The Louisiana Jam - 10/24/13, Vol. 1, No. 10

On Cover: The Louisiana Jam’s Halloween Photo Contest October 24, 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 10

715 Kirby St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-436-7800 Fax: 337-990-0262 www.louisianajam.com PUBLISHER Phil de Albuquerque phil@louisianajam.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren@louisianajam.com

CONTRIBUTORS George Cline Dan Ellender Julie Fay Jordan Gribble Nishae Guice

Mike McHugh Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Jody Taylor Karla Tullos

ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER Senaida Ortiz SALES sales@louisianajam.com

GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Burn Rourk

REGULARS 4 We Are SWLA! 6 The Dang Yankee 7 Tips from Tip 7 Adoption Corner 8 The Sports Report 10 The Impressive Entertainer HEALTH & WELLNESS 11 Your Smile Speaks 12 Hospital Roundup 13 Lowering Your Odds of Stroke 14 The End of Daylight Saving Time 18 Treating Active Boomers THE SPICE OF SWLA 20 Events Guide 21 Family Fun Night at the Movies 22 Lake Charles After Dark 23 Halloween Happenings 24 Arts & Culture Guide 26 Red Hot Books 27 Acting Up! 28 Nightlife Guide 31 Jordan Gribble’s Local Music Scene 33 Funbolaya 34 Society Spice

ART ASSISTANT Sarah Bercier BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER Jeanie Taggart

Legal Disclaimer The views expressed by Louisiana Jamcolumnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Louisiana Jam, its editors or staff.

Louisiana Jam 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. Louisiana Jam 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 2013 Louisiana Jam all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

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A Note From Lauren It’s a Happy Anniversary Autumn brings big changes, from the turning leaves to the shorter days to the cooler weather. For me personally, it has always been bittersweet. I think the happiest day of my life was when Phil proposed to me on October 8, 1999. It was totally unexpected; I thought he’d pop the question after I met his family in Michigan for the first time, which wouldn’t happen until Thanksgiving. But he surprised me.

The saddest day of my life fell on October 18, 2002. That was the day I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer. She was my rock and my solace and loved me unconditionally. She was my mother. I was her daughter. When she died, I lost my home.

But the good out-

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weighs the bad, because November 3, 2003 turned out to be a very special, very happy day for us: It’s the day we officially moved to Lake Charles. That’s right; this November 3 will be our 10-year anniversary in Southwest Louisiana!

It seems like just yesterday, and it seems like we’ve been here forever.

On Halloween 2003, the movers came to our big old Victorian home in Taunton, Massachusetts, packed everything up and departed. We spent the last night sleeping on a mattress on the floor. We left early the next morning with our friend Joey, who came along to help us get settled. We spent the first night in Hagerstown, Maryland and the second night in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls. A perfect time to

say good-bye to the old and embark on a new journey.

And a new journey it was. Not only had we picked up and moved lock, stock and barrel to a totally different part of the country where we didn’t know a soul, we were also taking over a bed and breakfast—a business we had never done before. Talk about a challenge—but we were up for it. There comes a time in your life when you need to take a leap of faith and try something new.

Of course, we never dreamed that we would strike gold. I don’t mean with the bed and breakfast business, but with the good fortune of somehow ending up exactly where we should be. We had no idea what a treasure Southwest Louisiana is when we first came down to look at the house on Pujo

Street in August of 2003.

What we have found in Lake Charles is a real community of people who are genuinely friendly, genuinely caring, and love to laugh and have a good time.

Who celebrate life with gusto. Who have a positive outlook. Who give back a hundred times over. Philanthropic surveys have determined that Southerners are more generous with donations and their time than their Northern counterparts, and that is so evident down here.

We have found the most amazing friends that anyone could ever ask for. The most precious feline creatures to care for. The joys of Mardi Gras. Fabulous food. Great weather (turn up that heat!).

And a publication that informs everyone just how wonderful it is down here.

Every day we count our lucky stars.

We could have lived anywhere in the country, or even the world (Phil had actually looked into a cashew farm in Australia and made me talk to the owner. ME: “How many miles to the nearest hospital?” OWNER: “Thirty miles. Why, are you sick?”), but here we are.

To steal from an old quote, we weren’t born in Lake Charles, but we got here as fast as we could. Thank you, everyone, for ten wonderful years, Hurricane Rita notwithstanding.

We can’t wait to see what the next decade will bring.

Lauren de Albuquerque

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LAKE CHARLES TOYOTA DONATES TO McNEESE FOUNDATION Lake Charles Toyota has donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University Foundation for the operation of the new McNeese radio station KBYS located at 88.3 FM From left: Jeremy Nunnally, Lake Charles Toyota: Corey Tarver, that will be Lake Charles Toyota; and Jennifer Pitre, McNeese Foundation. launched in 2014.

McNEESE PHOTO

ATTORNEY SCHRUMPF RECEIVES PRESIDENT’S AWARD Attorney Oliver Jackson Schrumpf of Sulphur recently received the President's Award of the Louisiana Association for Justice. The award is one of the highest annual awards presented by the association.

Schrumpf was honored and recognized for the level of dedication to his clients and the pursuit of justice in two medical malpractice lawsuits Outgoing President Glenn J. Armentor of Lafayette (L) brought by the surviving family presents award to Attorney Oliver Schrumpf. members of patients who died.

L’AUBERGE DONATES TO CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles donated $10,000 to the Children’s Advocacy Center at its annual wine-tasting event, Tasting on the Terrace. The Children’s Advocacy Center is a Family and Youth program that provides a child-friendly atmosphere to coordinate services for children who have been reported as sexually or physically abused.

L – R: Julio Galan, FYCA president & CEO; Stephanie Miller, L’Auberge; Keith W. Henson, L’Auberge Casino Resort Senior VP and GM; Erika Simon, Children’s Advocacy Center; Candice Fast, L’Auberge.

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GRACE FOUNDATION DONATES TO McNEESE FOUNDATION The W.R. Grace Foundation has donated $6,000 to McNeese State University through the McNeese Foundation to be diFrom left: David Rentrop, Grace operations director, Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, vided between the engineering dean, Dr. Musa Essayyad, business dean, and Jennifer Couste, McNeese colleges Grace southeast regional controller. of business and enMcNEESE PHOTO gineering.

LOCAL FINANCIAL PLANNERS ATTEND NATIONAL CONFERENCE Local financial planning experts Denise Rau, Eva Abate and Philip O’Quinn with Rau Financial Group, located at 1634 Ryan Street in Lake Charles, recently attended focus13, one of the financial industry’s premier sales and education conferences.

The session was held in San Diego and hosted by LPL Financial, the nation’s number one independent Eva Abate Philip O’Quinn Denise Rau broker-dealer.

For more information, visit www.lpl.com and www.raufinancialgroup.com.

WHITTEN JOINS CENTURY 21 BESSETTE REALTY, INC. Barry Whitten has joined Century 21 Bessette Realty, Inc. Whitten is a licensed REALTOR and holds a degree in fine arts from Northwestern State University. Originally from Houma, Whitten has lived in Lake Charles for eight years. He entered the real estate field in 2010 and is licensed to sell residential and commercial real estate. Whitten specializes in listing and staging homes, and is an active performer in local theater. For more information, contact Century 21 Bessette Realty, Inc., at (337) Barry Whitten 474-2185.

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SOWELA OPENS STUDENT SERVICES CENTER WITH ASSISTANCE FROM L’AUBERGE To better serve the record number of students enrolled at the SOWELA Technical Community College campus, a new Student Success Center has been created.

Through a two-year Institutions Enhancement grant funded by the Dr. Neil Aspinwall, Chancellor, presents a plaque to L’Auberge Louisiana Board of Rerepresentatives (l-r) Kerry Anderson, Candice Fast, and Jessica Hays. gents, the completely refurbished and reconfigured 5,380 square foot area has been elegantly apportioned as a result of a generous contribution of furniture from L’Auberge. The contribution also helped equip the Student Success offices enabling the staff to provide one stop shop services that include student orientation, retention, events and workshops, counseling services, advising, planning and placement services, tutoring and testing.

NAMI BOARD NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The NAMI Southwest Louisiana Board of Directors named Anastasia A. Armstrong, M.A. as the new executive director. Armstrong is a native of Russia and a Lake Charles resident. She has six years of combined educational and professional experience in the mental health field. She had previously worked for NAMI SWLA as the walk manager and director of marketing while completing her studies at McNeese State University. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southwest Louisiana (NAMI Southwest Louisiana) is a nonprofit organization that provides support, education, and advoAnastasia Armstrong cacy throughout the Southwest Louisiana area on behalf of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

CAPITAL ONE DONATES TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SWLA Capital One Bank recently donated $6,000 to Junior Achievement of Southwest Louisiana in support of financial literacy to students in Southwest Louisiana.

(L-R:) Paul Lungaro, Capital One Bank VP; Meg Lovejoy, Junior Achievement of SWLA; Karen Thomas, Capital One Bank and JASWLA board member; and Fil Bordelon, Capital One Bank LC president and JASWLA board member..

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The Lunch Pail List

I’m sure you recall that movie from a few years back called The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The film has got nearly everybody above the age of 50 making a list of things they want to accomplish before they ”kick the bucket.” Their goals are often ambitious, such as to visit all seven continents. As a result, the AARP is now inundated with calls from seniors asking where they can get member discounts on Sunday brunch in Antarctica.

I don’t see anything inherently wrong with bucket lists. It’s just that some folks get a bit carried away with what they put down. For instance, it may sound neat to drive a racecar once around the track at Daytona. However, for many such people, a more realistic goal might be to back out of the driveway without hitting the mailbox. Still, we’ve got seniors out there who want to climb the Matterhorn, skydive, bungee jump, and chase tornadoes.

Yes, I said, “chase tornadoes.” This from people who probably won’t venture out in the rain to fetch the morning paper.

But lofty goals such as these seem quite sane compared to some of the PAGE 6

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ridiculous things that people sometimes put on their lists. A quick search on the Internet revealed several bucket list items that must belong to people who had medicated themselves a bit too heavily during the ‘60s. I’m talking things like, “Cover a car with Post-It notes,” and “Have a plant named ‘Robert Plant.’” While these are certainly doable, even for someone with the agility and mental prowess of a garden slug, it begs the question, “Huh?” I was surprised to learn during my investigative work for this story that goofy items are quite common on people’s bucket lists. According to the worldrenowned Cajun think tank, Boudreaux and Thibodeaux Research Associates, LLC, one of the more popular ones is to “ride down the stairs on a mattress.” I kid you not. While that sounds like fun, it seems a bit wimpy to merit a spot on one’s bucket list.

If you really want to do something involving furniture, why not really go for it and ride an office chair down a steeply-graded highway—you know, one of those that has the emergency ramps that truckers use when their

brakes give out.

I, however, am not so ambitious as far as to what I want do before I die. Like many people my age, I do have a list, but, meager as it is, I refrain from calling it a “bucket list.” Mine is more of what you’d call a “lunch pail list.”

For example, some people want to learn to speak or read in a foreign language. I’d be satisfied if I could just learn to interpret my kids’ text messages.

Others would like to make a measurable impact on water quality in our country’s rivers and streams. As for me, I’d like to figure out how to keep the algae out of our swimming pool for just one summer.

Join a barbershop quartet or learn to yodel? I’d be happy to sing a hymn at church without causing cracks in the stained glass.

You won’t even find something as modest as walking through a corn maze on my list. Hell, just once, I’d like to go to a Wal-Mart Supercenter and find a jar of con queso without getting hopelessly lost in the aisles.

Despite my modest goals, I still fear that I won’t succeed in crossing every item off my lunch pail list. But, as “Robert Plant” is my witness, I will die trying.

And it certainly won’t be from choking on a penguin wing while having brunch at the Antarctica Sheraton.

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Once you specify a brand name, even though it may be the well liquor, you have now ordered a “call” drink and can be charged as such. So it never hurts to ask.

WELL? When ordering an adult beverage in any establishment you are not familiar with, it would be wise to enquire what brand of whiskey they consider their “well” brand. If you order a mixed drink and don’t specify the exact brand of liquor to be used, you get a well brand. You can save a few bucks if it’s one of your favorites. In some establishments it can be a very inexpensive brand, but in many places, it may be better than what you would expect.

Well drinks are normally lower in price, so waiters/bartenders are often encouraged to ask if you desire any particular brand when placing your order.

Think higher guest check.

ALL ABOUT THE MONEY Having been a long time supporter of law enforcement, I am disappointed to see the pursuit of revenue eroding away old-time protecting and serving. A highly visible police presence makes no one except the evildoers unhappy. We all check the speedometer a little closer when we observe a wellmarked police vehicle in an adjacent lane. When we see a cruiser patrolling our neighborhood streets, we feel a little bit safer. When we observe a police car parked in a highly visible location, we are grateful for that presence.

However, using these same law enforcement personnel for revenue enhancement “in the interest of public safety” is another story. We all know better when we see police vehicles

stealthily placed in locations where they are all but invisible-- but at the same time allowing keen observation of intersections and other areas of fertile traffic citation revenue.

It’s one thing to “stake out” for real criminal behavior, but it goes without saying that the obvious presence of police vehicles would ensure more compliance in speed and traffic behavior. The pursuit of revenue should not be the objective of law enforcement.

UNREALISTIC SPEED LIMITS In keeping with a traffic revenue theme, in a recent letter to the editor of our local Lake Charles newspaper, a gentleman from DeRidder rightfully complained about the unrealistic speed limits that he was encountering in his routine travel to and from Shreveport. Excessively extended city limits are hindrances to normal travel and serve as revenue fountains to many municipalities in our state--an obvious abuse which needs to be curtailed. Since our highway taxes support the construction and maintenance of these roadways, they should also support a uniform means of setting traf-

fic speed limits for the benefit of all.

We recommend a uniform regulation speed limit formula for our highways.

Highway safety is a major concern for all of us, but being victimized by a money grab does not make the roadways any safer and does not breed respect for law enforcement.

SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP Our shopping comparison this issue takes a bit of a turn as we focus on items used in one’s daily toilet.

The prices reported here were obtained on Wednesday, October 16 and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. Our stores for this survey are: Albertsons-Ryan Street, Market Basket-Lake Street, KrogerMcNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road.

Colgate Total Toothpaste plus Whitening, 6-

ounce tube: Albertsons $2.99, Market Basket $3.59, Kroger $2.99, Walmart $2.96.

Listerine Cool Mint Mouthwash, 33.8-ounce bottle: Albertsons $4.99, Market Basket $5.99, Kroger $4.87, Walmart $4.47.

Ivory Soap, 3.1 ounce bar, 10-pack: Albertsons $4.99, Market Basket (did not carry 10 pack-3 pack $1.39), Kroger $3.99, Walmart $3.97.

Charmin Ultra Soft Bathroom Tissue, Mega Roll, 6-pack: Albertsons $9.99, Market Basket $9.17, Kroger $6.49, Walmart $6.97.

Centrum Silver Multi Vitamin and Multi Mineral Tablet, 220 count bottle: Albertsons $23.99, Market Basket (did not carry), Kroger $20.19, Walmart $18.38.

Featured by LaPAW Rescue

Crissy, a Cairn Terrier/Schnauzer mix came to us "possibly pregnant," then delivered seven puppies and survived parvo! This girl is a tough cookie.

She is 2-3 years old and is a 25-pound love bug!

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Happy and friendly to all people and animals, she will make a wonderful family pet.

Her puppies have been adopted and she is finishing heartworm treatment . Currently, going to a foster-to-adopt home is an option for potential adopters.

Home visit, vet check, and commitment to provide heartworm prevention are required

prior to all adoptions.

Foster homes are always needed--you can make a difference in the life of a homeless pet by fostering or sponsoring an animal. Call or email for more information: (337) 478-7293 lapaw@bellsouth.net.

Hurry, Crissy is waiting!

Love dogs and cats but can’t adopt? Consider fostering. There is no joy like saving a life and there are so many to be saved. Email us for more info!

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High School Football: What’s Happening Midseason If you’ve never seen it, the Helmet Project website is one of the coolest sports websites out there. Seriously, Google it once you finish this column.

Billed as an “atlas of football helmets,” it’s a pretty substantive catalog of historical football helmet designs from 1960 to present. You could spend hours poring through the copious digital renderings, believe me. I do feel sorry for the site’s creator, though. Nowadays, everyone has five different helmet designs. How about one with tacky electric silver flames and an airbrushed, gradated

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color look? Whatever happened to just one plain, old helmet? If you want to jazz it up, add those “Buckeye” stickers for good play.

Speaking of “Buckeye” stickers, we’re a little more than halfway through the high school football season. It’s time to pass out some midseason “Buckeyes.”

BEST ARM-HANDS COMBO Trey Quinn and Kennon Fontenot, Barbe Quinn, an LSU signee, is only on pace to break state records in career receptions and receiving yards while Fontenot is passing

Booty family members on the list of most career passing yards. Needless to say there is no better quarterback-wide receiver combo in the state (or most states).

BEST REMINDER OF THE PAST Daveon Banks, Pickering Banks is bringing back memories of great Red Devils running backs of years past like Sonny Roseborough, Sam Blocker, and Robert Williams. Banks now has 1,147 rushing yards, 215 of those coming in a 23-20 upset of topranked Many on Oct. 11.

BEST DRESSED/COACH Gordy Glaser, East Beauregard Most folks can’t pull off the bright red poncho/camo boots combination, but East Beau head coach Glaser is not most folks. The photo courtesy of his daughter, KPLC Sunrise anchor Britney Glaser’s Facebook page, stuck out as one of the best, most humorous pictures of the young season. I think the best part is that Coach Glaser is wearing khaki shorts under his poncho, leaving his bare legs poking out the tops of his duck hunting boots. It really is the best

picture of the year, so far. He’s also doing a bang-up coaching job as evidenced by…

BEST RECLASSIFICATION East Beauregard On a related note, how happy do you think the folks over in Dry Creek are that they are back in Class 1A? After spending the past eight seasons in Class 2A, the Trojans were reclassified into the state’s smallest classification and, under coach Gordy Glaser’s enthusiastic, motivational tutelage, East Beauregard has rediscovered its winning ways. Over those eight seasons, East

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Beauregard posted a 1462 record. Halfway through this season, the Trojans have won as many games (five) as they won from 20092012 combined. It was tough watching the Trojans struggle as one of the smallest 2A schools in the state. Now that they’re relatively even in the numbers game, it’s nice to see East Beau getting back on the winning track.

BEST (RE)INTRODUCTION Grand Lake Some schools, like Pine Prairie, have to wait years before their first varsity football victory.

Grand Lake waited just two weeks before pounding hapless Gueydan into submission.

Technically, it wasn’t the

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Hornets’ first-ever varsity win (the school had a team until 1961), but it was still pretty sweet.

Cameron a dangerous opponent. To me, it’s practically impossible to root against this team.

BEST UNDERDOG South Cameron Hurricanes Rita and Ike decimated lower Cameron Parish, leaving South Cameron High School with a dwindling pool of potential football players. Plus, with the restart of the program at Grand Lake, the oncemighty SC powerhouse has been left reeling.

However, under head coach Mark Delaney, the team’s numbers have gone up and so has the optimism. The Tarpons have won two games so far and players like Adam Broussard and Andrew Bonsall have helped make South

BEST TITLE SHOT Barbe With the public-private school split putting powerhouses like Rummel and St. Augustine in a separate bracket, Barbe and West Monroe look like the front-runners for the public school championship in Class 5A. With Quinn and Fontenot leading the way, I think Barbe reaches the Superdome for a second consecutive year and, if the Bucs play like they did against West Monroe the first time around, I think they can beat the Rebels and bring home the area’s first title since 1999.

BEST STORY The Illegal Procedure Referees The “illegal procedure” consisting of being arrested in the middle of a Mandeville-St. Paul district football game on Oct. 11. Evidently, head linesman Chris Gambino wanted to move a crowd of people away from the playing field and asked a Covington police officer to help him out. Unfortunately, the CPD officer couldn’t just do his job without running his mouth and an argument ensued. The cops are never wrong, of course, so Gambino and referee James Radcliffe, secretary of the Louisiana High School Officials Association, were handcuffed and dragged off the field in the middle of the third quarter. I’m just sur-

prised the CPD didn’t taze and beat them first for “resisting.” It’s no wonder that Eddie Allemore, the head of the referees’ association in Greater New Orleans, refuses to send officials to games staffed by Covington police officers. Good for him standing up to small-town yokels on a power trip.

Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University Brandon Shoumaker and has covered sports for more than a decade for various publications. Coaches or parents with story tips or comments may contact Brandon at bshoumaker@yahoo.com or send him a message on Twitter (@bshoumaker).

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By Nishae Guice

Family Halloween Spooktacular I love a party with a theme! They are a BLAST! Décor is always a no-brainer and you can be really cute and kitschy with everything, including your menu. If ever there was an excuse to be kitschy, it’s Halloween! It brings out the kid in all of us and it’s great to able to entertain the entire family. Prior to becoming a mother, I was known for hosting fabulous Halloween parties packed with smoking rum punch, candy-cornlayered shots, and 50 or more of my closest friends and whomever my husband met at Walgreens that day. We would drink, laugh and dance until dawn.

Now that I am the proud mother of two, I’m not big on the idea of having drunken, masked strangers in my home 45 minutes prior to my

kids hopping in my bed asking for breakfast. I managed to find a happy middle ground: a very kid-friendly costume party that my adult friends look forward to every year. I thought it would be difficult to entertain kids and adults at the same time. But it was much easier than I anticipated, because most of us are kids at heart.

A great way to bridge the generation gap is a carnival-style Halloween party. EVERYONE loves a carnival. Games like ring and beanbag tosses and balloon darts are fairly inexpensive. For the more crafty enter-

tainers, many games can be homemade. Late October in SWLA is generally mild and relatively mosquito-free, so I love hosting outdoors. Décor can be as simple as a black, orange, and purple color scheme or as extravagant as your imagination will allow. There are tons of inexpensive decorating ideas online; Pinterest is my favorite site. When decorating for Halloween, be mindful of the ages of your partygoers. Because my kids and their friends are so young, I stick to the cute and sillier side of the holiday. But I can’t wait for the days that I’m able to

Mummy Fingers!

Sticky Treat... Candied Apples! decorate on the spookier side.

I try to keep the adult drinks light and fruity.

This really isn’t the place for scotch and water, but this is Louisiana, so we have to have a little something. The kidfriendly punch can actually add to the ambience of your party with the help of some dry ice. It makes your punch look like a smoky witches’ brew! Be sure to put the dry ice in a mesh bag to avoid nasty burns.

The menu should be fun and playful and chock-full of sweet treats.

I like to have at least one menu item geared toward an adult’s palate, so pasta dishes and potpies work well. Try these recipes for your Halloween bash this year:

Mummy Fingers Ingredients 1 package of crescent rolls 1 pound smoked PAGE 10

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sausage (cut into thick 5-inch strips) 1 pound Monterey Jack cheese (cut into thick 5-inch strips) Creole mustard for dipping Preparation Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wrap a strip of cheese and a strip of sausage in crescent roll dough. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm.

Pizza Pasta Bake Ingredients 16 oz. of penne pasta 1-pound pepperoni (sliced) 1-pound ground Italian sausage 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese 1 cup Ricotta cheese 1 jar pasta sauce (seasoned to taste) Volume 1 • Issue 10

Preparation In a large pan on medium heat, brown ground sausage. When fully cooked, drain sausage, return to pan and add pepperoni.

Cook for 2-4 minutes, then add pasta sauce and lower heat to simmer. In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup of cheddar cheese and set aside. Boil and drain pasta. In a baking dish, layer meat sauce, pasta, and cheese (starting and ending with sauce). Top with remaining shredded cheese, and bake on 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese melts.

Red Candied Apples Ingredients 12 red apples (stemmed, washed and dried) 10 drops red food coloring 2 cups sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 ½ cups water Popsicle sticks Preparation Insert Popsicle sticks into each apple and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. In a heavy pot, mix sugar, corn syrup, and water, stir to combine. Heat to 300 degrees or the hard crack stage on your candy thermometer. DO NOT STIR WHILE COOKING. Remove candy mixture from heat and stir in food coloring.

Dip apples in candy, covering completely. Return to baking sheet to harden. When completely cooled and hardened, wrap in plastic wrap.

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Your Smile Speaks--

Before You Even Say a Word!

Teeth whitening is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the color of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.

“Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, we offer a Lifetime Teeth Whitening Special for only $99,” says Dr. Darren Chaumont, of Lake Charles Family Dental Care.

“This method involves a

take-home teeth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since teeth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important that we evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after the desired whitening is complete so that everything will match your new smile!”

Reasons for tooth whitening include: •Achieve a brighter, whiter smile without the high cost •Stained teeth due to smoking, coffee, or medications •Yellow- or brownstained teeth.

What does tooth whitening involve?

“It only takes one visit in our dental chair to get started on your new smile,” Dr. Chaumont says. “At the first appointment, impressions will be made of

your teeth to fabricate custom, clear plastic, trays. Once the trays are delivered you will be able to begin your whitening regimen that night.”

Dr. Chaumont says the trays are worn with special whitening solution 30 minutes at a time for desired effect.

Dr. Chaumont reminds us that teeth whitening is not permanent.

A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke or drink coffee, tea, or wine.

You will receive care instructions for your teeth and trays, and be encouraged to visit your dentist regularly to help maintain a beau-

tiful, healthy, whiter smile.

Lake Charles Family Dental Care, Darren W. Chaumont, DDS, LLC, 4001 Louisiana Ave., Lake Charles, LA 70607, 337-477-8931, www.lcdentalcare.com

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munity. For more information, call (337) 527-4144. lected to serve on a National Advisory and Education Panel.

Dr. Gilbert, a Lake Charles native and McNeese State University graduate, specializes in the treatment of endocrine diseases and disorders.

Memorial Awarded Designation

Dr. Gilbert Selected to Serve on National Panel Timothy Gilbert, M.D., local endocrinologist with the Endocrinology Center of SWLA, is one of six physicians from across the United States se-

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women has been designated a Center of Excellence for minimally invasive surgeries by the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery (AIMIS). Memorial for Women is one of only 41 hospitals nationwide and the only hospital in Louisiana to be designated a Center of Excellence.

WCCH Earns Seal of Approval

WCCH Auxiliary Donates to Hospital’s Foundation The West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) Foundation recently received a $9,000 donation from the WCCH Auxiliary. The donation, made possible by proceeds from sales in the Auxiliary’s Gift Shoppe, was made to assist the WCCH Foundation achieve its core mission of assisting the hospital in providing advanced, quality health care to the com-

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital (WCCH) has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety in hospitals. The accreditation award recognizes WCCH's dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission's state-of-the-art standards. WCCH underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in May of this year.

Bobby Fontenot Joins Springer Family Medical Bobby Fontenot, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has joined the clinical staff at Springer Family Medical Clinic located at 601 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive in Lake Charles. Fontenot, a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Lake Charles native, earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and a Master of Science in nursing degree from McNeese State University. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (337) 436-1370.

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Volume 1 • Issue 10

Lowering Your

stroke than they might think. Brian Kelley, D.O., of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Neurosurgical Associates agrees.

“People don’t need to feel powerless. There are several things we can all do to prevent stroke.”

First of all, Dr. Kelley said living a healthy lifestyle is invaluable to stroke prevention. “Everyday habits and the choices we make accumulate over the years, and by the time we’re in our 40s, 50s and 60s, those choices help determine our health. If we’ve gotten regular exercise and eaten healthy foods, the risk of having a stroke is much less than someone who abused their health. Those small choices matter,” he said.

Controlling blood pressure is a key factor in reducing one’s risk for stroke. If it’s above 120/80, talk with your doctor about it. Implementing regular exercise and eating a variety of healthy foods is often all it takes to see a dramatic drop in blood pressure. “Cutting back on salty foods and adding more fruit and vegetables can make a world of difference,” Kelley said.

Odds for a

Stroke Having a stroke can seem as unpredictable as the weather. It’s common to feel as though there is nothing to control or prevent it, but in reality, up to 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented.

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease; many doctors refer to it as a “brain attack.” It can rob people of their independence and self-esteem; in fact, stroke is the most common cause of adult disability.

Each year, about 795,000 Americans have a stroke, with about 160,000 dying from stroke-related causes.

The good news is that many of these strokes can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.

Health organizations such as the American Stroke Association and the Stroke Awareness Foundation say that people have more power over their risk of

Volume 1 • Issue 10

In some cases, medication may be the route to take in order to see a significant change. “However it’s accomplished, getting blood pressure down to a manageable level is critical,” he said.

Cigarette smoking can double a person’s risk for stroke.

Smoking has been proven to block the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain. “You’re never too old to reap the benefits of quitting smoking,” said Kelley. “No matter what your age, your body will begin to improve once smoking is stopped.

Otherwise, the effects of nicotine, carbon monoxide and cigarette smoke bring many health-related problems, including stroke, heart disease, lung disease and cancers.

In terms of stroke, having diabetes is like being 15 years older. “It’s interesting that if blood glucose levels are high at the time of a stroke, the brain damage is usually more severe than when it is under control,” said Kelley. “Keeping diabetes in check is important for overall health, including stroke prevention.”

Getting regular exercise, such as walking, swimming, or cycling – anything that gets the

heart rate up for an extended amount of time – is extremely beneficial to good health. It strengthens the heart, keeps weight within normal limits, and reduces the risk for other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease as well as stroke.

Monitoring cholesterol levels is another risk factor for stroke that can often be controlled with a healthier lifestyle; and in some cases, a healthier lifestyle combined with medication.

“While we may think we don’t have time to implement a healthier lifestyle, once a stroke occurs, we tend to realize we could have made better choices,” explained Kelley. “A life-changing event, such as a stroke, can quickly change a person’s priorities.”

Kelley says that because there are risk factors that cannot be controlled, such as age, gender, race and family history, it is even more important to focus on the ones that are within a person’s influence.

Dr. Kelley also emphasizes

that everyone should know the warning signs of a stroke, in order to get medical attention immediately. “Brain cells die from decreased blood flow and lack of oxygen; time is critical,” he said. If you observe one or more signs of a stroke, get help immediately. The signs are: •Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body •Sudden confusion, or trouble talking or understanding speech •Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes •Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance •Sudden severe headache with no known cause Immediate treatment when signs of a stroke occur can mean a great deal of difference. Although we can’t completely eliminate the risk factor for stroke, we can certainly do all we can to decrease the odds.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kelley, call (337) 4789653.

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The old adage spring forward, fall back affects more than just our clocks twice a year. For people with sleep disorders, this bi-annual transition can be a difficult one to make.

“A consistent routine is a huge part of getting a good night’s sleep,” says Michelle Zimmerman, nurse practitioner with the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana. “When you already have trouble sleep-

ing at night, losing or gaining an hour of sleep can wreak havoc.”

As America plans to shift back to standard time at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, Zimmerman offers these tips to adjust to the change.

Prepare early: While staying up later isn’t a problem for most people, some find it difficult. If you’re one of these people, try starting early by staying up a little later each night leading up to the time change.

Consider when to change your clocks: It’s automatic for most people to take care of this chore the night before the time change. In the fall, if you change the clock the night before, you will gain an hour of sleep, which is good for many, but not all. If you don’t change your clocks until the next morning, then you will get the same amount of sleep you normally do, assuming a regular sleep and wake time is kept.

Avoid exercise, caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime: All three can disrupt your ability to sleep and it’s always a good

idea to avoid them near bedtime.

Get plenty of light: This time change marks the beginning of shorter and darker days and since sunlight is needed to keep your circadian rhythms on track, the fall and winter months can lead to sleeping difficulties and depression for many. To adjust for this, be sure to get plenty of light in the morning and throughout the day. Natural sunlight is best, but if the days are cloudy or you’re up before the sun, turn on lights in your house.

What about the little ones?

Some kids have a difficult time adjusting, particularly young children who are still napping.

A few days before the time change, try to push their naps a little later each day to eventually line them up to where they will be after the time change.

For more information on sleep disorders or answers to your sleep related questions, call (337) 310-7378 or visit www.sleepdisordercenterofla.com.

Women and Children’s Hospital’s

Healthy Woman Event Women & Children's Hospital will host their next Healthy Woman event, “Cars, Colds and Christmas,” on Nov 7 from 5:30 -7 p.m. in the Nissan of Lake Charles showroom located at 1700 Siebarth Drive. This special holiday event is open to both men and women and will feature short presentations on “Getting PAGE 14

OCTOBER 24, 2013

Your Car Ready for Winter”

by Jason Benoit of Nissan, “Preventing the Cold and Flu this Season” by Joshua Whatley, MD with Lake Area Family Medicine, and “Decorating for the Holidays” by A Daisy A Day Flower & Gifts. Register at www.womenchildrens.com/healthywoman or call 475-4064.

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

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Calcasieu Community Clinic Provides Free Healthcare for Qualifying Residents of SWLA The mission of providing free healthcare services for the low-income, working, uninsured in our area has been a collaborative effort since 2001.

The Clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, pharmacists, nurses and laypersons who provide services for patients on Thursday evenings, beginning at 4 p.m. Once a patient qualifies to receive services for a medical need, they may be put on a waiting list to receive dental and vision services as well. Area hospitals, laboratories and imaging providers donate their services to patients on a referral basis in their individual facilities.

According to Kayla Rigney, Executive Director with the Calcasieu Community Clinic, “The community support of the clinic’s mission in the last twelve years

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

has been overwhelming. The collaboration in our community has been so great that it’s impossible to mention each and every effort individually.”

Since its opening, the Clinic has expanded to include a pharmacy, mammogram screening and dental and vision services on a referral basis through off-site providers and in 2009, introduced a medically supervised weight loss program.

Through these services, the clinic has been helping patients improve their overall lifestyle and health.

In order to qualify for care though the Calcasieu Community Clinic, applicants must be uninsured, working at least 20 hours per week, with verifiable income in the form of an electronic pay stub and recent Federal Income Tax Return. To see if you qualify, call 478-8650.

WCCH Joins Challenge to Help Louisianians Lose 200 Tons West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital has joined Geaux Lite Louisiana, a statewide hospital weight loss challenge to help fight obesity and improve wellness in our state.

Geaux Lite Louisiana is an initiative created by the Louisiana Hospital Association to address the state’s challenge with obesity. It is a 6month competition in which hospital teams, made up of staff, family members, individuals, and community partners, compete to get healthy. The goal is to lose 200 tons (400,000 pounds) statewide.

The challenge runs from October 1, 2013 to

April 1, 2014, and prizes will be awarded for hospitals and individuals. Four grand prize winners in the

state will each receive a $1,000 VISA gift card, a shirt, and an invitation to the Geaux Lite Louisiana Celebration. Each hospital team will have a local winner as well, who will receive a $500 VISA gift card, a shirt, and an invi-

tation to the Geaux Lite Louisiana Celebration.

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital invites community members and businesses to participate on the hospital’s team. To register, visit www.GeauxLite.org, and select West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital for team option. Weigh-ins for the public will be available from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. at Dynamic Dimensions at 545 Cypress Street in Sulphur on the following dates: 10/29, 11/12, 11/26, 12/17, 1/14, 2/4, 2/18, 3/25. For more information about the Geaux Lite Louisiana Statewide Hospital Weight Loss Challenge, contact Fran Landry at flandry@wcch.com or (337) 527-4261.

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Refusing to be sidelined, not slowing down when our bodies may tell us to. No matter the age, all of us have been guilty of this at one time or the other, but it is especially true for the baby boomer generation.

“This generation does not want to slow down and they should be applauded for their thirst for activity, but the weekend warrior mindset that has them participating in all sorts of rigorous athletic activities is contributing to a spike in hip and knee replacements,” says Dr. Robert Duarte, a total joint specialist who is fellowship trained in adult orthopaedic reconstruction and arthritis surgery.

Enter boomeritis. It refers to injuries to older amateur athletes, especially those who are part of the baby boom following the end of World War II. As the baby boom generation continues to age and stay active, there has been an ex-

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

plosion of bone and joint aches, pains, injuries, and ailments. Many of these injuries can lead to joint replacements, which have also been on the rise with this generation.

Orthopaedic surgeons Drs. Brett Cascio, Nathan Cohen and Robert Duarte of Orthopaedic Specialists, a part of the Memorial Medical Group, are using implant systems that are designed specifically for otherwise healthy baby boomers hoping to remain as active as possible despite the aging process.

One such system is the Arthrosurface®, metal and polyethylene implants, that are used in a similar way a dentist fills a tooth cavity. The implants are placed over the joint, resurfacing the area to alleviate pain. The idea being that filling in the cartilage defect with an anatomical implant may prevent the spread of damage thereby preserving bone, soft tissues and cartilage in this middle aged pa-

tient.

“The Arthrosurface® procedures are designed for the people who need or want to maintain or return to an active lifestyle,” Dr. Cascio says. “They can’t do that with a total shoulder joint replacement because it is too delicate.”

A similar system has been used on knee joints. Dr. Cohen was one of the first to get a look at the new procedure and has been using it ever since.

Before this procedure was available there were fewer options for active people who suffered from arthritis in their knee joint. This gives one more option prior to a total or partial knee replacement.

“The procedure is designed to be very bone and cartilage sparing so it will not ‘burn a bridge’ should future surgery be required years later,” Dr. Cohen says. “The technique is straightforward and allows the surgeon to map the patients’ anatomy during the procedure. By matching the implant to the patient rather than the patient to the implant results in an anatomic and inlay system. This is crucial to the more active demands of the patient.”

A younger person who has a knee or shoulder replacement will most likely out live the implant and have to have revision surgery which is a much bigger undertaking.

The Arthrosurface® system is

installed arthroscopically, allowing the patient to heal faster and with less pain.

For more information, contact the joint experts at Orthopaedic Specialists (337) 494-4900.

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Rouge et Blanc Wine Dinner, Oct. 25 The Rouge et Blanc Wine Dinner featuring wines from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates will be held at the Pioneer Club starting at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy Shrimp Louis salad followed by semi-boneless quail, Osso Bucco with risotto and candied cabbage and squash, and delicious chocolate Doberge cake for dessert! The cost is $85 per person. Contact McNeese Leisure Learning by calling 475-5616 to register or for more information.

Movies Under the Stars, Oct. 25 Bring the whole family to see Brave on Oct. 25 at Prien Lake Park. Free to the public, it begins at dusk.

Seating is first come first serve; bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and refreshments. Snacks can also be purchased on-site. For more information, call 721-3515.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Oct. 26 The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. It will be held at Prien Lake Park Oct. 26. Check-In/Registration: 8

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

a.m. Walk Ceremony: 9 a.m.

For more information, call (318) 861-8680.

Holy Smoke Cook-off & Praise Festival, Oct. 26 The Annual Harry Hooker Holy Smoke Cook-off & Praise Festival will be held on Oct. 26 at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. In addition to the cook-off, there will be food and craft booths and gospel and praise music. For more information, call (337) 78662651.

Moss Bluff United Methodist Fall Market, Oct. 26 Moss Bluff United Methodist Church will have a Fall Market on Oct. 26.

There will be arts, crafts, home décor, jewelry, baked goods, and more. Market hours are 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Call 855-6241 for more information.

Laffite’s Ladies Acadiana Double header, Oct. 26 It’s Roller Derby time!

Doors open at 6 p.m., Game begins at 7 p.m. at The Grindhouse, 932 Enterprise, Ste. C, Lake Charles, Admission is $15 at the door/ $6 children under ten. BYOB and bring a chair!

Culture Fest, Oct. 26 The Lake Charles Civic Center will come to life at the third annual Culture Fest Louisiana, which will celebrate the diversity of SWLA with food, music, fashion, art, and performances that span across the many cultures and ethnicities found in our region. Free to the public, it includes a cultural display area, an international village for children, a world café, and a wide schedule of live entertainment.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the stage will feature dancers

from India, steel drums, international choirs, Scottish bagpipes by Celtic Nations, belly dancers, Hispanic musicians, and Chinese dragon dancers. Visit www.CultureFestLouisiana.com.

Alaskan Travel/Boat Restoration Lecture Oct. 27 Award-winning author, Christine Smith, and her husband, Captain Jeffery Smith, will present a multimedia presentation on Alaskan travel and wooden boat restoration based on their numerous travels to Alaska and Christine's book, More Faster Backwards: Rebuilding David B. The presentation will take place at Central Library located at 301 W. Claude Street on Sun. Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. For more information, call (337) 721-7118 or go to www.calcasieulibrary.org.

Fire & Spice Chili Cook-off, Oct. 31 CITGO will be hosting its Annual Fire & Spice Chili Cook-Off benefiting United Way of SWLA on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Citgo Park in Sulphur. The annual event is open to the public, and general admission is only $5 per person which includes chili samples and voting privileges. (People's Choice tickets will be sold at the entrance and throughout the day.) There will also be a silent auction.

For more information, call (337) 708-6248 or email shacker@citgo.com.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Pumpkin Patch, through Oct. 31 The church grounds of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Sulphur are once again covered with big orange pumpkins! It will be open until Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Pumpkin Patch Storytime has two classes on ten different days; call 527-5179 to schedule a visit. Picnics can be held in the Pavilion if Volume 1 • Issue 10

arrangements are made beforehand. The Pumpkin Patch is located at 1700 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur. For more information, contact Cyndi Khoury at 5278787 or the church office at 625-4288.

First Baptist Jennings Pumpkin Patch, through Oct. 31 First Baptist Church has opened its Pumpkin Patch! Family Fun Day is Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. – noon. Enjoy fun jumps, a maze, rides, story time, games, contests and more! Located at 101 Cary Ave. in Jennings.

Moss Bluff United Pumpkin Patch,

through Oct. 31 Join the good folks at Moss Bluff United Methodist Church for the Pumpkin Patch!

Hours are Mon-Fri: 36:30 pm, Sat: 9 a.m.-6:3 0pm, Sun. noon-6:30 p.m. Proceeds from pumpkin sales will be donated to the Methodist Children's Home of SWLA and other SWLA charities.

For more information, call 855-6241.

Maplewood Community Trunk or Treat, Oct. 31 Enjoy family fun, candy, and free food Center Circle Park in Sulphur from 6-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Maplewood Area

Gravity

(Warner Bros., 2013)

Gravity starts out about 220 miles up above our heads. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is working on an experiment at the Hubble Telescope. Astronaut Shariff is doing repair work. And then there is Commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). Kowalski is on his last spacewalk before he retires. He spends it flying around in a new jetpack from NASA. The bottom half of the earth hangs in the background. But are we looking at the bottom or the top?

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It turns out that there is no “up” or “down” in free fall, as Ryan’s stomach informs her. Kowalski jets in long enough to help her with her work, snatching a tool she just sat “down” long enough for it to start floating away.

With the camera following Kowalski all around we find ourselves getting dizzy, because absolutely everything in our view is floating. Those of us old enough to remember Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 are waiting for the Blue Danube Waltz to kick in. The scene

Churches. For more information, call (337)625-5899.

‘On the Town’, Nov. 2 The Lake Charles Foundation presents “On the Town” with the Lettermen at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles on Nov. 2 from 7-11:30 p.m. Enjoy a sitdown steak dinner and complimentary wine and liquor. Also performing are Chris Miller & Bayou Roots and 1944 Big Band. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, call 494-3226.

The Red Tent Gathering, Nov. 8 For women only!

Enjoy soothing sounds

is disorienting, yet somehow peaceful. Kowalski jokes “I have a bad feeling about this mission, Dr. Stone.” All he really seems to care about is that his career spacewalk stats are going to fall short of the all time record by about 10 minutes.

Let’s stop right here and say that this is what we’ve all been waiting to see for a long time: Space work has become routine, and the workers are focused but relaxed, secure in their pressure suits, safely tethered to the space shuttle.

All of this is about to change. NASA informs the crew that a Russian satellite has accidently been hit and shredded, soon to bring debris toward our working trio. Kowalski, all business now, orders the mission aborted. They need to get out of there.

But Dr. Stone works on, trying to finish up her experiment. Next thing we know, the entire space shuttle is being wrecked by flying debris, with the as-

from harpist Patricia Horvath and beautiful art, precious crystals and other offerings. Get a foot or hand massage, a hairbrushing, (Bring Your Own Brush!) or a mehendi (henna) tattoo. Learn a few new steps while dancing to joyful music, and talk with inspiring people.

See a screening of the Red Tent documentary, “Things We Don't Talk About.” Event will be held at the Candice Alexander Art Studio and the lobby of the Charleston Hotel @ 900 Ryan St. in downtown Lake Charles from 7-10 p.m. Potluck, bring food to share. Admission is $15. For more information, email firemaidens@ gmail.com.

tronauts still outside. Dr. Stone, with her lifeline still attached, immediately becomes a human tether ball as she starts twirling around the remains of the shuttle.

Up until this point of the movie I just thought I

was getting dizzy. Surely the whole crew is going to die. But not right away.

Stone and Kowalski still have air in their suits. Shariff is out of the picture, until later in the movie. But there is no way for them to be rescued, they are just floating up there above the stratosphere with no way to save themselves.

Quite frankly, I was afraid that Gravity would at this point degenerate into an adult version of The Breakfast Club, with the astronauts making small talk until they were

Jesus Christ Superstar, Nov. 8-9 Itinerant Theatre presents iconic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar at 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 8-9 at Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center. The iconic rock opera is a retelling of the age-old tale expressed entirely in musical form. Purchase tickets online at www.ticketmaster.com, visit any Ticketmaster outlet, including the LCCC box office, or call the LCCC box office at (337) 491-1432. Ticket prices are $35, $25 and $20 and increase by five dollars ($5) if purchased on the day of the event.

miraculously saved, or not.

Instead, we get treated to 90 minutes of ingenuity in an intense struggle for survival. It beats other shipwreck movies to hell, because there is no island, nowhere to put your feet.

Although I didn’t think the acting was “Oscar-worthy,” as some have claimed, it was excellent. We are strung along for the remainder of the movie in some incredible realism.

A friend of mine commented that when the movie was over, they were tired.

Indeed, standing up in the theatre after the movie is over becomes almost a profound action.

I think this movie would be fine for middle school kids, although they may find part of it a little slow. There’s one gruesome scene and maybe a few foul words, but children may be upset by all the destruction and a dead body here and there. One thing is for sure; all the adults who have seen Gravity liked it. Definitely worth the trip. Enjoy!

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Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Foundation’s On the Town Memories It’s going to be an event to remember on Saturday, November 2 as the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital presents “On the Town Memories” in the Grand Ballroom at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles.

“This annual event is a great opportunity for the doctors and the community to come out for a night of good food and entertainment,” said Leif Pedersen, Senior VP of Philanthropy at Memorial.

This year, all proceeds will go to the newly established scholarship fund for students who plan on majoring in a health-related field.

Initially for McNeese students, it has now been expanded to include those attending Sowela. “Eventually, we hope to be able to offer scholarships to students who attend colleges beyond the area,” Petersen said.

Tickets are $75 per person and include a sit-down steak dinner, complimentary wine and liquor, and entertainment by the world-fa-

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

mous trio The Lettermen, Chris Miller & Bayou Roots and Leif Petersen’s own 1944 Big Band. The dress code is dressy casual. “Men can wear a sports jacket, but they don’t need a tie,” Pedersen said.

The night’s entertainment has something for everyone. The Lettermen are known for their smooth love songs and melodic harmony.

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots’ French Cajun music will put you in the mood for a little two-stepping, while the 1944 Big Band is swing at its very best.

Pedersen and his board have been planning the event some time, and he’s appreciative of their efforts.

“I have a great board, headed

by Karen Drewett,” he said.

“I couldn’t do this without their help. They’re fantastic.”

Tickets are selling fast; call 494-3226 or go to www.lcmh.com. Hotel rooms are available at a discount of $159. To reserve a room, call (337) 395-7777 and mention CODE SLCMH2.

Halloween’s here again, y’all, and everyone is entitled to at least one good scare. In the past, Lake Area fright fiends had to make the trek to Beaumont for the Haunted Hotel, maybe even Baton Rouge for 13th Gate (both great attractions) or simply settle for a few nights on the couch with classic horror films and a giant bowl of popcorn to get into the spirit. But thanks to some homegrown “hauntrepreneurs” at The Lost Hollows and The Bludd Vessel, you don’t even have to leave the city limits.

The USS Orleck is a historic naval ship first launched in 1945 into the Sabine River, returning to Lake Charles as a museum in 2010 after serving in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Every October, dedicated volunteers turn this historic ship into The Bludd Vessel, raising money for its restoration and operation.

The uneasiness starts almost immediately, destroying your sense of safety

while still in view of your car.

After procuring our tickets, we were followed through the gates by a ghoulish, pint-sized terror in skull face, wearing bloody rags and brandishing a knife, growling. Up the ramp and onto the ship itself, carnival barker hosts in cheesy moustaches greet

the guests, leading us to a closed hatch where we await our journey through the haunted ship amongst the unwelcoming Bludd Family.

Standing on the deck sets the eerie atmosphere perfectly. There’s a light drizzle, deep fog rolls over the Calcasieu River and the tension builds until, finally, a knock from the other side of the hatch.

The heavy door creaks open and its horror time.

Navigating through the dark, claustrophobic hallways of the ship, one never knows what waits around each shadowy corner, and The Bludd Vessel uses these tight quarters for maximum tension.

You’ll be up and down stairs, losing the path and worrying about how to escape the maze of corridors, when the

next monster leaps out unexpectedly.

In contrast and equally terrifying is the open-air environment of The Lost Hollows. Cynthia Eagle, an interior designer, and her husband Larry, an art teacher, acquired the land which houses this haunted attraction knowing they wanted to create a place where the community could enjoy year-round entertainment. “We decided that a haunted attraction was the best first-step on the way to providing such an experience,” Cynthia Eagle said.

The artistic experiences of their day jobs, along with attending conventions for haunted houses helped the couple in designing the space.

Visitors to The Lost Hollows immediately see how the year-long preparation of “brainstorming and building sets that disorient the senses and prey on phobias” pays off, as gorgeous sets adorn the whole trek through these ghastly grounds. Pumpkins and creepy baby dolls hang all around you in the trees and small lanterns illuminate the way, giving off precious little light. Some guests may worry about a clear path in this outside environment, but the design cleverly keeps you on track without sacrificing the valuable feeling of trudging blindly through Volume 1 • Issue 10

some forest in a horror movie.

My head was on a swivel the entire time. Not only did I want to take in all the awesome decorations, but I often looked backwards to find up to four ghouls creeping along behind me, with more assuredly waiting to pop out in front. I wanted to stand around, taking it all in, except for that guy with a chainsaw chasing me.

The Lost Hollows offers two separate paths.

The Deadly Pines Trail is darker and much scarier, not for the faint of heart. “We have had people hyperventilate, pee their pants and lose their shoes!” Eagle laughed. The Spooky Timbers Trail is more family-oriented, a great trip for the kids and affordable at only $5 per person. The sets on this trail are also beautiful, featuring lights, bubbles and colorful props that stimulate the senses.

I’d love to tell you more about these two haunted attractions, as the vivid descriptions of each scene would seriously tickle this horror fan’s fancy, but I’d hate to spoil any surprises.

They’re just that darn good. In fact, a second trip through may be just what I need to close out this Halloween season.

The Bludd Vessel, located on the Calcasieu River at 604 North Enterprise Blvd., opens the hatches at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the end of

Volume 1 • Issue 10

Bludd Vessel, Oct. 11 - 27 An Experiment in Terror has turned the USS Orleck into...

THE BLUDD VESSEL! Prepare yourself for suspense, chills and frights for 15-18 haunted minutes if you come out alive!

Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday and Saturday, gates open at 6 p.m., ship hatches open at 7 p.m.

Ticket are $12 and $25 for a fast pass. No children under ten or open-toe shoes allowed. The USS Orleck is located at 604 N. Enterprise Blvd. For more information, call (337) 2147447 or visit www.orleck.org.

October (plus Wednesday Oct. 30 and Thursday Oct. 31!) and tickets are available on location or through their website at www.orleck.org.

To take a walk through the Lost Hollows, purchase tickets at the Spirit Halloween store on 3413 Derek Drive and board the shuttle starting at 6 p.m. The ride in this cattle trailer is the perfect start and a great touch, just another fresh truckload of victims on a hellish hayride, lambs to the slaughter. The attraction runs this Friday and Saturday, plus Wednesday Oct. 30 - Saturday Nov. 2.

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit www.thelosthollows.com.

with Fan Club Card. For more information, go to www.isleofcapricasinos .com.

Halloween Bash and Health Fair Oct. 25 The Calcasieu Council on Aging presents the Halloween Bash and Health Fair from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Sulphur Parks and Recreation Center. Put on your costume and enjoy a continental breakfast, music, entertainment, a barbecue lunch and door prizes!

There will also be a health fair, flu shots and a costume contest. The center is located at 933 West Parish Rd. For more information, call 474-2583.

The Lost Hollows, Oct. 11 - 31

JoBeck’s Halloween Bash, Oct. 25

Enjoy Halloween haunting at The Lost Hollows: Spooky Timbers Trail for children and Deadly Pines Trail, for those who dare enter! Shuttle from Spirit of Halloween on Derek Drive, next to Academy. Recurring weekly on Fridays and Saturdays, hayride starts at 6 p.m. with specific trails opening at 7 p.m. or at nightfall. Located at 3301 E Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles. Admission is $5 for Spooky Timbers Trail, $20 for Deadly Pines Trail, and $35 for Fast Pass. For more information, email info@thelosthollows.com or visit www.thelosthollows.com.

If you’re between the ages of 11-16, come on out to JoBeck’s Halloween Bash from 7 - 11 p.m. at JoBeck's Party Center, 3620 E. Napoleon Street, Sulphur. Prizes for Funniest, Scariest, Most Original and Best Overall Costumes. Admission is $5. For more info, call 485-9353.

Monster Bash at the Isle, Oct. 25 Get your Halloween costumes ready for the Isle of Capri/Townsquare Media Monster Bash on Fri., Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. with Radio Hall of Famer Dick Bartley.

Dance the night away and enter the costume contest for your chance to win one of the nine cash prizes.

Tickets are available at the Banana Cabana gift shop at the Isle for $10 each, or $5

ArtsFest, Oct. 26 ArtsFest returns to engage area children in a free arts festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Civic Center’s Coliseum. The theme is “Fairytales, Myths & Legends,” and each booth will allow children to create art projects about local legends and myths from around the world. There will be live music, performances, and educational demonstrations. In the spirit of Halloween, children are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costume and to participate in the annual ArtsFest Costume Contest. Winners of the ArtsFest Art Contest, which has been accepting entries from SWLA schools for several weeks, will be

announced at the event as well. For more information about ArtsFest, call the Arts Council office at (337) 4392787.

Central School Halloween Spook House, Oct. 27 Experience another side of local history by bringing the family to the Central School Arts and Humanities Center’s family friendly haunted house (located at 809 Kirby Street) on Oct. 27, from 5:30- 8 p.m. Each child will receive a trick or treat bag along with a sweet treat and will get their faces painted in the Benjamin W. Mount Auditorium. Come dressed up in your Halloween best and join the fun. Call 375-7373 for more information.

Fright Night at L’Auberge Oct. 31 L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles continues its fun Halloween tradition with a frightful costume contest at Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill. The Halloween party and costume contest will feature crowd favorite DJ Timbo and $10,000 in cash and prizes. Costume contest registration takes place from 9 – 10:30 p.m. Winners announced at 11 p.m.

Guests must be 21 years of age and present a valid photo ID. Cover charge is $15. For more information, go to www.llakecharles.com/entertainment.

Trick or Treat Tent Event, Oct. 31 Trick or treat inside JoBeck's with tents decorated by members of the Krewe of Good Times! Don't forget to vote for your favorite tent before you leave!

Event is from 7-11 p.m. at JoBeck's Party Center, 3620 E. Napoleon Street, Sulphur.

For more information, call 485-9353.

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 23

Mayor Roach Honors Leaders in the Arts Before I Die: Interactive Public Art The Before I Die project started in New Orleans in 2011 by artist Candy Chang, after the death of a friend. The project has been in over 50 countries. Recurring daily, all day, on the west side of 505 Bazaar at 314 Broad Street, Lake Charles. (337) 370-0353, Oct. 11 - 31 Brainstorming: Graphic Design Exhibit Henning Cultural Center 923 Ruth St., Sulphur Mon-Fri 10 am-noon and 1 pm-5 pm Sat 10 am-2 pm 9/26/2013-10/24/2013 337-527-0357 Some Thoughts About Perception Heather Kelly Exhibit October 18 - January 4 Children in Motion with Nancy Melton through Jan. 4 The Curious World of Patent Models through Dec. 28 from 5:30-8 p.m.

Historic City Hall 1001 Ryan St. Lake Charles Mon- Fri 10 am- 5 pm Sat 10 am- 2 pm 337-491-9147 Adrian Fulton: “Metal Health Series” Through Nov. 27 M-F 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Black Heritage Gallery Central School 809 Kirby St. Lake Charles Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm 337-488-8567 McNeese Faculty Exhibition Through November 22 M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Grand Gallery, McNeese State University 4205 Ryan St. Lake Charles 337-475-5060

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

DeQuincy Railroad Museum 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm 337-786-2823 DeQuincy Town Hall Museum 218 E. Fourth St. DeQuincy Mon-Thurs 9am-noon and 1 pm-4pm 337-786-8241 Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu 809 Kirby St. Lake Charles Tues-Fri, 1 pm- 5pm 337-430-0043 USS Orleck Naval Museum 604 N. Enterprise Blvd.

Lake Charles Mon-Fri 10 am-3pm Sat 10 am -4 pm 337-214-7447 Vintage Arts

By Jeanne Owens Central School 809 Kirby St., Suite 212 Lake Charles Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm 337-304-1165 W.H. Tupper General Merchandise Museum 311 N. Main St., Jennings Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm 337-821-5532 Tales and Travels Through Jan. 12 Painting the Pages Through Oct. 12 Stark Museum of Art Tues.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm Orange, TX 409-886-2787

The Arts Council of SWLA and the City of Lake Charles recognized the contributions of the creative workforce during the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards held recently at Central School.

Mayor Randy Roach presented awards to eight area leaders in the arts.

Photographer Lindsey Janies, who has invested her photography business in bettering the area, was honored with the prestigious Artist of the Year Award. George Swift, the President/CEO of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance, was awarded Patron of the Year for his initiative to establish and grow a cultural economy movement in the five parish region.

Susan Rodgers, art teacher at Sam Houston High School, was awarded Arts Educator of the Year for her commitment to enrich her students’ lives through creativity. Rick and Donna Richard of Empire of the Seed were awarded Citizens of the Humanities for their dedication to preserve historic sites as well as create new vibrant buildings in downtown Lake Charles.

The Arts Organization of the Year Award was given to Common Ground. Its members were recognized for their work in creating the quickly growing Culture Fest Louisiana, which celebrates the diversity of

Lindsey Janies receives the Artist of the Year Award from Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach Southwest Louisiana’s many cultures.

Lady Holly Hathaway Kaough, artistic director of the Lake Charles Civic

Ballet, was honored with Citizen of the Arts for her drive to expand the impact of the Civic Ballet.

The Keystone Award is named for the vital centerpiece of an archway, and is given to those

working behind the scenes to produce and facilitate arts events and initiatives. Debbie Howrey and Lisa Schram of the Lake Charles Symphony were honored with the award for their endless dedication to making the Symphony more creative, progressive, and accessible.

Nominations for the Mayor’s Arts Awards are accepted year-round. For more information, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org or call (337) 439-2787.

Volume 1 • Issue 10

at the Henning Cultural Center on Halloween Night

esting art. The “Nice Shootin’ Tex” by Jim Ferguson - www.etsy.com/shop/jimbeanus Square starting at 6 p.m. ter is located theme includes artwork at 923 Ruth inspired by video games, Also, once the sun goes Street in Sultelevision shows, movies, down (around 8 p.m.), books, comics, and more! the City of Sulphur will phur, and is open Mon. – be showing a very speThis is not your typical Fri. from 10 cial “Movies in the art show! a.m. – noon, Square” presentation of The opening Ghostbusters: the Movie! and 1 – 5 reception will For more information p.m., and on be held on Oct. Saturdays about this exhibit, call 31, from 6 – 8 from 10 a.m. p.m. Admission (337) 527-0357. The – 2 p.m.

Henning Cultural Cenis free, and refreshments will be provided.

Since the opening falls on Halloween, visitors young and old are encouraged to come in costume!

In addition to the art exhibit opening at the Henning “The Monster” by Eric Manuel Cultural Center, several local organiless of their professional zations, led by “4 Them artistic affiliations. The display will feature works Community Group” will be hosting a Trunk from illustrators, tattoo or Treat at Heritage artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, and many more.

The Cultural Center invites everyone to attend this one-of-a-kind display. The exhibit will be on the walls from Oct. 31 – Nov. 21, so don’t miss your chance to “He-Man” by Thom Trahan catch some really interThe Henning Cultural Center invites the public to the opening reception of its annual “Chaos Theory” exhibit: a salute to pop culture artists around the area, regard-

“Samurai Sith” by Dreek Owen

“Let the Wookiee Win” by Jim Ferguson Volume 1 • Issue 10

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 25

W is for Wasted and Willow Frost Now that she has written W Is for Wasted, author Sue Grafton has only three more books to write to complete her alphabet of books about Kinsey Millhone, our favorite private detective in Southern California.

Kinsey is now 38 and still unmarried. "I'm a person of order and regulation, discipline and routine. That's what makes me feel safe. The anarchy of the disenfranchised is worrisome," Kinsey tells us.

As the book opens, two men have been found dead: One is an unidentified homeless man; the other is a hardboiled and morally bereft detective.

What in the world do these two have in common? Well, although it isn't at first apparent, they both have dealings with our old friend Kinsey.

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

And this case could prove to be very lucrative indeed for the female sleuth.

The homeless man is found to have Kinsey's name in his pocket, but who is he? As she works to find his identity, things get quite personal. She meets several other homeless people and a not-exactlyethical doctor, encounters some relatives she's never known, and gets thrown for a loop when one or two old flames show up.

Kinsey waxes philosophical here, more than she ever has before: "Life is little more than a series of overlapping stories about who we are, where we came from, and how we struggle to survive. ... It's folly to assign meaning to every chance event, yet we do it all the time."

"Why is it that other

people's plans so often seem ill thought out while our own make so much sense?"

"Being righteous and opinionated reduces everything to black and white; much easier to deal with than all the shades in between.

But she can be funny, too: "Handguns, as a rule, don't hump from place to place of their own accord.

Handgun migration is almost entirely the result of human intervention."

W isn't so much a whodunit as a whydidtheydoit.

We know almost from the start who did what. Like an episode of Columbo, it's interesting to watch as the detective figures everything out. And as always, following Kinsey around California is simply pure pleasure. This time, she has plenty to deal with in her personal life, and it's rare that Grafton lets us get such a close-up look at Kinsey's family.

Grafton's books are intelligent, thought-provoking, entertaining and satisfying. Plus, she experiments with her writing, so that no two books are exactly the same. Unlike some of her books, W

is NOT one that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I usually try to read them in one sitting, but this time I deliberately stretched the reading out to several days, so I could stay awhile with Kinsey in Southern California, between the mountains and the sea.

Marvelous.

Next up: X – but, knowing that she doesn't like to use the obvious word in her title, what in the world will she make X stand for? The speculation begins.

Songs of Willow Frost is the second novel by Jamie Ford, author of the wonderful Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

The story is set in Seattle's Chinatown in 1934 with flashbacks to more than 10 years earlier. Young William Eng lives at Sacred Heart Orphanage, where he and the other orphans are treated rather badly by the nuns in their care.

William is the only Chinese boy there, and he feels isolated.

To make their lives easier, the nuns celebrate all the children's birthdays on the same day, on which the boys are allowed to go see a "talking picture." Sitting in the movie theater, 12year-old William sees on the screen a singer named Willow Frost who looks very familiar. "William knew he had to meet her in person, because he had once known her by another name -- he was sure of it." He knows in his heart that the singer is his mother, Liu Song, whom he hasn't seen since he was 7 years old.

It's the midst of the Depression: "The marquees were so inviting, so majestic, so dazzlingly colorful, like gateways to magical worlds, where the flicker of a cinema projector had brought the spirit of his mother back to life. He was so captivated, so lost in the neon Volume 1 • Issue 10

Volume 1 • Issue 10

The Lake Charles Film Festival A VIP Peek Behind the Scenes a special video webcast before breakfast.

Fast forward a bit and I was standing in awe in the same room as William Katt, best known for his lead role in The Greatest American Hero. I refrained from singing “Believe or not, I’m walking on air” and tried not to let my “star-struckness” show on my face as I waited my turn. Little did I know later in © Daniel Castro Photography the day I would take a photo with Mr. Katt sitting in the chair from our local movie The Man in the Chair.

Next up was Jim Devault, who would be teaching a class on how to make movies on no budget, or as the interviewer John Ware joked, Julie Ann Fay, William Katt how to make and Gary Shannon a movie on filmmakers and lots and lots twelve dollars and fifty cents. For those who missed of creative folks. And I was lucky enough to be in one of his class at the fest, he does those local movies this year. have a book Filmmaking on a low budget – Re-e-e-eWhich also meant I had to eaaly Low Budget. You can get out of bed early and head on over to KPLC to do find it on Amazon.com.

The alarm clock rang early that day. Way, way, way too early for the morning after a night of chatting with filmmakers at the Kickoff Party for the Second Annual Lake Charles Film Festival.

But my bleary eyes brightened a bit once I remembered what day it was. It was festival day. A day chock full of movies and filmmaking workshops, movie fans and

I was so excited to be there that my costar Gary Shannon and I forgot everything we knew about television and ended the webcast on a comedic note. First, we walked behind the interviewer while he was on camera instead of sneaking in the empty chairs that weren’t in the shot. Then, my chair was so high I looked 8 feet tall until we adjusted it. Gary almost disconnected the interviewer’s microphone but judging by all the laughter amongst us, you would swear we planned every bit of it as a comedy skit.

Later on at the festival, with 41 films and 10 workshops, I confess I can only share a small slice of the day’s film revelry. I started the day off with a workshop

by Larry Wade Carrell whose feature film won best feature overall last year.

Since his last visit, his movie got distribution on Netflix and Redbox. It turns out that if you do not have a big budget Hollywood film you actually get a better deal on Redbox. Who knew? The most important thing I took away from his workshop was to tell “your” story.

Does the world need another Western? No. Does the world need “your” Western? Sure. Figure out what makes your Western different from any other and you will find success. Or at least distribution in Redbox!

Afterwards I stuck around to hear the film festival’s guest of honor Jackson Bostwick. His panel was a conversational workshop about how he went from playing the lead in the 70’s TV show Captain Marvel to making his own movie, Bloody Mary Lite. He

© Daniel Castro Photography

reverie, that he hardly noticed all the shantytowns, the billboards calling for strikes and protests, or the missionary kitchens in between, handing out free bread to bearded skeletons."

Much of the story shines a light on the lives if the orphans: "Most of the boys and girls at Sacred Heart still had parents out there -somewhere -- but wherever they were, they'd been unable to put food in their children's mouths or shoes on their feet."

"Orphans didn't regard each other as family, they could never be that close, but they shared each other's pain, each other's loneliness. There was small comfort in just knowing that someone else understood."

"The joyful dreams of sad, lonely children are difficult to wake up from," thinks William.

The story also takes us back to 1921, when the teenage Liu Song becomes an orphan herself and is left in the hands of what I can only describe as her evil stepfather. She becomes a Cinderella, but her life is no fairy tale.

How the boy is born, how Liu Song fends for herself alone with a child in the Chinese community of Seattle, how she gets away from her stepfather, how she becomes an actress, why she gives William to the orphanage, and what happens when the boy again comes face to face with her -- all make compelling, heartbreaking reading. It is infinitely sad, watching the frustration and hopelessness both William and Willow face, yet it's uplifting in the end.

It's a lovely book.

Copyright © 2013 by Mary Louise Ruehr.

Ken Henderson

Director of The Man in the Chair showed us some sneak peek film clips from the movie, which has a dark fairytale feel to it.

But not all the workshops were about the horror genre. Frank Zuniga worked with Francis Ford Coppola in his youth--wowza! Yes, you heard that correctly. Zuniga went on to work for Walt Disney and directed many projects under the Disney banner. If you ever thought being a director means being a dictator you’re in for a rude awakening. According to Zuniga a director needs to study a little bit of everything before ever sitting in that coveted canvas director’s chair. And once you’re in that chair, you need to surround yourself with experts and have lots of give and take conversations with them. Then, and only then, is it time to yell “action!”

Jumping ahead to the end of the day, I was pleased to see Mr. Katt again as he picked up the award for the best feature film at this year’s festival. Our own film won third in that category.

My funny webcast partner, and oh so talented actor, Gary Shannon, won best actor. And last but certainly not least, the film we came to promote, filmmaker Ken Henderson’s The Man in the Chair won best homegrown feature film. Whew! That’s a lot for one day. And a lot for one article. So until next time, save me some popcorn!

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 27

Thursday, Oct. 24 T-Broussard and The Zydeco Steppers 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Buddy Dees @ Mikko Live 8:30 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Comedy Time-Out (Monthly) "Service Industry Night" 9 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles Doug & Larry's Country Party 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Friday, Oct. 25 Club 7 Radio 6 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club 5329 Common St. Lake Charles, LA Street Side Jazz Band 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles Da Classics (Monster Bash) 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Todd O'Neill Band 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club 5313 Common St, Lake Charles Barenaked Ladies 8:45 p.m. @ L’ Auberge Casino Resort 777 Avenue L’Auberge, Lake Charles Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles PAGE 28

OCTOBER 24, 2013

Prime Time Band 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA

4688 Common St., Lake Charles Halloween Party 6 - 10 p.m. @ Lucky Longhorn Casino 2374 Hwy 109 S. Vinton, LA

Kory Fontenot Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles

Ashes of Babylon 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

LA ROXX @ Mikko Live 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder

When the Word Was Sound, & Jaylotus, Rez! 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles

Women's Shelter Fundraiser: No Good Dirty Liars, Selfawarewolf, &The Wooden Wings!

10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles

LA ROXX @ Mikko Live 10:30 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder

Doug & Larry's Country Party 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Wendy Colonna CD Release Party 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Doug & Larry's Country Party 7 & 9 p.m. @ Mikko Live 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Oct. 27 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles

Monday, Oct. 28 Saturday, Oct. 26 Kory Fontenot Acoustic 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles Cold Sweat 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Damon Troy & Final Five 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club 5313 Common St, Lake Charles Prime Time Band 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory

Brian Moore (Free Live Music) $1 Off Drafts, $3 Whiskey @ Dharma, 329 Broad St., Lake Charles Musician's Open Mic Night 7 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Tuesday, Oct. 29 Karaoke w/DJ David Verrett 8 p.m. p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Ryan Bunch (Free Live Music) "Two Wheel Tuesdays" 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles

Volume 1 • Issue 10

Doug & Larry's Country Party 5 & 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder

Wed. Oct. 30 Karaoke 5 -9 p.m. @ Cuz's Bar 2116 E. Napoleon St Sulphur, LA City Heat (Lady's Night) 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Karaoke 2013 @ Mikko Live 8:30 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Vinyl Night 1/2 Price Draft w/ Records 9 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles Mike Dillion Band 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Thurs. Oct. 31 Joe Ecker Live 8 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles Herbie Stutes and The Grand Shin 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino

Volume 1 • Issue 10

100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners Halloween Party @ Mikko Live 8:30 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder JD's Halloween Party & Costume Contest w/ DJ Timbo 9 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Friday, Nov. 1 Club 7 Radio 6 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club 5329 Common St. Lake Charles, LA Facebook Meet Up! 7 p.m. @ Stellar Beans Downtown Broad St. Lake Charles Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles LA Express 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA

Free Live Bands 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles Ghostwriter Kory Fontent & Charles Vincent 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Saturday, Nov. 2 Who's That Band 5 -9 p.m. @ Cuz's Bar 2116 E. Napoleon St Sulphur, LA Paul Gonsoulin 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar/Grill 719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles Air Supply 8 p.m. @ isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave. Westlake, LA LA Express 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory

4688 Common St., Lake Charles Tab Beniot 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Sunday, Nov. 3 Street Side Jazz Band 11 a.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street, Lake Charles

Monday, Nov. 4 Musician's Open Mic Night 7 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Tuesday, Nov. 5 Karaoke w/ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Masson LeMieux Senior Guitar Recital 7:30 P.M. @ SFAA MSU Performing Arts Theatre

Thursday, Nov. 7 Tweet Up 6 - 8 p.m. @ House O’ Soul 2434 Hwy 14, Lake Charles

DJ Eric Scott 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Common Ground 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA Downfall Rising 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Friday, Nov. 8 Club 7 Radio 6 p.m. @ Cowboys Night 5329 Common St. Lake Charles, LA DJ Eric Scott 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Free Live Bands 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Common Ground 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Drive Vinton, LA

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 29

NIGHTLIFE GUIDE (Continued) Super Water Sympathy 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles

Saturday, Nov. 9 Brian Moore 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill

719 Ryan Street Lake Charles DJ Eric Scott 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Signature 8 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles Karaoke w/ David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles

Tuesday, Nov. 12 Karaoke w/ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Wednesday, Nov. 13 Open Mic Night 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles

Friday, Nov. 15 Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles

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OCTOBER 24, 2013

Dash Rip Rock 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Saturday, Nov. 16 Mike Benavidez 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street Lake Charles Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles Dark Side of the Lake Pink Floyd Tribute Band 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Friday Nov. 22 Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles Rosco Bandana 10 p.m. @ Luna Live

710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Saturday Nov. 23 Brian Moore 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street Lake Charles Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles

Wednesday Nov. 27 Loaded 44RZ 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles

Saturday Nov. 30 Karaoke with David Verrett 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St. Lake Charles Paul Gonsoulin 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan Street Lake Charles

Volume 1 • Issue 10

It’s been more than one week since American audiences first heard the now oft repeated and familiar ‘90s music couplet, “It’s been one week since you looked at me, cocked your head to the side and said, ‘I’m angry.” In fact, it’s been over a decade since the Barenaked Ladies burst through the borders of Canada onto the American pop culture landscape.

Besides the aforementioned “One Week,” the band is well known for its hits such as “Pinch me,” “If I Had $100000,” “Brian Wilson.” The theme song

Volume 1 • Issue 10

to the number one sitcom in America, The Big Bang Theory, has sold 14 million albums worldwide and is the recipient of multiple Juno awards and Grammy nominations.

Ed Robertson, founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist for Barenaked Ladies, said he’s thrilled that the band still is so creatively fulfilled and prosperous years after their inception, during a one-off performance, 26 years ago.

“In 1988, I was asked to perform with a band at an event, and days before the show was supposed to

happen, the band broke up,” he said. “So, I threw a band together and gave us what I thought was a throwaway name, because I

thought it would be our only show. It seems insane to me now that I’ve been in a band called the Barenaked Ladies for over a quarter of a century.

Early on we

had huge success in Canada, our first album in 1992 went ten times platinum, or diamond in Canada and that success really translated to Amer-

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 31

ica in the late nineties.

Even now, we’re still touring, and are still gaining fans from having written the theme song to The Big Bang Theory.

Perhaps the reason for their longterm success can be found on the stage, where the group (Robert-

PAGE 32

OCTOBER 24, 2013

son, keyboardist Kevin Hearn, bassist James Raymond "Jim" Creeggan and drummer Tyler Stewart) is well-known for their energetic blend of music and humorous banter.

“Our shows always feature a lot of spontaneity and improv, that’s the hall-

mark of a Barenaked Ladies show,” Robertson continued. “Every show is different, and we really try to connect with where we are and the audience we have that night. I think that our performances are a real strength and unique part of the band. We really just love to entertain people.”

The audience at the Oct. 25 show is in for a particularly exciting performance since it will take place on Robertson’s 43rd birthday, one that he said he had actually been hoping to spend in Lake Charles.

“My wife asked me a year ago what I wanted to do for my birthday, and I told her that I wanted to perform in Lake Charles,” he said. “It took a lot of planning to make that happen. I’ve been to Lake Charles before. A few years ago, I shot a television show with a McNeese

professor, Dr. Mark Merchant and spent a night in an airboat with him taking blood samples from alligators in the swamp. I had a really good time. It’ll be an extremely special show for me because you don’t turn 43 every day.”

Besides their usual onstage frivolity and the likely birthday-related antics, fans who attend the upcoming show can look forward to hearing a mix of the band’s hits as well as material from their newest release, 2013’s Grinning Streak.

“It’s a lot of fun to play songs that everyone knows like, ‘Pinch Me,’ but we also like playing the new stuff, especially some of the material that’s acoustic in nature like, ‘Tonight’s the Night I Fall Asleep at the Wheel,’ ‘Smile’ and ‘Give it Back to You’,” Robertson said. “Our shows change every night.

That’s the beauty of having

13 records because there’s so much material for us to pull from. We always try to play the big songs every night that the casual fan would be disappointed if they didn’t hear, but for the hardcore folks who want to hear the deeper cuts we play stuff for them too.”

The Barenaked Ladies will perform at L’Auberge Casino Resort’s Event Center at 777 Avenue L’Auberge in Lake Charles on Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets are standing room only and are still available for $45 per a person. They can be purchased in person at the L’Auberge Business Center, Legends at L’Auberge, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-7453000. Attendance of the show is restricted to those 21 years of age or older, the doors for which will open at 8 p.m., with the show to begin at 9.

Volume 1 • Issue 10

Cemetery Costumes Fright Night Ghosts Halloween

TRoIrCK EAT! R T Trick or Treat Haunted House Jack O Lantern Monsters Scary Skeleton

Vampire Werewolf Witching Hour Zombie

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Players take turns connecting two dots.

When you make a square, put your initials in the box and take another turn. When all dots are connected, the player with the most boxes wins.

Volume 1 • Issue 10

OCTOBER 24, 2013

PAGE 33

JAM/FOX NIGHT AT HAUNTED USS ORLECK For the Halloween season, the USS Orleck has undergone a spooky transformation known as the Bludd Vessel! Recently, The Louisiana Jam and Fox 29/CW teamed up to sponsor a night of thrills and chills! Spooky, dark and full of suspenseful twists and turns, the brave entered the ship’s hatch at their own risk for a heart-stopping, haunted journey! Visit the Bludd Vessel—if you dare!

Lauren and Phil de Albuquerque

Kristine Lopez, Jasper Bludd and Liz Key

Jane and George Eustis with Cindy Price

The Orleck’s Ron Williams and Paige Gravitt

Bradie Cariboni, William Ceegraves, and Angelique Green

ETHEL PRECHT HOPE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION WALK The annual Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Walk at the Lake Charles Civic Center brought out an enormous big, small, little, tall, four-legged “pink” crowd of supporters who joined forces to celebrate our local cancer survivors and to give hope, show love and support to those who are in the battle.

We are all in this together!

Erin MacInnes, Myles Brittain and Maggie Martin

Morgan Hawkins and Cate O’Byrene PAGE 34

OCTOBER 24, 2013

Stephanie Granger and Vanessa Guillory with Roshanda, Earl and Cavi Miller

Caleb, Robin, Sasha and Kiersten Semien

Hannah Domingue, Dustin Bernard, Wesley Davis and Veronica Averill Volume 1 • Issue 10

MAYOR'S ARTS AWARDS CEREMONY The Arts Council of SWLA and the City of Lake Charles recognized the contributions of the creative workforce during the annual Mayor’s Arts Awards held recently at Central School. Mayor Randy Roach presented awards to eight area leaders in the arts, with photographer Lindsey Janies honored with the prestigious Artist of the Year award.

Congrats to all!

Maude Harold and Meghan Fleming

Avery and Liam Wubben

Amie Herbert and Lady Holly Kaough

Paul Gonsoulin and Meagan Green

Lindsey Janies with Kim, Chase, Mark and CJ Ardoin and Kristi Fontenot

MOSS BLUFF UNITED PUMPKIN PATCH It was a grand opening of the Moss Bluff United Methodist Church’s Pumpkin Patch! A great day for the whole family to enjoy this pumpkin wonderland, along with food, drinks, baked goods, music, face painting, a fun jump and more! Proceeds support the Methodist Home of SWLA as well as other SWLA charities! Happy Fall!

Jensen Bonvillian, Noah Vezinat and Roman Angelo

Alyssa Foreman and Savannah Andrews Volume 1 • Issue 10

Michael, Dylan, Devin and Katherine Lisansky

Elmer Edwards with Hannah Zimmerman

April and Lilly Bellard OCTOBER 24, 2013

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