The Jambalaya News - 11/03/16, Vol. 8, No. 14

November 3, 2016 • Volume 8 • Issue 14

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

COVER STORY 20 Flea Fest is Coming!

www.thejambalayanews.com

REGULARS 6 We are SWLA!

Publisher/Executive Editor Lauren Abate

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Dang Yankee

9

Tips from Tip

9

Adoption Corner

lauren@thejambalayanews.com

Contributors Nicole Shuff Arabie George Cline Jason Machulski Mike McHugh Roger Miller Justin Morris Brian Pitre Terri Schlichenmeyer Sales lauren@thejambalayanews.com

10 Huntin’ Tales 12

Tales of the Bayou Pickers

13

Soul Matters

14

The Pirate’s Platter

4 10 14

FEATURES 4 The CHRISTUS Murals 15

Holiday Budgeting

16 Do I Need Life Insurance?

Graphics Art/Production Director Burn Rourk

Business Office Manager Jeanie Rourk

19 A Financial Minute with Trina Duhon

THE SPICE OF SWLA 22 LC Symphony’s Home Tour 24 Event Guide

27

27 Bookworm Sez…

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28 heART of SWLA: Evan Johnson 30 Nightlife Guide 32 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

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

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

Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved.

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

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37 Funbolaya 38 Society Spice

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Love, Laughter and Little Girls I just returned from a longright. There was even a song that overdue trip to Arizona to visit my cousin Karen, her daughter Joy, and Joy’s adorable daughters, the E-mazing Emma and Savannah.

The last time I saw Savannah, she was a baby. She turned two in June, and is now a beautiful, funny little person. The first thing she said when she met me at the door was “Hi, Lauren! I have to go potty! Would you like to watch?”

I was a bit taken aback, and attempted to decline. “No, you don’t understand,” Joy said. “She really wants you to. This is big.”

Apparently, Savvy had just mastered the art of toilet-training, and was so proud of herself, everyone had to witness it. Often. And if she wasn’t going, she was taking you into the bathroom to SHOW YOU where she goes when the timing is

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she sang about it. She attempted to teach me the words, but I really had to put my foot down at this point.

Life with two little girls. We all wondered how Emma would react to having a sibling when Joy became pregnant again. Diva Emma loves being the center of attention and things would certainly change when another child made the scene. At first there was the usual jealousy (“Put that baby down!”

“Don’t feed her, she’s not hungry!”), but they have now settled into a more or less happy routine.

We were also concerned that Emma would dominate her little sister, but Savvy stands her ground and doesn’t let herself get pushed around. There are the usual squabbles over toys and such, but they

get along very well.

We took Emma to have a manicure and pedicure for her birthday.

Being two, Savvy was too young to come along. She ran to the car in tears, wailing “I miss my sister!” before we even left. We promised her that next year, she could come, but she was still sad. So when we were leaving the nail salon, and Emma was offered a lollipop, she asked if she could have an extra one for Savvy. She knew she was upset and she wanted to make it better.

The girls are obsessed with Princesses. Whenever I saw them, they were either in Princess costumes, getting into them or getting out of them. They have lots. And the Disney Machine keeps churning out New Princesses, so parents can spend their hard-earned money on the latest CD, costumes, and the million other products that go with the Latest Princess: Pajamas! Shoes! Sheets! Towels!

Playhouses! Dolls! Books! It just goes on and on.

Emma celebrated her 5th birthday while I was there, and where was it held? At a Princess Tearoom. Emma and her guests dressed like Princesses, of course, and two Princess characters in full gowns, wigs, and makeup played games with them, served them lunch and cake, read stories, sang to them and posed for photos. All the girls sat at a long table, and all of them were, of course, dressed like Princesses. All except for one

oblivious child in shorts and a T-shirt, who had somehow never gotten the memo and hid behind her mother most of the time.

The Princess Craze has carried over to Karen’s new home. She and her husband recently moved to be closer to the girls. Now that they are nearby, the guest bedroom, which used to boast a queen-sized bed and a suite of bedroom furniture for adults, is now a Princess Room for overnights. The twin trundle bed is covered in Princess sheets and a comforter and the walls are plastered with Princess This and Princess That. The closet is filled with Princess outfits. I had to sleep in that room. I was afraid that one morning when I woke up, I would be wearing a Princess gown and singing “Frozen.”

I actually didn’t. The bed was incredibly comfortable and I slept better than ever, probably because I knew what little heads had been on my pillow. Heads that wear little crowns and sing little songs and are reveling in make-believe.

Enjoy it, Princesses. Reality comes much too quickly.

Lauren Abate

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C H R I S T U S S T. PAT R I C K F O U N D AT I O N

Children’s Miracle Network Provides Murals to CHRISTUS St. Patrick Emergency Department CHRISTUS St. Patrick’s Emergency Department recently received seven murals, created by local artists Candice Alexander, Erica Nelson and Burn Rourk, and provided by funding from Children’s Miracle Network of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation, to create an inviting environment for children.

Funded through the generous support of corporate partners, this artwork communicates the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in a way that brings healing and comfort to pediatric patients and their families, as well as hospital associates.

Local artists Candice Alexander, Erica Nelson and Burn Rourk created these murals, integrating many elements that hold significance for CHRISTUS St. Patrick, including: • Jesus and Children: Jesus holds a special place in his heart for children, and it is important that children know

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L to R: Burn Rourk, Candice Alexander and Erica Nelson

Jesus is with us every step of the way.

• The Scriptures: these are the foundation of the murals, bringing God’s promises of peace and hope to life through His word.

• The Angels: They are all around us and through the murals, reminding us that we are watched over with con-

stant care, attention and affection • The Path & The River: These are woven through the murals symbolizing the journey each of us takes through life and through health, with God’s presence constantly with us.

Children’s Miracle Network efforts focus on raising funds to improve the lives of children in Southwest Louisiana by providing state-of-the-art pediatric health care equipment at CHRISTUS St. Patrick and children’s health education programs throughout the Southwest Louisiana region. The funds are then allocated by the CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation Board of Directors to support initiatives that improve the lives of children in Southwest Louisiana by providing state of the art pediatric healthcare equipment at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and children’s health education programs throughout the Southwest Louisiana region.

For more information on Children’s Miracle Network of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation or to make a donation, call (337)430-5353 or visit www. stpatrickfoundation.org and click on the “Make a Donation” button.

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November 3, 2016 5

ing popular services such as job listings, the mapping application, parks, pet adoptions, and permit information easy to locate. One big change includes a special mobile-only version of the website. Instead of shrinking the desktop screen, the website detects the size of the screen and will transform into an “app” view. This view displays rows of shortcut buttons that look like app buttons familiar to smart phone users.

Buford Named WCCH Safety Award Recipient

Lakeside Bank Welcomes Michael Hardy Michael Hardy has joined Lakeside Bank as a banking officer. Hardy is originally from Lacassine and brings 30 years of experience in the finance, accounting, information systems and property management fields to his new position. He has held senior leadership positions with investment and property management companies, most recently as an international project consultant for CBRE. Hardy earned a bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Business from McNeese State University, and a Masters Michael Hardy of Science in agricultural economics from LSU. His office is located in the main branch at 4735 Nelson Road, Lake Charles. For more information, visit lakesidebanking.com.

Coushatta Donates to McNeese Coushatta Casino Resort donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University Alumni Association to help sponsor 2016 Homecoming week activities.

Riki Buford

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Riki Buford, PBX operator in the admitting 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.

McNeese Homecoming Court 2016 Aaron Myers, a business administration senior from Elton, and Rosemary Prejean, a biological science senior from Lake Charles, have been named as McNeese State University’s 2016 Homecoming King and Queen. The royal pair and court were presented during halftime ceremonies of the McNeese Cowboys vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats football game.

Other court members are: Stephen Carrier, Sulphur, Hannah Goodwin, Lake Charles, Hannah Smith, Moss Bluff, and Brandon Soileau, Ville Platte, seniors; Keifer Ackley, Sulphur, Natalie Breaux, Lake Charles, Abigail Schmitt, Lake Charles, and Raygan Suarez, Sulphur, juniors; Lauren Breaux, Sulphur, and Thaddeus Richard, Eunice, sophomores; and Jacob Guidry, Lake Charles, and Taylor Soileau, Moss Bluff, freshmen.

Stratton Named WCCH Employee of the Month

L to R: Greg Raynor, CFO, Coushatta Resort; Jerold Poncho, Coushatta Tribal Council secretary/ treasurer; and Stephanie Clark, assistant director for alumni affairs at McNeese. McNeese photo

Parish Unveils New Website Focused on Services The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury officially launched its new website at www.cppj.net incorporating a fresh design, new navigation and a mobile version optimized for easy viewing on smaller screens.

Developed in partnership with Vision Internet, the site puts detailed Parish information at your fingertips. The new look incorporates large “call to action” buttons in the center of the page to make find6 November 3, 2016

Amanda Stratton

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Amanda Stratton, radiologic technologist, as its employee of the month for August 2016. Stratton holds a Master of Radiologic Science degree and has shown excellent customer service while performing x-rays, ultrasounds, and mammography.

Gov. John Bel Edwards to Cut Ribbon at SOWELA Training Center Gov. John Bel Edwards will cut the ribbon on the new Regional Training Center at SOWELA Technical Community College on Mon., Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. SOWELA’s Regional Training Center was built to educate and train SWLA’s workforce to meet employer demands. The public is encouraged and welcome to attend. The Vol. 8 • No. 14

Regional Training Center was planned and constructed to help with the specific training needed by Sasol after the announcement of their major expansion in 2012. The Center is a $20 million, 67,000-square-foot facility housing computer labs, classrooms, and industrial lab sites. For information on SOWELA’s School of Industrial Technology, visit www.sowela.edu/programs-of-study.

Scholarship Established at McNeese Anita and Jeff Webb have given $15,000 to the McNeese State University Foundation to establish the Webb Family Scholarship Fund.

Lieutenant Don Marshall Bradley Retires Lieutenant Don Marshall Bradley retired Monday, October 17 after serving continuously with the Lake Charles Police Department since he was hired as a police officer on September 26, 1988. During his illustrious career, Lieutenant Bradley served in a number of noteworthy areas, such as Narcotics Division, Traffic Division (where he also contributed to the bicycle and beach patrols) and several different shifts of the Uniformed Patrol Division.

At the time of his retirement, he served as the Commander of Uniformed Patrol Shift B. Among his accolades, Lieutenant Bradley was honored to receive the Valor Award in 2012 and Supervisor of the Year in 2014.

Lieutenant Don Marshall Bradley

Calling for Christmas Parade Entries by Land or by Sea Anita Webb, Jeff Webb and Jennifer Leger, planned giving and donor research specialist for the McNeese Foundation. McNeese Photo

SWLA Credit Union Names President/CEO

Ronaldo Hardy

The Southwest Louisiana Credit Union Board of Directors announced the selection of Ronaldo Hardy as the credit union’s next President and Chief Executive Officer. Hardy brings 14 years of industry experience to the organization. He served as president/CEO of Shell Geismar Federal Credit Union for the past five years.

Prior to that, he served in various capacities at La Capitol Federal Credit Union. During his tenure, Hardy was instrumental in the organization’s growth and financial success. To find out more about SWLACU, visit www.swlacu.com.

Pinnacle Entertainment Donates to Family & Youth Family & Youth received $5,000 from Pinnacle Entertainment Foundation for sponsorship of the Pinnacle Light of Hope Breakfast and Awards Presentation, to be held at L’Auberge Casino Resort on December 1. Pinnacle Entertainment has been the presenting sponsor of this presentation for the past six years. Awards will be presented to deserving citizens on behalf of Family & Youth’s Children’s Advocacy Center Division, Court Appointed Special Advocates Divi- L to R: Julio Galan, President/CEO of Family sion, and Children’s and Families and Youth and Michael K. Pendergast, VP/GM of L’Auberge Lake Charles Action Network Divisions.

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The City of Lake Charles is calling for entries in two annual parades slated for Sat., Dec. 3 as part of the “Light up the Lake” Christmas Celebration. At 11 a.m., local groups, including schools, businesses, civic groups, performing groups and neighborhood kids will join Santa for a journey through Downtown Lake Charles. The parade will travel south on Ryan Street from Mill Street to Dr. Michael Debakey Drive.

Trophies will be awarded in several categories including best decorated vehicles and floats, as well as the best marching bands and specialty groups. Everyone in the community is invited to join as a participant or a spectator.

The lighted boat parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. along the Lakefront Promenade. Each boat will be judged on originality, creativity, decorations, presentation, and enthusiasm. Prizes will be awarded in first through third places for boats in length of 30 feet and under, and 31 feet and over. Other categories include best crew and best of show. Afterwards, the sky will explode into a kaleidoscope of color with the fireworks extravaganza.

Additional “Light up the Lake” events held at the Civic Center includes Santa’s Workshop, the Community Band Concert and the lighting ceremony on the front lawn. All events are free for attendees as well as participants. For entry forms or more information, please contact the City of Lake Charles at 491-1201 katie.harrington@cityoflc.us or www.cityoflakecharles.com.

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I feel America’s deep spirit of volunteerism is one of our country’s greatest assets. Take the Peace Corps, for instance.

People get sent to a primitive village in, say, Guatemala, where they help people to improve their living conditions by doing things like building them a schoolhouse and showing them how to throw a football with a perfect spiral.

Since the Peace Corps is not quite my thing, I choose instead to devote my volunteering efforts to pouring wine. I do this annually for Rouge et Blanc, a wine and food event that benefits the Banners cultural series at McNeese State University. And while it’s not quite the Peace Corps, the job does have an element of adventure.

As pourers, my wife and I were assigned to one of many wine stations, each featuring selections from a specific win-

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Up the Cork ery or distributor. Among the offerings at our station were three sparkling wines. One of these, a pink Moscato called “Mia,” had to be the most popular of the whole event.

Of the nearly 2,000 guests in attendance, it must have been the favorite for 1,900 of them.

The distributor had brought six bottles, and given that there was no divine presence at our station, there seemed little hope of stretching them past the first hour. And that was with the one-ounce pours that, by law, we were not allowed to exceed. We attended a training session before the event where this fact was drilled into us, and so we dared not pour one drop more than an ounce, fearing that an Alcohol Control agent might be watching us with high-powered binoculars and a SWAT team on alert to descend upon any offender.

A young lady named Dan-

ielle, who worked for the wine distributor and was serving with us at the station, suggested that we start pouring even smaller amounts of the Mia to help make it last, something that I thought impossible unless we were issued eyedroppers. Still, despite our best efforts, the Mia was quickly exhausted, leaving us with the two less popular bubblies and a couple of Spanish blends.

After a while, Danielle took a break and was replaced by one of the managers for the distributor. Her boss either didn’t get the memo about the one ounce pour limit or just didn’t care, as he proceeded to dole out quite generous helpings. I considered telling him about the rule, but I figured, hey, it was his wine, and who was I to tell him what to do with it? Besides, even though we were under a canopy, the afternoon was getting hot, and the sooner we ran out of wine, the sooner we could escape to the air-conditioned comfort of the volunteers’ snack room.

While there, the boss man demonstrated the proper way to open a bottle of champagne.

He began by explaining that all sparkling wine bottles require exactly six twists to remove the wire cage around the cork. Now I’ve opened countless such bottles, and never once had I thought to count the number of twists. But this was a fact that seemed incred-

ibly importance to the likes of a wine distributor. I sensed that he might get completely unglued should he ever come across a bottle that took seven twists to open. He covered several other details, none of which seemed important to me, like how you are supposed to rotate the bottle and not the cork when opening. Not having known all of this, I wonder how I hadn’t put an eye out in all these years of opening champagne bottles.

After the demonstration, he gave me a bottle, instructing me to open it just as he had demonstrated. I removed the foil wrapper and untwisted the wire, counting exactly six times. I removed the wire cage, and the cork promptly launched itself into orbit, a quarter-sized beam of sunshine suddenly striking me in the face through the hole in the canopy. It was then he told me that I was supposed to keep the cork covered with my hand. This is something I swore he failed to point out earlier, even though it is probably the most important step, considering what would happen. Regular clowns, these wine distributors.

So it may not exactly be the Peace Corps, but pouring wine for Rouge et Blanc does have its challenges. And I would do it again next year. I’m just going to be sure put in for a station where all the bottles have screw tops.

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Early Voting!

I believe in civic responsibility, which includes casting my vote when the elections come around. I believe that it is important to partake in the civic process that allows citizens to exercise their franchise.

I don’t care whom you vote for or what position you take on ballot issues; I care that you accept your responsibility. It is our right as American citizens to show up at election time and, being informed, vote our conscience.

That being said, I took advantage of early voting this time. I knew that there would be long lines, as this

election has drawn huge interest, far beyond the average. Upon arriving at the polls, I noticed that extra consideration was given to those voters that were obviously handicapped. The officials at the polls took great care to see that people with walkers were given priority entrance to the voting process, ushering them to the front of the line to cast their votes.

Kudos to the Registrar of Voters to accommodate those disabled citizens. We can be proud that Calcasieu Parish gives consideration to these people. Make sure you take the time to do your part in this important part of being an American.

Some Issues The law of unintended consequences likes to show up whenever possible. I was at one of my favorite sports bars and was privy to a conversation among some of the waitstaff. It seems that the new WaitrApp that delivers restaurant food has interfered with the normal flow of food service. The servers were

discussing how the Waitr orders were being given priority over inhouse orders. Obviously, this practice was slowing down food service to their patrons.

The waitstaff said their customers were waiting longer than usual and it was affecting their livelihood.

Not only were the waiters seeing a decline in tips due to more customers staying home due to Waitr, but the slower food service, again because of Waitr, was making their tables uneasy, which can translate to smaller tips. The Waitr program is new and there will have to be some tweaking to correct this situation.

Waitr has been met with great approval here, and hopefully there will be a happy medium worked out soon for all concerned.

Watch for Cyclists We have a problem here (as do most other places, I am sure) with bicycle traffic and automobiles vying for the same road space. It is required by law to give a bicyclist three feet of clearance on the road, but in many cases, it is difficult to allow that space. We have sadly had a recent fatality of a bicyclist, dramatically illustrating the dangers involved. Be vigilant of those sharing the road with your two tons of steel. The bicycle will nearly always come out second best in any meeting of the two.

This handsome boy, 9-10 months old, is going to be one big dude! He appears to be a mix with either Great Dane or Shepherd. We know that his heritage is partially Staffordshire terrier as only this breed has green eyes. Denzel has the most captivating green eyes you will ever see. Looking at his paws, we know he will need lots of room to run in but, his favorite place is snuggling with his person. A high energy boy, Denz is at the perfect age for obedience training and is an eager learner.

He is looking for a securely fenced yard to grow up in and would love to have a buddy to play with. His BFF right now is his litter mate, Danette, aka Dani. Both have been altered, are fully vetted, and are ready to move on to their new forevers. For more info, call or email: (337) 244-4563; lapaw@bellsouth.net Home visit and vet check required prior to all adoptions.

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November 3, 2016 9

Photos by Chris Romero

Real Working Decor Decoys My longtime dear friend Julie Shaw restarted my wildfowl as art education. She’d had a recent conversation with local decoy carving artiste extraordinaire Mark Fontenot. Julie told Mark to contact me as there might be a “Hunting Tale” in it. There was.

I mean, I have 13 decor decoys and nine miniature waterfowl carvings in my Man Cave. Even have a snipe and a black duck carved by my old friend, Episcopal priest Ralph Masters. He aptly names what he produces as “Masters’ Pieces.”

I was actually responsible for Father Ralph’s start as a decoy carver. Seems the late 1970s Christmas gift I gave him of an old 1920s working cypress mallard decoy piqued his artistic interest. However, there are no actual working decoys in my collection except the one that’s left of the 12 1920s-era blocks I inherited from my Dad. They

Ronnie Chauvin and Mark Fontenot 10 November 3, 2016

all went as gifts to friends. Which Edward E. leads me back to Bonvillian Mark. painting a An avid waterwood duck hen fowler and taxidermist, Mark’s interest in waterfowl carving was sparked when he and his wife Alison attended an art show by decoy carvers at our Civic Center.

Fortunately for all collectors, Mark just happened to strike up a conversation with one of the artistes who gave him the contact info on local awardwinning Master Carver Ronnie Chauvin.

As a young man, Chauvin had managed to obtain some carved decoys from a cousin and thus began his artistic quest. He started with miniature decoys, moved to the amateur division and then to the life-sized competition where blue ribbons followed, as did best of show ribbons.

Determined to pass on what was becoming a lost art, he began to teach others. The rest is decoy carving history as Mark too fell in love with the art.

First, you obtain a cypress knee or tupelo gum tree wood block (the only two woods useable). Next, etch out a sketch pattern, (order one available online or use a book of drawing patterns). Then, with your truly sharp carving knife, begin ever so carefully etching in the block following the grain of the wood and your sketch. Carefully avoiding nicking your Vol. 8 • No. 14

self with the blade, follow your pattern and even get creative along the way. Nothing to it, right? Once the carving is complete, the actual painting of the canard begins. Somehow, one has to match the intricate shapes and myriad colors all waterfowl have. As a youth, I couldn’t even crayon inside the lines, so all this escapes me.

The trick to this simple sounding but complex technique is that you have to have a master carver to teach you. Mark Fontenot had Dick, the son of Master Carver Dick Bonner, to add to Ronnie Chauvin’s teaching. Local carver and collector Kirt Loupe, my hunting companion and hearing specialist at Hearr4U, had the aide of Master Carver Edward E. “Boo” Bonvillian. In Kirt’s office, you can see one of his early teal works and a much later marvelously lifelike blue ribbon winning green wing teal.

Another collector, my podna Shane “Slim” Hebert, has over 20 hand carved decoys. He even has a few stitched leather/canvas ones actually used afield by our early settlers to gather meals.

At the Mandeville Waterfowl Carver’s Collector’s Guild Show, Marks’ bufflehead duck won a first place while his scaup won a second best in the diving duck category. He also took Best of Species ribbons with his black duck, blue bill duck, and pintail duck in the novice division. His next

quest is to the World’s Carving Championships held every spring in Ocean City, Maryland.

The truly lifelike quality of these carvings is amazing, and they are actually working decoys. They are thoroughly tested at these shows for their buoyancy and also for their actual working qualities. My grandfather’s cypress dekes looked like ducks from a distance but they were heavy to lug in the field although I used them throughout my youth. The pieces of art created today would make truly fine decoys. As soon as I win the lottery I plan to spent $20,000 to $40,000 for a two dozen spread, inclusive of about $8,000 for four speckled bellied geese dekes. This is especially true since I found out in ‘79 that the decoys I had given away as presents were worth about $500 to $750 per decoy in ‘79 dollars.

Those cypress decoys do look marvelous on my friend’s mantles and all they won was Roger’s Hunting Podna Lottery. My artistic, not decor mantled, Louisiana Lottery deke acquisition would look truly magnificent afield. That is, of course, before someone steals them just like they did the eight dozen brand new decoys I put out in ‘75 at a finger end of Big Lake just north of Sabine National Wildlife Reserve. At least these working decoy pieces of art could be given as Christmas gifts.

The greenwing teal are Kirt Loupe’s work from 2001 and 2002 Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild competition in New Orleans. The hen was awarded a third place ribbon in 2001 and the drake a blue ribbon in 2002 both in Ameteur class.

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Save the Orleck USS Orleck (DD-886) So much of history is lost. Most of us don’t even know what we have until it’s gone. History is worth saving, as I’ve said a thousand times before. History appreciation is not really taught in schools as much as in the past, and it all seems to be swept under the rug and forgotten. It’s sad that there is so much art, culture and history right under our noses and so many people in the community don’t seem to care.

I will never forget the time my parents brought me to a battleship for a tour. It’s a childhood memory that I will always hold dear. I have passed that memory on to my children and have expressed the importance of each ship we visit.

In my last column, I wrote about trench art, so I thought the plight of the USS Orleck would be a fitting follow up. I recently learned that the Orleck is in danger of leaving Lake Charles.

This news was as upsetting to me as the news that we could lose old downtown clock. The clock was a difficult but attainable save for the Lake Charles community, but the Orleck will require a much larger step that I definitely cannot take on alone.

I contacted the Orleck as soon as I heard about their situation and scheduled a meeting immediately. The very next day, I spoke with Ron Williams, the executive director of the USS Orleck. We had an amazing heartfelt chat. He expressed his concerns and I listened with my wheels turning.

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What I was told reinforced my desire to help with the effort to cave the Orleck. While I cannot go further with what was actually said at this time, I do want to let my readers know that Ron and I will be hard at work trying to figure this out.

I can tell you that the Orleck will need the full help of the Lake Charles community to be able to make this a reality and it will be one of the biggest ventures I will take on as I volunteer my time to help in any way that I can.

The USS Orleck navel museum is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the USS Orleck DD-886 and the sailors who served aboard her during her distinguished service on behalf of the nation. Their motto is Remember, Honor, Restore and Educate. The Orleck is designated as the Official Vietnam Memorial Museum Ship for the state of Louisiana, which is a great enough reason alone for it not to become a reef at the bottom of the ocean. From the Korean War to Vietnam, this ship has seen it all, and is one of the most decorated US Navy ships since WWII. So why are historic naval ships so critical to our nation?

Admiral Sam Cox, US Navy (Ret.) stated: “The role Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA) ships play is critical. Their ships remind the American people how important the freedom of the sea is to our way of life [as well as] the historic and ongoing threats to that way of life. These ships remind the American people about the valor and sacrifice of those who fought and died at sea to preserve our freedom.”

The Orleck is not belly up yet, but it will take the help and support of the community working together to get this ship moved to an amazing location. I would love to see it somewhere on the I-10 corridor. I’m calling for any and all help to save the Orleck. We all need to work together to save history. Only time will tell what the verdict will be on the Orleck, but I’m in it until the fat lady sings and then some. Save the Orleck!

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The Memory of Time For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 We say time is precious.

We want more time. There is never enough time.

When I was a young girl, I felt as if I had nothing but time. We are born young and grow old. As we begin to age, that is when we begin to feel time, see what happens in time, etc. Recently I began looking closer at the connection to our hearts and time.

In a way, our hearts are like a timepiece. The moment our hearts begin to beat is when our life begins.

Our hearts begin pumping blood within our bodies and we begin to move. I look at the heart as a recorder that stores every second of our lives.

St. Augustine says something along the lines of, “I know what time is until you ask me for a definition about Vol. 8 • No. 14

it, and then I can’t give it to you.”

I attended a funeral today for a dear friend of my mother’s. I looked at all of the old pictures that are moments that have been captured in time. That very moment at a Sunday dinner, Christmas morning, the birth of a child, a wedding celebration. All of those moments when you look at the pictures and they bring you back in time. Emotions begin to flow through your heart. You can remember the love that day.

Does time really disappear, or do we just move on the wave of motion to another place? The theory is…perception of time comes first and then, the understanding of it all comes later which allows you to put perception into a bigger picture or a wider view. Time gives existence to what really matters.

Do you ever notice when you sort of get stuck in time?

When you can’t see clearly?

Ignorance brings chaos into our lives, not knowledge.

I myself view time differently than others. I would call myself an anomaly, something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Time gives legitimacy to our existence. It shines light on what really matters. We

are being called to live now, in this age. This age I am referring to is where you are right now. It’s not where you used to be or where you think you should be.

What is your sense of time like? Can you describe it if asked? Most of us want to put time in chronological order. When you allow your spirit to search, you then begin to lose what you have been taught about the terms of past, present, and future.

I would describe the way I sense time as I am viewing the interior of people and things around me, as more of what stirs my soul to the unseen awareness that catches my attention.

Through this awareness, the eyes of my heart grow and blossom like flowers blooming with their beauty and brilliant radiance. In this time that I now know to be what I call real time, I am

able to go deeper and deeper, which leads me to understand the power to love.

As this initially happened, the old ideas began to vanish from my life and I began to encounter new experiences, which have led me to becoming a source of life for others, a vessel that is used

by God to help others see and experience love now.

What ways will your love remain timeless with others? What will they say about your love when you exit this world? Time isn’t what’s important in this life.

It’s how we love that’s most important.

Time flies by and love always remains.

To book a Soul Matters Session with Nicole Shuff Arabie, call (337) 540-6573.

You can also go to her Facebook page at www.facebook. com/DeclutteringYourSoul, or nicolearabie.com.

November 3, 2016 13

Not My Momma's Bread Pudding My mother was born in Essex, England and one of the items we would have for dessert on occasion was bread pudding. The history of bread pudding can be traced back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Most cooks looked for ways to use stale, leftover bread instead of letting it go to waste. In 13th century England, bread pudding was known as “poor man’s pudding,” as it was a popular dish with the lower classes.

While bread pudding is still a way to use up leftover bread, it has gained a reputation as a featured dessert item in trendy establishments. After spending some time in New Orleans and seeing this popular dessert show up on menus, the Pirate decided to put his own twist on it and marveled at the results. All I can say is thanks, Mom for your English roots and introducing me to this wonderful dish. We will keep the tradition going for many more generations.

Basically, bread pudding is made by layering bits of bread and any add-ins in a dish and pouring a type of custard sauce over it before baking. The possibilities are endless because cooks can vary the type of bread and any ingredients they choose to add. Check out what the pirate came up with for the fall season.

French toast Bread Pudding with Maple Bourbon Whipping Cream

Ingredients

2 cups half and half 15-ounce can pure pumpkin 1 cup (packed) plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 large eggs 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1½ teaspoons maple extract 10 cups ½-inch cubes egg (Italian day old bread, about 10-oz.)

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Serve in martini glasses using an ice cream scoop.

Maple Bourbon Whipping Cream 1 cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1 tablespoon maple extract 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon

Preparation For bread pudding: Preheat oven to 400°F. Whisk half and half, pumpkin, dark brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and maple extract in large bowl to blend. Fold in bread cubes. Transfer mixture to 11x7-inch buttered baking dish. Cover with foil to avoid overcooking the top for first 10 minutes. Place on shallow water-filled pan. Place in oven and bake pumpkin bread pudding until toothpick comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

Maple Bourbon whipping cream: Whisk whipping cream in high speed mixer and add syrup, extract and bourbon. Remove and place in fridge. Prepare piping bag.

If you want to top it off, melt some sugar in a pan and glaze some pecans, then chop and top the whip cream. Serve in martini glasses using an ice cream scoop.

Vol. 8 • No. 14

Tips for Stretching Your Holiday Budget Do you plan and save for the holidays? Or do you end up spending more than you should because you’re just winging it? Here are some tips to help you get a handle on your holiday spending without breaking the bank.

will force you to budget, and make overspending more obvious. We all have a tendency to spend more when paying with a credit card instead of cash.

Use credit wisely Create a spending plan Start with a realistic idea of how much you can spend on all of your holiday purchases. List everything you usually buy, from gifts to food to entertainment, and add up the costs. Remember, if you don’t budget and set a specific dollar limit, your spending can get out of control.

If you must use credit, shop with no more than two credit cards -- preferably low-interest rate credit cards, NOT the expensive department store cards. The more cards you use, the harder it is to track spending. Use one with a zero balance for purchases you will pay off in full.

Use the other, low-interest rate credit card for purchases you plan to pay off over the next few months.

Know your limits Make a list of your gift recipients and decide how much you want to spend on each person. If you can’t spend as much on gifts this year, decide who is a priority and let the others know well in advance that you won’t be getting them gifts. A lot of people are tightening their belts when it comes to holiday spending, and they may actually be relieved that they don’t have to buy you a present.

Track your spending

Beware of sales pitches Don’t shop under the influence of holiday hype. Retailers work hard to entice you to buy, buy and buy. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend more than you planned.

Don’t fall for credit card offers to “skip a payment.”

You’ll just pay more in interest next month. Watch out for the “buy now and pay later” offers that encourage you to spend money you don’t have. And, bypass applying for the department store credit card to get a onetime discount.

It’s great that you’ve made a spending plan. But if you don’t keep track of all of your purchases and make sure you’re staying within your budget, you’ve wasted your time. So make sure you write down everything you spend over the holidays.

Shop with a list Know what you want to buy, and go to the stores with a list. You can zip through the stores faster and are more apt to avoid impulse buying.

And make sure you STOP when you have finished shopping!

Shop early Don’t wait until the last minute. The best window for holiday shopping is between Oct. 1 and Dec. 1. Give yourself time to compare prices and find the best deals. Remember, last-minute shoppers usually don’t save money because they’ve run out of time and patience and will grab anything.

Be an infor med consumer Comparison-shopping stretches your holiday funds further. Take some extra time to find the best deal before heading off to the stores by checking catalogs, advertisements and the Internet. And think twice before you buy. Make sure the gift is appropriate for the recipient and within your price range. If not, don’t buy it.

Use cash Leave your credit cards at home. Using cash Vol. 8 • No. 14

November 3, 2016 15

Do I Need Life Insurance?

Thinking about life insurance isn’t easy: It forces you to face your own mortality and the thought of leaving loved ones behind. But difficult as it is, it’s crucial to make time for a heart-to-heart with your spouse, especially once you become a parent.

By planning for the unthinkable, you can ensure that if you die or become disabled, your family will be able to pay for food, shelter, and healthcare; handle debts and major expenses (including college tuition); and generally maintain the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

How much do I need?

One rule of thumb is five to ten times your annual income. Everyone’s situation is different, though, so how much insurance you need depends on various factors: • How much your family spends annually on items like housing, food, and clothing • How much your family would need to cover large one-time expenses, such as your children’s college education • How much your spouse earns (in other words, how much of the family expenses your spouse’s earnings would cover)

16 November 3, 2016

• How much your investments and other assets are worth (how much of your family’s expenses they’d cover)

Term Life Insurance This simple insurance policy works like car or homeowner’s coverage: If you die while the policy is active, your family gets the amount for which you’re insured.

If you don’t die before the policy expires, the insurance company gives you nothing (still better than the alternative!).

Some term life insurance policies allow you to renew at the same rate for multiple years, while others don’t. Those that do are usually a bit more expensive.

Term life insurance makes sense for most young, middle-income families with children because it covers a set period, with affordable premiums. An insurance premium for $250,000 coverage costs about $175 to $250 a year for a 30-yearold nonsmoking man. (Premiums tend to be slightly lower for women.) Rates are fixed for an initial period when you buy, and then they go up as you age.

A newer option, return-of-premium term life insurance, gives back your pay-

ments if you outlive the term. The returned premium is tax-free because you don’t get back more than you put in. However, these policies may cost up to three times as much as regular term insurance.

Whole life insurance This more complicated option, also called cash-value insurance, offers both an insurance policy and an investment account. The premiums for this permanent insurance are higher than those for term insurance, but a portion of those funds goes into a tax-deferred savings account.

The rates are fixed: You pay the same premium at 60 that you did at 30 (or whatever age you were when you bought it). When you die, your spouse or family collects the death benefit. But you can also choose to cash out the policy when you’re older or retired and net the taxdeferred savings.

O t h e r p e r m an e nt l i fe i n s u r an c e p o l i c i e s w it h c a s h v a lu e s — i nt e re s t s e n s it i v e w h o l e l i f e , u n i v e r s a l l i f e , v ar i a b l e l i fe — of fe r m ore f l e x i bi l it y, s u c h a s a dju s t i n g t h e pre m iu m or d e at h b e n e f it .

Vol. 8 • No. 14

THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF LAKE CHARLES PRESENTS

24th ANNUAL MISTLETOE AND MOSS HOLIDAY MARKET

The Junior League of Lake Charles will host its 24th annual Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market from Nov. 1719 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The market serves as the League’s largest fundraiser and supports the organization’s many community impact initiatives and programs including: Literacy, Healthy Families and Leadership Development.

Since its inception in 1993, Mistletoe and Moss and raised more than $1 million to support the League’s mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community.

This year’s market features more than 80 local and nationwide merchants offering apparel, gifts, and accessories for women, men, and children; specialty foods; and seasonal holiday, as well as year-round, decorative items and home furnishings. Live art painting will also take place on the market floor from local artists including Danielle Nester, Leslie Labit, and Heather Boston.

Mistletoe and Moss is open to the public beginning Friday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. General admission tickets can be purchased for $10.00 per person at www. jllc.net or at the door. Children under 8 years of age are free and there is no stroller fee. Tickets for the market’s special events can also be purchased online or at the door, where otherwise noted. The special events schedule for the market includes: Preview Party Gala Taking place Thursday, Nov. 17 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., the Preview Party features fantastic food and cocktails from the Lake Area’s finest restaurants, and live entertainment. Cocktail attire is preferred and you must be 21 or older to attend.

Tickets are $60 and must be purchased in advance at www. jllc.net.

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Ladies Night On Friday Nov. 18, the market will host Ladies Night from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. This casual event boasts live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres provided

by Luna Bar and Grill, and one complimentary cocktail per guest. During this evening, get tips on fashion and seasonal home decorating, partake in some bubbly at the bubble bar, and enjoy a 10 percent merchant discount. Tickets are $25 per person.

Cookies with Santa & Friends Children will enjoy meeting Santa, Mrs. Claus and a few superhero and princess friends during this popular family event on Saturday Nov. 19 taking place at four different times including: at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. Admission includes writing a letter to Santa, making reindeer food, enjoying a holiday treat, story time with Mrs. Claus, and a photo opportunity with Santa Claus. Tickets are $15 per person. Children 1 year of age and under are free of charge. This event is known to sell out quickly, so it is recommended tickets be bought online and prior to market opening to secure a seating.

“The success of Mistletoe and Moss is very important because it is the largest fundraiser for the League,” said Julie D. Este-McDonald, Market Chairperson for Mistletoe and Moss, Junior League of Lake Charles. “With the money raised at this annual event, we are able to give back to Southwest Louisiana through our many community programs. The Junior League of Lake Charles is excited for this year’s market and confident that shoppers will have a fun and festive experience as we kick-off the holiday season.”

For more information, call (337)v436-4025 or visit www. jllc.net.

November 3, 2016 17

Lakeside Announces New Checking Account for Those Who Protect and Serve Lakeside Bank held a news conference last month to announce details about The American account, which offers special benefits to law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of the armed services, veterans, and the families of these public servants.

According to Mike Harmison, president and CEO of Lakeside Bank, the account was created as a small way to say, “Thank you” to those who dedicate their lives to protect and serve our community. “These are the people who keep us safe every day ; the brave individuals who rush into danger when the rest of us are fleeing from it,” said Harmison. “We count on them and want them to know they can count on us, and that we at Lakeside appreciate their sacrifice more than we can ever adequately express.”

The American checking account provides exceptional benefits for those who are eligible, including:

• Free checking, online banking, bill pay, mobile banking, e-statements • $50 to open, with no minimum balance and no monthly fees • Free first order of The American checks • Free debit card – with no-fee access to any ATM in the countr y • 25 basis point decrease on any consumer loan offered by Lakeside Bank * • Free telephone banking access to a live, local banker • Overdraft protection with RediReser ve * • Identity theft protection available • Free 24/7 real-time fraud monitoring with SecurLOCK • Free Lakeside Bank patriotic gift *credit approval required Information about The American account is available at any of the bank’s locations in Southwest Louisiana, by calling (337) 474-3766, or online at www.lakesidebanking.com.

18 November 3, 2016

Vol. 8 • No. 14

D U H O N

W E A LT H

M A N AG E M E N T

A Financial Minute with

Trina Duhon, AAMS

Today, I want to talk about taking a systematic approach to long-term investing. Market declines, corrections, and downturns can be really scar y, but focusing on the positive or being optimistic is what is needed when tackling the unpredictable stock market.

Consider the potential benefits of investing by dollar cost average. This is a way of leveling the playing field because it works the same for experts as wells as beginners. By investing a specific dollar amount weekly or monthly allows you to catch the market at different stages.

Buying in at sometimes high and sometimes low points will ease you into the market and can help take the guesswork and emotion out of investing toward your goals.

Dollar cost averaging enables you to invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, sometimes buying more shares when the price is low and

Vol. 8 • No. 14

fewer with the price is higher. Systematic investing by dollar cost averaging enables you to pursue long-term goals to take advantage of the market’s ups and down along the way.

For more information or other strategies of investing, call Duhon Wealth Management at (337) 477-4647.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Dollar cost averaging involves continuous investment in securities regardless of f luctuation in price levels of such securities. An investor should consider their ability to continue purchasing through f luctuating price levels. Such a plan does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

November 3, 2016 19

Photos: Ernest Monceaux

A treasure trove for shoppers, just in time for Christmas!

Get out your Christmas lists -- Flea Fest is back! The fun and kitschy country fair-like festival that features nearly four covered acres of anything and everything roars back into Lake Charles on November 12-13. Billed as “a bargain hunter’s dream,” the semiannual flea market event has grown dramatically since its 2013 inaugural show. It has become one of the pre-eminent stops on the often tight-knit vendor circuit, drawing vendors from multiple states selling a myriad of unique merchandise.

20 November 3, 2016

The upcoming fall show is expected to be the biggest yet, featuring over 300 vendors and a virtual drove of frenzied shoppers.

If you’re always searching for that special or unique gift for that hard-to-please someone, fear not!

Boasting vendors of all types, Flea Fest’s offerings include antiques, retro and vintage, handcrafted items, toys, collectibles, clothes, art work, comic books, upcycled furniture and décor, gifts, plants, handmade jewelry, crafts, a farmer’s market, adoptable pets, and much

more. In addition to the variety of merchandise vendors, Flea Fest will also include a virtual grab bag of wares from locals holding their garage sales at the festival.

A true family-friendly event, Flea Fest features a petting zoo, face painting, and pony rides to entertain the kiddies and a live DJ will spin retro tunes to keep the good vibes going. Topping off the shopping, you can enjoy a smorgasbord of good eats, from South Louisiana favorites to traditional deep fried festival goodies offered by food vendors in

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the Flea Fest Diner.

Organizer Lisa Sonnier says, “It’s a treasure hunt on steroids! You never know what goodies could be hiding out. Flea Fest is just a fun and unique shopping experience that won’t break ak the bank!” bank!

In the true spirit of the season, ason, Flea Fest is also teamming up to support Operation n Christ-

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mas Child’s effort to spread holiday joy to children in need around the world. Flea Fest will serve as a dropoff location for the gift-packed shoe boxes. Shoe boxes will also be available at the event. It’s a great way for parents to teach their kids about giving while making a truly global impact.

Flea Fest is set for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Nov. 12-13 in the Burton 12 Complex Event Barn, C

located on the South side of Burton Coliseum. Adult tickets are $5, with the exception of Saturday from 8 -9 a.m. (The Early Bird Power Hour) when ticket prices are $10. Kids 12 and under are admitted free at all times. Tickets are only available at the gate – cash only. The venue is entirely covered, so the event will go on rain or shine! More details can be found at www.FleaFest.com and Facebook.com/FleaFest/. To learn more about how to take part in Operation Christmas Child, visit www.

SamaritansPurse.org.

November 3, 2016 21

A L A K E A R E A H O L I D AY T R A D I T I O N

Lake Charles Symphony Home Tour Nov. 27 interesting and/or fun facts about each home. After touring the homes, enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, holiday cocktails and beverages while listening to the sounds of the season and more provided by Chris Shearman. Funds raised by the Holiday Home Tour benefit the Symphony’s Educational Outreach Program, in which free Symphony concert tickets are provided to

students K-12, concentrating on the at-risk schools.

Tickets can be purchased on line at www.lcsymphony.com or at the Symphony office located in Central School Arts and Humanities Center or by calling the Symphony office at 433-1611. Holiday Home Tour is also presented in part by The Townsley Law Firm.

Tuesday, November 8: Election Day We are making a Liberty Hat! Class begins at 11:30 a.m. and is limited to 16 children, ages 3 and up. You can also cast your vote for your favorite museum exhibit while you are here!

Saturday, November 19: Fall Placemats We are weaving a fall placemat for your Thanksgiving table! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 14 children, ages 3 and up.

Wednesday, November 23: Tissue Paper Acorns Create an acorn ornament using tissue paper!

Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon. and are limited to 16 children, ages 3 and up.

Friday, November 11: Veterans Day We are making a Poppy Flower Wreath! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 24 children, ages 3 and up. Veterans also get in for a $1. We thank you for your service.

Monday, November 21: Colorful Owls We are making a colorful owl using different colors! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 22 children, ages 3 and up.

Wednesday, November 23: Get Movin’ Anytime Join Bruce Broussard with Anytime Fitness at 11:30 a.m. and get moving! Kids of all ages will enjoy this program.

Saturday, November 12: Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show Sasol continues its 5S Project with “Food Chemistry” at 11:30 a.m. Kelly Grenier will make cookies with varying types/amounts of ingredients that the kids will be able to taste.

(Please advise if your child has a peanut allergy/gluten allergy.) They will discuss differences in the amounts of moisture in popcorn and how it affects its texture and taste and they will also try to extract the iron from iron fortified cereal!

Tuesday, November 22: Fall Trees Make your own fall tree using a paper bag and construction paper! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 24 children, ages 4 and up.

Thursday, November 24-Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Holiday Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

We will be CLOSED Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

Tuesday, November 22: Story Time with Tommie Townsley Join local children’s book author and publisher Tommie Townsley at 11:30 a.m. for story time. She will also have autographed books available.

Saturday, November 26: 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 firstserved basis. Limit one project per child.

The Lake Charles Symphony and The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital are pleased to announce the 2016 Holiday Home Tour featuring homes on River Road in Lake Charles. The date is Sun., Nov. 27 from 2-5 p.m. Admission is $50 per person. Seven homes will be delightfully decorated for the holiday season with docents on hand to offer

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.

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Vol. 8 • No. 14

McNeese Annual Faculty Exhibition Through December 8 The Annual Faculty Exhibition features 45 recent works by visual arts faculty members through a variety of media including ceramics, drawing, graphic design, illustration, book arts, painting, photography, printmaking and mixed media. This exhibit will be on display in the Grand Gallery through Dec. 8. The gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. (337) 475-5060.

Southern Gospel Concert & Luncheon November 4 Southern Gospel Concert & Luncheon Nov. 4 Lake Charles Christian Women’s Southern Gospel Concert luncheon is Nov. 9 at Treasures of Marilyn with Brenda Copeland in concert. Nine vendors will have their goods for sale. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for shopping. Lunch and concert starts at 11:45 a.m. The cost is $17. Reservations required by Nov. 4. Call (337) 499-4268 or email lccwlouisiana@gmail.com.

Mayor’s Arts Awards November 4 In concert with the City of Lake Charles, the Arts Council of SWLA invites the public to the 2016 Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony scheduled for Fri., Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. in the Benjamin W. Mount Auditorium at Central School. Mayor Randy Roach will award those working in the arts by recognizing the contributions of SWLA’s creative workers, patrons, and artists to the region’s culture. Business casual attire is recommended, and a reception will follow. For more information, call (337) 439-2787.

City of LC Veteran’s Day Observances November 5 On Sat., Nov. 5 at 10 a.m., the City of Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission will host its annual Veterans Day e activities beginning with the ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, Lakeshore Drive. The guest speaker will be Brigadier General Gary Brito, Commanding General, JRTC and Fort Polk.

Erica Bivens, KPLC anchor/reporter, will be Master of Ceremonies. Immediately following the ceremony, the public is invited to a free picnic prepared by SWLA Veterans organizations. For more information, call 491-9176.

Little Troopers 6th Annual Benefit November 5

a musical history of swla

Thursday, November 10 | 7–9 PM Benjamin W. Mount Theatre Historic Central School, Lake Charles Local band Sinners, whose influences are deeply rooted in Cajun, swamp pop and country music, will be the house band as talented vocalists and guest musicians from all genres are welcomed to the stage to share the music of Southwest Louisiana’s past.

Guest musicians include members of Lost Bayou Ramblers as well as more Lake Area favorites.

Limited seating is available.

For the 6th consecutive year, Little Troopers Inc. will hold its annual fundraiser to benefit the military families of Louisiana. This year’s event will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat., Nov. 5 at the West Cal Event Center, located at 401 Arena Rd. in Sulphur. The annual benefit features a poker run and a jeep/car show beginning at 10 a.m. as well as a gumbo/potato salad cook-off with contestants serving at 11 a.m. Other events include an auction at 2 p.m., a 50/50 raffle and family-friendly activities like face-painting and a cake walk. The goal of the annual benefit is to raise funds to purchase Christmas presents for the children of military families. Registration beings at 7 a.m. for the cook-off and 8 a.m. for the poker run and car show. For more information, call (337) 309-1096.

Annual Business Summit and Showcase November 10 Tickets available at Eventbrite.com

KnowLouisiana.org

artsandhumanitiesswla.org | (337) 439-ARTS |

24 November 3, 2016

The Magazine of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

The Digital Encyclopedia of Louisiana and Home of Louisiana Cultural Vistas

Funds raised at Roots Revival are reinvested back into the SWLA community through the Arts Council’s services and events .

Annual Business Summit and Showcase Nov. 10 The City of Lake Charles will host the 2016 Business Summit and Showcase on Thurs., Nov. 10, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The event will consist of two parts: a Business Certification Training and a Business Summit and Vol. 8 • No. 14

Nov 2-4 Safety Town

Nov 9 Technical Professional Meetings

Nov 2-3 Northrop Grumman Training

Nov 10 Business Summit

Nov 3 115th Law Enforcement Graduation

Nov 12-13 Don Rich Gun and Knife Show

Nov 4 Pete the Cat Stage Play

Nov 12 SWLA Heart Walk

Unitech Graduation

Nov 15 16th Annual Baseball Auction Dinner

Nov 5-6 Exotic Pet and Reptile Show

Nov 16 Super Scientific Circus

Nov 5 Miss Mardi Gras Pageant

Non 18-19 Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market

Nov 8 Open Enrollment Sessions

Nov 19-20 Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music”

Showcase. This year’s theme is “Shaping Our Economic Future.” To register, email businesssummit@cityoflc.us or call 491-1392. You may also call Eligha Guillory, Jr. at 491-9151 for more information.

Roots Revival: Evolution November 10 The Arts Council of SWLA, in partnership with the City of Lake Charles and SWLA CVB, present Roots Revival: Evolution on Thurs., Nov. 10, from 7- 9 p.m. at Mount Theatre in Central School. Local band Sinners will be the house band as talented vocalists and dynamic musi-

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cians are welcomed to the stage to share the music of Southwest Louisiana’s past. Guest musicians include members of Grammy-nominated progressive Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers and Zydeco torchbearer Sean Ardoin. The concert will also feature historical facts and stories told by Joy Pace, and original materials will be on display. Tickets are $15 and available at Eventbrite. com, with limited seating. Funds raised at Roots Revival are reinvested back into the SWLA community through the Arts Council’s services and events. For details, visit www.artscouncilswla.org or call 439-2787.

November 3, 2016 25

Keith Monroe Arctic Expedition Lecture Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market November 10 November 17-19 Award-winning photographer Keith Monroe will host a lecture at Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, Thurs., Nov. 10 in the second floor gallery. Monroe will share his experiences as an underwater diver team member of Elysium Artists for the Arctic Expedition. The doors will open at 5:30 and the program will begin at 6 p.m. All ages are welcome, admission is free, and refreshments will be served. . For more information, call 491-9147 or visit www. cityoflakecharles.com.

The Junior League of Lake Charles proudly presents the Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market at the Lake Charles Civic Center! Enjoy shopping, food, and amazing special events such as the Preview Party Gala, Ladies Night, and Cookies with Santa and Friends. $10 General Admission, $60 Preview Party, $25 Ladies Night, $15 Cookies with Santa and Friends. Tickets can be purchased at /www.jllc.net.

Cirque D’Italia November 17-21 Avenue of Flags November 11 See patriotic spirit in all its glory at the Orange Grove/ Graceland Cemetery on Broad St., Lake Charles. Casket flags line the drive through the cemetery in honor of fallen soldiers and were donated just for this day. They will be on display from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Veteran’s Memorial Day. In addition, the Avenue of Flags also features a history circle where replicas of eight previous United States flags are flown. Call 437-7810 for more information.

Freddie Pate’s Jamboree November 12 Presented by The Mines Theatre, Freddie Pate’s Legends of Country is a tribute to country music greats. One night only at Lewis Auditorium, 175 Cypress St, Sulphur at 6 p.m. Tickets available at theminestheatre.com, at the door, or at the Brimstone Museum office at 900 S. Huntington St., Sulphur.

Flea Fest November 12-13 This semi-annual bargain and vintage-lovers festival has grown to be one of the largest events in the state! The event takes place over two days – and on four covered acres. Rain or shine, gates are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun. at the Burton Complex Event Barn, located on the south side of the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. Early bird admission starts an hour early at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.FleaFest.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fleafest or call (337)502-8584.

Tasting on the Terrace November 17 Sample more than 50 unique wines and beers while enjoying complimentary food on the L’Auberge Event Center Terrace on Thurs., Nov. 17. Tickets are $75 per person and are now on sale at the L’Auberge Business Center. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center, a division of Family & Youth. Hotel rooms will be offered at a discounted rate through Nov. 10. www.fyca.com.

26 November 3, 2016

Aerialists and acrobats and Jetskis? Oh my! Experience the magical world of Cirque Italia: The first traveling WATER circus in the US! The extraordinary stage holds 35,000 gallons of water and features a dynamic lid which lifts 35 feet into the air, allowing water to fall like rain from above as fountains dazzle below! This incredible show takes place under a majestic white and blue big top tent, which comes all the way from Italy! Don’t miss it! Performances will be held Nov. 17-21 at the Prien Lake Mall behind Pier One! Check website for performance times. Purchase tickets at (irqueitalia.com/tickets or by phone: (941) 704-8572.

On The Town Memorial Foundation Event November 19 The Memorial Foundation’s On the Town 2016 events will be held Sat.. Nov. 19 from 7 p.m.- midnight at L’Auberge.

Featuring Leif Pedersen’s 1944 Big Band with Kathy DeRouen, along with City Heat, guests will enjoy a four-course meal with wine and an open bar. Cocktail attire. For tickets, go to www.lcmh.com/onthetown

LC Symphony Holiday Home Tour November 27 LC Symphony Holiday Home Tour Nov. 27 The Lake Charles Symphony and The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital announce the 2016 Holiday Home Tour featuring homes on River Road. The date is Sun., Nov. 27 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $50 per person. Seven homes will be delightfully decorated for the holiday season with docents on hand to offer interesting and/or fun facts about each home. After touring the homes, enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, holiday cocktails and beverages while listening to the sounds of the season and more provided by Chris Shearman. Tickets can be purchased at www.lcsymphony.com or at the Symphony office located in Central School Arts and Humanities Center or by calling the Symphony office at 433-1611.

Vol. 8 • No. 14

Truevine

Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother’s Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South Life these days is a three-ring circus.

The clowns at your job dominate Ring Number One. Ring Number Two features The Juggler (you) and your checkbook, schedule, chore list, and family obligations. And in Ring Number Three, there’s a wild combination of the other two.

Run away and join the circus?

Yeah, that’s already happened but in the new book Truevine

by Beth Macy, it was far from voluntary.

Harriet Muse was nearly beside herself with worry.

According to legend handed down from mother to child for generations, Harriet’s sons were snatched away from their field chores on a warm day in 1899 – kidnapped in broad daylight by a white man with candy because Willie and George, ages six and nine, were not like other African American children of their day. The two Muse boys were albinos, with white hair, pale skin, and pink eyes.

Perfect, in other words, for the sideshow.

But was the legend true? For Macy, a modern-day journalist, it was an intriguing tale.

She wrote a story on it for her Vol. 8 • No. 14

newspaper and then started to dig some more, but she was thwarted by a great-niece intent on protecting an elderly uncle.

Even so, lots of people remembered the Muse boys, but nobody knew what had happened to them nor did dates or details explain how the Muses end up as sideshow exhibits.

Circus memorabilia collectors may recognize Willie and George from old postcards. The boys had supposedly been “discovered” by “freak hunters” in a country du jour and, through the years, were mostly captive to a series of handlers, circuses, and managers who paid them nothing, Still, the boys seemed to have embraced circus life although, from town to town, their names often changed, as did their stories and racial stereotypes they were forced to enact. In truth, they were just two uneducated boys with a genetic anomaly who’d been told all their lives that their mother was dead.

The boys were men before they knew that she wasn’t…

And therein lies the most difficult unknown in this book: what was the role of “dear old mother” in what happened to

the boys? Author Beth Macy presents evidence that’s sometimes contradictory, and which leads to more questions.

That’s not a bad thing, though. In Truevine, Macy patiently puts things into perspective through an overall sense of the times; a micro-look at one area of Virginia a century ago and peeks into circus life.

More importantly, we feel the crushing despair of Jim Crow laws and the despair Harriet Muse must’ve felt; when her Mother-Bear power emerges, we’re surprised, but not too much. Through this all, Macy forces readers to see things as they were, to consider what survival means, and to be open

to the idea that maybe today’s unthinkable was yesterday’s possibility.

While this book is a little on the long side, it’s got a story that’s overdue in telling, and that will appeal to historians and circus buffs alike. If Truevine sounds like a winner, then ring this one up.

Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother’s Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South”

By Beth Macy ©2016, Little, Brown $28 / $34 Canada 432 pages November 3, 2016 27

Evan Johnson: Digital Artist

By Brian Pitre The world of illustration has become a masterpiece in itself; a broad spectrum of colors and shadows. The ability to find yourself in one of the many strokes is the true beauty of an entire piece. Colorists have been around for centuries, but the digital platforms we live by today have allowed the profession to seed a bounty of new opportunities for young artists. We sat down with local artist Evan Johnson to learn more about his journey into this new digital age of art.

JAM: What sort of artist would you categorize yourself as?

Evan Johnson: Format wise, Digital 2-D Colorist.

JAM: How long have you been creating art?

EJ: 25-plus years. The majority of my life. Most people, when handed a pen or pencil, know right away.

JAM: What got you into art?

EJ: Art came natural. I fell in love with it as a kid, ‘80s cartoons, He-Man, G.I. Joe, Thundercats. Spawn comics were huge for me, but

Commander Mech

I wasn’t allowed to have them so I was hooked on what I couldn’t have. Tattoos where big for me, as well. I first saw them on the band guys from metal CDs and I was hooked. I even worked at a shop for a while where I built a wealth of knowledge.

JAM: What about the art caught you?

EJ: Todd McFarlane just had a style in those spawn comics; that hard, edgy line work and rich coloring was addictive to look at.

Seeing the different techniques and skills an artist would use to pair their artwork with a storyline was just awesome to me.

JAM: What was one of the first pieces you remember working on that made you want to pursue art in a greater form?

EJ: You know, I recognized it as a child, but I never really noticed until later. I drew a pencil portrait of my girlfriend in grade school.

I attempted realism and tried to capture lighting in new ways. That was when I realized I had something.

JAM: Do you have any formal artistic training or have you been self taught?

EJ: Self taught. A healthy blend of lifelong experience and YouTube. HAHA! JAM: Who are some of your favorite artist to follow?

EJ: Michael K. Russell… man, so many artists, just anyone I can

Link 28 November 3, 2016

Vol. 8 • No. 14

find. I love videos on composition, arrangement, and lighting, just anything I can learn I seek it out. Feng Tzu is probably one of my favorite artists. If I had $50,000 tomorrow, I would spend it all to attend his school. It sounds like a lot of money, but you are not the same artist when you leave that you were when you walked in.

JAM: What are some of your favorite pieces to work on?

EJ: Anything drawn by Danny Allain, local comic artist; Joe Madden, and Menas LG who is a DeviantArt Artist; all really great line artists. I really love working with gums and teeth, jagged edges and organic shapes, that’s that old spawn influence.

JAM: What transitioned you into the digital world? Do you miss the days of a pen and pad?

EJ: I do not miss physical art at all. I’m so big into tech and gaming, and bio tech, I even built the computer I work on now. I bought a Wacom tablet and I haven’t looked back; I fell in love with the freedom. It’s what drew me back into treating my art as work. The possibilities available for an artist working in a digital format are endless. I find myself staying focused longer on projects; it’s like a video game.

JAM: What sort of projects are you working on currently? Would you consider yourself an all-commission artist, or do you prefer creative freedom?

EJ: I would say both. I am currently illustrating a comic drawn by Danny Allain that I’m pretty excited about, and I’ve done a few custom colorings of line works people have requested. I honestly just enjoy working things where I get a chance to practice a new technique or learn something new.

JAM: What advice would you give an up-and-coming, self-taught artist looking to become a professional?

EJ: Man I’m still trying to seek that advice myself. I don’t The Dreaded Disciple, pgs. 1 & 2 consider myself a pro just yet; I still make mistakes. forget about them. Keep failing, keep trying, and keep learning. If you love it none of the rest matters.

You can contact Evan at evanneiljohnson@gmail.com.

Irie concept

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. 14

November 3, 2016 29

Thursday, Nov. 3 Julie Williams 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Ronnie Fruge 6 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Tommy Mclain with Louisiana Express 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder American Kids 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

Friday, Nov. 4 Julie Williams 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC River Katz 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Tommy James & the Shondells 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.

30 November 3, 2016

Classix Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton The High Rollers 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 American Kids 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Time Machine 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

Saturday, Nov. 5

3000. Tickets can also be purchased on performance day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Golden Nugget Box Office.

Classix Band 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Time Machine 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder The High Rollers 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Bryan Trahan 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Angel Garcia 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Tuesday, Nov. 8

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

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

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

Sunday, Nov. 6

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-

Monday, Nov. 7

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

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

Rick Springfield

DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 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

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

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

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Chester & Jarius Daigle JD’s Whiskey Brunch @ 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

L’Auberge Casino Resort Brittany Pfantz 7 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC American Kids 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort

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

Wednesday, Nov. 9 Chester Daigle 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Vol. 8 • No. 14

Chris Miller & The Bayou Roots 6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Whacky Wednesday with DJ Mark 7 p.m. @ Cajuns Wharf 3500 Ryan St, Lake Charles

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

777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Jivin’ Gene 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Perkins Road 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

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

Thursday, Nov. 10

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

Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort

Vol. 8 • No. 14

Friday, Nov. 11 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Big Jimmy & Reckless 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan 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.

Flamethrowers 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder LA Express 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Perkins Road 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Swagger 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

November 3, 2016 31

Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Rusty Metoyer 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, Nov. 12 Katie Whitney & Chip Radford 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC The 33s 8 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

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

Ronnie Milsap 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.

Flamethrowers 8 p.m. @ Mikko Live

You Can Dance a Waltz, You Can Dance a Two Step…

Louisiana music and culture are topics that I have not shied away from in these humble pages. In fact, I’ve tried to get behind any initiatives geared towards promoting and growing those legacies here and beyond.

Few have excited me more than an idea conjured up by some folks here who, despite their perceived youthfulness, have been working on and building a mature new cultural entity that takes its inspiration and “Roots” from some of the oldest notes in the pages of South Louisiana’s history.

The first incarnation of the Roots Revival was A Celebration of SWLA 32 November 3, 2016

Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder LA Express 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Swagger 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

Music History and it took place this past April. This show rolled back the time machine to the music that was our community when what we call Cajun and Zydeco and Swamp Pop were all coming to be. The collaboration between the SWLA Arts and Humanities Council, the City of Lake Charles, local “Country/Soul/Rock and Roll” act Sinners, the Itinerant Theater and numerous other artistic and musical guests brought an inspired panorama of sights and sounds that beautifully summarized the history and impact of SWLA’s music.

But as time moves on, so does the story of South Louisiana music, which brings us to the next chapter of Roots Revival, this one called Evolution.

You Can Dance the Slow Drag, You Can Do the Zydeco...

Returning to the creative seats for Roots Revival are the Arts and Hu-

Perkins Road 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush 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

Sunday, Nov. 13 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill 710 Ryan St., LC

Chester & Jarius Daigle JD’s Whiskey Brunch

manities Council’s own Jody Taylor and Sinners band leader Charles Lyons, who are no less passionate about their second such adventure than they were their first, but for these friends and long-time collaborators, that’s really no surprise according to Lyons, who says they’ve come a long way from putting on punk rock shows.

“We play off of each other’s strengths,” says Lyons. “He is really good at what he does and I would like to think that I don’t completely suck at what I do… (laughs) and I really do have a killer band behind me. I like organizing stuff like this. I like working on it. I like playing it. It has a lot to do with the subject matter, too. It is something that I am really passionate about.”

Taylor, who has taken the helm of writing this Roots Revival show, tells us that it does dip back into the roots, but also showcases where those sounds and those types of music are Vol. 8 • No. 14

@ 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

L’Auberge Casino Resort

Charlie Wayne 7-10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC Perkins Road 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC DJ Jose Mata 9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue Martini Golden Nugget Casino Resort

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, Nov. 14

Country Party

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

Tribute to Country Music

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

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

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

still happening, even today.

“Evolution starts at the beginning with the first Cajun music recording

by Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux, then traces the development of French music to the present,” he explains.

“Very excited about performances by Zydeco torchbearer Sean Ardoin (who will appear on a performance of an Amede Ardoin song!) and the Lost Bayou Ramblers, who are taking Cajun roots music to the next level and making it interesting for a brand new generation.”

And the “new” is just as important as the old, adds Lyons, who says while the first show was specifically about the people that made a significant impact on music at large from this area, the new show turns it toward where it has come and where it is going.

“People like Sean Ardoin and Lost Bayou Ramblers are doing all that same music, but they’re doing it in ways that they would have never thought of in the 1920s,” Lyons says.

“They’re no less Cajun or Zydeco.

They’re still very deeply rooted in where that came from.”

The Lost Bayou Ramblers hold a special place in Lyons’ heart. “They played at my wedding!” he laughs.

“But then, we had the opportunity to play with them at Luna a couple of Vol. 8 • No. 14

Tuesday, Nov. 15 5 and 7:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

years after. I mean, the guys have been nominated for a Grammy. These guys and Feufollet and the Pine Leaf Boys are the future of Cajun music. Their bringing some wild rock and roll and it’s dangerous and it’s loud but it’s still legacy. That’s what I love about Lost Bayou. They’re like us. They’re deeply rooted in what they’re rooted in but they’re not afraid to experiment and take it somewhere else. I mean Andre plays that accordion through a wah pedal, man. That just WILD, man!”

And not only will this Roots Revival be a musical one, but it will be a cinematic one, as well. Taylor adds that the show will also be featuring scenes from the Roots of Fire film project from Lake Area native Jeremy Lavoi and wife Abby, which is a an ongoing documentary film project showcasing the newer artists of the South Louisiana music scene. Taylor says that the San Francisco-based couple wanted to put their careers and experience in the television and film world to use, shining a light on Louisiana musicians such as Pine Leaf Boys, Lil’ Nathan and Feufollet.

“These groundbreaking artists, among many others, are the current generation of Louisiana French music, based in a culture that’s not only alive and well, but distinct and vibrant,

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

ever evolving from a foundation already rich with history. With Roots of Fire, Abby and Jeremey Lavoi aim to bring Louisiana’s progressive French music and its story to the world.” (“The Jambalaya News” Vol. 8 No. 9 – August 2016) Both of these young men say that they are hoping to bring that same spirit to Roots Revival: Evolution and hope that it, too, may find itself yet another shining moment in the time line that is our beloved South Louisiana.

“It’s like Dewey Balfa said,” Lyons adds. “’Tradition is like a tree. You have to water the roots to keep the tree alive, but at the same time, you can’t go cutting off its branches every time it tries to grow.’ He couldn’t be any more correct.”

It Don’t Matter What You Dance...

A culture that is as unique as ours is a hard thing to find and not one that you can replicate. There is an inherent honesty and authenticity to our music, our food and even our personalities that sets us apart from the world. As time moves on, it will always be important to hang on to the things that brought you to where you are culturally. But, it’s also important to recognize where and how November 3, 2016 33

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

Wednesday, Nov. 16 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

Country Party Tribute to Country Music 7:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

that culture is growing and adding to the tale that is the music and lives of where we all come from.

To see the younger generations not just recognizing their roots but embracing both the origins and the future is an exciting notion, but it is also

Kris Harper & Frankie Randazzo

Thursday, Nov. 17

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

Country Party Tribute to Country Music 5 and 7:30 p.m. @ Mikko Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

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

weaving more of the tale of who we are, what we do and were we come from and will, in time, be the very stories of yesteryear that the Amadie Ardoins and Joe Falcons and Cleoma Breauxs are to us today. They are the new legacy and as long as they continue on

this path of both heritage and innovation, then they too will be part of that eternal fabric that is those who have shaped and defined South Louisiana heritage, music and culture. I, for one, hope those stories and songs are shared for many generations to come.

Something is Happening Here...

Thursday, November 10: Roots Revival: Evolution – Central School’s Ben Mount Theater If you attended the first Roots Revival show, you know what a monumental night this will be. Tickets are $15 and are available by searching Roots Revival at www.eventbrite.com. For more information on Roots Revival or on the Arts Council, please visit www.artscouncilswla.org. For your own sake, GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!

JMLC Pet Sounds Giveaway!

That’s right! We are in the middle of another giveaway here at JMLC and those of you who read our last installment know that we are celebrating 50 years of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds with our next vinyl giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Pet Sounds (mono reissue – incorrectly said 50th Anniversary Edition Vinyl last issue. That set is a CD set, not vinyl.

OOPS!) courtesy of the Lake Area’s newest home for vinyl enthusiasts The Round About AND... we have a new prize to add to the package!

The good folks over at Da Capo Press were groovy enough to send us a hardbound copy of the brand new I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir (released on Oct. 11) to sweeten up the Pet Sounds Prize Pack! A big thanks to Da Capo Press and to The Round About (where the prizes are currently on display) for having some fun with us and sharing in on the excitement that is 50 years of Pet Sounds!

Now…. How do win all the lovely things? Well, that’s EASY! All you have to do is answer a Pet Sounds-related trivia question and if you get it correct, you’ll go into a drawing to win your very own vinyl copy of Pet Sounds and the new Brian Wilson memoir. Submit answers via email to JMLC@justinmorrisentertainment.com no later than midnight Thurs., Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day). All entries should include your first and last name and your guess to the following question: “While Brian Wilson did use the legendary “Wrecking Crew” to provide his “orchestra” for this record, he brought in some other studio musicians as well, including one artist who as of today has released 70 albums under their own name, netted numerous Grammy awards and charted over 80 times, who is credited with offering guitar and/or banjo tracks to 5 of the 15 tracks on Pet Sounds. Who is this artist?”

Simple! A big thanks to those who have already submitted their answers and as for the rest of you, I’m looking forward to seeing those emails roll in between now and Thanksgiving. The winner will be announced right here in JMLC in our issue hitting stands on December 1. Best of luck to you all!

I will see you back here in two weeks or I will… SEE YOU AT THE SHOW! 34 November 3, 2016

Vol. 8 • No. 14

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

BB & Company 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress Band starts immediately after Country Party performance @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Cherry 9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ 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

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

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

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

Friday, Nov. 18

Safira

Country Party Tribute to Country Music 5 and 7:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

@ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

Mike Dean Band 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Rodney Atkins 8 p.m. @ Texas Longhorn Club 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton

Willie Nelson 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.

Vol. 8 • No. 14

Band starts immediately after Coushatta Country Party performance.

Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Show 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.

BB & Company 9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton Safira Band starts immediately after Coushatta Country Party performance.

@ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Cherry 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 Fuse 9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ Rush Golden Nugget Casino Resort 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC Paws teh Cat 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Nightclub L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, Nov. 6 Chester & Jarius Daigle JD’s Whiskey Brunch @ 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

L’Auberge Casino Resort

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

Saturday, Nov. 19 Country Party Tribute to Country Music 5 and 7:30 p.m. @ Mikko Live Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder Rusty Yates 5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar L’Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC Flashback 7 p.m. @ Loggerheads 3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC Coy Planchard 8 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 HWY 109 S, Vinton November 3, 2016 35

36 November 3, 2016

Vol. 8 • No. 14

Vol. 8 • No. 14

November 3, 2016 37

Z.Z. TOP AT THE GOLDEN NUGGET It was a night of classic rock royalty as rock legends and facial hair enthusiasts Z.Z. Top lit up the Golden Nugget Grand Ballroom! Guests packed up the room to hear all of their favorite hits and some surprise covers. The show was such a hit, Z.Z. is coming back to the Nugget on March 11, 2017! See you there!

Faye and Eric Ford

Anne Colette and Bedina Warb

Joshlyn Foreman, Gerry Fontenot, Debbie Foreman and Barbara Lungaro

Mike and Tammy Rousseau

Jessica Meek and Justin Morris

KC PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW And from classic rock to classic ROCKY! KC Productions brought the beloved Rocky Horror Show back to Central School’s Ben Mount Theater for yet another Halloween season. Fans piled into the seats for a weekend of Time Warping with the KCP cast and crew! Participation kits got the audience in on the action and the whole team put together one epic show! Bravo all!

Lance and Randy Thibodeaux

Kalie White and Rebecca Trahan 38 November 3, 2016

Mitch and Liza Coe

Colin Leung, Jessica Flaherty and Lindsey Bower

Abigail Guillory and Elise Ange Vol. 8 • No. 14

KINGS AND SIRENS: NEW WORK BY SHANNON SIMMONS The collection spans two years of work and makes a great return to the scene for a very talented Lake Charles artist, Shannon Simmons.

Kings and Sirens is currently residing in the Art Associates Gallery on the second floor of Central School through December 2. Bravo, Sir and best of luck!

Mari Wilson and Jack Woodson

Kim Farris, Bryan Sullivan and Tessa DuVall

Sarah Cappel and Bridgette and Phillip Conner

Tom Cole andf Joey Frazier

Amie Johnson, Shannon Simmons and Morgan Allain

CITY OF LAKE CHARLES HARVEST FESTIVAL It was a Spook-tacular good time for the trick-ortreaters of the Lake City who turned up for the 2016 Harvest Festival. With everything from train rides and games to face painting and more, locals brought the little ones out to pass a safe and fun Halloween evening. Happy Halloween, Lake Chuck! We’ll see you back there next year!

Melissa, Evangeline and Joshua Macer with Chloe

Shawn, Ava, Sarah and Evelyn Heiss and Jessica Ferguson Vol. 8 • No. 14

Stacie and Natalie Beaster, Judi Dickson and Jordyn Beaster

Emme Quintanilla with Micha and Jazlynn Burnside

Jason and Dylan Hazel November 3, 2016 39