Times of Southwest Louisiana

W W W. T I M E S S W. COM • S eptem ber 3 , 2 0 0 9 / V OL . 1 4 , NO . 17

Economic Snapshot of SWLA

Overture to Cultural Season

Annual Manual

Turn It Up: Fresh Nectar

Fall wedding

2009

C ontents

September 3, 2009 Volume 14, Number 17 617 Drew St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-439-0995 Fax: 337-439-0418

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Enterprise boulevard Cameron Parish: Recovering And Ready

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Home grown Lyons Music: Music With A Personal Touch

PUBLISHER Patrick Marcantel

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EDITOR Chaney Ferguson Assistant Editor Jessica Ferguson Assignments Nancy Correro Contributors George Swift Garrett Lumpkin Brett Downer D.B. Grady Katie Penny Matt Jones Lisa Miller Politics John Maginnis Dan Juneau

Account executive Katy Corbello Account executive Brian Chriceol

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Cover story Economic Snapshot

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LSU’s QB Trio

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A D VE R T ISING Sales Manager Andy Jacobson

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Columns The Swift Report: Honoring Our Elected Officials Inside Baton Rouge: Panels Brainstorming Smaller Government Biz Bytes: Keeping Manufacturing Alive Legal Eagle: Mortgage Basics Geeks & Gadgets: One Ring To Rule Them All 337 Sports: LSU’s QB Trio

Jordan Jefferson

Jarrett Lee

Russell Shepard

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Art/Production Director Natalie Clark

The Times of Southwest Louisiana is published every two weeks by Patsco Publishing, 617 Drew Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 439-0995. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $30 per year. Bulk mailing permit #9 paid at Lake Charles, La. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Times of Southwest Louisiana, 617 Drew Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. FAX to (337) 439-0418. The Times of Southwest Louisiana 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.

Copyright 2009 The Times of Southwest Louisiana all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

DISTRIBUTION: The Times of Southwest Louisiana is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Times of Southwest Louisiana may be distributed only by The Times of Southwest Louisiana authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Times of Southwest Louisiana, take more than one copy of each monthly issue from its racks.

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Features What Would You Do For a Darrell’s Sandwich?

Fall Wedding Annual Manual 2009 Overture to the Cultural Season Entertainment Turn It Up: Fresh Nectar CD Review: Research Turtles Times Band Stand The Shadow: Mark John Exhibit, Lake Charles Regional Airport Grand Opening, Congressman Charles Boustany’s Town Hall Meeting, 2009 Family and Youth Festival Movie Review: District 9 Coffee Break Crossword: “No Ham For Me, Thanks”—don’t be a pig about it.puttin’ it down and reversin’ it

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business notes

McNeese State Cowboy Club Donates to Athletic Department The McNeese State Cowboy Club recently donated $16,000 to the athletic department’s strength and conditioning program.

Presenting the donation was president Marc Melancon and vice president Bob Phillips and accepting was Zeb Hawkins, the McNeese strength and conditioning coach.

Hawkins said that the funds will be used in the Charles Kuehn weight room.

William B. Lawton (pictured third from left), president of William B. Lawton Company, LLC, and Gerald Conner (second from right), representing Jack Lawton, LLC, present McNeese State Head Football Coach Matt Viator (center) with $30,000 for football scholarships. The donation is from the William T. and Ethel Lewis Burton Foundation. Also pictured from left are McNeese Athletics Director Tommy McClelland, Will Drost, vice president of William B. Lawton Company, LLC, and McNeese President Dr. Robert Hebert. The late W. T. Burton began donating money for football scholarships to McNeese State in 1966 and the tradition has continued for the past 43 years. Since that first year, the total amount given to the university for football scholarships has been $1 million.

CITGO Employees Donate Eye Glasses CITGO Petroleum Corporation donated 324 pairs of prescription eye glasses

From left to right: Ryan Boyd, Lions Club president; Misty Rutherford, Lions Club secretary; Richard Sockrider, Lions Club past governor-district 8-O; Gregg Vidrine, Lions Club project coordinator; Sam Manuel, CITGO Safety Awareness Committee member; and Sally Bertrand, CITGO Safety Awareness Committee chairperson.

that were collected from generous employees to the Lake Charles Elite Lions Club at their monthly meeting at Big Daddy’s Sports Grill.

CITGO’s Safety Awareness Committee spearheaded the employee campaign to collect the eye glasses as a way to refocus on safety and our community.

The prescription eye glasses will be distributed by the Louisiana Lions Club Eye Foundation, based in New Orleans, to needy individuals around the world.

Foundation Gives to Law Center Understanding that a hurricane lingers for years, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana continues to make grants to assist people who are still affected by Rita.

The Foundation has granted $10,000 to the Southwest Louisiana Law Center, a nonprofit that has provided free legal advice to hundreds of people since Rita struck the region in 2005.

From left to right: Sally Bertrand, CITGO Safety Awareness Committee Chairperson; Melanie Kellogg, E.K. Key Elementary Principal; Laura LeDoux, E.K. Key Elementary Assistant Principal; Pat Melancon, CITGO Government and Public Affairs Senior Administrative Assistant; and Don Fruge, CITGO General Manager of Engineering and Technical Services.

CITGO Employees Purchase School Supplies CITGO Petroleum Corporation today announced that $2,634 was collected from generous employee donations to purchase school supplies for the company’s partner in education elementary school E.K. Key Elementary in Sulphur.

Fundraising Dinner The USS Orleck Museum will be holding a fundraising dinner on Saturday, September 12 at the American Legion Post #1. The Post is located at 1530 9th Street, Lake Charles. It’s on the corner 9th Street and 2nd Avenue. The cost is $20.00 per person, which includes dinner and 2 drink tickets.

We will be serving from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Evan Caffrey, Robert Carmen and Stretch Phillips will be manning the grills.

Reserve your spot by September 9, 2009 by calling 337-474-8158; e-mailing your reservation to gbeningo52@suddenlink.net; or mailing your check to: USS Orleck, PO Box 4470, Lake Charles, LA 70606-4470.

Find Balance at Cameron State Bank’s ‘Get it Together, Girl!’

Seminar An event designed just for women, Cameron State Bank’s ‘Get it Together, Girl!’ seminar will feature local experts in the fields of orthopaedics, finance and organization. The free seminar is scheduled for Thursday, September 10 and will be held at the main office of Cameron State Bank, 4440 Nelson Road in Lake Charles. Registration and refreshments begin at 5:30 p.m., the Continued on Page 8

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E nterprise B oulevard

Cameron Parish: Recovering And Ready

By Nancy Correro

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fter Cameron Parish rebuilt from Hurricane Rita, Hurricanes’ Gustav and Ike hit in 2008 and destroyed most of the recovery work. Recovery has been steady and you can see the progress that has been made when you travel through Cameron.

With hurricanes spinning off the coast of Africa now, our attention is naturally drawn to our weather channels to be sure those storms don’t make it into the Gulf of Mexico.

How would Cameron fair if they were hit by another hurricane? “Cameron Parish residents are proficient at hurricane preparedness and hurricane evacuations. We are well practiced in that arena,” said Stephanie Rodrigue, Superintendent of the Cameron Parish School Board.

Ryan Bourriaque, Assistant Planner for Cameron Planning and Development, works with all of the recovery projects from Rita and Ike and with some of the Coastal Restoration Projects. “I would say yes because it’s happened before. The previous generation went through Audrey and there were over 500 lives lost. So keeping things in perspective, Rita, although it caused a lot of physical and emotional and financial damage it didn’t cause the long term pain and anguish that residents down here had already gone through. Sadly, people down here are becoming conditioned to it,” said Bourriaque.

There is still some work to be done, but

everything is moving along at a steady pace now.

“Unfortunately, those that lost homes or experienced severe damages for the second time, knew the system. Becoming proficient because of repeat performances is not an area of expertise that we really desire to master, but we are pretty good at it. Overall, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security (GOHSEP) and Emergency Preparedness, as well as Louisiana Public Assistance and FEMA, have made great strides in four years and that has been evident since Ike,” Rodrigue said.

One area that is still in a flux would be the FIRM maps. “FIRM maps are the official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community,” according to the FEMA website.

“Our firm maps are still in appeal. So if any funding source goes according to the FIRMS then we are in a bind because 86% of the Parish is in a v-zone,” said Bourriaque.

V zones are “areas along coasts subject to inundation by the 1-percent-annual-chance flood event with additional hazards associated with storm-induced waves,” according to the FEMA website.

“Basically what they measure is storm surge, velocity data, and they tell you where you shouldn’t live basically. And the whole Parish is a v zone except for one little area in the tip top North of Sweet Lake and a little bit of Hackberry— “Storms only last for so long.

This place is worth saving to us.” everything else is a v-zone even though we have ridges down here and we have – Ryan Bourriaque higher elevation—my Assistant Planner for Cameron grandparents have a Planning and Development higher elevation than people on the lake in Continued on Page 7

Photos of the Cameron area right after Hurricane Ike.

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Sthe o ubest t h iwn elake s t area L o enter u i s tai i anment n a ’s

H om e G rown B usiness es

Music With A Personal Touch

By Chaney Ferguson When Sam Lyons worked for Gulf State Utilities in the ‘70s, he decided to pursue his passion on the side. He started teaching guitar lessons.

“As a young boy I took piano lessons, and when I was in my late teens I started playing the guitar,” said Lyons.

Using a small portable building as a workspace, Lyon’s decided to branch out and open his own store.

In 1975, Lyons and his wife, Pat, began to sell guitars.

“We had maybe 4 to 6 guitars on the wall when we first started.”

At the time there were many guitars out there for people to purchase. Students would come for lessons with an inexpensive guitar that wouldn’t stay tuned. As a result they couldn’t learn as well.

“We wanted to put something in their hands they could actually learn on; something that would stay in tune. There are a lot of guitars that have just strings on it, but as far as trying to learn on it you will not be successful,” said Lyons.

When Lyon’s Music opened they were selling beginners guitars for around$35/$45.

“They were cheaper then, but now you can buy a guitar anywhere,

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even in the department stores.”

Lyons says that guitars in department stores are actually completely different than the ones found in music stores.

“The manufacturer actually makes something for them to sell, but it’s not the same quality. Then the same company will make better guitars that sell in music stores. It’s a different grade guitar altogether,” said Lyons.

After displaying about a half a dozen student guitars, the business began to expand.

The store is now the place to buy guitars, electric guitars, amplifiers, and drums.

“Pretty much everything but keyboards. We never really sold keyboards,” said Lyons.

Over the years, Lyons started carrying school band instruments.

“The band directors will do their fitting and test their students to see what they play best and then tell them what they play. Then they will let them shop for whatever they’re looking for. We sell all the instruments that the band uses.

Saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, and trombone. And percussion and bells,” said Lyons.

“We take time with our

September 3, 2009

customers and don’t try to rush anything. We work with them. If someone is buying a horn, we take the time to tell them how to clean it and take care of it so they aren’t always bringing it in for repairs,” said Pat Lyons.

If this is a student’s first time to play a horn, Lyons says, it is important to go over the basics with them when they are purchasing the instrument. They’re shown what to do and what not to do, to keep the instrument in good condition.

In his younger years, when Lyons was first getting started with the guitar, he participated in a few

bands.

“Like all young guys we would play in a few different bands over the years. Nothing famous.”

The band consisted of Lyons and one of his best friends with other members coming and going.

“We would play rock and roll and country at different local venues.

We did street dances, several things for the city of Sulphur, and we would play at the roller rink on some weekends,“ said Lyons.

When Rob Robin was still a DJ, the group played for him a few times at the roller rink in Lake

Sam and Pat Lyons

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Judge Wins Thurgood Marshall Award Judge Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, is the recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association. The award was presented at the Judicial Council’s Annual Award Luncheon in San Diego, California on August 5, 2009.

The Thurgood Marshall Award is given to a judge who has demonstrated a recognition of civil rights issues and a personal commitment to the advancement of those issues in the community, and to a judge who serves as a role model for lawyers and judges.

(From left to right) Episcopal Day School Teacher Joyce Mendelson, Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach, Olive Garden General Manager Elizabeth Payne and Episcopal Day School Deacon Frances “Boo” Kay honored Carli Woodyear (center) Local Student Named Winner In Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales National Essay Contest Carli Woodyear of Sulphur was named a winner in Olive Garden’s 13thannual Pasta Tales essay writing contest. Olive Garden asked students in first through twelfth grade “How would you use the Internet to change your community for the better?”

A student at Episcopal Day School in Lake Charles, Woodyear wrote an essay about her plan to create a Website for people to locate and connect with displaced family and friends after a hurricane or natural disaster evacuation. A winner was announced in each of the 12 grade categories and Woodyear’s essay was selected by judges as the best written by a fifth-grader. The winners receive a $500 savings bond and dinner with her family at their local Olive Garden.

L to R – Debra LeFrere, Sherwood Carpenter, Santana Tezeno, George ‘Caskey’ Worley and Elena Mejias. Not pictured: Lauretta Hines L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort Names July Five Star Employees L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort announced its July Five Star Employees and Employee of the Month.

The July Five Stars are: Santana Tezeno, a Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill food server; Elena Mejias, a table games pit clerk; Lauretta Hines, a casino

EnterpriseBoulevard

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Lake Charles,” Bourriaque said.

The v zone affects the money that the parish can receive. This is also on an individual basis as well.

“A v zone affects federal funding. Like our recovery money, if they stick with the v-zone issues—not one of our recovery dollars can be spent in the v-zone—and that is including individual assistance. There are certain exceptions,” Bourriaque said.

Overall, FEMA has had some obstacles to overcome in the recovery process, but recently there has been improvement.

“For the first couple of years after Rita, there was a constant turnover of staff and we were constantly starting over from scratch. That has since all changed. Our federal and state leaders have worked diligently to make that happen. LRA Director Paul Rainwater and his staff are doing an awesome job in transitioning so many projects into fast-forward,” according to Rodrigue.

As for insurance after the storms, there are still some issues and some red tape to go through. The Cameron Parish Schools have had a difficult time dealing with Rita’s damage. “Cameron Parish School Board had horrendous issues after Rita that were finally legally settled this calendar year, after two court-ordered mediation attempts. We are in the process of assessing damages versus insurance paid from Ike, at this time. So, the jury is out on that topic, so to speak,” Rodrigue said.

There are still some people ironing out the details with insurance. “I know rates have gone up on insurance, but they’ve gone up for a lot of folks. I would say that the majority are doing okay as far as insurance goes. Flood insurance is fairly reasonable, but wind and hail goes up astronomically almost—they are directly correlated but on the negative side,” Bourriaque said.

A recent trip I made to Cameron’s Saltwater Fishing Festival showed off a beautiful new building and pier. There were several people fishing on the pier and the jetties. I was mistaken for a local when someone from Lafayette complemented me on the progress Cameron had made since the hurricanes.

“The Saltwater Fishing Festival was an extra-special celebration. The ribbon-cutting and blessing of the Police Jury’s newly completed Jetty Pier was the opening event. Karl Krielow, owner of KAS Construction of Jennings, was in attendance. KAS is the same contractor who built Prien Lake Park.

The new Jetty Pier makes the same kind of public recreational statement of excellence. Engineer Lonnie Harper’s design is perfect for the function of the facility. The Lion’s Club’s annual event was quite a success, as well as a social event for the community. The funds raised will be used to support youth and community endeavors, as well as academic scholarships,” said Rodrigue.

Cameron Parish is here to stay and the people have a passion and a commitment to their home and land that no force of Mother Nature can squelch.

“You would never know that we had gone through all of that. We are so thankful for other things that the impact of the storms just wither away.

Storms only last for so long. This place is worth saving to us,” Bourriaque said.

This is a community that has recovered. So, if by chance another hurricane comes their way, they will pick themselves up again. It is a way of life for coastal communities according to Stephanie Rodrigue.

“As now deceased Bishop Maurice Schexnayder’s Hurricane Prayer says, ‘we live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control.’ People ask, ‘why do you live there?’ We live here because it is peaceful, small and unique...we live here because we know that just as we pray for a reprieve from the weather, we also know that our prayers for recovery are being heard and answered. And, they will be answered again.”

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speakers and door prizes are from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required by calling 312-7731.

Tyson Green, DPM, foot and ankle specialist with Center for Orthopaedics will give tips for women who teeter on high heels too often and offer smart shoe shopping advice for shoes that are both fashionable and functional.

Dorene Gothreaux, senior vice president and branch manager with CSB will explain how to achieve financial balance by setting aside money for all elements of life, regardless of income. Angela Tezeno, M.Ed., certified life coach and founder of Angela Tezeno Ministries, will discuss the importance of organization to streamline a hectic lifestyle.

CFO Offers Saturday Morning Sports Injury Clinic Center for Orthopaedics (CFO) will offer a Sports Injury Clinic for high school athletes every Saturday morning through the fall football season. The Sports Injury Clinic will be open from 8 – 10am at CFO’s new Lake Charles office, located at 1747 Imperial Blvd. CFO’s staff of orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians and support staff have extensive experience in working with local and national high school, college and professional athletes. The Sports Injury Clinic is offered as a convenient service for area athletes. Walk-in patients with sports injuries are accepted and no appointment is needed. Call (337) 7217CFO for more information or visit www.centerforortho.com.

Girl Talk Class Scheduled Girl Talk, a class offered by West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, will be held Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Large East Conference Room inside West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, near the Stelly Lane entrance. It is designed for girls ages 9 – 12 and their mother or guardian.

Presented by a registered nurse, topics include physical and emotional changes to expect during puberty, what happens during menstruation and good hygiene habits. There is a $15 fee for each girl attending, with a $20 maximum per family. Class size is limited, call (337) 527-4361 to reserve space.

breastfeeding and are offered by the labor and delivery department of WCCH. Breast pump rentals and supplies are available. For more information or to reserve a seat in these classes, call (337) 527-4361.

left to right: Rep. Mike Danahay, Megan Fontenot, Sen. Willie Mount, Rep. A.B. Franklin, Mackenzie Frank, Candis J. Carr, EdD, Family & Youth Associate Executive Director.

The Leadership Center for Youth Receives Governor’s Office of Community Programs Grant The Leadership Center for Youth accepted a $25,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Community Programs to provide the Positive Action and Anger Management to teens.

Governor’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program (SDFSC) supports programs that prevent violence in and around schools; prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs; and involve parents and communities to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment.

Positive Action is a best practice and evidence-based program that is effective and efficient.Studies show it can improve academic achievement, attendance and character; while simultaneously decreasing violence, bullying, obesity, suspensions, truancy, dropping out, gang involvement, use of drugs alcohol, and tobacco, and other problem behaviors.

Dr. Nikos Kiritsis, center, dean of the college, accepts the donation from Westlake Chemical representatives Wayne H. Ahrens, plant manager, left, and Joe Andrepont, senior community affairs representative.

Westlake Chemical Donates to McNeese Westlake Chemical has donated $5,000 to the McNeese State University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology through the McNeese Foundation for the college’s engineering endowment campaign. To date, First Federal Bank has donated over $35,000 to the campaign.

Childbirth Classes Scheduled at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital Free childbirth education classes at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 14 and meet weekly until Monday, October 26. The last class is part of the childbirth class program but is also available as a one-time class to parents who do not need the entire series, but would like to learn more about breastfeeding. The series of classes covers childbirth preparation, breathing and relaxation techniques, parenting and

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Julio Galan, Executive Director of the Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, Sam Hebert, and Andrew Vanchiere, Trustee Family Foundation of SWLA receives endowment from Sam Hebert Financial Group Family Foundation of Southwest Louisiana accepts a $10,000 endowment from Sam Hebert Financial Group - New York Life Insurance Company in support of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a program of Family & Youth.

CASA recruits and trains volunteers who advocate in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court, gathering information on each child’s situation. They also serve as the voice of the child, presenting their information, along with fact based

business notes cont.

recommendations, to the Family & Juvenile Court Judge, ensuring that the child’s best interests are considered in every decision.

Auditions for Disney’s GEPPETTO & SON As in the original Pinocchio story, a wooden puppet aspires to become a real boy, and faces lessons about telling the truth. Pinocchio’s dad, Geppetto, has some lessons to learn in being a real father. After many adventures, the two manage to stumble into a caring, accepting relationship.

Based on the original Disney television musical, PINOCCHIO features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by David Stern. Music includes: When You Wish Upon A Star, I’ve Got No Strings, Bravo Stromboli, Pleasure Island and Geppetto and Son. “A make-you-feel-good production,” according to director Kerry A. Onxley. This production will be on stage February 5-8 & 13-14, 2009.

No experience is necessary. Enrollment in classes is required. Auditions are Wednesday, September 9 from 4:00-6:00PM and are held at the Central School of the Arts & Humanities Center (809 Kirby; Suite 313). For more information, contact the theatre at (337) 433-7323 or visit the website at www.childrenstheatre.cc and click on “classes.”

“Kool Kats’ Night Out” The Hobo Hotel is an incorporated 501C-3 nonprofit organization which offers a non-kill cat/kitten shelter and foster/adoption program. We also offer low cost spay, neuter and rabies services. All of our medical services are provided by Lake Area Animal Hospital.

You are invited to attend our major annual fundraiser, the “Kool Kats’ Night Out” auction on September 15. It will be held at the Lake Charles Country Club at 6pm.

American Cancer Society Hosts Inaugural Breast Cancer Walk Join the fight against breast cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Southwest Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Heritage Square in Sulphur. Registration for the 5-mile, noncompetitive walk/run will begin at 7 a.m., with the walk beginning at 8 a.m. Join others in the community to help provide hope for all people facing breast cancer. Help make a difference. Make history. Make Strides.

For more information, or to register as an individual or a team, visit makingstrides.acsevents.org/southwestlouisiana or call 337-433-5817.

Join us for the

1st Annual CCOA-Meals-On-Wheels

Senior Prom Fund-raiser

Saturday, Sept., 19th 2-6PM Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall

Food, Music & Pictures

Court Presentations

Antique Cars & More All proceeds from this event supports Calcasieu Parish Meals on Wheels program.

TICKETS $5.00

To Purchase Tickets call...

Angie with CCOA at 337-474-2583 or Melissa with Southern Home Health at 337-479-2233 If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like to make a donation, please contact Robin Abshire (337) 309-6861 or Jackie Hebert (337) 302-6960

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host; Debra LeFrere, a table games dealer; Sherwood Carpenter, a security officer; and Caskey Worley, a Snake River Grill food server.

Debra LeFrere was also designated as the July Employee of the Month and is now eligible to receive the coveted Employee of the Year award. LeFrere started at L’Auberge in 2005 as part of the properties grand opening team.

The Lake Charles native is a graduate of St. Louis High School. She is married with one daughter.

Five Star employees are recognized monthly for their exceptional service skills. All of these employees went to great lengths to uphold L’Auberge’s quality and image as the most successful and respected entertainment destination in the South.

In recognition for their hard work, the employees receive a substantial cash prize, a personalized L’Auberge gift, a month of VIP parking and gift certificates.

Archer Launches Syndicated TV Show “Tell Dr. D” will air in Lake Charles and Beaumont Local clinical psychiatrist D. Dale Archer Jr., M.D., has launched a weekly syndicated TV talk show on select Fox and CW stations in Louisiana and Texas.

The show, “Tell Dr. D,” will follow a format similar to his long-standing syndicated advice column and Website by addressing various issues in mental health and well-being and focusing on the compelling stories of individuals, their struggles and their recovery. The show will cover common D. Dale Archer Jr., M.D. mental health issues, such as panic attacks, depression and compulsive behavior.

Archer has more than twenty years experience in the mental health field and is a regular guest on CNN Headline News, Fox News, and several other news affiliates throughout the country.

The show will air in Lake Charles at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays on the CW and 12:30 p.m. Thursdays on Fox. The show will air in Beaumont on KUIL at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays.

L to R: Bobby Holland, Blaine Teeter, Tre’ Stoma

University and natives of Lake Charles, LA. They will attend Northwestern Mutual’s extensive training courses throughout the semester and qualify for college credit. “Our Internship Program allows students to learn about the financial services industry, to explore selling as a career and to test their selfdiscipline,” says Managing Director, Ted P. Harless II. “We are excited to have the new interns on our team.”

Since the program began in 1967, more than 22,500 college students nationwide have participated in the internship.

Local Stylist To Be Featured on Style Network

WCCH Employee of the Quarter Announced

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Russell Benoit, environmental services supervisor, as its third quarter Employee of the Quarter. Benoit has been with the hospital for three years and has been in his current profession for Russell Benoit with Christi Kingsley, vice president of approximately 12 human resources at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital years. “Russell is a tremendous asset to the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital family,” stated Bill Hankins, administrator and CEO. “His positive attitude and push for change has helped his department achieve greater efficiency and has helped bring our organization to a new level.”

Benoit is active in the community, serving as a Mason for the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge in Lake Charles and Sulphur. He is an honorary member of the Westlake Mason’s lodge and also serves as Habibi Shriner.

He coaches little league baseball and serves as an ambassador for the hospital.

Northwestern Mutual Welcomes 3 McNeese Students to Top Ten Internship Program Northwestern Mutual of Lake Charles welcomes Blaine Teeter, Bobby Holland, and Tre’ Stoma to its Top Ten nationally recognized Financial Representative Internship program.

Teeter, Holland, and Stoma are business students at McNeese State

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Lensi White, with Signatures Salon, styles a client at M Salon 1 in Tampa, Florida while being filmed for Split Ends on Style Network.

Local stylist Lensi White with Signatures Salon will be featured in the show Split Ends on the Style Network September 19. The Emmy-nominated reality series swaps stylists from two salons with different approaches. Lensi went to M Salon 1 in Tampa, Florida in May while Tweet Jones spent time at Signatures to experience “cutting with someone else’s scissors,” according to Style Network spokesperson Melissa O’Keefe. Check local listings for show time.

Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Dr. Tom Price has been awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the National Boy Scouts of America. This is a very coveted award and very few people are recipients of this award. Tom has been involved in Scouting for many years and in the community.

Jon Margeaux Receives 2009 Best of Lake Charles Award Jon Margeaux has been selected for the 2009 Best of Lake Charles Award in the Gifts & Novelties category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

The Swift Report - By George Swift

President/CEO: SWLA Economic Development Alliance

Honoring Our Elected Officials

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New Orleans, Inc., and Baton Rouge Area Chamber. We collaborate often with organizations within our five parish region such as the Greater Beauregard Chamber, West Calcasieu Association of Commerce, and the Jeff Davis Business Alliance. We also work across state lines with organizations including the Greater Beaumont Chamber and the chambers in Orange, TX and Port Arthur, TX. Think globally, act regionally, and talk up Southwest Louisiana.

ecently, The Chamber SWLA hosted our fourth annual Legis-gator Luncheon at L’auberge du Lac Casino Resort. Over 500 people attended including many statewide elected officials, legislators, and area officials. The Legis-gator Luncheon is our annual wrap-up of federal and state legislative issues and a means to honor legislators who support the pro-business plan of the Chamber SWLA. In addition to recognizing the efforts of our Southwest Louisiana legislators, we invite and honor those legislators from around the state who support our plan. We invite the entire state congressional delegation to attend and find out more about our region, our Chamber and our mission for Louisiana and Southwest Louisiana in particular. For the record, the Chamber SWLA does not endorse candidates, but we do take positions on issues and legislation.

Having legislators around the state familiar with our area and issues is critical when issues arise and we need their support.

We were pleased to have John Gonzales, Regional Manager of the U.S. Chamber, attend to present their Spirit of Enterprise Awards to our congressional delegation. Accepting in person were Congressmen Charles Boustany and Charlie Melancon. Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter sent video messages in their absence.

At the Legis-Gator, we heard from Louisiana’s Ag and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, Insurance Commission Deputy Director Ed O’Brien (subbing for Commissioner Jim Donelon), Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, and Public Service Commissioner Clyde Holloway. To cap the statewide officials presentations, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu presented a strong, thoughtful message about our state and its future in his keynote address.

Legislators from around the state were honored with Business Champion Awards and three special awards were presented to the three legislators determined to have fought hardest on the same issues which concern the Chamber SWLA. Ben Bourgeois, Chair of our Governmental Affairs Committee, honored Rep. Nickie Monica of LaPlace who authored several of our energy bills in our REEL initiative, which stands for “Renewed Energy Economy for Louisiana.” This legislation would provide incentives for enhanced oil recovery projects to boost state and local income.

Chamber Chair Ken Broussard presented the Chair’s award to State Senator Willie Mount, a tireless booster of our state and supporter of higher education and workforce training along with many other issues.

Our 2008 Legis-gator of the Year award went to freshman Rep. Steve Carter of Baton Rouge who took on the tough issue of school board reform. It takes courage to lead the charge as Rep. Carter did.

Even though many of our initiatives did not pass, we appreciate those legislators who supported our platform. We will be back next session, looking for success. We realize not all legislators will agree with us on every issue, and we appreciate those elected officials who are open to meeting with us and discussing our issues.

Despite differing views on various issues, we believe Southwest Louisiana should set the example for the state by working together toward a common goal. The Chamber is proud to be a catalyst in bringing business issues to the forefront and in pushing the progress agenda for Southwest Louisiana inside and outside of our state. United we can accomplish more than by going it alone. We work closely with the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry, the Council for a Better Louisiana, Blueprint Louisiana, the Coalition to Insure Louisiana and with other regional allies such as Greater

September 3, 2009

11

Inside Baton Rouge - By John Maginnis

O

Panels Brainstorming Smaller Government

ne could sense the collective yawn and rolling of the eyes when Gov. Bobby Jindal urged two separate commissions on down-sizing state government and higher education to be bold, to think big and to come up with recommendations that won’t just gather dust on a shelf, as has happened in the past.

Skepticism abounds, for these advisory panels, like those before, can think outside their boxes all they want, but it’s the governor and the Legislature who have to follow through to make government institutions any smaller, as has not happened in the past.

This time, however, with state revenues in steep decline for years to come, change is going to happen, the only question being if and how government and higher education will work when it is all done.

One would think Jindal, with his big-picture vision and laser-like focus, would not need a couple of blue-ribbon commissions to tell him what needs to be done. Nor is the Legislature clueless.

What they both need is outside validation and broad-based public support for the hard political choices to curtail government services and shrink universities.

For that, the Commission on Streamlining State Government and the Postsecondary Education Review Commission could prove useful, not to mention quick and cheap for government work.

With only four months to report back, the streamlining commission is taking a broad look at state government instead of drilling down into each agency.

“We want to make sweeping recommendations,” said its chairman, Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, with the aim of saving hundreds of millions of dollars.

Off the top of his head, he suggests centralizing human resources and technology support instead of every agency having its own staffs for those functions. The governor urged the streamliners to look at merging some state agencies and privatizing and outsourcing the work of others.

Comprised mostly of state officials and with minimal operating expenses, if the streamliners come up with one $10 million idea that the Legislature buys, the effort won’t be wasted.

The higher education commission, however, needs to do better than that, given the serious and growing shortfalls for college budgets. There are those who won’t be satisfied with anything less than the closure of three or four of the state’s 14 four-year universities. That’s not going to happen.

According to a web site that tracks universities that have closed, since 1945, the number of public four-year colleges in the country to shut down is three: in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. More four-year colleges have become two-year schools, but as major economic engines of any community, they don’t just go away.

Instead, the governor asked the commission, comprised mainly of out-of-state experts and Louisiana private citizens, to look at right-sizing the schools we have. In Louisiana, 75 percent of college students attend four-year universities and only 25 percent go to community colleges, while nationwide, it’s closer to 50-50.

The governor proposed a solution straight out of Economics 101: raise admission requirements at four-year schools in order to divert more marginal, less-prepared students to community colleges, where the cost per credit hour is far cheaper, both for the state and the student.

The economic impact of the poor graduation rates of Louisiana universities is seen in students who flunk out or quit after a few semesters, but are saddled with their student loans for years. If the same students start at community colleges, they would borrow less with far greater chances of earning associate degrees, which lead to better jobs or admission to four-year schools.

Enticing unprepared students to take out loans to go to universities where they will fail morally equates to the worst practices of the sub-prime mortgage industry.

The idea of raising admission requirements is not new, but neither has it been embraced by university leaders and their local legislators, who fear losing

12

September 3, 2009

enrollment on which funding and jobs are based. Fortunately, the colleges have a voice but not a vote on the college commission. That will make it easier, or at least possible, for the panel to make and validate the kind of bold recommendations the governor will need to build public support around. It’s going to take a lot.

Biz Bytes - By Dan Juneau

KEEPING MANUFACTURING ALIVE Some of the highest paying jobs in America are created by companies that make things. Manufacturing has been a mainstay in the U.S. economy since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Some say that manufacturing is passé, that technology is the future, and that it doesn’t matter if manufacturing dries up and blows away. The flaw in those arguments (actually there are numerous flaws) is that one of the biggest users of technology today is manufacturers.

Modern manufacturing operations are the showcase for innovative technology.

Gone are the days, for instance, when hundreds of laborers engaged in the backbreaking activity of wrestling with logs in a forest products plant. A typical worker in those facilities today is more of a technician than a log wrestler. State-of-theart machinery moves the logs, determines the best possible value that can be extracted from them, and turns them into profitable products. The same is true of many industries, such as steel, durable goods, petroleum refining, and chemical manufacturing. Technology is the driving force that has increased productivity in American manufacturing, which has kept us a global leader in manufacturing output.

As noted above, advancements in technology have led directly to a diminution of manufacturing employment in the U.S. Many Americans believe that most of the manufacturing job losses—and there have been millions in the last few decades—are due to plants closing in the U.S. and moving to less-developed countries. Certainly there has been some of that phenomenon occurring, particularly with lowtechnology industries. But, until this point, the majority of manufacturing job losses has been due more to productivity advances through technology than out-sourcing manufacturing jobs to foreign countries.

That may change soon. Government policies can have a major impact on any industry, and manufacturing is no exception.

Several issues pending in Congress could accelerate the departure of manufacturing industries and jobs from the U.S. Enactment of “cap and trade” legislation tops the list. If energy costs rise exponentially for manufacturers in the U.S., companies will undoubtedly look more favorably at countries that do not artificially raise their cost of doing business by raising their energy costs.

Another federal issue that will impact the future of American manufacturing is the “card check” legislation pending in Congress. Some manufacturers work with a union agreement. Others do not. Manufacturers are not generally concerned about the wages involved with a collective bargaining agreement. They already have some of the highest wage scales in the private sector. What troubles them are the voluminous work rules that come with a union contract. These contract requirements inhibit the productivity advancements necessary for manufacturing to survive in the modern world.

The current health care debate also has the full attention of U.S. manufacturers.

The vast majority of our domestic manufacturers provide quality health insurance coverage for their workers. Proposals in Congress would mandate that coverage and possibly tax manufacturers for providing it. The manufacturing community is very wary of government-imposed mandates from past experience involving many issues.

Limiting their ability to design quality, affordable insurance plans for their workers— and possibly making them pay taxes to provide it—will not make them more likely to keep or expand their operations in the U.S. If America is to remain a world leader in making things, government officials should step lightly when considering policies that could make more of our best jobs leave our shores. Improving the quality of education, encouraging more research and development, and maintaining job-friendly tax policies will help keep manufacturing jobs in America. Passing some of the proposals pending in Congress will definitely have the opposite effect.

HomeGrown

New Drug & Alcohol Collection Center Contractors Drug Free Alliance *Quick electronic sign up with an easy, userfriendly process

*Places qualified workers on the job site faster with immediate access to worker status and avoids redundant screens *Saves money with all inclusive reduced pricing-no hidden fees *Provides a third party database management group

1201 Ryan Street

*On site random testing at facilities

Grand Opening

*Managed rehabilitation program

The Safety Council of SWLA is proud to announce the opening of our Drug & Alcohol Collection Center. The new center provides service to the Contractors Drug Free Alliance. Our collection center is a state of the art location.

*Independent Medical Review Officer

Drug Free Alliance

The Contractors Drug Free Alliance is committed to a drug free workplace for all of Southwest Louisiana construction workers. The Alliance provides a database that captures drug and alcohol screening results & makes the compliant/non-compliant status available to all Alliance Members. If you are interested in improving your drug program please visit our website at www.safetycouncilswla.org to sign up.

*Certified Technicians-DOT *Partnering with LexisNexis & Business Health Partners

*Similar services are available for all local businesses for pre-employment and a random program

For more information on the new drug and alcohol program contact: Mason Lindsay Manager of Customer Service mlindsay@safetycouncilswla.org (337) 436-8809

1201 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601

cont.

Charles.

“We were always changing members and changing the name of the band.”

Some of Lyons’ musical inspirations were The Beatles, Eric Clapton and Chet Atkins.

“The Beatles were one of the groups I really listened to because they were not only great singers, but they were great musicians. Chet Atkins could pretty much do anything he wanted to on a guitar.”

When Lyons married at 21, he stopped playing in the band, but he never stopped playing the guitar.

“I play guitar for myself and when my wife and her family get together, some of her brothers play as well. Of course I will play in the store when customers come in just to show them how the guitar works, especially with the electric guitars. I show them how the knobs work,” said Lyons.

Lyons’ son, Jason, grew up in the store and even though he never took to playing, he has a knack for repairs.

“My son does repairs on the guitars and band instruments. He does anything string-wise. Banjos, mandolins, and violins. He can repair just about anything.”

The whole family is involved at Lyons Music Company, and their mission is to satisfy the customer.

“We will bend over backward to satisfy and I think that is lost in many stores, but the owners aren’t up front working anymore.”

Stop by Lyons Music Company where you can have all your questions answered with a personal touch.

Located at 337 Beglis Pkwy in Sulphur. For information call, 337-625-7915 or drop by. Store Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.

September 3, 2009

13

By Katie Penny

W

Mortgage Basics

hat in the world is a mortgage?

In law school, to illustrate mortgages, my professors always drew a diagram which resembled a kicked-over capital D. The two lines used to draw the D were arrows that represented the two transactions which had taken place, and it seemed simple enough. However, the amount of confusion about what mortgages actually are and the rights that they entail reveals that the simplicity of the diagram is a bit misleading. In light of the number of foreclosures taking place lately, and the fact that almost every homeowner in this country purchased their home with a loan and a mortgage, mortgages seem like an urgently pertinent topic.

The mortgage relationship at its simplest involves a borrower and a lender.

The lender is usually a bank, so for simplicity’s sake, I will say “bank,” but anyone could be a lender to whom a mortgage is granted. Also, anyone could be a borrower, but in the most applicable case, it is a homeowner who has used the loan to purchase a residence.

In essence, when a simple mortgage has been granted, it means this: a bank loans a borrower money. To ensure that it will be able to get its money back, the bank gets the borrower to grant it a mortgage on the property the borrower is purchasing. [The bank gives you money; you give them a mortgage. These are the two lines of my D.] The loan debt is represented by a “promissory note,”—an IOU, if you will—and the borrower has a certain amount of time to pay back the debt, sometimes in installments or sometimes all at once. In exchange, the borrower/homeowner grants the bank a mortgage, which means the bank is “secured” for the amount of the loan through a right to the property on which the mortgage was granted—which is usually the very residence the loan was used to purchase.

In most simple homeowner mortgages, the mortgage document (which is separate from the promissory note) allows the bank to seize and sell the piece of property on which the mortgage was granted if the borrower goes into default on the loan. When the property is sold, the bank is entitled to take the outstanding amount of the loan out of the proceeds of the sale. That way, if you stop making payments on your loan, the bank has the right to take the property, sell it, and get the money you still owed.

I will now try to explain it yet again using actual numbers and names.

Katie wants to purchase a house with a price of $250,000. She has 150,000 in the bank (ahh, sweet fantasy!!), but she needs someone to lend her the last $100,000. She goes to Moneybags Bank and they agree to lend her the $100,000 and give her 30 years to pay it back (with interest, of course) in monthly installments. To make sure they get their $100,000 back, Moneybags Bank demands a $100,000 mortgage on the house Katie is purchasing with the loan money. Katie signs the promissory note (this is the straight back of the capital D, by the way), and signs the mortgage (this is the potbelly bottom loop of the kicked-over capital D). She buys the house and moves in happily.

Unfortunately, after paying down $20,000 of the $100,000 debt, Katie finds herself unable to make a few loan payments. Because she has “defaulted” on her loan, the mortgage tied to that loan becomes enforceable by the bank.

Moneybags Bank presents the promissory note and the mortgage to the court. If the mortgage and note documents have the proper requirements

14

September 3, 2009

(and believe me, banks do not usually mess up on making sure mortgages have those requirements; they function on being able to enforce mortgages), the court orders the sheriff to “seize” Katie’s house (which usually just means putting a notice of seizure on the door) and the house is sold at a sheriff ’s sale (basically, an auction at the courthouse.) The house sells for $120,000, despite its 300,000 value (since, though it increased in value while Katie owned it, property usually sells for much less than it is worth at a public auction). Katie still owed the bank $80,000 of her $100,000 loan, so the bank takes $80,000 of the $120,000 proceeds, and Katie—who, after all, put in $150,000 of the purchase price—gets the remaining $40,000.

When I say “this can get much more complicated,” I’m sure everyone who has watched the news in the past year would agree. You can grant multiple mortgages on your property, each tied to a different loan, and then when one of the loans is defaulted on, that mortgage becomes enforceable, but not necessarily the other ones (which are tied to other loans.) So older mortgages will stay “tied” to the property despite a sale, and some newer mortgages might be dissolved after the sale. Banks might grant mortgages, then sell the right to enforce the mortgages to other financial institutions. Sometimes, mortgages are not tied to specific loans, but rather to many different loans, or a line of credit. Sometimes there are collateral mortgages, but I don’t want to give anyone a headache.

At its most basic, taking out a loan and granting a mortgage means you give someone the right to sell your house out from underneath you if you do not make payments on the loan. If you take out a loan on which you know you will not be able to afford the monthly payments, do not be surprised when the lender exercises his rights and takes your property. It’s nice to get a loan and have cash in your hands, but when you grant a mortgage for that loan, believe me that you are not getting the money free. If you look up “money, strings attached” in the dictionary, you might just see a picture of my mortgage diagram.

The provided information is fact-sensitive and jurisdiction-dependent. Consult an attorney before employing the above legal concepts.

Christopher J. Guillory l.l.c. attorney at law

• Free Consultations •

Civil and Commercial Litigation • Construction Law Real Estate Disputes • Contract Disputes • Insurance Law Tenant/Landord Law • Consumer Protection • Personal Injury Employment Law • Business Formation • Successions/Wills

772 HWY. 171 N., Moss Bluff, LA • 337-855-2130 guillorylawfirm.com

By D.B. Grady

One Ring to Rule Them All

mobile boxes—it also transcribes all messages, and allows for their archival in text and voice form. The upshot of this is the ability to search voicemail messages the same way one searches the Internet. (Notably, incoming calls can be recorded, with similar transcription and search features on the way.)

Similarly, Google Voice allows voicemails to be forwarded by email and text message.

G

oogle knows your search history. They’ve got your email. They know what sites you read, what’s on your calendar for next week and where you’re taking a vacation next month. They’re trying to get your word processing documents and are lobbying hard for your medical records. Have I mentioned the satellite imagery they’ve got of your house?

Yeah, that’s not scary. Google is, after all, cuddly, with a colorful logo. And their motto is “Don’t be evil.” There is nothing suspicious about that.

But seeing as how we’ve already consumed industrial drums of Googleflavored Kool-Aid, what’s the harm in giving them a little more information?

How about your telephone?

Google Voice is the latest offering from the California-based company. Part Skype and part iPhone Visual Voicemail, it is a new way of thinking about telephone service, adding features decades overdue, and removing headaches that have long plagued the telecom industry.

Upon sign-up, users are asked to choose a new phone number. This is your One True Number Evermore, and the heart of Google Voice. (Integrated into the selection page is a widget that converts your chosen number to words. If your goal is something akin to 337-AWESOME, you are in luck.)

After settling on digits, users are asked to enter all of their current phone numbers, to include mobile phones, and home and work landlines. By tying these contacts to the Voice account, the old numbers become meaningless.

Whether or not one changes jobs or mobile phones or houses or area codes, friends and family will never know; the Google Voice number always stays the same.

Voice allows users to toggle the default destination. If a user is at the office, he or she needs only to select “Work,” and all calls will forward to the desk line. On the road? Send all calls to the cell. The utility of this is self-evident; “daytime minutes” and long-distance become a thing of the past.

A cornerstone of Voice is its voicemail management. In addition to centralizing voicemail—no longer are there separate work, home, and

Text messaging is critical to the Voice experience. Again, messages can be permanently archived and searched, but more impressively, unlimited texts can be sent and received. For free. No longer are customers extorted into paying an extra, criminally inflated twenty bucks a month for messaging that costs the telecoms a fraction of a cent. (The bell tolls for thee, AT&T.) None of this is to say Voice is perfect. Because all data passes though Google’s servers, there is sometimes a wavering lag in conversation akin to trans-Atlantic phone calls, often leading to crosstalk. This will improve as the compression algorithms governing Google Voice are optimized, but might be a deal breaker for now.

Also, not many users are keen to update business cards and change phone numbers yet again. According to the rumor mill, however, number porting is a top priority at Google. That is to say, just as one can port numbers from AT&T to Sprint, he or she will soon be able to move from AT&T to Google.

Picture messaging, also known as MMS, is not yet supported either, which may or may not be heartbreaking seeing as how AT&T has yet to roll out the promised feature for iPhones. (The technology is only five years old; I can see how it might be a challenge for them.)

Lastly, taking your telephone experience to Google completes the company’s quest to have access to every facet of your personal data. In exchange for “one ring to rule them all,” you fall under the watchful eye of Sauron—er, Google.

But they’ve already promised us they won’t be evil. What could possibly go wrong?

Have a technology related question or advice for other users?

Email me at tech@timessw.com.

September 3, 2009

15

LSU’s QB Trio Jordan Jefferson

Jarrett Lee

Russell Shepard

I

n 2008 the LSU Tigers only won eight games, which was their lowest win total since 2002. LSU fans probably knew they would be in for a difficult season due to a lack of experience at the quarterback position.

Four months before the 2008 season opener head coach Les Miles kicked his troubled starting quarterback Ryan Perrilloux off the team.

That left Miles with the following options at quarterback: Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch, Redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee, and true freshman Jordan Jefferson. The QB trio combined to produce the lowest passing totals for LSU since Miles took over in 2005.

Season 2008 2007 2006 2005

Passing Yards 2574 3110 3272 2900

Touchdown Passes 20 29 30 22

Interceptions 18 13 9 10

Needless to say, LSU is in a much better position at the most important position (QB) heading into the 2009 season which begins on September 5.

At my deadline, Miles had not yet named a starting quarterback. However,

unless something catastrophic happens to Jefferson before the season opener, he will be the starter.

Jefferson played well in his only two starts of 2008. In the regular season finale at Arkansas he threw for a pair of touchdowns in a loss. Then one month later he led LSU to a 38-3 Chick-Fil-A Bowl victory over Georgia Tech. In that game Jefferson seemed to have command of the offense as he completed 64 percent of his throws with one touchdown pass and zero interceptions. And since that game at the end of December, Jefferson has made marked improvements to his game.

“He’s bigger and stronger,” Miles told me back in July. “He won’t go into a game that he hasn’t experienced in one way or another. He played on the road, and he played on the road in a bowl game and won. Really this summer he has probably shown more leadership than what’s due for a young guy. I think he’ll be much improved this fall.”

Jefferson’s teammates are equally impressed with the quarterback’s growth during the off-season.

“He’s quicker in and out of the huddle and has us going with a better tempo,” said LSU senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell. “He’s getting to the right checks quicker and faster and is just getting the ball to us way better than he did last year.”

“He came into this season with a lot of confidence and you can really see that because he is working hard,” said LSU sophomore center T-Bob Hebert.

“He knows his calls. He has a quick mind and makes quick reads.”

“As far as a player Jordan has really matured,” said LSU junior offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, who is Jefferson’s roommate. “Everything from making adjustments on certain play calls to calling audibles at the line of scrimmage. He definitely has a much broader knowledge of the offense.”

Jarrett Lee, who played the most of any LSU quarterback in 2008, will likely be second on the depth chart behind Jefferson. Lee may not have been ready to play as much as he did last year, but Miles was left with limited options after the Perrilloux fiasco.

Lee did some good things like leading the Tigers to comeback wins against Auburn, South Carolina and Troy. There were also some bad moments. Lee threw more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (14), and the Tigers lost four of the eight games that Lee started. And there was the downright ugly, as seven of Lee’s 16 interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

“There were times in games where I would hear the boos and things being said in the crowd, but that’s just part of being a football player,” said Lee. “Our fans are passionate and sometimes that happens when you make mistakes.”

Lee said his teammates were behind him during the tough times. However, last January he contemplated transferring to another school.

“At the first of the year it was in the back of my mind,” said Lee. But that was it. It was only in the back of my mind and never did I want to go through with Continued on Page 20

All Sports - All Local - All The Time

Every Tuesday at 10:30pm on FOX 29 www.337sports.net 16

September 3, 2009

We are introducing our new Napa Valley Collection, which is inspired by our love for entertaining and enjoying the good life. The Napa Valley Collection features furniture and accessories hand crafted using reclaimed wine barrels and wine making hardware.

2001 RYAN

(corner of Ryan and 12th)

Vallier At Home is very excited to introduce our newest lines.

Visit Vallier At Home today to see these and many other beautiful treasures for your home at incredibly low prices.

We are also pleased to introduce Martha Stewart Lighting to the Lake Area.

The Martha Stewart Lighting Collection features beautiful lamps and lighting fixtures designed to coordinate with your interior and illuminate your personal style.

Commissions accepted – provide a photo!

Call for appointment Also, check out my work at Gallery by the Lake 106 W. Lawrence

Anne Dentler, Artist 2223 West Sale Road • Lake Charles • 337-478-9405 • c:337-912-0986 http://www.fineartamerica.com/profile/annies-artwork September 3, 2009

17

Economic Snapshot

By Brett Downer

We’re more likely to have a job than the typical American, thank heavens. We’re more likely to own a home. We have more doctors to choose from — and more hospital beds to climb into — when we’re sick. We have big-dollar economic expansion under way and other prospects peeking in with interest.

We earn thousands of dollars

18

less than the typical American worker, however. We have a tougher time staying in school — whether it’s getting a high school diploma or sticking it out through college.

We’re less likely to carry insurance, and when we do, we’re paying more for it.

We’re Southwest Louisiana, and how we stack up with the nation and surrounding regions is outlined in a “Competitive Snapshot” commissioned by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

The “snapshot” freezes this statistical moment in time for the sake of coordinated economic planning for the future. It was prepared by Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based consulting group which does this work for cities all over the country.

The snapshot tracked data going back four to seven years, sometimes longer, to track Southwest Louisiana

September 3, 2009

trends. In addition, it compared us to three roughly comparable markets — Beaumont, Texas; the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and Mobile, Ala.— and the nation as a whole.

Market Street categorizes the issues by “People, Prosperity, Place.”

Its snapshot suggests that Southwest Louisiana grow the workforce, raise wages and educational attainment, diversify the economy, “become an economic garden” for new business, leverage its existing business, expand healthcare access, “improve the environment” and increase civic capacity (more nonprofit groups), among other ideas.

Mac Holladay, the founder and CEO of Market Street, said the snapshot will help the Alliance’s “Southwest Louisiana on the Move!” economic plan.

Jobs In baseline terms of jobs, the snapshot found that the employment picture here is just

about the best anywhere.

Among the three comparison regions and the nation, Southwest Louisiana had the highest level of employment growth from 2001 to 2008. Also, between the fourth quarters of 2004 and 2008, employment growth here was 5.9 percent — far better than the state (1.2 percent) and nation (2.5 percent).

In fact, from 2000-2008, the unemployment rate actually fell here (4.3 percent to 3.9 percent.)

While unemployment has gone up in 2009 — to more than 7 percent — the jobless rate is still lower than that of the state, the comparison regions and the nation.

The area’s working population grew 1 percent. That was far below the growth rate nationally (up 8 percent), but still better than the state as whole, which saw a decline.

If the snapshot’s job stats are relatively encouraging, the pay stats

present a challenge.

Real per capita income in 2007 was $31,366. That was far below the nation ($38,615), Mississippi Gulf Coast ($36,133) and state ($35,100). Per capita income “is one of the best measurements of a community’s progress in economic development, because it is a key indicator of economic stability and potential buying power.”

Wages in finance, insurance and information services “lag significantly behind national wages,” the snapshot notes.

Quality of Life The stats on heathcare and insurance represent a mixed doctor’s bag.

Lake Charles has more doctors per person than the state or nation.

Healthcare costs “as a whole” in the region are higher than the state and nation. However, it’s cheaper here to visit the doctor ($75) and dentist ($55) than the national average ($77 and $70, respectively).

The number of hospital beds per capita (619) is far higher than the rates along the Mississippi Gulf Coast (406) and nationally (420).

“Since Lake Charles has significantly more hospital beds per capita than the comparison regions, this presents an opportunity to expand capacity in medical research and training,” the snapshot notes.

Also, insurance costs more ($1,536) than the national average ($1,432). The percentage of people without insurance is 22 percent, higher that the state (21 percent) and nation (17 percent).

Education Education lags.

Too many don’t finish high school.

Too many don’t seek college or technical training. Still others enroll in a four-year college, but drop out.

Some lose their jobs and need to learn a new skill set.

That’s where community and technical colleges with two-year degrees can some into play.

“I see Sowela and the other technical colleges in the region playing a key role for training -- and re-training — people for the workforce,” said George Swift, the Alliance’s president and CEO. “There are trades and crafts.

Petrochemical, with the process

technology program. Heath care.

Gaming and tourism. Aviation.”

Entrepreneurship An entrepreneur might find unexplored fields here.

The snapshot counted just 14,500 self-employed people, though “Beaumont had nearly 22,400, the (Mississippi) Gulf Coast had nearly 26,000 and Mobile had just over 27,800.”

Also, small-business loans, patents and research trail all other areas.

Swift sees opportunities.

Plant employees might realize helpful processes or products — then go get patents or form their own businesses. The “cultural economy” has potential for the musicians, artists, cooks and others who season the only-inLouisiana gumbo of food, arts and entertainment. Also, “more companies are outsourcing things,” Swift said. “They need support services, consulting and technical services.”

Toward this end, the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center is being formed. The Alliance is joining with the city, parish and state to build and operate a business incubator near the McNeese campus. The SEED Center, as McNeese President Bob Hebert named it, will house the Alliance offices, the university’s Small Business Development Center and the tools and resources needed to cultivate new business ventures.

Best Face Forward The area has its challenges, economic and otherwise, when you’re showcasing the area to suitors.

Swift skipped the statistics when asked to name the first ones that came to mind. Instead, he pointed out the window.

“Litter, and the appearance of the I-10 corridor,” he said. He turned his chair toward his third-floor office window, which affords a view of the half-century-old Calcasieu River Bridge. “You have an I-10 bridge that is not attractive, wide, or safelooking.”

“It’s not aesthetically pleasing,” he said. “There are no travel plazas that they can easily see...I-210 looks good, but most people take I-10.”

Nevertheless, he said, there’s a

good face being put forward when people arrive by other means.

“The new airport is a major improvement for people’s first impression,” he said. The $28 million Lake Charles Regional Airport terminal is a rare welcome legacy of Hurricane Rita. Also, over at Chennault, “Million Air is a greatlooking facility for people who arrive that way.” He also cited area casinos and golf courses as powerful imagemakers for the area.

What’s most attractive to outside prospects, Swift said, is an emerging fresh image of the state.

“There’s a new overall attitude and acceptance of the region by new companies and new people,” he said.

The Alliance helps that idea along through advertising and marketing that touts the petrochemical industry, gaming, health care and school achievement. “We can tell a good story,” Swift said. “We get past the perception of Louisiana.

Ethics laws and marketing ... move away from the perception of political corruption and the things we don’t do anymore.”

Prospects To get potential new businesses interested, “we have a database of available buildings and sites and demographics on the area.

We contact developers and site consultants. We field RFPs (requests for proposals) usually through the state,” Swift said.

“Say someone wants a hundred acres, with rail (service), and along the interstate. We can be the link between government — on a local, parish or state level — and whatever a potential client might want. We’re kind of the liaison between these entities.”

“We’re also marketing the area in publications and online,” he said.

“We’re behind the scenes, working. We try to identify opportunities.”

And even with the wait-andsee national economic prospects, “people are looking here,” Swift insisted.

“Yes, people are still looking, and that’s a good sign. But they want to see that there’s an upswing in the national economy. There are about eight good prospects right now” — he declined to name them — “so we

feel really good about the region.”

He added: “I don’t want to make light of a single person who has lost their job. But I talk to civic clubs all the time, and I tell them I can’t think of another place where I would rather be than Southwest Louisiana.”

September 3, 2009

19

FACTBOX: It’s All Part of a Plan The “competitive snapshot” done

by Atlanta consulting group Market Street Services is part of a four-part effort this year by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

The first step was an analysis of the Beauregard Regional Airport and industrial park effort. The acreage at the site has some rail service, but needs water and sewer lines.

“It has tremendous potential long-term,” Alliance CEO George Swift said of efforts to get the facility designated as a Louisiana Megasite.

“And maybe short-term.”

The second step was the competitive snapshot. It was funded by the Alliance, L’auberge du Lac Casino Resort and Louisiana Economic Development.

Next will be a Target Business Review to find targets and opportunities for economic diversification. For example, existing businesses in the petrochemical or agriculture sectors might spark related prospects for new businesses.

That review will take place in midOctober.

The final phase will be an Implementation Action Plan with a timeline and benchmarks. “They will look at our five-year plan, Southwest Louisiana on the Move, to see what needs to be re-prioritized,” Swift said.

The Alliance’s plan began a year and a half ago — before the 2008 hurricane season and the national downtown — so changes are expected. Workforce development and new business recruiting, for example, have been high priorities, and will remain so. However, an emerging factor is business retention — developing opportunities from the businesses already here.

The Alliance will have a game plan “by the end of the year,” Swift said.

continued

it. I wanted to stay with this team because I could tell that everyone was focused and really wanting to improve from last year.”

Lee said he has put a lot of focus into becoming a better quarterback, and learning from his mistakes of 2008.

It’s a long season and Lee could be counted on to play a big role at some point.

Much of the talk concerning the LSU quarterbacks has focused on the Tigers prized recruit Russell Shepard. Shepard was widely considered the nation’s top duelthreat quarterback in the 2009 recruiting class. He is expected to make an immediate impact for LSU. The question is, where will he line up?

Shepard took limited snaps at quarterback in each of the Tigers three fall scrimmages. However, he has received more repetitions at wide receiver and running back.

LSU cornerback Jai Eugene has had to defend Shepard during spring workouts and August practice, and he is a believer. Shepard came to LSU with lots of hype, and apparently the rookie is living up to it.

“You are going to have to watch him no matter what position he plays,” said Eugene. “Sometimes he lines up at running back. Sometimes he lines up at wide receiver. Sometimes he lines up at quarterback. His quarterback game is developing, but most likely we’re going to use him at receiver or running back, or to run the option.”

I don’t expect Jordan Jefferson to explode and put up JaMarcus Russell numbers, but I do think that he will manage games well. Also, I promise that he will not throw seven touchdowns to the opposing defense. Jarrett Lee says he has learned from his mistakes, and his

experience is a plus. If Lee does play significantly, I expect him to play smarter than he did in 2008. Russell Shepard adds a completely different dimension to the position with his speed and quickness. I expect to see Shepard come in on option plays, similar to the way that Miles used Perrilloux in 2007.

Winning games in the SEC is not easy, and it’s much more difficult to win without good, consistent quarterback play. The Tigers should get much better production out of their quarterbacks this year. Will that result in more victories? Only time will tell.

20

September 3, 2009

Connect the Dots for

Younger Looking Skin

Aging is inevitable, but looking old doesn’t have to be.

At The Aesthetic Center, we have the latest innovation in laser skin rejuvenation to help you turn back time on your skin’s appearance.

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DOT Therapy can be used to treat:

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What Would You Do For a Darrell’s Sandwich?

Darrell’s is more than just a restaurant. For some it is a memory, a feeling of home. Bryan Leasure and Ken Brunot, graduates of McNeese State University, used to enjoy going to Darrell’s during their college years.

“I guess it all started in ‘85 or ‘86 when we would just walk over to Darrell’s when it was at the old location. We became regulars,” said Brunot.

The two fraternity brothers were often joined by fellow Pi Kappa Phi brothers and other friends.

Richard Cole, Tracy Clark and Melissa (Warfel) Cohn were three regular Darrell’s attendees.

Although Cole and Clark still live in Lake Charles and get to enjoy Darrell’s whenever they want, the others have to take more extreme measures to satisfy their craving.

“A few months ago I made a joke that Bryan should come and pick me up in his airplane and we would fly to Lake Charles, pick up the sandwiches and then fly to Kema to deliver a sandwich to Melissa and have lunch with her,” said Brunot.

The two men considered their options: driving (which is what would make this story normal) or flying. Brunot said driving would take longer and make the sandwiches taste soggy.

“It was just a joke until Bryan called me Thursday morning and said, “hey let’s do the sandwich thing on Monday. Can you take off work?” And I said, “well I’m gonna’.”

On Monday, August 24, Brunot woke up early in his home in Magnolia, Texas, and drove to meet Leasure in San Marcos, Texas. The two hopped on a plane equipped with an ice chest and flew to Lake Charles. They arrived at around 10:30.

By Chaney Ferguson

“We were met by our support group, and without them we couldn’t have done this,” said Brunot.

Cole and Clark picked them up from the airport and brought them to Darrell’s where they were met by another college friend, Chris Lognion.

After calling Cohn to get her order, the group hastily reminisced about their college years and missing classes to enjoy each other’s company.

Now they are missing work for the same reason.

“It’s Darrell’s fault,” jokes Leasure.

The group of friends attributes their reconnection to Facebook.

“We are all scattered now. We all have families, and Facebook has brought us back together,” said Leasure.

It’s nice to know that after all these years the group of friends has reconnected, and can still enjoy a little taste of home. No matter what it takes to achieve it.

September 3, 2009

21

Fall wedding

2009

Preserving the Memory:

Proper Care for your Wedding Dress

For most brides, the choice of a wedding gown is the most important decision to be made about their wedding. A lot of time, energy and money is involved in finding the perfect gown, and after the wedding, it’s important to carefully preserve this cherished part of your wedding day.

According to Robert Guilott, owner of AAA Drive-In Cleaners, it’s best to clean and preserve your gown right after the wedding.

“Wedding dresses cannot be cleaned properly and safely at home.

Choose a dry cleaner who is experienced in caring for formal attire, including wedding dresses.”

Guilott says wedding gowns present several unique challenges to professional cleaners. “First of all, the color white is the most difficult to clean properly. Even a shadow of a stain tends to stand out if not completely removed. Most gowns are made of delicate fabrics like lace and satin, which require special care. Many gowns also incorporate easily-damaged detailing such as beads, pearls or sequins.”

All stains become more difficult, if not impossible, to remove as they age. Time and temperature greatly affect the success of any stain removal techniques. Guilott stresses that the sooner the dress is properly cleaned and preserved, the better results you’ll have.

Identifying the stain greatly improves the stain removal success.

“If you know what a specific stain, is, such as wine, lipstick, sauce, frosting, tell your dry cleaner,” says Guilott. “This will help them do a better job of removing the stain.”

Most stains on wedding gowns can be found in two predictable areas. The first is the front from the neckline to the waist or lap area for food or drinks spilled while eating. The second is the bottom hem and train areas from being dragged across the floor.

“Once your gown is carefully cleaned, it’s important to store it properly to protect and preserve it,” adds Guilott. “Unprotected, it will fade and yellow, and eventually, it can deteriorate and become brittle.

22

September 3, 2009

Storing of your wedding dress is best done in a special acid-free container.”

A dry cleaner that offers wedding gown preservation service should provide a large box of acid-free cardboard in which the gown is packed with acid-free tissue between folds of the garment and as padding in the bodice and sleeves. Over time, the acid produced by standard tissue paper and cardboard can deteriorate fabrics, especially cellulosic fibers such as cotton, linen, and rayon. The initial box is usually placed in a larger protective box.

Sometimes slits are present in the box to allow air circulation.

Guilott says you can help your dry cleaner do a better job of cleaning and preserving your wedding gown by bringing it in as soon as possible for cleaning and packaging. In fact, many brides ask their mother or maid of honor to take the dress in while they are away on their honeymoon.

For more information about the preserving your wedding gown, call AAA Cleaners at 562-9508.

Fall wedding

2009

Plan Ahead for Beautiful Skin on Your Wedding Day

With all of the other details you’re trying to get organized for your wedding, you probably aren’t even thinking about how your skin will look on the big day. Well, according to Leeann Widcamp, medical aesthetician with the Aesthetic Center, sooner, rather than later, is the right time to begin getting your skin in shape for your wedding. “Unfortunately, this is one of the things brides-to-be often forget about until right before the big day, and there may not be enough time to treat any problem areas so that she can be the ‘glowing bride’ she has always pictured herself being.”

If you are planning now for a fall or winter wedding, Widcamp says the issues you will need to address are sun damage from the summer sun and dry skin problems that develop when cooler weather arrives.

Facials, chemical peels and microdermabrasion can rejuvenate sun-damaged skin and are beneficial in the treatment of wrinkles, skin discoloration and age spots. Widcamp explains that most peels affect the dead protein tissue that connects dead skin cells to each other, rather than the live protein that is found in live cells.

These peels remove only dead skin and never effect the living skin underneath, except to expose it. Increased cell turnover is beneficial, bringing the skin to a state of healthy equilibrium. “We offer a range of chemical peels from light to deep, depending on the level of sun damage. The light peel is a great maintenance treatment and ideal for someone who has minimal to moderate sun damage because it evens out mildly blotchy skin tones. Our medium peel is good for smoothing fine surface wrinkles and evening out skin tone; our deep peel treats clients with coarse facial wrinkles, very blotchy or damaged skin.” Photofacials and SmartXide laser treatment can also address sun damage. “A series of these types of treatments is needed to achieve results, depending on the degree of damage.

That’s why planning is important,” stresses Widcamp.

She says beginning in the fall and continuing through the winter months, the skin develops patchy dryness which will worsen if proper care is not provided. Colder temperatures and low humidity rob the skin’s upper layer of moisture, and dry, heated indoor air makes it even worse. Widcamp recommends peels again as a great way to handle both of these skin care issues.

Skin care products can work in conjunction with treatments; speeding up the process for renewed skin. Products that contain glycolic, salicylic or alpha hydroxy acids can be used to promote the turnover of dead skin cells and dry skin, revealing fresh, smooth skin. “Many of these products stimulate the growth of new collagen which helps to give a more youthful appearance,” said Widcamp. “In addition, there are products available that have antioxidant vitamin C. These can help neutralize the destructive free radicals and to help smooth fine lines.”

“And just because the weather is turning cooler does not mean the sun is not as threatening,” says Widcamp. “On the contrary, clouds actually reflect the sun’s rays, increasing your risk of exposure to harmful UV rays. So don’t forget to apply a moisturizing sunscreen daily. This will help protect your skin and add to the glow you want to see on your wedding day.”

The Aesthetic Center offers a comprehensive range of skin care treatment, cosmetic injections, and facial cosmetic surgery options under the direction of Dr. Mark Crawford.

For more information or to schedule a consultation or treatment, call (337) 310-1070.

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September 3, 2009

23

Fall wedding

2009

Are you Really Ready

to Take the Plunge?

The flowers are ordered, the church is reserved, the dress is ready, the band is booked and the honeymoon plans are finalized.

You and your spouse-to-be may feel like you’ve handled all the details for starting your future life together, but you may have overlooked one of the most important ingredients for a successful marriage. The months -- and sometimes years -- leading up to your big day are filled with so many plans for the wedding itself that it’s easy to overlook the most important aspect of the entire event: your relationship. The saying “marry in haste, repent at leisure!” obviously originated from bitter experience. You’ve made the decision to get married, but is your relationship ready for the challenge of a lifetime commitment?

Keri Forbess-McCorquodale, MS, LPC, LMFT, CEAP, Director of Solutions EAP, says many couples who have had a great dating relationship have a difficult time making the transition to a married relationship. “Couples need to realize that after the excitement of the wedding is over, the real work of being married begins. Even couples who live together before getting married don’t always know each other as well as they think they do once they begin their married life. It’s important to consider whether or not you and your partner are truly compatible and comfortable with each other, and address some big issues before the wedding.”

She says the following aspects of married life are big problem areas, and if not addressed before the wedding, can lead to future marital discord: Communication Talk! About anything – and everything. This is the time in your relationship that you should be spending long hours discussing anything and everything. If there is no talking, then reconsider the marriage.

Roles What do you expect from each other in your new roles as husband/wife? Do you feel men are responsible for certain things, while women take care of others?

Is it important to you that no responsibility

24

September 3, 2009

is assigned to a particular gender? You need to know these things now, not later.

Family of Origin When you get married, you don’t just get a spouse; you get a new branch on the family tree. How did each of you grow up?

What were your respective childhoods like? How were your parents towards each other? What do you want to pass on to your own children, and what do you want to make certain does not get passed on?

Conflict Every relationship has conflict. What’s important is how you resolve it. Not everyone handles conflict in the same way. How do each of you feel about conflict and arguing? Do you agree on the limits or lines that are never to be crossed (hopefully things like physical violence, name calling, threatening divorce). Do you both agree on the things that are worthy of an argument? Make a commitment now to always resolve conflict and learn to do so appropriately.

Children This is a very important discussion. Are you in agreement about having or not having children? You don’t have to permanently commit to a particular number of children, but do you both want large families? This is not a subject that should be shelved until after you marry.

Money This is the number one thing couples argue about, whether it’s how to make it, how to save it or how to spend it. Hopefully, you’ve known each other long enough to see how money is handled. Is one of you a spend-thrift and the other an impulse buyer? You need to reach an agreement on how you will manage your finances before the wedding.

“The biggest mistake people make is thinking that marriage will somehow transform their spouse, magically making those traits that bother them disappear. Well, it doesn’t. Getting married does not change someone’s personality. What you see now is usually what you get in a spouse,” says Forbess-McCorquodale. “And while having differences – even big ones – doesn’t mean your marriage is doomed, you do need to be open and honest, and work out compromises about differences before marriage, rather than after.”

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25

The Times of Southwest Louisiana presents

Annual Manual 2009 Save this issue! – Annual Manual 6 – our reference to the five-parish Imperial Calcasieu. We’ve listed not just phone numbers and addresses, but also websites, where available. There’s information about local governments, utilities, health, education, the arts, parks and recreation and more. This basic information is a resource for you to keep on hand (or in your car) -whether you are a longtime Southwest Louisiana resident, or new to the Imperial Calcasieu region. {Note: Except where indicated, all area codes are (337).}

REGIONAL RESOURCES

ALLEN PARISH

United Way of SWLA

If you love the outdoor life, we have hunting at West Bay Game Reserve and also at Dry Creek Ranch, fishing on the Calcasieu River, Ouiska Chitto and other creeks and rivers, Trotting-bred racing, canoeing on the most peaceful rivers with beautiful white sandy beaches you will ever see anywhere, and great sporting events. We have The Grand Casino Coushatta has. For those of you looking for other things we have flea markets, shopping, museums, and lots of festivals.

The population of Allen Parish has a population of approximately 25, 635. Oakdale is the largest city with 8,000 followed by Kinder with 3,000. The parish seat is Oberlin.

Allen Parish is a rural community renown for its farming, hunting, fishing & canoeing and offers some of the best canoeing in the state on the Calcasieu and Whiskey Chitto rivers. West Bay Wildlife Management Area is open year round for bird watching or hunting. Allen Parish festivals include Oberlin’s Cajun Rendezvous, the Kinderfest, Oakdale’s Springfest and Elizabeth’s Country Christmas. The Allen Parish is the home of the Coushatta Indian Tribe known as the “Red Shoes People.”

Visit the Coushatta Indian Reservation, the Fuller-Edwards Arboretum in Oakdale, Grant’s Syrup-Making Mill and Christmas Tree Farm, and trotting bred racing at Soileau Downs Race Track. The Grand Casino Coushatta, located 5 miles north of Kinder on US Hwy. 165, the largest land-based casino resort in Louisiana and offers over 3,000 slots and 80 gaming tables, live entertainment, restaurants, hotels and motels, RV resort pads, special events area, onsite fuel facility, and a championship golf course. Visit www.allenparish.com.

The United Way of Southwest Louisiana is an independent, not-forprofit corporation, governed by a Board of Directors of local volunteers.

The United Way raises money to support 81 programs in 56 human services agencies from throughout the Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes to improve the quality for children, families, adults and senior citizens. 715 Ryan Street, Suite 102, Lake Charles 70601. Call 433-1088. Or visit www.unitedwayswla.org

Chamber SWLA

The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana serves five parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis, creating economic opportunity, and demanding responsible government and quality education. The Chamber’s objective is to expand the service area to coincide with economic growth, the availability of organization resources and the interest of other adjacent areas. The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana has more than 900 members representing a wide range of small and large businesses and professions. For more information, contact The Chamber/Southwest Louisiana at 120 West Pujo Street, P.O. Box 3110, Lake Charles, LA 70602-3110. Phone: 433-3632. Fax: 4363727. or visit their Web site at: www.chamberswla.org

310info.org

310info/211 a program of the Volunteer Center of Southwest Lousiana, Inc. is an Information & Referral center that links callers with resources throughout Southwest and Central Louisiana. 310info/211 can provide enrollment services for agencies that assist inquirers with meeting their basic needs and may also provide financial assistance to individuals and families. 310info/211 has a Web site www.310info. org where there is a wealth of information, and a person can reach 310info/2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or (337) 310-4636 or (866) 310-4636.

Anyone can volunteer online with 310info/2-1-1. A call specialist can be reached M-F during the hours of 8-4:30 pm. There is information available after hours just dial 2-1-1.

26

September 3, 2009

Allen Parish Police Jury Oberlin, LA Phone: 639-4328 E-mail: appj@centuryinter.net Allen Parish Cooperative Extension 104 South Fourth Street, Oberlin, LA Phone: 639-4376 Fax: 6392985

Louisiana State Police Allen Parish 33rd Judicial District Court P. O. Box 839, Oberlin 70655 639-4353 M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

While traveling through Allen Parish, to report a crash or for emergency assistance, you may contact local law enforcement by dialing “9-1-1”; or if you have a cellular phone, you may contact LSP Troop D by dialing *LSP (*577)

HOSPITALS

Allen Parish Hospital Kinder, 738-2527 Oakdale Community Hospital 130 Hospital Drive, Oakdale (318) 335-3700

UTLILITIES Telephone

Centurytel: (800) 201-4102 Business (800) 201-4099 Residential Bell South: (888) 757-6500 Elizabeth Telephone Co. PO Box 127, Elizabeth 70638 (318) 634-5222 or (800)7373900 Natural Gas Entex/Center Point: (800) 4770177

Electricity

Beauregard Electric Cooperative: (800)367-0275 Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO): (800) 622-6537 Entergy Customer Service: (800) 3683749 Emergencies: (800)3683749 Jefferson Davis Electric Co-Op Jennings Office 824-4330 Cameron Office 775-5332

Water and Sewer

S.W. Allen Parish Water Dist.: 738-5621 La Rural Water Association: 738-2896 Oakdale, City of Oakdale Kinder, Town of Kinder Oberlin, Town of Oberlin Elizabeth, Town of Elizabeth Reeves, West Allen Parish Water District/Septic Tanks

SCHOOLS

Allen Parish School Board 639-4311 417 West Court Street, Oberlin

70655 Louisiana Tech. College, Oakdale Campus 607 Highway 1152, Oakdale 71463 (318) 335-3944

RECREATION & TOURISM

The Allen Parish Welcome Center is located at 12855 Hwy. 165 North, Kinder.

The Allen Parish Tourist Commission is located at 8904 Hwy. 165 in Oberlin.

P.O. Box 1280, Oberlin, Louisiana 70655 Toll Free (888) 639-4868 Telephone (337) 639-4868 Fax (337) 639-4911 E-mail: director@allenparish.com Coushatta Indian Tribal Museum The Coushatta Indian Museum, located on the Coushatta Tribal Reservation lands near Elton, La., displays Coushatta arts and artifacts. The Coushatta Tribe is known for their beautiful pine needle baskets. Tours are available for individuals or groups.

Open Mon. -- Thurs. 9 a.m. to Noon & 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Fri. 9 a.m. to Noon.

584-1541 or 584-1433 Grand Casino Coushatta Grand Casino Coushatta, Louisiana’s largest land-based gaming resort, is owned and operated by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. (800) 584-7263, www.gccoushatta.com.

RiceWood Golf Course Ten minutes north of the Grand Casino Coushatta on Hwy. 165 between Oberlin and Oakdale.

RiceWood offers 18 holes, a driving range, and cart rental, Senior Citizen’s rates from Monday to Thursday, a Pro Shop, club house facilities and a fully stocked 19th hole.

BEAUREGARD PARISH The population of Beauregard Parish is about 34, 978. There are two incorporate communities - DeRidder and Merryville. From dinner theatre to canoeing to hunting - there’s lots to do in Beauregard Parish.

Birders find the area rich in opportunities, for half of the birds of North America are found in Southwest Louisiana. DeRidder is surrounded by marvelous waterways popular with canoe lovers nationwide. Chief among these are the Sabine River, Whiskey Chitto, Toro Bayou and Kisatchie Bayou. There is hunting for game and river and lake fishing.

Beauregard Parish Police Jury P.O. Box 310, DeRidder 70634 463-7019 Beauregard E-911 For EMERGENCIES ONLY dial 911 Examples of emergencies include situations when there is immediate danger from fire, crime, injury or illness. Do not call 911 for non-emergencies.

Voice and TDD/TTY Access Louisiana State Police Beauregard Parish 36th Judicial District P.O. Box 99, DeRidder 70634 463-5578 M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact local law enforcement by dialing 9-1-1; or if you have a cellular phone, you may contact LSP Troop D by dialing *LSP (*577).

Beauregard Parish Library 205 South Washington St, DeRidder, La Phone (318) 463-6217 or (800) 524-6239 Hours: 9 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Tue-Fri & 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Sat. Closed on Sun-Mon www.library.beau.org Beauregard Tourist Commission P O Box 1174, DeRidder 70634 (318) 463-5534 or (800) 7385534.

Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon-Fri & 10 a.m. -3 p.m. Sat www.beau.org/~beautour

THEATRE

Impromptu Players Community Theater Live community theatre and dinner theatre 1055 Lindsey Street, P. O. Box 43, DeRidder, LA 70634 462-2751 or 462-8001 (after 7 p.m.)

MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL ENACTMENTS

Beauregard Parish Museum & Lois Loftin Museum In the KCS Railroad Depot, downtown DeRidder Displays of the history of Beauregard Parish & the largest doll collection in Louisiana.

The Merryville Museum 628 North Railroad Ave., Merryville

September 3, 2009

One block off Highway 110 West in downtown Merryville Open Sat. & Sun., 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

825-6312 or 825-6246 Merryville Living History Heritage Festival Each April on the Merryville Museum grounds, 110 West, Merryville Heritage demonstrations of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Free admission 463-5534

MEDICAL

Metropolitan Ambulance Service P O Box 1328, DeRidder 70634 (318) 462-6219 (24 Hours a day) Beauregard Memorial Hospital 600 S. Pine Street, DeRidder 70634 462-7100 www.beauregard.org Department of Health & HOSPITALS, Office Of Public Health Beauregard Parish Health Unit P O Box 327, DeRidder 70634 (318) 463-4486 Sabine Valley Hospital (Rehabilitation Hospital of Merryville) Inpatient Rehabilitation, Outpatient Therapy, Occupational Therapy P O Box 519, Merryville 70653 (800) 246-9556

UTLILITIES

BECI - Electricity Beauregard Electric Coop, Inc. 1010 East First Street, DeRidder 70634 463-6221 or (800) 367-0275 (888) 367-0275 Automated Outage/Billing Inquiry System CLECO -- Electricity 2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville (318)484-7400 For emergencies or power outages, contact 24-hour call center: (800) 622-6537 DeRidder Propane 332 HWY 26, DeRidder 70634 463-4325 or (800) 323-4325 www.deridderpropane.com Center Point/ Entex: (800) 4770177

27

CALCASIEU PARISH

TRANSPORTATION

Calcasieu Parish has a rich history, diversified economy and a variety of recreational opportunities. The parish offers everything from hunting, fishing, casino gaming and horse racing, to museums, theatre, great food and music. Southwest Louisiana is the “Festival Capital” of Louisiana, with something going on nearly every weekend, celebrating food, music, and culture. For more information, visit the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Web site at www.visitlakecharles.org.

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury P.O. Drawer 3287, Lake Charles 70602 721-3500 Fax: 437-3399 E-mail: administration@cppj.net www.cppj.net

TOURISM

Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau Southwest Louisiana offers festivals, carnivals, celebrations, camping, hunting, fishing, casino gaming, shopping, museums, live theatre and live music. For the latest information, contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 436-9588 and visit their Web site at www.visitlakecharles.org

UTLILITIES

Telephone BellSouth (888) 757-6500 www.bellsouth.com Cameron Telephone 5832111 Carlyss area Century Telephone Company (800) 443-8374 Iowa area Natural Gas CenterPoint Energy, 3700 Gerstner Memorial Dr., Lake Charles 477-0070 CenterPoint Energy ,Sulphur and Carlyss area 625-4171 City of Westlake Gas Co. 433-0691 Electricity Entergy Electric (800) 3683749, Entergy Outage Reports 800-968-8243 Beauregard Electric Cooperation (800) 367-0275 Jeff Davis Electric Cooperation (800) 256-5332 Vinton Electricity and Public Works 589-7453 www. cityofvinton.com Water City of Lake Charles Water Division, 326 Pujo Street, Lake Charles, La. 491-1307 City of Sulphur Water Division, 500 N. Huntington Street,

28

Sulphur,La. 527-4500 City of Westlake Water Division, 2001 Jones Street, Westlake, La. 433-0691 City of Iowa Water Division, 115 N. Thomas Avenue, Iowa, La. 582-3535 Carlyss Water district, 4015 Sherry Street, Sulphur, La. 5832777 Moss Bluff, Gillis water district, 166 School St., Lake Charles 855-7250 Mossville water district, 1141 Watertower Road, Westlake 8820585 Mallard Junction water district, 300 Deshotel Lane, Lake Charles 439-5286 LeBleu Settlement water district, 6407 Highway 3059, Lake Charles 582-3064 Houston River water district, 745 Jim Pickens Road, Sulphur 5283446 North Westlake water district, 2435 Westwood Road, Westlake 433-8353 DeQuincy, Houston River, 1270 Rigmaiden Cemetary Road, DeQuincy 786-5578 Vinton Water Department 5897453 (www.cityofvinton.com) Cable Sudden Link 1538 East Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles, La. 477-9674 CommuniComm, P.O. Box 640, Westlake, La. 436-5538 Carlyss Cablevision, P.O. Box 167, Sulphur, La. 583-2018 Delta Cablecomm, 301 E. Fifth Ave., Oakdale 335-1804 or (800) 738-3337 Cameron Communications, Carlyss, (800) 737-3900 Vehicle Registration Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (800) 877-368-5463

Schools

Calcasieu Parish School Board Main Office: 1724 Kirkman St., Lake Charles 70601 491-1600

September 3, 2009

City of Lake Charles Public Transit System 491-1253 www.cityoflakecharles.com Lake Charles Regional Airport 500 Airport Blvd, Lake Charles, La. Airline: Continental Express (800) 525-0280 Greyhound Bus Station 3034 Legion Street, Lake Charles, La. 439-4576 or (800) 231-2222

HOSPITALS

Christus St. Patrick Hospital 524 S. Ryan, Lake Charles 70601 436-2511 www.stpatrickhospital.org DeQuincy Memorial Hospital 110 West 4th Street, DeQuincy 70633 786-1200 www.dequincyhospital.com Lake Charles Memorial 1701 Oak Park Boulevard, Lake

Charles 70601 494-3000 www.lcmh.com Lake Charles Memorial Gauthier Campus 1900 W. Gauthier Road, Lake Charles, LA 70605 Family Birth Center, Special Care Nursery, and Women’s Specialty Center 480-7000 www.lcmh.com/baby Walter Olin Moss Regional Medical Center 1000 Walters St, Lake Charles 70905 475-8100 West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital 701 Cypress Street, Sulphur, 70663 527-7034 www.wcch.com Women and Children’s Hospital 4200 Nelson Road, Lake Charles 70605 • 474-6370 www.women-childrens.com

CAMERON PARISH Cameron Parish, the largest parish in Louisiana with a population of 7, 238, is still recovering from Hurricane Rita that hit in 2005.

The parish sustained major damage from 2008 with Hurricane Ike. Recovery efforts continue throughout the towns, schools, waterways, parks and recreational facilities. Cameron Parish is still in the process of cleaning up, rebuilding and repairing. For information, visit www. parishofcameron.net.

CAMERON PARISH POLICE JURY

P. O. Box 1280, Cameron, LA 70631 www.user.camtel.net/cameron/ public Phone: 775-5718 Fax: 542-4145 E-mail: camparjury@camtel.net

UTLILITIES

Telephone Cameron Telephone Company: (800) 737-3900 Bell South: (888) 757-6500 Natural Gas Center Point/ Entex: (800) 477-0177 Electricity Entergy Customer Service: (800) 368-3749 (1-800-ENTERGY).

Emergencies: (800) 368-3749 (1-800-ENTERGY).

Power outages: (800) 968-8243 (1-800-9OUTAGE).

Jefferson Davis Electric Cooperative Jennings Office: 824-4330 Cameron Office: 775-5332 To Report Outages: (800) 2565332 Water and Sewer Cameron Parish waterworks districts are: Cameron: 775-5660 Hackberry: 762-3935 Creole: 542-4718 Grand Chenier: 538-4504, 5382440 Holly Beach-Johnson Bayou: 5692110 Grand Lake-Sweetlake: 5983439 Cameron Parish Emergency Preparedness 775-7048

Medical South Cameron Memorial Hospital 5360 West Creole Hwy Cameron, LA 70631 542-4111 Cameron Council on Aging P.O. Box 8801 Grand Lake, LA 70606 905-6000

SCHOOLS

Cameron Parish Schools School Board Office Physical Address: 1027 Hwy 384, Grand Lake, Lake Charles, LA 70607 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1548, Cameron, LA70631 Phone: (337) 905-5784 or (866) 447-8057 Fax: (337) 905-5097 www.cameron.k12.la.us

RECREATION & TOURISM

Cameron Parish wildlife and recreation areas were severely impacted by Hurricane Rita.

Recovery efforts continue. Some sites have reopened for public use, some have limited access, some are not yet open to the public. Call ahead for the latest status and information.

Hackberry Recreation District 1250 Recreation Circle, Hackberry 762-3535 Johnson Bayou Recreation District 135 Berwick Rd., Cameron 569-2288 Grand Lake Recreation District #5 108 Recreation Lane, Grand Lake 598-3333

Cameron Recreation District #6 300 LeBleu Camp Rd., Cameron 775-5087 Recreation District 7 Creole Community Center P.O. Box 294, Creole 542-4603 Recreation District #8 Rt. 1, Box 228, Gueydan 536-6963 Grand Chenier Rec. Dist. 99 P.O. Box 207, Grand Chenier 538-2457 Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge 1428 Hwy 27, Bell City 598-2216 Creole Nature Trail Highway 27 South (800) 456-7952 www.creolenaturetrail.com Sabine National Wildlife Refuge 3000 Main Street, Hackberry Office Hours: M-F 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

762-3816 Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge 209 Nature Road, Lake Arthur Office Hours: M-F 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

774-5923 Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge 5476 Grand Chenier Highway, Grand Chenier Office Hours: M-F 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

538-2276

JEFF DAVIS PARISH Jeff Davis Parish offers a chance to explore and experience Cajun food, music and traditions. Jennings, Lake Arthur, Welsh and Elton are towns which also reflect the influence of settlers from the Midwest -- now blended with the culture and traditions of Southwest Louisiana.

Jeff Davis Parish offers historical and art museums, and live theatre. The population of Jeff Davis Parish is approximately 31, 263 in 650 square miles. From nature to theatre to art museums and Cajun festivals, Jeff Davis has it all.

Jeff Davis Tourist Information Center LA Gas & Oil Park, Jennings, 70546 100 Rue de l’Acadie: I-10 park Exit 64 Open year-round Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

821-5521 or (800) 264-5521 www.jeffdavis.org E-mail: jeffdavis@centurytel.net

JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH POLICE JURY PO Box 1409, Jennings, LA 70546 Phone: 824-4792 Fax: 824-8908

Sheriff 320 East Plaquemine St., Room 100, Jennings 821-2134 Louisiana State Police Jefferson Davis Parish 31st Judicial District P. O. Box 863, Jennings 70546 821-2102 To report a crash or for emergency assistance, you may contact local law enforcement by dialing “9-1-1”; or if you have a cellular phone, you may contact LSP Troop D by dialing *LSP (*577).

Jennings American Legion Hospital 616-7000 Jennings Airport: 824-1567

September 3, 2009

SCHOOLS

School Board 203 East Plaquemine, Jennings 70546 824-1834

PARKS & RECREATION

Chateau Des Cocodries (Alligator House) Louisiana Oil & Gas Park 100 Rue de l’ Acadie, (I-10 park Exit 64), Jennings Alligator feeding times: JuneAug., Mon. at 1:30 p.m.

Open year-round Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.

-5 p.m.

Free admission.

821-5521 or (800) 264-5521 Jean Lafitte Scenic Byway Begin at the Jeff Davis Tourist Information Center and Chateau des Cocodries (House of Alligators) in Jennings, located in the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park, just north of Interstate 10, Exit 64 (100 Rue de l’Acadie) Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge 209 Nature Road, Lake Arthur 774-5923 Founders Park In Historic Downtown Jennings 341 North Main St., Jennings, 821-5500 Zigler Art Museum 411 Clara St. Jennings, LA 70546 824-0114 ZiglerArt Museum.com

29

Overture to the Cultural Season

The Children’s Theatre Featured Family

As part of the magic of our theatre, CTC will present a Featured Family for each show. One lucky family will be selected and featured during the production receiving acknowledgment, reserved front row seats, backstage passes, photo with the cast, autographed cast picture and $15.00 credit for intermission refreshments.

October 22, 2009 7:00 PM DRACULA - Good and evil battle for the possession of a young woman’s soul in this startling new adaptation of the Bram Stoker classic. Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula” remains the gold standard for vampire stories and features as it primary antagonist the vampire Count Dracula. Directed by Kerry A. Onxley, Dracula is a production told as a series of diary entries and letters. Literary critics have examined many themes in this classic, such as the role of women in Victorian culture, immigration, colonialism and folklore to name a few. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, the novel’s influence on the popularity of vampires has been singularly responsible for many theatrical, film and television interpretations throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. This powerful performance will be at the Westlake High School’s state-of-the-art theatre located at 1000 Garden Drive.

HOLIDAY CHARACTER DINING Enjoy a holiday treat with your favorite story book character!

The Children’s Theatre Company; Artistic Director, Kerry Arthur Onxley presents Holiday Character Dining!

The magic begins as snow and festive sounds fill the air. Children enter through a castle glistening with icicles surrounded by toy soldiers before dining.

Children join their favorite storybook characters such as, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Prince, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Aladdin for an unforgettable experience. Character meals at 10:00 AM include donuts, treats and orange juice. Character meals at 3:00 PM include pizza, dessert and a drink. Each seating incorporates a visit from each of these famous characters as they make their way around the dinner table. Children will also enjoy photographs and autographs from these well-known characters.

Children are encouraged to wear their favorite costume. Hot coco and gingerbread will also be served.

This magical encounter occurs on Saturday, December 5, 2009 with seating at 10:00AM and 3:00PM. The cost is $25.00 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.

February 5 - 7 & 13 - 14, 2010 GEPPETTO & SON - As in the original Pinocchio story, a wooden puppet aspires to become a real boy, and faces lessons about telling the truth. Pinocchio’s dad, Geppetto, has some lessons to learn in being a real father. After many adventures, the two manage to stumble into a caring, accepting relationship. Based on the original Disney television musical, PINOCCHIO features music and lyrics

30

September 3, 2009

by Stephen Schwartz and book by David Stern. Music includes: When You Wish Upon A Star, I’ve Got No Strings, Bravo Stromboli, Pleasure Island and Geppetto and Son. “A make-you-feel-good production,” according to director Kerry A. Onxley. This performance is presented at Central School Theatre, 809 Kirby Street in downtown Lake Charles.

April 30 - May 2, 2010 A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD - CTC presents its final show of the season in the form of a children’s classic appropriate for all ages.

Arnold Lobel’s well-loved character hop from the stage in Robert and Willie Reale’s musical A Year With Frog and Toad. Conceived

by Lobel’s daughter, Adrianne, A Year With Frog and Toad remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that makes individuals different and special. According to director Kerry A. Onxley, “This show is sprinkled with a delightful musical score that will leave people humming or singing out loud!” This performance is presented at Central School Theatre, 809 Kirby Street in downtown Lake Charles.

CHARACTER DINING Join your favorite character for dinner!

Join your favorite characters for dinner before the show!

Character meals include pizza, dessert, drink and a visit from the show characters as they make their way around the dinner table.

So, in between bites, enjoy hugs, photographs and autographs from these famous characters! Children are encouraged to dress in their favorite costume! Seating is limited and not always available for all productions. Call the box office at 337.433.7323 for details and schedules.

SUMMER STARZ SERIES Wild Things Explore the wild world of theatre and imagination where any sort of creature can exist, and any kind of kid can be a creature. Children participate in creative drama exercises, games, movement and music in this workshop just for youngsters. This workshop is a wonderful way to introduce them to theatre! Brief demonstration performance at 11:30 AM on July 9 for family and friends.

5 - 8 Years Old * July 7 - 9, 2010 * 10:00 - 11:15 AM $65.00 Acting for the Camera Be in a Commercial!

This workshop covers auditioning for commercials, reading commercial scripts, exploring different commercial techniques, and beginning improvisational skills. Information and samples are shared on doing resumes, head shots and finding the best agent or manager.

8 - 18 Years Old * July 7 - 9, 2010 * 12:00 - 1:30 PM $85.00

Mid Summer Fun HEY! Wanna be in a play?!?!?

Students learn how a play is produced by participation in a production by the world’s greatest playwright - William Shakespeare! Makeup, costuming and lighting are all part of this exciting adventure! Additional studies include movement, acting, stage combat, script analysis and theatre games. This workshop concludes with a public performance featuring all of the students on July 23 at 12:00 PM. This is the Ultimate SHAKESPERIENCE! 5 - 8 Years Old * July 19 - 23, 2010 * 10:00 - 11:15 AM 9 - 18 Years Old * July 19 - 23, 2010 * 10:00 - 12:00 Noon $85.00 Kids in Showbiz!

Students learn the basics of musical theatre performance by singing, dancing and acting to songs and scenes from Broadway shows! The final class of this workshop concludes with the students in a performance demonstration highlighting musical theatre skill learned on August 6 at 12 Noon.

5 - 8 Years Old * August 2 - 6, 2010 * 10:00 - 11:15 AM 9 - 18 Years Old * August 2 - 6, 2010 * 10:00 - 12:00 Noon $85.00 Technical Theatre Workshop Discover the art created behind-the-scenes! An intriguing backstage tour is combined with hands-on experiences in lights, sets, costumes and more!

12 - 20 Years Old * August 2 - 6, 2010 * 10:00 - 12:00 Noon $85.00

Another Succes Story

1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Experience

1001 Ryan Street, Lake Charles Monday-Friday 10 A.M.- 5 P.M.; Saturday 10 A.M. Free Admission, 337-491-9147 Charlestown Farmers Market • Every Saturday, 7 A.M. - Noon • Vendors Relocate Indoors In Case Of Inclement Weather

The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century artworks by the International Guild of Realism (traveling exhibition) August 14- October 17, 2009 Artisan’s Gallery: Fall Promenade Gallery Promenade (local & regional artists) September 10 - October 3, 2009

Prescription for

The Light Fantastic contemporary Irish stained glass (traveling exhibition) November 6, 2009 - January 9, 2010 25 Years of Love retrospective of artist Pat Love (local artist) November 6- December 26, 2009

$AVINGS

It’s for Everyone in Calcasieu Parish!

If you live in Calcasieu Parish, then you qualify to receive prescription medicine at a discount! You can save an average of 22% for each medication not covered by insurance and your entire family – including pets - is covered with just one card.

Simply pick up a card at any area pharmacy, or ask your doctor, and begin using at any of the 59,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, including many local pharmacies.

“I advertise in The Times of Southwest Louisiana because their readers are my target customers. Not only do I receive excellent service, but I get results. And after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?”

— Charles “Sharkey” Cox, Personal Financial Representative, Allstate

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• enrollment fee • forms to complete • age or income requirements • medical condition restrictions

This is not insurance.

Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies.

Yes, it’s really

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Just Say To: saving money on prescription medicine.

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury For more information, call the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Office of Community Services at (337) 721-4020.

September 3, 2009

31

Overture to the Cultural Season

Lake Charles Symphony

Season 52: The Great Conductor Search FOUR ELECTRIFYING CONCERTS. FOUR MASTERFUL CONDUCTORS. One will be selected as the Lake Charles Symphony’s permanent conductor to follow in the footsteps of William Kushner.

By attending all four concerts this season, you’ll have a chance to see and hear the four maestros in action – each bringing with him the music selection, leadership and baton bravado that will endear him to the Lake Charles audience.

With audience, orchestra, and board input, the community will choose a conductor to lead the Symphony from the 2010-2011 Season forward.

So mark your calendar for all four outstanding concerts, enjoy the individuality of each one – then select the leader you feel will best direct the Lake Charles Symphony into the future.

Concert 1 Sunday, October 11, 2009 Rosa Hart Theatre - Lake Charles Civic Center 3:00 p.m. performance “The Slavic Soul” Bohuslav Ratty, Conductor Festive Overture – D Shostakovich Slavonic Dances – Antonin Dvorak Symphony No. 5 in E minor, op 64 – P.I. Tchaikovsky Concert 2 Sunday, November 15, 2009 Rosa Hart Theatre - Lake Charles Civic Center 3:00 p.m. performance “Reflections” Predrag Gosta, Conductor Finlandia, op.26 – Jean Sibelius The Hebrides, Op. 26 - Felix Mendelssohn Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 – Edvard Grieg Pictures at an Exhibition – Modest Mussorgsky Concert 3 Sunday, February 28, 2010 Rosa Hart Theatre - Lake Charles Civic Center 3:00 p.m. performance “Great American Composers” Thomas Fairlie, Conductor Overture to Candide – Leonard Bernstein Three Pieces from Schindler’s List – John Williams Appalachian Spring – Aaron Copland Concert 4 Saturday, April 17, 2010 Rosa Hart Theatre - Lake Charles Civic Center

32

September 3, 2009

7:30 p.m. performance “Top Tens” Duilio Dobrin, Conductor Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart Rhapsody in Blue – Gershwin Bolero – Ravel Symphony No. 4 Op. 36, F minor – Tchaikovsky Free Family Concert Sunday, April 18, 2010 Rosa Hart Theatre - Lake Charles Civic Center 3:00 p.m. performance Featuring the winner of the Youth Concerto Competition Summer Pops - 2010 Saturday, July 17, 2010 James E. Sudduth Coliseum (LC Civic Center) Tickets on sale June 1, 2010 Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Concert at 7:30 p.m. Program To Be Announced Discovery Series The Discovery Series offers informative and lively pre-concert discussions and musical programs for the seasoned subscriber as well as the single-ticket buyer. Held in private homes, this series is open to the public and features highlights of upcoming concerts given by the conductor and small ensembles from the orchestra. A Discovery Membership of $20 and admits you to all four events.

Thursday, October 8, 2009 Thursday, November 12, 2009 Thursday, February 25, 2010 Thursday, April 15, 2010 The Annual Holiday Tour of Homes Join us for the Holiday Tour of Homes. This year the date is Sunday, December 6th, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. We’ll feature beautiful homes in the area, decorated for Christmas, all of which you will enjoy and admire. The hosts will greet you at the door and show you their beautiful homes for a grand tour.

There will also be treats and good company at each of our Holiday Homes.

The cost is only $25.00 per person and tickets are available in advance at the Lake Charles Symphony Office at Central School, 809 Kirby Street - Suite 210 or call us at 337.433.1611 or fax 337.433.1615 for more information. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets available

Overture to the Cultural Season

Lake Charles Litt le Theatre

LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR

By Neil Simon September 5-6, 10-13, 17-20, 2009 The king of Broadway comedy spoofs the offcamera world of 1950s television. It’s a laugh riot by the all-time master of stage comedy, Neil Simon!

It’s inspired by his own early years as a writer for pioneer TV. Meet the star, Max Prince, and his team of writers as they try to keep each other in stitches ... and on the air ... in 1953. Don’t miss this rollicking season opener for The LCLT’s 83rd anniversary season! Directed by Greg Stratton.

Performances are 7:30 pm (2 pm on Sundays).

Free post-show reception opening night, Sept. 5.

A TUNA CHRISTMAS

By Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard November 7-8, 12-15, 19-22, 2009 Deep-fried comedy is back for seconds! You roared at GREATER TUNA a few seasons ago at The LCLT as two actors quick-changed their way through all 24 roles as the residents of tiny Tuna, Texas. Now, get

ready for this just-as-hilarious sequel, set in the town where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. All your favorites characters are back! Ask any GREATER TUNA fan, and they will tell you ... you won’t want to miss this comedy tour-de-force!

Directed by Joann Hanks.

Performances are 7:30 pm (2 pm on Sundays).

Free post-show reception opening night, Nov. 7.

MOON OVER THE BREWERY

By Bruce Graham January 23-24, 28-31 and February 4-7, 2010 A coal-town mom, a genius teen: Funny, touching and surprising. Miriam Lipsky is a waitress in a drab coal town. By night, she paints moonscapes. Amanda is 13 and has an imaginary friend. Miriam longs for male companionship, but Amanda routinely sabotages would-be suitors. Another man is about to visit. Will things change? Directed by Joseph Frazier.

Performances are 7:30 pm (2 pm on Sundays).

Free post-show reception opening night, Jan. 23.

Continued on Page 41

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The 9th Annual Wild Beast Feast Saturday, March 13, 2010 5:00pm-8:00pm at The Brick House The Wild Beast Feast. This will be a festive occasion featuring teams of chefs cooking up all sorts of wild beasts. This will be a late afternoon of fun, food, drinks, bands and more fun! We are pleased with the number of cooking teams already signed up and the variety of their offerings! Put this date on your calendar. Contact the Symphony Office at 433-1611 for information.

Advanced purchase tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 7-14. Tickets may be purchased at the door: $30 adult and $15 children.

Today’s Youthful Sound Family Concert with the winners Sunday, April 18, 2010, Rosa Hart Theatre.

Youth Performance Competition The Symphony sponsors an annual performance competition for young people in the five parish area.

Two winners are selected to perform one movement from a concerto with the Lake Charles Symphony at the Family Concert.

Purpose: To provide the opportunity for a solo performance with the Lake Charles Symphony to qualified young artists residing in the Southwest Louisiana Region.

Application Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2010.

Date and Place of Competition: Saturday, March 6, 2010. The competition will take place on the Campus of McNeese State University.

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September 3, 2009

33

Turn it Up

d n a h s e r F ‘ : r a t ’ c e l e b N i s h s s o P Fre s a e k Li r a t c Ne

D

By Nancy Correro

ave Evans and Ryan Bunch are the founding members of Fresh Nectar. I was invited to Stellar Beans, Dave’s new coffee house that Ryan runs for him, to chat with the guys about their band. I found them closing up shop for the day and we sat down on Stellar’s comfortable furniture to chat.

Fresh Nectar got started serendipitously. “Back in ‘99 I owned Dave’s Pub. It was a music venue here in town. I closed it up and started playing acoustic shows over at Pepe’s Place which was University Pub and Deli. I was playing over there and that’s where I met Ryan,” Evans said.

“We used to do four hour cover shows of Dave Mathews. He [Evans] would do a solo song while I ran to the bathroom and visa versa. The first time we started playing was when Dave asked me to sit in with him and John Guidroz. I showed up and John didn’t make it there that night and it was just Dave. So I sat in with him that night and ever since then we’ve been playing,” said Bunch.

Fresh Nectar has a unique blend of sounds. If you could think of the essence of the vocals in Pearl Jam, the guitars of Wilco, Blind Melon, Dave Matthews Band, and then throw in some Radiohead and a pinch of Tool—you’ll find Fresh Nectar.

“It’s really hard when people ask you, ‘hey, what type or style of music do you guys play?’ For me it’s real difficult to facilitate it into a category because we as a band like really heavy music and really light music. We like classical music, this kind, this kind, this kind, so it’s difficult

to label it. Mostly it’s closely related to alternative— kind of an acoustic alternative. I guess you could say sort of like Dave Mathews band but it’s not as busy as the Dave Mathews Band. It’s a little bit more Pearl Jamish with acoustic,” Evans said.

When asked what inspired them to write their ballads The Gift and Rescue Dave said, “Love. Love and passion and real life. Usually, what will happen is I’ll have a basic idea for a song. I try to match the sound of the music to the subject matter. Matters of the heart are somewhat easy to write about. It’s the stuff you feel, see and have been through.”

“It’s totally identifiable,” Bunch said.

On the bands myspace page, they have two instrumentals. I asked them what made them choose to make Build and Bluehill Billygrass into instrumentals.

“There is a recorded version of Bluehill Billygrass that has lyrics. We recorded it without words because the words were not in place yet. Build was written that way with the intention of it having words but the line in it is so fast moving that nothing has really come to me,” Evans said.

“To me it [Build] stood on its own,” said Bunch “It’s pretty much taken on its own life. Build is usually the last song we play either that or it’s always connected to Bull. Bull was our first tune that I wrote that I asked Ryan to check out. And playing the acoustic guitar in drop D is really cool. It’s a very warm, comfortable sounding tone,” Evans said.

When talking with Evans and Bunch

34

September 3, 2009

you begin to see how they are able to work with each other so well. Their respect for each other shows when talking about their song Chief. In the song Chief, there is a call and response between the lead guitar (Ryan) and the lead vocal (Dave).

“We’ve developed a kinship between us where our communication lines are completely and totally open. The boundary is I am a self taught guitar player. I enjoy writing stories and putting lines together and figuring out harmonies. I got with the right guy because he likes writing melodies and he has such an extensive knowledge.

He’s kind of like my dictionary where as I’m kind of like his work horse. I’m a basic chord structure guy and he’s the virtuoso.”

“Whatever,” says Bunch.

“And he’s extremely humble,” says Evans.

Dave Evans is the owner and operator of Luna Bar & Grill. He has just opened Stellar Beans Coffee House. He had a band before he and Bunch started playing together.

Ryan Bunch had his own band as well before the two guys met and started playing together. He has a degree in classical performance.

“In classical music you don’t have

lyrics that drive the music like pop music you have melody. So I like music with a defined melody—something that can stand on its own” Bunch said.

The band practices weekly and they play once a month at Luna Bar & Grill.

“I do it so I don’t go insane, really for me it’s the break from all the other things I have going on and I can just get things out. It’s therapeutic. Makes me feel better. It’s like medicine,” Evans said.

They recently added two members— keyboard player, Scotty Doland. “We added him back in June. He’s one of our dual purpose guys. He’s playing keyboard and percussion, and back-up vocals,” Evans said.

Debo, the saxophone player for Ashes of Babylon has joined up with them whenever he’s available. “He’s an unofficial member I guess you would call him,” Evans said.

This year they are going to try and get on with Contraband days and a couple other festivals where they are able to spread their wings a little bit more.

As a band they all have the same goal and it’s not to get signed and it’s not to go on tour. It’s so they can write songs.

“However, it would be great,” says Bunch.

“Oh, sure, oh if somebody got our album and was like God I’ve got to put

this out, here’s a million, we would be like I need you to run the restaurant, I’m out. That’s how it would be don’t get me wrong, but that is not what we are after,” Evans says.

Right now, they are trying to accumulate their music. They are close to having 20 songs. Once they get to 25, they’ll probably stop and record all 25.

“We will have enough for two albums. For us it’s the product that we put out,” Evans said.

Fresh Nectar has one of those names that could mean so many things. So, I had to ask. Dave said he came up with the name. He has an old friend that he first started playing music with. He was very enlightened and read a lot and always talked about “the Nectar of Ambrosia—the fruit of the gods.” Dave did some catering and called his catering service Nectar of Ambrosia Catering.

“Well, nobody knew what I was talking about. They would always ask, ‘what is ambrosia,’ and I would think to myself, I am not going to explain this to everybody... Mainly it’s fresh goodness.

It has many meanings on many levels,” Evans said.

Fresh Nectar is Dave Evans, lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Bunch lead guitar and vocals, Edward LeBlanc, bass and vocals, Scotty Doland keyboard, percussion, and vocals. Fresh Nectar will be losing John Floyd on drums because he is moving to California. “We already have two or three people interested,”

said Evans.

I asked both guys what their favorite Fresh Nectar song was. After considering for several moments Ryan Bunch said, “It would probably be a toss up between The Gift and Build.”

“The Gift and C-4,” Evans said. “I love C-4. I wrote C-4 at a point where I was about to break. My levee had a crack in it. It’s basically about primal scream therapy. When I came up with it I saw myself running out into a field and just screaming, just letting it all out.”

Evans’ father passed away October 11, 1997 and his daughter was born October 10, 1997. His mother took Polaroid’s of his daughter in one hospital and took them to show Evans’ father in another hospital. “Dad looked at them and he put them on his chest and it was all good. And a couple hours later he passed away. So that has always been with me. You can have your greatest moments and your lowest moments at basically the same time,” Evans said. He realized he needed to let some of this out and it came out in the song C-4.

“The C-4 thing is we wrote it with a capo on the 5th fret. The first chord of the song is C. So, C-4, but it came out as explosions or dynamite—C-4. It made this huge circle.

I love writing conceptual things like that,” Evans said.

One of the passions of the band is in keeping the Art and Culture of downtown Lake Charles alive. Part of

A Review of The Research Turtles Debut Full Length Album

By Nancy Correro Do you like the Beatles during their psychedelic Helter Skelter days? I do. And I frequently wish for the days we could bring them back. How about something better... something better than that? How about it’s a local band and they are so creative that you could ‘Get Carried Away’ and did I mention it was a local band? That is how it’s better and pretty chill. The Research Turtles look like the 60’s Beatles with their similar haircuts and ties, but this is your late 60’s Beatles on this song (thick guitar sound and all).

The Research Turtles are Jud Norman on bass and vocals, Joe Norman on guitar and vocals, Logan Fontenot on guitar, and Blake Thibodeaux on drums. The self titled album was produced by Justin Tocket and engineered by Korey Richey. The album was recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA and mastered by Andrew Mendelson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, TN. Damn, Mission and Break My Fall were recorded at Jungle Room Studios in Los Angeles, CA and produced by Erik Eldenius and Dilana.

Damn. No, I mean Damn this song is good. Damn is the name of the second song.

I can’t help but think these guys took out all of their parent’s albums and listened to them when they were tots. This song will remind you of The Cars’ Shake it Up, You’re Just What I Needed, and My Best Friends Girl all wrapped into one song.

Mission is a catchy tune with a clever 3-2-1 hook. Perhaps not as much appeal as the first two songs on the album.

that is Dave Evans hanging local art up in his Luna Restaurant and Stellar Beans and supporting local bands. You can see the art all over the walls when you enter and you can hear the bands when you go to Luna and eat or hang out. But more than that, the band wants it to be community and city driven. They want everyone to come out and enjoy the rich talent this city has.

“Arts and Culture falls by the wayside here. When people come into my place and wonder who created the art on the walls and I tell them its local art. They can’t believe it. Or when they hear a song by a local band and they can’t believe they’re from here—I think, what are we idiots? Are we cavemen?

We have talented enough people here.

There should be just as many people in the community to recognize it,” Evans said.

“Seventy-five percent of the people here don’t get out to support local bands,” Bunch said.

“I wouldn’t be doing the whole Luna thing over there if I wasn’t trying to stimulate the music scene. But I’ll bring in these totally great bands from all over the place and people will listen and say, oh, they’re okay. And I’ll

think, are you out of your mind? Do you hear what those guys are up there doing?

Then you find out they weren’t even paying attention,” Evans said.

Bunch and Evans joked around with each other at the end of the interview and they explained how important the band was as an outlet for them.

“Well, we do a whole lot of discussing things, drawing pictures while we are playing trying to come up with different ideas, fresh and Nectar-like as possible.”

Fresh Nectar can be heard at Luna Bar & Grill (337) 494-5862, 719 Ryan St., and also on their myspace page: www. myspace.com/lunabarandgrill. Don’t forget to check out Stellar Beans, 319 Broad St., (337) 564-5739.

Kiss Her Goodbye is a heavy, melancholy ballad.

Cement Floor has that hittin’ the road kind of feel. Get in your car and drive with this turned up really loud and I’m thinking all of your woes will disappear. There is a nice bridge in the middle of this song with some fine bass guitar work.

The Riff Song starts with that wonderfully excellent psychedelic guitar sound in the beginning. The vocal is put through some electronics to give it that trippy, in-the-can sound. Sit back with your favorite drink and enjoy.

Tomorrow is a very sunny, warm day song. It’s carefree, telling you that ‘tomorrow will be fine.’

Into A Hole is that do-wop love ballad you know you’ve heard, but can’t think of the name.

A Feeling has a heavy percussive and guitar driving sound. It’s only ‘A Feeling’ I get, but this song has got a catchy chorus with nice harmonies.

925 is a heavy driving song from the start with more of that thick psychedelic mix of fuzzy guitar work over snare drum and sixteen figure high hat work—Fast and furious and fun.

Break My Fall is possibly the catchiest song on this album. There are many elements on many levels that are nice about this recording. The lead vocal layered with the background vocals during the chorus are a nice touch. There is a break soon after the song begins with some driving guitar and percussive work then a heavy guitar solo all of which is reminiscent of some early Cream Strange Brew moments.

This is a solid album for The Research Turtles. These guys are going places. And just think Chuck, this band is from here. Everyone needs to go directly to The Research Turtles myspace page and check them out www.myspace.com/researchturtles.

I expect we will be hearing more from this group in the near future.

September 3, 2009

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Thursday September 3 Errol Jenkins Louisiana Tradition @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Friday September 4 Ron Thibodeaux @ Speckled Trout, Hackberry, 8 pm Avery Michaels & Exit 209 @ GG’s Club, Alexandria, 9:30 pm Morgan Bouldin @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 pm Wilson Miller & Still Kickin’@ Linda’s Lounge, 8:30 pm Mike Taylor Band @ Engine 89-DeQuincy, 8 pm Mike Richard & Step-n-Out @ Scottie Tee Judi’s Konstruxion Zone, 9:30 pm Tom Brandow @ Outriggers Tavern, 5 pm Briant Lloyd Smith & Hot Gritz, Fridays @ Blue Duck, 9 pm Sugarfoot @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm The Flamethrowers @ Toucan’s Bar & Grill, 9:30 pm No Idea @ Mikko Live, Coushatta Casino, 9 pm Hotel Cazin Band @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm

Saturday September 5 The Devil And The Details, Oh Juillet @ AJ’s Bar & Grill 10 pm No Idea @ Mikko Live, Coushatta Casino, 9 pm Mack Manuel Lake Charles Ramblers @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Salsa Dance Night - Jay and Maria Cotto @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 pm The Loaded 44RZ @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Johnny Vee & ZydeSoul @ Wayne & Lanes, Sulphur, 9pm-1am Sunday September 6 Beach Boys @ Paragon Casino Mari Showroom, 8 pm Smokey Robinson @ Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino, 8 pm Monday September 7 Will Ferguson Acoustic @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Tuesday September 8 Al Roger Louisiana Pride @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Wednesday September 9 Jimmy Wilson Band @ Cuz’s Lounge, Sulphur, 6 pm Scotty Doland @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Alvin Touchet @ The Blue Duck 7:30 pm T-Joe Romero @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Thursday September 10 Briggs Brown Bayou Cajuns @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm

Paper Plains

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September 3, 2009

Friday September 11 Outlaw Nation @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Ron Thibodeaux @ Speckled Trout, Hackberry, 8 pm Wilson Miller & Still Kickin’@ Linda’s Lounge, 8:30 pm Mike Taylor Band @ Engine 89-DeQuincy, 8 pm Mike Richard & Step-n-Out @ Scottie Tee Judi’s Konstruxion Zone, 9:30 pm

Colorcast Veterans

Tom Brandow @ Outriggers Tavern, 5 pm Briant Lloyd Smith & Hot Gritz, Fridays @ Blue Duck, 9 pm Connect The Dots Festival @ Scout Bar, Beaumont, 8 pm Nothing More, Colorcast Veteran @ Toucans Bar & Grill, 9:30 pm Outlaw Nation @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm No Idea @ Mikko Live, Coushatta Casino, 9 pm Howard Noel Cajun Boogie @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Near Death Experience @ AJ’s Bar & Grill 10 pm The Fruge Family Band @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 pm Saturday September 12 In Liquid with Trip Wamsley @ AJ’s Bar & Grill 10 pm Subrosa Union @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Pork Chop Express @ Blue Duck, 9 pm Crooks Carnival @ Toucans Bar & Grill, 9:30 pm No Idea @ Mikko Live, Coushatta Casino, 9 pm Scotty Pousson Pointe aux Loups Playboys @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm The Fruge Family Band @ Sylvia’s Bistro, 9 pm

Sunday September 13 Jimmy/Wilson Band, Sundays @ Shorty’s Ice House, Moss Bluff, 5 pm Lacassine Playboys @ Wayne & Layne’s Deli, 4 pm Monday September 14 Will Ferguson Acoustic @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Tuesday September 15 Travis Benoit Allons Dance @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Wednesday September 16 Scotty Doland @ Luna Bar & Grill, 9 pm Jimmy Wilson Band @ Cuz’s Lounge, Sulphur, 6 pm Alvin Touchet @ The Blue Duck 7:30 pm Lesa Cormier Sundown Playboys @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm Thursday September 17 Joe Simon Louisiana Cajun @ D.I.’s Cajun Food & Music, Basile, 5 pm

Don’t see your band or venue mentioned? Send schedules to editor@timessw.com September 3, 2009

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the best i n lake area enter tai nment

Fever Tree Singer Returns to Lake Charles September 18 Dennis Keller, lead singer of the late-1960s psychedelic rock band, Fever Tree, will perform with Fever Tree Rising in Lake Charles at the Brick House on Friday, September 18, 2009. Southern rock artists Southbound will open the show.

Keller was front man for Houston-based Fever Tree, which rose to national prominence with its 1968 hit, San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native). The group’s self-titled debut album is one of the best psychedelic rock albums of the 1960s, acclaimed for its complex blend of musical styles that combine Keller’s searing vocals, guitarist Michael Knust’s feedback driven guitar riffs, and keyboardist Rob Landes’ classical, baroque flourishes.

Southbound will open the concert at 8 p.m. Comprised of veterans of the Southwest Louisiana music scene, Southbound plays a driving mix of southern rock, blues, and soul, and will debut original songs from the band’s first CD due out this fall.

Tickets may be purchased from the Brick House (337-433-3108). General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A limited number of reserve tables seating 10 are available for $300. There will be a cash bar and the Brick House will offer a limited food menu. The Brick House is located at 110 West Pine Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601.

Cigar Club’s Drew Estates Event September 11th Cigar Club, Southwest Louisiana’s Home for Premium Cigars, Spirits, and Good Life Accessories takes you to the wild side with our upcoming Drew Estates Event Scheduled for Friday, September 11th starting at 7 PM. Come get a chance to meet Drew’s regional sales / promotions director Fabien Zeigler who will tell you all about the Drew Estate lines, including: Naturals, La Vieja Habana, Isla Del Sol, and, of course, the famed Acid infused line that changed the premium cigar world forever. Also, get a chance to find out about the new additions to the Acid line including the new Fat Tips and the not yet available Nostromo, a much anticipated joint effort between Jonathan Drew and Illusione / Cruzado owner Dion Giolitto. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call (337) 562-8889 or visit our 1700 East Prien Lake Road location.

The Zigler Art Museum will present “Camps Variations on a Theme” August 8 - September 26 Featuring paintings by Dutch Kepler and mixed media sculptures by Diane Pecnik, The Zigler Art Museum will present “Camps Variations on a Theme.” An artist reception for the exhibit opening will be held Saturday, August 8, 2009, from 6-8 PM at the Zigler Art Museum, 411 Clara Street in Jennings, LA. The featured artists, Dutch Kepler and Diane Pecnik, are from the Acadiana area, but their works are represented in collections both nationally and internationally. The public is invited to meet these two outstanding artists at the Zigler Art Museum’s artists reception Saturday, August 8 from 6-8 PM. Roastin’ with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival September 11 & 12 You’ll need them all this summer as Jeff Davis Parish unveils its newest attraction, the “Roastin’ with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival.” Rosie, the parish’s familiar roseate spoonbill mascot, is dressed up in her best apron and chef’s hat for the first annual event.

Over the space of two days - Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 & 12 - the festival will be taking over the new Grand Marais Courtyard in uptown Jennings, allowing serious grillers and amateur cookers the chance to compete for cash and prizes. The festival is officially sanctioned by the International Barbecue Cooker’s Association (ICBA), which judges

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September 3, 2009

Picks

nationwide contests and provides certified, impartial, out-of-town judges to help determine the festival’s best grillers. For more information on the “Roastin’ with Rosie Bar-B-Que Festival” or to sponsor or volunteer for the event, call (337) 821-5534.

Schedule of Events Sunday, September 6 Bar-B-Que Festival Beauty Pageant, Strand Theatre, Downtown Jennings Friday, September 11 4 p.m. - Festival Gates Open!

6 p.m. - Muzic Unlimited 7:30 p.m. - Barry Badon 9 p.m. - Pine Leaf Boys 10:30 p.m. - Jamie Bergeron Saturday, September 20 7:30 a.m. - 5K Rice Run (Founders’ Park, Downtown Jennings) 10 a.m. - Festival Gates Open!

10 a.m.-6 p.m. - Kid’s World 11 a.m. - Parish Cheerleader and Dance Line Competition 12 p.m. - Barbecue Competitions begin 4:30 p.m. - Barbecue Competition Awards Ceremony 4 p.m. - Bayou Katz 6 p.m. - Travis Matte 8:30 p.m. - Static 10:30 p.m. - Wayne Toups

The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century August 14 October 17 Opening Reception: August 14th 6:00pm 9:00pm 1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center Lecture with Realist Comparative image: “Montmartre in the Rain” by painter Albino Camille Pissarro, 1897 Hinojosa: August 28 6:30pm - 8:00pm The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century is the first show of this century to not only look at the state of Realism painting around the world, but to also compare those artworks with their historical predecessors.

Fifty-six artists from the International Guild of Realism display artworks in a variety of media; from oil and acrylic, to egg tempura and colored pencil.

Each artist was asked to identify one historical painting to compare and contrast their work with the pioneers of the Realist movement. Artists sited included Ingres, Durer, Vermeer, and Da Vinci. In some cases the contrast between the old and the new is startling; in other cases, one can almost see the contemporary artist adapting the Old Master’s techniques for modern visuals. The New Reality: The Frontier of Realism in the 21st Century will open with a Comparative image: “”Still Life with reception on August 14th from 6pm Parrot” by Jan de Heem, 1640 to 9pm and run through October 17, 2009. Special Events include an Artist Lecture featuring Realist painter Albino Hinojosa on August 28th at 6:30pm. Hinojosa is a member of the International Guild of Realism and a participant in this exhibit, as well as a former faculty member at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.

Comparative image: “Grand Canyon”, by Thomas Moran, 1908

Sesame Street At the Civic Center September 4 – 6 Great family fun comes to town in September. Sesame Street Live’s “When Elmo Grows Up” has Elmo and his Sesame Street friends thinking about growing up, it’s a musical show-and-tell! Bert dreams of becoming a forest ranger, Telly longs to be a cowboy and their newest friend, Abby Cadabby, wants to be a Fairy Godmother just like her mommy. Elmo thinks about becoming a ‘weather monster,’ but has a hard time predicting his own forecast—he wants to be anything and everything all at once! “When Elmo

Grows Up” includes lessons on perseverance, teamwork and the power of imagination. Children learn that if they believe in themselves and are willing to try, the possibilities are endless. Performances are: Sept. 4, 7 p.m. (Opening Night Discount); Sept. 5, 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Sept. 6, 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Performance is at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets: $12 & $16. Opening Night, all seats (excluding Premium/Gold Circle) are $12. For more information, call 337-491-1432. To charge tickets by phone, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Elvis Tribute Artist Nathan Belt At Grand Opera House of South and Alexandria October 28 - 30 Belt will be returning to the Grand Opera House of the South on October 29th and then we will be in Alexandria on either the 28th or the 30th of October (contact the venue for more information). On July 25th, Belt won first place at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest in Myrtle Beach, SC. This win qualified him for the World finals Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competition in Memphis, TN on August 11 & 12.

Nathan is considered by his peers to be one of the top Elvis tribute artist’s in the Country. Performing with Nathan will be the Legendary band “XPG”.

The Grand Opera House performance will be 7:00 pm. The contact number is 337-785-0440. The Coughlin Saunders Theater of Performing Arts at Alexandria contact number is 318-767-2600 for more information.

The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Presents First Monday in the Atrium First Monday In The Atrium The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is pleased to present First Monday in the Atrium, a musical interlude held on the first Monday of each month from 11am until 1pm in the atrium at Memorial Hospital on Oak Park Boulevard.

September’s performance will feature pianist Diana Castleberry on Tuesday, September 8 rather than Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. On Monday, October 5 we will welcome the Bill Rose Trio, who will perform the music of the Kingston Trio; Peter, Paul and Mary and other classic 1960s folk. First Monday in the Atrium is free and open to the public. The performances are made possible thanks to the generous support of Business First Bank, The Eye Clinic and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. For more information on First Monday in the Atrium or The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, please call (337) 494-3226.

September 3, 2009

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Di spatches f rom

D e R idder

RealArt DeRidder Art Gallery Makes Home In Downtown District

By J. Shirlene Cooper

T

his fall, a dream of artists and art aficionados alike will be realized in Beauregard Parish, with the upcoming opening of the RealArt DeRidder art gallery in the historic downtown district of the city.

Months of preparation, plans and good old fashioned elbow grease are leading up to a Grand Opening Reception and Exhibition on Oct. 3, which will introduce the community to the works of a cooperative of local and regional artists.

According to Gallery Coordinator David Labby, the cooperative currently is made up of 20 artists; all with the common desire to grow the local cultural offerings and give a little back to the community of which they are a part. “Our job is to keep the artists happy and honor the City of DeRidder,” he explained, adding that the gallery got its name from the Real Art movie theatre, which long-ago stood in the downtown area and provided a bit of the theatrical side of art to residents.

Defining the arts cooperative, Labby said that the flow of power is from the “bottom up,” not the conventional management structure usually associated with business and government. Every artist has an equal voice in the process and control is divided equally. This feeling of personal investiture in the project and the process is beneficial, Labby explained, because it creates a more vibrant and energetic group of creative people, resulting in a win-win situation.

Currently, RAD consists of two boards. All artist members are voting members of the Artists Board, plus the Board of Directors is made up of five membersincluding Lydia DeRouen, Joey Governale, Dannah Macarthur and Margo Roll, all RAD members who were selected by the Artists Board, and Kerri Broussard, representing the City of DeRidder.

Additionally, a group of non-artist members have formed a support group known as the RADicals. These “friends of the gallery,” are on board as volunteers and promoters. RADicals is open to anyone with an appreciative eye for art and a desire to grow that area of interest among others in the community.

Recently, Labby provided a tour of the building which will house the gallery. Purchased with funds provided by Louisiana State Senator John Smith, the historical structure and work of art in and of itself, the building at 108 East First Street, is still in the renovation stages as workers build new divider walls, apply fresh paint and prepare to install a museum grade hanging system for art.

With plans to utilize every inch of the property,

40

will be filled with the art works of over 20 artists- most from the Beauregard Parish area, and several from surrounding communities, as well as Labby, Governale, and the rest of the Board of Directors. Other artists to be featured include, Mark Anderson, Thomas Avant, Imogene Dewey, Joelle Ford, Bill Guimbellot, Brandon Guimbellot, Sharon Harris, Lydia Hawkins, LaNell Mastin, Barney Miller, Anne Shirley, Emily Shirley and Herbert Strange.

Paying tribute to the history of DeRidder and Beauregard Parish, on opening night, one section of the gallery also will be set aside for the display of old photographs of the area. In particular, featured framed prints will show the downtown district and, of course, pictures of the original Real Art Theatre.

The first Solo Showing at RAD is scheduled for Nov. 2 through 28, and will feature the works of Margo Roll, a DeRidder artist who has received numerous awards for her paintings of flowers, wildlife and landscapes.

She has shown in galleries in Lake Charles, Leesville, East Texas, and recently was awarded ribbons at a juried show of the Art League Association.

Roll said that she is excited about the opening, and her solo show. “It (the gallery) will be a big help to the community, and will draw in tourists,” she concluded.

Following Roll’s show, “Coming Home,” a group exhibit is planned to round out the year and welcome 2010. Beginning Dec. 15 through Jan. 8, 2010, the focus will be on the art works of a group from DeRidder High School. David Clanton, Joelle Ford, Bill Iles and Donna Gibson Pickens, all former DHS students, will be the featured artists.

Also, ideas for an “Arts on the Sidewalks’ event is on the drawing board, as coordinators seek to be a part of DeRidder’s Food Festival on Nov. 14.

Concluding the tour, and back at the street entrance to RAD, Labby pointed out the new business name recently painted on the front door. He encouraged community members to visit the gallery and become a part of the arts of Beauregard.

For more information about RAD, including a calendar of upcoming events, visit online at http:// RealArtderidder.org or contact Labby at dlabby@ gmail.com or (337)202-1624.

Labby started the tour just outside the back doors, in the alley- where eventually the RAD group hopes to install an outdoor sculpture garden. The coordinator explained that the RAD gallery will display all art mediums, not just framed works.

Stepping back inside, Labby pointed out the large back room of the building, which one day may be incorporated into actual work space for art students, possibly in the form of an art education center. That also is a “down-the-road” dream.

In the space designated for the gallery displays, volunteers and co-op members have been busy, from top to bottom. The elaborate and decorative tin tiles in the high ceilings have been cleaned but left intact; a reminder of the building’s historical significance and of the artistic craftsmanship employed in their creation.

All of the interior walls have been painted a soft shade of gray to maximize the focus on the art pieces which soon will be displayed there. Board member and artist Joey Governale joined Labby in showing the newly arrived rails and adjustable attachments of the hanging system, which will line each wall and hold the canvas creations. A sound system has been donated, they said, and fundraising efforts are underway to acquire a proper lighting system. Track lights will be installed along the center of the ceiling, from front to back. In the future, individual spotlights may be purchased to highlight specific pieces or paintings. Also pedestals of varying heights and sizes will be used to showcase small sculptures and other works.

About the gallery dream and completion, Governale said, “This is all for the community.”

He said that on several occasions, downtown shoppers and those dining at the nearby Cecil’s Cajun Café have dropped in to check the progress or inquire as to what type of business was going in. “We have had all positive responses,” he added, noting that most people are excited to hear that DeRidder is getting an art gallery of its own.

Labby also was looking ahead to opening day. He shared plans for special events which already are on the schedule. The Grand Opening, on Oct. 3 will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., and the As a member of the RealArt DeRidder Cooperative, artist Margo Roll will be the first artist public is invited to a group show featured with a Solo Show, in November. Among her highlighted pieces to be displayed of all RAD artists. The gallery

September 3, 2009

will be “Avery Island” shown here.

MAURITIUS

By Theresa Rebeck March 13-14, 18-21, 25-28, 2010 An East Coast Gen-Xer battles her sister over priceless stamps in this especially intriguing play. As an estate is settled, a priceless collection of postage stamps from exotic locales is the catalyst for psychological warfare between sisters ... and crafty collectors. Millions of dollars, and brittle family relations, are on the line in this taut drama (the title of which rhymes with “malicious,” which may be no coincidence).

Directed by Jo Ann Rigney.

Performances are 7:30 pm (2 pm on Sundays). Free post-show reception opening night, March 13.

3 x TENN: THREE SHORT PLAYS

By Tennessee Williams May 8-9, 13-16, 20-23, 2010 A legendary Louisiana dramatist is celebrated with his one-acts.

Living in the French Quarter of New Orleans inspired Tennessee Williams to create some of his greatest work. Now, here is a special opportunity to appreciate some of his other fine, if lesser-known, material ... a trio of one-acts compiled and staged as a tribute to this unforgettable playwright. Directed by James Johnson.

Performances are 7:30 pm (2 pm on Sundays). Free post-show reception opening night, May 8.

Lincoln Center in New York, Princeton University and New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

Robert Olen Butler, a reading Ada Vincent Series Visiting Writer Feb 26, 2010 7 pm Co-sponsored with McNeese Department of Performing Arts Pulitzer prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler will give a reading from his latest works. He has a new book titled “Hell” coming out soon.

Free admission Avner the Eccentric “Exceptions to Gravity” Feb 27, 2010 7:30 pm at the F.G. Bulber Auditorium Avner says he wanted to be a doctor, but after a year as an honors chemistry and biology student, his parents forced him into performing.

He studied in Paris with Jacques Lecoq, and once, while street performing in Paris, was arrested for buffoonery in public. On returning to the United States, Avner taught at Carlo Mazzone Clementi’s Dell’Arte School of Physical Comedy in California. Avner is greatly indebted to these two men: “Lecoq, who taught me everything I know, and Carlo, who taught me the rest.” Avner is probably best known for his portrayal of The Jewel, the scene-stealing holy man in “The Jewel of the Nile,” costarring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. This is a family show.

Thanks! SWLA for making us your number one choice!

Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker November 24, 2009 at 7:30pm Lake Charles Civic Center Rosa Hart Theater Orchestra seats are reduced $15 with promo code: SAVE during Moscow Ballet’s advance ticket offer.

Featuring spectacular sets and beautifully costumed Russian dancers, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is an annual treat for the whole family. Whimsical and imaginative storytelling blends with the richness of Russian classical dance to make the Great Russian Nutcracker a unique performance not to be missed!

The Longest Running Show in Town- Since 1926!

Lake Charles Civic Ballet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Rosa Hart Theatre by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Supported School performances: Thursday, December 10, at 9:00 AM andDevelopment, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in Cultural 10:30 AM; Friday, December 11, at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and at noon. cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council2706 as administered byCHARLES The Arts HODGES ST. • LAKE Advance reservations are required for the Thursdayand andHumanities Friday school Council of SWLA and by grants from IN THE COTTAGE SHOP DISTRICT the Southwest Louisiana performances.

Convention and Visitors Bureau. 337.433.9722 Family performances are on Saturday, December 12: Matinee W W W. J O N M A R G E A U X . C O M at 11:00 AM, and Gala at 6:00 PM. Tickets for Saturday shows are UPCOMING SEASON available at the door.

JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 25 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Neil Simon September 5th through 20th, 2009.

FORby GALLERY PROMENADE!

Inspired by the playwright’s youthful experience as a staff writer on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, McNeese Banners Series Wine and light hors d’oeuvres served from with all the attendant comic drama as the5:00pm-9:00pm harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each King’s Singers other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman “Max Prince”.

Feb 20, 2010 7:30 pm at the Rosa Hart Theatre Paws & Claws Co-presented with the City of Lake Charles Portraits of Pets Tuna Christmas by Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams November 7th through 23rd, This Grammy-winning group originated at King’sACollege, Watercolors by award winning artist Nancy Melton 2009 Cambridge, England, and consists of two countertenors, a tenor, Come meet buy anRadio originalstation watercolor or news personalities Thurston It’s Christmas the third smallest townNancy, in Texas!

OKKK two baritones and a bass. The singers received a Grammy in 2009in for scheduleona portrait.

AYuletide portion ofactivities, the proceeds from hot competition in the annual Wheelis and Arles Struvie report various including “Simple Gifts,” a combination of folk, spiritual and pop music that Nancy’s works will be donated to La Paw, aproduction Lake lawn display voracious Joe Bob Lipsey’s of “A Christmas Carol” is marked the group’s 40th anniversary. Recent performances havecontest. been In other news, Charles animal rescue organization. jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Windsor Castle, Berlin Philharmonic, Also view works on permanent exhibit by

Buller, Linda Cooley, Reggie C. Delle Bates, Susan Bulle Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck January 23rd through February 7th, 2010 Keogh, Geoff Russell, Billy Precht and Jerry Murry.

Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think. After their mother’s death, two estranged half-sisters discover a book of rare stamps that may include the crown jewel for collectors. In this gripping September 3, 2009 tale, a seemingly simple sale becomes dangerous when three seedy, high-stakes collectors enter the

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MARK JOHN EXHIBIT The Shadow attended the opening reception for Mark John’s exhibit at the Henning Cultural Center in Sulphur. I snapped pictures of Jeff Jewett who was visiting from Alaska, and Jenny Lee, Mary Lee and Doris Davis. The Shadow spotted friend Beverly Martin, admiring a photograph of Mykonos, Greece. Beverly said when she visited the island, she watched as husband Jim swam in the clear, blue water.

Mykonos Island, one of the smallest but most famous in the Cyclades complex, is known for its natural beauty. Others attending the exhibit were Marc and Michelle Jardell and Diane Denison and Ellen Taylor. The Shadow snapped a picture of Mark John and wife Tressie, and Tressie’s daughter Addie Seale. During the past ten years, Mark has traveled to and through Paris, London, Las Vegas and Hawaii—on assignment.

He’s freelanced for Contragear Motor Sports, Raceworks, Pennzoil and Quaker-State out of Houston, and photographed numerous NASCAR and Indy Races. If a Mark John photograph of Santorini, which is known to be the most beautiful and unique island in Europe, will take your breath

Jeff Jewett and Jenny Lee

away, what must the real thing look like? The Shadow can only imagine! Mark John’s exhibit features canvas and framed prints of the Sistine Chapel, Pieta, and images from St. Peter’s Square on the evening of the death of Pope John Paul, II, as well as photographs of the ancient city of Ephesus, including the ‘House of the Virgin Mary’.

The exhibit will run through September 10th.

Don’t miss it!

Lake Charles Regional Airport Grand Opening The new passenger terminal at the Lake Charles Regional Airport is nothing less than fantastic!

And I’m certain everyone thinks so because the crowd really turned out for the grand opening.

When the Shadow maneuvered her little vehicle onto the grounds of the airport, cars were parked everywhere—under trees, on the grass and halfway to the highway. Luckily, I found a parking spot close. Two pretty girls greeted me at the doors: Maria Frausto and Angelica Gonzales, both volunteers from McNeese’s College of Business. Once I got my bearings, I stood and watched for a moment. I noticed the new airport smelled as clean and sterile as a doctor’s office.

Then I was hot on the trail of Joyce McKeehan and Melba Higgenbotham. Others I tracked down for pictures are Gwen Jones and Joyce Lovett, and Cynthia Daigle. A familiar face happened by—Mike Allen—who informed me he’s in a new position with Mallard Investments at Cameron State Bank. Pop in and tell him hello.

Archie Frazier and Felton Johnson enjoyed some good food while they watched people too. They humored the Shadow by posing for a picture. Ron and Kathy Tell checked out the area because they’ll be utilizing airport services in the

Mark and Tressie John and daughter Addie Seale

near future. Gerald and Catherine Foret agreed with the Shadow that Executive Director Heath Allen can be very proud of this new facility. And his grandmom is proud of him! The Shadow had the pleasure of meeting Heath’s great aunt Peggy Pitre and grandmother Jan Augustine. Before I took off on another assignment, I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of Sarah Green and her two cuties, Anna Katherine and Madeline. I hope you got a chance to enjoy the grand opening of our new airport. Our four year wait while it was under construction was well worth it.

Congressman Charles Boustany’s Town Hall Meeting

Mary Lee and Doris Davis

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Brandilyn Syrine Joubert havingGreece breakfast BeverlySolieau Martinand remembering Mykonos,

September 3, 2009

You’ve never seen the Shadow move as fast as I did the morning of Charles Boustany’s town hall meeting. I’d been lazing around, watching the morning show when the local news announced that a discussion on health care would be going on at the Calcasieu Parish Jury room. Within thirty minutes I was heading in that direction. I’m

Maria Frausto and Angelica Gonzales greeted visitors

Mike Allen with Mallard Investments checking out the new airport

as concerned about our health care as the next person, but really, I attended out of curiosity. I’ve been watching the different town hall meetings across the country and wondered if such a meeting in our sweet, laid-back little city would be as loud, as violent, as mean as those I’ve seen on TV. Well, yes and no. We didn’t get mean or violent, but we got pretty loud. The first person I met was Pattie Elam holding signs that expressed her feelings. The room filled fast. In the blink of an eye, people stood against the wall on both sides and three deep in the back. Approximately 150 people were in attendance. Tore Carlberg entered, so I grabbed him and snapped a shot with Shaina Farque, Secretary of the Calcasieu PEC. Soon we all settled down to listen and learn. Charles Boustany answered everyone’s questions with care and concern, and he didn’t act impatient to get out of there. In fact, he stayed a good twenty minutes longer than scheduled. He waved that 1,017 page bill through the air as if it was little of nothing, and told us how he was given the bill about 24 hours before he was to vote on it in committee. Now the Shadow knows right from wrong, and that’s absolutely wrong! Boustany said this bill has a lot of problems and the reason it didn’t pass is because of each of us who wrote, called, emailed and complained. He encouraged us to stay on top of it, be active, let our voices be heard. Sitting behind me, Lavonne Finney sat with her husband Charles, who is a 30 year Army retiree. Lavonne summed up the meeting with a passionate spiel about how our lawmakers have lost sight of reality and are doing us a grave injustice. Boustany told her he wants her on his side. I think we all agreed with Charles Boustany when he said any change in healthcare affects every man, woman and child in this country so it’s critically important that we get it right. The Shadow was very impressed with the Lake Charles citizens who attended and spoke at the town hall meeting.

Cynthia Daigle enjoying the festivities at the airport grand opening

Gwen Jones and Joyce Lovett

2009 Family and Youth Festival Peggy Pitre and Jan Augustine

Sarah Green with Anna Katherine and Madeline

The Shadow has always loved bean bag tossing, but unfortunately, I got side-tracked snapping pictures at the 2009 Family & Youth festival, and didn’t get to play. In fact, Shadow husband and I hung out in the career path section of the festival talking with interesting people. I met Pattie Rupert and Gayle Bergeron from Sowela.

Gayle works in the Office of the Chancellor and introduced me to Nancy Joslin who is Dean of Enrollment. Nancy said it looks as though Sowela will have another record enrollment for this Fall semester as they did in the Spring. We also met Keith and Kathy Hyatt of ABC Training Center in Westlake. While I was stalking officer Samuel Hartley and daughter Shaun, wanting to get a picture, Shadow husband spotted old friend Edward Jordan and daughter Shekinah. As it turned out, Sam and Edward were friends too,

Pattie Elam has a message on her signs.

Tore Carlberg and Shaina Farque – Calcasieu PEC members

September 3, 2009

43

so I got the gang together for a group shot. Sam yelled for his buddy Dean Landry to join the fun. There were so many people having a great time: Maggie Corbello, Emily Hebert, and Maddison Hebert hamming it up with a big red dog. Meaghan McCreery, Caitlyn Henry and Morgan McCreery hanging out, and Hannah Vidrine, Jordan Pickle, Jakob Ihli and Natalie Savoy enjoying good times. Sweet Molly Garrett is a little too young for the activities but she had a great time with Grandpa Bobby Kennedy. The Shadow talked and laughed with a lot of people, and snapped some great pics. Remember, if you don’t see your picture here, it will be in our December Shadow issue..

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Dean Landry, Shekinah and dad Edward Jordan, Samuel Hartley and daughter Shaun

Molly Garrett and Grandpa Bobby Garrett

Lavonne and Charles Finney voice their concerns

Hannah Vidrine, Jordan Pickle, Jakob Ihli and Natalie Savoy

Randy Whetstine with son Malcolm

Congressman Charles Boustany holding 1,017 page health care bill.

Meagan McCreery, Caitlyn Henry and Morgan McCreery

September 3, 2009

Maggie Corbello, Emily Hebert and Maddison Hebert with their red dog friend

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My granddaughter, who is 16, is having trouble keeping her skin clear from breakouts. I know it’s common for teenagers, and even adults, to deal with this. I wonder if the amount and the type of makeup she uses to cover up the blemishes is actually making it worse?

Hormones and oil production are in over-drive during the teen years and the combination of the two results in breakouts. You’re right that too much makeup can aggravate the problem. A good makeup option is often mineral makeup because it contains natural ingredients that generally do well on most skin types, including sensitive skin. Using a small amount is best and it’s very important to remove the makeup every night. Most people tend to aggravate acne by scrubbing too hard, covering with too much makeup, and not cleansing properly.

Maureen Olivier, MD, dermatologist with The Clinic I’m a 29-year-old-woman just diagnosed with osteoporosis.

I thought only older people had this disease; are there many young women with it?

At this time, two percent of college-age women already have osteoporosis.

Fifteen percent have sustained significant losses in bone density and are well on their way to developing the disease. A common method of birth control, Depo-Provera, is associated with significant bone loss, and low body weight is also a contributing factor for osteoporosis in young women. Some young women are at greater risk than others for brittle bones, depending on estrogen levels and other factors.

Geoffrey Collins, MD, orthopedic surgeon with the Center for Orthopaedics I’m noticing changes in my mother’s behavior. She doesn’t seem interested in her usual activities. She is physically able to participate, but she just doesn’t want to. I worry about her; she’s 71. Should I intervene or just let her sit alone?

Changes in appearance and behavior can mean a number of things.

It could signal the need for a checkup and possibly an adjustment in medication; she may be depressed or forgetful. An aging family member may say they are doing just fine, but your observations raise some red flags.

I’d suggest going with your mother for a checkup and then discussing your concerns with her doctor.

Amanda LaComb, MD, family medicine physician, medical staff of Jennings American Legion Hospital I’m having cataract surgery next month. How long does the artificial lens last? Will it have to be replaced at some point?

Also, will my vision deteriorate over time or stay the same?

In cataract surgery, the ophthalmologist removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens. This lens is very durable and should last for the rest of your life. If a traditional lens implant is used, you may require glasses for reading or working at near distances after surgery. However, new options in premium lens plants can correct existing nearsightedness and farsightedness, allowing many people see clearly without glasses of any kind after surgery. Your vision after cataract surgery generally doesn’t deteriorate over time. However, sometimes the lens capsule that holds the implant becomes cloudy. In such cases, the cloudy capsule can easily be treated with a laser to make it clear again.

A.J. O’Byrne, ophthalmologist with The Eye Clinic

September 3, 2009

45

Bug Fish

By Lisa Miller

District 9 (2009) rrr (Grade B)

Directed by Neill Blomkamp Starring Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Vanessa Haywood, Louis Minnaar TriStar Pictures-Rated R-Science Fiction-152 min Most alien invasion films envision an advanced race poised to conquer mankind, “District 9” imagines that given a chance, we will mistreat displaced extraterrestrials. This scenario gains credibility once we meet the “prawns,” via pseudo-newsreel and documentary footage.

Arriving in a malfunctioning mothership, they look like an insect-lobster hybrid, stronger and are larger than humans. They speak in whirs and clicks through fluttering tentacles resembling a billowing mustache dangling over their mouthparts.

These are not cuddly, endearing, nor even vaguely humanoid creatures.

The story begins 20 years after the prawn ship becomes marooned over Johannesburg, South Africa. A million prawns disembark at gunpoint to be interred in a miserable refugee camp called “District 9.” Despite the camp’s squalid conditions, the prawns double in number over the following two decades, causing unrest in the camp and provoking fear amongst Johannesburg’s residents who want the camp relocated further from their city.

The film stereotypes the aliens as shiftless and violent, contained in camps where they can be controlled. The parallels to Nazi concentration camps or to Apartheid are obvious. Initially settling the camp on a garbage dump, the increasing value of this real estate constitutes the real motivation to relocate the aliens to a smaller, more isolated location.

The care and feeding of these creatures is contracted to the Multi-National United Corporation known as M.N.U. The movie plays into our notion that all big corporations are greedy and corrupt with hidden agendas of their own. The company’s legal team insists that each prawn household must be served with an eviction notice 24 hours prior to moving to the camp. District 9’s lawless conditions are worsened by gun-toting Nigerian gangsters selling goods at outrageous prices.

The daunting task of serving eviction notices falls to Wikus (Sharlto Copley), a somewhat naive, but gung-ho son-in-law of the region’s M.N.U. overseer. Anything can and does go wrong when Wikus and dozens of heavily armed soldiers begin knocking on prawn doors. It’s only fair to warn viewers that the film’s violence is off the charts. Death by exploding bullet is a riot of blood and slime set against the muddied camp and pushing the squeamish factor through the roof.

Occurring in the present day, the developing plot sees Wikus targeted by his own company, but it was difficult to focus on his dilemma because my mind kept replaying the inhumane treatment of the prawns. Where was Amnesty International, Africa Rights, Advocates International, or Better World Campaign?

Why didn’t the Red Cross step up? Was there no underground movement on behalf of the prawns?

Though unbalanced by its one-sided perspective, the straight ahead storytelling is somewhat rescued by fascinating aliens, and by the humor and irony of Wikus’ predicament. “District 9” succeeds as satire in an era ripe for spoofs masquerading as science fiction.

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September 3, 2009

Inglourious Basterds (2009) rrr (Grade B) Directed by Quentin Tarantino Starring Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent, Christoph, Daniel Bruhl, Til Schweiger, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger Weinstein Co.-Rated R-Drama-153 min A small group of American soldiers, commanded by Aldo Raine (Pitt), plot to terrorize Nazi soldiers in Occupied France. Though Tarantino worked on his script for more than a decade, this rather conventional war movie is lacking his trademark rapier wit. Tension mounts when Hitler’s SS plans a Paris film premiere to celebrate the exploits of their best sniper, Fredrick Zoller (Bruhl). A British lieutenant (Fassbender) organizes an Allied group known as the Bastards to blow up the theater. However, the cinema’s owner (Laurent), has an even better idea. With spies everywhere, the Nazis come perilously close to uncovering both schemes. Expect an old-fashioned WWII drama and enjoy the film for Tarantino’s expert technical construction.

Post Grad (2009) rr (Grade C-) Directed by Vicky Jenson Starring Alexis Bledel, Catherine Reitman, Jane Lynch, Michael Keaton, Carol Burnett, Bobby Coleman, Zach Gilford, Rodrigo Santoro Fox Searchlight-Rated PG-13Comedy-89 min Cute-as-a-button college grad Ryden Malby (Bledel), is compelled to move back home with her quirky family (Keaton, Lynch, Burnett and Coleman) because even her college fails to land her a good job. Between romantic misfires, domestic drama, and a series of humiliating, low-paying jobs, Ryden’s path to independence remains elusive.

Sadly, what begins as an effort to voice the frustrations of unemployed grads becomes a happy sappy romantic comedy. Lacking unique content, this film may quickly join the ranks of the unwatched.

The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009) rr (Grade C) Directed by Robert Schwentke Starring Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean, Arliss Howard, Hailey McCann, Brooklynn Proulx New Line Cinema-Rated PG-13Drama, Science Fiction-147 min This weepy drama is adapted from Audrey Niffenegger’s novel positioning Henry (Bana) as a time-traveling librarian. Henry, stricken by a genetic “anomaly,” lives his life in random order, disappearing into the past or future with no control over where or when, but he always returns to the beautiful Clare (McAdams) who first met a handsome adult version of Henry while still a child.

She anxiously wants to grow up so Henry can fulfill his promise to marry her, but domestic bliss proves to be a fantasy since Henry frequently disappears, only to reappear days, weeks or months later. For every element of the wondrous “Benjamin Button,” there’s a chunk of the weepy “Notebook,” meant to stir

romantic notions into a tearful potboiler.

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009) rr (Grade C) Directed by Neal Brennan Starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, David Koechner Paramount Vantage-Rated R-Comedy-90 min The second project from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions, (the first being “The Foot Fist Way”), “The Goods” smartly relies on a maniacal Jeremy Piven to deliver the laughs. As Don Ready, a used-car liquidator, Piven’s character is hired to turn a troubled car dealer’s Fourth of July event into a money-maker. Colorful characters are played by Ving Rhames and David Koechner, while director Neal Brennan, known for his involvement on the hit, “Chappelle’s Show,” comes on board to synchronize the film’s fireworks.

Ponyo (2008) rrr1/2 (Grade A-) Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, John Lasseter, Brad Lewis, Peter Sohn Voiced by Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Noah Lindsey Cyrus, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Frankie Jonas, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, Betty White Disney-Rated G-Animated, Family-100 min Hayao Miyazaki’s latest family film is rendered in traditional 2-D animation and retrofitted with an all-star English voice cast for its American release. The story, loosely based on “The Little Mermaid,” finds young fish princess Ponyo (voiced

by Cyrus) longing to become human after being pulled from the sea by a 5-year-old boy named Sosuke (Jonas).

The children must prove the power of their love by using it to realign a precariously unbalanced natural world. Liam Neeson intones Ponyo’s overprotective father -once a man who transformed himself into a fish king while Cate Blanchett voices Ponyo’s mother. In Miyazaki’s imaginative vision, all animate and inanimate objects are changelings, a concept easily understood by children everywhere.

Bandslam (2009) rrr (Grade B) Directed by Todd Graff Starring Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Lisa Kudrow Summit Entertainment-Rated PGDrama-151 min Another year, another tweeny performance-centric drama set against the backdrop of high school. A girl-meetsboy romance evolves when the school’s popular Charlotte (Michalka) persuades the school outcast Will (Connell) and his friend Sa5m played by Hudgens (the 5 is silent, hee hee) to help form a rock band for an upcoming competition known as “Bandslam.” Lisa Kudrow appears as Will’s mom in this original screenplay, unusual because it doesn’t rely on previously established Disney or Nickelodeon Channel characters, but takes its chances on the tween moviegoing wave that has made productions of this ilk both popular and profitable.

“No Ham for Me, Thanks”- don’t be a pig about it.

by Matt Jones ©2009 Jonesin’ Crosswords Brought to you by Melanie Perry, Agent State Farm Insurance

Last Issue’s Answers

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Across 1 Bank savings options 4 Fast food mascot with a spherical head 8 Impairs 13 Baseballer Felipe or Moises 14 “___ a slitted sheet I sit” (tongue twister phrase) 15 Major US metal processor 16 Half-glasses?

17 Distorted Pearl Jam hit song?

19 Goth band from the late 1970s 21 Earned top honors 22 “Tru ___” 23 No later than 24 Cup alternative 25 “Go, bullfighter!”

26 Submissions to eds.

27 Lose one’s resolve 30 “We Try Harder” rental company 31 Too serious 32 Like the most valuable baseball cards, e.g.

34 Group of radio users making music together?

37 Mailroom machine 38 Take down a notch 39 Nabokov heroine and namesakes 40 Copenhagen gardens 42 Common tax form, to Caesar?

45 Marshy area 46 Time magazine co-founder Henry 47 Ceramic coating 49 Come to a close 50 Dir. with a heading of 67.5 degrees 51 Base, chemically speaking 53 The act of poking fun at yellow fruit?

56 ___ San Lucas 57 Fix a manuscript 58 “La Traviata” song 59 Person who may be evil 60 Lauren who played cruise director Julie McCoy on “The Love Boat” 61 Prying 62 Leipzig-to-Dusseldorf direction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Down Does some housework Sweet boxful California roll, for example “Tak and the Power of ___” (Nickelodeon cartoon) Colonel George Taylor’s movie captors “___ blimey!”

Was acquainted with “An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport” author Kenny

September 3, 2009

9 Priest’s garment 10 Got really cold 11 Painting behind bulletproof glass since 2005 12 College hurdle, redundantly 13 Band’s release 18 Second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world 20 He won a Nobel Peace Prize and a Grammy 24 Inverted 28 Section of “Carmina Burana” used in “battle to the death” movie trailers 29 Big ___, CA 30 Commedia dell’___ 31 They once shared an arena with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils 33 Pass out 34 Renegade, for Barack Obama 35 Fresh off the factory floor 36 “Hung” channel 37 Wager that’s not very risky 41 “The ___ Cometh” (O’Neill play) 42 Parrots’ larger relatives 43 Rapper who hosted “Pimp My Ride” 44 Was deceptive 46 Acts like a library 48 Prefix for vegetarian 51 Mark Harmon CBS series 52 “That’s fine by me” 54 Repeated part of a Temple cheer 55 Gold, in Guatemala Concerning

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