CONTENTS 4
November 21, 2013 • Volume 1 • Issue 12
Photo by Cajun Pirate Photography
COVER STORY 14 Honey B Ham: Holiday Bounty for Your Table
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 Nicole Shuff Arabie George Cline Dan Ellender Julie Fay Jacob Fusilier Mike McHugh Roger Miller Mary Louise Ruehr Brandon Shoumaker Jody Taylor Karla Tullos
SALES sales@louisianajam.com
GRAPHICS ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Burn Rourk
On Cover: Joe Heinen, Owner of Honey-B-Ham
6
REGULARS 4 We Are SWLA! 6 The Dang Yankee 6 Adoption Corner 7 Tips from Tip 8 Huntin’ Tales 10 The Sports Report 11 A Taste of SWLA 12 Soul Matters THE SPICE OF SWLA 13 The Adventures of the Swamp Kids 16 Christmas Under the Oaks 18 Events Guide 19 Family Fun Night at the Movies 20 Christmas Events Guide 25 Funbolaya 26 Red Hot Books 27 Arts & Culture Guide 28 Local Book Review: Rose Unfolds 30 Nightlife Guide 32 Lake Charles Civic Ballet 33 Acting Up! 34 Society Spice
ART ASSISTANT Sarah Bercier
11
8 13
19
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. PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
28 32
33 Volume 1 • Issue 12
A Note From Lauren
Thankful Soon it will be Thanksgiving-a time to reflect on our past and present blessings and to give thanks. There is always someone who has more than we have. At the same time, there’s always some-
Volume 1 • Issue 12
one who has so much less. And if we look around, we see a lot of things that don’t make much sense. In spite of the slumping economy and all that goes with it, this is still a time of conspicuous consumption. Parents will still camp out overnight in the cold and fight the crowds to make sure they get their darlings the latest overpriced fad for Christmas. This year, it’s even worse: Certain stores will actually be open on Thanksgiving Day. Perfect. Let’s not even bother with Thanksgiving dinner, shall we? Let’s forget all about it completely, grab a sandwich and spend the day with total strangers spending money that we don’t have for things we don’t need. I don’t even do
Black Friday, so you’re certainly not going to catch me marathon shopping on a day that, for me, was always spent with family. The only businesses that were open on Thanksgiving then were restaurants, and often, our family would go en masse to one, making lots of memories that warm me on cold nights when I realize that just about everyone from that time is gone. When I think about the holidays, it’s never about the gifts I received. I don’t remember most of them. What I do remember is the laughter and the jokes and the singing and the music playing on the Hi-Fi. The wonderful food my mother and my aunts made. The general feeling that it was a special day: there was no school or work; I didn’t have to do homework; the streets were quiet; people came to visit; I could stay up later than usual. That specialness is rapidly disappearing. Pretty soon, stores will be open on Christmas Day, filled with kids spending their Christmas money on markeddown items and people looking for Christmas Day deals and exchanging unwanted gifts for
more useless items. Is that really how we want to live our lives? On this Thanksgiving, instead of listing all of the things I am thankful for, I am just going to mention one, which is the most important to me. I am thankful that I grew up in a different time, when the holidays were simple and not about material things. When you really did give thanks on Thanksgiving and weren’t thinking about all the Christmas gifts you had to buy. When Christmas meant more than just exchanging presents, and the gifts we did receive did not break the bank because we didn’t have a whole lot of money to spend on them. The memories I have of those long-gone days are the best gifts I have ever received. They are priceless, and I will have them forever.
Lauren de Albuquerque
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 3
process. The center was awarded reaccreditation for five years with no provisos. The AASM is the gold standard by which the medical community and public can evaluate sleep medicine services. This is the third time the Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana has successfully completed the reaccreditation process since initially seeking out the designation in 1998. It is the only sleep medicine provider in Southwest Louisiana to be accredited by the AASM. For more information, call the Sleep Disorder Center at (337) 310-7378 or visit www.sleepdisordercenterofla.com.
LOCAL ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED
SOWELA RECEIVES $60,000 GIFT FROM THE GOOS FOUNDATION Mrs. Lisa Bonin Schram, on behalf of the Captain Daniel and Katarina Moeling Goos Foundation, presented a $60,000 gift to Southwest Louisiana Technical Community College. The Goos Foundation is the first Lake Charles donor to contribute to the college’s capital campaign that will help provide $960,000 in local matching funds needed for the construction of an $8 million Student Union building to be built in 2015.
Lee Hoffoss, Jr. and Claude “T-Claude” Devall, local plaintiff attorneys with Hoffoss Devall Law Firm, located at 3205 Ryan Street in Lake Charles, were reT-Claude Devall Lee Hoffoss, Jr. cently honored by the Louisiana Association for Justice at the organization’s annual Fall Conference held in New Orleans. Both Hoffoss and Devall were presented the 2013 President’s Award for their work and involvement in the 2010 Desselle v. Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc. case, a class action law suit resulting in an initial award of over $16.7 million in reimbursement and general damages to more than 14,000 plaintiffs represented in the case. For more information, call (337) 433-2053 or visit www.hdinjurylaw.com.
DR. SPRINGER ACCEPTING MEDICARE PATIENTS Local Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Steve Springer with Springer Family Medical Clinic is continuing to accept new medical Medicare patients until the end of the year. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call (337) 436-1370. Springer Family Medical Clinic is located at 601 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive in Lake Charles.
NEW McNEESE POLICE OFFICERS SWORN IN Four recent graduates of the Calcasieu Parish Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy were sworn in as McNeese State University police officers. Radford Jones is a drug recognition expert and has experience working vehicle and mounted patrol and on special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams. Jimmy Vazquez is a native of the Bronx, N.Y. and recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps having served multiple tours of combat duty overseas. Erroll Williams, Jr. graduated at the top of his class in the spring 2013 105th Academy class. Keenon Joseph has law enforcement experience with the Ward 3 Marshal’s Office, Lake Charles City Police and the Port of Lake Charles Harbor Police.
Left to Right: Erik Jessen, SOWELA; Lisa Schram, Goos Foundation; Dr. Neil Aspinwall, SOWELA Chancellor
NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY RECEPTION In recognition of the vital role American manufacturing plays on the local economy, the local Manufacturing Day Committee, consisting of Amber Mize with Sam Hebert Financial Group, Becky Franks of Manpower, and Erin Davison of Business Health Partners, celebrated National Manufacturing Day by hosting a reception to honor the hardworking men and women that make the American manufacturing industry thrive. Lake Charles Mayor, Randy Roach, proclaimed the first Friday in October Manufacturing Day for our local community.
SLEEP DISORDER CENTER EARNS REACCREDITATION The Sleep Disorder Center of Louisiana has successfully completed the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s (AASM) reaccreditation PAGE 4
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
McNeese Police Lieutenant Vickie Boudreaux administers the oath of office to Radford Jones, Erroll Williams, Jr., Jimmy Vazquez and Keenon Joseph Volume 1 • Issue 12
which provided great food, fun and entertainment in a family environment. Family & Youth, a United Way Agency, believes that all individuals possess the ability to solve their own challenges and live full and healthy lives when support is available.
NATHANIEL JOHNS NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONTRABAND DAYS Nathaniel Johns was recently named as executive director of the Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival by a vote of the board of directors of the festival. A graduate of McNeese State University, Johns has spent the last 10 years working in management, marketing and public relations in Lake Charles and Dallas. As the executive director, Johns will strategically plan, implement and review the overall media relations efforts, community relations and tourism product development for the festival. For more information on Contraband Days, visit www.contrabanddays.com.
Nathaniel Johns
Left to Right: Julio Galan, Family & Youth president & CEO; Tim Vail, president & CEO of G2X Energy, and Paul Pettefer, Family & Youth board member
CHRISTUS HOME CARE CONTRIBUTES TO HEART WALK CHRISTUS Home Care recently contributed $17,000 to support Team CHRISTUS for the 2013 SWLA American Heart Association Heart Walk.
CITGO DONATES TO McNEESE FOUNDATION Citgo Petroleum Corp. presented a $35,000 donation to the McNeese State University Foundation for the Citgo Petroleum Professorship in Engineering No. 8.
Left to Right: Matthew Welsh, AHA regional director, Deloris Parnell, CHRISTUS Home Care, and Donald Lloyd II, CHRISTUS administrator
FAMILY & YOUTH RECEIVES DONATION FROM G2X ENERGY Family & Youth received $6,500 from G2X Energy. The funds were raised at the Big Lake Fuels Fish-O-Rama, which was held recently at Calcasieu Point Landing and was hosted by Big Lake Fuels to benefit Family & Youth. Over 150 people participated in the fishing event,
Volume 1 • Issue 12
Left to Right: McNeese President Dr. Philip Williams, Citgo LC VP/GM Tomeu Vadell, Dana Keel, Citgo’s government and public affairs manager, Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, dean of the McNeese college of engineering, and Richard H. Reid, Exec. VP/McNeese Foundation. McNeese Photo
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 5
Tip of the Ice Bird Take it from me. Newlyweds have no business hosting dinner on their first Thanksgiving together. In the first year of marriage, husbands are still learning that a kitchen is equipped with more than a refrigerator, and that a refrigerator can hold more than cold beer on the inside and a Domino’s menu on the outside. Likewise, wives are still trying to figure out where to store the coffee mugs amid the five fondue sets they’d received as wedding presents. So, it’s no time to be tackling something as complicated as Thanksgiving dinner. It’s like a high school freshman attempting a nuclear fusion reaction in chemistry lab. My wife, Susan, and I were among the clueless when our first Thanksgiving came along. We were new homeowners—yet to make a sizable dent in our credit line at Home Depot. Starry-eyed, with our first plumbing emergency still ahead of us, we were excited to host dinner for our families that year.
Never mind that we’d just recently mastered the workings of our toaster. We shared duties based on our respective talents. That meant Susan was in charge of the food, while my task was to figure out what channel carried the football game. And so early that morning, she assumed her station in the kitchen as I turned to take mine in the den. “While you’re in here, can you take the turkey out of the freezer for me?” she asked. “It’s kind of heavy, and we ought to do it first thing so it’ll thaw.” She’d bought the largest one she could find to be sure there was enough to feed my sizable clan. “Good thinking,” I answered, and retrieved the emu-sized carcass from its icy compartment, setting it on the kitchen counter. A few hours later, I finally located the TV listings and returned to the kitchen to check on progress—that and to see if the beer was properly chilled. I found Susan there, standing with her arms crossed, eyes
fixed on the turkey. “It’s still frozen,” she said. “Keep staring at it like that,” I answered. “Works every time when you’re trying to soften me up.” “No, seriously, I’m afraid it’s not going to thaw out in time. I need to call my sister.” Whenever a crisis loomed, my wife’s first reaction was always to call her sister, Sharon. Susan trusted her to have all the answers, as if she were the product of a union between Heloise and the Maharishi. Yet in reality, Sharon worked in quality control at the Seagram’s plant. She tasted whiskey for a living. My wife was in tears when she got off the phone. “What did she say?” I asked. “With a bird that size,” she sobbed, “she told me I should have taken it out around Labor Day. What does this mean?” “I’ll tell you what it means,” I answered. “It means we’re going to need a bigger propane torch.” She cried harder. Attempting to defuse the situation, I told her, “Listen, babe. Everything’s going to be all
right. I got the TV tuned into the game and plenty of beer on ice. By the time dinner comes, nobody will even notice if there’s no turkey on the table.” Her eyes erupted. Obviously, there would be no talking her into composure. The situation called for immediate action. So I hurried into the bathroom, filled the tub with lukewarm water, and plunged the glaciated bird into the bath. An hour or so later, it was ovenready. Later that night, my wife was beaming. “You saved the day!” “Yeah, let’s see your whiskeytasting sister beat that one,” was what I wanted to say back. But, novice husband though I was at the time, I knew enough to keep quiet. Mike McHugh has been writing for the JAM since 2009. He also contributes stories to the “Not Your Mother’s Book” anthology series and makes public speaking appearances. To inquire about having him speak to your group, contact Mike at thedangyankee@gmail.com.
Featured by LaPAW Rescue Another little guy abandoned by his person—he was literally dumped in our yard. Rusty, a 7-8 month old hound mix is another sweetie and doesn’t know (or care) about his past. He loves to run outside with the big dogs and is working on PAGE 6
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
housetraining (but much prefers to be outside). He is also working on leash training, something he likely never had experience with. He may have a little growing to do but will likely be medium-sized as an adult. If you would like to add this hunk of love to your family, email or give us a call:
lapaw@bellsouth.net; (337) 478-7294. Vet check and home visit required prior to all adoptions. Can't adopt? Ask us about fostering! Hurry! Rusty is waiting! Can't adopt? Consider fostering. Can't foster? Consider sponsoring! LAPAW dogs (and cats) can be seen at www.lapaw.org. Volume 1 • Issue 12
FISH-CLEANING STATION FOR PRIEN LAKE PARK? Prien Lake Park has been positively received by nearly everyone that I know who has been there. The transformation of that corner property from a old-style trailer park to a recreational facility of note is a feather in the Calcasieu Parish cap. Several fishermen friends of mine regularly use the boat launch for their usual starting point and have become big advocates for the park. They have mentioned that it would be very convenient to have a fish-cleaning station added to the facility, one over the water for waste disposal (think excellent feed for the crabs) directly into the lake. If there are enough folks that feel they would desire such an addition, it could come to the attention of the proper authority for review and design. I can see very little downside to this addition. Since many families fish along the boardwalk and banks, a cleaning station with rinse water provided for the fishing public would be gratefully received. It would not be a much of a stretch to think of cleaning your fish on site as well as having a beneficial way to dispose of the cleanings as a winwin deal. Talk it up with your friends and see if we can get this improvement for the park.
DEEP FRYING HAZARDS Deep frying turkeys has become a major player on Thanksgiving but it needs to be done safely. There is no question how juicy and tasty that particular method makes the turkey taste. But high temperature and oil can become a dangerous pairing. Placing turkey into hot oil can lead to a virtual explosion of fire and steam. Too much oil in the pot can easily spill over into the fire source and we don’t want the fire department visiting us on Thanksgiving. This method is best left to those who possess the technology and wisdom to utilize this way of bringing the bird to the feast. In the past, I have mentioned that I use an oil-less infrared deep fryer that I feel gives the same juicy end result but avoids the danger factor along with the dis-
posal problem of the used grease. Please consider using this method; the devices are available in many stores and can be used for more than just turkeys. They last for years and require little maintenance. Happy Thanksgiving! SUPERMARKET ROUNDUP For our shopping survey this issue, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and our favorite holiday goodies, we shall check out some ingredients for making pecan pie. We have our pecans and crust but we need to purchase some Karo Syrup, vanilla, sugar, eggs and butter. The prices were obtained on Wed., Nov. 13, and reflect the posted price on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. Stores check this time are: AlbertsonsCountry Club Road, Market BasketLake Street, Kroger-McNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road.
Eggs, Grade A or AA large, store brand, per dozen: Albertsons $1.79, Market Basket $2.13, Kroger $1.25, Walmart $1.78. Sugar, white granulated, store brand, 4-pound package: Albertsons $2.39, Market Basket $2.39, Kroger $2.32, Walmart $1.98. Butter, store brand, 1-pound carton: Albertsons $2.99, Market Basket $2.99, Kroger $2.88, Walmart $2.98. Karo Syrup, light, 16-ounce bottle: Albertsons $2.49, Market Basket $2.49, Kroger $2.69, Walmart $2.58. Vanilla, McCormick, pure, 1ounce bottle: Albertsons $2.79, Market Basket $2.35, Kroger (did not have 1-ounce, 2-ounce bottle $4.59), Walmart $2.74.
DON’T SHOP ON THANKSGIVING! Thanksgiving is America’s favorite food day, no doubt about that. It means so much to get together and share a special meal with our relatives and exceptional friends at the same time and place. We should all be able to stop and give thanks for the blessings we have received on that day—instead of thinking about the Christmas gifts we need to buy, and cutting our celebrating short to do so. Volume 1 • Issue 12
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 7
By Roger Miller
The Boys The Thanksgiving holidays always brought with it the ever-enjoyable Youngsters’ Hunt. Rambunctious boys and giggling girls would invade the lodge with their lively spirits. Drinking was minimal, card games non-existent, and the normal crude humor was left at the door. It was their time and we loved it. My best friend Big Charlie, all 6’6” inches, 282 pounds of him, brought my 11-year-old-godson Chris, his 9-year-old brother Chad and his 6-foot (you know I’m not dumb enough to refer to any woman’s weight) delightful wife Meg. The boys were soon scrambling about taking in the deer and waterfowl mounts and shotguns on the walls. They paid special attention to the spoonbill drake with the dentures and gold
Prez in the Duck Blind (1968)
PAGE 8
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
starred tooth. “That is a Spoonbill Killimus. Be careful of them. They bite,” Ray Thibodeaux (our in house prankster) would explain in a stage whisper to the kids. They gawked at the Killimus in awed yet skeptical delight. But when Ray whipped his hand out from behind his back and showed them his missing right trigger finger tip (lost while making boudin ) they bought it incisor, cap, and molar. Children who’d made previous hunts kept their knowing grins subdued, always delighted with Mr. Ray Ray. By 10 p.m., everyone headed to bed or were carried there by their parents. I went to check on my Golden Retriever Prez. He was, as usual, curled up on the passenger seat of my Jeep. He
disdained kennels of any sort. With water bowl on the back seat floor and a treat bowl filled with jerky, he was set and I was ready to turn in. If Prez desired an evening romp, he would leap through the open passenger side window and return as nimbly. Up by 5 a.m., I had 36 Grand’s butter flake biscuits in the oven, butter and jellies on the table, a milk carton and coffee cup at each seat. Soon the guides appeared from the back, half asleep parents stumbled out and tykes appeared rubbing their eyes. The pre-teen Crady boys shot out of the back, each over 5’ 6” at this point and very much awake. Then there was Dad, a whiter shade of pale. “Rog,” he croaked. “Can’t make it man.” Been huggin’….” “Whoa, big guy, I can tell what you’ve been huggin’. Must have been that fourth bowl of gumbo you ate or the three desserts or….” I faux sympathized, my humor unappreciated. “Boys are yours. I’m gone,” he said as he turned even paler, if that was indeed possible. He ducked his head through the doorway and, if a man that size can, scurried down the hall to reembrace the porcelain. After breakfast, the boys had a brief hug fest with Prez. We loaded up the Jeep and merrily headed down the humpback bridge road to the launch. Our 16’ bateau was powered by an ancient 50HP Chrysler outboard we called B****, as she was always cantankerous. To start her, you turned the key to on, walked to the back, made sure she wasn’t in gear, lifted her by her cowl and then slammed it down. Hard. With the boys on the seat in front, Prez and I behind the center console, we backed out and headed down the canal. The
Roger (1968)
only light in the pitch dark was the stern’s warning light and the bows green light. After the turn I opened her up and it felt like we were a streaking Osprey skimming the water’s surface. The boys had that big eyed “we’re loving it look” while Prez had a “happy dog face ears flapping in the wind smile.” I cut the throttle back, slid into place, and tied off to the levee post on Four Mile Square’s west canal. From there, we loaded into the pirogue. I pushed them rather than push poled as the water was shallow and the bottom easy walking. Prez had deserted us at the levee and would await the slower, inept humans in his dog hide, regal head taking in the marsh scents. In 15 minutes, we were at the blind. We took off the blind covers, slid them into the boat, and transferred ourselves and gear. I placed my Beretta over and under on the blind’s edge and told the boys to load up their shotguns. They had hunted with me before. They’d grown up with their Dad’s tales of hunting with Uncle Rog. I had become, in their eyes, the Hemingway, Robert Ruark, or Peter Hathaway Capstick of my day. They were all fevered anticipation and I knew that Blind Number 6, the waterfowl, and weather gods would deliver. By shooting time the teal flashed by, zooming on the arrived-last-night-Pacific-coolVolume 1 • Issue 12
front breeze. They swung around and out over the Roseau cane and back toward Prez’s and my end of the blind. Then banking into the wind, they settled and hung just above the decoys. The boys had done what I’d asked and held their guns ready, on safety. “Take’em!” I yelled and six shots from two 20-gauge model 12 Winchester pumps blasted the dawn’s quiet. More than two dozen green winged teal had been hanging over the decoys and two, count’ em, two ducks fell. This display of the dreaded “Missingitus” went on for two hours. Mallards, pintails, widgeons, gray ducks, scaup, spoonbills and even mottled ducks served themselves up. Almost six boxes of the boy’s shells fled with them. Our in-the-blind bird count was 20 and we had used up 260 of our allotted 300 points. It was time for Hawkeye Miller to start shooting and end this before the boys ran out of
Volume 1 • Issue 12
shells. I could shoot and make sure the boys thought they’d shot them. Easy enough. A flock of pintails broke from the heavens, their white bellies flashing in the azure sky. “Tweet. Whistle. Whistle. Thwack. Thwack. Tweet, ” and they broke and locked, closing in quickly. “Now!“ I shouted. With the resulting eight blasts one bird fell, then another. “Nice shooting boys. Two more to go!” I exclaimed, knowing I’d surely shot both ducks. Well, maybe not. Missingitus is often spread by even periphery contact. “Uncle Rog,” Chris said. “Yes,” I replied. “We’re out of bullets,” he stated. Yep, he’d said bullets. I just shook my head and Prez splashed about making retrieves.
The Boys today; Chris, Chad and Charlie
The boys’ heads hung down where just moments before they had been exalting in their hunt. There was only one thing to do. Let them use my silver engraved, gold-triggered, rib-barreled, expensive shotgun. “Here’s what we do boys. Y’all take turns and use my shotgun until we kill two more birds.” Then I handed Chris my 12gauge Beretta. You would have thought I’d handed him Arthur’s Excalibur. “It’s already loaded. That button you see behind the barrel, push up on it and it’s off safety.
Remember to hold it tight to your shoulder. Practice a few times, then you shoot, and then Chad,” I instructed. They had their turns and it took four more shots but we “got ’er done.” On the ride back down the canal, the ducks at their feet, the boys punched at and laughed with each other, then looked at me like I was the King Arthur of legend. Prez was curled up on the bow, golden fleece drying in the breeze, intently watching the boys. And me, I’ve never had a better time afield. Ever.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 9
When the Winless is a Winner Give it up for the Gueydan Bears, ladies and gentlemen. They didn’t win a single football game this year, not even close, actually, and still made the Class 1A playoffs. But by making a simple statement, they look like the big winners this postseason. They said, “We’re out.” That’s right. Instead of shelling out beaucoup bucks to drag rearend across Louisiana and become cannon fodder for a state title contender, the Bears told the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, “no thanks.” Gueydan wasn’t alone. In fact, there were three winless teams in the Class 1A postseason mix; Tensas and East Iberville were the other two. Tensas joined Gueydan in refusing their postseason berth. East Iberville, which went 0-10 with six (6) shutouts, faced White
PAGE 10
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Castle, a team that beat EIHS 70-0 on Oct. 11, in the bi-district round. Locally, the lack of public (i.e., non-select) school teams in Class 1A meant that 2-8 South Cameron and 1-9 Grand Lake, a newly restarted program, earned playoff bids. Not that I blame them for playing. Hey, anything can happen and I’m happy for them that they get the chance to compete. But, Gueydan (and everyone else) knows that a winless team has no business in the playoffs. That’s why it was a classy play by Gueydan and Tensas to turn down the offer to play in an otherwise sordid postseason mess that’s all the LHSAA members’ fault. Well, blame John Curtis and Evangel Christian as well. You see, it all started with them. Nine years ago, John Curtis and Evangel both won state champi-
onships. It was nothing new; both schools had dominated Louisiana football for more than a decade by then. The problem was where, in what classification, the schools won. Curtis won the Class 4A title and Evangel the 5A crown. The championships in the top two classifications went to, in many minds, the prime examples of what was wrong with prep athletics: athletics factories disguised as schools that could recruit the best players from around the area (and nation) and win with impunity. By 2004, the principals of the state’s largest schools had had enough. They wanted Curtis and Evangel gone from their ranks. Their solution: make them play based on their enrollment numbers. In other words, make the small schools deal with them. So began a run of eight seasons in which either John Curtis or Evangel won the state championship in either Class 1A or 2A. Four of five years from 2008-12,
the two teams played each other for the title. Essentially, the past few years (Evangel joined Class 2A in 2007) if you were a Class 2A team you were playing for at best third place. Thus, the small school principals were angered. Thus, with a statewide coalition of angry schools large and small, the high school football postseason was sliced up into nine different divisions with public (non-select) schools and private/charter/magnet (select) schools separated. It’s a fracking disaster, but it didn’t have to be this way. The LHSAA has fielded complaints for literally decades regarding both schools, that they recruit players from out of state by offering their parents jobs at the school or school boosters offer jobs at their companies, that they fudge residential paperwork to keep players eligible, that the schools have grading policies that protect athletes’ eligibility.
Volume 1 • Issue 12
None of this stuff is new and, were it investigated thoroughly, the LHSAA would likely find serious violations. Those violations would probably warrant fines, postseason bans, or expulsion from the association. You can’t tell me that a small, private school (John Curtis) manages to win multiple state championships in multiple sports each year without some shenanigans going on. But the LHSAA also has a distinct motivation to keep Curtis and Evangel around instead of kicking them to the hinterlands of the Mississippi Private School Association or some other wasteland. That motivation is money of course. Heck, the John Curtis-St. Augustine game, featuring St. Aug running back (and LSU commitment) Leonard Fournette, was televised nationally on ESPN. Players from both Curtis and Evangel get showered with attention from the top college coaches in the nation and Louisiana is frequently near the top of the list of states producing the most professional football players. Certainly that kind of attention brings in a lot of money to both the association and the state. Why in the heck would the LHSAA, which is arguably benefitting the most from Curtis and Evangel’s success, want to drop the hammer on its two biggest cash cows? They wouldn’t. That’s why. And now you’re going to have nine separate state champions this season, one of which will likely be Curtis or Evangel (though, they’ll probably meet each other in the semifinals). And you’ve got winless East Iberville headed out for slaughter. But good luck to Grand Lake and South Cameron and everyone else stuck playing in this political nightmare of a postseason. And kudos to Gueydan, too, for showing that a winless team can still be a winner. Brandon Shoumaker is a graduate of McNeese State University 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). Volume 1 • Issue 12
By Jacob Fusilier
Otis & Henry’s at the Isle of Capri A friend called me the other day and said he was going to have dinner at Otis and Henry’s in the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel. I am not very familiar with the place, and was interested in checking it out. The restaurant has a wide and inviting entrance with the bar situated in the front, giving it an adult, casual dinner feel. The smiling hostess greeted us; then, to my surprise, the very cordial floor manager told the hostess he would go ahead and seat us. As we walked to our table, we passed the open kitchen and were greeted by the chef and cooks. Our server was friendly and efficient. There were a few big parties there which could have slowed service down, but that did not appear to be a problem. I was also pleased that the nearby open kitchen wasn’t noisy at all. The complimentary bread that came to our table was called a salt and pepper Ciambatta loaf. This bread was great! It had a perfect crust with a salt and pepper butter spread on top and the rest of the loaf was soft and easy to chew. It’s now one of my favorite breads in town. What a great start to the meal. I decided to order their Pear Berry signature drink, which is pearflavored Grey Goose vodka, strawberry puree, and fresh lemon. The drink had a great balance of sweetness from the fruit flavors and citrus from the lemon--delicious and refreshing. I went with the Bayou Sampler for an appetizer, which consisted of fried shrimp, crab cakes, and seafood gratin. The shrimp were fried to golden brown perfection and the crab cakes were nice and meaty with great flavor. The seafood gratin was similar to a thick seafood bisque with a nice amount of cheese on top-perfect for scooping with the seasoned toast points.
My appetizer was followed by the seasonal spiced pumpkin soup. It had a wonderful thick consistency. I thought it was a bit over-salted for my taste, but the overall pumpkin flavor was delicious. For my entrée, I ordered the Cajun Rib Eye. It was a 12ounce choice ribeye rubbed in spices and grilled with herb butter with a side of green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. I enjoy my steak cooked medium rare and it came out spot on. The steak was juicy and tender and the spices were a great combination. The green beans had a nice crisp to them and the mashed potatoes were made with red potatoes, skins on, and flavored with just the right amount of garlic. For dessert, I ordered the crème brulee. Served in a larger size bowl than most restaurants, I was immediately impressed. I cracked though its caramelized sugar crust into the creamy, rich custard and a big smile came across my face. It was such a great way to end the meal. From the moment we walked in the door to the time we left, Otis and Henry’s gave us an outstanding, allaround experience. These days, good service and food in one place are hard to come by, but “O & H,” as they call it, knocked it out of the park. I couldn’t be more impressed with their food and more so, their service. The manager truly worked the floor: seating people, checking on the guests, running food, directing the staff, not stopping for a minute. The food was impressive and the chef made sure to speak to as many of the tables as possible while still controlling the flow of the kitchen and the food coming out. The menu is solid, with nice options of “O & H” classics as well as a small menu of favorites from Farradday’s. They also have a $20, three-
course dinner menu if you’re looking for a deal, and a weekend brunch is coming soon. With outstanding service, delicious food, and a great atmosphere, Otis and Henry’s is definitely a restaurant everyone should experience. I will be dining there again soon.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 11
by Nicole Shuff Arabie
Forgive Yourself This is the old me and where I was: stuck in mud unable to move, submerged in thoughts of revenge, karma, and self-pity, even if only for a moment. Maybe it’s just part of the way I learn my lessons, rehashing and embedding it all into my brain, and why I don’t want to go there again with that particular person or incident. After awhile, I am alerted to the suffocating feeling of toxic anger overtaking my life, and I miss the way the light felt on my skin and in my heart. Many times, I’ve had to ask God to help me with it because I just can’t get there on my own. My prayer would go something like this. “God, please show me what you see in this person/situation because I don’t always see things
PAGE 12
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
like you do and I am not seeing anything positive in this individual right now. I would rather think about revenge.” It’s honest, and I believe my communication with my God needs to be that, even if it's raw and real. I am still human and need Him to transform my eyes to see a purer vision. We all hide who we are from others from time to time, but there are no secrets from Him. He knows my heart. I’ve just learned through my personal journey how incredibly important forgiveness is in order to have any kind of fulfilling life. When God uses me to see within and behind the clutter in myself, and others, this selfforgiveness is brought to the surface. Forgiveness, for me, is the key.
Resentments and any unfinished forgiveness just blocks the gifts of the spirit. Before I learned the power of forgiveness, I carried around weights that crippled me at times. I began running away, especially from those who broke my heart into a million pieces, or threatened my basic needs. But, I did learn that once you enter the kingdom of heaven on earth, it’s hard to go back and live in a self-imposed hell. The sooner I got rid of that negativity, the better. While in prayer/meditation I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, and saw my own face within: sad, lost, hurt, and unrecognizable. It shocked me. I have forgiven many people through the years. I know how important that is, not only to my serenity, but also for my health and wellbeing. I am confused why the prayer/meditation impacted me so profoundly with tears, sadness, and sense of unfinished business, just when I thought I was doing better. Apparently not. My body and my reaction were telling me otherwise. And then I realized I needed to forgive myself. Really? I knew how to forgive others, but me? I sat there as tears flowed and wrote this list: • I need to forgive myself for speaking and judging myself so harshly.
• I need to forgive myself for having unattainable expectations, ones I would never ask of someone else. • I need to forgive myself for allowing others to treat me with unwarranted disrespect and going back for more. • I need to forgive myself for the incredibly poor choices that have taken over my life from time to time. • I need to forgive myself for failing to speak up for what I believe in. • I need to forgive myself for forgetting where I came from, and what I am to do while I am alive. • I need to forgive myself for treating loved ones and friends with disregard. • I need to forgive myself for believing my needs and desires weren’t as important as everyone else’s. • I need to forgive myself for not forgiving myself. • I need to forgive myself for not always loving myself. In the next issue: Forgiving Myself, Part Two: Writing a letter from my True Self, addressed to God. To book a Soul Matters session with Nicole Shuff Arabie, call (337) 540-6573. You can also go to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DeclutteringYourSoul
Volume 1 • Issue 12
By Lauren de Albuquerque Leif Pedersen is a triple threat. As Vice President of Philanthropy for the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, his enthusiasm and tireless efforts have served the hospital well. In addition, Pedersen is a talented musician and songwriter. His 1944 Big Band performs the great arrangements originally made famous by the bands of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey at events across the nation. But this isn’t enough for someone with boundless energy and creativity. Pedersen is also a published children’s book author. The Missing Chord, first in a series called The Adventures of the Swamp Kids, has just been released. There’s more on the horizon (or in the swamp!)—and it’s been a long time coming. “I wrote the first and second Adventures in 1997,” Pedersen says. “My son was two years old at the time and I thought I would write home something about ‘his Dad.’ After getting into it, I realized I was writing a lot of things that I wasn’t ready to put on paper yet because there was still a lot of life ahead… so I took a shot at a children’s book and it just seemed to flow.” It was probably no coincidence. “I come from a very happy childhood where my father was deeply involved in camping with his own summer camp program for over 20 years, where I was always surrounded by music,” he explains. “As for me, as a singer, particularly a big band singer, I have always tried to follow that other Tommy Dorsey Orchestra alum’s (Frank Sinatra) credo that the singer is the transporter of the writer’s lyric and thus, the storyteller. It just happens that our storytelling is set to music. So I kind of think in musical rhyme as Volume 1 • Issue 12
I write and in doing so, find that the words flow as a song would.” He smiles when he’s asked where he received his inspiration for the theme and characters of his book. “This may sound silly, but my father is Norwegian and that has been my whole persona, but my mother has a very cool lineage as well, being French and Spanish,” he explains. “It happens that the French side has a line running back to a privateer who was rewarded by Louis XVI and made a co-governor of the Nova Scotia territories. His blood line migrated down to south Louisiana following the expulsion of the French from Canada.” To make a long story short, what could be more fun than swamp characters with French names playing Cajun instruments? “The alternative was ‘Little Thor’ learning to make big hammers while his friend Knute sailed off on his mini-Viking boat to a successful salmon fishing trip…not quite the same!” he laughs. Pedersen says that once he developed the storyline and characters, his good friend and “wonderfully creative” graphic artist, Tim Banfell, came up with the look. “Tim has been even more of a kid at heart than me his whole life,” he says. “I don’t think he’s missed one year of at least one trip to Disney World since it opened and he shares that same type of imagination that Walt Disney would have loved.” The Missing Chord introduces kids [ages 4 to 10] to the main characters, Pierre a la Gator, Mon Cher the pretty raccoon and TuTu the turtle as they prepare to compete in the fall Fais Do Do for “Best Band in the Land.” The prose is sheer music; read it aloud to your children and the words will just flow, painting pic-
tures as pleasing as the whimsical illustrations. There is a lesson to be learned in the delightful tale, and at the end of the story is a special page featuring a teaching aide, or the “Lagniappe Lesson,” which assists the reader, parent or teacher in explaining the story’s moral. It is provided by Cajun recording star and master fiddler Doug Kershaw. In addition, there’s a page explaining how to make your very own wash tub basin—and how to play it! This book would make the perfect Christmas gift for any children on your list. Pedersen said The Missing Chord was published due to Tommie Townsley, a successful local author of children’s books who started her own publishing company, Ally Gator Book Bites, to help Louisiana authors and illustrators get a start in the children’s book business. “Without her guidance and belief in The Adventures of the Swamp Kids, they might still be sitting on the computer shelf!” Pedersen says. “I would also like to say a big thanks to The Jam for your support as well,” he continues. “I re-
alize what you do is a business, but it is also a wonderful service to our community. The fact that you are taking the time out to review a book for kids and not cats speaks volumes!” The Adventures of the Swamp Kids: The Missing Chord is available online at www.theswampkids.com. “I will be signing all books ordered and have presigned the ones at the retail outlets,” Pedersen says. “I would be happy to personalize any requests when you complete the ‘Comment Section’ on the web page.” You can find the book in Lake Charles at Louisiana Market and at Patsy Manuel’s Frame House & Gallery. It’s also in Lafayette at Prejean's Cajun Restaurant and soon to be at the gift shop at Landry's Restaurant in Henderson and at Bayou Country in Slidell. Another Adventure will be coming out soon: The Jam will keep you posted! NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 13
and to business owners who give them as gifts to clients and employees.
A Complete Dinner Without the Fuss By Lauren de Albuquerque The holidays are fast approaching, bringing visions of loved ones gathered around a table laden with the bounty of the season. Behind that vision, however, are all the hours of preparation and work to make that meal perfect; hours that could be spent enjoying precious moments with family and friends. It doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to Honey-B Ham. “Let us do the cooking for you!” says owner Joe Heinen. “Get mom out of the kitchen and at the table where she belongs. We have a wonderful, high quality product that satisfies everyone, so there are no surprises. It’s a great meal every time.” As expected, this is the busiest time of the year for the genial Heinen, who’s been in the business for 18 years. “I do 85 percent of my yearly business in the six weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he said. Thousands of hams and turkeys are sold to individual families for their holiday meals
PAGE 14
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Honey-B Ham is well known for their tender hams and smoked and fried turkeys, but they also offer so much more to compliment their main dishes, such as sweet potato and baked potato casseroles, cornbread dressing, cheese broccoli rice--and what’s Thanksgiving without green bean casserole, turkey gravy and cranberry relish? No dinner is complete without something to satisfy your sweet tooth, such as pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and peach cobbler. They also sell homemade fudge in various flavors made right on the premises, which is a popular item this time of year. We visited Heinen after the lunch rush, and the place was still jumping. A man came in to pick up two turkeys he had ordered. Another customer gave Heinen suggestions on the best way to pose for the photos we were shooting as she waited for her order. The phone was ringing off the hook. Then, a friend of ours happened to come rushing in. A family member had been in an accident out of town, and she had ordered “a lot of food—turkey, ham, everything” to bring to her
relatives who were coping with a crisis and didn’t have the time or energy to think about where or how to get their next meal. This is a perfect example of how Honey-B Ham can fill so many different needs.
Starting Out Heinen wasn’t always a “Ham Man,” as he calls himself. Growing up in the small farming community of Mowata in Acadia Parish, he thought he’d end up a rich farmer. But like many entrepreneurs, he had to learn the hard way. He borrowed a million dollars to buy a crawfish farm in Texas that ultimately failed. And like many entrepreneurs, he’s philosophical about that experience. “You learn from your mistakes, or you at least hope you do,” he says. “I was still young
and I could still do a lot of things.” Heinen pressed on, and eventually bought the Honey-B Ham franchise in 1996, after researching the company and visiting the 13 locations that were in Southeast Texas at the time. It was a good decision. His two stepsons, Mike and Ben Bertrand now help him run the business, although he is a very hands-on owner and is there most of the time. Heinen is always looking for new ways to serve his customers. And his ideas are working, as business increases each year.
New Additions Today, along with hams and turkeys, crawfish is one of his biggest-selling items. Yes, Heinen did finally fulfill his dream of maintaining a successful crawfish farm. He offers the succulent
Volume 1 • Issue 12
little crustaceans live or boiled, loves to cater crawfish boils and says he’s pleased with the success of his sales. He anticipates his season will start at the beginning of January and end about midJune. And it will be busy. “We can’t seem to keep enough of them,” he says. Like any businessman, Heinen always has his eyes open for new opportunities and he is excited about the influx of people who will soon be coming to the area. As a result, some new food products appeared on the menu a few months ago. His latest venture is boudin, boudin balls and cracklins, and these Louisiana specialties are also selling fast. And they are good! “A lot of new people will be coming here, and this is the kind of food they’ll enjoy eating,” he says. “Something quick and easy and tasty.” If you stop in for a bite, you can also enjoy brisket (slowcooked for 16 hours), sausage or chopped beef plates or sandwiches with sides of Cajun rice, baked beans and potato salad. And chicken and sausage gumbo, and potato bacon, vegetable beef and chicken noodle soup are just the ticket as the weather starts getting cooler.
Catering Services Honey-B-Ham also offers fullservice, self-contained mobile catering services and specializes in business catering, providing meals for holiday parties, company lunches, and conferences. You can select the traditional main courses and sides, or choose from the ever-popular deli sandwich, meat and cheese trays or the box lunches. They are also
Volume 1 • Issue 12
available for disaster relief catering. Just tell Joe Heinen what you need and he’ll do his best to accommodate your plans. Keeping his customers happy is his number one priority.
Quality and Service “Our business philosophy is quality and service,” he says. “It’s always been that way through the years, and will never change. I will always go the extra mile for a customer.” What makes him happiest is helping out families during the holiday season. Heinen recalls his mother getting up in the middle of the night to prepare the family’s Thanksgiving meal when he was growing up. “She was stuck in the kitchen for hours and never could enjoy the day,” he remembers. “And now, with so many mothers working, cooking a big meal is all that more difficult. So, we have the solution at Honey-B Ham. Everything is fully cooked; we cook so you don’t have to!” Heinen admits that while his turkeys are good sellers, his heart is with his hams. “We choose only the finest hams, then carefully trim and slowly dry cure,” he says. His honey-glazed hams are hickory smoked, spiral sliced and baked with a thick, rich glaze. We went back into the kitchen to observe the glazing process, done with sugar, spices, honey and a cooking torch. The procedure was done by an employee named Ashley Leger, although Heinen’s stepson Ben was quick to mention that her last name will not be Leger for
long—they’ll be tying the knot on Valentine’s Day. It’s truly a family affair at Honey-B Ham. While Heinen agrees that the size of his hams is more appropriate for larger gatherings, the leftover opportunities are seemingly endless. “Ham sandwiches, ham and eggs, ham and beans, pea soup with ham… it’s such a versatile dish. And you can freeze the leftovers in a Ziploc bag, of course.” He admits that in this day and age, you can’t just do one thing when it comes to business. “There are constantly adjustments,” he explains. “But, one thing has never changed. I run an honest business and one that specializes in quality products at reasonable prices.” He appreciates his loyal customers who have kept him in business since 1996. “I’m very thankful for that. And
I’m always thinking of new ideas to keep the business fresh.” What’s ahead for the Ham Man? “Let’s face, it I’m a small businessman. I make a living, but I’ll never be Donald Trump,” he says. But it’s obvious he loves his business, and puts his heart and soul into it. “I’m never really going to retire. My stepson may eventually run it, but I will always have a hand in it. The only way I won’t be here is if I’m dead, and even then, I’ll probably still be hanging around!” Honey-B Ham is open Mon.Fri. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun. For more information, visit the store at 506 E. Prien Lake Rd., call (337) 478-3354, check out the website at www.honeybham.net or find them on Facebook.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 15
Snow in Sulphur? It’s Time for
Christmas Under the Oaks! Twinkling lights, holly wreaths and winding oak branches mingled with a soft glow from falling snowflakes in…Louisiana? Yes, it snows every year at Sulphur’s Christmas Under the Oaks Festival, located at the Brimstone Museum Complex, 923 Ruth Street,
PAGE 16
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
in the heart of Sulphur at Heritage Square where music, carnival rides and holiday shopping are at their height! Festival dates are Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7, with shopping available at the Holiday House Friday and Saturday. “I'm expecting this year's event to be the biggest ever,” says Thom Trahan, executive director of the Brimstone Museum. “With the shops we have booked, the entertainment lineup, and the street carnival, there is plenty for the whole family to experience!” Shopping hours are 10 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There will be dozens of vendors with something for everyone on your Christmas list. From gift baskets to artwork to jewelry to handmade crafts, you’re sure to get most of your shopping done at Holiday House. Carnival rides start at 4 p.m. on Friday, and run from noon - 10 p.m. on Saturday—lots of fun for the young and the young at heart. And come with an appetite. Food vendors will be out and about offering your favorite festival food for sale. There will be live music throughout the event, including headlining acts such as The Molly Ringwalds Friday night and L.A. Roxx Saturday evening! And then there’s Sulphur’s famed Kiwanis Christmas Balloon Parade, which begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Following the parade is the traditional lighting of the tree, with 100 chance of snow at 6 p.m. Look for Miss Christmas Under the Oaks and her court, who will be there on Saturday to assist with the tree-lighting and other festivities, mingle with the guests and ride in the parade.
Special Events
There are two special events that you don’t want to miss that require advance ticket purchases. Holiday House will feature a Preview Gala on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person for this catered shopping event with drinks, food, and a sneak peek of all this year's Holiday House shops! Holiday House also sponsors Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. Two seatings are available at 8:30 and 9:45 and
come with a pancake breakfast and a photo with Santa Tickets are $5. Tickets for both events are available at the Henning Cultural Center at 527-0357. For more information on Sulphur’s Christmas events, contact the Henning Cultural Center at (337) 527-0357. Presented by The City of Sulphur, The Brimstone Historical Society, and Sulphur Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Entergy, Women and Children's Hospital, Healthier Air for All, and the Lake Charles Convention & Visitors' Bureau.
Volume 1 • Issue 12
Mistletoe & Moss Nov. 20-23 The Market at the Lake Charles Civic Center showcases merchants from around the country, featuring apparel, gifts, and accessories for women, men, and children; specialty foods; and seasonal, as well as, yearround decorative items and home furnishings. Shoppers will be able to participate in daily special events, such as the annual Preview Night Gala, Children’s Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and holiday entertainment provided by local schools and groups. All proceeds benefit the community projects of The Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc. Call 436-4025 or visit www.jllc.net for more information.
November Events at the Children’s Museum Nov. 22: Fun Friday Finger Painting Paint using your fingers from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the ArtSpace! Monday, Nov. 25: Fall Workshop Use sticky shapes to create a fun fall leaf or pumpkin. Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon and are limited to 20 children. Tuesday, Nov. 26: Happy Turkeys Workshop
Make a colorful Happy Turkey for your table! Classes begin at 11 a.m. and noon. and are limited to 20 children. Wednesday, Nov. 27: The Tortoise and His Hair Join us at 11 a.m. for story time with local author Eloise Huber, who will read her book The Tortoise and His Hair. Wednesday, Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Placemats Make Thanksgiving placemats at noon. Class is limited to 20 children. November 28 and 29: Closed for Thanksgiving The Children's Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles. Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. – Sat.. Admission is $7.50 for children and adults. Call (337) 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org.
‘Rory Partin’s Big Band Sounds’ Nov. 22 Rory Partin, Lake Charles native and nationally known singer and musician, will perform a one-night only concert, "Rory Partin's Big Band Sounds," at Lake Charles Little Theatre on Nov. 22. Partin and his AllStar Big Band will perform plenty of big band Christmas classics to help kick off your holiday season in style. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. For information and tickets, call 4337988 or visit www.thelclt.com.
Turkey Trot Nov. 23 The Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club is inviting the public to the Turkey Trot 5K and Kid-K on Sat., Nov. 23 -- the Saturday before Thanksgiving -- at the Enos Derbonne Sports Complex, 7903 Lake St. The family-friendly event is an off-road, 5-kilometer fun run/walk with a 1-kilometer PAGE 18
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
kid's race. A Kids’ Zone with jump houses will also be available and SOWELA’s Culinary Arts students will be providing a pancake breakfast following the race. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 4-17. To sign up online, go to www.turkeytrotswla.com.
Dutch Oven Gathering Nov. 23 The South West Chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society announces their monthly cook out. The Dutch Oven Gathering will be held at Sam Houston Jones State Park on Sat., Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your family and celebrate Thanksgiving the Dutch Oven way. This year we will feature the famed “Trash Can Turkey.” To attend, just show up, cook, or bring an item for the cast iron buffet style luncheon. For more information, contact Dwayne or Randy at 302-5025 or 912-9394 or visit www.ladutch.com.
Royal Magnolia Garden Fall Festival Nov. 23 Bring everyone in the family out to have fun and get your hands dirty to celebrate gardening at the Royal Magnolia Community Learning Garden's Fall Festival on Sat., Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1711 Hagan Street in North Lake Charles. There will be a variety of fun and educational activities to participate in or observe from face painting and a bouncy house to seminars on the latest gardening techniques and holiday wreath-making. For more information, call the Partnership for a Healthier Southwest Louisiana at 4784822, Ext 16 or go to healthierswla.com
Bayou Classic Christian Fellowship of SWLA Nov. 23-24 The Evangelism Ministry of Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church will host its 8th annual “Bayou Classic Christian Fellowship of Southwest Louisiana” Nov. Volume 1 • Issue 12
23-24. The purpose of this fellowship is to further the gospel of Jesus Christ and assist area youth in making career and educational choices. Enjoy the Saturday parade with food, fun, and a career fair to follow. On Nov. 24, attend Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. followed by worship. For more information, call (337) 436-6627.
A Streetcar Named Desire through Nov. 24 Award-winning author, Christine Smith, and her husband, Captain Jeffery Smith, will present a multi-media 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.
Jen Kober’s Back! Nov. 26-27, Dec. 25-26 Nationally known comedian and Lake Charles native Jen Kober brings her Homegrown Comedy Show back to L'Auberge Lake Charles for the holidays. The
Ender’s Game (2013, Summit, Lionsgate)
“To truly know your enemy is to love them.” Andrew (Ender) Wiggin is the last of three children, in a future where families are normally limited to two. In his case, the intrusive government paired his parents hoping to create a supergenius who could find a way to defeat the Formics, a bug-like race from far away. Fifty years before this, humanity was almost was destroyed when the Formics came to their Solar System with a fleet of advanced battleships. To prevent this from ever hapVolume 1 • Issue 12
pening again, Earth has located their home planet and is planning to wipe them out. Pretty American movie, huh? Ender’s Game was filmed in New Orleans, by the way. Ender’s elder siblings were geniuses alright, but Peter, the oldest, had too much killer in him. And Valentine, his sister, was too passive. At least, that’s what the military thinks. But they have no time left and have to take a chance on Ender, barely of voice changing age. It’s off to
stand-up, improv and storytelling show features new material each week. Kober will perform two event center shows in addition to two Jack Daniel's® Bar & Grill shows. The shows will be on Tues., Nov. 26; Wed., Nov. 27; Wed., Dec. 25; and Thurs., Dec. 26. General admission tickets are $10. Tickets can be purchased now at www.ticketmaster.com, the L'Auberge Business Center or Legends Memorabilia at L'Auberge. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (800) 7453000. Must be 21 to attend.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28 boot camp for him. Soon Ender is fighting for his life against other recruits, all of them handpicked, and most of them bigger than he is. This is all part of Colonel Graff ’s (Harrison Ford) plan to test him and toughen him up, and quickly. So what makes this movie such a big deal compared to all the other coming of age SF movies and space battle movies, like The Hunger Games, Starship Troopers, etc? Well, Ender’s Game the novel is a big deal in Science Fiction, winning the Hugo award back in 1985. So naturally it has a fan base that’s been waiting for the movie. But what about the general public? I was fortunate enough to view the movie with several adults who hadn’t read the book, and they were fairly positive about the movie. Harrison Ford and Viola Davis deliver pretty well in their roles as the Military Adults, while
Maplewood/Hollywood Lions Club's 20th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at SPAR Aquatic Center, 933 West Parish Road, Sulphur. Church is at 9:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at 10:30 a.m. (337) 625-8569.
Beaujolais Soiree Nov. 30 Join us to uncork the latest vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau at the Brickhouse on Nov. 30. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and wine introductions will begin at 7:30. The wine will be expertly paired with hors d’oeuvres which can be enjoyed while listening to jazz music. During the tasting, you will
all the kids in the movie do a good job as recruits. Asa Butterfield (Hugo) as Ender, manages to carry the movie, which is impressive. But let’s face it, the interesting story line is eclipsed by the special ef-
fects. In particular, the Zero G Training Room, a huge spherical atrium with no up or down, is by far the highlight of the movie. In contrast, some of the most interesting plot elements, like the interaction of Ender with his sister, Valentine, fall a little flat. But all in all, Ender’s Game is an excellent movie, and it explores the ideas of military strategy, and for that matter, dealing with bullies, in a way that I think young viewers will
have the opportunity to purchase your favorite wine. Tickets are $65. The Brickhouse, 110 W. Pine St., Lake Charles. (337) 263-1878.
PurpleStride Dec. 7 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s PurpleStride event takes place on Sat., Dec. 7 at Prien Lake Park at 7 a.m. This year marks the ninth and final year of the walk and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. The event features a raffle, silent auction, children’s activities, a sweets shop and food and refreshments. To register, go to www.purplestride.org/l akearea.
be very interested in. Although I don’t think parents or teachers would approve of some of Ender’s tactics, he has very clear justification for his dealing with others. He’s expected to become a leader and in a believable way, he does. My advice would be for movie viewers, young and old, to turn right around and read the novel by Orson Scott Card. It will give you a better appreciation of what the movie was about and might whet your curiosity to read several more books in the series. Ender’s Game is rated PG-13 for warlike violence and for adolescents punching each other in the nose and stomach. I think middle school kids and up will enjoy this movie and have no problem with it, except for learning a little bit about thinking smart. Enjoy! NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 19
Holiday Happenings in SWLA Jack Frost may not actually be nipping at our noses, but the holiday season has arrived—with all of its magic and excitement! What is there to do in the Lake Area? Read on and find out! And Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Decking the Halls in DeQuincy Christmas Parade Dec. 7 Sponsored by the DeQuincy Chamber of Commerce, the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. from Nicholls, with a Christmas program at Pocket Park at 6:15 p.m. in downtown DeQuincy. The festivities end with fireworks at the ballpark at 7:30 p.m. Holiday Express Train Dec. 6 The Kansas City Southern's "Holiday Express" is set to visit the Railroad Museum, at 400 Lake Charles Avenue in DeQuincy, at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. The Holiday Express is a six-car train that brings Santa and his elves to communities along KCS's tracks. At each stop, the KCS charitable fund makes a contribution of gift cards to the local Salvation Army. (337) 786-2823. Christmas at the Railroad Museum Dec. 1-Dec. 31 Thousands of exterior lights including a laser show and multiple indoor trees with clear lights come on at dusk each day in December.
The museum is available for private events. Call (337) 786-2823 for information. Taste of the Holidays Dec. 7 The DeQuincy Civic Club will celebrate the holidays with a tour of several beautifully decorated homes beginning at 4:30 p.m. followed by the tasting at the JCE Center at 6 p.m. Patrons will be given a commemorative cookbook, including the recipes from the event. Tickets are $15. Call Krystal at (337) 274-3572 for more information.
Holiday Inspiration in Iowa Iowa Christmas Parade Dec. 7 Christmas Parade begins at 4p.m. from the VF Mall and travels to the Lawrence Toups Memorial Park. Christmas in the Park will begin at 5p.m. and includes a chili cook-off, the lighting of Christmas tree display and a Christmas concert. For more (337) 582-3535.
Joyous in Jennings A Christmas to Remember Nov. 25-Dec. 27 The W.H. Tupper General Merchandise Museum is the perfect place to step back in time to Christmas in the 1940s. See some of the original ornaments used in the W.H. Tupper Store, along with vintage Christmas items and toys. W.H. Tupper Museum, 311 North Main St., Jennings.
Movie Night at the Strand Nov. 30 Ever wonder how 2 billion presents get delivered all in one night? See Arthur Christmas at the Strand Theatre, 432 N. Main St. Two showings, 2 and 6 p.m. Admission: adults $5, senior citizens 60 and over $3, children 12 and younger $3. (337) 821-5509. Christmas Parade and Gumbo Cook-off Dec. 7 Enjoy a gumbo cook-off at I-10 park, bonfire, craft and food vendors, entertainment provided by local groups, the introduction of local pageant royalty, the wonderful Christmas parade that rolls down Main St. at 5:30 p.m. and a gigantic fireworks display in the evening. Free admission. (337) 821-5532. Sounds of Christmas… With a Twist Dec. 14 The annual community Christmas musical features live performances of traditional selections and a few surprises. Strand Theatre, downtown Jennings. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances. (337) 8215509. Movie Night at the Strand Dec. 21 Bring the whole family to see Irving Berlin’s wonderful White Christmas starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen at the Strand Theatre. Shows are at 3 and 7 p.m. (337) 821-5509.
Light Up Lake Charles J&R Carriage Christmas Lights Ride Dec. 1-31 Celebrate this holiday season the old-fashioned way with family and friends, while riding in a seasonally decorated muledrawn carriage through the decoPAGE 20
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
rated neighborhoods of Historic Downtown Lake Charles. J&R Carriages offers evening Christmas light carriage rides along Shell Beach Drive. Reservations required. Call (337) 842-0778. LC Symphony’s Holly & Ivy Holiday Gala Dec. 1 The Lake Charles Symphony’s annual holiday gala on Dec. 1 will have a Celtic touch this year with the Symphony teaming up with the Gallery of Fine Wines & Spirits to provide a beer and wine tasting in conjunction with a musical program featuring Irish tunes. Tenor Fred VanNess, Jr. and Mezzo Soprano Sarah Callahan, both McNeese graduates, will join the Symphony under the direction of Conductor Bohuslav Rattay in a performance at the Shearman Fine Arts Annex of McNeese State University. Tickets are $100 per person, and the funds raised will enhance the Symphony’s programming and educational outreach. (337) 433-1611. Christmas Card Workshop Dec. 2-23 All ages are welcome to test their creative skills and write letters to Santa, which will be sent directly to the North Pole. The Calcasieu Council on Aging will distribute the handmade Christmas cards to area nursing home residents throughout Calcasieu Parish. 1911 Historic City Hall, 1001 Ryan Street, Lake Charles Mon.– Fri. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (337) 491-9147. Holiday Open House & Art Market Dec. 5-6 Visit the Central School Arts and Humanities Center on Dec. 5 from 5-8 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. for a festive Holiday Open House. Central School will glow with the joy of the season with extensive Christmas lighting, hors d’oeuvres, music, and holiday ornamentation. The open house will also feature an Art Market, with 10 percent of the proceeds helping to fund area art scholarships. A donation center will be set-up where art supplies such as Volume 1 • Issue 12
crayons, markers, drawing paper, paintbrushes, paints, etc may be dropped off for at risk youth. (337) 439-2787.
and matinees on Dec. 8 and 15 at 3 p.m. Reserved seating tickets are priced at $25 for adults, $15 for students, and $20 for seniors 65+ and may be purchased online at www.actstheatre.com.
Christmas Spirits Concert Dec. 6 The annual Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Christmas Concert, “Christmas Spirits”, will be presented at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Lake Charles on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Masterworks Chorale will present Hodie! by John Leavitt, along with four Christmas carols. Les Petites Voix and the Bayou Bell Choir will present seasonal selections. Tickets are available at Swicegood Music and at the door. (337) 4919384.
Gingerbread House Contest Dec. 7 Come and see homemade decorated gingerbread houses and vote for your favorite at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. The awards presentation will begin at noon. The gingerbread houses will remain on display at the bureau throughout the month of December, and all visitors will be able to vote on the People's Choice Award. (337) 436-9588.
ACTS Presents White Christmas! Dec. 6-8, 13-15 Artists Civic Theatre and Studio present Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Based on the Paramount Pictures classic film, it will open at ACTS ‘s 1 Reid Street Theatre Dec. 6, continuing with performances on Dec. 7, 13 and 14 with curtain rising at 7:30 p.m.,
Cinderella’s Holiday Dining Dec. 7 Children will join their favorite storybook characters for an unforgettable experience. Character meals include pizza, dessert and a drink. The seating incorporates a visit, photos and autographs from each of these famous characters. Children are encour-
Volume 1 • Issue 12
aged to wear their favorite costume. Seating is at noon. The cost is $25 per person (everyone must have a ticket including adults and infants). Seating is limited and reservations must be made by calling the theatre box office at (337) 433-7323. Light Up the Lake Dec. 7 Beginning at 2 p.m., local groups will join Santa for the parade starting on Bord du Lac Drive. Santa’s Workshop will take place in the Civic Center Exhibition Hall from 3-5:30 p.m. The Community Band Christmas Concert begins at 3:30. Then, gather around the front lawn at 5 p.m. for the lighting ceremony. Captains are called upon to round up their crews for the annual lighted boat parade at 6:30. Awards will be given for the best decorated boats. At 7:15, the fireworks extravaganza will light up the lake. All events are free for attendees as well as participants. (337) 491-9159. Handel’s Messiah Dec. 8 A moving experience for the entire family, this is the 73rd pro-
duction of The Messiah and it continues to be a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. The performance will include four soloists who are all McNeese students and will feature limited selections, but most of the familiar ones will be performed. Performance is at 3 p.m. at the Bulber Auditorium, McNeese State University, 4205 Ryan St. (337) 477-0662. Pictures with Santa Dec. 10-24 Capture the magic of the season and get in some last minute Christmas wishes at the Sears Court in the Prien Lake Mall. Mon. – Fri., 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun., Noon – 6 p.m. (337) 477-7487. The Nutcracker Dec. 13-15 The Nutcracker is returning to the Lake Area to celebrate its 50th anniversary and to raise funds for the McNeese State University Department of Performing Arts. Performances will be held Dec. 13-15 in the style of Ida Winter Clarke, with a student perform-
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 21
Holiday Happenings in SWLA (Continued) ance scheduled Dec. 12, in the McNeese Shearman Fine Arts Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets are now available for the general public. Contact Libby Looney at (337) 475-5027. LC Civic Ballet’s Rudolph Dec. 14 Bring the family to this Christmas classic from the LCCB repertoire. Created in 1969 by Lady Leah Lafargue Hathaway, Rudolph has delighted audiences ever since! It is the classic Christmas story of the young reindeer who learns that he is important and needed. It will be held at the Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center, with performances at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. For tickets, go to www.lakecharlescivicballet.com Meet Santa at the Children’s Museum Dec. 21 Meet Santa Claus from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and make an ornament in ArtSpace throughout the day. The Children’s Museum of Lake Charles, 327 Broad St. (337) 433-9420.
PAGE 22
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Great Russian Nutcracker Dec. 27 Celebrate the beauty of the holidays and the best of Russian ballet in the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker! The performance will be held at the Rosa Hart Theatre at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $28. Call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
Merry in Moss Bluff Moss Bluff Christmas Parade Dec. 14 The Moss Bluff Christmas Parade begins at 2 p.m. in downtown Moss Bluff. Don’t miss on all the fun! Call (337) 855-7522 for more information.
Silver Bells in Sulphur Christmas Under the Oaks Dec. 5-7 Yes, it snows every year at Sulphur’s Christmas Under the Oaks
Festival, located at the Brimstone Museum Complex in the heart of Sulphur at Heritage Square. Festival dates are Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 5-7, with shopping available at the Holiday House Fri. and Sat. The Holiday House will also feature a preview party, Dec. 5 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. with tickets at $35. Festival hours are Fri., 4 – 9 p.m.; and Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Local dance groups will perform 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., with Sulphur’s famed Kiwanis Christmas Balloon Parade at 3 p.m. and live entertainment throughout the evening. (337) 527-0357.
good Music and at the door. (337) 491-9384.
Christmas Spirits Dec. 8 The annual Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Christmas Concert, Christmas Spirits, will be presented at Immaculate Conception Church in Sulphur on Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. Masterworks Chorale will present Hodie! by John Leavitt, along with four Christmas carols. Les Petites Voix and the Bayou Bell Choir will present seasonal selections. Tickets ($15 adults and $5 students) are available at Swice-
Trees of Hope Dec. 6-18 Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel invites you to come out and vote on local charities' unique Christmas tree decorations in the Delta Promenade. Cash awards will be given to 15 charities at the awards ceremony on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Doing your part to give back is easier than you think; all you have to do is cast a vote between Dec. 6 and 18. (337) 589-7441
Seasons Greetings from Starks Christmas Parade and Gumbo Dec. 7 The Christmas parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Starks Memorial VFW Post 4759. Free gumbo will be served after the parade at the VFW Post. Starks Memorial VFW Post 4759 is located at 4402 Hwy. 12. (337) 743-6409.
A Very Merry Vinton Christmas
Volume 1 • Issue 12
Wassail in Westlake Vinton Christmas Parade Dec. 6 The parade kicks off the festivities at 5 p.m. followed by family friendly activities, jambalaya dinners, and a visit from Old St. Nicholas in the Vinton Elementary Gym, 1610 Hampton Street, Vinton. Donate canned goods and receive free admission. (337) 217-4520.
Westlake Christmas Festival Dec. 7 The festival begins at 10 a.m. in downtown Westlake with a gumbo cook-off, an ornament contest, bake sale, and arts and crafts booths. Parade begins at 4 p.m. followed by a tree lighting ceremony at City Hall. Visit Santa and enjoy hot chocolate! For more info call (337) 433-0691.
Salvation Army Looking for Bell-ringers The Salvation Army of Southwest Louisiana is looking for people to ring bells. The red kettles will again be up at area Walmart stores, Sam's Club, the Lake Charles mall, and several other places in Southwest Louisiana between the dates of Nov. 29 and Dec. 24. The money that people put in the red kettles is the Army's biggest fundraiser. Among the projects funded are the men's housing/homeless shelter, several youth programs, and social services to people in need. “We need groups and individuals to ring bells,” said Major David Craddock, head of The Salvation Army in Lake Charles. The goal is to raise $100,000m all of which will be spent in Southwestern Louisiana. Civic organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, sports teams, scouts, and church or school groups are some
Volume 1 • Issue 12
of the organizations that have rung in the past. Individuals are also needed. Groups are asked to ring for one day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. “But if an organization can only ring for half a day, or if an individual just wants to volunteer for a couple hours, we still need them,” he said. The programs supported by the Red Kettle Project are designed to “give a hand up, not just a hand out,” Craddock said. “We need the people of this area to put their donations in the red kettles so that we can continue to offer the educational programs that change destructive habits, and offer sustenance to people in their hour of need,” he said. To volunteer, contact Joyce VanDenberg, volunteer coordinator, at (337) 721-8068 or joyce_vandenberg@uss.salvationarmy.org.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 23
Matt Viator Named FCS Finalist For the third time in his eight-year career as head coach of McNeese State, Matt Viator has been named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as the nation’s top head coach in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) announced by the Sports Network on Tuesday. Viator and Southeastern Louisiana head coach Ron Roberts are the only two coaches from the Southland Conference to be listed on the 20-person final ballot. Viator was also named a finalist in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Now in his eighth season at the helm at McNeese, Viator has compiled a 61-26 overall record – third most victories in school history and fifth-most in conference history.
His 2013 team is 9-2 heading into Saturday’s regular season finale at Lamar (Nov. 23). It’s the most wins by a Cowboys’ team since the 2009 campaign when McNeese finished 9-3 and won its league-record 13th conference championship. This season, the Cowboys have broken or tied 24 individual or team records, including singlegame, season and career for school, conference or national, and a handful of records are in jeopardy of being broken. Currently ranked No. 6 in this week’s Sports Network Top 25 poll, the Cowboys have been ranked in the top 25 since beating South Florida 5321 in the season opener and have spent nine consecutive weeks ranked in the top 15.
NAMI Collecting Donations National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southwest Louisiana will be collecting donations for both homeless veterans and people affected by serious mental illness through December 13. Items needed: Nonopened hygiene products, new socks (one size fits all), paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels, and items such as pencils/pens, crossword/find words books, journals and puzzles.
PAGE 24
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
The items collected will benefit City of Refuge, a shelter for homeless veterans; Maison D’Amis, a Lake Charles apartment building for those affected by serious mental illness; as well as local mental health recovery centers. Items can be dropped off between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NAMI SWLA office in the United Way building. 715 Ryan St. Suite 203, Lake Charles, LA 70601. For more information, call (337) 433-0219 or email anastasia@namiswla.com.
Volume 1 • Issue 12
NG! I V I G S K N A TH Cranberry Sauce Mayflower New World November Twenty Eight Pilgrim
Plymouth Rock Pumpkin Pie Family Football Gratitude
Squanto Thanksgiving Turkey Wampanoag Tribe William Bradford
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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 12
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 25
Working Dogs Man’s best friend has always been the perfect non-human companion and helper. Besides guide dogs for the blind, many dogs now have full-time jobs as police K9s that track criminals, control crowds, sniff out drugs, and locate the missing and the dead; military dogs that can detect bombs and warn where the enemy is; or personal assistance companions that can sense when their person’s sugar level or blood pressure is too high or low, calm nightmares, or alert that a seizure is imminent. Dogs can even be trained to find bedbugs and detect disease. In What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs, author Cat Warren gives us the history of working dogs, from ancient times to the present. “Dogs have been used during war for centuries: first for attack, then for scenting the presence of enemy soldiers, then for sending messages to the front, and then for finding bombs and mines.” She discusses the science of smell and of physical decomposiPAGE 26
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
tion. She dispels myths about dogs' abilities and shows how some other animals — even bees — have been trained to find certain chemicals. She describes the elements of dog training — “Good working dogs have to move swiftly, hear acutely, smell well, and communicate clearly with their handlers — even bite on occasion” — and relates her personal experience training her own dog to be a cadaver dog: “Nothing makes him happier than a romp in the swamp looking for someone who has been missing for awhile.” He “sweeps a field like a hyperactive Zamboni on ice, tracking will o’ the wisps of scent down to their source.” The Possibility Dogs by Susannah Charleston focuses on psychiatric service dogs, “who intervene in human depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, among other conditions.” These dogs can pick up subtle cues about their partners and can alert them or calm them down, as needed. Charleston's interest grew out of a traumatic search and rescue mission that affected her so
badly she had critical incident stress and needed some canine support. She explains the difference between different kinds of service dogs: “Emotional support animals offer their partners steadfast companionship, usually in the home, and are not necessarily trained to perform specific service tasks.” And therapy dogs are “dogs used in actual therapeutic counseling scenarios and dogs who provide animal-assisted activities, engaging with the public at the sides of their trained handlers.” She rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to be service animals for humans with “invisible” mental and emotional health issues. The reader gets to “meet” these wonderful dogs as she tells their stories. Trident K9 Warriors by Mike Ritland with Gary Brozek is all about military working dogs. Ritland trains dogs to work with Navy SEAL teams, and here he tells fascinating stories about training the dogs, about the missions they were sent on
and the lives they saved. It's also available on Macmillan Audio, which I recommend. On the fiction shelves, A Man of His Own by Susan Wilson is the story of a pet that becomes, out of need, a service animal. Rick Stanton is a baseball pitcher with a promising career. His best friend is his dog, Pax, that he rescued when he was just a puppy. Rick's life seems perfect when he falls in love with Francesca, who will become his wife: “We laughed and gasped for breath, and when the photographer came to us to take our picture, I was cerVolume 1 • Issue 12
tain that he wasn’t going to need a flashbulb, we were so lit from within.” But World War II begins, and Rick enlists in the Army and is sent to Europe, separated not just from his new wife, but also from his beloved dog. Back home, Francesca wants to “do her bit” for the war effort and, with Rick’s permission, donates Pax to be trained to become a war dog, helping American troops on the battlefield. On the front lines, Pax and his trainer, Keller, become incredibly close, especially after the dog saves Keller's life: “Pax has become a dog with purpose. As much as living with Rick and Francesca had been rewarding, and comfortable, this life with Keller has hardened him into what his nature meant for him to be. A hunter. A guardian.
A pack member with a job.” On a separate front line, Rick is injured and sent home a broken man, with more than just physical wounds. When the war is over, Keller doesn’t want to be separated from Pax (“This dog is his family”), so he agrees to stay with Rick and Francesca just to be close to the dog. Pax is completely happy, surrounded by the people he loves, and he learns to be a service dog, helping Rick. Emotions among the humans run high and low. A somewhat predictable conflict develops, but the outcome is not what I expected. It’s heartbreaking when the dog is separated from the men he loves, and joyous whenever they’re reunited. Copyright © 2013 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
uSome Thoughts About Perception Heather Kelly Exhibit October 18 - January 4 uChildren in Motion with Nancy Melton through Jan. 4 uThe Curious World of Patent Models through Dec. 28 uHistoric City Hall 1001 Ryan St., Lake Charles Mon.-Fri. 10 am- 5 pm Sat 10 am - 2 pm 337-491-9147 uAdrian Fulton: Metal Health Series Through Nov. 27 Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. uBlack Heritage Gallery @Central School 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 337-488-8567 uHenning Cultural Center 923 Ruth St., Sulphur.. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 337-527-0357 uDeQuincy Railroad Museum 400 Lake Charles Ave. DeQuincy Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 337-786-2823 uDeQuincy Town Hall Museum 218 E. Fourth St. DeQuincy Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. 337-786-8241 uMardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu 809 Kirby St. Lake Charles Tues.-Fri. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. 337-430-0043 uUSS Orleck Naval Museum 604 N. Enterprise Blvd. Lake Charles Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. -4 p.m. 337-214-7447
Volume 1 • Issue 12
uVintage Arts By Jeanne Owens @Central School 809 Kirby St., Suite 212 Lake Charles Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 337-304-1165 uW.H. Tupper General Merchandise Museum 311 N. Main St. Jennings Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 337-821-5532 uTales and Travels Through Jan. 12 u@Stark Museum of Art Tues.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm Orange, TX 409-886-2787 uOpen Art Splurgery Through Dec. 31 Members have opened their hearts to allow shoppers to come and splurge on art for Christmas gifts of good culture. Many items in the gallery and gift shop will be discounted. Prices are wholesale and tax free. uAssociated La. Artists @Gallery by the Lake 106 W. Pryce St. Lake Charles 337-436-1008 uJudy Baggett: "As I See It" Exhibit Nov. 15-Jan. 4 The exhibit will showcase new paintings by the artist in the Annex Gallery. uSally & Ned Cappel: "Images: Real and Imaginary" Exhibit Nov. 15-Jan. 4 The exhibit will showcase recent paintings by both artists in the Gibson Barham Gallery. u@Imperial Calcasieu Museum 204 W. Sallier St. Lake Charles 337-439-3797
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 27
Friday, November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and new evidence is still coming to light in this most frigid of cases, thanks in part to Lake Area native Todd Elliott and his new book, A Rose By Many Other Names: Rose Cherami & the JFK Assassination. This story explores one aspect of the Louisiana connection to the murder of our 35th president. According to Elliott’s site at jfkrose.com, Rose Cherami, whose real name was Melba Marcades, “was a known prostitute
PAGE 28
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
and drug courier who was picked up by authorities in Eunice, LA some 48 hours before the assassination when she claimed to have been in the company of men who were on their way to kill President Kennedy in Dallas.” As Elliott said, Cherami “was the first JFK conspiracy theorist. She believed in a conspiracy to kill the president while he was still alive.” Unlike most other books on the subject, this author does not take his readers to Dallas and does not go through the magic bullet theory or other complex ballistics information. Readers do
not need working knowledge of all the bit players. “It’s like a prequel to the assassination,” Elliott said. “It’s not a big book but it’s a huge story.” The persona of Rose Cherami and her mysterious involvement in the crime of the 20th century was just a footnote with conspiracy addicts for many years. Elliott, a self-proclaimed “JFK nerd,” was chiefly inspired by Oliver Stone’s 1991 Academy Award-winning
film, which opens with a dramatized sequence in which an unidentified woman is violently thrown from a moving vehicle. Turns out that was Rose, and this incident allegedly happened in nearby Eunice. Elliott packed up and visited the small town in central Louisiana, hoping to meet and talk with people who had any knowledge of Cherami. This led to a front-page article in The Eunice
Volume 1 • Issue 12
News, published on November 22, 2012, exactly 49 years after the president’s assassination. The story at eunicetoday.com garnered over 20,000 views from all over the world in less than two months, and Elliott was soon offered a book deal through the TrineDay publishing house based in Oregon. Since the book’s release, he has been approached by an interested movie producer as well. Before 2010, when Todd Elliott started researching for the book, very little concrete proof existed to prove Cherami was ever in Eunice other than the recollections of locals who say that just days after Kennedy’s assassination, the proverbial men with black hats showed up and seized all paperwork pertaining to Cherami. This definitive evidence suddenly came to light when a former employee at the Moosa Hospital provided Elliott with a photocopy of the emergency room registry, which included Cherami’s signature. Jim Garrison, the New Orleans District Attorney who conducted an investigation into the JFK assassination, is another Louisiana connection and a folk hero to Elliott as the picture of the classic journalist, a crusader for transparency. “I don’t think anyone should wait for the government to hand us a document or send us a memo and fill in the blanks of our history,” Elliott said, encouraging other would-be truth-seekers to do their own research, Volume 1 • Issue 12
exercise their priceless freedoms of speech and of the press, and combat a deluge of misinformation. “I for one don’t want to live in a world without conspiracies,” he added. A true journalist always asks questions. Aside from taking her story to the mainstream, Elliott wanted to change the way Cherami is viewed. For many years, the most widely seen photo was of a dehumanized junkie prostitute, but Elliott tracked down and included images of her as a fresh-faced young mother to lend credibility to her story. He also partnered with east Texas artist Hal Moore to create striking true-crime style imagery that draws interest with just a glance. Now that A Rose By Many Other Names has been published, Todd Elliott stays busy with promotions and interviews, especially in this 50th anniversary year, but he’s not done researching. “I want to do a revision and update the book. We’re starting to get more and more stories, people coming forward now that this dirty secret is out in the open,” he said. Catch up on some little-known Louisiana history and read a great mystery story by getting this book. A Rose By Many Other Names is available for purchase online at jfkrose.com. You can also pick up a copy at Candice Alexander’s art shop in downtown Lake Charles, or load it onto that Kindle of yours through Amazon.com.
15% Senior Discount All Doctors’ Prescriptions Accepted Experienced Professional Staff • Most Insurance Accepted
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 29
Thursday, Nov. 21 Bernie Alan @ Mikko Live "Block Party" w/ Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, R&B, & Country 7 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Static 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles "Thanksgiving" All Night @ Cowboys Night Club $2 Wild Turkey Shots! $1 Beer & Bar all Night! 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
Rosco Bandana 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles The Marvelous Wonderfuls xDefinition & Selfawarewolf! 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
DJ Mata 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Monday, Nov. 25 Ryan Bunch (Free Live Music) "Happy Hour" 5 - 7 p.m. 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Tuesday, Nov. 26 DJ Mata 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark "Friday's Fireside Lounge" 7 - 10 p.m @ Adult Pool Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Karaoke w/ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Jen Kober's Homegrown Comedy Show! 8:30 p.m. @ L'Auberge Event Center, 77 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Todd Oneill Band 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club 5313 Common St., Lake Charles
Free Live Music "Happy Hour" 5 - 7 p.m. 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
David Joel 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake
Brian Moore (Free Live Music) "Two Wheel Tuesday" "Happy Hour" 5 - 7 p.m. 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Friday Nov. 22
Band X @ Mikko Live "Dance Party" w/ Pop/Rock Mix 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
Karaoke 2013 @ Mikko Live 8 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
Thomas Rhett w/ Cadillac Three! 7 p.m. @ Yesterdays 5313 Common St., Lake Charles Blackbird 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake Band X @ Mikko Live "Dance Party" w/ Pop/Rock Mix 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino Resort 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder BB and Company 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton NOVEMBER 21, 2013
RKW Show Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles
(CD Release Party) Sick/Sea & Certain Satellites 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
DJ Mata 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Rory Partin's Big Band Sounds! Holiday Concert @ Water's Edge Community Theatre Pre-Sale $10, At the door $15 2760 Power Centre Pkwy, Lake Charles
PAGE 30
Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles
Saturday Nov. 23
BB and Company 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles "Saturday Night Party Time" MSU @ Lamar (Away) 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar 12 - 2 a.m. 5329 Common St., Lake Charles William Christian Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., Suite 5, Lake Charles Brian Moore 10 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St., Lake Charles When the Word Was Sound
Wednesday, Nov. 27
"City Heat" every Wednesday 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove Ladies’ Night 5 p.m - Midnight Free drinks for ladies only! @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave, Westlake DJ Eric Scott 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Brian Racca Live 8 p.m. @ Cigar Club 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd. Suite 5, Lake Charles Jen Kober's Homegrown Comedy Show! 8:30 p.m. @ L'Auberge Event Center, 77 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Volume 1 • Issue 12
"Comedy Night" (10-12 Comedians) Josh Hessier, Leo Morgan, & Nick Cronan Host! 8:30 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles "Vinyl Night" 1/2 price drafts for folks that bring records! "Happy Hour" 5 - 7 p.m. 9 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles Loaded 44RZ w/ Lingus 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St, Lake Charles
Thursday, Nov. 28 Asian Concert 2 & 6 p.m. @ L'Auberge Event Center, 77 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners! "Block Party" w/ Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, R&B, & Country! 7 p.m. @ Mikko Live 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder Brandon Ledet & The Creole Touch! Free T-Shirt 11 - 3 p.m. 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Larry Tillery 8 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack
Volume 1 • Issue 12
2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton "Thursday Dollar Night" 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar all night! 5329 Common St., Lake Charles DJ Crush 10 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill, 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Friday, Nov. 29 Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners! 8 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club 5313 Common St., Lake Charles
Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Saturday Nov. 30 Paul Gonsoulin 7 p.m. @ Luna Bar & Grill 719 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Damon Troy & Final Five 8 p.m. @ Yesterdays Night Club 5313 Common St., Lake Charles
Karaoke w/ David Verrett 8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Phillip Glen 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake
Karaoke 2013 @ Mikko Live 8 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
Charles Mann Free T-Shirt 11 - 3 p.m. 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave.,Westlake
MoJeaux @ Mikko Live "Dance Party" w/ Pop & Rock Mix 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
MoJeaux @ Mikko Live "Dance Party" w/ Pop & Rock Mix 9 p.m. @ Coushatta Casino 777 Coushatta Dr., Kinder
Larry Tillery 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton
Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles
Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles
Larry Tillery 9 p.m. @ Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack 2717 Delta Downs Dr., Vinton
"Saturday Night Party Time" 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar 12 - 2 a.m. 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
Free Live Music "Happy Hour" 5 - 7 p.m. 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Second Nature Live 9 p.m. @ Cigar Club, 1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., Suite 5, Lake Charles
DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark "Friday's Fireside Lounge" 7 - 10 p.m @ Adult Pool
DJ Crush 11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill 777 Avenue L'Auberge, Lake Charles
Floating Popes, Large Marge & The Mary Wonderfuls 10 p.m. @ Dharma 329 Broad St., Lake Charles
Wednesday, Dec. 4
"City Heat" Every Wednesday 8 p.m. @ The Caribbean Cove Lady's Night 5 p.m - Midnight Free drinks for ladies only! @ Isle of Capri Casino 100 Westlake Ave., Westlake "Comedy Night" (10-12 Comedians) Josh Hessier, Leo Morgan, & Nick Cronan Host! 8:30 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles Consider the Source 10 p.m. @ Luna Live 710 Ryan St., Lake Charles
Thursday, Dec. 5 Karaoke with $3 Cover 9 p.m. @ Frosty Factory 4688 Common St., Lake Charles "Thursday Dollar Night" 9 p.m. @ Cowboys Night Club $1 Beer & Bar all night! 5329 Common St., Lake Charles
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 31
The Lake Charles Civic Ballet (LCCB) announces upcoming holiday performance dates for the beloved classic Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer, presented by L’Auberge Lake Charles and KVHP Fox 29/CW. Performances will be December 12, 13 and 14 at the Rosa Hart Theatre. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a classic from the LCCB repertoire. Created in 1969 by Lady Leah Lafargue Hathaway, Rudolph has delighted audiences ever since that first performance. The ballet opens in Santa’s workshop, as the elves busily prepare puppets, dolls, robots, bikes and other toys to deliver to the children of the world. The scene is filled with exciting dancing by Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the elves. The action continues with Santa’s reindeer, all of whom shun poor Rudolph. The setting is a beautiful snow field, as the reindeer show off their flying skills. Then, the audience visits countries around the world to see how children from such places as the Nether-
lands, Switzerland, Japan, Arabia, and Hawaii celebrate Christmas. Finally, a vicious snow storm appears as dancing snowflakes and the Snow Queen perform on stage. Santa fears that Christmas will be cancelled, but he discovers Rudolph’s wonderful bright red nose and asks him to guide his sleigh. The audience is delighted as they watch Rudolph’s bright red nose fly across their heads in the Rosa Hart Theatre. The finale is a fabulous celebration with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the elves, all of the reindeer and of course, Rudolph. School group matinee performances are Thursday, December 12 and Friday, December 13 at 9 AM and 11 AM. Tickets for the school matinees are just $5 per student. Reservations may be made via the LCCB website www.lakecharlescivicballet.com or by contacting group reservations chair, Kelly Gifford, at (337) 8025779. On Saturday, December 14, there will be an 11 AM Matinee and 6 PM Gala. Tickets for these performances are $10 for students and $15 for adults. Tickets may be purchased at the door or via the LCCB website.
laboration with other artistic groups and with individual artists. LCCB is a 501c3 non-profit organization supported by grants from the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts, City of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau as Administered by the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. For more information, go to www.lakecharlescivicballet.com.
ABOUT THE COMPANY LCCB has served the region for over 45 years. Its goal is to achieve total dance theatre by providing a place for experimentation in choreography, composition, and design with the objective of col-
PAGE 32
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Volume 1 • Issue 12
Training Filmmakers in SWLA The screen was dark except for glints of moonlight shimmering on rocky terrain. College students scrambled in terror over the boulders as hand-held camera work ramped up the prickles of fear creeping up my spine. This was Sedona Studios independent horror film Reservation, a movie made by director Michael McGowan. Director is only one of many hats he wears, since he is also the man behind Sedona Studios and LA to LA Productions. His most recent project, How to Love a Geek is about to be released and will also play a key role in making film a thriving part of our economy. I got a chance to speak with McGowan a few days before his big premiere. Me: Recently, you’ve moved from Los Angeles
back to your home in Louisiana to create a filmmaking community in the southwest part of the state. Currently, Louisiana is the third largest filmmaking state in the nation but the industry is still young compared to Los Angeles and New York. What were some of the differences between working in Los Angeles and working here for How to Love a Geek? McGowan: Resources are the biggest difference. There are not a lot of professionals working in film right now in the area so there was a learning curve that included some trial and error. There was also equipment that needed to be shipped to this area. Me: What was your favorite part about shooting in the Lake Area? McGowan: My most
Michael McGowan, director of How to Love a Geek Volume 1 • Issue 12
favorite thing was shooting with beginners, and their enthusiasm. And it was great to see how excited businesses were about having a film shot here. In many ways I got to make new rules and introduce people to old ones. We really were building our own thing. Me: As a director, what kinds of films do you want to make? McGowan: I really am open to almost everything. I love finding something original. The things I’m not interested in doing have more to do with technical issues than stories. I’m not currently interested in period pieces or science fiction special effects. But I love doing romantic comedies, other comedies, and dramas. I’m inspired by the characters in the stories. Me: As a producer, what makes shooting in Louisiana attractive? McGowan: The tax credits, the large number of films being shot here and how fast the industry is growing as a whole. The state is number three in film production right now. And part of that growth is due to local talent being nurtured in Louisiana. I also got a chance to chat with local actress Suzanne Hieronymus, who plays a small-town girl, Janice, in the movie. She says the shoot lasted 22 days with many days lasting 12 or 13 hours, but she enjoyed soaking it all in. I asked her what her favorite part of the movie’s story was. “When the characters Janice and Natalia meet for the first time, and my character worries that her small-town life is about to be changed in a big way,” Hieronymus said. “I connected with the character a
lot at that time in my life. I’ve grown since then and keep changing as a person but for me, the film captures that personal moment in time.” Hieronymus is not the only local actor to make the cut for How to Love a Geek. Most of the cast and crew for the film were from Southwest Louisiana to encourage and grow local talent in the area. This is something the premier of the film will do as
well. It will be held Nov. 21 at the Rosa Hart theater at the Civic Center. Red carpet photos will be taken at 6:15 p.m., followed by a VIP dinner at 7 and the screening of How to Love a Geek at 8:30. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the SWLA Film Program, which is housed on the Sowela Technical College campus and will teach filmmaking in many key areas. The course will cover screenwriting, directing, cinematography, lighting, grip, hair and makeup and film production. Classes are expected to start December 4, and interested students can register at www.sowela.edu. The film school is listed under the “Workforce Development” link. Stu-
dents will learn how to shoot on Black Magic cameras and edit with Final Cut Pro software. Top students will be qualified to get paid training on sets such as How to Love a Geek. McGowan will be the director of the program and will have two hours a day to teach students about the industry and its unique rules. These are not evening classes. This is a full-time course, eight hours a day, five days a week. With crew and equipment resources growing, the future of Sedona Studios looks as bright as the brilliant 2K bulbs used to light up its movie sets. Starting in early 2014, McGowan will begin work on a new film, The Chancellor and the Elf and the Green House written by screenwriter Geno Andrews. The story is a kids’ drama that will be a great opportunity for our community’s youth. Their future slate of films includes Roses of Saint Valentine, a film about a little girl searching for a wife for her father with a little Greek mythology thrown in for a twist. And because good things always come in threes, their third film on the slate is a comedy titled Traffic School. For now, it looks like it’s all green lights for Sedona Studios. Until the next premier, save me some popcorn! “How to Love a Geek” premiere Nov. 21 at the Rosa Hart Theater at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Red carpet photos will be taken at 6:15 p.m. followed by a VIP dinner at 7 and the screening of “How to Love a Geek” at 8:30. For more information, call 564-6981.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 33
LOUISIANA THEATRE FESTIVAL Talented and inspired young people from all over the state were in for an unforgettable experience at the Louisiana Theatre Festival held at the Central School in downtown Lake Charles. After a day immersed in acting and technical theatre training, the students excitedly took to the stage to show us what they learned. Bravo!
Shelby Hunt and Cody Hewitt
Evan Seago, Hannah Franks and Abbie Quinn
Dr. Vicki Parrish, Kerry Onxley and Shelly Appleby
Shatina and Shanna Richard
Luke Matherne, Ashley Webster and Michael Carrier
LOUISIANA BOXING REUNION/HALL OF FAME The Louisiana High School Boxing Association held a reunion followed by a Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 33 greats from 1931-1958 in Sunset, LA. Attendees and honorees enjoyed the reception and exhibits while getting reacquainted and reminiscing about days gone by. The LHSB plans to induct another 30 boxers and coaches in 2014. The evening was a knockout!
Buddy Chatagnier and Rocky East
Floyd East, Carl Williams and BJ (Poochie) East PAGE 34
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Mona Pettijohn with Lorain and Donald Broussard
Notsie Quirk and Harold (Zydeco) LeBlanc
Caden East and Monica Martin Volume 1 • Issue 12
FLEA FEST Treasure hunters came out to the Burton Coliseum-and a bargain hunter’s dream! The Flea Fest covered almost four acres filled with antiques, jewelry, artwork, toys, comic books, vintage clothing and too many other items to mention. Nearly 200 vendors had something for everyone and at Fox 29’s Pet Town beautiful cats and dogs were up for adoption. So much to see and do and buy!
Nikita Ebanks, Marketa LaSalle and Layla Ebanks
Amber and Kinli Fontenot with Courtney Morrison
Kyleigh Thibodeaux and Liam Johnson
Ramani McClelland, Alyssa Lavergne and Magen DeJean
Dave and Jenn Ware, Kathy Hodges and Samuel Wilkins
COWBOY TAILGATING They’re at it again! Those diehard blue and gold cowbell-ringing fans! Come rain or shine, win or lose, you can always find the happy crowd of tailgaters— just follow your nose to the smokin’ pits by Cowboy Stadium! The crowds enjoyed the MSU Marching Band, Cowgirl Kickers and cheerleaders and Rowdy got Rowdy with the kids! And the Pokes were victorious once again! It’s been a fabulous season!
Bob Phillips with Boudreaux
Tommi, Jason and Robert Jackson Volume 1 • Issue 12
Mikeisha Coleman Sam with Truc Truong
Matthew and Amber Miller
Monroe Guidry, Avery Karam, Karleigh Fontenot and Hudson Guidry NOVEMBER 21, 2013
PAGE 35