all your dog knows, and you are loved tremendously by her. Make her last years as comfortable as possible because she would do the same for you!

As always, Happy Training!

Britney (Blanchette) Pitre, CPDT-KA BONS CHIENS Dog Training, LLC. 337.422.4703 www.bonschiens.com Facebook.com/BonsChiensDogTraining June 18, 2015 13

Understanding the New Blood Pressure Guidelines Blood pressure medication guidelines were updated last year, resulting in the allowance for blood pressure to be higher in adults over the age of 60 before medications are recommended.

Now, blood pressure medication isn’t recommended until the reading is over 150/90 for older adults; a higher threshold from the previous guideline of 140/90 issued in 2003. These results were published in The Journal of the

14 June 18, 2015

American Medical Association.

For patients under the age of 60 who have diabetes or kidney disease, blood pressure medication should be recommended when the reading exceeds 140/90, an increase from the previous benchmark of 130/80.

The recommendations were made after the panel reviewed 30 years of clinical evidence showing that stricter guidelines did not provide additional health benefits

to patients. When blood pressure was reduced below 150 in older adults, the anticipated benefit of a lower risk of stroke and heart failure did not materialize.

“Older adults often take many medications, which can begin to interfere with each other. If the results aren’t proving the effectiveness of the medication, it’s wise to step back and make sure the patient is truly benefiting before continuing to prescribe the pills,”

said Chris Thompson, MD, FACS, cardiologist with the Heart and Vascular Center and medical staff member of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH).

According to co-chair of the guideline committee Dr. Paul James, “We couldn’t see additional health benefits of driving blood pressure lower than 150 in people over 60 years of age. We were particularly concerned about medication side effects in the elderly

Vol. 7 • No. 5

population like lightheadedness and dizziness, which increases the risk of falling and broken bones.”

For everyone else – those under the age of 60 without kidney problems or diabetes – the recommendation for blood pressure to be at or below 140/90 remains the same.

About one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Normal blood pressure for an adult is considered 120/80. The upper reading, or systolic pressure, measures the force of the heart contracting and pushing blood out of its chambers. The lower reading, or diastolic pressure, measures the force as the heart relaxes between contractions.

“Anything above 140/90 is still considered to be high blood pressure,” explained Dr. Thompson. “The new guidelines offer evidence to physicians on the benefits and recommendations for treating it.”

It’s important for patients to not take the role of physician and stop taking their medication without checking with their doctor.

“It is always recommended to talk with your doctor before ceasing any medication. Every patient’s needs are unique and your doctor knows your medical history.

Regardless of the medication, it should only be started after a conversation with your doctor of the potential side effects and the risks and benefits,” said Dr. Thompson.

Lifestyle changes should be the first line of defense to reduce blood pressure. Regular exercise and a healthy diet should be in place before medications are discussed. A low-sodium diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is beneficial for heart health, as well as losing excess weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise.

“The release of these guidelines is a good time for a conversation with your doctor to see how he or she interprets them for your particular situation,” said Dr. Thompson.

For mild hypertension in adults over 60, these recommendations may result in a change in your prescription.

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Many people have a sweet tooth. I have sweet teeth. Even my dental work was carved from sugar cubes. Imagine the horror my teeth experienced when the rest of me became diabetic! That meant I would have to retrain my mind in its approach to managing a wellness program.

In the beginning, I experienced some success in changing my bad eating habits. Learning to master control of a sweet tooth is a challenge, but mastering a full set (dentures included)

of sweet teeth began to be an insurmountable task for my wellness management program. The old saying “If you can’t climb over the mountain, go around it,” became my new mantra.

If I was going to be a healthier person, I knew I would have to admit my powerlessness for desserts and sweet delicacies.

I decided to browse the Internet in search of lowsugar recipes of favorite desserts, though I discovered an excellent source of tried and true recipes are

old magazines in doctors’ offices, which is where I scavenged the following sweet treat.

It’s strawberry season and fresh berries are an incredible super food for diabetics. Since I have these sweet teeth with their own mind-set, I had to get creative. The Strawberry Cake is one recipe that I have found that satisfies the sweet cravings. It is a pleasing thought that my indulgence in this dessert does not hinder my journey to wellness.

Ingredients 1 small sponge cake 1 ¼ cup sliced fresh strawberries 3 tbsp. sugar or sugar substitute ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 cup reduced-fat whipped topping 1 tbsp. chopped walnuts

Preparation

Slice sponge cake and make a 1-inch layer in a glass dish. Toss strawberries and sugar in a bowl. Mix vanilla and whipped topping in another bowl. Sprinkle berries over cake, then add a layer of the whipped topping. Sprinkle with nuts. Repeat layers ending with layer of whipped topping and nuts. The recommended serving size is ½ cup and this recipe serves 6. The sugar content can be reduced if a sugar substitute is used. My preference is Stevia in the Raw. Experiment and learn to make substitutions when possible. Embrace the season’s bounty and enjoy this dessert!

June 18, 2015 15

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2015 Facts and Figures report, an estimated 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, including 83,000 in Louisiana.

Barring the development of medical breakthroughs, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease will rise to 13.8 million by 2050.

• Almost half a million people age 65 or older will develop Alzheimer’s in the U.S. in 2015.

• Every 67 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s disease.

• By 2050, an American will develop the disease every 33 seconds.

• Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. • From 2000-2013, the number of Alzheimer’s deaths increased 71%, while deaths from other major diseases decreased!

(Heart disease deaths decreased 14 percent; stroke deaths 23 percent; HIV deaths 52 percent; prostate cancer deaths 11 percent; and

breast cancer deaths 2 percent.)

• Alzheimer’s is the costliest disease to society. Total 2015 payments for caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are estimated at $226 billion!

As evidenced by these staggering statistics, Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is one of the nation’s largest public health crises. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible neurological disease that impairs cognition, orientation, and functional capacity, and it is the only cause of death among the top 10 life-threatening conditions in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed.

In recognition of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month this June, the Alzheimer’s Association is asking for your support! Let’s GO PURPLE during June!

Won’t you join the fight? The Alzheimer’s Association is asking the community to come together and help fight Alzheimer’s disease during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

by doing the following: • Visit www.alz.org/abam and Take the Purple Pledge.

• Join the Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana Chapter in wearing purple on June 21, and send photos of yourself, family, friends and co-workers wearing purple via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. with the hashtags #ENDALZ and #GoPurple.

• Participate in The Longest Day, a sunriseto-sunset event to honor those facing Alzheimer’s disease with strength, passion and endurance. Visit alz.org today to start a team to raise funds and awareness.

About the Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. The Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.

go purple this june SHOW YOUR COMPANY’S COMMITMENT TO ENDING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Join us during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June to show the power of purple. To get involved: UÊ 1 / Ê9"1,ÊÊ * "9 -Ê "1/ÊÊ < ,½UÊ "Ê*1,* Ê" ÊÊ -" Ê

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UÊ "1, ÊÊ * "9 -Ê/"ÊÊ 7 ,Ê*1,* For additional ideas or to learn more, call 800.272.3900, email corporateinitiatives@alz.org or visit alz.org/pledgepurple

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16 June 18, 2015

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CHRISTUS Health Louisiana and Ochsner Health System Create Future Vision for Health Care CHRISTUS Health Louisiana (“CH”) and Ochsner Health System (“Ochsner”)recently celebrated the formation of a strategic partnership focused on increasing local access to care, improving quality and reducing the cost of health care for patients throughout Louisiana. Together, as part of the Ochsner Health Network, the two organizations will build upon their unique strengths and effectively collaborate as partners to improve the health of the Louisiana communities they both serve today and to meet the needs of new communities across the state.

The partnership provides benefits for both organizations, physicians and, most importantly, patients, who will have the convenience of being treated close to home at the CHRISTUS Health facilities in Alexandria, Lake Charles and ShreveportBossier while gaining more access to the depth and breadth of care for which Ochsner is nationally recognized.

The partnership will create greater opportunity for alignment through a comprehensive clinically integrated physician network, jointly identified investments in the resources needed to start new programs and the expansion of both employer and patient services and resources in the region.

This does not change the governance, employees or medical staff relationships of the three CHRISTUS Health Regions in Louisiana or of Ochsner Health System.

Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 17

Brookdale Lake Charles Special Event for Special Ladies

By Lauren de Albuquerque Brookdale Lake Charles Senior Living Solutions (formerly Emeritus) has been serving the senior community in Lake Charles since 2008. Recently, they held a delightful Mother’s Day luncheon for their residents and their family members.

The ladies dressed in their springtime best that included stylish hats and lots of flowery pastels.

“We had it on a weekday, so we could make sure everyone could participate, since a lot of residents will be taken out for Mother’s Day,” says Christi Miller, sales manager.

This is the third year of the celebration, and it is one of the residents’ favorites.

It was easy to understand why.

There were flowers on every table in the dining room and name cards at each place setting. Smiling volunteers dressed to the nines served tea in pretty china cups, along with delicious finger sandwiches and sweets. Nostalgic piano music played in the background, setting the tone for this elegant event.

Lots of happy women were honored by their children and grandchildren today, all of whom made special trips to be with the women they call “Mother” and “Maw Maw.” A woman affectionately nicknamed “Mama Bear” is one of the oldest residents. She says that Brookdale “is the best place to go. I love it here. They take good care of me.”

Betty, who is almost 90, has been at Brookdale for two years. “She’s very happy here,” says her daughter, Kathy. “At first, she didn’t want to come, but she calls it home now.”

A gentleman was holding hands with his wife, who is a resident. “I miss her so much,” Herb said, with tears in his eyes. “She’s my soulmate. I visit her every day and I help feed and take care of her. I can’t live without her, so I’ll be coming here eventually. I’m looking forward to it.”

Christi Miller said that today’s program would include a hat contest and a sing-along, and that guests would have a chance to share the best advice they ever received from their mother.

This event is just one of the many happy times that Brookdale residents enjoy.

Along with special events, the community specializes in life enrichment programs tailored to each resident’s individual likes, dislikes, and needs.

The focus is on brain-healthy activities that continually educate residents and strengthen their brain power. There is a low-impact exercise program three times a week, along with weekly church services, and scheduled outings to local restaurants and shopping. Residents also enjoy several live musical performances with dancing every month. Family and friends of residents are always encouraged to participate with residents in activities, especially the monthly family events.

Shirley, a lovely lady in a white hat and teal-green dress, is a brand new resident of Brookdale.

“I really think I’m going to like it here,” she smiles. “Everyone is so friendly.

I’m looking forward to all of the activities!”

Brookdale Senior Living Solutions 2420 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605 (504) 335-2795, wwwbrookdale.com 18 June 18, 2015

Margaret Clower with her daughter Crystal

Mama Bear

Mary Mills (center), her daughter Nicole and granddaughter enjoy lunch with Gladys Strean

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Belle Jordan

Debbie Doty at the piano

Margaret Edwards with daughter Linda Christi Miller and Shirley Cox

Betty House with daughter Kathy

Edith Sonnier, Alexa Owen, Ally Mae Corbello and Barbara Hartleigh Cloma Loe

Vol. 7 â&#x20AC;˘ No. 5

June 18, 2015 19

By Jamie Gaines It started out as a routine errand for Derwin Isbell and his wife Laurie. They’d left their Dry Creek home to pick up a prescription. But as they waited in the pharmacy drive-thru, it started. Pain and pressure banded across his chest. A severe headache. Shortness of breath. And a wave of dizziness.

“I’d had chest pain before, but not that bad,” Derwin explained. “And this time I nearly blacked out.”

Isbell knew a thing or two about heart disease: his father had it, and his brother Aaron had died of a massive heart attack in 2005. He knew the signs of a heart attack, and knew – all too well – that every second counts. He also knew he wanted to go to CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital – despite the distance.

Aaron and Derwin 20 June 18, 2015

What he didn’t know was that the hospital had recently been accredited as a Chest Pain Center (CPC) by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care – and that the CPC’s protocols might possibly save his life.

Chest Pain Center (CPC) Accreditation

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital engaged in rigorous evaluation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care for its ability to assess, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack, according to the hospital’s director of cardiology services, Timothy Bean, RCS, RVS. “For years, CHRISTUS St. Patrick has been at the top of the list for cardiovascular care in the ER,” said Bean. “We are the only Mission: Lifeline STEMI-receiving facility in southwest Louisiana, and we are a recipient of the ACTION Registry® Get with the Guidelines™ Performance Achievement Platinum Award.”

According to the American Heart Association, a hospital designated as a STEMI-receiving facility has demonstrated that it has the equipment, expertise and facilities to administer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a means of treating patients with partially or completely restricted Isbell blood flow through

an artery of the heart. These types of treatment include balloon angioplasty and stents.

While PCI is the preferred means of treating STEMI patients, only 25 percent of hospitals in the United States are equipped to do so.

The ACTION Registry® Get with the Guidelines™ award is presented to facilities that sustain performance measures in the treatment of heart attack patients – through the implementation of ACTION Registry® Get with the Guidelines™ and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Clinical Guidelines recommendations.

The most recent accolade for the Regional Heart Center, the Chest Pain Center Accreditation, signifies that CHRISTUS St. Patrick has processes in place to: reduce the time from the onset of a patient’s symptoms to diagnosis and treatment; treat patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved; and monitor patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack, to ensure they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital.

Diagnosing Chest Pain “Chest pain is one of the most common complaints in the ER,” said Michael Turner, MD, FACC, who is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and coronary computerized tomography angiography.

In fact, acute chest pain sends an estimated 6 million Americans to an emergency room each year, with nearly half admitted to the hospital for further observation, testing or treatment.

“ER doctors are uncomfortable sending patients home out of concern for missing a heart attack or some other lifethreatening irregularity,” said Turner.

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Rightfully so.

Despite medical advancements, it can still be difficult to distinguish chest pain that is due to a heart problem from other types of chest pain.

Patients who arrive in an emergency department with chest pain undergo electrocardiograms (EKGs), which measure the electrical impulses triggered by each heartbeat, and blood work to measure the levels of cardiac enzymes and proteins that are linked to injury of the heart muscle, according to Bean.

Abnormal results may indicate the need for standard of care tests, such as an exercise stress test or nuclear scan. But since these tests are only 65 to 70 percent accurate, a normal result may not be indicative of a clean bill of health.

Hence the tendency of ER docs to err on the side of caution.

“At the Chest Pain Center, we do things differently,” said Turner. “We triage chest pain patients in the ER using a hightech cardiac scan.”

The 128-slice coronary C.T. scanner takes six seconds to capture 3D images of the heart, and as little as 15 minutes for Turner to read and interpret. If the arteries are clear – which indicates there is no heart dis-

ease – the patient can go home.

But not all arteries are clear.

In fact, Derwin Isbell’s scan indicated two significant blockages.

“After my initial blood work and EKG came back normal, I thought the ER doc would release me,” said Isbell. “Instead, I was told that there something more to all this.”

With 80 percent blockage in two arteries, Isbell was on the verge of a major heart attack.

He was sent immediately to the cath lab for stents – and was released from the hospital the next morning.

“This [scan] probably saved my life,” Isbell said. “I’m just so grateful.”

The use of the cardiac scanner significantly enhances patient care in the Chest Pain Center, meets or exceeds the criteria of the Chest Pain Center accrediting organization, and is a unique diagnostic tool for preventive care, according to Turner, who became interested in C.T. angiography approximately 12 years ago.

“Of all the interesting things that have happened in the 39 years I’ve practiced medicine, this is the most exciting,” said Turner. “The only problem is that there are not enough hospitals with cardiac scanners next to the ER.”

Dr. Miguel DuPuy

Dr. James McKinnie

Dr. Michael Turner

Dr. Carl Fastaband

Dr. Corey Foster

Dr. Richard Gilmore

Dr. Jake LaBeau

Dr. Thomas Mulhearn IV

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Regional Heart Center’s Chest Pain Center 524 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive www.christusstpatrick.org (337) 436-2511 Where Does it Hurt?

Most heart attacks are caused when blockage in an artery shuts down blood flow to the heart, starving the heart of oxygen. The quicker care is administered, the less damage to the heart.

Save time. Know the signs: • Unexplained chest pain • Pressure, fullness or tightness in your chest

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• Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders and arms — particularly your left arm • Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back or varies in intensity • Shortness of breath • Cold sweats • Dizziness or weakness • Nausea or vomiting

• Anxiety • Coughing • Fainting • Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating too fast or irregularly) • Sweating, which may be heavy If you’re having chest pain or suspect you’re having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Don’t wait – and don’t drive yourself to the hospital.

Dr. Xavier Mousset

June 18, 2015 21

er ‘Cirque de la Symphonie’ Summ Pops!

Lake Charles Symphony and First Federal Bank of Louisiana Present

Join the Lake Charles Symphony and First Federal Bank of Louisiana on Saturday, July 11, 2015 as they present Cirque de la Symphonie, an exciting production designed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall. It is an elegant adaptation of some of the most amazing cirque acts performed on a stage shared with the full symphony orchestra, showcasing many of the best artists in the world.

The audience is thrilled and bedazzled by aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen. These accomplished veterans include world record holders, gold-medal winners of international competitions, Olympians and some of the most original talent ever seen. Each performance is perfectly choreographed to classical masterpieces, raising cirque artistry to a fine arts level. Adding a stunning visual element to the concert experience, these aerialists and acrobats provide a three-dimensional entertainment extravaganza.

Orchestras play with enhanced enthusiasm, while patrons marvel at the jaw-dropping spectacle of aerialists flying overhead and astonishing acrobatic feats. Fusing the power and majesty of the live orchestra with the best of cirque artistry, Cirque de la Symphonie is the only cirque company in the world that performs exclusively with symphony orchestras.

Over 100 orchestras worldwide have featured Cirque de la Symphonie in sold-out venues, adding energy and excitement to the concert experience. Join them on Facebook and explore their website for images, video, schedule, reviews, and more at www. cirquedelasymphonie.com Summer Pops is a popular annual tradition in the Southwest Louisiana area that began over 30 years ago. Each year brings a fun and exciting introduction to those who are experiencing orchestra music for the first time and to those who look forward to Summer Pops year after year.

The Summer Pops concert allows the symphony to perform with non-classical artists. Exposure to programs such as Summer Pops has proven effective in gaining new audiences for symphony orchestras all over the country. It is anticipated that there will be 2,000 in attendance at this year’s Pops.

Doors and concessions will open at 6 p.m. Concessions for sale include pizza by Gatti’s, popcorn, candy and ice cream by Pops and Rockets.

Riser seats are $25 for adults (18 +), $15 for students (K-12 plus college with valid college ID) and FREE for children 6 and under.

Reserved seating at tables includes individual reserved seats - $50; reserved tables of 8 - $400; reserved tables of 10 - $500; premium tables of 8 (includes Gatti’s pizza, adult beverages and soft drinks) - $1,000; and premium tables of 10 (includes Gatti’s pizza, adult beverages and soft drinks) - $1,250. Tickets may be purchased by calling 433-1611 or by going online at www.lcsymphony.com. Follow the Lake Charles Symphony on Facebook.

The symphony gratefully acknowledges First Federal Bank of Louisiana as the Pops’ Title Sponsor, and the following event sponsors: The Louisiana Lottery Corporation, L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, Springhill Suites Marriott, and also to the following concession sponsors: Gatti’s Pizza and Pops and Rockets.

Cirque de la Symphonie is also supported by a grant from the City of Lake Charles along with the SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Marketing Grant from the CVB as administered by the Arts Council of Southwest Louisiana.

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Ceramic Art Show Through July 3 “Where Chaos Meets Order,” a ceramic art show by local artist Tracy LeMieux, will run through July 3 at the Arts Associates Gallery on the second floor of Central School, Lake Charles. (337) 540-2968.

BayouCon June 19-21 BayouCon, the Anime, Sci-Fi, Comic Book and Gaming Convention returns for its 7th year at the West Cal Event Center in Sulphur. Come out and be a part of Southwest Louisiana’s only pop culture, fan-produced convention. For schedule of events, go to www.bayoucon.net.

Juneteenth Celebration June 20 KZWA 104.9FM presents the Juneteenth Celebration Family Fun Day “Remembering the Broken Chains” on June 20 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. There

will be a host of activities such as Baby Zone, Kids Zone, musical tributes from local and nationally known artists, the annual Celebrity BBQ Cook Off, vendors’ courtyard, performances by the Elite Dance Group and more. KZWA is accepting applications for the BBQ Cook-off and vendor space. (337) 491-9955.

Lake Charles Shrimp & Jazz Festival June 20 This inaugural event feature’s Grammy nominated jazz artist Mickey Smith, Jr. and will showcase other jazz musicians, artists, events, and a wide variety of shrimp and other good foods. Bring your families out on June 20 to the Lake Charles Civic Center to enjoy some jazz and a good time! Adults $5, kids under 12 $2. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. www.SWLAShrimpnJazzFest.com.

Dad Fest Car Show June 20 See Classic cars of every description at the Dad Fest Car Show at Glad Tidings Church, 3400 Texas St. in Lake Charles on June 20. Registration is free for those who would like to register their vehicles. Register online at www. gladtidingschurch.com. Prizes and food will be available for the entire family.

All proceeds and donations go toward the continual support of our local veterans. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. (337) 477-7774.

Jennie Finch Softball Tournament June 25-28 Thursday, June 18: MAD HATTER Science The famous MAD HATTER, Joan Vallee Rettke, will present “Science at the Beach” at 11:30 a.m. Hands-on activities include the density of salt water and fresh water, the nature of waves, the importance of sunscreen and glow in the dark sea creatures.

Saturday, June 20: Father’s Day Ties Make your dad a special tie he will always cherish for Father’s Day. Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children each class.

Monday, June 22: Mulan Join us for a showing of Mulan at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23: Ceramic Robot Banks Paint your own ceramic robot bank to store your savings. Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children each, ages 4 and up.

There is a $1 fee for non-members for this new workshop.

Thursday, June 25: Gardening w/Greengate Greengate Garden Center will join us at 11:30 a.m. to teach about the importance of plants and how to care for them, and will help us plant one to bring home.

Saturday, June 27: Kid’s Choice This workshop uses extra projects that were leftovers from previous workshops and weekly projects. Projects will be on a first come, first serve basis and will be available from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Limit one project per child.

Monday, June 29: Frozen Join us for the showing of Frozen at 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30: Beaded USA Necklaces Get ready for the 4th of July by making a USA beaded necklace. Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children each class.

Saturday, July 4: CLOSED for Independence Day 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 $7.50 for children and adults. Call 337-433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org 24 June 18, 2015

The first Jennie Finch World Series Youth Softball Tournament will be held at Frasch Park in Sulphur from June 25-28. Age categories are 6 and under, 8 and under, 10 and under, and 12 and under. Opening ceremony will be held on June 25. Over six states will be represented. (337) 527-2526.

LC Men’s City Golf Championship June 26-28 Mallard Cove Golf Course will host the 38th Annual Lake Charles Men’s City Golf Championship sponsored by IBERIABANK June 26-28. The entry fee is $125 and forms can be picked up at all IBERIABANK branch locations in Calcasieu Parish and at Mallard Cove Golf Course. Entry deadline is after the first 160 paid entries have been received. The golf course is located at 4300 Mallard Cove Drive at the Chennault International Airport. (337) 491-1204.

Patriot’s Ball June 27 The ninth annual Red, White, Blue, and You Patriot’s Ball will be held Sat., June 27 at the Lake Charles Civic Center Contraband Room. A social half-hour will kick off the event at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m., an awards ceremony and dancing to a nine-piece band, Souled Out ’72. Proceeds support area veterans and patriotic projects and activities. (337) 491-1256, www. orleck.org

USSSA World Series Baseball Tournament July 1-5 Take me out to the ball game! The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) World Series will be held at Frasch Park, 400 Picard Rd., Sulphur for participants eight years old and under, July 1-5. Thursday-Saturday, the games begin at 8 a.m. with the final championship play at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

For more information, contact Sulphur Parks and Recreation at (337) 721-3040 or Sports Productions at (337) 562-1251.

SWLA Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo July 3-5 Enjoy your 4th of July by participating in this 3-day fishing tournament. Entry fee for adults: $35; junior anglers: $10 (spectators free). On June 26, head out for Captain’s Night at 6:30 p.m. to hear the rules explained and get chances at door prizes (cost of admission is a Rodeo Ticket at a discounted price of $25.)

Vol. 7 • No. 5

July 4 Red White Blue and You 4th of July Celebration

JULY

July 8 Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Job Fair July 11 The Lake Charles Symphony and First Federal Bank of Louisiana Present Cirque de la Symphonie July 13-17 LA Rural Water Association Conference

This year also includes a kayak division. SWLA Fishing Club. www.swlafishingclub.org.

July 18 Ad and Press Club 43rd Annual Gridiron “Go Big or Go Home” July 18-20 Chews 15th Annual Multicultural Hair Show July 24 Marshland Festival July 25 Marshland Festival

Center. There will be entertainment, craft booths, vendors, games, exhibits and so much more! Proceeds go towards Hackberry youth activities. Go to www. marshland.com for band schedule and admission information.

Red White Blue & You July 4 The City of Lake Charles is making plans for the annual Red White Blue & You Celebration. Join in the fun for the parade, concerts and fireworks. The parade will roll from Mill Street heading south on Ryan Street toward Lock Park/7th Street. If you’d like to join in the parade, decorate your floats, vehicles, golf carts, bicycles, etc. Spectators are encouraged to line the streets for beads and candy. For more information and parade entry forms, call (337) 491-9159 or go to www.cityoflakecharles.com.

Summer Pops 2015 July 11 Join the Lake Charles Symphony on Sat., July 11 for Cirque de la Symphonie, a new production formed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall.

Artists include the most amazing veterans of exceptional cirque programs throughout the world—aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen. Each artist’s performance is professionally choreographed to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music in collaboration with the maestro and a live symphony orchestra. Doors open at 6 p.m., performance begins at 7:30. www.lcsymphony.com/summer-pops-2015.

Cajun Music and Food Festival July 17-19 Head on over to the 28th annual Cajun Music & Food Festival July 17 – 19 at the Burton Coliseum Complex to get your fill of a variety of Cajun specialties!

This festival aims to preserve the Cajun traditions and heritage through music, dancing, and food. Celebrating our past and build towards our future! Enjoy Savory Cajun dishes along with raffles, a live auction, arts and crafts booths, cake walks and games for the kids. The festival will end with a Cajun mass on Sunday morning at the CFMA Building on 3481 E Prien Lake Road www. cfmalakecharles.org. (337) 794-2541.

Gridiron 43 July 18 Go Big or Go Home is the theme of the 43rd Annual Gridiron Show presented by the Ad & Press Club of SWLA. This annual night of skits, songs and laughter is a local tradition. Proceeds benefit the Ad and Press Club Scholarships at McNeese and SOWELA. This year’s show is Sat., July 18 in the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m. for social/ networking and heavy hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants and vendors. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are tiered according to row locations. gridironshow@yahoo.com, www.adpressclub.com.

Marshland Festival July 24-25 Continuing our Louisiana heritage of great food, music and fun, the 26th annual Marshland Festival will be held July 25-26 at the Lake Charles Civic Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 25

Aloha (Columbia Pictures, 2015) Imagine a tropical breeze and you’re lying out on the beach, doing whatever one does on the beach. Aloha, the latest movie from Cameron Crowe, gives you that feeling and more, even though I don’t recall a single beach scene.

I’m just going to say right now that Aloha has the best soundtrack I’ve heard. Maybe I should say the best soundtrack integrated with the story. Can I call it a story?

Aloha begins with travel clips of Hawaii, with hula dancers and boaters, a mash-up of military and beach footage, all put to music that will pull you into another world. The director has a goal, and that’s to disorient you right from the beginning.

Brian Gilchrist (Bradley Cooper) is some sort of ex-military guy who somehow has gotten a leg injury in Afghanistan.

Now he’s back in Hawaii for business and pleasure that includes seeing his old girlfriend (Rachel McAdams) from 12 years back.

Surprise, she has two kids now and a husband who is a military pilot.

Because this is a military kind of movie. But it’s also a kind of romance, but we don’t know with whom. But it’s also about the native culture in Hawaii and conflicts with the U.S. But mostly it’s about the Sky. The Sky? Maybe here I should tell you about the Kingdom of Hawaii, 26 June 18, 2015

an organization that considers itself the true government of the islands and sees Hawaii as occupied by the United States. Brian Gilchrist is involved in negotiating with the Kingdom, which is native Hawaii all the way, with their own culture, respect for the land, and belief in the sky, spirits, and gods. In some ways, they’re quite like Native American Indians in their beliefs.

Then there’s Captain Ng, an im-

plausibly one-quarter redheaded Hawaiian Emma Stone, who is assigned as an escort to the limping Gilchrist. Why does he need an escort? Because he’s been ordered by the military to work for Carson Welch (Bill Murray), a playboy billionaire who owns satellites, and maybe because he’s an unreliable soldier.

Then there’s Fingers, an officer who moves his fingers as he talks, like he’s giving semaphores or else imitating Jon Anderson, the singer from YES. In fact, Aloha is a movie about characters, and there are so many, and they are so different, that you really do stay confused for a while.

But it’s a wonderful confusion with music perfectly woven in and out of the scenes, every one of them a surprise.

Through it all, Brian Gilchrist is trying to figure out who he is, and so are we. In fact, everyone is trying to figure out who they are. And so are we. Thank goodness for General Dixon, played by Alec Baldwin. We know without a

doubt who he is: Angry Alec Baldwin, the same as he is in all of his roles. Personally, I feel that having Alec Baldwin and Bill Murray together should never be allowed, except maybe on Saturday Night Live. Really. Their proximity in a movie threatens the fabric of the Universe as we know it.

Speaking of Emma Stone, director Crowe got blasted for casting her as supposedly Hawaiian. But honestly, Captain Ng’s ardor for the islands, mixed with her clipped military enthusiasm, makes her so ludicrous, so strange, that somehow it all fits. Trust me.

What starts out as a jumbled montage at the beginning ends very tidily as romances should, but it is the ride that matters, and this is where Aloha shines, with interesting dialogue, quirky but subtle humor, and a surprising touch of heart.

Aloha is rated PG-13 for one four-letter word, kissing, and body language that children won’t understand. But you will. Trust me.

Enjoy!

Vol. 7 • No. 5

This is What You Just Put in Your Mouth?

Borborygmus.

That’s the technical term for what you’re experiencing now: great big rumbles from ‘neath your navel. Snarls from your stomach, a reminder that it’s snack time. Aside from sugary-salty goodness, though, and a feeling of satisfaction, what will you consume? To find out, read This is What You Just Put in Your Mouth? by Patrick Di Justo, and hang on to your gut.

But first: the vending machine.

The vending machine is close, so let’s start out with a cuppa Joe, which includes an ingredient that “helps give real butter its flavor” and one that actually keeps bacteria off your teeth.

So far, so good. Real good, in fact, so you might follow it up with something sweet to get you through your day, complete with “artificial human salivary enzymes,” perhaps topped with a product that contains “a high percentage of air.”

Uhhh, or maybe not.

How ‘bout something cheesy Vol. 7 • No. 5

– some “cheese, processed cheese, cheese food, [or] cheese spread” – each of which are different, says Di Justo. Or salty, which might contain three ingredients that cause addiction in lab rats. If you’re watching your weight, though, beware: federal regulations state that serving size is generally based on what a four-year-old can consume.

And expiration dates? Nope.

There’s “no federal regulation to date food at all…”

Well, now that your appetite is gone, you might want to lie down somewhere… like, in front of a fire, where you might burn birdseed and “a giant sideways candle in your fireplace.” Or maybe you just need to be with friends, so put in your contacts (the solution for which may contain a product used with anti-cancer drugs) and mascara (which you definitely do not want to wear near a magnet!) and head down for your favorite libation (which could cause irregular heartbeat). Or maybe you’ll just skip it all to spend time with the dog (and

feed him something that’s “deliberately stinky”) or the kids (and give them what “attempts to artificially re-create something that already exists…”).

Bon appétit!

“If you’re looking for shocking stories of the gigantic corporate conspiracy to poison America… you’re reading the wrong book,” says author Patrick Di Justo. Without intending to scare, he says he looked at various products with curiosity and the notion that knowing what’s there is better than not knowing. It can’t be an accident that he also entertains readers, then, can it?

I don’t think it is: in this collection of Wired magazine articles, Di Justo is hilarious as he explains how he learned

what’s inside everyday products, not just food. What he finds may surprise and delight you. For sure, you’ll read ingredient labels a whole lot closer.

Depending on how you look at it, this is either a consumer’s dream or a nightmare. Either way, it’s a twistedly-fun and eye-opening book to have. This is What You Just Put in Your Mouth? will give you food for thought – and it just may make you growl.

“This is What You Just Put in Your Mouth?”

by Patrick Di Justo ©2015, Three Rivers Press $15 / $18 Canada 255 pages June 18, 2015 27

Regal Beagle

Lake Charles

Bars, also known as saloons, taverns, and pubs, have been an essential part of nearly every culture for centuries. Descending from the ancient “public houses” of Rome and Asia, further blending with a variety of civilizations from around the globe, this consumer/provider relationship has led to the creation of a plethora of drinking spaces throughout history.

The consumption of beer, wine, and spirits is not a practice that is unique to any one people. Rich and poor, full and hungry, sick and healthy alike all maintained a lustful desire for the tastes served at these establishments, though no one seemed to question anyone else’s presence.

The opening of the doors is almost symbolic to the very nature of being inside; it is a place that allows you to open up.

Whether you drink to forget, drink to remember, drink to celebrate, drink to console, drink just because you love the taste; everyone is inside for the same purpose. Relationships that last lifetimes are often built on the space between two stools, marriages foreshadowed under the dim lights, alliances formed between enemies over a round of drinks. Bars have even served

Dan Clark r der nde nd end Barten

->

--

28 June 18, 2015

as the central hub for dozens of political rallies, secret societies, and royal gatherings, ultimately establishing a timeless bond that would evolve into the beloved establishments that we all frequent today.

Here in Louisiana, we have become internationally known for our intoxicating prowess as citizens and our government’s lush “laissez faire” attitude to our consumption. As a result, we have raised the “bar” when it comes to creating the perfect universal after-hours atmosphere.

Last year, the Lake City was introduced to an instant classic that has not only met that “bar,” but is exceeding at a rapid pace.

Regal Beagle Lake Charles first tapped their way into the local bar scene in March 2014. Defying the first-year bar blues, they have become one of the area’s latest and greatest hot spots. Pouring everything from cocktails and crafts to wells and domestics, the Beagle has just about anything your thirst can crave, though owners Craig Dugas and JR Vasquez attribute the majority of the bar’s success to its bartenders.

“We hired the perfect crew and their experience and attitude are what keep people coming back day after day,” Dugas explains. Growing up in Lake Charles, Dugas says opening a bar in that Ryan St. location has always bit a bit of a life long dream, and once the opportunity presented itself, he jumped in head first. Naming the bar after the iconic night spot from TV’s Three’s Company and designing a unique calendar of drink specials, the bar filled and its popularity spilled over into an overnight success.

Pool tables, lounge seating, and an eclectic jukebox of background music make the Beagle the ideal hangout for anyone who walks through the door.

And there are specialty nights such as “Services Industry Monday” offering half-off drinks to patrons who present their service industry IDs, and “Wine Down Wednesday” where the prices on wine are some of the best in the city. The Beagle has also been host to a number of private and public events, Vol. 7 • No. 5

ranging from bachelor/bachelorette parties, to birthdays, anniversaries and much more.

Striking while the iron of their success is still hot, the Beagle is scheduled to open a second location by the end of summer inside Lake Charles Regional Airport, bringing the same level of dynamite service and good vibes of their Ryan St. location to patrons visiting our city.

The Beagle also has plans to expand their current location, adding on a covered pavilion for patio seating and outdoor events.

If you’re looking for a great spot for cold beer and hot dancing, stiff shots and trick shots, do yourself a favor and visit the Regal Beagle, and make sure you HashTag Dat! As always, Eat, Sleep, Drink, and Support Local!

Florida Key

#RegalBeagleLC #DRINKLocalLC #SupportLocalLC

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Mr. Magoo

Regal Beagle Lake Charles – Ryan St. 2200 Ryan St, Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 419-1898 Regal Beagle Lake Charles – Airport 500 Airport Blvd Lake Charles, LA 70601

June 18, 2015 29

Thursday, June 18 Happy Hour 4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Willie Tee, Warren Storm & Cypress 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

The Flamethrowers and the Yams @Party by the Pool 7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

The Oak Ridge Boys 8:30 p.m. Grand Ballroom Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC The New Waves 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Rapture 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush 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

RKW Acoustic Show 9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC Encore 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Josephine 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Mr. DJ 9 p.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC Dance Night 9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

The New Waves 8 p.m. – midnight @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Allison Collins 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush 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 Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Friday, June 19

Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Reed Planchard 7:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, Lake Charles Killawatts 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC 30 June 18, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Bugaboo

British Invasion 9:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Josephine 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

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

Acoustic Pie

Mr. DJ 9 p.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC

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

Hazy Ray

10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

Saturday, June 20 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

9 p.m.– midnight @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Grand Funk Railroad

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

7 p.m. @ Delta Event Center Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Tickets Start at $20

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

Under the Influence 8 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, Lake Charles

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

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC Kenzie Newman 4 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

Kris Harper 5-9 p.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

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

Sunday, June 21

Monday, June 22

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Open Mic Night 9-midnight @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

@Jack Daniels’ Whiskey Brunch

Tuesday, June 23

Chester & Jarius Daigle

L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Guys Night @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC

June 18, 2015 31

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith 6:30 @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

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

Two for Tuesday on Everything!

9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

Mike & Amber 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

Wednesday, June 24

Lindsey Cardinale 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

Talent Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

Thursday, June 25

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

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

Happy Hour 4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC

Rusty Yates 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC JC Melancon 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

Friday, June 26

Rusty Yates 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Afterparty 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

LeRoy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners T Broussard & the 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Zydeco Steppers Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Johnnyswim @Party by the Pool

32 June 18, 2015

9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

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

Afterparty 9 p.m. – midnight @ 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

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Isis 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Karaoke 9 p.m. @ Coolers 3622 1/2 Ryan St. LC Dance Night 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Isis 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Lake Charles Album Series

Creedence Clearwater Revival 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort

Red Republiq

9:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC The Dubonauts 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, June 27

Rusty Yates 7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Bluesiana Red 7 @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

Jack’s Wig & Stache Bash

8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Special Event Night 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC T Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Afterparty 9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC 3-H-G 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 33

777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, June 28 Kevin Lambert 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

@Jack Daniels’ Whiskey Brunch L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC

Reed Planchard 4 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC Kris Harper 5-9 p.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

Monday, June 29 Open Mic Night 9-midnight @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., LC

It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing…

“Jazz is a good barometer of freedom… In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, Jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country” - Duke Ellington Not exactly what I was expecting when searching for the answer to the question “What IS jazz?” It’s a question that I’ve gotten many times over the years but probably not as many times as I’ve posed it, myself. What is it, really?

Many think it some formless, abstract noise. Others think it’s pure elevator music; others find it to be one of the highest and most complex forms 34 June 18, 2015

Tuesday, June 30

Wednesday, July 1

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

Karaoke with DJ Cornbread 7 p.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC

Angel Garcia

Mike & Amber 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., LC

Guys Night @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC

8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Dancing 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

of musical expression that exists. Although I favor myself an avid student of all things musical, to say the least, I’ve never really been able to come up with what I feel to be an adequate answer.

The dynamic in opinions on jazz is remarkably similar to the dynamic created within the genre itself. Many people, myself included, don’t particularly consider themselves “jazz fans” when in all honesty it’s likely only a few “types” of jazz or certain songs, artists or elements that don’t appeal to the listener.

At the heart of it, jazz is so big and so diverse that I find it difficult to imagine that even the most avid fan will like ALL jazz, and that may make it a bit harder to define in conventional terms. While many other genres of music may have different “sub-genres” or “types,” none of them vary as wildly, nor know as many differ-

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 305, LC

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

ent incarnations as this American-born phenomenon dating back to the turn of the 20th century.

Starting in New Orleans, jazz continued to grow and change and branch out in a way that no other genre has ever been able to. Dixieland led to Chicago’s hot jazz sound, which in turn led to the big band sounds of the 30s and 40s, not to mention ragtime, bop, hard-bop, cool, swing, soft, fusion, free-form and the myriad of other variations on the theme that can vary wildly from one to another. So, how is it possible that such vastly different styles can all be called the same thing? I person-

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Joe Harmon & the Harmonics 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC Karaoke with Avid Sounds 9 p.m. @ Coolers 3622 1/2 Ryan St. LC

Kory Fontenot and-Red Breast Irish Whiskey Tasting!

9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC Talent Night 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s 112 Broad St., LC

Thursday, July 2 Happy Hour 4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz 3436 Ryan St., LC Mark Henry 6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC David Joel 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

ally think the answers lie somewhere near what is considered to be the single most fundamental element of jazz: improvisation.

The idea of improvisation in jazz is one of the most fascinating, if not, democratic concepts in all of music.

Each member is responsible to the group as a whole, yet they each have the individual freedom to bring something unique and different each and every time they play. Solos, tempo and rhythms can be changed performance to performance and each performer can bring something totally their own to even the most oft performed standards.

Early jazz songs may well have had fixed beginnings and endings, but all that space in the middle was room for the artists to climb inside and just play around for a little while, and play they did, not just within the songs themselves but in the sounds they used and the ways they played those very songs and sounds. The years have passed, leaving many a new and different form of jazz out there to be heard, learned and experienced by all who care to “jump in and take a verse.”

Jazz, at its roots, is off-script. It’s a dialogue that ebbs and flows with the mood and timbre of the moment.

It’s not a regimented and repetitive refrain. Like the very lives we lead, it changes depending on any number Vol. 7 • No. 5

3 Doors Down Theory of a Deadman @Party by the Pool 7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Encore 8 p.m. – midnight @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC The Fuse 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

of things so that even the same story retold has the influence of the circumstances of that particular telling.

It may take some serious listening, but in time you can start to hear those nuances, those subtle differences that make each telling of the tale almost completely new. Not only is jazz this organic and virile entity, but its origins have its ties right here in our own Louisiana culture. It’s something not only worth experiencing but important enough to understand, at least fundamentally, that it is much more than

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Karaoke Night 9 p.m. @ Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St., LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, July 4

Lady of the Lake Fireworks Cruise w/ City Heat Departs Loggerheads 7 p.m.

3748 Hwy 305, LC

just “wallpaper” background noise. It’s that very freedom that good Sir Duke was talking about. The freer we are to musically express ourselves the freer those improvisers and innovators are gonna be.

So sit back and listen to “Kind of Blue” by my man Miles Davis or maybe pick up a little Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie or some of that Thelonious Monk cat. See if you can find your groove. Chances are good it’s out there, ya just need to dig in and listen for a while.

Something’s Happening Here...

Saturday, June 20 The inaugural Lake Charles Shrimp and Jazz Festival @ The Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall This event is bringing the jazz to you along with a bit of blues to boot. The fest is designed to promote the importance of jazz and cuisine in our SWLA culture and as such, will have plenty of food vendors on hand as well as art and other goods for sale. Proceeds will help fund in-school art programs. The fest begins at 11 a.m. and will feature performances from a dozen acts including GRAMMYnominated artist Mickey Smith, Street Side Jazz Band, The Jairus Daigle Network, The Tipitina’s Internship Band, special guest Jarvis Jacob and many more between then and 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.swlashrimpnjazzfest. com (mobile recommended). GO SEE THEM!!

There Was Basie, Miller, Satchmo and The King of all, Sir Duke....

See? Stevie Wonder knows what’s up. That is all for this spin around the Ol’ Lake Chuck. Hope you fine folk find something that moves ya this week and gets you excited enough to jump on board. If I’m lucky, I’ll run into ya groovy people out there. See you at the show!

June 18, 2015 35

CATCH-A-CONCERT SUMMER MUSIC SERIES The Lake Charles Community Band continues its annual Catch-A-Concert Series and local music fans braved the impending bad weather to grab a chunk of lawn at the Arcade Pavilion to soak up some great music. Early birds got to listen to the band practicing familiar tunes, but unfortunately, the only real “soaking” came from the torrential downpour minutes before the show was set to begin. Fear not!

You still have two more chances to “Catch-A-Concert” on June 22 and 29, starting at 7 p.m. See you there!

Becky and Beau Fontenot

Dwight and Myrna Freeman

Debby and Brayden Hoffpauir

Emilee and Daniel Gutierrez

Rod Lauderdale Conducting the Lake Charles Community Band

ARTIST RECEPTION FOR EARNEST “COACH” COURVILLE A longtime local educator turned artist opened up a display of his work at the Stellar Beans coffee show recently and invited friends and fans to see his newest works. Earnest “Coach” Courville spent over 30 years in public education but has been creating art for nearly a decade now, mostly in pen and ink, but now adding a splash of color to his creative and textural works. They remain up at Stellar, so grab a cup of joe and take a look at the talent on display!

Jessica Luke and Carl Arabie

Mandi and Jeff Gunnels 36 June 18, 2015

Chad and Kristi Sonnier

Morris and Sallye LeBleu

Earnest R. ‘Coach’ Courville Vol. 7 • No. 5

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE MOUSETRAP AT LAKE CHARLES LITTLE THEATER Theatergoers had a real treat in store for them at The New Stable Playhouse with two performances of the longest continuous running show in modern theater history. MSU Senior Joseph Comeaux chose the work for his senior capstone project and culled help from both the MSU Theater Department and LCLT to stage, cast, produce and direct the 63-year-old show. Though the theater season is over for now, stay tuned! There’s plenty of great shows coming up this fall!

Dorothy and David Broussard

Sam and Claudia Boyer

Thomas Buxton and Sasha Vincent

MSU’s Charles McNeeley and LCLT Board President Randy Partin

Anita Vasquez and Francesca Borra

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS AT BLUE MARTINI Lake Charles’ newest night spot starts the party early on Sundays with live music on their beautiful outdoor patio. Locals and visitors ate, drank and watched the sun set over the water while digging into the music of the very talented duo of Kris Harper and Matt Moss. They will perform there every Sunday in June from 5 to 9 p.m., so do not miss your chance to see what these guys can do!

Shirley and Charles Johnson

Matt Moss and Kris Harper Vol. 7 • No. 5

Helio Soto

Belinda Garcia and Kris Rittichier

Lesley and Alvin Parent June 18, 2015 37

38 June 18, 2015

Vol. 7 • No. 5

Vol. 7 • No. 5

June 18, 2015 39