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Vol. 8 • No. 11
September 8, 2016 • Volume 8 • Issue 11
715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.thejambalayanews.com Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren Abate lauren@thejambalayanews.com
Contributors Lisa Addison George Cline Athena Gieger Dan Ellender Mike McHugh Roger Miller Justin Morris Brian Pitre
On Cover: Travel Partners consultants (L to R) Sabrina McCoy, Kelly Basone, Phil de Albuquerque, Cooper, Sammie Hugonin, Pat Landry, Deirdra Willis (Not pictured: Don Payne)
COVER 18 Travel Partners: Open House Sept. 22!
REGULARS 6 We are SWLA! 8
Dang Yankee
9
Tips from Tip
9
Adoption Corner
10 Fishin’ Tales 12 This Functional Family
10 18
FEATURES 5 eGala Online Auction
Sales lauren@thejambalayanews.com
14 Kick off a Healthy School Year
Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk
16 Dry Eye Disease
Business Office Manager Jeanie Rourk
THE SPICE OF SWLA 20 Event Guide 22 Family Fun Night at the Movies
22 24
24 heART of SWLA: Danielle Babineaux 26 Nightlife Guide 38 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles 30 Society Spice 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. 8 • No. 11
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Riding
I had a very fun and interesting experience recently: I took the train to Houston. I grew up on trains, but that was the subway (which I miss terribly, by the way). When I moved out of Boston, I would take the commuter rail every day from Mansfield into South Station, a magnificent marble edifice built in 1898. Old buildings in Boston are magnificent and usually marble, unless they were built in the 1600s. Then, they are wooden and have low ceilings and crooked floors and, I imagine, dark secrets. But I digress. This was an Amtrak train, and the route I was on is called the Sunset Limited. It begins in New Orleans and goes all the way to the
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the Rails
West Coast with stops along the way, Lake Charles and Houston being two of them. I’d taken Amtrak in the past to New York from Boston, but that was in my youth. And it was always easier to fly, because it only cost $25 each way and the Eastern Airlines Shuttle ran every hour on the hour. Those were the days. So I decided to look into taking the train to Houston to visit my dear friends Chase and Ashley Wilson and the amazing Baby B. I knew there was some sort of train station around here, unmanned and in the middle of nowhere. The schedule was funky: I wanted to leave on a Friday and return on a Monday, but that wasn’t possible. Instead, I had to leave on
a Saturday afternoon and return on a Tuesday. The price was quite inexpensive and the journey would take about three and a half hours. I had no idea what to expect but I was game. Well, I couldn’t have been happier. The seats went all the way back with ample leg room (think exit aisle on a plane with room to spare). I was seated on the upper level. There is a dining car and a lounge, but I was so happy where I was that I didn’t even bother to explore (next time). The train runs smoothly and quietly—no excessive background noise and vibrations that we have to deal with on planes. All of the passengers were incredibly friendly. The girl in the next seat shared her cracklins with me—made by her uncle. She was on her way to take care of her sick mother in California. The attendants and engineers were always present, joking with everyone, making sure we had everything we needed. Announcements were made when the dining car was open and then closed. Attendants took dinner orders later on in the day. It was like one happy family. I never felt unsafe. I reveled in the luxury of three and a half hours of uninterrupted resting or reading without feeling
like I was in a sardine can. And I knew that when I got off the train, the porter would help me with my luggage and my friends would be waiting for me. We actually got in a half hour ahead of schedule. The Houston Amtrak station is also off the beaten path, but at least it’s a real, manned building with benches and vending machines. Passengers continuing on had a two-hour layover where they could get out and stretch their legs. Smoking is only allowed behind the building (including vaping, which got one vaper rather upset). All in all, this was a terrific experience and I highly recommend it. My return trip was just as pleasant, although there was some kind of a problem on the track so we were delayed by about 45 minutes. The bearded man behind me, who was getting off in Lake Charles, loudly hoped that he would not run into any of his exes. For his sake, I hope they are all in Texas.
Lauren Abate
Vol. 8 • No. 11
eGala Online Auction
Supporting Family & Youth with the Click of a Mouse! By Athena Gieger Grab your keyboard and mouse and get ready! It’s finally time for the 7th Annual Family Foundation eGala Online Auction! For the past six years, the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana has presented the area’s only online auction fundraising event in Southwest Louisiana, letting users find the items they love while supporting a great cause from the comfort of home! In 2010, the Family Foundation endeavored to create their own unique and signature event that would engage not only their usual donors, but the community at large. It was through this endeavor that the eGala Online Auction was conceived. “We felt it would be a perfect way to raise some funds without the added cost of auctioneers, event venues, caterers, auction brochures, security, checkout, auction software, and necessities for an event auction,” states Kerry Andersen, past president of The Family Foundation board of trustees and the architect of the eGala Online Auction. “People can simply log onto the website and bid on items that they need and want.” Established in 2000, The Family Foundation’s goal is to ensure that the divisions and services of Family & Youth, offered through Autism Support Alliance; Children’s Advocacy Center; Court Appointed Special Advocates; Shannon Cox Counseling Center; Performance EAP; The Leadership Center; Human Response Services Institute; and Children and Families Action Network, continue to be available and meet the future needs of Southwest Louisiana residents. The eGala Online Auction combines the ease of the Internet and the interest of a silent auction. This exclusive event allows individuals to participate in the event and support a worthy cause from the comfort of home. There’s no need to rent a tux or buy a new dress! Save that money for bidding on the unique items available online. Enjoy the bidding experience during the auction and stay plugged in to see if you are a winner! In the end, you’ll be glad you participated. Support for the event over the years has been amazing. Since its inception in 2010, First Federal Bank of Louisiana has been the title sponsor of the event. “First Federal is proud to sponsor this function. The services provided by Family & Youth are vital to our community and will become even more vital as we move forward with the economic expansion. It’s Vol. 8 • No. 11
important to raise funds for these programs, so that they can always be here when we need them,” said Leslie Harless, VP and director of marketing for First Federal Bank of Louisiana and member of the Family & Youth board of directors. Several other area businesses are also firm supporters of the online auction, including J & J Exterminating; Morgan Stanley; Ellington, Shaddock, Hanks & Fontenot; L’Auberge Casino Resort & Hotel Lake Charles; Navarra’s Jewelry, and Delta Downs Racetrack Hotel & Casino, to name a few. Many who promote and participate in the auction have continued to give support
since the beginning while others have heard about and today, are sponsors, donors, or even both. Staff, sponsors, and other invested individuals begin work months in advance to ensure that the auction is bigger and better than the previous year - with more exclusive and exciting items offered! “As a board member of Family & Youth, I speak for all the other board members, council members, and staff when I say we appreciate everyone’s support and participation, since the inception of eGala back in 2010,” Harless says. “So many have been generous in donating, whether it was just once or continuously throughout the years. The auction wouldn’t exist without their support and it’s just another way that individuals in our community prove that we are a giving community by always stepping up to the plate when a need arises.” What makes the eGala Online Auction so successful is the concept of the entire auction being online and easy to use. First Federal Bank of Louisiana provided the funding for the set-up of the website in 2010, allowing it to truly take root. The website is a simple design, created to make it easy for visitors to find items they want to bid on. Visitors can easily register an account at www.eGalaFamilyFoundation.com; confirm the account; and then shop, bid, and WIN!
The website is easy to navigate. It also offers a function called “proxy bidding,” which allows the user to put in a maximum bid on an item, and thereafter allow the website to place bids for the user, including sending e-mail alerts as necessary, all resulting in no more hovering over an auction item! “eGala truly is a unique event,” Harless continues. “One often overlooked aspect of eGala is the fact that friends and neighbors no longer living in Southwest Louisiana can continue to support our community and feel connected to ‘home.’” Joyce Alexander, a CASA Volunteer and long-time supporter of Family & Youth says her favorite part about participating in eGala is that the money not only supports a great organization, but the challenge of bidding and winning the items she has her eye on make the whole event a blast! The 2016 eGala Online Auction starts September 19 and ends on October 9 at 9 p.m. This year’s auction features over 150 items and packages. You can bid on items such as a guided duck hunt; a vacation package to Crested Butte, CO; getaway packages to Biloxi and New Orleans; dinner packages from Delta Downs Casino Hotel & Resort; local artwork; jewelry; pottery; purses; outdoor and recreational accessories and much, much, more. When asked why she participated in eGala, Blanche Landry, long-time supporter of Family & Youth said, “Family & Youth is one of the best organizations in our area and makes our community a better place to live. I can’t think of a better organization to support and during the eGala fundraiser I get to do it from my recliner at home.” Not only does the auction give you access to fun and exciting gifts for yourself, but with Christmas right around the corner, it is an excellent opportunity to get your shopping done early and be philanthropic in the process. ‘Tis the season to give, after all! The Family Foundation’s mission is to create an endowment for Family & Youth. Investing in families secures the future of Southwest Louisiana communities. It is the hope of the Family Foundation to enable Family & Youth to continue to provide services to the community for generations to come. Please log onto www.eGalaFamilyFoundation.com and shop! Share the link with friends and family, so we can all “Support Family & Youth programs with the “click of a mouse!” For more information about the eGala Online Auction, contact Amy Nyberg at amy@fyca.org or call (337) 436-9533. September 8, 2016 5
Foundation for the McNeese Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences.
L’Auberge Hosts LegisGator Luncheon L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles hosted the 11th Annual LegisGator Luncheon, an event of the Chamber SWLA. As Title Sponsor, L’Auberge donated $51,886 toward use of event space, food and beverage, AV services and decor. The sold-out event features a sit-down lunch and legislative updates from Washington, D.C. and Baton Rouge.
L to R: Michael K. Pendergast, L’Auberge Casino Resort VP/GM; Keith W. Henson, Pinnacle Entertainment VP of Operations; SWLA Alliance Executive VP Avon Knowlton; Chamber SWLA VP Paula Ramsey and Anthony Sanfilippo, CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment.
Golden Nugget Names 2016 Team Member of the Year Regina Susan Johnson was named 2016 Team Member of the Year for Golden Nugget Lake Charles. Johnson, a slot attendant, has been with Golden Nugget since it opened in December 2014. She is the first recipient of the award. The Team Member Recognition Program honors team members who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and have consistently delivered a “golden” experience to guests on a daily basis. Team Member of the Year is selected from the 12 monthly winners from the past year. Johnson received an awards package valued at over $3,500.
L to R: Dr. Chip LeMieux, school director and associate dean of the College of Science and Agriculture; Wilda W. Trahan, Fritz Lang Foundation advisory board member; Louis O. Trahan Jr., Fritz Lang Foundation president and co-trustee; and Fritz Lang Foundation advisory board members Keith Trahan and Dale Broussard. McNeese Photo
L’Auberge Donates to CHRISTUS L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles recently donated $100,000 to the CHRISTUS Foundation in support of new revolutionary cardiac imaging technology. As a major sponsor, L’Auberge will underwrite events that support the hospital’s new “Healthcare and Hope…Here at Home” campaign. The new technology includes a 128-Slice CT Scanner which will bring unprecedented imaging services for cardiac care to Southwest Louisiana.
L to R: Kristie Evans, L’Auberge health educator; Don Lloyd, CHRISTUS Health SWLA CEO; Michael K. Pendergast, L’Auberge VP & GM and Kay Barnett, CHRISTUS Foundation executive director of development.
Southside Machine Works Donates to BBBS With a generous donation of $5,000, Southside Machine Works of Lake Charles was the Title Sponsor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana’s annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake, which was held on May 7. In addition to the cash donation, Southside Machine Works formed several teams that participated in this year’s Bowl For Kids’ Sake and raised an additional $2,870. All the funds donated are invested locally into programs run by BBBS-SWLA that impact children and families in the Southwest Louisiana community.
Hi-Licious Street Kitchen Wins Best Crab Dish Award Chef Haili Li of the Hi-Licious Street Kitchen food truck was awarded Best Crab Chef Haili Li Dish at August’s Arts & Crabs Fest, hosted by the Arts Council of SWLA and the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau. Hi-Licious, along with 11 other local restaurants, created their own spin on the event’s crab theme, and the public voted Hi-Licious’ crab rangoon as best dish of the event. Arts & Crabs Fest, the Arts Council’s primary annual fundraiser, celebrates local cuisine and culture by showcasing the talents of Louisiana chefs, artists, music, and craft beers.
McNeese Foundation Receives Donation The Fritz Lang Foundation recently donated $20,000 to the McNeese 6 September 8, 2016
L to R: Southside Machine Works owners (l-r) Richard Guillory, Barton Istre and Joey Jarreau with Heather Hohensee, executive director of BBBS of SWLA Vol. 8 • No. 11
Vol. 8 • No. 11
September 8, 2016 7
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Quarterback! It’s the time of year when we here in Louisiana can forget about all of ho-hum stuff in the news such as what ethnic group Donald Trump is going to next take aim at (probably hazel-eyed people from Moldavia, since they’re the only ones left), and focus what really matters to the people of this great state. That, of course, is the quarterback situation at LSU. It seems like LSU has had a quarterback “situation” ever since I came here 13 years ago, whereas every other position has been rock solid. They’ve had running backs that could bulldoze through the Great Wall of China if the end zone were on the other side. The defensive players couldn’t be more formidable if they were armed with AK-47s. But quarterbacks? It seems like the coaching staff recruited them from county
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fair egg-tosses. So what does LSU’s head coach, Les Miles, have to say about it? His answer is to simply deny that his team is in any way deficient at quarterback. It’s a tactic he learned by watching the hands-down masters of denial, namely our state’s politicians. Whenever a new national study would come out ranking the state dead last in something like school test scores, the politicians would react by crowing, “Hey, we’re in the top 50!” And everybody would just nod their heads and go back to fishing or playing accordion or boiling rice, feeling okay about the situation. Denial worked very well all up until Hurricane Katrina. The subsequent flooding in New Orleans was something that even the most talented deniers had a difficult time explaining away, although our
politicians certainly tried. The chairmen of the local levee boards, of which there were about 3,000 in the New Orleans area, all got together and tried to explain about how well their levees had held through the storm. The levees, of course, didn’t hold, because for years the boards had been spending all the money that was supposed to go for maintaining the levees on non-levee things like marinas and sailthrough daiquiri stands. The flooding proved impossible for the politicians to deny, particularly given the eyewitness accounts of paddlewheel boats floating down Canal Street, including one that was reportedly being attacked by a giant kraken. The façade that the politicians had kept up all these years had finally cracked, resulting in a massive political reform movement. This led the state’s politicians to stop from simply denying that problems existed to instead blaming the federal government for them. Unfortunately for Les Miles, the people of Louisiana are much more up to speed about LSU football than they are about politics. This is precisely why the politicians schedule elections to decide on mundane matters such as property tax hikes on the same days as LSU home games. Since the polling places are strategically locat-
ed in buildings like libraries and school cafeterias, which generally don’t serve beer or have big screen televisions, only about five people, none of whom are property owners, show up and approve the new taxes. So Coach Miles is having a hard time making his team’s quarterback “situation” go away just by holding a few press conferences where he smiles and acts all nonchalant. No, he has to go out and actually win games. Politicians don’t have this kind of pesky job requirement, which allows them to get away with talking their way through things. So for Miles to keep his job, he will have to find some way this year to finally beat Alabama, with or without a decent quarterback. It’s going to be a challenge, since the Tide always has good quarterbacks. It’s as if there’s something in the water over there where all the kids grow up with golden arms, to where even Alabama’s cheerleaders can put up a better spiral than anybody playing for LSU. Miles seems to have barely held onto his position last year, and yet another loss to Alabama could finally seal his fate. Then look for the university to appoint a new head coach, whose first order of duty would be to blame the team’s quarterback “situation” on the federal government. Vol. 8 • No. 11
on the same team in the same game. Makes me proud to be from Louisiana and to watch my fellow citizens show the powers that be just how it’s done.
The Passing Lane
Good Job, Louisiana The actions of our fellow Louisianans in reaction to the record flooding experienced to the east come as no surprise. The “Cajun Navy” came out of every nook and cranny to rescue their friends, neighbors and total strangers with no regard to the “isms” that supposedly divide us. There was no discrimination, just the knowledge that people were in peril and needed assistance. Bingo. Folks showed up in their bateaus, bass boats and anything that floated to help their fellow man. It is that kind of love and spirit that makes us so strong. We count on each other because we need each other. In quieter times, the meaningless divides can cause the problems we are all too aware of, but let a disaster rear its ugly head and lo and behold, we are all
I am grateful that there has been an emphasis in controlling improper driving in the left lane of multilane highways. The left lane (you may recall it as the Monfort Lane) is the passing lane, not a cruising lane. Some drivers seem to think that if they are driving the speed limit, they can maintain a position in the left lane. Not so. Research has shown that driving 5 mph faster than the speed limit is safer than driving 5 mph under the speed limit and blocking traffic in that lane. The slow driver in the fast lane leads to imprudent actions by other drivers that simply want to get somewhere while keeping up with the traffic flow. The State Police should be patrolling for this illegal form of driving. In Louisiana and several other states, it is the law that the left lane is for passing only, not simply cruising along. All states have some law that requires slower drivers to pull over into the right lane if they are not keeping up with the flow of traffic. It is another way of being safe out there. Fewer collisions occur with less lane changing. It will be more
comfortable for all of us on the road if this practice is followed correctly.
Price Gouging With the recent price gouge increase in the EpiPen (the prepackaged, ready to-use epinephrine injection), there have thankfully been a number of cheaper alternatives discovered. The rising cost of medications has been a popular subject lately and people are beginning to take notice of the trend. Making money is the object of any business. Profit is the life blood of commerce, but unrestrained greed is quite another thing. Unconscionable pricing of life-saving products is a disgrace to humanity. Pricing on what the traffic will bear needs to be closely scrutinized. Profit margins can vary based on the type of product and the length of time in production as well as how long the product lasts. Some items are for the moment and have little value in the long run, but others will have a useful lifespan of many years. Pricing should reflect these factors, but those products dealing with saving lives need to have restraints on them by the manufacturer or regulation will be necessary. Keep an eye on your money and research your purchases for the best deal. Note on knee replacement recovery: slow but sure. I may try for a pricing survey in the next issue, but no promise. It is still a little difficult to get around.
Theo is an 8-month old Doberman mix. Looking at his feet, he has some growing to do and is going to be a big boy! Theo was fortunate enough to be rescued by a wonderful foster mom who is working hard to find him a home where he is loved and valued. Does this boy ever have a lot to offer! He knows basic commands (sit, stay, leave it), loves kids, is house trained, good with other dogs, and is an all around terrific canine. For more information, call or email: (337) 244-4563; lapaw@ bellsouth.net. Home visit and vet check required prior to all adoptions. Vol. 8 • No. 11
September 8, 2016 9
Photos by Chris Romero
Fishing Biceville This tale started a year ago when I ran into Judge Jamie Bice at Walmart. Yep, even City Judges shop Walmart. Anyway, we heartily agreed to do a tale about fishing Big Lake from his pier on Pelican Point near Hebert’s Landing southwest of Grand Lake in Cameron Parish. At Grand Lake, there is no lake but I’m sure our companion Charles Roberts knows that secret too, keeper of secrets that he is. Hunting season postponed our angling trek and then Louisiana’s Global Warming Monsoon Season began. As you all know, it rained and rained and then flooded everywhere east of us all the way to just short of New Orleans. We were waiting for the
rains to end and an east wind and the salinity level to rise as Big Lake had become an almost freshwater estuary. We defied the Gods of Nature and decided to try our luck anyway. I refer to Lake Charles City Judge Bice as Jamie. I got to know him when he narrowly escaped my history class at LaGrange Senior High School in 1985 and from his career as an LSU football player of note. He and fellow City Judge John Hood of Mazatlan Mucho Hombre sailfish fame have been to my man cave. Now I could add one more judge to my list of fishing companions. From the picture, you can see his mar-
Bice camp at Pelican Point at sundown 10 September 8, 2016
velously set up fishing camp way up on pilings. The front wharf ’s bordering pilings have the Jamie-appropriate football stadium lights to attract the bait fish. Fishing from his wharf can be a real angling delight. I know because of the Facebook posts and phone pics that evening. Joining us was his fishing partner Charles Roberts, of secret bass pond note. He has yet to take me, but I’m working on that, one Facebook fishing photo at a time. We had hoped for an east wind despite the old axiom of “wind from the east, fishing the least.” What we got was a southeast wind. Worse than that, we saw floating water lilies, a sure sign of too much fresh water. Due to the monsoon season we had fresh and muddy water that was way too high. Since I live in a hunting camp man cave, I had to admire Jamie’s utilitarian and tastefully functional fishing lodge. Jamie also said the sundowns across the vast expanse of the lake were a treat not to be missed and in this he was correct. His other rulings from the angling bench were overturned by Most Superior Court Judge Mother Nature. Charles and Jamie wharf-ed off to net bait fish and soon returned with a bucket full. Our lines were bait fish rigged except for Charles’s extra rod and lure. Charles, who always has a secret like his pond, also had a mystery top water lure. We were set and casts were made. It wasn’t long before Charles landed our first fish, a gaftop catfish. Back it went and more casts made. In the resulting long lull, I learned that the good judge was a music aficionado along with being a student of history. That made points with me but alas, not the fish. Our Vol. 8 • No. 11
rods sat in rod holders attached to the pilings awaiting strikes, a neat wharf fishing innovation I hadn’t seen before. A rod bent and Jamie adroitly slipped the rod out of the holder and set the hook. It was a good fight and I stood camera ready to capture a keeper speckled trout. It was like the one pictured. Lots of fight but no size, so back it went. You may note there are no pics of the several hardhead and gaftop catfish that were caught, as both Charles and Jamie forbid pics. They must be trying to retain their image as trout catchers extraordinaire with no pics to prove otherwise. You know I won’t tell. So what does one do with all the elements striking against you and the fish that are not biting? You engage in the fine art of enlightened conversation. I learned that Jamie had once been to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. I too had been there and decked out in a white peasant blouse, red bandana about my neck, with a bulging leather wine skin draped from my shoulder. Jamie actually ran with the bulls, while I and Santa Charlie watched from a balcony above the running. We sat in chairs and cheered them on, swilling all the while from our leather
wine skins. I’d worked cattle all my life and the meanest Brahma bull was wimpish compared to these slick murderous bulls. Hemingway once wrote of them in Death in the Afternoon. Two of the rods jerked in their holders, so Jamie and Charles deftly removed them and landed a double I wasn’t allowed to shoot. Once more they were trash fish that were tossed back. At 11 p.m. we shut her down. Jamie had an expansive court docket to clear as he was headed to the college season opener, Wisconsin vs. LSU. The highlight of this was to be a cool night and said in a deep bass voice, played on Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. While both apologized for the poor catch, I was still enthralled with just being there. For me it’s just the epiphany of angling. It’s always there when I exit the truck and am struck by the marsh’s expanse, its fecund odor set for yet another day’s fishing. Across the lake was the faint twinkling light of Hackberry. It reminded me of Daisy’s pier light from The Great Gatsby and the promise it held. With all of Gatsby’s hope, I foresee another pierlighted angler’s dream on Jamie’s clean, well-lighted pier; Mother Nature willing.
Charles Ro berts with spec
Jamie with throwback fish Vol. 8 • No. 11
September 8, 2016 11
A couple of months ago, just as summer had gotten into full swing, we noticed a lot of activity at the house across the street from us. Our previous neighbors, who had lived there for a few years, had moved to Texas and a family member who owned the house was leasing it out to new residents. We soon found out that our neighbors were three college guys who were going to be starting their freshmen year at McNeese State University in the fall. Within a couple of days, the house across the street had turned into Animal House. Or at least a somewhat milder version of a party house. Surely you remember the classic John Belushi movie in which Belushi played the role of party animal John “Bluto” Blutarsky. A member of Delta Tau
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Animal House
Chi fraternity at Faber College in the movie, Blutarsky and his frat brothers didn’t attend classes, were the source of endless pranks on campus, and broke every rule imaginable. The toga-wearing boys lived to party. I believe it was our neighbors’ second day in their new residence when my son excitedly came running into our house and said, “Mom! The guys across the street put chairs on their roof and I think they’re having a party up there! Can we put chairs on our roof too? I really want to!” Needless to say, we did not put any chairs on our roof even though both of my kids thought it sounded like a really fun thing to do. A couple of days later, I kept hearing the same noise over and over again, loud thudding
noises, but I couldn’t figure out what the sounds were or where the noise was coming from. I went into our front yard and could see our new neighbors kicking a soccer ball so hard into their wooden fence that some of the boards were becoming dislodged and there were now big gaps in their fence. My kids also thought kicking boards out of a fence with soccer balls looked super fun but I had to veto that idea as well. But it was the guys’ first weekend in the home that was the icing on the cake. I saw a few cars pull into their driveway around 10 p.m. on a Friday night. By midnight, cars were lining both sides of the street, a couple of cars were literally in my front yard, and vehicles of their party guests had spilled over into a parking lot of a nearby business. I cut them some slack since it was their first weekend in the neighborhood but when I was awakened at 3:30 a.m. by the loud partying, their friends running up and down the street, cars honking, and on and on, I made plans to talk to the guys the next day. It actually went very well. Only one of them was at home when I knocked on the door but he was courteous, listened to what I had to say, and was apologetic about their behavior. He was a good-looking guy with stunning blue eyes but I digress. I told him that I remembered what it was like to be young and I didn’t mind them having fun with their friends but that they needed to remember that they had neighbors and that we enjoyed our relatively quiet family-oriented neighborhood. “I totally understand,” he said. “It won’t happen again.” Well, it happened again the very next weekend but the party was louder and more chaotic and there were even more guests this time! I wasn’t the one to call
the police but one of my neighbors did and three Lake Charles Police Department squad cars as well as two McNeese State University police cars pulled up around 3 a.m. while the party was still going strong. Remember those spaces in the wooden fence? Party guests ran through those spaces and scattered like bugs while police tried to round others up. A couple of days later, neighbors told me that the guys had been kicked out of their new place and had been given five days to get their stuff out and move on. It was hard to feel sorry for them when they had brought it on themselves. It would have been easy to excuse their first party and their growing pains of settling into young adulthood life with their first real home-away-from-home. But it was apparent that they had a pattern of not caring how their behavior affected others and that’s not easy to excuse. As we saw them loading up a truck to move their belongings out of the house, my daughter said, “Mom, they messed up pretty bad didn’t they? It’s sad that they didn’t do the right thing because if they had, they would still have a nice house and they would still be our neighbors.” The party guys had it good on those lazy summer days just before their first college semester was to kick off. They had a nice home in a good neighborhood with great neighbors and their parents were probably footing the bill. It’s too bad they didn’t realize what a good thing they had until it was gone. Lisa Addison wrote her first short story when she was 7 years old and hasn’t stopped writing since. She has two young children, enjoys trying new recipes, and loves going on adventures with her kids. She blogs at: http://swlamama.wordpress.com. Vol. 8 • No. 11
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September 8, 2016 13
Kick Off a Healthy and Nutritious School Year By Tammy Mitchell, M.D. – Family Medicine
The Meredith Miller Independence Walk Unveiled at Memorial Hospital In August, The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital unveiled the newest addition to the facility’s state of the art upgrades: The Meredith Miller Independence Walk. The Meredith Miller Independence Walk is a functional physical rehabilitation area located on the second floor of the hospital’s atrium area. It will allow patients going through physical rehab to be able to practice many of the tasks they will have to face in their daily lives, such as walking on various types of surfaces, going up and down stairs, getting in and out of a car or bed, and reaching for groceries on a high supermarket shelf. The facility is also equipped with treadmills and parallel bars for additional rehabilitation exercises necessary to prepare the patient to return to daily life. 14 September 8, 2016
The Independence Walk was made possible by The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, and funded through the generosity of Meredith and Joe Miller, Sr., and through donations from Memorial Health System employees. The Millers were very active members of the community who both served Memorial Hospital for many years – Joe as a board member for 41 years and Meredith as a member of the volunteer auxiliary. Meredith also had the distinction of being Memorial’s very first patient, giving birth to her third child in the brand new (and not yet opened to the public) facility in October of 1952. For more information about all of the programs, funds and projects made possible by The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, please visit lcmh.com/giving.
Many studies over the past two decades show sufficient intake of healthy food is essential to brain function – especially for children. What children eat for breakfast and lunch on a school day has a direct impact on their focus, comprehension and application in learning. “As adults, we know intuitively that what we eat has an impact on our performance at work and in our social lives,” said Tammy Mitchell, M.D. Family Medicine Physician with Lake Area Physicians. “The same is true for children, whose brains are still growing and developing at a rapid pace. The proper balance of nutrients and hydration is critical during the school-age years.” Four areas of nutrition are essential to the ‘student body’ – fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. Also, specific vitamins can be incorporated to enhance specific cognitive functions. For example, to Dr. Tammy Mitchell improve memory, add foods rich in lecithin, such as peanuts, soy beans, and wheat germ. Potassium aids in energy and brain functioning and can be found in oranges, bananas, apricots, avocados, melons, peaches and nectarines. For a healthy breakfast on a hectic morning, consider one of the following options: • one hard-boiled egg and one sliced apple with peanut/almond butter for dipping • bowl of cereal with high protein and low sugar count; ½ cup almond, coconut or organic whole milk • ½ cup steel-cut oats with berries, Greek yogurt and local honey; mix all ingredients in a bowl and store in fridge overnight. Many schools have made changes to lunch offerings, reducing or eliminating processed foods and fatigue-inducing high-sugar and high-carbohydrate meals. If you pack your child’s lunch, here are some easy and nutritious choices: • 2-3 slices of organic turkey or chicken breast on whole grain bread • Kid-friendly ‘salad’ with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, chicken bites; dressing or dip based with olive oil, avocado or sour cream • Whole grain crackers with salsa, guacamole or nut butter; side of tuna or chicken salad • Bowl of chicken, bean or split pea soup with crackers (if your child has access to a microwave) • Gluten free pasta or three bean salad; fun pasta shapes make a fun lunch for younger kids. Many kids have after school activities that require physical stamina, so make sure what they eat for lunch helps them maintain energy mentally and physically throughout their day. For more information on keeping your kids healthy at school, please visit the Health Library at www.LakeAreaMC.com. If your children do not have a pediatrician or primary care provider, visit Find A Physician at www.LakeAreaMC.com or call the clinic practice of Dr. Tammy Mitchell at (337) 562-3761 to schedule an appointment to be seen today. Vol. 8 • No. 11
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H A R T
E Y E
C E N T E R
Dry Eye Disease Your tears are more than just the product of a great joke or a swelling of emotion. They are your eyes’ front line of defense against debris and bacteria. The ocular surface is a fragile ecosystem that needs nourishment and lubrication from your tears. When your eyes’ natural moisture balance is thrown off by dry eye disease, your eyes become susceptible to infection. “Dry eye disease is very common,” said Dr. William B. Hart, lead ophthalmologist with Hart Eye Center. “Many think it’ll go away on its own, but dry eye disease is one of
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the most common reasons why a person visits their eye doctor.” Over 55 million Americans endure the symptoms of dry eye, and 39 million of those are undiagnosed with dry eye disease. Your eyes undergo a lot of stress each day, and factors like poor-quality tears and environmental elements can lead to dry eye disease and dry out your ocular surface. Some of the most common dry eye symptoms
include itchy eyes, redness, needing to blink often and excessive watering. To combat dry eye symptoms, many head to the drug store and purchase generic eye drops. While this may seem like the obvious solution to the problem, many eye drop products are full of preservatives and can exacerbate your dry eye symptoms in the long run. “Too many dry eye sufferers aren’t sure if their symptoms come from allergies or
they may choose to wait the symptoms out, which means too many people do little to nothing about treating dry eye disease,” said Dr. Hart. “Only an eye doctor can diagnose dry eye disease and offer solutions that may help reduce the effects of dry eye symptoms on your quality of life.” Instead of relying on checking off a long list of possible dry eye symptoms, area patients can now be quickly and efficiently diagnosed by TearLab, which is the first dry eye diagnostic system of its kind in the Lake Area. TearLab is an objective and quantitative point-of-care diagnostic test that provides precise information regarding dry eye disease. “It is designed to measure a patient’s eyes’ osmolarity, or the saltiness of tears, and it adds valuable data to an eye doctor’s examinations,” said Dr. Hart. By taking a tiny sample of a patient’s tears from the eyelid, TearLab can accurately measure the eyes’ osmolarity. The amount of tear fluid needed is no larger than the period at the end of this sentence. Once the patient’s osmolarity score is determined, the patient and eye doctor can move forward toward effective treatment options and work to improve the patient’s quality of life. To find out more about Hart Eye Center’s TearLab, visit www.HartEyeCenter.com or call (337) 439-4014. Vol. 8 • No. 11
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Travel Partners Open House Come By and Meet the Experts! By Lauren Abate A few months ago, we introduced you to a brand-new travel agency in the Lake Area. The name “Travel Partners” may be new, but the agents are all seasoned professionals with 120 years of combined experience. If anyone can make sure you will get the vacation of your dreams, it’s Travel Partners! Now, Travel Partners is excited about their Open House, which will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. at 722 Pujo St. in the downtown historic district. It’s an all-day event, so there’s no reason why you can’t make the time to drop into this beautiful old house and find out what’s happening in the world of travel.
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Stop by anytime during the abovementioned hours to get all the information on the latest vacation destinations. There will be videos, brochures, pamphlets and so much more! Not to mention, all the Travel Partner agents will be there to answer any questions you may have. Bring them your dream vacation ideas and let the best handle the rest! Remember, even if you’re not traveling until next year, it’s never too early to plan! “I’ve already booked a trip for 2018!” says agent Kelly Basone. “The sooner you book your trip, the sooner we can lock in the best deals!” If you decide to come after work, a representative from Viking Cruises will be giving a presentation from 6-8 p.m. Don’t miss out! Viking offers both
award-winning river and ocean cruises and they aim to please. (For more information on Viking, see the sidebar.) There will be plenty of refreshments throughout the day and even better—a chance to win a three-night stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico!
Vacation Ideas As summer turns into fall and the kids are back in school, people are already looking forward to their seasonal vacations, in both warm and colder climates. “I’m getting a lot of cabin-in-thewoods, ski trips and fall foliage excursions, along with the Caribbean and Europe,” says agency owner Phil de Albuquerque.
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Deirdra Willis is currently working on a trip to Tahiti for a client. “Tahiti is one of the most romantic places on earth,” she says. “Bora Bora has the most over-the-water bungalows with the best views of the reef from the floor of your hut. Each resort is like being on your own private island, with romantic dinners on the beach. Another way to explore all the islands is by cruising. You just unpack once and have your meals included.” Pat Landry is sending some lucky travelers to the beautiful Mexican Riviera Maya. “You can arrive at a luxurious, all-inclusive resort surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters and sugar white sand beaches in less than three hours from Houston,” she says. “And,
there is so much to do on the Riviera Maya in addition to lounging on the beach and sipping cocktails poolside. You can snorkle and scuba dive. Tour ancient ruins. Ride ATVs along coastal paths and zipline through tropical jungles. And, there are several adventure nature parks nearby that offer exciting activities for all ages, such as Xplore, Xel Ha and Xcaret.” Sammie Hugonin says the travel industry is one of the most exciting and rewarding businesses she has ever been in. “The people in the office are so knowledgeable and make it fun,” she says. “We make sure everyone gets the vacation they want. We’re making dreams come true!”
“I do whatever I can to make my clients happy!” de Albuquerque says. “I love the people of Southwest Louisiana and I’m so glad to have this historic home to create this unprecedented travel agency. I couldn’t be happier then when I see people smiling as they come up on the porch, step inside and say ‘Finally, someone is doing it right!’”
Travel Partners Open House Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Viking Cruise presentation 6-8 p.m.
722 Pujo St., Lake Charles (337) 602-6767 Like them on Facebook!
Viking Cruises Viking Cruises offers both river cruises and ocean cruises through two product lines, Viking River Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises. Their river cruise division is now the world’s largest river cruise line, and currently offers cruises along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. In May 2013, the company announced the launch of a new small-ship ocean cruising division, Viking Ocean Cruises, which began with the maiden season of Viking Star in spring of 2015, and features Baltic and Mediterranean itineraries. In 2016 and 2017, Viking Star will be joined by two equally elegant sister ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky. In its first year of service, Viking Ocean Cruises®– the first entirely new cruise line in a decade – has been named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2016 World’s Best Awards. Viking launched its first ocean ship, Viking Star®, in April 2015, and this win comes on the heels of the new cruise line launching its second ocean ship, Viking Sea®, in April 2016. Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards are based on results from an annual survey, where readers are asked to cast their votes for the very best in cruising with considerations in various cruise features. Go to www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best for more details! Vol. 8 • No. 11
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Nunsense II: The Second Coming Sept. 9-25 Following the spectacular performances of Nunsense Amen last year, Lake Charles Little Theatre’s Nunsense II: The Second Coming takes place six weeks after the sisters have staged their first benefit. From the riotous bingo game run by Sister Amnesia to the rousing finale, this show will have you rolling in the aisles! Performances recur weekly on Sunday, Friday and Saturday Sept. 9-25. www. thelclt.com.
Boudin Wars Sept. 10 Local restaurants and stores will be allowing visitors to sample their boudin recipes! Tickets are VERY limited, and must be purchased in advance at the Henning Cultural Center or online at www.brimstonemuseum.org. Each ticket allows the bearer to get a small sample from each boudin vendor. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. @Henning Cultural Center, 923 South Ruth Street, Admission: $10. (337) 527-0357.
Stars and Stripes in the Park Sept. 10 The event will feature hundreds of classic cars, hot rods, trucks, and motorcycles at Heritage Square in Sulphur from 9 a.m-4 p.m. Entry for show vehicles and spectators is FREE. Door prizes will be awarded, with food booths, music, and kids’ entertainment. There will be an awards presentation following the show, featuring Stars and Stripes Beauty Pageant winners. The classic cars and hot rods will be cruising on Ruth Street after the show. (337) 527-4500
Bon Ton Festival Sept. 16-18
in the Benjamin Mount Theatre Sept. 22-24 @ 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee Sept. 25 @ 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at kcproductionsswla.org or by calling 302-2259.
Dream on the Green Golf Scramble Sept. 23 The Phillips 66 Dream on the Green Golf Scramble will be held Fri., Sept. 23 at the National Golf Club of Louisiana in Westlake to benefit Junior Achievement SWLA. Two flights with tee times of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, call (337) 527-6168.
ACTS’ Steel Magnolias Sept. 23-Oct. 2 ACTS is proud to present Steel Magnolias at the One Reid Street Theatre to open the 50th season! Performances are Sept. 23-24, and 30 and Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 2 and Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+), and $10 for students with a valid ID. They may be purchased online at www.actstheatre.com and the box office on the day of show. For more information, contact ACTS at 433-2287 or visit www.actstheatre.com.
Midnight Fantasies Car Show Sept. 24-25 Enjoy a weekend full of hundreds of show, antique and classics vehicles inside the Civic Center Coliseum. Saturday is a full day show with all pre-85, Corvettes, Camaros, Mustang, Chargers, Challengers from any year! This is a weekend event for the whole family. For more info on entering a vehicle or vendor spot or for sponsor information, call (337) 263-0655.
The St. Theresa Bon Ton Festival is a local tradition that is known for a family-friendly weekend filled with lots of great food, music, rides, live and silent auctions, bingo, a sweet shop, and a large garage sale. The newly renovated large covered pavilion has plenty of room for dancing, relaxing, eating and visiting - rain or shine! Will be held Sept. 16-18 at St. Theresa Catholic Church. 4822 Carlyss Drive, Carlyss. (337) 583-4800
Calca-Chew Food Festival Sept. 25
KC Productions’ 4000 Days Sept. 22-24
Gallery Promenade Sept. 30
KC Productions SWLA Inc. presents the comedy/drama 4000 Days directed by Keith Chamberlain. Michael has been in a coma for three weeks. Watching over him in hospital is his bitter mother and his dull but well-meaning partner. They are united in their grief over Michael, and in their intense dislike of each other. When Michael wakes, they realize that 11 years of his memory have been completely erased. Performances will be held at Central School Arts & Humanities Center
Gallery Promenade, the Arts Council of SWLA’s annual art space showcase, returns Fri., Sept. 30, from 5-9 p.m., with over a dozen galleries, studios, and art spaces opening their doors for an evening celebrating the venues across the Lake Area. For a participating venues and artists list, visit www. artsandhumanitiesswla.org. Artists and events still being added daily, so check the Promenade event page on Facebook for updates.
Monday, September 5: Ramone and Buddy Join us at 1:30 p.m. and meet Ramone and Buddy, two
The Calca-Chew Food Festival at St. Margaret’s Family Life Center in Lake Charles is an alcohol-free event centered around our French heritage. Enjoy boudin, etouffee, jambalaya, and fried fish while bidding in the live and silent auctions, which have over 100 item. Kids have their own area. For more information, call the church office at (337) 439-4585.
more demonstrations. We are also celebrating Grandparents Day, so all grandparents get in for $1 each.
of the dogs on the Dr. Dogs Pet Therapy Team! These therapy dogs have wonderful temperaments that provide comfort and affection to people in stressful situations. The group volunteers at retirement and nursing homes, hospitals, McNeese State University, Calcasieu Parish schools, counseling centers and various community events.
Saturday, September 17: Jack and the Beanstalk Join Ms. Sydney for story and craft time. She will read the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk and will discuss the main characters, plot, setting and theme. An interactive craft will follow. The program begins at 11:30 a.m. and is limited to 25 children, ages 4 and up.
Saturday, September 10: Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show Sasol continues its 5S Project with “Is it Magic or Science?” at 11:30 a.m. Travis Corbello and Teresa Hunt will perform the Acetone Head, The Iodine Clock, and a few
Saturday, September 24: Kids Choice This is a workshop to use extra projects that were leftovers from previous workshops and weekly projects. Projects will be available from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on a first-come first-served basis. Limit one project per child.
The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street, downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $8.50 for children and adults. Admission applies to all workshops and activities. Call (337) 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org. 20 September 8, 2016
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Sept. 3 Full Throttle wrestling No Male Left Behind Campaign
Sept 18 King and Queen of Zydeco Dance Competition
Sept 4 Battle for the Crown Barber Competition
Sept 22 Home Health Care 2000 Harvest Festival
Sept 9 Who’s Line is it Anyway comedy Show
Sept 24,25 Midnight Fantasies Lake Front Tour Car Show
Sept 10 Real Cowboy Association Rodeo Tour
Sept 24 Run with the Nuns Charity Bike Ride and Cook off
Sept 15 U.S. Coast Guard Area Meeting
Sept 27 Hobo Hotel Tailgate Charity Party
Sept 17 CARC Color Splash n Dash 5K
Sept 30 Delta Tech Graduation
Step Up for Down Syndrome Oct. 1
Cal-Cam Fair Oct. 10-16
Southwest Louisiana is home to many Angels with Down syndrome and they need your continued support. The 14th annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk is set for Sat., Oct. 1, at Prien Lake Park. Registration begins at 9-10 a.m.; the walk is scheduled for 10 a.m. with silent auction, face painting, great food, dancing and games/ activities to follow from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Registration includes walk participation, T-shirt (guaranteed for pre-registration entries), lunch and drinks with entertainment and prizes for the top fundraisers. Pre- registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 6 including team registrations. To register, join a team or form your own team go to www.up4downswla.org and click on the Step up walk link: up4downs.ezeventsolutions.com. Call Melanie Sarro at 842-6555 or 540-5992 for more information.
Sulphur’s annual Cal-Cam Fair brings in an average of 30,000 visitors each year, and features everything from carnival rides to a livestock show. Judges also award top prizes in several food, baked goods and arts and crafts contests. The fair offers good food and plenty of fun carnival rides, games and attractions for both children and adults. There will also be a full roster of bands and other entertainment, as well as beauty pageants and wildlife exhibits. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. Call (337) 527-9371 for more information.
The Habibi Shrine Circus Oct. 1-2 The Habibi Shrine Circus returns to the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum Oct. 1 and 2. Come on out with the entire family for loads of fun at the only circus with a purpose! Tickets available at Box Office and day of show. Children under 13 get in free with an adult. Children 13 - 17 are $10. Adult tickets are $15 each.
Sax in the City Oct. 2 Join Grammy-nominated saxophonist Mickey Huber Smith, Jr. and guests at Sax in the City, his dinner/concert event on Sun., Oct. 2 in the Buccaneer Room on the third floor of the Lake Charles Civic Center. A catered dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Dinner and concert tickets are $30, or a $15 concert ticket can be purchased at the door. Advance dinner and concert tickets can be purchased through Sept. 27 through Ticketmaster, LCCC box office (337-491-1432), Swicegood Music, 308 E Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles or Bearden’s Music, 202 Cities Service Hwy in Sulphur. Call MusicMakers at (337) 244-9314 for more information.
LC Film Festival Oct. 7-9 The Lake Charles Film Festival is an annual event that brings the best of independent film and video to Calcasieu Parish, and spotlights and awards the achievements of the filmmakers behind these films. Enjoy three days of independent film screenings, seminars and workshops on filmmaking, acting, and screenwriting, celebrity appearances, parties, Cajun food, live music, and much more! For more information, go to www.lakecharlesfilmfestival.com.
LC Symphony Concert 1 Oct. 9 The first concert of the Symphony’s season will present a side-byside performance of the Symphony and the Francis G. Bulber Youth Orchestra performing Peter and the Wolf followed by Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The concert will be held from 3- 4 p.m. at the Rosa Hart Theatre at the Lake Charles Civic Center Admission: $25 Adults, $20 Active Military & Students (includes college & trade schools with valid ID). www.lcsymphony.com, (337) 433-1611. Vol. 8 • No. 11
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Florence Foster Jenkins (Paramount, 2016) In 1944, New York was the home of great serious music, with venues from the Metropolitan Opera to Carnegie Hall. The city had its rich music patrons, and one of the most loyal was Florence Foster Jenkins, an elderly woman with a heart as big as her huge inheritance. In this finely crafted and very funny movie, we learn that Florence loves performing music as
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well. Because of her huge bank account, she is the chief supporter of the Verdi Club, a sort of women’s dinner club society that puts on musical performances. Florence oversees the designs and stars in snippets of opera, floating down from up high as an angel or riding in the wind as a Valkyrie. This is all hilarious, but harmless, as the audience is
mainly her old friends. Her common-law husband and companion of over 20 years, St. Claire Bayfield, introduces her on the club stage and supports her in her hobby as she monetarily supports his freewheeling lifestyle. Their marriage is fairly complex. But it gets more complicated when she decides to take vocal lessons. She and St. Claire interview pianists and hire a little man named Cosme McMoon. They also hire the conductor of the Metropolitan Opera as her vocal instructor. In describing Florence’s singing talent, calling it bad is just so inadequate. She’s terrible. But money, you know. In one of the key scenes, Florence’s first lesson begins and we are treated to the reactions of pianist Cosme to hearing her voice for the first time while he is trying to keep time with her. This is hard to watch, especially when you’re falling on the floor laughing. There is also some awesome background music in Florence Foster Jenkins, composed by Alexander Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) which adds atmosphere to the beautiful scenes of New York. Overall the production, timing and cinematography are first rate, with a little bit of 1940s melodrama thrown in.
But what I need to tell you is that Meryl Streep has made me laugh harder than I have in many years. I can’t really describe the amazing enthusiasm with which she destroys the ear drums, but as Florence, she’s oblivious and clueless and totally entertaining. Likewise, Hugh Grant as St. Claire is at once a two-timing cad, a devoted companion, and a suave businessman who moves with ease among the elite of New York City. This is very possibly his finest performance by far in a long string of movies. Then we have the diminutive Simon Helberg as Cosme, who takes the extravagant pay as piano accompanist thinking that Florence can actually sing. His hopes for professional respect and fame are dashed with the first notes erupting from Florence’s ample frame. In a masterpiece of storytelling, you will grow to love Florence’s awful singing, admire St. Claire’s unfaithful devotion, and feel happy for little Cosme as he ruins his professional career, all the while laughing at them till it hurts. This one will probably be an Oscar nominee on several counts, and is well worth watching. Florence Foster Jenkins is rated PG-13 for ear rape. Enjoy!
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Danielle Babineaux: Le Jardin Familial By Brian Pitre When starting a new business, like any piece of art, you often have an idea in mind, but allow each pass of the brush to help guide you towards the finished product. With every stroke, you take with you the advice of others and inspiration from the world around you while blending in your own thoughts and ideas to create something unique and beautiful. Local artist Danielle Babineaux has not only embodied this process of art and business, but has in a sense coined it as her own. We sat down with Danielle to learn all about her process. JAM: So how long have you been a professional artist? DB: Since January 2015. I opened my business and have been going strong since. JAM: The name of your business is quite unique. How did you stumble upon it? DB: My entire move to Lake Charles from New Orleans was prompted by my desire to raise Cynthia in the country on our family property, place her into a safer public school system and into French immersion. I wanted to name it Jardin du Cynthia (Cynthia’s Garden) but she insisted it was the family garden (Le Jardin Familial). JAM: What did you first see that made you want to aspire to be an artist? 24 September 8, 2016
DB: I have always loved to draw and paint. I started taking art classes on Saturdays in grade school. I took four years of art electives in high school and one semester in college. Then, I spent 20 years as a registered veterinary technician. After we moved here, I became the “ranch hand” on our farm and that winter, started making jewelry for Christmas presents. The whole thing snowballed from there. I ended up applying for my business license that January. JAM: Do you have a particular style or technique that you are “drawn” to regularly? DB: I love oil painting; landscapes and sunsets are my favorites. Rings are my favorite pieces of jewelry to make. JAM: After studying visual art for so long, how did you get into jewelry making? DB: After making jewelry as Christmas presents, I began to get requests for pieces. Making jewelry is fun and something I can do while hanging out with Cynthia on the couch. She even loves to help me twist wires together so I have wire for more elaborate pieces. I have to save my painting for when she is not at home because cleaning up oil paint is no easy task. JAM: What was one of the most difficult or trying pieces of art you have worked on and why? DB: I have been working on a 3x4 foot oil painting of the beach for my mom for a while now. I just keep fiddling with it - it just never seems finished. Vol. 8 • No. 11
JAM: What was one of your all-time favorite pieces you’ve done? DB: I did a 16 x 20 inch oil painting of snow-covered mountains at sunset that came completely from within my head. I used no pictures or other forms of reference and I painted it live at an event - which I had never done before. I like the way it came out. JAM: Do you have a favorite artist or person in the art world you follow for inspiration or as a fan? DB: My high school art teacher, Mrs. Shepherd, was my greatest inspiration and taught me everything I know about art technique. I admire realistic works of art and am always inspired and amazed when one has to do a “double take” to tell if it is a painting or a photograph. JAM: What have you noticed is the toughest thing about being a professional artist? where does the struggle hit hardest? DB: For me, it is finding the time to juggle a job/daughter/farm and still produce art and go to events. That is why I can usually be found working on something whenever I am at an event. JAM: If you could give a bit of advice to any new artist aspiring to become a professional, what would it be? DB: Put yourself out there. Do all the festivals and markets that you can. And get to know other artists in your area. They are a great resource for finding out about opportunities and getting advice. Wall art and custom jewelry by artist and crafter Danielle Babineaux. See photo descriptions for pricing options and print details at lejardinfamilial1@gmail.com (504) 452-1634 facebook.com/LeJardinFamilial
SWLArt Group is a collaboration of a variety of local groups & artists, to support the development and improvement of their quality of life & business as well as strengthen the over cultural growth of the community. For more information about SWLArt Group, artists, or events visit their official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/swlart. Also be sure to follow them on Instagram and Twitter @swlart. Vol. 8 • No. 11
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Thursday, Sept. 8 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
Steve Breaux & Friends 7 p.m. Blue Dog Cafe 609 Ryan St., LC DJ Mark Russell 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Renn Loren & The Honky Tonk Surfriders 7 p.m. @ Rikenjaks 3716 Ryan St., LC Bernie Alan 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Big Daddy 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Afterparty 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ CaGe 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Friday, Sept. 9 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles Travis Corbello & Dustin Landry 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC 26 September 8, 2016
Bernie Alan Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Afterparty 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Big Daddy 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Safira 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder The Mossy Oak Boyz 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Saturday, Sept. 10 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Kenzie Newman 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
BJ Thomas & Gary Puckett 8 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.
Bernie Alan Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Safira 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Afterparty 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Big Daddy 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Sunday, Sept. 11 Chester & Jarius Daigle JD’s Whiskey Brunch @ 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Clay Cormier 4 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC Brittany Pfantz 7 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Zipties
Monday, Sept. 12
Stacy Bearden 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Racheal & Ian 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Tuesday, Sept. 13 Kay Miller 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
William Christian 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC
Trivial Tuesdays Live Team Trivia 7:30 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St.
DJ Verrett/Karaoke 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC The Strangers 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Wednesday, Sept. 14 Chester Daigle 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Chris Miller & The Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC
8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Whacky Wednesday with DJ Mark 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Lucky Hour Buy One, Get One Drinks Josh Taylor 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub Vol. 8 • No. 11
L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC QRISIS 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Thursday, Sept. 15 Julie Williams 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Todd O’Neill 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Throwback Thursday and Lucky Hour Buy One, Get One Drinks 8-11 p.m. @ Texas Longhorn Club 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton QRISIS 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Electric Circus 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Friday, Sept. 16
Steppenwolf 8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office. Troy Laz Band 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder BB & Company 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Flamethrowers 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Electric Circus 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC The Kadillacs 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Saturday, Sept. 17 Julie Williams 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
Julie Williams 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Ronnie Fruge
La Bayou 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC
7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles Double Play DJ 8 p.m. @ Texas Longhorn Club 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton Vol. 8 • No. 11
Charley Pride 8 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-
3000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office. Troy Laz Band 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder BB & Company 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Electric Circus 9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Monday, Sept. 19 Bryan Trahan 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC DJ Jose Mata 8 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Charlestown & Derek 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Tuesday, Sept. 20
DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
The Flamethrowers 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Clint Faulk 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC
Paws teh Cat 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Sunday, Sept. 18 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC
Chester & Jarius Daigle JD’s Whiskey Brunch @ 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Reed Planchard 4 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC Charlie Wayne 7 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
Trivial Tuesdays Live Team Trivia 7:30 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St.
DJ Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC DJ Jose Mata 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Charlestown & Derek 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Wednesday, Sept. 21 Chester Daigle 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Chris Miller & The Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC
Anteeks 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort
Brian Moore 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC September 8, 2016 27
777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Thursday, Sept. 22
Greg Martinez & Delta Kings 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder
Rapture 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Amanda Walker 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort
John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf
DJ Jose Mata Birthday Bash with DJ Trashy, DJ Red, Taylor Tran &
Charlestown & Derek 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
Put A Little Love In Your Heart… You know, I’ve spent a good deal of time talking about the monetary and professional side of entertainment. While there is a very good reason for that, today I want to go in a different direction. Artists put a phenomenal amount of time and money in their craft and far too often, find themselves on the short end of the proverbial monetary “stick.” I have certainly wanted to throw some attention in that direction; however, there have been a few recent acts of charity that have warmed the cockles of my entertainment-driven heart that have left me wanting to shine a light on some recent musical outpourings of love and kindness right here. While many of you are now familiar with my background in the entertainment industry, there are likely many of you that are not aware of my journalistic background outside the pages of this beloved little magazine. In all actuality, my actual journalism days began during my earliest days of talk radio (specifically, the day of 9/11) which shifted into high gear when I became the news director of the Apex Broadcasting (now Townsquare Media) radio cluster in the immediate days following the landfall of Hurricane Rita. I then spent two years up to my ears in all things newsworthy. A vast majority of it was disaster and even more so, disaster recovery news. I saw with my own eyes the first lights to shine in Cameron Parish weeks after Rita’s landfall. 28 September 8, 2016
I got to know our state and congressional delegation as they all worked to advance our recovery. I even got to hang out with the Warped Tour when they stopped to help move debris, sitting in the headlights of the tour bus drinking beer and talking to tour founder Kevin Lyman about his days working with Hunter S. Thompson when he was speaking at college campuses. It was all quite a bit for a 25 year old from Lake Charles to take in, much less find a way to manage. I remember a phone call that kinda summed all that up. The Morganza in the Gulf issue was the topic du jour in DC and I received a press release from (then) 1st District Congressman Bobby Jindal on the floor activity on the bill. I reached out to his press secretary Trey to set up a brief phoner to get a soundbite. Trey’s reply was something along the lines of “Well, now’s good if you’d like me to hand him the phone.” In seconds, the Congressman was on the line… Bobby Jindal: Justin, it’s so good to hear from you. In fact, we were talking about you just this morning” Justin: Well, my condolences, Sir. It must be a very boring day in Washington if I am the topic of conversation. Jindal: (laughing) No, we were talking about the fact that you’re not even in our district and we hear from you more than we do some of the local media over there. You don’t miss anything. How do you do it? My reply mentioned going against a 40-year radio news legacy that was better staffed and better funded than I was and second place not being good enough. That, and I personally felt that we as a broadcast entity made a promise to our listeners when we were back on the air with
Stevie Shrater 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ San-D 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC
around-the-clock news and information within approximately 12 hours of Rita’s landfall (some of us literally moving into the radio station for weeks). That promise was that they could count on us to get them the vital information they needed to begin piecing their homes and lives back together. I took that promise to heart and felt that I had to live up to it. His reply was short but profound to a young man such as myself… Jindal: You know, we could really use a guy like that working for us in Washington. What do you say to that? Regardless of anyone’s political leanings, when you have a sitting member of Congress say “I want you,” even one of modest ambition has to take that pretty seriously. I should have taken a bit more time to think about my response but, in retrospect, I followed my heart and it was probably a wise call… Justin: Congressman, don’t say it again, or I’ll have my bags packed (laughs) but, for now, I don’t think my job here is done. We are still putting SWLA back together and my heart tells me that I still have some work to do. This time has taught me a great deal about the people of the place from which I come and I think I value that place and those people more than ever before. But if you set those eyes back on that mansion in Baton Rouge, you give me a call, sir. Could be a whole lot of fun. Well, obviously that never developed and would be outside the point anyway. I am simply trying to establish the wealth of opportunity, lessons and exposure I had in those infinitely memorable days and point out that the greatest thing I took from it was not chatting with David Vitter over hot dogs and listening to Feufollet in Hackberry, or giving General Honore a cigar or talking jazz with Mitch Landrieu at a local elementary school, Vol. 8 • No. 11
Friday, Sept. 23
3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Amanda Walker 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC
The 33s 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy 3059, Old Town Road, LC
John Floyd 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf
Brenda Lee 8:30 p.m. @ The Grand Event Center
or grabbing sound bites from President Bush (Sr.) and George Clooney, or EVEN getting courted for staff positions by both Jindal and later Mary Landrieu… The greatest thing that I took away from that time is discovering what the people of my hometown are made of and what they are truly capable of and how that even when times are at their worst, these people still remember and put forward what is best about them and this place….. And here we have found ourselves watching waters rise once again. Friends in LOW Places… The recent flooding incident was nothing short of remarkable and although our area was spared, we’ve all had friends, family and brother and sister Louisianans that were anything but. Just because we didn’t have flooded homes and modes of transportation doesn’t mean that we are in the clear. It just means that we have the goods, services and infrastructure to lend those people a proper hand just as they did for us in the days after Rita. And we are doing just that. Not only have we seen the countless donations and the kindhearted people that delivered them, numerous area organizations have
Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Tickets are on sale now at www. ticketmaster.com and/or by phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 7453000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.
teamed up to provide whatever help they can. Even our beloved local musicians got together for a special event that took me back to the good I saw happen here in the days after the hurricanes. The Louisiana1 Flood Relief Festival was a beautiful outpouring of love and support for those affected by the disaster. A lineup of musical talent including all the Ardoin Family Bands, Rusty Metoyer, The Flamethrowers, The Kadillacs and even Cajun legend Jo-El Sonnier and many more, would have alone easily cost $10,000 to $15,000 and production could have easily gone for as much. This all-afternoon and evening festival was put on with nothing but donated time, talent and support with all of the proceeds going to help the flood victims. Founder and organizer Sean Ardoin even brought out the Cajun Navy to recognize these citizen heroes for their tireless work. And not only are the good people of our town helping in whatever way they can, even some of our guests have jumped on board as well. On September 4, singer, comedian and ventriloquist Terry Fator played two shows at Golden Nugget Lake Charles. Not only did I find out that 100 percent of his merchandise proceeds (in Vegas, on the road and online) all go to military veterans BUT he announced
LA Express 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Satellite 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC
from the stage that he is also donating $10,000 to the American Red Cross to aid with Louisiana flood relief and sent his love and well wishes to all. From a man who was dragging his puppets from Dallas to neighboring Louisiana to local schools and playing Contraband Days and even the Cal Cam Fair, even with all his success, he spoke to me of his love for this place and for all of South Louisiana and dug deep to throw some love to those in need. I think that’s as much of a testament to his good heart and spirit as it is to all of you who have made it a place to love, treasure and value. So, as much as I rant and rave about making sure performers and artists get their fair dues, it’s largely because these are the very brothers and sisters that are willing to step up for their people when the need arises, along with other fine folk. They are a cultural and personal part of who we are and they reminded me of that great spirit I saw when our days were darkest. They are Cajun Country. They are South Louisiana. They are Southwest Louisiana. They are Lake Charles and they-like all of you who reminded me of the love, charity and compassion I saw now 11 years ago and that I continue to see until this very day--are what make me proudest to call this place my home.
Something is Happening Here... Saturday, September 10 : Boudin Wars – Henning Cultural Center, Sulphur Well, of all things that are implicitly Southwest Louisiana, boudin should most certainly be counted as one of the best and the best boudin tasting ever begins at 11 a.m. at the Henning Cultural Center on Sat., Sept. 10. Tickets are limited and are available at www.brimstonemuseum.org. MAIS, GO GET YOU SOME BOUDIN, SHA!
Friday, September 16: Steppenwolf at Golden Nugget Lake Charles If you were born to be wild, get ready, because Steppenwolf is en route to the Golden Nugget! On Friday, Sept. 16, the magic carpet ride you remember from the ‘70s, complete with founder John Kay is coming at you for a night of great classic rock and roll! Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Go get rocked and GO SEE THIS SHOW!
They’re Trying To Wash Us Away... Thank you once again SWLA for simply being you. Sadly, it often takes a tragedy to remind us sometimes of the good in those around us, but you all continue to not let me down. Please thank anyone that is contributing to relief efforts and do anything you can to be a part of that process yourself. I know firsthand that even the most catastrophic event is usually brief, but it is the recovery that will take ever so long. You can still donate by calling (800) Red Cross or by texting LAFLOODS to 90999. Please, don’t forget that and don’t forget those who need our help. And with that poignant note, I bid you all adieu! Keep those candles lit and until next time…. I’LL SEE YOU AT THE SHOW! Vol. 8 • No. 11
September 8, 2016 29
ARTS AND CRABS FEST It was an afternoon of music, art and, oh yeah, CRABS as the Arts Council brought their annual bash back to the Burton Coliseum. Vendors competed for the King of the Crab Dishes while sinners and Elms District kept toes a tappin’ and the dancers a dancin’! A big congratulations to Hai li of Hi-licious Street Kitchen, whose Crab Rangoon won Best Crab Dish! Great job by all!
Charles Lyons and Chris Kershaw
Sabrina Dowies and Jody Taylor
Ariel Braddock, Julian Quebedeaux and Charles Talen
Morgan Daniels and Amanda Reeves
Vernell Henderson and “Mama Reta” Durgan
LOUISIANA FLOOD RELIEF Charity, community and love were the theme of the day as area musicians rallied together en masse at the Civic Center to help the victims of the recent floods. This event brought together some of the finest talents in the area to help raise funds for those Louisianans in need. It also honored those helping in the cause including an appearance by the Cajun Navy. It was a great day for Southwest Louisiana!
Donna and Rick Richard
Marion Guy and Don Wellman 30 September 8, 2016
Todd Causey and Brandi Watson-Causey
Ronald and Lawrence Ardoin
Jo-El Sonnier, Ty Ellender, Kevin Hare and Ray Ellender
Vol. 8 • No. 11
AN EVENING WITH STYX AT L’AUBERGE Intellect may tell you that Dennis DeYoung left Styx a number of years ago, but if you were in the house at L’Auberge on September 3, you’d have never known it. Founders Tommy Shaw and James Young have kept themselves and the act note for note and Lawrence Gowan has all the bravado and an uncanny vocal familiarity to DeYoung. Killer performance and killer night! Thank you LDL!
Christine and Troy Gil
Valerie Rachal, Stephanie Springsted and Lisa Rachal
Kalen Malone and Rocco Scavone
Mindy Boudreaux and Lisa Tillman
Hal and Sue McMillin with Jessica and Patrick Duplechin
TERRY FATOR AT GOLDEN NUGGET An unparalleled talent and absolute class act brought his Vegas show to Golden Nugget Lake Charles for two shows Labor Day weekend and anyone who saw them will remember the name Terry Fator. The America’s Got Talent Season 2 winner and, now, long term Vegas Headliner brought his bevy of puppets and insane vocal ability and packed the house twice in one evening. Bravo, sir!
Trish and Gary Lee Love
Chris and Betty Strong with Kathy Patterson Vol. 8 • No. 11
Tim and Kelly Huffer
Dale and Paula Myers and Karen Harrell
Tommy and Patsy Cummings with Karla O’Reilly and Carol Henry September 8, 2016 31