Times of Southwest Louisiana by The Times of Southwest Louisiana

WWW.TIMESSW.COM â&#x20AC;˘ NOVEMBER 13, 2008 / VOL. 13, NO. 23

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How We Voted

Coushatta Nation: Investing in Israel

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . 617 Drew St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-439-0995 Fax: 337-439-0418 PUBLISHERS Patrick Marcantel Scot Hebert

november 13, 2008 Volume 13 • Number 23

contents

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NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . MANAGING EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque lauren.dealbuquerque@timessw.com

EDITOR Lisa Yates timesedit@timessw.com

CONTRIBUTORS Thomas Anderson, M.D. Kay Andrews Sara Blackwell Geoffrey Collins, M.D. J. Shirlene Cooper Jim Doyle Matt Jones Bill Krull Amanda LeComb, M.D. Keith Menard, O.D. Craig Morton, M.D. Albert Richert, Jr. M.D. Terri Schlichenmeyer

22 E N T E R P R I S E B O U L E VA R D Coushatta Nation Invests in Israel . . . .5

COLUMNS

POLITICS John Maginnis Dan Juneau ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Andy Jacobson

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COVER STORY Turkey Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Harvest Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Thanksgiving Trivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Holiday Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Patricia Prudhomme Shanda Sonnier

FEATURES

GRAPHICS . . . . . . . . ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck

Small Business Honors Landrieu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Serenity Park/DeRidder Fly-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Palm Trees and People’s Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 How We Voted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Home Grown Business: Seafood Palace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Pancreatic Cancer: Lethal Disease Needs Funding, Research . . .34 Baby Boomers and Joint Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

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 2008 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.

Business Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Who’s News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 MSU Round-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 BizBytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Inside Baton Rouge . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Legal Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 What’s Up Doc? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

ENTERTAINMENT

Book Beat: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Coffee Break Crossword Puzzle: “Tis the Season” . . . . . . . . . .39 Times Picks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 The Shadow: Shootin’ and Shoppin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Parting Shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Visit us online at: www.timessw.com NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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BUSINESS In a mutual effort to help make the environment cleaner and healthier, the City of Lake Charles, Team Green of Southwest Louisiana, and CITGO have teamed-up again to assist with the proper disposal of mercury. With the help of a donation from CITGO, a mercury collection facility at the City’s Wastewater Division located at 1132 W. 18th St. was opened in November of 2007. This year, CITGO has contributed once again with another $5,000 donation, and because of their generosity, the City will be expanding the mercury collection facility in November to include fluorescent lamps from small businesses located inside the City limits. When a mercury-containing device in a home, office or school gets broken or is replaced, it is important to dispose of it properly. Mercury may be lurking in fever thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries and thermostats. Disposal of these items, and metallic mercury, is free of charge at the Wastewater Division located at 1132 W. 18th St. The site is open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For safe storage instructions or more information on mercury, call 491-1450 or 491-9185. Curves, the world’s largest franchisor of fitness clubs, recently announced that the Lake Charles Curves club has earned the prestigious Shining Star club designation. This recognition is given to clubs that meet rigorous standards in their business practices, service quality, and adherence to the Curves methods. Clubs applying for Shining Star status must complete a lengthy checklist of items in a number of different categories, and then submit it to their area director. Shining Star clubs receive many benefits from the designation, including window decals, Web site identification, staff ID pins, and special recognition at corporate events. This status is awarded for a two-year period. This is the second time the Lake Charles club has been approved for Shining Star status. They have been Shining Star since 2006 and Curves Smart since November 2007. For more information on Curves of Lake Charles, please contact the club at 479-2477. Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana, the board of directors and staff wish to thank all of the golf teams, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make the 3rd Annual “Fore for Families” Golf Tournament a success. The tournament was held on October 20 at Gray Plantation Golf Course. A very special thank you goes out to Reeves Development, the title sponsor of this year’s tournament. Funds raised will benefit the programs of Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana such as the Next Chapter Book Club, the annual Community Christmas Party and Sibshops. For more information, call 436-2570.

notes McDonald’s, was more than happy to join in on the fun and participated in many of the activities. The party closed with a McDonald’s Happy Meal® luncheon. The Children’s Miracle Network in conjunction with CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital is dedicated to improving the lives of local children in Southwest Louisiana with diseases, disabilities and injuries. Buddy Ball is an organization that provides children with special needs the opportunity to participate in sports and artistic activities. For more information, contact Jen Breen at (337) 478-7396 or jbreen@ocarroll.com.

Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach & Sylvia Stelly

Nissan of Lake Charles played host to business, community and civic leaders from the region at the October Chamber SWLA Business After Hours. Sylvia Stelly, wife of owner John Stelly, hosted the event and announced details of her La Familia Resource Center located next door to the dealership at 1600 Siebarth Drive. La Familia Resource Center is a bilingual, multi-service, non-profit organization developed to meet the needs of multicultural families and individuals by providing information, referrals, access to services and programs within the Lake Charles community. For more information, call (337) 312-2906.

Moss Regional Medical Center recently joined Governor Bobby Jindal and many others across the state in recognizing the accomplishments of the CommunityCARE and KIDMED programs. Moss Regional celebrated with its own mini health fair. On hand were an infection preventionist, registered dieticians, pediatric nurses, and a smoking cessation specialist along with many other health care and KidMed professionals. Visitors received an abundance of information about KidMed and Community Care. Children were given safety cards with their fingerprints while parents were educated on the workings of Louisiana’s health care system. Calcasieu Parish McDonald’s recently hosted a Halloween party for the children of Children’s Miracle Network and Buddy Ball at The Children’s Museum. The children had an opportunity to show off their Halloween costumes while enjoying a fun-filled day of face painting, treats and playing with the variety of engaging and educational exhibits offered by the museum. Having grandchildren of his own, Doug Gehrig, owner of Calcasieu Parish

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Cameron Communications presenting the Old Spanish Trail framed print and check for $1,000 to Calcasieu Council on Aging (CCOA). From left to right: Trina Johnson (Public Relations Coordinator), Kristi Hatfield (Marketing Team Leader), Jeanette Hansen (CCOA Member), Debbie Duhon (CCOA Program Manager), Gerald Hansen (CCOA Member) and Shireen Santhanasamy (Marketing Copywriter).

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ENTERPRISEBOULEVARD Who’s News

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana: Investing in Israel By Lisa Yates ust like billionaire Warren Buffett, the world’s richest man, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is investing in Israel. Buffett decided the Israeli metalworking company Iscar would be his first major investment outside of the United States. Likewise, the Coushatta Nation’s first international investment in diplomacy is with Israel. On Nov. 17, a high-ranking Israeli delegation will visit the Sovereign Nation of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to sign a historic proclamation – the first between a Native American tribe and the nation of Israel. David Sickey, vice chairman of the Coushatta Nation, said the event is being held to honor Israel as it celebrates its 60th year as a modern nation-state. “As a sovereign nation, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana values Israel’s struggle for sovereignty and self-determination,” he said. After having been erased from the face of the earth for nearly 2,000 years, the nation of Israel was reborn.

At midnight on May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel, proclaimed the new State of Israel. The United States officially recognized the new government on that same date. This year, the nation of Israel is celebrating its 60th Independence Day with events throughout the world. Sickey said members of the Coushatta Tribal Council will sign a proclamation to commemorate this historic milestone naming May 14, as “Stakayoop Yanihta Yisrael,” which means “The Day to Honor Israel.” Asher Yarden, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, will represent the State of Israel at the event. Yarden, a former director of the Diplomatic and Civil Law Department in the Legal Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, has also served as a delegate to the United Nations for the State of Israel. He stated the following in a recent news release: “This unique relationship being forged between two sovereign entities, which live so far apart geo-

graphically, only goes to show that open hearts and open minds can bridge the gap between two old and historic cultures that may otherwise appear so far apart.” The Consul and other members of the delegation will tour the Coushatta Tribe installations on the Coushatta Reservation in Elton before the historic signing ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m. in the Coushatta Administrative Building. This historic event is expected to generate significant national and international media coverage, according to Sickey. He is preparing for a large gathering of business and political leaders from across the state, along with Native America tribes from every part of the country. This historic event is part of an ongoing effort by the Coushatta Tribe to build relations with other governments. “We’re reaching out with this unprecedented move, leaping into the diplomatic arena on an international level,” Sickey said. “We also want to showcase and share the sucContinued on Page 7

Jennings native Troy Broussard has been named the new director of the Jeff Davis Arts Council. After graduation from Jennings High School and LSU, Broussard moved to Houston, where he worked for a prominent design firm for 18 years. He was eventually named president of Edward J. Perrault Design Associates. In 2007, Broussard returned to Jennings to pursue his art career. He has shown his paintings in galleries since 1995. His Troy Broussard new work will be exhibited at Gallery 549 in Lafayette on Nov. 8 during the monthly ArtWalk, and he is also scheduled to exhibit at Beauregard Gallery in Baton Rouge, Spa 1107 in Houston, and Evangeline’s Café in Jennings. Broussard is an honorary board member of the Jeff Davis Business Alliance and a member of Ducks Unlimited, and volunteers his time for various organizations. The Jeff Davis Arts Council administers Chips Youth Theater, Children’s Drama Theater, the Harvey Rabbit Drug Awareness program, Zigler Mini-Grants to teachers, an annual parish wide poetry and poster contest, art instruction in Jeff Davis schools, invites arts demonstrations for the annual Jennings Alive, and more. Sulphur resident Wilmer Dugas was recently appointed to the West Calcasieu Port board of directors by the Sulphur City Council. Dugas, 71, replaces long-time board member Percy Rogers, who finished his term on the WCP board in September. Dugas is a member of the management team at Don Shetler Ford in Sulphur, where he has been employed since 1980. Prior to that, he worked in law enforcement and the financial field. A native of Erath, Dugas is a graduate of Erath High School and attended the University of Southwest Louisiana. He served six years in the U.S. Army Continued on Page 6 NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Who’s News, Continued from Page 5

times presents

Reserve, and was on the Sulphur City Council from 1986-2006, also serving as the council’s chairman and vice chairman. He is a member of the Sulphur Kiwanis Club, the Sulphur Group, Sulphur Lions Club, West Calcasieu Association of Business, Sierra Club of West Calcasieu, Optimist Club, and the Knights of Columbus.

Shanda Sonnier Account Executive

City Savings Bank is pleased to announce the following promotions: Chris Foster has been named vice president and branch manager of the Sulphur location at 1520 Maplewood Drive. Foster has worked with City Savings Bank for three years, previously as assistant vice president and branch manager of the bank’s Main Office in DeRidder, where he gained experience in commercial and mortgage lending. Foster is a graduate of McNeese University with bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management. He currently attends the Louisiana Graduate School of Banking. Cade Marze has been named manager of the Main Office at 301 North Pine Street in DeRidder. Marze is a graduate of McNeese State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He has worked at City Savings Bank for over a year and has experience in mortgage and small business lending. Paul Gonsoulin has been named assistant manager of the Main Office. Gonsoulin is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He has worked with City Savings Bank at the Countryside Branch at 2197 Highway 171 in DeRidder since January of 2008 and is experienced in consumer lending.

Shanda Sonnier, a Sulphur native, is the newest member of The Times of Southwest Louisiana’s sales team. She is a 2005 graduate of McNeese State University where she earned her B.S. in Mass Communications. Shanda has five years of sales experience in the retail arena. She is a proud mother of two beautiful girls, Mia and Lexi. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Some of her interests include attending her children’s sporting events, LSU and MSU football games. Shanda is excited about the opportunity to grow her career with The Times.

Reflections of DeQuincy recently welcomed Dr. Paul Matthews as its new medical director. He is a board-certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist practicing in Lake Charles at Advanced Psychiatric Services and in Jennings at West End Hospital. Matthews graduated from LSU in New Orleans with a degree in Geriatric Psychiatry, and has had years of special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders that occur in older adults. Reflections provides comprehensive, short-term outpatient treatment for mature adults with a focus on depression and other mental health issues. The program does not require a physician’s referral for admission. For more information, call (337) 786-2191.

Times Presents Shanda Sonnier

Business First Bank is pleased to announce that Connie Blanchard has been appointed assistant vice president and manager of the Southwest Louisiana Banking Center. Business First Bank has a temporary office at 726 Ryan Street in Lake Charles, continuing its expansion of the business banking market into Southwest Louisiana. Construction is underway on its banking center in downtown Lake Charles at the corner of Ryan and Broad Streets in the Love’s Building, aiming for a tentative opening in late December or early January. Blanchard brings years of banking experience to Business First Bank, as she was formerly employed with Bank One and most recently Cameron State Bank, where she was manager of the Ryan Street facility. A graduate of Barbe, Blanchard is active in the community, including the Kiwanis Club of Southwest Contraband. The American Advertising Federation has announced the appointment of Peter O’Carroll as state representative for Louisiana on the AAF 10th District Executive Council. He will represent Louisiana advertising professionals, dealing with issues such as education, legislation and advertising quality. He currently serves as president of the American Advertising Federation Lake Charles chapter. O’Carroll is president of O’Carroll Group Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations of Lake Charles. American Advertising Federation Lake Charles is an association of persons involved in advertising, marketing and public relations. The organization offers opportunities for professional development, networking, recognition and community involvement. For information, go to aaflakecharles.com.

479-1434 • 3415 Louisiana Ave. www.dinacucciosdesign.com PAGE 6

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Erin Kelly Cormier

Erin Kelly Cormier of Lake Charles recently read her work of short fiction at the 5th annual “Write to Our Culture” performance showcase in New York City. The cultural event, hosted by Collaborative Opportunities for Raising Empowerment, is designed to raise awareness of Filipino culture and literature. The showcase featured emerging Filipino writers and artists. Cormier read “And There was Marilinda.” Her fiction has appeared in Story Philippines, Every Day Fiction, Audience Literary Journal, the Kartika Review, Asians in America Magazine, and elsewhere. She is a graduate student in English at McNeese State University and works as a communications specialist for Healthy Image, a regional marketing agency.

Ent. Blvd., Continued from Page 5

cess story of the Coushatta Nation.” Sickey said he hopes this new relationship with Israel will lead to greater cultural exchanges and business opportunities in the future. Roee Madai, Israel’s Consul for Economic Affairs in Houston, announced he, too, would like to explore a cooperative agreement between the two nations. “I am thrilled to see this opportunity materialize,” he said in a press release. “Israel is always vested in developing and expanding mutually beneficial economic relationships with other nations. As Israel’s economic consul, I will make myself and my office available to promoting business opportunities in Israel and stimulating the trade relations between Israel and the Coushatta Tribe.” Sickey said there is a need for more recognition and understanding by all in a global economy. He said the Sovereign Nation of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is positioned to play a more significant role in the global economy with both sovereign status and with 1,000 acres dedicated to economic development. He said the Coushatta Tribe joins the growing influence of private-sector business interested in international relations. Sickey believes this first step in international diplomacy will lead to an increase in exposure to world markets. “Many Native American Tribes have not explored the full benefits of being a sovereign nation, but it has been a part of our long-range planning for some time,” he said. “This important event will not only highlight our sovereign status, but will serve to establish an important, mutually beneficial relationship with a major, international partner.” Kevin Sickey, chairman of the Sovereign Nation of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, said he is looking forward to highlighting the accomplishments of the tribe and honoring the nation of Israel during the November visit. “The Coushatta of Louisiana are very proud that we will be able to welcome and honor representatives of the State of Israel,” he said. “Though the circumstances and challenges that we have faced are different, the Coushatta of Louisiana and the people of Israel have many things in common. In much the same way that our forefathers overcame enormous difficulties to found and build the Sovereign Nation of Coushatta, the Israeli people have overcome tremendous hardship and heartbreak in order to forge a strong identity as a free and sovereign nation.”

Coushatta Nation Honors Israel On Mon., Nov. 17, the Sovereign Nation of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will become the first Native American tribe to recognize, honor, and welcome official representatives of the State of Israel. “This unprecedented initiative will firmly establish the Coushatta Tribe’s role on both the national and international stages, while also opening the door to new business relationships and future economic development initiatives,” said Kevin Sickey, Chairman of the Tribal Council of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. The Honorable Asher Yarden, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest, will represent the State of Israel at the event. Yarden and other members of the Israeli delegation will tour the Coushatta Tribe installations on the Coushatta Reservation in Elton and join with Coushatta Tribal Council leaders for a press conference beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the Coushatta Administrative Building. A special signing ceremony will follow

at 10 a.m. in the same location, and lunch will be served. Various local and state leaders will be on hand for the event, which is open to the public. During the ceremony, Coushatta leaders and Consul General Yarden will sign a proclamation in recognition of “common histories” and a “shared spirit of endurance.” David Sickey explained that the proclamation is a way to honor the similarities and officially declare that the two nations will be tied together for years to come. The agreement with the State of Israel is the latest and most important step in an ongoing effort by the Tribe to build relationships with other governments and explore new business opportunities. In June, 2008, the Coushatta entered into a cooperative agreement with the Jefferson Davis Parish Economic Development Commission – the first formal agreement addressing economic development efforts between the two neighboring governments.

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Keith Greenlee, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, and Theresa Richard visit during an event at the home of Mike Tremont.

Small Business Honors

Landrieu By Lisa Yates

About a dozen small business owners in Lake Charles met with U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, on Oct. 28, at a breakfast meeting hosted by Mike Tremont and Bradley Breaux, at 508 Pujo Street. Tremont said he has been a longtime supporter of the senator. He noted that on Oct. 1, the National Federation of Independent Business presented her with the Guardian of Small Business Award. Tremont said the purpose of the breakfast, also, was to honor the senator and to facilitate a meeting with local business owners.

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“This breakfast gives small business owners an opportunity for input – to discuss their needs and concerns, so Mary can take these needs and concerns back to Washinton,” Tremont said. Landrieu not only serves on the nation’s Small Business Committee; but after re-election, she could gain the chairmanship. As part of Landrieu’s successful bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate, the senator gave an informal presentation and visited with supporters. It was a casual affair – a buffet-style breakfast served in the garden, poolside.

Between 12 and 24 people attended, including Keith Greenlee, Theresa Richard, Tom Lorenzi, Paul Cox, Mark Delphin, Chris Stewart, Greg Woods, Jace Johnson and Mark Herbert. Greenlee and Richard, both consultants, said they attended to discuss health care issues – AIDS, in particular. Johnson, writer/producer of Little Chenier, recently moved to Lake Charles from Los Angeles planning to film other projects in Louisiana. The party was closed to the media, but The Times managed to garner an invitation as well as an interview with the senator. Also worth noting, the senator did not surround herself with guards; and, her handlers stayed in the background throughout the event. When asked about the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, Landrieu discussed her fight to get more money for Louisiana’s infrastructure projects. Energy infrastructure is “at the top of the list” of her priorities, according to Landrieu. “Oil and gas revenue sharing provisions in a bill I co-authored will free up state funds for these projects,” she said. Landrieu, a member of the Energy Committee, co-authored the Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which was signed into law in 2006. The bill expanded oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico by more than 8 million acres and shares revenues with Louisiana. Officials report that Louisiana will receive $40 billion over 50 years as a result of her bill. Also as a senior member of the

Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Landrieu has a voice in approving more than $300 billion in discretionary spending. She told The Times that funding the federal transportation bill will be a “priority.” This comes as the U.S. Congress prepares to authorize another 6-year federal spending bill on transportation. The current bill, which provided $286 billion in federal funds, expires Sept. 30, 2009, and the new bill should start to take shape early next year. Officials in Southwest Louisiana see this as a window of opportunity for the rebuilding of the I-10 bridge, which they estimate will cost anywhere from $150 to $200 million. Ironically, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined Landrieu on the campaign trail later that same day speaking at a women’s luncheon in Thibodaux. The women are members of the so-called “Gang of 20,” a bipartisan coalition of senators working to develop comprehensive energy reform and policy, including stringent fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles, expanded domestic drilling, safe nuclear power, wind energy and biodiesel initiatives. Klobuchar was quoted as saying Landrieu will fight to get more money spent on infrastructure, citing Minnesota’s own tragedy, the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis last year. On the same 1-to-100 scale that gave the collapsed Minneapolis bridge a “sufficiency rating” of 50, the Calcasieu River Bridge was given the rating of 24.9.

NEWS McNeese Spring Semester Registration Registration for McNeese State University’s spring 2009 semester began Oct. 27, and will end at 11:59 p.m. Fri., Nov. 21. Students should go to the McNeese Web site at www.mcneese.edu and click on Banner Self-Service to register online. Banner Self-Service is unavailable from 2-5:30 a.m. daily and 5-8 p.m. on Fridays. Campus computer labs will be available for student registration during normal hours of operation. Spring classes begin Wednesday, Jan. 14. For more information, contact the McNeese registrar’s office at (337) 475-5356 or (800) 622-3352, ext. 5356. Soccer Team Members Receive Honor Senior defender Justeen Lords and forward Kamryn Koch of McNeese’s soccer team have been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine District 6 Academic AllDistrict Team. Lords was selected to the second team and Koch was named to the third team. Lords, a native of Albuquerque, garners her second honor to the team after being named to the first team in 2006. She played in 16 games this season and helped the Cowgirl defense record four shutouts and its second consecutive undefeated home record. Koch, a native of Breaux Bridge is concluding her career with an outstanding senior season. Koch has scored 18 goals, dished out six assists, has five game winning goals and three hat tricks this season. She is McNeese’s career

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leader in shots, goals, points and assists and holds the Southland Conference record for career game winning goals with 18 and is tied for the SLC season hat trick record with three. Autism Workshop Nov. 18-19 A two-day workshop titled “A Behavior Analytic Approach to Unraveling Problematic Behaviors Observed in Autism Spectrum Disorder” will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 18-19 in Parra Ballroom of the Student Union Annex at McNeese State University. The workshop is for participants who have some knowledge of the basic principles of applied behavior analysis and is sponsored by Louisiana Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Gordon Bourland, a board-certified behavior analyst with more than 25 years of experience developing behavioral interventions for problematic behaviors, is the guest speaker for the workshop. Early registration is $125 per person by Nov. 12 and $150 per person after that date. Lunch is not included. For more information, call Carol Martin, LouABA coordinator, at (337) 475-4262. Electronic Courses Offered McNeese State University will offer a variety of electronic learning courses for academic credit during the spring 2009 semester that are designed for well-disciplined students who are capable of handling independent study. All McNeese College by Cassette courses and Web-based courses require some on-campus

Lake Charles Coca-Cola Bottling Company has donated $70,000 to MSU for athletics. Raymond Bihm, left, cold drink sales manager for Lake Charles Coca-Cola Bottling, presents the donation to McNeese Athletics Director Tommy McClelland. McNeese Photo

MSU classroom obligations and assignments, and information for these programs is listed in the spring class schedule. Some electronic learning courses have fees in addition to regular registration fees. Students can register for classes during spring registration through Nov. 21. McNeese will offer two courses through the College by Cassette program during the spring semester. They are History of Film, ART 365; and Introductory Sociology, SOCL 201. Compressed video courses offer students an opportunity to receive credit from McNeese or other state universities by attending class at one of the on-campus sites or at one of McNeese’s off-campus sites in Allen, Beauregard or Jeff Davis parishes. Compressed video involves two-way, full motion video and audio that closely replicates a traditional face-toface class. Students should look for course listings marked section CV (on-campus) or CZ (off-campus) to register for these courses. Internet or Web-based courses are being offered in several departments, which allow students to access information and assignments from home or at times that might be more convenient to the student. Web courses are also often used to supplement traditional classes or other electronic learning courses. Students should look for course listings marked section W to register for these courses. For more information, contact the McNeese Electronic Learning Office at (337) 475-5075 or (800) 622-3352, ext. 5075.

Dr. Carrie Chrisco, head of McNeese State University’s Department of Mass Communication, accepts a $15,000 donation from Leslie Harless, treasurer of the Ad and Press Club of Southwest Louisiana. The check represents McNeese’s portion of the net profits from the club’s 2008 Gridiron show, which is used for scholarships and institutional support. Each year, the club donates part of Gridiron’s proceeds to the school. Of the $15,000 donation, $10,000 will go to the department, and $5,000 will go toward the scholarship fund.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Serenity Park:

Tranquil Retreat in Downtown DeRidder By J. Shirlene Cooper

The Rev. George Lee Glass cuts the ribbon, as part of a dedication ceremony for Serenity Park, a revitalization project made possible through a partnership between the City of DeRidder and the leaders of Grace Church.

Area historian Velmer Smith (left) joined Friends of DAAB coordinator Sharon Hyde Beltz at a display table, seeking local stories, memories and memorabilia from the war era.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Serenity Park, a small getaway just steps from the Beauregard Parish Courthouse, is a prime example of what can develop when committed and concerned members of a community join forces. The recent dedication ceremony put another notch on the list of DeRidderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revitalization projects. The park is located inside the walls of what was once an abandoned and dilapidated building on East First St. Years ago, the building had been home to a pawnshop, but time had taken its toll. The windows, roof and doors were long gone, and nature had overtaken the floor with weeds, grass, wildflowers, and even some impressively tall trees. Enter the leaders of Grace Church and their vision of a place where people can go to escape the rush and routine of the day-to-day business world, or to simply stop and smell the roses. Through a joint endeavor with the City, the dream became a reality. A meandering sidewalk makes its way from the open doorway of the park

to the back exit, with concrete picnic tables on each side. The path is enhanced by shrubbery and containers filled with flowers and foliage. A sound system has been installed and gaslightstyle light poles add ambience. The same trees that apparently grew wild between the buildings were left as part of the old-new surroundings. A number of visitors have already have taken advantage of this tranquil place to read or take lunch away from the office. At the official ribbon-cutting ceremony recently, DeRidder Mayor Ron Roberts welcomed a large gathering of downtown business owners, elected officials, civic leaders, and others. The Rev. George Lee Glass and his father, the Rev. George Glass of Grace Church, offered a prayer of dedication. They expressed their happiness that they had a hand in not only renewing a part of the historic district, but also providing a peaceful place of renewal for the people of the area.

Palm Trees and People’s Vision Sprout Along Lakefront James and Bennie Martin, of Westlake, along with their grandsons, Zachary and Caleb Abshire, watched and waited for the airplane which would take Zachary on his first airplane flight.

Flying High at the Beauregard Regional Airport Just days later, and a few miles west of the downtown district, the Beauregard Regional Airport was the site of another get-together. The Wings and Wheels event, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 1356, drew all eyes to the skies, and also offered an abundance of things to see on the ground. The day was all about planes, bikes (motorcycles) and automobiles. Dozens of aircraft—old warplanes, as well as experimental models – lined the tarmac in front of the airport’s hangers, offering visitors an up-close look at wings, tails, cockpits, and insignia. At the far end of the line up, soldiers from nearby Fort Polk provided event-goers with a chance to climb aboard a UH-1 V, Medivac helicopter. Coinciding with National Aviation History Month, this family-oriented event featured numerous displays, demonstrations, and even the experience of flight for children ages 8-17. Kids of all ages took turns on the flight simulator, a special computerized “game” set up just outside the door of the airport offices. Yells, groans, and shrieks were heard as pilot “wannabees” tried their hand at lift-off, leveling, and maybe not-so-soft landings. At a makeshift announcement area, airport personnel and Beauregard Regional Airport Board Members greeted the crowd, offering information about the various booths and displays. Mike Lout, of KJAS radio out of Jasper, Texas, also made announcements, including a special recognition for U. S. Army Col. Richard “Dick” Anderson, who serves as a flight instructor at the airport. Presenting a short biography of Anderson’s service in the Army, Lout said “The Colonel” was brought to Louisiana in 1973 and became the Deputy Installation Commander at Fort

Polk. For his longtime service at the airport, Anderson is referred to as “Mr. Airport.” The crowd broke into rousing applause as Airport Board Chairman Hollis Ray O’Neal presented Anderson with a wooden commemoration plaque. Wings and Wheels, as the name suggests, was also about ground-bound vehicles, and that fact was evident almost as far as the eye could see. The Louisiana Slow Rollers Car Club displayed classic and antique automobiles. Muscle cars, such as early model Mustangs, Camaros and GTO’s, stood alongside hot rods, kit cars, Cadillacs, and Coups. Spectators visited with the owners, asking questions, offering compliments, and waxing nostalgic. Motorized transportation of the twowheeled kind took up another large area of the asphalt, as motorcycle enthusiasts from across Louisiana and surrounding states convened for a show and “People’s Choice” contest. Clad in denim, leather and fringe, bikers stood by their machines, polishing the chrome with bandanas and talking about the thrill of the open road. Inside the big hanger, visitors were greeted by members of the Friends of DAAB (DeRidder Army Air Base), including local historian Velmer Smith, and Sharon Hyde-Beltz. The group offered a look at vintage war posters, scrapbooks, and photographs of the long-defunct base. They also had a movie and slide show of old war-era aircraft, and the DAAB History Book. The property on which the Beauregard Regional Airport now stands once served as a training ground for American troops. The base included a runway, hangar, radio-control tower, library, chapel and swimming pool. A reported 5,000 personnel (military and civilian) inhabited the base in 1942. The Friends of DAAB hope to keep the memory of the base alive by collecting stories of those who lived and served there during the WWII years. While it provided an educational look at today’s aviation, events such as Wings and Wheels also help preserve a special part of Beauregard Parish history.

By Bill Krull In a sign of greater things to come, a dozen palm trees sprouted along the seawall of the Lake Charles Civic Center as part of three Lakefront/Downtown Development fast track projects. Not quite as visually attractive but probably more important were backhoes and track hoes busily working on sewer and drainage improvements required before more impressive projects can begin. “After more than 18 months of largely transparent progress, it’s great to see tangible results,” said Rick Richard, Chairman of the Downtown Development Board. “We’re seeing visible progress of something very important, not just for Lake Charles people, but also for everyone in Southwest Louisiana because we’re doing something that will benefit many generations to come. In my mind, this is a historic moment in realizing our vision of a new Louisiana.” Lori Marinovich, the Downtown Development Executive Director, invented an impromptu “palm dance” when the trees arrived from Florida. Not a hula dance, per se, it was more a twirling around, waving of the hands pirouette. Like Richard, she believes this is the community’s vision taking shape. Her next stop might be “Dancing With the Stars.”

“Really, this isn’t the vision of a few government and business leaders. It’s the vision of our people—the ones who make this a great place to live. It’s been a longtime vision of the people of this entire region. That’s how it has to be to be a sustainable effort that benefits everyone,” Marinovich said. “After Hurricane Rita, we held several public meetings and that input formed the foundation of our strategy.” The palm trees are the first step of the envisioned “Lakefront Promenade” that will totally reshape the Civic Center into a business, cultural and recreation center for the entire region, benefiting everyone in the five-parish area. Combined with other vital elements of the strategy, Lakefront/Downtown Development will draw entrepreneurs from across the nation, and even the world, according to Richard--a pretty fair entrepreneur himself with significant investment in Southwest Louisiana. “This area has a wealth of resources—much more than many other thriving regions in the country,” Richard said. “This economic development strategy leverages all these resources to make an urban center that draws people and investors who see the opportunity for an unparalleled quality of life for their families and themselves. It’s a home where our children want to stay because of the diverse opportunities instead of seeking their fortunes elsewhere.”

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

PAGE 11

BIZ BYTES — by Dan Juneau

INSIDE BATON ROUGE — by John Maginnis

Is the Gravy Train Coming to an End? or a number of years, higher government revenues have been flooding into the state’s coffers. Budget surpluses have set records and state spending has hit unprecedented levels. Now the “embarrassment of riches” may be coming to an end, and it will be interesting to see how the governor and a Legislature with many new faces handle the new economic reality. Two factors drove the recent explosion of state revenues: Hurricane recovery spending and record-setting oil and gas prices. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, high levels of recovery spending propelled state sales tax revenues to record levels. Road Home money, insurance settlements, and personal spending fueled these increases. Construction and retail activity led to higher levels of business revenue and resulted in higher business tax collections. In addition to soaring revenues from hurricane reconstruction, record oil and gas prices have also led to huge increases in state tax collections. Our Revenue Estimating Conference has done a good job of using conservative estimates for oil and gas revenues at a time when the price of these commodities has skyrocketed. The end result has been budget surpluses in the billion dollar range and constant upward revisions of excess revenues available for spending by the Legislature—and the Legislature has not been bashful about spending those excess revenues. A confluence of factors is now bringing Louisiana’s revenue party to an abrupt end. The U.S. is experiencing an economic meltdown that has undoubtedly ushered in a recession. Louisiana will certainly feel the effects of this downturn. Even more of a problem for our state finances is the huge decline in oil and gas prices. For the current budget, the Revenue Estimating Conference budgeted oil at a market price of $84 per barrel. As this column was being written, the price had plunged below $70. The price had risen as high as $147 per barrel. For a long time, billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue went directly into the state’s general fund and was quickly spent. It is more fun being a legislator when you are spending sur-

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

pluses and excess revenues instead of cutting the budget. The fun is now gone. Governor Jindal recently stated that he expected a billion dollar shortfall in revenues available to fashion the 2009/10 state budget. He also stated that he had no plans to raise taxes in order to address that shortfall. Hopefully, he will stick with that approach. For openers, the billion-dollar shortfall the governor was referencing undoubtedly was in the context of a “continuation” budget. In state government, new budgets are not submitted using the base of the old budget. An

TAXPAYERS WILL SOON FIND OUT IF OUR CURRENT LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TAKE A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESS THE NEW ECONOMIC REALITY. automatic “inflation adjusted” increase is added in before any other changes are made. By simply not submitting a “continuation” budget to the Legislature, the governor could reduce the potential red numbers by $600 million or more. That would leave a shortfall of approximately 3 percent to be made up in the $12 billion state fund budget. Taxpayers will soon find out if our current Legislature is going to take a fiscally conservative approach to address the new economic reality, or if it will attempt to continue record levels of spending that no longer can be sustained with current revenue streams. Governor Jindal’s initial comments are encouraging. Some in the Legislature will not share his view. He will need to provide strong leadership to ensure that our state government lives within its means and adds no additional financial burdens to taxpayers who have their own fiscal problems to address.

Landrieu's Base Comes Through Again

en. Mary Landrieu won her third term by more votes than her previous two winning margins combined, though her race against Treasurer John Kennedy got tighter and bumpier the closer they came to the fin-

ish line. An independent poll done for TV stations in the final week showed Landrieu starting to pull away and Barack Obama closing the gap in Louisiana. Neither happened. The sixpoint lead Landrieu ended with is about where she started in the first polls a year ago. Despite President-elect Obama’s historic victory, the ceiling for African-American candidates in this state only inched upward to 40 percent. The previous high was Cleo Fields’ 36.5 percent showing against Mike Foster in the 1995 governor’s race. In his first election, in 1996, Landrieu received 75,000 fewer votes than Bill Clinton, whereas this year, she won 200,000 more votes than Obama. Landrieu was supposed to be more vulnerable because of the post-Katrina depopulation of her New Orleans base. Yet while 50,000 fewer votes were cast in the city this time compared to 2004, Landrieu beat Kennedy there 71 with an 86,000 vote margin, the bulk of her 128,000 lead statewide. Two things that worked for Kennedy toward the end, but not enough, were fear of Obama’s Washington and the Bobby bump. Perhaps the Republican’s most effective ad laid out the case that because the Democrats were about to win a veto-proof Congress (they didn’t), Louisiana needed to send a firewall to the Senate instead of more fuel for the liberal majority. Gov. Bobby Jindal’s late endorsement of Kennedy helped the candidate some, but probably did more for the governor. He demonstrated to national Republicans that he will put his name on the line for the party, even in a losing effort, which he can claim to have made closer. Yet he didn’t go overboard and personally campaign for Kennedy or criticize Landrieu, who is now his sole pipeline to the national treasury. His greater partisan service was endorsing Congressman-elect Bill

Cassidy in the 6th District, one of only two Republicans in the country to oust Democratic incumbents. The National Republican Campaign Committee and an independent expenditure by a local contractor combined to do a number on Congressman Don Cazayoux. But the short-lived incumbent (elected in May, he doesn’t even get one Washington Mardi Gras) can really thank his former colleague and former Democrat Michael Jackson, an African-American state legislator who ran as an independent. Jackson’s 12 percent showing enabled Cassidy to win by a plurality. Jackson resented that national Democratic donors ignored him in the spring special election and so were continuing to take the party’s AfricanAmerican base for granted. His was a costly point that some local Republicans helped him to make by putting up over half of Jackson’s campaign war chest. The national Democratic Party did get behind state Sen. Don Cravins, Jr., who ran a spirited campaign but was defeated soundly by Congressman Charles Boustany in the 7th District. Special recognition goes to two first-time congressional candidates, Democrat Jim Harlan in the 1st District and Chris Gorman in the 4th, who combined spent $3 million of their own money in losing causes. Congressman Steve Scalise was easily re-elected in the 1st, while the 4th now becomes a national party battleground on Dec. 6. Democrat Paul Carmouche will try to take over a GOP seat against Dr. John Fleming, who must now consolidate Gorman supporters behind him after the bitter party contest. Unfortunately for Louisiana’s spiffy new ethical image, the other race to be decided next month is in the New Orleans-based 2nd District, where indicted Congressman Bill Jefferson, who beat fellow Democrat Helena Moreno, will be heavily favored against Republican Joseph Cao and two others. Even blacks who want Jefferson gone would rather the Justice Department do it, or have a jury clear him, than to cede the seat to one of another color. As with racial voting patterns statewide, in a year of change, some things haven’t.

We're going to be seeing a ton of electoral slicing over the next few weeks, but The Times leads off with a chart showing how voters in Southwest Louisiana voted in the historic 2008 election.

Beauregard Parish • President – John McCain • U.S. Senate – John Kennedy • U.S. Representative, 4th Congressional District, Primary Election results: Republicans chose Chris Gorman; Democrats chose Paul J. Carmouche. The General Election will be held on Dec. 6, to decide the seat. • Parish turnout – 67 percent

Beauregard

Calcasieu

Allen Jefferson Davis

Cameron

Calcasieu Parish • President – John McCain • U.S. Senate – Mary Landrieu • U.S. Representative – Charles Boustany Jr. • District Judgeship runoff races • District Judge, Division B – Clayton Davis • District Judge, Division H – Ronald “Ron” Ware • Parish turnout – 66 percent

Allen Parish • President – John McCain • U.S. Senate – Mary Landrieu • U.S. Representative 4th Congressional District, Primary Election results: Republicans chose Chris Gorman; Democrats chose Paul J. Carmouche. The General Election will be held on Dec. 6, to decide the seat. Oakdale races: • Mayor – Andrew Hayes • Chief of Police – Scotty LaBorde • Parish turnout – 63 percent

Jeff Davis Parish • President – John McCain • U.S. Senate – John Kennedy • U.S. Representative, 7th Congressional District, – Charles Boustany Jr. • Welsh Chief of Police – Tommy Chaisson • Parish turnout – 67 percent

Cameron Parish • President – John McCain • U.S. Senate – Mary Landrieu • U.S. Representative, 7th Congressional District, – Charles Boustany Jr.

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

PAGE 13

Louisiana voters approved three of the seven constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot. The three new amendments will impose term limits for certain board and commission members, require extra notice in advance of a special legislative session and allow temporary successors to be appointed for legislators deployed to active military duty. “This result is somewhat sur-

CA No. 1 CA No. 2 CA No. 3 CA No. 4 CA No. 5 CA No. 6 CA No. 7

PAGE 14

prising considering that voters have approved all but one of the 30 amendment proposals in the five elections since 2004,” said Public Affairs Research Council President Jim Brandt. The early ballot data indicate some degree of voter fatigue or apathy regarding the issues addressed by the amendments. The number of people casting votes on each of the seven proposals shows

Term Limits Special Session Notice Temporary Successors Severance Tax Property Tax Assessment Property Rights - First Refusal Non-pension Benefit Funds

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

FOR 1,129,711 951,980 981,398 704,004 778,148 770,987 670,711

(69%) (60%) (62%) (45%) (50%) (49%) (44%)

a steady decline from the first to the last. More than 100,000 additional voters weighed in Amendment No. 1 than on Amendment No. 7. Below are the ballot results from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. Not only do the results indicate voter drop off from the first to the last amendment, but they also indicate that more than 300,000

AGAINST 497,205 641,262 606,991 875,138 779,996 786,884 841,869

(31%) (40%) (38%) (55%) (50%) (51%) (56%)

TOTAL 1,626,917 1,593,243 1,588,390 1,579,142 8,144 1,557,871 1,512,580

voters statewide likely chose not to weigh in on the amendments at all. The total votes cast for president was 1,958,059. Amendment No. 1 will limit to three the number of consecutive terms a person could be appointed to serve on the following boards and commissions: Public Service Commission, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Board of Regents, Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, Forestry Commission, State Civil Service Commission and State Police Commission.

If a person serves more than twoand-one-half consecutive terms, he or she could not be reappointed or reelected to any board or commission on the list for a period of at least two years following completion of the terms. Current members of boards and commissions will be allowed to finish out their terms and their next term will count as their first for the purposes of term limits. Amendment No. 2 will change the required advance notice for calling a special session from five days to seven calendar days. Amendment No. 3 will require that the Legislature provide for a method of appointing a temporary successor for legislators who are called to active military duty. Companion legislation outlines further details, including a prohibition on a temporary successor from qualifying to run for the office while serving as a replacement for a legislator on active duty. Immediate family members will not be allowed to serve as temporary successors. Immediate family is defined as children, the spouses of children, siblings and their spouses, parents, spouse, and the parents of the spouse. The statute will require that the

elected legislator’s order to active duty must be for a period of 180 days or more for a successor to be appointed. All applicable qualifications for eligibility to serve in that district would be required of the successor. Temporary successors will serve only for the duration of the elected legislator’s term of office or until he or she returns from active duty. Successors will be required to comply with the same ethics laws governing all elected legislators, except financial disclosure statements would be required only of those who serve six months or more.

The Times of SWLA is distributed throughout our region and via the world wide web. Call Andy, Patricia or Shanda at 337-439-0995 and let them show you how to grow your business today.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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S O U T H W E S T

L O U I S I A N A ’ S

H O M E

G R O W N

B U S I N E S S E S

Seafood Palace: C'est Bon Cajun Cuisine By Lisa Yates f you’re going for white linen table cloths and a sommelier, don’t bother. The décor at Seafood Palace is über-casual, with tables decked out in red vinyl, and on the walls – mounted fish on fishing nets, Louisiana-themed posters and neon beer signs. But the Cajun food is phenomenal! Located at 2218 Enterprise Boulevard in Lake Charles, Seafood Palace features authentic Louisiana specialties such as boiled crabs and crawfish, po-boys, and a wide selection of menu items — all available for take out.

Famous for gumbo Over the years, Seafood Palace has become the city’s favorite spot to enjoy Cajun cuisine, especially gumbo. There are two varieties of

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

gumbo to choose from — chicken and sausage, or shrimp and crab. “We’re known for our gumbo,” said David Papania, who owns the restaurant along with business partner, John Larocca. Papania pointed to the autographed Little Chenier movie poster hanging behind the cash register. He said the star of the movie signed it when dining at the restaurant. “The star of Little Chenier, Fred Koehler, ate here and loved our gumbo,” Papania said. “He’s coming back, again, this Thanksgiving.” What makes the gumbo so good? Seafood Palace uses only greattasting, fresh food and premium-quality, fresh ingredients for its gumbo, according to Papania. He added, having a great cook to put it all together is another essential ingredient. “Stella LaVerge is our gumbo cook,” Papania said. “She’s been

David Papania, owner.

cooking gumbo for a long time – more than 30 years.” Opened more than 30 years ago, the highly successful Seafood Palace serves thousands of meals a year, and has been written up in publications throughout the world. “Back then, it was called Crab Palace,” Papania said. “Alice Gaspard owned it, originally. My business partner and I bought it seven years ago, in 2001.” They changed the name to “Seafood Palace” and tweaked the menu adding more items, even “gator wings.” Gator wings look like buffalo wings, but are made from Louisiana Alligator meat and they are delicious! “Fresh-broiled crabs and crawfish are best-sellers, along with the gumbo,” Papania said. He stressed the restaurant uses only fresh, local seafood. “We get our crabs daily from Hackberry; and, we buy our crawfish from local crawfish farmers,” he said.

path, but we’ve been here so long that people know where to find us.” He said the location is far enough from the hubbub in some areas so as to avoid wasting time in traffic, but still close enough to allow diners to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time. The service Although patrons come for the food, the service is always polite and efficient, even during busier times. The wait staff is very attentive, making sure their guests are enjoying their meals and helping out as needed.

That’s what keeps folks coming back, according to Papania. “That’s why we have been successful,” he said. “We have good food, excellent service and a casual, friendly atmosphere.” Papania can always be found greeting people warmly and talking with patrons to make sure their visit is as pleasant as possible. “People like seeing an owner present,” he said. “That way, we can make sure that things are done correctly; and, we can take care of any problems that might occur.” He said that the restaurant business

is a people-oriented business. “I like to be around people,” he said. “I’ve been in this business all of my life. My family had an Italian restaurant, so it just something I know how to do – and, I like it.” Location and contact information Seafood Palace 2218 Enterprise Blvd. Lake Charles, LA (337) 433-9293 Open Mon. - Sat., 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

The menu For those who love seafood, there’s plenty of choices on the menu, including a variety of tasty dinners. Served with a salad, French fries and Texas toast, dinner entrées include: fried popcorn shrimp, shrimp, catfish, oysters and combos. There’s also a large selection of a’ la carte choices, such as crawfish, and crab, patties; stuffed crab, and shrimp; frog legs; crawfish tails; and, a seafood platter. For those who don’t want seafood, there’s chicken. “In addition to our fried food, we also have grilled dinners for those who are watching their waistlines,” Papania said. He said there’s also a large number of appetizers to start off the meal. Boudin balls, stuffed pistolettes, fried catfish filet, fried okra, stuffed shrimp, frog legs, shrimp and crab jalapeños are just a few to mention. Also, there’s a kid’s menu for those age 12, and younger. It’s a family-friendly place, to be sure. However, adult beverages are available for those who enjoy an occasional cocktail. Business is good Papania said business is good, even in this tough economy. “Our business has been steady,” he said. “We have a lot of regular customers and a lot of repeat business.” He said the restaurant does a brisk business at lunchtime as people are drawn from nearby hospitals and law offices downtown. “I guess you can say we have the best, worse location there is,” Papania said. “We’re a little off the beaten NOVEMBER 13, 2008

PAGE 17

By Sara Blackwell

THE TURKEY SALE Read the fine print!

Black Friday begins on Thanksgiving morning when the local newspaper arrives. Relatives and friends congregate around the table to review the newly released Black Friday sales catalogs as the smell of cooking turkey permeates the room. Glee illuminates the faces of the readers as they locate incredible, and almost impossible, deals. After a quick review of the advertisements, a plan is made for an early departure and an extended wait in colossal lines for those must-have purchases. The next morning continues the Black Friday experience with the alarm clock buzzing in your ear at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. The family piles in the car and drives to the first department store, then waits in the cold, dark parking lot for the much-anticipated store opening. As the sun rises, the doors part with the masses flooding in to collect their chosen goods. Elbows fly and hips sway in an effort to prevent others from pushing ahead. Before you fight the large crowds and wait in the five-hour checkout line, you should consider the legal aspects of virtually all advertisements.

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Under Louisiana law, an advertisement is an offer to contract. If you purchase the item advertised, then that is considered an acceptance of the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer. The result is a binding contract wherein the seller is bound to sell you the item listed for the amount stated in the advertisement, and you are required to pay the stated price. An offer for any contract, including a sales advertisement, can be revocable or irrevocable. An irrevocable offer is an offer that specifies a period of time in which such offer may be accepted. If the offer is not accepted by the stated time, the offer expires. For the purposes of an advertisement, the offered sale price for an item is irrevocable, or irreversible, if there is an expiration date, and/or time, included in the ad. The seller cannot change or terminate the stated sale price in the advertisement until that specified time. Therefore, a buyer can accept the contract by purchasing the item for the stated sale price before the expiration time specified in the ad. On the other hand, a revocable offer is one in which there is no specified time for termination of the offer. A revocable offer expires if it is not accepted within a reasonable time. For purposes of a sales catalog, a stated advertise-

ment for a sale price can be revoked or altered by the seller if the offer was not accepted by a customer purchasing the item within a reasonable time. Basically, the offer can be accepted through purchase of the item during the weekend after Thanksgiving but maybe not during the weekend of the following Thanksgiving, which could safely be considered outside the realm of reasonable time. Any date in between is a matter of debate as to the definition of reasonable time. A revocable offer, which is an offer without a specified time of expiration, can be revoked if the revocation is received before the acceptance was made. For purposes of an advertisement, this means that a listed sale price can be revoked if done prior to the acceptance, or purchase, of the reduced item. The store could post the revocation of the sale price on the door of the store or place it in the same mode of advertisement as the original sale, such as the newspaper, if it was a Black Friday ad. Such actions by the seller would revoke, or terminate, the offer to sell the item for the reduced price specified in the original advertisement. In addition to the legal aspect of the offer and the acceptance, a legally vital consideration of a sale advertise-

ment is the condition or term specified in the offer to sell the item for the reduced price. An offer may be acceptable but only under certain terms or conditions. Advertisements often state that the sale item may be purchased along with other particular items or if the customer spends a certain amount of money. Such terms or conditions to the offer must be satisfied before the offer to purchase the item at a reduced price can be accepted. When your Black Friday holiday shopping begins on Thanksgiving with the review of the plethora of sales catalogs, take careful notice of the expiration dates, limited time frames of the offers and the conditions or terms to the offers. Otherwise, eat well and enjoy your shopping experience. Sara Blackwell is an attorney, writer and mother. She has worked as an attorney for the United Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Justice, a federal district judge and the United States Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office. Her current legal interest is in immigration law, where she works part-time for an immigration firm. She is currently working on her second novel.

2925 Ernest St., Lake Charles

(337) 439-7975 NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

PERSPECTIVES — by Jim Doyle

Family Ties am a history buff. Lately, I’ve been studying my personal history – actually, my family history – and it will be no surprise to you, Dear Readers, that there are some real characters locked away in that treasure trove. Who knows if it’s accurate. But if it is, here are some of my relatives: Lots of writers: John Milton, William Faulkner, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, George Orwell, Truman Capote. Several presidents: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Bush (!) and LBJ. One preacher burned at the stake for being a witch. Some great actors: Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Cary Grant. And several famous AfricanAmericans: Booker T. Washington, Langston Hughes, and P.B.S. Pinchback, Governor of Louisiana. I have to admit it left a peculiar taste in my mouth to confirm my ancestors (at least one of them) owned slaves, having thought (and been taught) all my life that our Methodist religion, dating back to the 1840s, sided us with the abolitionists. But with a huge family tree rooted firmly in the South, I suppose it was inevitable. My branches are laden with the Doyle, Webb, Duncan, Watson, McKinnie, and Nuckolls families, and those are among the most common of the Scot-Irish stock that drifted down through Virginia and the upper South like a wave about 150 years ago. If you’re searching for good stories and interesting people, look no further than the Watson clan. My mother was one of 10 children, and the oldest girl, in a farm family that survived the Depression (maybe some of those skills will come in handy). Her twin brother Leva was famous among my friends because he drove a Rolls Royce (actually it was a 1938 Plymouth he bought new, but nobody knew the difference) and worked at Fort Knox (he was an X-ray technician at the base hospital).

Uncle Julius owned a piece of history. The Battle of Middleburg was fought on his front yard. Leonard, father of my two closest cousins Carl and Roy, was a paratrooper who drove a general around Hiroshima right after World War II and died much too young of lung cancer. Five aunts raised exceptional children. And that brings us to Lewis, who will soon celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary and is my only surviving uncle. Like his oldest brother, Lewis was famous among my friends for his car and for his job. He drove an original Edsel, which he kept until about 15 years ago, and he worked as a welder at the nuclear plant at Oak Ridge. He is, in every sense, keeper of the family flame. Every two years he hosts the Watson reunion at his home in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee, on the Cumberland Plateau. I’ve spent the July 4th holiday there in a jacket watching fireworks and keeping score as the kids captured fireflies. Some of my best memories are on his back deck, counting my cousins and soaking in the remarkable, enveloping feeling of a family whose numbers do not diminish the ties and love that bind us all together, today and back up the tree to those many, many limbs. Geraldine, Lewis’ wife, is my “favorite aunt” in much the same way I am her “favorite nephew,” in other words, it’s our little secret. I still remember the first time I met her, probably when I was about 8. She and Lewis had two children and the oldest, Julia, is our family hero. She was the national poster child for juvenile arthritis before she was ten. I remember her about that age, sitting quietly in the den at my house sobbing softly to herself in the pain she has carried all her life. And in marrying her husband Steve she added yet another interesting occupation to our mix: Steve is a nuclear engineer who works at the bomb plant in Oak Ridge. He’s in charge of “packaging.” I don’t even want to think about what that means. Steve gave me one of my prized possessions one reunion, which hit at a particularly bad patch for me,

about a week after my lifelong friend Gary Cole died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Other circumstances added to the frazzling effect of that blow. As I got ready to leave, Steve handed me a hat and said, “Here. You need this more than me.” The hat bore the logo: “S**t Creek Survivor.” I don’t even want to think about why a guy with his job had it. But there are days, less lately thank God, when I wear it proudly and defiantly. This week’s ruminations may not be worthy of my cousin William Faulkner or even the Ravenmonger of Baltimore. But the point is worth

considering. If home is the place where when you go there, they have to take you in (Robert Frost), I think it’s a metaphysical place rather than a physical location. For me, it’s the bosom of my family, from slave owner to freed slave, uncles and aunts to cousins and grand cousins, once-in-a-while reunions to sporadic e-mails from some of my more loyal blood. In this hectic modern world spinning further from its comfortable and known center towards exciting and new possibilities, tempered by fear, may we all be Survivors.

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Turkey Preparation and Storage Tips from the National Turkey Federation Turkey is a low-fat, high-protein, nutrient-rich food that is available at a relatively low price. To assure maximum enjoyment of your turkey products, follow these recommended practices for buying, storing and preparing turkey. Fresh or frozen? There is no quality difference between a fresh or frozen turkey. Frozen turkeys are flash frozen immediately after packaging to 0 degrees F or below and held at that temperature until purchased. Once defrosted, the meat is practically as fresh as the day it was processed. Fresh turkeys are deep-chilled after packaging and have shorter shelf lives. Because they are perishable and require special handling and merchandising, fresh turkeys are slightly more expensive than frozen turkeys. Choose the product that best meets your needs without sacrificing quality. By purchasing a frozen turkey, you can get the turkey in advance and take advantage of special sales and coupons. Fresh turkeys provide convenience because they do not require thawing. More than two-thirds (69%) of those surveyed by the National Turkey Federation reported purchasing a frozen turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. What size turkey do I need to buy? Purchase at least one pound of uncooked turkey per person when purchasing a whole turkey. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have enough for the feast and for leftovers too. The best deal in town The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that in 2007, the average cost of the traditional Thanksgiving feast for 10 people was $42.26. The menu included turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings. Do turkey prices go up during Thanksgiving? No, not normally. In fact, turkey prices often go down during the holidays as many grocery stores use turkey as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;loss leader.â&#x20AC;? This means that retailers run special, low prices on turkeys to entice customers into their store to buy other holiday foods for the traditional feast. Turkeys in the supermarket are all inspected by USDA or state systems and offer high quality and value. Thawing tips Turkey can be thawed in the refrigerator, in cold water or in the microwave. Whole turkey takes about 24 hours per four to five pounds to thaw in the refrigerator. The refrigerator method is the safest and will result in the best finished product. In cold water, changed every 30 minutes, turkey takes about 30 PAGE 22

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minutes per pound to thaw. When using a microwave to thaw a turkey, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the size turkey that will fit in your oven, the minutes per pound and the power level to use. Never defrost a turkey on the counter! Once thawed, keep turkey refrigerated at 40 degrees F or below until it is ready to be cooked. Turkey thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately. What are giblets? Giblets are the turkey’s gizzard, heart and liver. The giblets and neck, when cooked until tender, are delicious additions to gravy or stuffing. If you choose to add the liver to the stockpot, do so during the last 15-20 minutes of simmering time. Overcooking the liver results in a bitter flavor. The right “stuff” Follow these steps for safely stuffing turkey: • Stuffing should be prepared and stuffed into the turkey immediately before it’s placed in the oven for cooking. If preparing the stuffing ahead of time, wet and dry ingredients should be refrigerated separately and combined right before stuffing the turkey. • Stuff the turkey loosely, about 3/4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey. Stuffing needs room to expand during cooking, so do not over-stuff. • The stuffing recipe may yield more than the turkey can hold, so bake any extra stuffing in a greased casserole dish. • Cooked inside or outside the bird, all stuffing and dressing recipes must be cooked to a minimum temperature of 165 degrees F. • Use a two-step test for turkey doneness: First, insert a meat thermometer into the deepest portion of the thigh, not touching bone, and verify the temperature reaches 175 degrees F180 degrees F. Move the thermometer to the center of the stuffing and verify the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F. • If the turkey is done and the stuffing is not yet 165 degrees F, the stuffing should be removed from the turkey and placed in a greased casserole dish to be further cooked in the oven or microwave. Cook until the stuffing has reached 165 degrees F. • Do not leave stuffing and other leftovers out for more than 2 hours. Store leftover stuffing in a covered container in the refrigerator and use within 1-to-2 days. • Reheat leftover stuffing to 165 degrees F before serving.

WCCH Healthy Holiday Cooking

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West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital will host a free cooking demonstration focused on healthy holiday dishes on Tues., Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. at Dynamic Dimensions in Sulphur. Fran Landry, registered dietitian at WCCH, will explain how many favorite holiday dishes can be modified to be healthier. Samples of the foods will be provided, along with recipes. To register for this free seminar, call 527-5459.

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Turkey Day Fixin’s Whether you roast or deep-fry your turkey, here are some delectable dishes to accompany your Thanksgiving feast. Gingered Carrot-and-Parsnip Soup Makes 4 quarts Ingredients 2 celery ribs, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 1 1/2 pounds carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 pound parsnips, cut into 1-inch pieces 10 cups chicken broth 1 cup half-and-half 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper Pinch of ground allspice (optional) Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

Preparation Sauté celery and onion in hot oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until tender. Add ginger, and cook 5 minutes. Add carrots, parsnips, and chicken broth to Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes or until carrots and parsnips are tender. Remove from heat; let cool slightly (about 5 to 10 minutes). Process mixture, in batches, in a food processor or

blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Return purée to Dutch oven. Stir in half-and-half, salt, pepper, and, if desired, allspice and nutmeg; simmer, stirring occasionally, over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Source: Southern Living Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Jalapeño Sour Cream Serves 4—expand accordingly for a larger yield Ingredients 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1 tablespoon maple syrup 2 teaspoons minced seeded jalapeño chiles 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice Salt to taste Tabasco sauce to taste 4 sweet potatoes Vegetable oil Bacon bits Chopped green onions Preparation Combine the sour cream, maple syrup, jalapeño chiles and lime juice in a bowl. Season with salt and Tabasco sauce and mix well. Chill until cold. Rub the

sweet potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake directly on a rack in a preheated 450-degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until tender. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise and serve with the maple-jalapeño sour cream, bacon bits and green onions. Source: Marshes to Mansions: Treasured Recipes of South Louisiana Andouille Sausage, Apple, and Pecan Dressing Makes 16 to 18 servings Ingredients 1 cup butter or margarine, divided 3 cups white cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 7 large eggs, divided 3 cups buttermilk 3 cups soft breadcrumbs 2 medium onions, diced (2 cups) 1 large bunch celery, diced (3 cups) 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh sage* 6 (10-1/2 ounce) cans condensed chicken broth, undiluted NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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bread mixture. Add sausage, Granny Smith apples, and pecans into cornbread mixture; pour evenly into one lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish and 1 lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish. Cover and chill 8 hours. Bake, uncovered at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until done. *1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage may be substituted for fresh sage. Source: Southern Living Almond Crunch Pumpkin Pie

1 tablespoon pepper 3/4 pound diced, Andouille sausage 2 Granny Smith apples, chopped 2 cups chopped, toasted pecans

Preparation Place 1/2 cup butter in a 13 x 9-inch pan; heat in oven at 425° for four minutes. Combine cornmeal and the next five ingredients; whisk in three eggs and buttermilk. Pour hot butter into batter, stirring

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until blended. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool. Crumble cornbread into a large bowl; stir in breadcrumbs, and set aside. Melt remaining 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add onions and celery, and sauté until tender. Stir in sage, and sauté 1 more minute. Brown andouille sausage in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Stir vegetables, remaining four eggs, chicken broth, and pepper into corn-

Ingredients 1 single crust pastry shell 1/4 cup finely chopped almonds or pecans 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter (no substitutes), softened 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel 2 eggs, beaten 1 15-ounce can pumpkin (1-3/4 cups) 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger* 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk (11/2 cups) or 1-1/2 cups half-and-half or light cream Whipped cream (optional)

Preparation Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry. Trim and flute edge of pastry. Do not prick shell. Line pastry with a double thickness of foil. Bake pastry shell in a 450 degree F oven for 8 minutes. Remove foil. For praline layer, in a small mixing bowl, stir together almonds, 1/4 cup brown sugar, butter, and orange peel. Spoon mixture into the hot, partially baked pastry shell, spreading it over the bottom as butter melts. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes more or until shell is set and dry and praline is bubbly. For filling, combine eggs, pumpkin, 3/4 cup brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.Gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Mix well. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Place partially baked pastry shell on the oven rack. Pour pumpkin filling into the pastry shell. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake 20-to-25 minutes more or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack before serving. Refrigerate within 2 hours; add cover for longer storage. If desired, serve with whipped cream. Makes 8 servings. Source: Better Homes and Gardens

The Day After What to do with your turkey leftovers? Try these mouth-watering recipes! Turkey-Mushroom Soup Yields about 5 cups Ingredients 4 cups sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cups each sliced carrots & celery 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons margarine 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon dried whole thyme 1/8 teaspoon dried whole marjoram 1/2 cup skim milk 1 tbsp. dry sherry 1 egg yoke, lightly beaten 1 (10 oz.) can chicken broth 1 cup cubed cooked turkey 1/3 cup cooked regular rice 1 tablespoon diced pimento

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Preparation Combine mushrooms, onion, celery, carrots, garlic and margarine in a 2quart casserole; microwave, uncovered at high for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Add flour, salt, thyme, and marjoram; stir well. Add milk and remaining ingredients, stirring well. Microwave, uncovered at high 6 to 9 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring every 2 minutes. Fruit & Turkey Salad Serves 4 Perfect for a refreshing light lunch! Ingredients 2 cups chopped cooked turkey 1/2 cup sliced celery 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned lettuce leaves 1 cup fresh strawberries halved 1 small banana, sliced Preparation Combine turkey and celery; set aside. Combine yogurt and next 4 ingredients; pour over turkey mixture, and toss gently. Cover and chill. Arrange orange sections on individual lettuce-lined plates. Just before serving, add strawberries and banana to turkey mixture; toss gently and spoon onto plates.

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Thanksgiving and Turkey Trivia Everyone knows the story of the Pilgrims. In a nutshell, they set sail from England aboard the Mayflower to seek religious freedom in the New World. They arrived on Dec. 11, 1620, at what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. The following year, Pilgrim leader Governor William Bradford organized a feast in the fall of 1621 and invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to attend, in gratitude for their help in teaching the settlers how to cultivate the land. But here are some interesting facts about the Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, and turkey that you may not know. There was one death and one birth during the two-month voyage. Before landing in Plymouth, the Mayflower actually anchored first in what is now Provincetown Harbor in Cape Cod. By the fall of 1621, only half of the Pilgrims (40 percent of whom were children, along with only four adult women) who had sailed on the Mayflower had survived the first year. Ninety Wampanoag Indians and their chief, Massasoit showed up for the thanksgiving celebration, which lasted for three days. Now that’s a party! The Indians brought along their own supplies for the feast: turkey, deer, berries, squash, cornbread, and beans - things that they’d farmed and that they’d shown the Pilgrims how to care for. Cornbread and pudding are traditional English items that were probably served at the feast, along with cheese, corn, onions and pumpkin. They did not eat corn on the cob at the time, and pumpkin pie came much later; instead, they enjoyed pumpkin pudding. Fish was usually not served at great feasts because it was considered too “common.” The Wampanoag Indians normally ate sitting on the ground, on furs. For this special occasion, they sat at the tables with the Pilgrims. The Indian women and men both ate together. PAGE 28

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Pilgrim women didn´t have this equal status, though. They had to stand behind their menfolk, dutifully waiting until the men were done, and full, before they were allowed to eat anything. President George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in 1789, and again in 1795. The state of New York officially made Thanksgiving Day an annual custom in 1817. Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, started a campaign in 1827 to make Thanksgiving a day for national thanksgiving and prayer. It was a result of her efforts that Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation in 1863, officially setting aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States, but was opposed by Thomas Jefferson. It is believed that Franklin then named the male turkey “Tom” to spite Jefferson. The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition began in the 1920s. There are several explanations for the name “turkey.” Some trace it back to the Native American version of the name of the bird, which was “Firkee.” Others connect the origin of the word to Christopher Columbus, who mistook America for India and the turkey for a type of peacock. Thus, he tried to name the bird based on the Tamil translation of peacock, which he knew was “Tuka.” It was discovered later that the bird actually belongs to the pheasant family. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the U.S. at Thanksgiving—that’s one sixth of all turkeys sold in the U.S. each year. American per capita consumption of turkeys has soared from 8.3 pounds in 1975 to 18.5 pounds last year.

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Over the River and Through the Woods: Be a Smart Holiday Traveler By Lauren de Albuquerque

The holidays are here—that wonderful time of the year when we get together with family and friends, eat great food (too much of it), sleep through the football game on Thanksgiving—and inch the car through a traffic jam on I-10 and stand in an airport line that just doesn’t move. If you’re hitting the road (or air) this holiday season, you should follow these helpful tips, otherwise, you’ll be saying “Bah Humbug” instead of “Pass the eggnog!”

Flying high Hopefully, you obtained your airline seats, rental car and hotel rooms well in advance. If not, you’re in trouble — prices generally escalate during the holiday season and sell out fast, as demand is much higher than usual. The busiest days to fly are those immediately before and after the actual holidays, so try to book your flights two days before and after Thanksgiving, etc. Try to get a non-stop flight or one involving as few connections as possible. Remember, every time you change planes, you run the risk of delays. Morning flights tend to be delayed less often than later ones, so keep that in mind. If you’re flying out of Houston early in the morning, you might want to stay there the night before, rather than get up at 3 a.m. to make the long drive, bleary-eyed and exhausted. Many airport hotels allow guests to leave their cars in their lots for a minimum charge, and have airport shuttles that will get you to your terminal with plenty of time to spare. Speaking of which, make sure you allow extra time for check-in, since flights are often overbooked at this time. Domestic travelers should allow two hours; international travelers, three. Planes are always overloaded at this time, so pack lightly if you can. This may be difficult if you’re going to Colorado and need heavy clothes—not to mention you’ll be packing presents. Some airlines place special restrictions on luggage during the holidays, so less is always better. One tip for packing lighter is to ship your gifts to your destination ahead of time. Allow at least two to three weeks for your packages to arrive, since the holidays are hectic times for courier services. Or you can simply give gift cards—talk about light packing! Remember that if you do bring presents, you cannot wrap them, as airport personnel need to see everything. To make your flight comfortable, make sure you bring water (purchased AFTER you go through check-in), snacks, an inflatable pillow, reading material, CDs, and a portable CD player. If you have children, figure out PAGE 30

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

ahead of time what they need to keep them occupied so they don’t make your life (and the lives of others around them!) miserable. In the driver’s seat Driving to grandmother’s house? Before you go anywhere, make sure you keep your car in good working order. You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road waiting for an overworked tow-truck driver while grandma is forced to start dinner without you. Before you leave, have your mechanic check brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, light bulbs and any parts that need regular maintenance. Of course, you’ll need to bring emergency equipment, such as a first-aid kit, flashlight, and flares and jumper cables. If you’re driving to snow country, you’ll need an ice scraper and chains for the tires.

Allow plenty of time for the drive. Like the airports, the roads are busiest on the days right before and after the major holidays. Drive carefully, especially if weather conditions aren’t ideal. If you’re going to a new destination, make sure you know where you’re going, and have mapped your route out ahead of time. Don’t just rely on Map Quest—it’s been known to be wrong on occasion. If it’s a long drive, switch drivers occasionally. The holidays are wonderful, but they’re also stressful. If you follow these travel suggestions, you’ll make your life a lot easier—and your holidays a lot happier.

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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WHAT’S

UP DOC?

I just heard that we shouldn't warm a baby's bottle because warm milk robs it of its nutritional value. Is this true? Gently warming a bottle does not cause a problem. However, if you boil milk, it will denature (that is, change the structure) of the protein, and the milk won't provide the same nutritional value. In addition to nutritional concerns, you should always be careful not to overheat a bottle due to the risk of burning your baby’s mouth. Albert Richert, Jr., M.D., Pediatrician, Pediatric Center Will having a vasectomy increase my risk of prostate cancer? No. Although many studies have been performed to see if there is a link, the best current evidence indicates no increased risk of prostate cancer after vasectomy. If you're concerned about your prostate cancer risk, talk to your doctor about possible symptoms and screening tests. You are at increased risk of prostate cancer if you are older than age 50 or if you have a close family member with prostate cancer. Thomas Alderson, M.D., Urologist, Urology Center of Southwest Louisiana

R. Dale Bernauer, M.D.

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A non-surgical technique to fight against arthritis and sports injuries. Do you need a joint replacement or suffer from arthritis or sports injuries? We offer a non surgical solution. Regenerative Therapy is designed to regenerate joint cartilage and decrease arthritic changes and pain. This therapy uses a combination of injection therapy, laser therapy, exercises, bracing and other modalities. Parts of the program can be covered by insurance while parts are not. A commitment to the whole program is necessary for success. This is how it works: The physician introduces natural medicine into damaged, arthritic cells by means of a precise injection. This process is followed by infrared laser as well as several other modalities in order to accelerate the process. Depending on tissue damage, severity of the condition and the size of the joint that needs to be injected, people usually need a series of 1 to 6 treatments to improve. There is usually no downtime, and people can go back to their usual activities or work immediately. The treatments can help most musculoskeletal problems such as knee pain, shoulder pain, whiplash, tendonitis, sprain, strains, torn ligaments and cartilage damage. For more information and to schedule your treatment call 337-474-6960. PAGE 32

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

How do you know when an elderly relative can no longer live alone and care for themselves? The key is to look for changes. If you are in regular contact with your elderly family member, be alert for changes in appearance and behaviour, which could mean a number of things. It could be the individual needs to see a doctor to for an exam or to have their medications adjusted. It could mean that they are suffering from depression and need treatment for that. Changes, such as weight loss, forgetfulness, neglecting personal grooming, financial problems, could be a sign of illness, increasing forgetfulness, or a deceasing ability to handle all of the daily chores involved in living independently. Seeing unusual behaviour from time to time is not necessarily cause for alarm, but if you see a pattern of behaviour changes, it’s time to intervene. Amanda LaComb, M.D., Family Physician I have a work-related injury of the shoulder and was sent to have an MRI. What does the white spots that appear on the MRI mean? MRI's differentiate between tissues with and without water. Objects with more water appear white. This would include inflammation, swelling, and rotator cuff tears, for example. Objects without water appear black, such as tendons, ligaments, and some parts of bone. All of the grays show tissue with moderate amounts of water. Geoffrey Collins, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon, Center for Orthopaedics Why do asthma attacks occur most often at night or in early morning? The bronchial tubes normally narrow slightly at night and in the early morning hours. This happens to almost everyone and generally isn't noticeable. However, in people with asthma — especially those with poorly controlled asthma — this narrowing can be significant and result in nighttime or early morning awakening with shortness of breath, wheezing or chest tightness. If you have asthma symptoms at night or in the early morning — even if you don't have symptoms during the day — talk to your doctor about a treatment plan to better control your asthma. Johnny Belenchia, M.D., Pulmonologist with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic

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Known as the newest breakthrough in body sculpting and liposuction, the minimally invasive SmartLipo MPX laser body-sculpting machine is being used in Leesville by Drs. Todd Gaddis and Christina Lord of Oak Pointe Aesthetics. The technique is considered to be cutting-edge and safer than traditional techniques, because it does not require “general” anesthesia. The laser-assisted machine, manufactured by Cynosure, is the first machine of its kind in Louisiana – and one of only five in the Southeastern region of the U.S. According to Gaddis, the new technology provides treatment to deeper, thicker layers of adipose tissue while producing tighter skin tissue. “By using the technique called tumescence and the newest high tech medical equipment, we can transform the relatively

Health

dangerous painful technique of traditional liposuction to a much more gentle and safe procedure with minimal pain. In fact, it is performed while the patient is completely awake, and the patient can usually return to work in just 24 to 48 hours,” said Gaddis. Gaddis said that unlike traditional liposuction, the procedure is ideal for treating fat deposits on the face and body. It also has an additional benefit: The laser stimulates collagen production, which leaves the skin firm and smooth. “Despite strict diets, religious exercise, and general healthy behaviors, many of us cannot eliminate localized areas of fat. With the new technology of the laser-assisted system, our patients are now able to achieve very satisfying results quickly, more safely, and with significantly less down-time

than with traditional liposuction,” explained Lord. Gaddis and Lord are both certified in the laser and vaser surgical techniques and trained with worldrenowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Dwight Reynolds. Together, they have built a portfolio of amazing results from their multitude of patients at Oak Pointe. Connie Hale of Leesville, a recent patient, is thrilled with her results and post-procedure care. “I was seen for a daily bandage change at my convenience, and pictures [were taken] every day. I was amazed that I could, on a daily basis, already tell a huge difference in my ‘turkey waddle.’ It was shrinking daily,” Hale said. Not only was she impressed with her results, but also her experience at the new “boutique” hospital Lord and

Gaddis have partnered with recently, Doctors Hospital at Deer Creek. “During the procedure, which lasted about an hour, I was somewhat surprised to find that the staff and the doctors included me in the procedural conversation by telling me what they were doing with each step and consistently asked about my comfort level,” Hale explained. She was also excited to announce that she did not experience any pain during the procedure. In addition to body sculpting, Oak Pointe Aesthetics provides several aesthetic procedures such as Botox, injectable fillers, and laser treatments for hair removal, acne, and skin rejuvenation.

CARE

Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk® 2008 The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walk® will take place on Sat., Nov. 15 at Prien Lake Park. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the walk will start at 9 a.m. This is the first Memory Walk for the Lake Charles area, and the community is encouraged to participate in this year’s event to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease. Everyone is invited to take a leisurely stroll around Prien Lake Park to MOVE for the cause. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities across the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become Champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Champions include those living with the disease, families, caregivers, and corporate and community leaders. Americans who

have participated in these walks have raised more than $265 million. To start a team, become a volunteer, become a sponsor, make a donation, or make an online donation, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/Louisiana, (337) 9844884, or (800) 272-3900. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease. Louisiana will soon experience a 14 percent increase in the number of people diagnosed. The Alzheimer’s Association is a non-profit organization relying on donations to fund education programs, support groups, a 24/7 help line (800-272-3900), and advocacy and research; all directly benefiting people in Lake Charles and the surrounding areas.

We introduce “Parting Shots” – photos submitted by our readers to close each issue of The Times. To submit your photo, please follow these simple steps. 1) Email your snap shots to myphoto@timessw.com. Must include a contact name and phone number. 2) Photos should be attached as a file and not imbedded in copy or photoshopped into a format. Original size, please, do not compress the file. No mailed or fax photographs can be used. 3) Subjects in photo must be identified by name. Children should also be identified by parent or guardian. Unidentified or anonymous photos will not be considered for publication. 4) The Times reserves the right to decline publishing photos of questionable taste or subject matter, or for space limitations.

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Health

CARE

Pancreatic Cancer

Lethal disease needs more funding; research By Lauren de Albuquerque It started with indigestion. She felt full and uncomfortable after eating, and started to lose her appetite. Then the sharp back pains began—pains that became so severe that they made her nauseous. She had back X-rays. Her doctors told her she had osteoarthritis, and gave her medication. It didn’t work, and her pains got worse. Friends recommended massage creams and natural remedies. Nothing helped. There were nights, she said, where she wished she had a gun so she could kill herself. She went back to her doctor, begging for help, but he still insisted she had arthritis and that she just had to live with the pain. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she went to the emergency room of the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. A routine chest X-ray (given because she also had a heart condition) revealed a spot on her pancreas. So after three months of suffering, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and given six to eight months to live. That woman was my mother. If you’ve ever watched a loved one suffer and die, words cannot describe PAGE 34

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

the emotions that you experience. If your loved one is dying of a vicious disease that has no cure and whose research is vastly underfunded, your emotions are underscored by anger— anger that in the 21st Century, medical science is still more or less in the dark when it comes to pancreatic cancer. The sobering facts According to the National Cancer Institute, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2008, an estimated 37,680 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and 34,290 will die from it. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is less than 5 percent; 75 percent die within their first year of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer research constitutes less than 2 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s Federal research funding—a figure far too low given the severity of the disease. Men are 20 percent more likely to get pancreatic cancer than women, and the majority of cases occur in people over the age of 65. The incidence rate among African-Americans is 40 to 50

percent higher than other ethnic groups. No one knows the exact cause of this disease, but research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop it. Examples include: • Cigarette smoking • Long-standing diabetes • Chronic pancreatitis • Alcoholism • Certain hereditary conditions There are usually no noticeable signs or symptoms of the disease in its early stages. When they do manifest, they are similar to those of many other illnesses. And when it’s finally diagnosed, it’s too late. Symptoms include: • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) • Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back • Unexplained weight loss • Loss of appetite • Fatigue Pancreatic cancer may be “controlled” only if it is found before it has spread, and only if it can be removed by surgery. If the cancer has spread, there’s chemotherapy, which may prevent the cancer from spreading—but

usually only for a short while. Palliative care can improve the patient’s quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications that will develop, but the patient is basically waiting to die—and that will happen quickly. Lilah’s story Dr. Jay Soileau is a family practice physician in Lake Charles. His mother, Lilah, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 64. She lived for five months after her diagnosis. “She experienced abdominal pain for around two to three months,” Soileau said. “She’d had a gastric resection due to ulcer disease years earlier, and we thought it was related to that.” Lilah Soileau started smoking at a very young age, but had stopped around ten years earlier. She wasn’t a drinker. There is no history of pancreatic cancer in the family. After she was diagnosed, Dr. Soileau did his research, and brought his mother to M.D. Anderson in Houston for a second opinion. There, her options were carefully weighed. “They could have done a Whipple

procedure, but her quality of life would not be good [after the surgery],” he said. “So we decided against it.” The Whipple procedure removes the right-most section, or “head,” of the pancreas — and sometimes more of the gland — as well as the gallbladder, part of the stomach, the lower half of the bile duct, and part of the small intestine. The cut surfaces of the stomach, bile duct, and remaining pancreas are then joined to the small intestine. Needless to say, it is major surgery with a long recuperation period, and it may be difficult to digest food after the procedure. And not all pancreatic cancer patients have the option of this surgery—it is only done if the cancer hasn’t spread. And the cancer usually returns. The doctors at M.D. Anderson set up a chemotherapy regimen for Lilah Soileau, which was carried out by her doctors in Lake Charles. “It gave her more time,” Soileau said. “She did well for three or four months.” Eventually, she developed stomach pain, and an MRI revealed that her tumor was increasing. “At that point, they stopped the chemo,” he said. “And hospice was called in.” He was relieved that she died relatively peacefully, with her pain under control. No early testing As a physician, Soileau is frustrated that there is no early testing for pancreatic cancer. There is a tumor marker called CA 19-9, which is found in blood tests and elevated in most patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. But this same marker is found in patients with other cancers, conditions and diseases, and small amounts may also be found in healthy patients. Because of this, the American Society of Clinical Oncology discourages the use of CA 19-9 as a test for cancer— particularly pancreatic cancer. What if you thought you had a predisposition to the cancer and had a CT Scan, say, once a year? Dr. Soileau doesn’t believe it would help much. “Maybe every six months, but even then, the cancer spreads so fast, that may not even be enough.” Experimental drugs There are experimental drugs and clinical trials, but so far, they haven’t met with much success. And if the patient is elderly, as in the case of my mother, who was 78 when she died, doctors don’t want to risk it. Actor Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with a less common form of pancreatic cancer called Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN). First diagnosed in late January of this year at the age of 56, the actor is report-

edly doing surprisingly well, and has been quoted as stating, “I’m a miracle man.” Despite surgery and rounds of chemo, he has gone back to work, and has gained 20 pounds thanks to musclebuilding shakes. He is reportedly on an experimental drug called Vatalanib. Dr. Soileau said that it’s a molecular targeting agent. In a nutshell, targeted cancer therapies use drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules involved in carcinogenesis (the process by which normal cells become cancer cells) and tumor growth. It isn’t clear if it’s the drug or a

combination of treatments that’s contributing to his success, but Swayze’s case is the exception to the norm. Final Thoughts From a scientific research perspective, pancreatic cancer is where breast cancer was back in the 1930s. Patients will continue to die at an alarming rate with no hope for a cure unless research funds are increased. Organizations such as the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN) are working diligently to raise money towards this effort. On Sat., Dec. 6, its Lake Charles affiliate will hold its fourth annual

“PurpleStride” Lake Area walk at Prien Lake Park. For more information, go to wwwpancan.org/purplestridelakearea, or contact Kristi Remy at e-mail wkremy@bellsouth.net. To volunteer with your local community outreach team, call (877) 2726226. My mother died six years ago, on a beautiful autumn day. Fall was her favorite time of year. For her, there will be no more autumns, but hopefully, with more research and funding, future generations will be able to live in a world where the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is no longer a death sentence.

8056 Eastex Freeway Beaumont, TX 77708 409-898-1535 1-800-945-1119

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Health

CARE

Being a Baby Boomer Doesn’t Have to be a

Pain

The generation of peace and love has evolved into the generation of aches and pains. Baby Boomers — people born between the years 1946 and 1964 — are getting older. Approximately 7,900 Americans turn 60 each day. That’s about 330 every hour, or more than 4 million a year. The significance of these numbers is that within 20 years, one in five Americans will be older than 65. As a group, Baby Boomers are living nearly twice as long as previous generations, and for the most part, are remaining much more active. And while this on-the-go population segment may not want to slow down, a wide range of aches and pains is starting to cramp their style. In a recent study, more than two out of three boomers said they suffer from muscle and joint pain at least once a week.

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However, this generation is less resigned to simply accept injury and pain as an inevitable part of aging, and, according to Craig Morton, M.D., rehabilitation physician specialist with Center for Orthopaedics, they don’t have to. “I often see older adults who want to keep doing all the things they did when they were younger, but find themselves struggling due to chronic pain,” he said. “Fortunately, we have many more options to offer people who want to maintain an active lifestyle as they age.” Morton says the original source of pain is typically just the natural wear and tear that occurs to joints over time. “As you get older, your joints start to show the signs of years of use, just like anything else, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop using them.”

He explained that Boomers often unknowingly make their problem worse by cutting back on their activities when they experience joint pain. “Their knee or back hurts after physical activity, so they stop doing that activity. This results in a loss of muscle strength, decreased range of motion, reduced circulation to the area, and stiffness,” he said. “So, the next time they need to exert that part of their body, they experience more pain and stiffness due to inactivity. Pretty soon, that knee or back is painful any time they move. It’s a vicious cycle that can quickly lead to an extreme reduction in activity and chronic pain.” The good news is that Baby Boomers do not have to live with the pain. “There is so much we can do to provide pain relief,” said Morton. “Many baby boomers are reluctant to seek help because they feel surgery or joint replacement is their only option. But that is definitely not the case. We have an arsenal of non-surgical interventions that can often eliminate – or at least delay – the need for surgery for joint pain,” he said. The first step is a comprehensive physical exam to assess functional status, which helps identify the source and cause of the pain. With older

Health

adults, it is very common for the muscles that stabilize and support the joint to be weak. This can lead to instability around the joint, which can worsen arthritis and pain. If it can be corrected with a program of physical therapy and strength training, that patient can not only be pain-free, but also be able to return to a more active lifestyle. Other non-surgical treatment options may include over-the-counter or prescription medications, injections, heat and cold therapies, electrotherapies, massage, bracing, rehabilitation programs, nutritional recommendations and therapeutic exercise. “The treatment is determined based an each individual’s unique situation – their pain level and functional capacity. When it comes to pain management in these cases, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all approach,” said Morton. That’s something that free-spirited Baby Boomers can certainly appreciate. For more information about joint and back pain treatment, call Center for Orthopaedics at 721-7CFO in Lake Charles or at 626-2529 in Sulphur.

A Lake Charles Tradition Since 1962

1025 Ryan St. • 433-3637 www.navarras.com

CARE

“Subway Jared” Brings his Story to Lake Charles

Subway Jared with Catherine Hunt and Allison Cook

Just about everyone knows the story of Jared Fogle. Fogle tipped the scales at 425 pounds while a student at Indiana University. After unsuccessfully attempting numerous diets, he grabbed a nutritional information brochure at his local SUBWAY® restaurant and started a reduced calorie diet by eating two SUBWAY® submarine sandwiches a day. In a year’s time, and by incorporating exercise into his daily routine, Jared lost 245 pounds. Since then, he has appeared in numerous commercials for SUBWAY® restaurants and has traveled throughout the world talking about the importance of proper dieting and exercise. Earlier this year, Jared embarked on the “Jared & Friends School Tour,”

which is designed to teach children the benefits of healthy living. Since it started, Jared has spoken to more than 31,000 students. Fogle brought his inspiring story to Lake Charles recently. In one busy day, he had breakfast with the top Heart Walk sponsors at CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital and did a meet and greet with some Heart Walk participants. In the afternoon, he went to Prien Lake Park and spoke to fourthand fifth-graders who are members of the Prien Lake Elementary Running Club, signing autographs and posing for photos. He received a certificate of appreciation from the Parish, presented by Tony Stelly, and a key to the city from Randy Roach. Jared with Sherri Kramer (5th Grade teacher @ Prien Lake Elem.) NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Book Beat

By Terri Shlichenmeyer

New Sparks Novel: A Page-Turner That’s Hard to Resist Where did you meet your beloved? Was he a fix-up, a download, or a sideswipe as you ran for the elevator? Did you notice him from afar and hope for an introduction? Or was he the passion perpetrator, actively angling to meet you? Cupid ain’t stupid and now you’re together. But from where does true love spring? Is it fate or feat? In Logan Thibault’s case, it’s feet. He walked across America in search of a woman he didn’t know. In Nicholas Sparks’ new novel, The Lucky One, a picture is truly worth a thousand words. He wasn’t looking for a snapshot. He was looking for some quiet time to think, so Logan Thibault ran through the desert every morning before his regiment awoke. On that particular morning, though, the sun lit the Iraqi desert and reflected off a laminated picture half-buried in the sand. “Keep Safe!” it said, signed with an “E.” A beautiful, smiling girl with an E-name, wearing a Lucky Lady Tshirt. He tried to find the snapshot’s owner, but nobody claimed it. After a week, Thibault put the photo in his pocket. He took it out now and then and thought about her, wondering. Victor, his best buddy, said it was fate that Thibault found the photo. Maybe it was. Word got around that the Lucky Lady picture brought Thibault his own bit of luck. He won more poker games. He survived sniper attacks. He was lucky enough to come home, wasn’t he? But he couldn’t get the woman out of his head. There were clues in the photo, and his heart told him he needed closure. He started walking in search of her. PAGE 38

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Beth made a lot of mistakes in her life. Marrying Keith Clayton was one of them, but if it weren’t for that union, her son Ben wouldn’t be around. Ben was ten years old and while he was a great kid, Beth knew he disappointed Clayton. Clayton was sports-minded; Ben wasn’t. Clayton was a bully; Ben was gentle. Ben hated weekends with his father, but since Clayton’s family practically owned Hampton, North Carolina, Beth knew there wasn’t much choice. The first run-in Keith Clayton had with that Thigh-bolt guy didn’t go so well. He wished there was a way to get rid of Thigh-bolt for good. Clayton would do anything to keep Beth from dating. Anything. Perhaps best known for his almost-a-romance novels, Sparks mixes this one up a little bit with better character development than I thought he had in his last book; with a bad-guy who’s simply despicable, and a little bit of suspense to keep you going. Not to be a spoiler, but this novel is a page-turner and very hard to resist. I feel pretty lucky I got to read this book. The Lucky One is possibly one of Nicholas Sparks’ finest novels. If you’re a Sparks fan, or if you’re wondering what the hoo-rah is all about, grab a copy and find out. The Lucky One By Nicholas Sparks Copyright 2008 Grand Central Publishing $24.99 / $27.99 Canada 326 pages Terri Shlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old, and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.

"'Tis the Season" — for once, I hope you don't catch on.

Last Issue’s Answers

Across 1 Pre-1995 NFL player now based in St. Louis 6 Teensy 9 The Mars Volta guitarist ___ Rodriguez-Lopez 13 Actress Massey of "Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man" 14 Newbie's Internet pages 15 Little thoroughbred 16 Major League Baseball commissioner Bud 17 Hair color that makes you look like former NFLer Doug? 19 The urge to go to a school dance? 21 Green prefix 22 Helper (abbr.) 23 It's taken on a trip? 26 "___ and the Power of Juju" (Nickelodeon cartoon) 29 What Spider-Man slings 31 Burn on the outside 32 Frappe need 33 Diarist Nin 36 Knock-off board game suffix found after "Dino," "Dog," or "Ocean" 37 Get in the way of a log ride? 40 Swindled 41 Letter flourish 42 Milk source 43 Prefix used with some hormones

44 Abbr. after a phone number, on a business card 45 Weather vane dir. 46 Armenia or Azerbaijan, once (abbr.) 47 Make it through 51 "Now I get it!" 53 Tragic Greek figure with stomach acid problems? 59 The blue liquid used in diaper commercials, perhaps? 61 Animal hunted by Sarah Palin 62 Pizzeria fixture 63 Sea eagles 64 It really gets boring 65 "No sweat!" 66 Abbr. describing British pounds 67 Moves heavily

10 11 12 14 18 20 24 25

26 27 28 30 31 34 35 36 38 39 47 48 49 Down 50 1 Have trouble with "sisters," maybe? 52 2 Ray, Jay, or A, e.g. 54 3 Nestle caramel-filled 55 chocolate candy 4 "Princess Mononoke" genre 56 5 Imaginary item that fixes everything 6 When doubled, a Washington 57 town or onion 7 Shaffer play currently on Broadway 58 8 Rob of "90210" 59 9 Cartel that includes Iraq 60 and Venezuela

First draft of a McMansion, maybe "Is it ___ wonder?" Deli bread Really, really loud, on sheet music Passbook abbr. To ___ (incessantly) Smoked fish What there's not one of during a tearjerker movie Contributes 10% Unlike this entry Typing instructor's concern Barry White, notably Sgt.'s underling Suffix meaning "follower" Hurting In uncharted territory, so to speak ___ Lingus "WALL-E" production company Printable format Fox News Channel CEO Roger Gush Taking to court Run ___ of the law "___, meeny, miney, moe..." 1960s campus protest gp. restarted in 2006 LGBT-themed network owned by CBS Like lots of items posted on Craigslist Generation ___ (1970s babies) Friend's counterpart Actress Gardner

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Dickens on the Strand:

Holiday Festival is a Go Despite Ike

Galveston Historical Foundation Executive Director Dwayne Jones is pleased to announce that the organization’s most important annual fundraising event, the 35-year-old Dickens on The Strand Victorian holiday festival, will take place this year, even in the face of extensive flood damage by Hurricane Ike to the historic downtown where the festival is held. Dickens on The Strand is always held the first weekend in December. This year, the festival is scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7 with special events including a Dickens feast and holiday hand bell concerts slated for the Friday before (Dec. 5). Dickens on The Strand originated in 1973 as an evening potluck celebration of Galveston’s Victorian-era downtown, including re-enactments from Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol. The festival was held to bring people back into a 19th-

century era downtown that had been neglected for decades - so they could see new restoration efforts and participate in a celebration focused on Galveston’s Victorian heritage. Since then, the festival has evolved into a full weekend event teeming with Victorian-costumed vendors, entertainers, and guests as well as a wide array of special events in historic properties throughout the island - including holiday house tours, a feast, concerts, breakfasts, and a Dickens Ball. Over the years, with funds raised by the festival, Galveston Historical Foundation has succeeded in its partnership efforts to revitalize the island’s historic downtown. Prior to Hurricane Ike, Galveston’s downtown had been fully restored, and boasted a wide array of thriving boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants. Galveston’s downtown is federally designated as a National Historic

Another Success Story... I have advertised with The Times of Southwest Louisiana for over ten years. Having a degree in advertising, I know The Times definitely reaches my target audience and the quality of the paper is impeccable. — Susie Book, Owner, Expressions

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NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Landmark District. It boasts one of the largest collections of restored 19thcentury iron-front commercial buildings in the country. The downtown Strand National Historic Landmark District and the residential East End Historic Landmark District comprise the largest federally recognized historic landmark district area in the state of Texas. During Hurricane Ike, this historic area was severely affected, flooding by as much as 12 feet in many downtown buildings. It will be a struggle for Galveston Historical Foundation to put Dickens on the Strand on this year in the face of the loss of property and income due to Hurricane Ike. Those who would like to help Galveston Historical Foundation in its efforts may do so through cash sponsorship or donation of goods, services or talent. For more information about vendors, entertainers, group tours, special events, spon-

sorship, or volunteering, call Galveston Historical Foundation at (409) 765-7834. To purchase tickets online, go to www.dickensonthestrand.org. Hours Sat., December 6: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun., December 7: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Advance Tickets (Purchased on or before December 5) Adults: $9.00 Children 7 – 12: $4.00 Members of GHF: $7.00 Group of 20 or more: $8.00 each At the Gate Adults: $12.00 Children 7 – 12: $6.00

t i m e s

picks the best in lake area entertainment

ISLE OF CAPRI NOVEMBER ENTERTAINMENT — Performing live in Caribbean Cove: November 13: Boot Scootin, 8 p.m.-Midnight; Live DJ with country music focus November 14-15: LA Pride, 9 p.m.-1a.m.; Live Variety Band November 20: Boot Scootin, 8 p.m.-Midnight; Live DJ with country music focus November 21: Bobby & The Rockers, 9 p.m.-1a.m; Live Variety Band November 22: Zydacane, 9 p.m.- 1.am.; Live Variety Band November 27: Boot Scootin, 8 p.m.- Midnight; Live DJ with country music focus November 28-29: LA Express, 9 p.m.- 1am; Live Variety Band For more info, call (337) 430-2330. TASHA TUDOR EXHIBIT AT 1911 HISTORIC CITY HALL NOV. 6 – JAN. 17 — Tasha Tudor’s Spirit of the Holidays, curated by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, will be on exhibit at 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan Street, beginning Nov. 6 through Jan. 17. Throughout an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Tasha Tudor (1915-2008) delighted an international audience with her joyful writings and images. One of the most popular and beloved artists of our time, Tudor was the author of more than 20 books, illustrated nearly 100, and was the focus of several published works about her distinctive lifestyle, one that was reminiscent of life in the mid-19th century. 1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Mon. through Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com. INDEPENDENT FILM THE MEANING OF TEA NOV. 13 — The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, in conjunction with the Lake Area Film Group, present The Meaning of Tea with Producer/Director Scott Chamberlin Hoyt as part of the Southern Arts Federation’s Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. It will be held at the Historic Central School Theatre, 809 Kirby Street, second floor, on Thurs., Nov. 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the screening will begin at 7 p.m. Following the screening, a reception with the filmmaker is scheduled where Hoyt will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and his work as a filmmaker. A display of tea pots will be on view, along with a selection of teas for the audience to sample. Admission is free of charge.

AGC CHARITY SPORTING CLAY SHOOT NOV. 14 — The 10th Annual Associated General Contractors Charity Sporting Clay Shoot will take place on Fri., Nov. 14, at the Lake Charles Gun Club, located at 6601 Ward Line Road. Teams of four shooters are invited to participate. Entry fee is $75 per person. First and second place prizes will be awarded in three flights. Lunch and drinks will be provided to all participants. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Proceeds will benefit The Children’s Miracle Network and the Southwest Louisiana Chapter of the Autism Society of America. For more information, contact Scott Hines at (337) 439-9003. ART ON WHEELS AT L’AUBERGE NOV. 14 – 15 — West Bank Bros. Cycle Shop and the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana are teaming up to present Art of Wheels, a combination motorcycle and art show. The event will be held Fri., Nov. 14 from 2 p.m.– 8 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. The show is an attempt to combine an art and motorcycle show and expose some of the area’s hidden talent by displaying art, including pottery, painting, and other hand-crafted items. The motorcycles will be judged on the build of the bike itself as well as the paint and graphics. Attendees can select their favorite with the People’s Choice Award. Guests can purchase art as well as items from motorcycle vendors. Admission is $5 per person, and children 12 and younger are admitted free. All proceeds will benefit the local KPLC Community Christmas project. For more information or registration forms, visit www.artonwheels2008.com or call Marc LeFevre at (337) 480-4180. UPSCALE ATTIC SALE AT IMPERIAL CALCASIEU MUSEUM NOV. 14-16 — The Imperial Calcasieu Museum is holding its annual Upscale Attic Sale, Nov. 14-16. Come visit the museum and browse for treasures! The sale will be held at the Gibson-Barham Gallery at the museum at 204 W. Sallier St. in Lake Charles. For more information, call (337) 439-3797. LC SYMPHONY HOLIDAY HOME TOUR DEC. 7 — The Lake Charles Symphony has scheduled the 2008 Holiday Home Tour, for Sun., Dec. 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The two time slots available for the tour are 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are $25; advance sales only. They will be available until Fri., Dec. 5 at the Symphony office. This is one of two fundraisers that are held each year to supplement the budget of the orchestra. Contact the Lake Charles Symphony office at 433-1611 for more information or to purchase tickets.

MISTLETOE AND MOSS HOLIDAY MARKET NOV. 13-15 — The Junior League of Lake Charles presents their 16th annual Holiday Market at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The hours are 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Thurs., 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fri., and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sat. Special events include a Fashion Show luncheon on Fri. from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., a Family Bingo Night on Fri. from 6 – 8 p.m., Breakfast with Santa and Friends on Sat. morning, and Cookies with Santa and Friends on Sat. afternoon. Admission is $5 per person or stroller; children under 8 get in free. All proceeds benefit community projects sponsored by the Junior League of Lake Charles. For more information, call 436-4025 or log on to www.jllc.net. CHAMPAGNE WITH FRIENDS AT LUNA BAR NOV. 14 — Champagne with Friends, a National Touring Funk/Reggae act hailing from Austin, will be returning to Luna Bar on Friday, Nov. 14 for the fifth time. The band is excited about returning to Lake Charles, since it is close to their home in Beaumont. They are scheduled to return once a month from here on in. Champagne with Friends has been touring the states for the past two years and has plans to start their new record this spring. For more information, call Luna Bar at 494-5862.

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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Shoppin’ and Shootin’

he tents went up, the band tuned up and the Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA cranked up the 20th annual ArtsFest. Hundreds of children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cowboys and Indians filled the big tent on the grounds of the Lake Charles Civic Center for “It’s a Wild, Wild West Fest!” Kids learned to make bookmarks, cowboy hats, teepees, dance armbands, and a variety of other crafts. Anita Ahrens, Kenneth Baskin and Paul Garbarino demonstrated pottery-making. Hershel Frazier showed us how to grind corn and those who were strong enough to do it took some home. Tex and Kent Holloway set up a “forreal” teepee and displayed a variety of arrow heads made by flint knapping—demonstrated by Mr. Tex. There were lots of western activities going on, but the main attraction was the appearance of a real “Straight Shooter,” Mr. Joe Bowman. He has been a cowboy for nigh on to 80 years and is still making cowboy boots, saddles and other western items, and can still shoot a six-shooter. Also on hand was Pete Viagas, who discussed his Indian heritage. After the show ended down at the Arts Council corral, everyone packed up their crafts, artifacts and such and moseyed on back to the ranch—until next year!

PHOTOS SHOWN: 1–Ginette Evans and Jack and Geraldine Harrell at Arts & Humanities Council’s ArtsFest Wild, Wild West Fest. 2–Zara Durocher, Alyssa Howard and Cheyenne Horner make butter at the Arts & Humanities Council’s ArtsFest. 3–Miranda Hurley had her face painted by Julie Dallas at the ArtsFest. 4–Tayte and Hallie Busby and Billie Jo Daigle all dressed up and having fun at the Wild, Wild West Fest.

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5–Emily Sonnier, Margaret and John Broussard and Cynthia Conner just arriving at the Kiwanis Arts and Crafts Show. 6–Angela Rhodes brought here little pirates, Regan and Angela to the Kiwanis Arts and Crafts Show. 7–Ashton Boudoin and Kathy Kile check out items at the Kiwanis Arts and Crafts while Elizabeth Laviolette looks on. 8–Enjoying the Kiwanis Arts and Crafts and checking out the jewelry are Ashley Lewis and Karen Joseph-Adcock.

PHOTOS SHOWN: 9–All dressed up for the costume contest at Pony Fest are Jake and Kara Smith, shown with Cathy Smith. 10–Phoenix James, Parker Viator and Fahim Hague enjoying some good eats at Pony Fest. 11–Creating a masterpiece for the “A River Runs Through Us” activity at Pony Fest are Ryan Smith, Ryan Rapp and Gabby Walker. 12–Isabelle Moreno and Evan Soileau work on an art project at Pony Fest.

The Shadow made an appearance at the recent Kiwanis Arts and Crafts Show at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Kevin Mattingly and Judge Guy Bradberry greeted her at the door, stamped her in and let her loose to enjoy a myriad of crafts and crafters. It was a shoppers’ paradise with everything from items woven from long leaf pine needles to handknitted baby items—not to mention one of the Shadow’s favorites – jalapeno pepper jelly. You could spend hours just looking at the varied and high quality goods available from local and visiting craftsmen. The Shadow spotted Ann and Lenn Knapp browsing for Christmas gifts. Jan Mingus of Stained Glass Expressions displayed unique and beautiful stained glass pieces and artist Donald Carr sold interesting pieces of art created from weaving pine needles. The Shadow will mark her 2009 calendar and be sure to return. It was a great day to be outside and relax, listen to music, create art, and play with friends and family— and all that happened at the second annual Pony Fest on the grounds of Central School Arts and Humanities Center. There were kids games and fun activities on the front lawn,

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 13–Anthony Iannone and Brian Roesslein create art at the Green tent at Pony Fest. 14–Contributing artists Parris Duhon and Blaine Miller with Terry Estes at the Ribbon of Hope art exhibit. 15–Front row: Wendie Upson, Jackie Schuldes and Tina Mouton; back row: Bobby Howard, Chris Allen and Rex Ratcliff at the Ribbons of Hope art exhibit.

along with tents for creating art and information on environmental issues from the Coastal Plain Conservancy. Numerous bands played inside and out, giving attendees a variety of genre choices. Crowd favorites included local artists Eleisha Eagle and Wendy Colonna, not to mention the Susan Cowsill Band and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. A wide range of crafts, plants, food and other items were for sale. Anne Shirley displayed her paintings, Jan Kitts sold jewelry, there were plants and jellies and hand-made birdhouses and so much more. JAVA Depot had so many drink choices, it was difficult PAGE 44

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for the Shadow to decide what to get. In the food category, there were stuffed peppers, artichoke and spinach dip, chicken strips and a whole lot more from area restaurants. The Shadow sampled more than one of the offerings and when leaving the scene, had some killer boudin from the Animal Angels booth as a takeout. The Shadow got all scared when the ghouls and goblins began filtering through the crowd, but once they were in the street and moving to the strains of “Thriller,” she kind of relaxed and enjoyed the show. Fun times!

PHOTOS SHOWN: 16–Enjoying some conversation at the Ribbons of Hope art exhibit are Jerry Burke, Bob and Marilyn Dunn and Pat Schmidt. 17–Candice Pauley and Peter O’Carroll discuss some of the art at Ribbons of Hope art exhibit. 18–William Mayo, Audrette Metoyer and Viveca Woods at Smoke & Mirrors.

The Humans Involved in Victory Over AIDS and The Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council sponsored a reception for opening night of the first Ribbons of Hope HIV/AIDS Awareness Art Exhibit, located on the first floor of 1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center. Many artists donated their time and talent, providing a variety of mediums that created a spectacular exhibit. Parris Duhon and Blaine Miller were on hand to greet guests and discuss their contributions to the show. The sponsoring groups are dedicated to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS as a public

health problem in this region and to raise money to assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Each year, they host the Ribbons of Hope Gala early in December. You won’t want to miss this exhibit, which ends Dec. 1. The Foundation House was the venue for “Smoke & Mirrors” presented by the Black Heritage Festival of Louisiana. Touted as “A Revealing Event for Women,” the message from Sharon Lair, Tobacco-Free Living Program Coordinator, was clear. She briefly discussed the misleading campaigns by tobacco companies directed at women and cited reasons

November Is

Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month

PHOTOS SHOWN: 19–Roz Wells, Armajean Declouet and Lorena Walls are all smiles at the Smoke & Mirrors luncheon. 20–Ouida Daniels, Gertie M Charles, Merid Malveaux and Betty Weldon get settled for the Smoke & Mirrors Luncheon. 21–Pretty in pink are Mary Cook, Rosalie Kelly and Mary Jane Mewble at Smoke & Mirrors.

to choose a tobacco-free life style. A “Mix & Mingle – Be Pampered” allowed guests to visit vendors such as The Massage Experience for a free massage, Charlotte Washington for cosmetics and others for pampering with gifts and consulting tips. Darleen Wesley, Black Heritage Festival assistant director, and mistress of ceremonies welcomed all to the event and introduced Monette Kilburn, Region V Coordinator of the Louisiana Campaign for

Tobacco-Free Living Staff. A delicious lunch preceded the recognition of Women of Excellence honorees: Cassondra Guilbeau, Susan Jones, M.D. and Marva Matthews were recognized for their extraordinary community contributions. Appreciation gifts, excellent food, vendor gifts and tips, meeting and greeting, all contributed to a fine luncheon experience.

The Lake Area Partnerships for Animal Welfare (LAPAW) and Petfinder.com are celebrating November as Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. “Think of a pet that is already trained and doesn't chew or scratch everything in sight--a pet who will love you unconditionally,” said Kim Saunders, Petfinder.com's director of public relations. “That's what you get when you adopt a senior pet.” Some people worry that a senior pet comes with problems, but according to Sheila Gilley, an animal rescue volunteer, there are no disadvantages. “In most cases they’ve had a home and they want one again.” She adopted 12year-old Peaches, a toy poodle, and has never regretted it. “Peaches was put out on the street by someone, but she was obviously a treasured pet at one time. She is housetrained, cuddly, and very low maintenance,” she said. Gilley is also fostering a senior dog named Brittney, a 9-year-old black Pomeranian who is looking for her own Forever Family. She is still playful despite her age. “She plays fetch, leaps into your arms, and gallops all over the place; and not to mention she is completely housetrained,” Gilley said. “Brittney has lots of life left, and some Pomeranians can live up to 18 years or more.” To adopt Brittany, call Shelia at (337) 4883478. Anne Drake, a volunteer with the Lake Area Partnerships for Animal Welfare (LAPAW), recently adopted a 13-year-

old Maltese who was rescued after Hurricane Gustav. “He’s deaf, half blind and has arthritis in his hips, but he toddles along behind my other dogs and spends most of the time sleeping or cuddled beside me watching TV,” she said. “He’s no trouble whatsoever and the face licks he gives me make me glad I can make his last years comfortable and full of love.” At Calcasieu Parish animal shelters and rescue groups everywhere, there are loving, healthy senior pets looking for that one special home to cherish them for the rest of their lives, and they don't ask for much: just a warm place to sleep, good meals, and plenty of love. During Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month, take the opportunity to get acquainted with the older pets available at www.Lapaw.org, (337)-478-PAW4, or Calcasieu Parish Animal Services Adoption Center www.cpac.cppj.net/adoptions.asp. Visit local rescue groups and shelters online at www.petfinder.com and enter your zip code.

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Below: While celebrating her 2nd birthday, Isabella smiles for a quick photo with her uncle and aunt, Chris and Mindy Chesson Ring (formerly of Lake Charles). Photo submitted by Mindy Ring.

Below: Too hot to handle, but too cute not to!!! Donovan Yglesias enjoying his first Halloween. Proud parents are Josh and Ellie Yglesias of Moss Bluff.

Above: Gabriella Ragusa shows off her Minnie Mouse costume. She is the daughter of Julie Ragusa.

Above: Dylan Guidry models his Halloween costume.

Parting Sh o ts

1) E-mail your snap shots to myphoto@timessw.com. Must include a contact name and phone number. 2) Photos should be attached as a file and not imbedded in copy or photoshopped into a format. Original size, please, do not compress the file. No mailed or fax photographs can be used.

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3) Subjects in photo must be identified by name. Children should also be identified by parent or guardian. Unidentified or anonymous photos will not be considered for publication. 4) The Times reserves the right to decline publishing photos of questionable taste or subject matter, or for space limitations.

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