The Times of Southwest Louisiana

WWW.TIMESSW.COM • FEBRUARY 19, 2009 / VOL. 14, NO. 4

Sheriff Mancuso's Successful Campaign Blueprint DDA Annual Review New Approach to Litter in Calcasieu Parish

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . .

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

contents

febr uar y 19, 2009 Volume 14 • Number 4

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NEWS . . . . . . . . . . .

MANAGING EDITOR Lauren de Albuquerque

Heart

lauren.dealbuquerque@timessw.com

HEALTH

EDITOR Lisa Yates timesedit@timessw.com

CONTRIBUTORS L. Kay Andrews Sarah Blackwell J. Shirlene Cooper Jim Doyle Richard Gilmore, M.D. Matt Jones Bill Krull Lisa Miller Terri Schlichenmeyer John Winterton, M.D.

31 14 E N T E R P R I S E B O U L E VA R D Sheriff Mancuso’s Blueprint for Campaign Success . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

POLITICS John Maginnis Dan Juneau ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Andy Jacobson

COLUMNS Who’s News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Legal Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Inside Baton Rouge . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Patricia Prudhomme Shanda Sonnier

COVER STORY Weddings on the Cheap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Destination Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

GRAPHICS . . . . . . . .

ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Darrell Buck

F E AT U R E S DDA Annual Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 New Approach to Litter in Calcasieu Parish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Home Grown: Alterations and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Heart Health: Fact from Fiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Benefits & Risks of Radiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

BUSINESS . . . . . . . . .

OFFICE MANAGER Shalonda Gims

E N T E R TA I N M E N T The Times of Southwest Louisiana is published every two weeks

by Patsco Publishing, 617 Drew Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 439-0995. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $30 per year.

Bulk mailing permit #9 paid at Lake Charles, La. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Times of Southwest Louisiana, 617 Drew Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. FAX to (337) 439-0418. The Times of Southwest Louisiana cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope.

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

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

Out on Home Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Book Beat: Economist’s Book of Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Crossword Puzzle: Just Add Vodka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 The Shadow: Fish Heads, Fish Heads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 DeRidder Dispatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Parting Shots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

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Visit us online at: www.timessw.com FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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BUSINESS Delta School of Business and Technology held an open house for Southwest Louisiana’s high school counselors for the five-parish area.

Information was shared about the history of Delta Tech from the time it was established in Lake Charles back in 1970. Counselors leaned about the associate in occupational studies degrees offered by Delta Tech, and scholarship criteria that could benefit their 2009 high school graduates. This year, Delta Tech will award up to eight scholarships to high school graduates from SWLA. Scholarship recipients may choose any associate degree or diploma program, and will be awarded a 50 percent tuition credit towards the chosen program.

Scholarship application packets must be received by March 20. For more information about Delta Tech, call (337) 439-5765 or visit www.deltatech.edu Samaritan Counseling Center has produced a DVD entitled “Faith in Recovery” as an educational tool for use in area churches. The project is part of Samaritan’s ongoing effort to help the faith-based community better understand and address the needs of the mentally ill within their congregations and communities. The DVD contains interviews with individuals who are coping with mental illness as well as area mental health and religious leaders. Along with the free DVD, Samaritan is offering one-on-one and/or group presentations to provide additional educational support for area faith communities. Any clergy member interested in obtaining a copy of the “Faith in Recovery” DVD, should call therapist Paul Goudeaux, MS, LPC, LMFT, at Samaritan’s main office in Lake Charles at 4334357. A limited number is available.

Left to right: Pat Kelly, Operations Mgr – Northrop Grumman; David Tracy, Site Mgr – Northrop Grumman; Dr. Andrea Lewis Miller, Chancellor – Sowela; Melvin Cox, Department Chair, Industrial & Transportation Technology – Sowela; Rick Bateman Jr., Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs – Sowela

Northrop Grumman Corporation has donated a $25,000 education grant to the Sowela Technical Community College Foundation. The donation will benefit the college’s Aviation Maintenance Technology department and will be used to modernize and replace equipment, upgrade facilities and for recruitment efforts. Sowela is committed to providing the best possible aviation industry training and is able to train individuals on a variety of aircraft types and platforms.

The Aviation Maintenance Technology Program has served approximately 500 students and the college anticipates further growth with the support of local industry partners such as Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman is proud to partner with Sowela Community College and the State of Louisiana to develop a highly trained and technologically advanced work force prepared to meet the growing aviation sustainment opportunities in the region for today and tomorrow,” said David Tracy, Northrop Grumman Technical Services’ site director for the Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center.

Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BECi) was one of eight electric cooperatives in Louisiana to send men and equipment to help restore power to co-op members in Arkansas after a deadly winter ice storm moved through the region this week. Nearly 70 co-op crewmen were dispatched to Craighead Electric Cooperative in Jonesboro, Ark., to assist in the power recovery effort after more than 200,000 Arkansas citizens were left without electricity. The linemen were expected to be working in the Jonesboro area for roughly one week to repair the system, which sustained major damage and lost over 2,000 utility poles. Officials at BECi said they were eager to assist the Arkansas co-op after PAGE 4

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

notes dozens of fellow cooperatives sent aid to southwest Louisiana after Hurricane Rita in 2005. BECi General Manager Kevin Turner noted that more than 900 electric cooperatives throughout the country maintain mutual aid agreements with one another to help restore power after an emergency. He said each cooperative is obligated to help others, but only after local needs are met.

Left: Mike Demarie, owner of Demarie Insurance Agency in Lake Charles, presents George Paret, a member of the McNeese Foundation Board of Directors, with the last $5,000 installment of his $15,000 pledge for the establishment of the Mike Demarie Endowed Scholarship in Business.

The McNeese Foundation will provide $5,000 in matching funds through its current capital endowment campaign.

The Entergy Hurricane Relief Fund has granted $25,000 to Camp Fire USA SWLA Council for repairs to cabins at Camp Wi-Ta-Wentin. Four cabins at the camp were damaged in the recent hurricanes. The campus is used for summer camps for youth, adult retreats and rentals to the public. However, in its commitment to being a good community partner, Camp Fire also houses volunteer groups from all over the country who come to Southwest Louisiana to volunteer with other agencies across the region. There are currently two groups residing at Wi-Ta-Wentin. One of the groups is volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the other with Rebuilding Together Calcasieu.

Redd Properties, L.L.C. is pleased to announce the merger between Redd Properties, L.L.C. and Lake Charles Property Management, Inc. which shall operate and conduct all business as Redd Properties, L.L.C. The merge between the two companies is in effect as of Feb. 1, and will be operated out of Redd Properties’ newly relocated office at 1424 Ryan Street in Lake Charles. Matt Redd, owner of Redd Properties, L.L.C., is excited about this new acquisition and stated, “We look forward to providing first class property management services to all our existing and new clients.” Redd Properties, L.L.C. is a full service real estate company that specializes in commercial investment properties, property management and a variety of residential services.

As part of an ongoing effort to provide customers with more convenience and personal service, Cameron State Bank is now offering free mobile banking services. The new service will give Cameron State Bank customers instant connectivity to their accounts anytime and anywhere, from the browser of their mobile phone. Customers can simply type the web address www.csbmobi.com into their phone’s Internet application, and then enter their online banking user name and password. Cameron State Bank is a locally-owned and locally-managed community bank that has been named one of the safest banks in the country by various financial-rating corporations. For more information about Mobile Banking, call (337) 310-2265.

CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital has received a prestigious award from CHRISTUS Health for excellence in service quality. The annual CHRISTUS Touchstone Awards recognizes the best of the best throughout the CHRISTUS Health System. St. Patrick Hospital was awarded the 2008 Service Quality Touchstone for Building a Foundation for a Culture of Excellence. Chairman of the Board of Directors for St. Patrick Hospital, Dr. Daryl Burckel accepted the award at a special ceremony at the hospital on January 23. Associates at St. Patrick Hospital were awarded based on their work to increase patient and associate satisfaction over the last two years. This year, St. Patrick has achieved patient satisfaction in the top 10 percent in the national database. More details about the hospital’s performance in the areas of service and quality can be found in the Quality and Patient Satisfaction Report on www.christusstpatrick.org.

NEWS

ABOUT

SOUTHWEST

LOUISIANA

ENTERPRISEBOULEVARD Who’s News

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso is welcomed by League of WoMen Voters President Alfred Doucette, Jr.

Sheriff Mancuso's Blueprint for a Successful Political Campaign

By Lisa Yates alcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso outlined the ins and outs of campaigning before a packed League of WoMen Voters meeting, Jan. 30, saying that a key to running a successful campaign is commitment.

Members, guests and even a few candidates were present at the noon luncheon, held at Reeves Uptown Catering, 1639 Ryan Street, in Lake Charles.

The sheriff drew from his experience of running successfully against an incumbent in 2003, before winning, in 2007, in an unopposed race. Prior to that, he was elected Ward 3 Marshal, serving two consecutive terms.

“I’ve been asked to share my views about what’s helped me get through three full campaigns and one unopposed campaign – that’s the best kind,” Mancuso joked.

He said campaigning is a “tough job.”

“Being a sheriff is easier than running a campaign – and being a sheriff is tough,” Mancuso said. “Running a campaign is tough, tough work.”

C

Community service Mancuso explained the first step is community service.

“The person running for office has to be involved in the community,” he said. “Whether that be coaching or participating in organizations like the League of WoMen Voters, the person has to have a history of community involvement.”

It isn’t just something you start doing because you’ve decided to run for office, he said.

By working in law enforcement, Mancuso has

amassed years of service to the community.

Prior to being elected sheriff, he worked 13 years for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office in the Corrections Division, Patrol Division and the Youth Division.

Mancuso began teaching DARE in 1992, and even as sheriff, continues to teach a DARE class. He was appointed by Gov. Blanco to serve on the Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Task Force. He was also appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

In addition, he participates in many local civic organizations, including Lake Charles Optimist Club, and the Sons of the American Legion.

Currently, Mancuso is serving as SWLA’s United Way 2009 campaign chairman.

“You have to have a real passion for your community,” he said.

Promote yourself Mancuso said you must define yourself well, otherwise your opponent will do it for you. Simply put, candidates must learn how to promote themselves.

“You have to brag on yourself,” he said. “Not only do you have to do your job, but you have to be good at promoting yourself. It sounds conceited, but it’s one of the most important things you have to do. You have to be able to say ‘I am good at this job’ and ‘I can excel at this.’”

To do this, a candidate must meet with voters, according to Mancuso.

Whether it be large crowds, small groups, or even one-on-one, it is important to meet the voters and ask for Continued on Page 6

David Drez Jr., M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon on staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, recently completed the Masters Surgeon Knee Course, a classroom and surgical skills cadaveric training program, at the Surgical Skills Training Center in Naples, Florida. Medical director of Sports Medicine at Memorial, Dr. Drez is also the team physician for all McNeese Dr. David Drez Jr. State University sports programs, and is a clinical professor of orthopedics at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

In recognition of his contribution to the education of orthopedists, the Dr. David Drez Chair in Orthopedic Sports Medicine was dedicated at LSU in New Orleans in June of 2006. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Drez, call Orthopaedic Specialists at (337) 4944900. The office is located at 1717 Oak Park Boulevard, adjacent to Memorial Hospital on the third floor.

Flavin Realty announces the addition of two real estate agents. Shelly Ware Cormier, originally from Oakdale, has over 18 years of experience in residential construction and recently joined Flavin Realty.

Cormier is on the 2009 Charity Review Committee and the Education Risk Reduction Shelly Ware Cormier and Technology Committee with the Southwest Louisiana Board of Realtors.

Jessica Guillot joined Flavin in January as a realtor and is originally from Continued on Page 9 FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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Ent. Blvd., Continued from Page 5

their support.

Mancuso asked voters what persuaded them to vote for him. He received a different answer than the one he expected.

“I expected to hear something about being the best candidate,” he said.

“Instead, I got ‘Why did I vote for you?

You came and asked me – that is important to me.’”

Be committed Mancuso stressed that commitment is key to running a successful campaign.

“You’ve got to be dedicated, committed – you’ve got to want to do the job,” he said. “You’ve got to give 110 percent to the campaign and not give up until it’s over with. On election day I’m done campaigning – I’m mentally and physically exhausted. I save my energy that day – hopefully – for the victory party that night.”

He warned potential candidates: Campaigning starts early and ends much later than most day jobs.

“If you decide to run for office, you better be committed,” he said.

“You better be prepared to work 12 to 16 hours a day. You’ve got to be committed and you’ve got to promote yourself.”

For Mancuso, that meant direct contact with voters. He said he attended

every event possible - from baseball games to turkey runs.

A list of local events is available at Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, he said. He recommended candidates get the list and do as he did.

Mancuso stressed, a face-to-face visit with a candidate gives voters a better picture of who a candidate is than that which they see on television or read about in a newspaper.

“They can see you, smell you and touch you,” he joked.

In each of his campaigns, Mancuso said he worked long hours in order to get his message out into the community.

“When the day was done, I knew I did everything I could possible to do – I didn’t leave any stone unturned,” he said.

Mancuso said successful candidates will spread themselves thin.

“You should go home and not have any trouble going to sleep,” he said.

Volunteers Mancuso said volunteers were very important to his campaign.

“You can do all of these things I suggested, but if you don’t have volunteers it’s going to be tough,” he said.

“You can’t be everywhere.”

He said volunteers are needed to go out into the community to meet with

voters and persuade people to support the candidate. They are also instrumental for identifying supporters, recruiting them as volunteers or registering them to vote if they are not already registered.

Mancuso said his wife Mickey, and children – Trey, Mary, and Morgan, were instrumental to the success of his campaigns. He said beginning with his first campaign, Mickey participated pushing a stroller down the street, as she visited with voters.

“I’m fortunate to have the support of my family,” he said. “I love being sheriff, but remember, your family is going to be around you a lot longer. It’s important to have your family support you.”

Campaign manager Successful campaigns usually require a campaign manager to coordinate the campaign’s operations.

Mancuso’s campaign manager was Kim Myers, who serves as Community/Media Relations Director for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“You need a Kim, but you can’t have her,” he said jokingly.

Mancuso said his campaign manager was essential in executing a strategy to run against an incumbent.

“Going up against an incumbent can be very difficult,” he said. “Kim determined how many votes we needed to win.”

He said candidates must have a plan and know the voters, including their expectations.

“In 1997, I ran a very grassroots campaign,” Mancuso said. “Kim and I targeted where we could deliver our message. Obviously, you don’t want to spend all of your time in an area where your opponents signs are all over the neighborhood.”

Fundraising One of the most important aspects of a successful campaign is the ability to raise money, according to Mancuso.

“One of the most important pieces of advice was from someone who told me ‘Look, don’t go broke doing this,’” he said.

He said that meant going out and asking folks to contribute to the campaign.

“It’s very humbling,” Mancuso said.

“You see what people think of you.

After all, you’re asking people to be giving you money they’re not going to get back. The only thing they get is a good elected official.”

He said he spent between $45,000 and $50,000 running for the Ward 3 Marshal’s Office.

“The next race, I spent $120,000, against four opponents,” Mancuso said.

In a parish-wide campaign, be pre-

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

pared to spend anywhere from $250,000 to $450,000. Mancuso said to be successful against an incumbent, be prepared to spend twice as much.

“There’s the primary and possible run-offs,” he said.

Campaign advertising “The majority of the money you raise will be spent on advertising,” Mancuso said.

He said campaigning for the marshal’s office was “very grassroots” compared to running for sheriff.

The first campaigns were lowerbudgeted, more focused on low-cost advertising and direct voter contact.

“There were a lot of red beans and rice fundraisers, and jambalaya fundraisers,” Mancuso said. “It was very grassroots at the beginning.”

Running for sheriff was more expensive, heavily reliant on broadcast media and direct mail designed and purchased through a consultant.

“We still did the same types of things we did when running for marshal, we just hired a consultant,” Mancuso said.

His campaign advertising included push cards, yards signs and trinkets like fingernail files. More expensive paid media included, newspapers, radio, television, billboards and Internet advertising.

To save money, Mancuso recommended intensifying media advertising late in the campaign – advice he said he got from his media consultant, Peter O’Carroll.

“You learn and you hire a good person,” he said. “Get good advice.”

Ethics laws Mancuso said it’s the candidate’s responsibility to learn and follow ethics laws.

For example, he said campaign finance reporting must be done in a timely manner. He told candidates that this information and available on the Internet for everyone to see – including the opponent.

He said there are classes to attend to learn about campaign reporting.

“You can do it yourself or hire a CPA experienced in campaign reporting,” Mancuso said. “I am fortunate to a have a sister-in-law in Sulphur with these qualifications. She also goes to the classes to stay current.”

Also, there are some prohibited actions when it comes to campaigning.

Mancuso said it’s important to find out what candidates can and cannot do when it comes to reaching voters.

“If they allow it, you should be doing it,” Mancuso said.

nership with the community.

Rebuilding Together currently has several opportunities available.

Volunteers should contact Erin Wood at (337) 433-1755 for opportunities, dates, and times.

HandsOn Southwest Louisiana Announces Volunteer Opportunities HandsOn Southwest Louisiana, the volunteer management program of the Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana, is pleased to announce volunteer job opportunities available in the Southwest Louisiana Parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis.

HandsOn Southwest Louisiana’s mission is to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. Through a variety of projects throughout the year, HandsOn Southwest Louisiana promises to put people at the center of change.

The American Red Cross of Southwest Louisiana is seeking volunteers for several different positions.

Volunteers are needed to become Disaster Action Team (DAT) Members, input training and service records into their computer system, and answer phones. Training is provided at no cost to volunteers. For more information, contact Ted Shelton at (337) 478-5122.

The Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana needs volunteers to help them prepare for their Super Sale on Sat. March 14.

Volunteers are needed Mon. March 9 through Fri., March 13 to help clear out the Arts & Humanities storage room and sort through items, help categorize, price tag, clean up items, and more. For more information, contact the Arts & Humanities Council at (337) 439-2787.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana is seeking volunteers for their wide variety of mentoring programs, along with other opportunities. Big Brothers/ Big Sisters encourages community members to give of themselves and make a difference in the life of a young person. For more information, visit www.bbbs-swla.net or call (337) 478KIDS. The Calcasieu Medical Reserve Corps is seeking volunteers—both medical and non-medical personnel.

Medical includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dentists, veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, mental health professionals, EMS professionals, and respiratory therapists.

Celtic Nations Heritage Foundation needs volunteers for the upcoming Celtic Nations Heritage Festival March 27-29. Volunteers are needed to work in the hospitality room, in the Pub as beer and coke servers, as children’s area assistants, stage assistants, and also to help set up and tear down the festival.

Contact Nanette Singer at Imperial Pageant/Mr. Formal 439-4888 for more information.

Rebuilding Together Calcasieu, is a local non-profit that preserves and revitalizes houses and communities for homeowners in need. Their goal is to make a sustainable impact in part-

United Way of Southwest Louisiana Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is seeking volunteers to act as greeters and tax preparers. IRS Certification training and testing is provided through the web, and no previous experience is necessary. Volunteers acting as tax preparers will be provided training on tax preparation software used in this program.

Volunteers are especially needed in Allen, Beauregard, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis Parishes; volunteers in Calcasieu Parish are also accepted.

For more information on this program that helps anyone whose 2008 income was less than $42,000, please contact Ricky Cormier, Project Director at (337) 433-1088 or Stephanie Chretien, Volunteer Coordinator at (337) 4362509.

HandsOn Southwest Louisiana is seeking volunteers to work their Volunteer Reception Center.

Volunteer Reception Centers are activated in the aftermath of a disaster,

Lunch Served Mon.-Fri. 11am-2:30pm

Dinner Mon.-Fri. 5pm-9pm

whether man-made or natural, as close to the disaster area as possible to process volunteers wanting to help in response and recovery. Volunteers are needed to act as greeters, interview and match response and recovery volunteers to opportunities in the disaster area, answer calls from agencies in need of volunteers, and print identification information for volunteers.

Training is provided twice a year. For more information or to have your name placed in the Volunteer Reception Center volunteer registry, contact Jonathan Marcantel, HandsOn Southwest Louisiana Program Manager, at (337) 513-4621.

211 is seeking volunteers willing to help others over the phone. 211 is the three digit direct dial number that connects callers to information and referral services in their seven parish service area of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, and Vernon Parishes.

Volunteers are needed to answer phones, provide information and referral, and other tasks. Training is provided to all volunteers. For more information, contact Lynette Dewey at (337) 513-4618.

710 Ryan Street Lake Charles, LA 337-433-4388 Fax: 337-436-4266

Monday: 1/2 Price Domestic Pitchers 9pm-Midnight Tuesday: 2 for 1 Wells and Domestic Pints All Day Wednesday: $3 Jager Bombs & $3 Import Draft Pints 9pm-Midnight - ACOUSTIC NIGHT Thursday: LADIES NIGHT-3 FREE Drinks (Well, Draft and Wine) Friday and Saturday: LIVE MUSIC

AJ’s Venue–210 Division St. Call to schedule your Wedding, Private Party or Special Events Full Catering, On or Off Premises 5pm-7pm HAPPY HOUR – 2 for 1 Wells or Draft – Mon-Fri FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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City to Expand Residential Mercury Collection Site with Pilot Program The City of Lake Charles has teamed-up with CITGO and Team Green of Southwest Louisiana to expand the City’s residential mercury collection site, specifically handling fluorescent light bulbs.

Beginning Feb. 6 and continuing for a three-month trial period, the City’s Wastewater Division residential mercury collection site will be expanded to include the recycling of fluorescent lamps from small businesses. A small

business must be located inside the Lake Charles city limits to be eligible.

Funding for the three-month pilot program is made possible through a donation from CITGO. “Environmental stewardship is a core value for CITGO and it is our collective responsibility to protect the earth for today and tomorrow.

Fluorescent light bulbs use 75 percent less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs, but they do contain mercury

and must be disposed of properly,” said Darie Jordan, CITGO Lake Charles government and public affairs manager.

Team Green of Southwest Louisiana is a City of Lake Charles commission that is actively involved in mercury collection programs.

The mercury collection site is located at the Wastewater Division, 1132 W. 18th St., Lake Charles. The site is staffed and available to the public on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For safe storage instructions or more information, please call (337) 4911450 or (337) 491-9185.

Fontenot Announces Candidacy for City Council

By Lisa Yates Getting city sewage service to south Lake Charles and widening streets to improve traffic flow are top priorities of John Fontenot, who announced his candidacy for the District G Lake Charles City Council Seat.

“Many people in south Lake Charles live within the city, but don’t have city sewage – me, included,” Fontenot said. “In talking to the people of south Lake Charles, I understand that many want to see a widening of the streets to improve the traffic flow. I want to help make that happen.”

Fontenot made the announcement, Jan. 30, following Sheriff Tony Mancuso’s presentation at the League of WoMen Voters noon meeting at Reeves Uptown Catering in Lake Charles.

He said the presentation provided some great tips, such as hiring a consultant. Fontenot hired FocalPoint Media & Marketing, saying the firm was instrumental in managing successful campaigns in the last election.

Fontenot said he entered the race because he believes the district needs strong leadership to represent the community.

“I want to serve my community and to help Lake Charles grow and improve,” he said.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Sowella Foundation, and the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter. He serves the Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club as its sergeant-at-arms. He and his wife Jodi are members of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.

The District G council seat is now held by Mike Huber.

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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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Who’s News, Continued from Page 5

Lacassine. Agents with Flavin Realty assist with buying, selling and relocating; they also specialize in residential, commercial, industrial and property management. For more information, call 478-8530 or visit www.flavinrealty.com.

Philip Earhart, regional president of Business First Bank in Southwest Louisiana, has been elected Treasurer of the Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL). CABL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization working on issues in the public interest. Earhart has been a member Jessica Guillot of the CABL Board of Directors since 2001. He is now beginning his third term as treasurer. He has been active in the banking industry in Southwest Louisiana for many years. He also serves as vice chair of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, chair-elect for Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, and past-chairman and a current board member of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Joining Earhart on the CABL Board from Southwest Louisiana are former state representative, Vic Stelly, and Mark Abraham, owner of Gulf Island Shrimp and Seafood. For more information, contact Barry Erwin at (225) 344-2225.

Cameron State Bank recently announced several promotions. Rochelle Mallett was named loan officer at the Westlake CSB banking center.

Mallett, who has been with CSB for eight years, has received certificates of completion from the American Institute of Banking for financial courses including Principles of Banking Rochelle Mallett Carolyn Viator and Consumer Lending.

Carolyn Viator was named assistant human resources officer. She has been with CSB for five years and will assist in all areas of human resources. Renee Lassiter, also with CSB for five years, was named accounting supervisor. Lassiter holds an associate degree in accounting technology from Sowela.

From left: Anita Vasquez, Kirby Harris, Patricia Brown, Phong Vuong, James Ballard

L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, recently announced its January Five Star Employees. Additionally, the property named its Leaders of the Quarter. The Five Stars are: James Ballard, a security officer; Kirby Harris, a table games dealer; Anita Vasquez, a Snake River Grill bartender; Patricia Brown, a revenue auditor; and Phong Vuong, a table games dealer. Phong Vuong is also designated as the Employee of the Month and is now eligible to receive the coveted Employee of the Year award. The Manager of the Quarter is Kathleen Sanner, accounts payable manager. The Supervisors of the Quarter are: Cynthia Howard, a table games supervisor; Don Thibodeaux, a security shift supervisor; and Dustin Corbello, a golf operations supervisor. In recognition for their hard work, the employees receive a substantial cash prize, a personalized L’Auberge gift, VIP parking and gift certificates. The Employee of the Month also receives dinner for two.

From left: Dustin Corbello, Cynthia Howard, Don Thibodeaux

Keith Raftery of Lake Charles was crowned 2008 Top Sportsman champion at the National Hot Rod Association’s South Central Division Celebration of Champions held in Houston. Raftery was also voted Top Sportsman Driver of the Year by his peers. Raftery’s crew chief, Clayton Hagan, was voted Top Sportsman Wrench of the Year. Raftery’s 738-cubic inch nitrous combustion Sunset Racecraft powered his Pontiac GTO to the number one qualifying position at almost every race, closing the year posting a best quarter mile time of 6.45 seconds at 214 miles per hour. Other members of Raftery’s crew are his father, Roy, and Jim Jones.

From left: Russell Havens, Eric LeGros, LFT Field Representative Brenda Matt, Patricia Dupree, CFT Field Representative Diane Roche, Terri Estes, Ronda Jacobs, Sherry McGuire, Janice Brown, CFT President Jean Johnson, and FT President Steve Monaghan.

Representatives of the Calcasieu Federation of Teachers joined over 150 teacher and school employee leaders from around the state for the annual Louisiana Federation of Teachers Winter Conference in Baton Rouge. Educators heard reports about the looming legislative session, and made plans to have an impact when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge in April.

Donna Little, center director, and Kyle Ardoin, business consultant from the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at McNeese State University, were recently honored at a statewide LSBDC awards ceremony in New Orleans. Little and Ardoin each received the LSBDC “Million Dollar Club” award, which recognizes recipients for helping their clients secure a million plus dollars in loans, equity, and other capital. They were among ten honorees from around the state that received awards for bringing economic impact to their regions. To make an appointment for a confidential one-on-one consultation, cal 475-5529 or e-mail lsbdc.msu@lsbdc.org.

Keith Raftery, center, and Clayton Hagan, left, receive their Driver of the Year and Wrench of the Year awards.

Continued on Page 10 FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 9

Joe McPherson Announces Bid for PSC Seat With a pledge to be “a strong, independent voice who stands up for families and consumers,” State Senator Joe McPherson announced his candidacy for the Fourth District Public Service Commission seat to be filled in a Special Election on Saturday, April 4.

A vacancy was created when Commissioner Dale Sittig resigned in late 2008. Pat Manuel was appointed on a temporary basis.

“Now, more than ever, Louisiana consumers need someone on the Public Service Commission who will stand up to the powerful Special Interests and ensure that residents in every part of the state can count on having reliable utility services at the lowest possible cost, without having to worry about rate increases and surcharges that make it harder for families to make ends meet.” McPherson said. “As a State Senator, I’ve fought hard to limit the influence of Special Interests and protect consumers. I will continue that fight on the Public Service Commission.”

As a State Senator, McPherson supported Ethics Reform and authored legislation to ban all gifts…even “a cup of coffee” from lobbyists to Legislators. He has also voted against raising Legislative pay.

McPherson said that if elected to the PSC, he will work to maintain a total ban on gifts and meals to Commission members and staff from the companies they regulate….a rule the PSC recently passed by a narrow 3-2 margin.

“People need to know that their elected officials are free from influence and can be counted on to stand up for them,” McPherson said. “In these tough

economic times, consumers need a Public Service Commissioner who will demand that utility companies put their customers first. Families and small businesses need reliable service at the lowest price possible. We need to find ways to cut the costs of delivering utility services and encourage the development of alternative sources of energy.”

McPherson said one of his top priorities will be to ensure that Louisiana utility companies are prepared to quickly and efficiently respond to hurricanes and other natural disasters. He said steps can and should be taken now to upgrade utility company lines and structures to better withstand extreme weather.

Economic development should also be a top goal for the PSC, McPherson said.

“As a businessman and State Senator, I’ve had first-hand experience in creating jobs and will bring that knowledge to the commission. The Public Service Commission can play a big role in creating jobs by working with state and local officials to attract and keep new businesses by ensuring that the utility services they need are available, reliable and competitively priced. It will be much easier to convince companies to come to Louisiana and bring new high-paying jobs if they know they can count on having reliable service at the lowest possible rates.”

McPherson said he will also work to keep roads and highways safe by preventing the illegal transportation of industrial waste.

Joe and his wife Karen McPherson are residents of Woodworth.

Who’s News, Continued from Page 9

John Hixson has again been recognized as one of the 150 best financial advisers in the country by Medical Economics Magazine. Hixson, a certified financial planner with Financial Management Professionals, Inc., was the only adviser in Southwest Louisiana to receive this honor and only one of two in Louisiana overall.

This is the fifth consecutive time Hixson has been recognized nationally for his expertise and ability as a financial adviser. Hixson is a partner in Financial Management Professionals, providing financial planning and portfolio management for individuals and businesses.

Sara A. Roberts, managing partner of Dunn, Roberts & Company, a local accounting firm, has been elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority. The LPFA is a non-profit public trust that issues both taxable and taxexempt bonds to finance public and private projects throughout the state. Roberts formerly served on the Louisiana State Board of Commerce and Industry and the Louisiana Stadium & Exposition District under the administrations of Govs. Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco. She also currently serves on the Legislation Committee for the Louisiana Society of Sara A. Roberts Certified Public Accountants. Roberts is the vice-president of the board of directors for Gulf Coast Business and Industry Company and serves on the board of directors for Jeff Davis Bank and Trust, chairing the audit committee for both organizations. Roberts and her husband, Andre Baisson, reside in Westlake with their two children.

PAGE 10

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 11

Her black eyes blazing like a true believer’s, GiGi Kaufman declared that the Lake Charles lakefront/downtown development vision is a happening thing that’s fast becoming reality. While things aren’t happening fast enough to suit her or the other members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the owner of GiGi’s Fitness Centers is pleased with the plan’s progress.

The DDA celebrated its first anniversary in December with a review of the year’s accomplishments. The heavy lifting to date, Kaufman said, has mostly been transparent, involving planning, doing due diligence and figuring how to use OPM (other people’s money) to leverage the $18 million voters gave lakefront/downtown development as part of a broader $90 million bond issue okayed by local voters in 2007.

“While $18 million is a lot of money, especially considering it’s the public’s money, we (the DDA) knew that with some extra effort and a little patience, we could bring in additional funds from outside sources.” Kaufman said. “So far, we’ve brought in an additional $9-10 million from the federal and state government and other sources.

Kaufman said they basically traded the time it took writing grants and doing all the groundwork needed to get that extra money to build the lakefront/downtown that the people deserve.

“We understand that lakefront/downtown development is just one part of a much greater areawide effort to spur economic development and enhance our quality of life.

But, we also know an

PAGE 12

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

attractive, vibrant urban core is absolutely vital to a region’s growth,” she added.

Although much of the DDA’s accomplishments to date include intense research and planning on the much-needed infrastructure action items, which is invisible to the general public, they have made substantial progress. These projects include: Bord Du Lac Handicap Curb Cuts, Drainage Box and Pavement Repair Project Installation of handicap curb cuts and drainage boxes as well as repair of pavement as needed. The project was completed in mid-November. The date for Notice to Proceed on this project was Oct. 6, 2008, with the project being completed within 20 working days. Norwood Brothers Construction II, LLC, was awarded this project with the bid of $45,465.00.

Lakefront Promenade Palm Project Planting and maintenance of specified palm trees along the Lakefront Promenade, managed by the Moore Planning Group. Landscaped Management Services Inc. was awarded this project with the bid of $99,153.24.

Veterans Park Memorial Landscape Renovation/Revitalization Project Includes the renovation and revitalization of the landscaping at the Veterans Park Memorial. A New Leaf was awarded this project with the bid of $21,000. It was certified complete Nov. 21, with ongoing maintenance to continue through Feb. 20, 2009.

Renovations Improvement of the visual image and upkeep of downtown by renovating and maintaining overgrown lots, substandard and vacant buildings, broken sidewalks and planters, and landscaping.

Considerable progress for this $150,000 project has been made and is ongoing.

“We made a lot of progress last year towards the people’s vision,” said DDA director Lori Marinovich. “We spent lot of time and effort planning and coordinating. We are determined to be responsible stewards of the public’s money. To date, we’ve secured almost $30 million from federal and state resources on top of our $18 million budget.”

Marinovich pointed out that this isn’t a shortterm renovation project. “We’re truly building for the future to make the quality of life here the standard for the nation for generations to come,” she said.

DDA Chair Rick Richard agrees. “Our state has many areas in desperate need of improvement if we are to realize our potential,” he said. “We have to stop the out-migration of our best and brightest people and bring people back. We have to have a well-trained and motivated workforce ready to start work on Day One as business and industry is attracted to Southwest Louisiana because of the

unique competitive advantages we offer.”

“Doing this requires an all-out effort from everybody—not just the government and economic development organizations,” he said. “We have to lift the many, many of our fellow citizens and children from the despair of poverty.”

Behind the dense Power Point exhibits and hard-to-read charts and graphs lies a vibrant, stimulating urban core, reminiscent of the downtown’s glory days. A good example: Where others see Pithon Coulee as a drainage ditch overgrown with weeds, Kaufman envisions a scenic waterway fronted by broad paths filled with active people.

“I envision it as a place where people can run, bike, roller blade or simply stroll along with their

families,” Kaufman said. “Best of all, Pithon Coulee runs through a lot of the city and this trail will help connect us as a community.”

That’s what drives Kaufman.

“I was born and raised here and this area has been great to my family and me,” said Kaufman, who started GiGi’s Fitness Center about two decades ago. “The people here helped make my business a success, and I believe we all share a duty to help make this a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

The downtown urban core serves as a crossroads—a common meeting ground for diverse groups of people, Richard said. “Reaching our potential is going to require innovation, creativity

from all of us. It’s a time and the place for those who dream big, see what can be, and are unafraid to take risks.”

Richard noted that historian Joseph Tregle wrote that in Louisiana, the past and the present have always lived side by side. “That’s changing,” he explained. “No longer can we let our past dictate our future. We have our destiny in our hands.

A thriving urban core is vital to achieving that destiny. It’s a place where business, finance, entertainment, the arts and people from all over meet. It’s where ideas are born and where growth begets more growth.”

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 13

Police Jury Takes a New, Aggressive Approach Toward Litter Ask almost anyone to identify a common problem facing all of Southwest Louisiana, and most people will tell you it’s litter. For quite some time, local leaders have tried to make a significant impact on the area’s troubling litter situation, but have achieved only limited success.

This past week, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury unveiled a different, more aggressive approach toward litter that is designed to tackle the issue with awareness, enforcement and education.

“You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy” is the new initiative’s slogan, which sends out the strong message to the community that the police jury and local law enforcement are tired of being “nice” about this issue and are now taking litter offenses very seriously.

“Research shows that litterers know they’re not supposed to litter,” says Jason Barnes, Special Programs Coordinator for the Calcasieu Parish

PAGE 14

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Police Jury. “Litterers are more concerned about what will happen to them if they are caught. We’re telling them straightforwardly, ‘You litter, you pay!’”

For the past nine months, the police jury has met with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office to reexamine and modify the current litter enforcement law. “Tickets were not being written for one reason or another, and our main goal was to streamline the enforcement of both tickets and fines to ensure that the system would be more progressive,” says Barnes.

Under the new litter law, which was adopted as a parish ordinance at the beginning of February, a first-time offender will be fined $40. No court appearance is required, unless the violator would like to contest the charge.

The fine will be paid to the District Attorney’s office and placed into the parish’s beautification fund, which was created several years ago. If the ticket has not been paid within the specified time—about six weeks—the District Attorney’s office will notify the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the offender’s driver’s license until the fine has been paid.

The second offense carries a $100 fine and requires a court appearance, with an additional $150 in court costs.

The costs continue to rise with additional offenses.

“We at the sheriff’s office want to play an active role in fighting litter through enforcement of the litter laws. I think everyone would agree that litter is ugly, so it’s time to tell people who litter that we won’t tolerate their destruction of the natural beauty of Calcasieu Parish,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso. “If you get caught littering, you’re going to have to pay for your mistake.”

District Attorney John DeRosier says, “We are often judged by our personal appearance, and that applies to the grounds, roads, streets and properties of Calcasieu Parish. We need to make our community look better. It makes us look better, it helps our economy and it’s just the right thing to do.”

Litter Hotline Police officers will not be the only people on the lookout for litterers. The police jury and the sheriff’s office have set up a new local hotline for citizens to report littering. The number is 493LITR (5487). Residents who witness someone littering can call the hotline and report the crime to the sheriff’s office. All that will be needed is some basic information, primarily the license plate of the violator.

The owner of the vehicle will then be sent a letter stating that they have been reported for littering and that they should consider the correspondence a warning. For positive reinforcement, a litterbag will be enclosed in the envelope for encouragement not to repeat the crime.

“The single biggest weapon in the program is not necessarily the fine or the cops catching these

litterers in the act; it’s our community jumping in and becoming involved,” says Barnes. “With community involvement in the program, litterers now have to worry and be mindful of the everyday citizen watching them too.”

Next Steps Education is crucial to the new litter program.

Studies show that children form much of their general behavior by the fourth grade. For this reason, the police jury feels that it is just as important to take aggressive strides toward educating the parish children about litter. New programs, including litter awareness and prevention in the curriculum and special assemblies, are just a few ideas currently being discussed.

The new enforcement measures focus on litterers who throw out smaller litter, such as cigarette butts or soft drink cans, but the police jury is also targeting offenders who dump large amounts of trash along roadways and on private property. This is known as “gross littering,” and a special group of law enforcement officers is assigned to this crime, which is punished by heavier fines and court appearances.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office encourage residents to join the fight against litter by reporting offenders, and to gain awareness about the effects of litter by visiting www.dontbetrashy.org.

Throughout the year, the police jury will promote “You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy!” throughout the parish, and the sheriff’s department will be watching closely for litterers.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 15

Governor Jindal In Lake Charles to Highlight Priorities for Cracking Down on Sex Offenders

Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference in Lake Charles recently to highlight his legislative priorities for cracking down on sex offenders in the next legislative session. The governor was joined by several area legislators to outline the seven legislative priority areas for tightening laws and penalties on sex offenders that will be the basis for several bills in the upcoming legislative session, which begins in April.

Governor Jindal said, “I want the message to go out loud and clear: If you intend to break the law, if you intend to hurt a child, you better not do it here in Louisiana. Here, our justice will be swift and our penalties will be tough. We passed a package of bills in the last session to crack down on the monsters that prey on our kids and we have already identified seven legislative priority areas that we will base bills on in this next legislative session. Our goal is to make Louisiana the safest place in the world to raise a family.”

An outline of the seven legislative priority areas for cracking down on sex offenders that Governor Jindal announced in Lake Charles is included below: 1. Next Step Civil Commitment Program Governor Jindal will propose authorizing language in the upcoming legislative session to allow the Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to establish a civil commitment program to treat sex offenders upon the completion of PAGE 16

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

offenders from being around children, period.

Notification requirements should also be increased for sex offenders so they are required to notify their employer and their neighbors.

their sentence. Those entering this program will have been convicted of incest, crimes against nature, indecent behavior with juveniles, computeraided solicitation of a minor, and sexual battery of the infirm, among others. As part of this program, if perpetrators of these crimes remain a threat after their sentence, according to mental health experts, the district attorney can then petition a judge to commit them for treatment where they would be retained involuntarily until the underlying mental health issue is resolved.

2. Impose Penalties When Sex Offenders Fail to Submit to Electronic Monitoring Currently, there are no enforcement mechanisms or penalties requiring the worst sex offenders among us to submit to electronic monitoring after they have served their full prison sentence.

Governor Jindal said that he will work in the upcoming session to define electronic monitoring as a

requirement for those registered sex offenders that are still deemed to be a threat to our communities, even after they serve their time. Failure to comply with these requirements will now mean a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of two to ten years without parole. A second failure to comply will mean a fine of $3,000 and imprisonment for five to 20 years without parole.

3. Strengthen Restrictions on Where Sex Offenders can Work, and Create an Affirmative Duty to Inform Potential Employers of Predatory Past Governor Jindal proposes legislation to toughen current law that says a sex offender is prohibited from working where there is “significant” contact with children, to a change of “any” contact with children. This change will make the clear in protecting children from sex offenders – so that people are not judging what is or what is not “significant” contact with children – but instead outlawing sex

4. Strengthen Reporting Requirements on Sex Offenders Who Volunteer for Activities Involving Children or Youth Current law requires registered sex offenders who provide “recreational instruction” to minors after parole to post a notice in the facility, but there are no prohibitions on volunteering beyond parole.

Governor Jindal is proposing legislation to increase the notification requirements for sex offenders so they must provide notice that they are a sex offender when they serve as a volunteer interacting with children even after their parole period has ended. This legislation will extend the restrictions in current law for parole requirements to a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life, depending on the severity of the crime.

5. Keep Kids Safe in School Governor Jindal proposes legislation to improve current law so the state is taking all available measures to protect children – especially when they are entrusted in the state’s care while they are at school.

This legislative area includes eight

specific changes in law, as follows: • Criminalize the intentional or criminally negligent mistreatment of a student by an educator and define this crime as “cruelty to juveniles” with a penalty of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.

• Prohibit sexual contact between educators and students up to age 21.

Current law prohibits contact until age 19, yet many disabled students are over-age. This law will protect the more than 630 disabled students aged 20 or 21 currently in our Louisiana public schools.

• Require school districts to inform employees and parents of the laws and policies regarding inappropriate communication between students and teachers.

• Strengthen current law that requires public school boards to disclose sexual misconduct of a former employee to other public school boards where they apply – to now also include the disclosure of abuse or neglect of a special education student.

• Require applicants to school systems to disclose all instances of sexual misconduct and abuse or neglect of a special education student.

• Penalize school districts or boards who fail to disclose instances of sexual misconduct and abuse or

neglect, or if they supply false information. Those who fail to disclose this information will be found guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined up to $500 or imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

• Expand current laws requiring public school boards to disclose instances of sexual misconduct and abuse or neglect of former employees to other schools where they apply to now also include charter and private schools, in addition to public schools.

• Enact tougher penalties for teachers who engage in sexual misconduct with students.

6. Criminalize the Hijacking Of Wireless Routers for the Purpose of Downloading, Uploading, or Selling Child Pornography Through Operation Child Watch – and other sweeps by law enforcement officials to lock up sex predators – we know that a growing number of criminals are using wireless signals from anonymous sources, like coffee shops or residences and businesses with non-secure routers, to commit serious crimes like identity theft and sexual solicitation of a minor. Governor Jindal is proposing legislation to criminalize the unauthorized use of wireless routers to facilitate a criminal

offense, which is not currently a crime today.

7. Support “The Protect Louisiana’s Children Act” That Authorizes the Revocation of the State License from Child-Care Facilities to Protect Children From Sexual Predators Currently, it is not illegal for a child-care facility owner, employee, or volunteer to knowingly allow a registered sex offender onto the facility’s property. Instead, the burden to remain off the property rests only on the sex offender. It is also not currently illegal for a sex offender to own or serve on the governing board of a child-care facility. Additionally, the Department of Social Services (DSS) does not currently have the statutory authority to revoke the license or deny the application of child-care facilities or child-placing agencies.

Governor Jindal proposes legislation to support the “Protect Louisiana’s Children Act,” which addresses shortfalls in existing law.

Specifically, the “Protect Louisiana’s Children Act” will: • Prohibit sex offenders who victimized minor children from serving in a governing capacity or owning a child-care facility licensed by DSS.

• Prohibit and provide penalties for child-care providers who knowingly employ sex offenders and/or knowingly grant them access to the facility.

• Provide sole statutory authorization to DSS to revoke childcare licenses, including for alleged crimes such as the presence of a sexual offender.

• Amend the 1,000-square-foot radius law for sex offenders to clarify that “child-care facilities” are off limits.

• Authorize DSS to cross-reference against Louisiana’s child abuse cases and deny employment (as appropriate) to prospective and current child-care providers and prospective agency employees and volunteers — as is done in a majority of other states in the U.S. • And lastly, the Act will require the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to notify DSS of the results of background checks of potential childcare employees that are convicted sex offenders so DSS can follow up to ensure they are not ultimately employed there.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 17

By Sara Blackwell

SNIP, CUT, OOPS Everyone in the world makes mistakes, but the ramifications for such errors differ from one person to the next. For example, doctors and members of the medical profession make gaffes on a frequent basis. The end result can often be drastic, and sometimes, fatal. However, just like everyone else, the medical professional is not liable for such damages unless they acted negligently or unless they breached an express contractual anticipated result.

Any medical malpractice claim brought against a member of the medical profession must abide by the rules set out in Louisiana Revised Statutes.

One significant regulation is the statute of limitations, which applies to the filing of a medical malpractice suit. A medical malpractice action for an injury or death must be filed within one year from the date of the alleged medical action, or within one year from the date of the discovery of the alleged negligent action. In no event may a medical malpractice claim be filed more than three years from the date of the alleged negligent action.

If a doctor negligently destroys a person’s nose during cosmetic surgery, then the obvious injury would in all probability be immediately discoverable.

That would put the deadline for the filing of the claim one year from the date of the surgery.

Conversely, if a doctor misdiagnoses a serious illness due to his inebriation, the discovery of such negligent action may not be discoverable until a later date. If the serious illness is later discovered by the onset of pain or overt changes to the person’s body, and it is obvious the previous doctor missed it, the deadline for filing the medical malpractice claim is one year from the date of the later discovery.

In the event the discovery of the medical professional’s negligent action is not discovered by the alleged victim for three years, there is no medical malpractice claim available because the three-year bar applies.

If the negligent act is discovered two and a half years from the action, the claimant has six months from the discovery to file a claim. The important thing to remember is that if you believe you are the casualty of a negligent medical professional, you need to immediately visit an attorney so that your claim can be timely filed.

The damage cap Another important regulation of the medical malpractice act, and one that is highly controversial and debated, is the recovery cap as to the monetary award in a suit against a medical professional. The total amount recoverable for a malpractice claim due to the injury or death of a patient, excluding future medical care, cannot exceed $500,000 plus interests and costs.

One proposed purpose for the damage cap is to keep the medical professional’s insurance at a reasonable rate. In turn, the idea is that the medical professionals will charge their patients a lesser amount if their insurance costs remain at a sensible price. Further, if the medical costs are lower for patients, health care insurance expenses for patients should also remain reasonable.

Whether this trickle down theory is actually felt by health care patients is questionable. On the other hand, the damage cap is without a doubt felt by the single mother whose physician failed to successfully deliver her baby because he was high on drugs.

Many supporters of the damage cap believe that such regulation should be expanded to other areas of the law while others believe it should be abolished and left to the decision of the court system. A healthy debate over the positives and negatives of the damage cap can be a great topic of conversation at any dinner table.

There are several other rules surrounding medical malpractice claims that are intricate and specific in nature. A medical malpractice attorney should have the knowledge and experience to address each and every one of the medical malpractice act requirements in the event you find yourself in such a situation.

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

Sara Blackwell is an attorney, writer and mother. She has worked as an attorney for the United State’s Department of Justice, a federal district judge and the United States Attorney’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.

PAGE 18

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

INSIDE BATON ROUGE — by John Maginnis

D.C. Has Wrong Mardi Gras Spirit n Washington, D.C. recently, it seemed like the migrating Krewe of Louisianans was the only bunch in town who still knew how to have a good time.

Usually, Mardi Gras on the Potomac is appreciated even by those who don’t fully understand it. This year, the atmosphere seemed less welcoming in the post-inaugural week that was devoted to the deadly serious work of pulling the nation out of the deepening recession. With the changed environment came a raised standard of ethics, with tighter rules and attitudes designed to break with past decades of business as usual.

This sudden ethical conversion quickly clashed with D.C. Mardi Gras’ party as usual, with its internecine hobnobbing among elected officials, staffers, lobbyists, campaign contributors and, of course, lovely princesses.

Even the benign Louisiana Alive! party, a mob scene open to anyone who could secure freely distributed wristbands from congressional offices, drew fire from ethicists deeply troubled that lobbyists underwrote the event and had little signs up proclaiming their sponsorships. Talk about a bunch that needs a drink.

The prudes notwithstanding, the second-lining Louisiana crowd actually was right in step with action on Capitol Hill, where congressional Democrats were throwing a preLenten spending bash—some would say orgy—of their own. No entreaty of “throw me something, mister” from state and local governments, federal agencies and interest groups seemed to go unheeded in the $819 billion stimulus package passed by the House and bound to be exceeded by the Senate.

The only party poopers were House Republicans, who voted unanimously against the package that they were given little role in crafting— some would say shoveling—into law.

Republicans, however, were no more inclusive when they held the White House and Congress.

GOP congressmen were not opposed to all of the deficit spending, since, given their recent record, they had little room to complain. Yet, they

I

made a valid point that the Democrats’ bacchanalian appropriations went well beyond stimulating the economy to bailing out deficit-ridden state governments and beyond that to rewriting the nation’s social contract with a large segment of the people. All without a single hearing.

To raise an objection, to call for debate, was to border on treason. The most chilling sentence on the week in Congress came in a news story in The New York Times that read, “Democrats said the current economic crisis did not allow time for public hearings on the legislation.”

That calls to mind the insistence of the Bush White House last fall that its $750 billion banking bailout bill be

To illustrate, take two employees at a company that does not offer health insurance. A manager making $75,000 is laid off and gets a Medicaid card, which is honored at any hospital or doctor’s office that sees Medicaid patients. His secretary, who makes $35,000, keeps her job but gets deathly ill and is crushed by medical bills she can’t pay. Fair?

Consider also that this unemployment healthcare benefit expires in December 2010, by when it will be considered an entitlement, like other socalled temporary stimulus provisions that Congress will be loath to end.

Even some supporters of the stimulus’ Medicaid expansion are calling it the first step toward national health insurance. If that’s what America wants, so be it. But shouldn’t we discuss it first instead of just sliding into it? Unless the Senate slows things down, that’s where this is headed.

So while some in Washington who are out to save civilization in a hurry may look askance at the foolishness of Mardi Gras, one wonders which really is the city that care forgot.

THE ONLY PARTY POOPERS WERE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, WHO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST THE PACKAGE THAT THEY WERE GIVEN LITTLE ROLE IN CRAFTING... passed before sundown lest the financial system collapse. We saw how well that worked out.

Whether Democrats or Republicans are in charge, Washington has only so much credibility in managing the economy, especially when operating at warp speed.

The president and the Democratic leadership easily could separate the true stimulus portions of the package, tax cuts and ready-to-go public works projects, from the creation of new agencies and broad policy changes that will take longer to implement and last longer still.

Take, for example, a far-reaching provision in the House bill that would grant Medicaid coverage to anyone receiving unemployment benefits.

Democrats even rejected a Republican amendment for means testing.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 19

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PERSPECTIVES — by Jim Doyle

Throw me a Potato, Mister! s a sometime frat boy attending a well-known Southern party school, my undergraduate degree was in journalism and alcohol.

With that background, one might assume I was prepared for anything. But my first Mardi Gras, which I saw hazily through the fog of grog, escorted by one of the most unforgettable characters to cross my path, was one for the record books.

I came late to Louisiana. Except for trips to New Orleans now and then (you might think of those as “dress rehearsals”) I had never been there, and never saw Baton Rouge until the day I moved there in 1972. Mardi Gras was not a tradition in my life any more than etouffee, gumbo, or rice and gravy. As you can see, those three are now firmly established in the Doyle family. But to this day, I have never attended a Carnival parade on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t celebrated it, though. When my first Mardi Gras approached in 1974, my friend J.C. Hatcher invited me to see it with a few friends of his in Lafayette. We drove from Baton Rouge that morning with L. K. Herlong, a friend of mine from The Advocate, where we all worked at the time.

J.C. was from Kentwood before Britney Spears was born. For those of you who don’t know the place, Kentwood is — how shall I put this — well, “country” just doesn’t do it justice, but is the best I can come up with for now. J.C. was a faithful representative of Kentwood, but he was also a dyed-in-the-wool Cajun. He loved Lafayette, its university, and its sports programs.

One of his great friends was “Coach” Blanco, husband of our recent governor. I met both of them later that day. Others in our group were Bob “Rip” Henderson, who worked at Evangeline Downs for years; Charlie Lenox of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, later editor of that publication; and assorted coaches and athletes from USL, as it then was.

This Mardi Gras was truly a redletter day. I learned how to catch beads without getting my hand stepped on and ate crawfish for the first time. This was a big deal, since

A

my last experience with mudbugs was in biology class in high school. We dissected one. I don’t like crawfish.

J.C. and his wife Flo escorted me through town on a steadily rising tide of food and adult beverages while the parade passed by. As it waned, talk shifted to the next venue, and the group decided to go to a place I’d never heard of called “Sunset.”

Sounded interesting to me, so we all piled in our cars and took off up the highway. Lest you worry, I wasn’t driving. I was sleeping in the back seat.

Some indefinite time later, I woke up to bright sunlight and the distant echo of a strange, vaguely French song. We were in the town of Sunset for their Mardi Gras parade. I staggered the couple of blocks to the parade route and found my guests,

taped in place on a poster board: “CORMIER’S FEED AND SEED.” Hmmm.

Sunset is a small town. The parade was fun, but short. So, they ran it through town over and over, three times, so everybody could get a potato and a look at the queens.

In Sunset, I also got my first look at the Courir des Mardi Gras, cowboys on horseback chasing chickens. The chickens were long gone by this time of day and tempers were getting short.

The cowboys were blocking our entrance to the four-lane highway between Opelousas and Lafayette, leading to an exchange of pleasantries

between my host J.C. and the riders.

And that was the first time I heard the phrase, “(BLEEP) YOU. AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON!” My brother Thomas and his wife Nancy are fleeing the Chicago winter for Fat Tuesday, and I hope I can show them how we celebrate it here. Any of you guys who ride floats—throw me something!! I’ll be the fat guy with the Yankees.

So Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler, mon amis, and I’ll see you guys on the flip.

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I LEARNED HOW TO CATCH BEADS WITHOUT GETTING MY HAND STEPPED ON AND ATE CRAWFISH FOR THE FIRST TIME. who were transfixed by a fiddle and accordion ensemble riding in a partially-covered wagon drawn by horses, playing a song later identified to me as “Lache Pas La Patate.” In true Carnival tradition, others on the “float” were throwing things to bystanders. Not beads. Baked sweet potatoes wrapped in foil. Thus I discovered Sunset’s role as the “sweet potato capital of the world.”

That sweet potato was welcome. I was hungry, and wasn’t about to eat any more crawfish.

The queens of any parade, of course, ride on floats. Not in Sunset.

They were on the back end of a series of Corvettes. The one I remember most was an ample girl who had been (ahem) well-raised. The car leaned a little to the rear, if you get my drift.

As she passed by, I could see the name of the commercial enterprise sponsoring her on the side of the car, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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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

Alterations & More: Stitching Together a Successful Business elen Santos is stitching together a successful business – both literally and metaphorically.

Santos, 59, is the founder of Alterations & More, a home-based sewing business, located at 1438 W. McNeese Street in Lake Charles. The business offers a variety of alteration services – everything from simple pant hems to custom tailoring and dress making.

Her handiwork can be seen throughout Southwest Louisiana on pageant runways, during Carnival season at Mardi Gras balls, and on brides dressed in full regalia.

She started her professional career not as a dressmaker, but as a college instructor in the Republic of the Philippines – her native country.

“I started working in a school teaching a myriad of subjects from English to management,” Santos said. “I even taught graduate school.”

Her education includes a Ph.D. in business administration. In addition, she completed coursework and began working on a doctoral thesis towards an Ed.D. in education administration.

Taking care of business Her practical business experience included working 23 years as a civilian employee for a U.S. Military base at the Philippines.

“The U.S. facility was was the biggest employer, second to the Philippine government,” she said. “It was also the best employer.”

She worked on the base until 1990, the year the U.S. military began closing all of the military bases in her country.

When the bases closed, Santos worked as human resource director at a college close to the bases.

“The pay was not good,” she said, adding she wanted to come to the United States for the opportunity to create a better life for herself.

Santos found she was eligible for special immigration status as a U.S. Military employee.

“As long as they have more than 15 years of continued service, civilian employees were eligible for special immigration,” she said.

H

Coming to Lake Charles Santos said it took five years to process the necessary paperwork. There was a final caveat.

“The U.S. Department of Justice required that I move to a state where someone could vouch for me during a period of unemployment,” she said. “My sister, Violy Briscoe, was living here in Lake Charles. She had been living here for 25 years when I came here.”

Even though Santos was very well-educated and had many years of work experience, she had difficulty finding employment.

“I couldn’t find a job,” she said. “I was told I was over-qualified.”

Her sister suggested working as a seamstress until PAGE 22

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

she could find work within her field.

“My sister was a seamstress,” Santos said.

“She had worked in an office, but she made more money as a seamstress.”

She followed her sisters advice and began sewing at home.

While working as a seamstress, however, Santos continued looking for other employment.

“A school – Williams Career College – hired me part-time to write the curriculum for a business education department,” she said. “It was an allied health school, but they wanted to add business administration courses. My title was Business Education Director.”

In addition, Santos learned that a local dress shop was looking for a seamstress. She got the job. She worked both jobs and continued to send out resumes.

A large corporation expressed an interest in her qualifications, but she didn’t get the job.

“They never even sent a letter to notify me of the status of my resume,” she said.

Photo by Phil de Albuquerque

By Lisa Yates

Helen Santos makes an adjustment on a Mardi Gras gown.

Never giving up Santos got more bad news.

“Both the school and the dress shop where I Beginning as a hobby was working closed within the same week,” she Santos learned to sew at age 10, in her home ecosaid. “I panicked. I had bought a house on Lake nomics class in the Philippines.

Street. I kept thinking – How can I pay for my “In fifth grade, that’s when everything started,” house?” she said. “I had a very good teacher at the time.”

The businesswoman considered opening an alterHer teacher taught the class to make aprons, ations shop in her home, but parking was an issue. towels, skirts, dresses and more.

“The city was repairing the road, so I could not “Out of necessity and poverty in the Philippines, accept alterations,” she said. “There was no parking, I my parents couldn’t afford to buy us clothes,” Santos had to park a block away from my home.” said. “I started making my own clothes, dresses for Santos didn’t give up. my sister, Violy, and my mom. Then I began to Instead, she leased space in a building directly branch out and make dresses for my classmates and across the street from the shop’s current location. teachers – all for free.”

Santos made it a success.

Even throughout her career as a college instructor, “I started with one customer and it became an Santos was making clothes for friends. overnight success,” she said.

“I made clothes for gifts for my friends and wedSantos said her customers referred their friends ding gowns for my friends, who were getting marand her business began to grow. Soon more space was ried,” she said. “Some of them would ask me to make needed. a certain dress. They would purchase the pattern and “This house came up for sale and I purchased fabric for me to make the dress. That’s how I was able it,” she said. to develop the skill.”

That was before Hurricane Rita. The property Santos is able to look at a picture of a dress and suffered a great deal of damage requiring a new create her own patterns. She continues to do this for roof, walls and flooring. very special customers.

“I felt like getting on the first plane back home,” “I have some very special customers, who are she confessed. “When you are old and by yourself very nice to me,” she said. “If they can’t find dressthere’s nobody to help you.” es for special occasions, I will make dresses for Santos didn’t give up. She hired a contractor them.” with some insurance money she received and worked to re-open the business.

For more information, call 562-9130, or visit “Then there was Gustav and Ike,” she said. “It’s Alterations & More at 1438 W. McNeese Street, Lake difficult, but I can’t just run away. I have the house Charles. Fittings are by appointment only. Store hours on Lake Street, the house here and my business. are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri. These are all my responsibilities.”

Weddings 2009

Weddings on the

Y

You’ve got to feel sorry for couples that are planning a wedding in this tough economy. The days of excess appear to be on hold for the time being as the country goes through one of the worst recessions in decades.

There are still those who’ve saved their pennies for a really lavish blowout. But with skyrocketing prices and layoffs, many couples are now looking for ways to cut corners.

Everyone has a different idea of the perfect wedding, so before you even begin to get into the details, you need to sit down with your partner and determine what is important to both of you. You’ll then have a list of priorities that you can use to determine how much money to spend.

ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING RINGS Yes, platinum is all the rage. But if you want white metal, opt for white gold. Platinum is almost double the price. Silver bands are modern and inexpensive, and simple gold bands are the cheapest.

They are also classic and elegant. But don’t buy designer versions of gold bands. You’re basically paying for the name. That will be a big savings.

In addition, you’ll save almost half if you buy a coordinating set or trio (engagement ring, and his and her wedding bands).

There’s no rule that says you have to have a diamond engagement ring. Semi-precious stones are beautiful and much cheaper.

Family heirloom rings are very special and romantic—and they’re free. You can always put the stone in a modern setting if you prefer. My engagement ring is my grandmother’s diamond earrings in a platinum setting. The stones are gorgeous and unique—jewelers no longer cut diamonds the way these were done at the turn of the century. I gave a diamond ring given to me by an ex-boyfriend to my godchild, who’s getting married this spring.

She had the stone put in a platinum setting. She and her fiancé were thrilled about how much money they saved!

Shopping online can also save you money. Just make sure you pick a secure site with great customer service. Get referrals from friends, if possible. Overstock.com is popular, and of course,

Cheap

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there’s always eBay. Remember, you can always upgrade your rings as your finances improve. Start saving when you can, and plan on getting new rings in the future, and set a goal— say on your fifth or tenth anniversary.

THE WEDDING GOWN A good place to start cutting costs is the wedding gown.

Seriously, why should you spend all that money on a gown you’re only going to wear once? I know, I know, it’s your wedding day—the most important day of your life (it certainly was for me), but you can look fabulous without spending a fortune.

There are lots of discount wedding dresses to be had out there. What’s even better is onestop shopping. Rather than run all over town (and beyond) check out David’s Bridal. You can find a beautiful head-to-toe wedding gown ensemble, including veil, jewelry, shoes, etc., for well under $1,000.

Go to the department stores and look in their formal gown section. A lot of formals can definitely pass for bridal gowns—and you’ll find they’ll be a lot less expensive. And make sure you look for the sales.

If you sew, you can always make your own gown. Or perhaps you have a talented friend or family member who can help. Look in magazines to get ideas from wedding dress designers. Using the services of a dressmaker will probably be pricey, so avoid that route—unless you know of one who is both economical and good.

Consider wearing a vintage bridal gown. Is there an heirloom gown in your family? Your mother’s gown may just need some slight updating or alterations. I wish I could have worn my mother’s, but it was too small for me—so I ended up getting a gorgeous gown at David’s Bridal for an unbelievably low price. Look on eBay or vintage clothing Web sites, and browse thrift and consignFEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 23

ment shops—even yard sales. You can find some great dresses for very little money here—and you’d be surprised how many still have the tags on them.

Then again, if you feel you HAVE to blow all that money on a dress, then do it—and cut corners elsewhere.

WEDDING INVITATIONS Wedding invitations should match the wedding, and be styled to show the character, charisma, and distinctiveness of the wedding couple. But if you’re on a budget, don’t be daunted—cheaper wedding invitations can be beautiful.

First of all, simplify. It used to be proper etiquette to mail invitations in two envelopes. The inner envelope protected the invitation. But that isn’t necessary nowadays, and is an added expense. If you are including an RSVP (more on that later) consider using a postcard. You’ll save on postage.

Rather than going to an expensive stationery store, you can turn to old faithful—the Internet—to check for wholesale or discount invites. There are LOTS of sources on the net for that.

A very inexpensive alternative is a kit, which allows you to make invitations yourself, right on your computer.

Office Max, Office Depot, etc., carry them. In addition, various Web sites have free invitation templates that you can download.

One way to add class to your invitations is to have a friend with beautiful handwriting address the envelopes for you (maybe this can be his/her wedding gift to you). It’s a lot more elegant than computer-generated address labels.

The bottom line is: Do your homework, make the hand-written addresses elegant, and pick pretty stamps. You won’t sacrifice style; you’ll just save money.

And naturally, the less people you invite, the less invitations you have to send out!

THE WEDDING When it comes down to it, the number of people that attend your PAGE 24

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

wedding will have the greatest impact on the total cost. More guests mean more food and drink, a larger reception hall, larger wedding cake, and so on.

The difference between 100 and 200 guests can be substantial. Make sure that you invite the people that are important to you, but don’t go overboard. Remember, you have to spend time visiting with all of your guests at the reception. This can take hours of your time, and it doesn’t even include all of the other events.

VENUES Restaurants, function halls, church halls, your grandma’s house, the top of a mountain—your choices are endless.

Again, you have to agree on what kind of wedding you’d like, and take it from there.

There are home weddings and there are home weddings. As far as saving money goes, they’re great if you’re having a small crowd and want something simple and elegant—or if you’re inviting a big crowd, but want it casual. But if you have a big guest list and want something lavish, it could very expensive. (Think of the movie Father of the Bride and you’ll realize what I’m talking about!)

Bringing in caterers, setting up tents and tables, not to mention arranging for parking, etc., is no way to save money.

Function halls and hotels can be expensive, but if your wedding is on the smaller side, it can work. Let’s face it—they’re in the wedding business and they know what they’re doing. You won’t have to hire caterers or arrange for tables and chairs; they know where to set up the microphones—you get the picture. Many places offer different packages, so go with the least expensive one if you can. And some places will offer discounts in the off-season.

Look for deals. My husband and I got married at a beautiful Victorian inn in the White Mountains of New Hampshire—which I found online (we were living in Boston at the time).

Because most of our guests and the

wedding party stayed there, there was NO charge for the reception room, which was in the dining room. The only stipulation was that the wedding had to end at 6 p.m.— in time for them to serve Saturday night dinner. The wedding started at noon, so that was fine with us, and well worth it. Besides, all of our guests were staying the weekend, so we partied with them all night, anyway.

DECORATING, FLOWERS AND THE BOUQUET If you or someone you know enjoys doing crafts, you can find most of the raw decoration materials at hobby or craft stores. If you take care of the decorations yourself, not only will you save money, but you will have full control over how it looks.

What kind of flowers do you want? Real flowers are beautiful, but do you really need to spend all that money to have fresh flowers throughout the whole banquet hall? You can save a great deal by simply using fresh flowers for the table centerpieces and using silk flowers for accent decorations elsewhere. If you insist on using fresh flowers, think about buying the flowers in bulk and creating the arrangements yourself.

If you’re buying the flowers through a florist, order flowers that will be in season. For example, daffodils are beautiful and not very expensive in the spring, but over-priced at other times of the year. Roses can be found year-round and are usually reasonably priced.

Stay away from the exotics like tuberoses, gardenias, orchids, or calla lilies—especially if you and your bridesmaids are carrying larger bouquets.

FOOD AND LIBATIONS As far as food goes, you folks down here already have it all figured out. I come from prim-and-proper Boston, and every wedding I have ever been to has been

a formal, sit-down dinner affair, which is infinitely more expensive than a buffet. There are seating arrangements, so you have to look for your guest card when you enter the dining room. Children are rarely invited due to the cost. I have been to weddings where single people were not allowed to bring dates unless they were engaged! (And many a friendship or family connection has been destroyed over this—oh, the drama!)

When I received my first wedding invitation after I came to Lake Charles, I couldn’t understand why there was no RSVP card with it—until I went to the wedding and found out that it was a buffet.

Buffets are so much cheaper, so go with that— and you will be glad you did.

Another significant cost comes in the form of the bar service. If you choose to have an open bar, keep in mind that alcohol is not cheap. Most places have the option to choose a house or premium alcohol package.

Consider whether or not you really need top-shelf options, as the house option may be much less.

You’ll also want to think about the length of the open bar service. Remember, not only are you paying for the drinks, but you have to pay for the servers and bartenders as well. A good plan is to keep the bar “open” during the cocktail hour (or hours), and have it become a cash bar when the food is served. It’s perfectly acceptable.

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trash. Food favors are nice because, well, they can be eaten and won’t sit around collecting dust. There are lots of delicious Louisiana treats that will fit the bill.

Tree seedlings are something everyone will love. They will always remember your wedding with this unique idea.

Wrap the plastic pots in colorful fabric to disguise them.

Flower seedlings or seed packets are also memorable and useful. Wrap them in any way that is appropriate for your wedding, and tie with ribbon or raffia.

Favors that are personal to the bride and groom are fun.

Put together a booklet of family recipes, or create a CD with an insert explaining why you chose each song.

THE WEDDING CAKE Down here, you have the extra expense of the groom’s cake to contend with. (I never heard of the custom until I moved here—but I love it.) All the more reason to try to save money if you can.

Some couples only invite 50 guests, but they still order a cake that serves 300. Please! With cakes going for $2-$15 a slice, that’s ridiculous. While a large cake looks impressive, a small cake can be charming. If height is a priority, consider asking your baker to use a separator set, and adding fresh flowers between the layers. Or, use a large cake topper.

If you are having more than 100 guests, ask for a display cake that only feeds 100 people. Use inexpensive sheet cakes in the back to feed the extra guests. No one will ever know!

MUSIC DJ’s are much cheaper than a band. I personally prefer DJ’s because you can pick all the songs you want ahead of time, and you can guarantee that they’ll be played exactly the way you expect to hear them. I’m funny about that.

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someone else who isn’t doing it justice.

Here’s an even less expensive idea, You or a family member may have more at your disposal for this aspect of your wedding than you even realize. A laptop or MP3 player with a song selection list and a good set of speakers will provide hours of unlimited music with little human intervention necessary.

As long as you have someone willing to do some announcing and occasionally stopping and restarting the music, you will be all set and not have to even figure in any cost for a band or DJ. But I know bands are popular, and there are lots of good party bands in the area. Some are pricier than others, and not necessarily worth it, so make sure you know what you’re getting. Hear them in person, get referrals—you know the drill.

The same goes for DJ’s.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO Photographers are very expensive nowadays.

This might not be an area you want to skimp on, because if the photos and video aren’t very good, well, that’s that. The day is over—and you’re stuck with poor quality photos.

If you do have a friend or family member who takes really good pictures, and money is tight, you can always ask them to play photographer. Or perhaps, spend your money on a professional still photographer, and have a friend videotape the event. And don’t forget the disposable cameras at every table. People love taking pictures—especially after a few drinks!

Remember, it’s your day. Despite the economy, you can have the wedding of your dreams. Shop around, use the Internet, get referrals, and most of all, start planning early.

You’ll be amazed at what you’ll put together.

Weddings 2009

Dest inat ion Weddings D

Destination weddings are becoming more popular every year. In the past, marrying away from home usually meant eloping. Those days are long gone. Today, the idea has shed its stigma and a growing number of couples are shunning the traditional formal affair for a casual, intimate occasion in their dream honeymoon spot.

Destination weddings generally involve just the couple, or the couple and a select handful of friends and family. The “reception,” if any, is more like a big party and held when the couple returns home for all those who couldn’t attend.

Here are some reasons why destination weddings have become so popular:

THEY’RE MORE OR LESS STRESS-FREE They are almost guaranteed to be simpler (and faster!) to plan than a traditional wedding and reception for two main reasons: Resorts and cruise lines have made it easier and more attractive to wed on-site. Many employ full-time wedding coordinators who are familiar with that country’s marriage license requirements and who offer wedding packages that take care of all your ceremony essentials (photographer, cake, minister, etc.). You step off the plane and sign the papers; they take care of the rest. How simple is that?

Tourist boards are jumping on the bandwagon, with brochures listing ceremony sites and local wedding vendors in their area. Many governments are working to ease restrictions on marrying overseas. The old days of wading through mountains of red

tape are on their way out.

If you’re not getting married at a resort, you can hire a stateside wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings, contact a local planner where you will be wed—or you can start early and do it yourself.

Either way, you won’t have to plan a reception—which will be a load off your back.

THEY’RE COST EFFECTIVE Destination weddings are highly affordable. For example, you can fly to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, get married, and stay for a deluxe weeklong honeymoon for a few thousand dollars, including lodging, meals, drinks, and airfare. Compare that with your average 150-guest wedding costing about $22,000 — which can easily skyrocket to more than $40,000 in big cities — plus a few extra thousand for a honeymoon.

To ease the financial burden, many couples choose to travel to a place where they can get married, have a honeymoon, and still have some money left over to start their new lives together. Especially in this economy, it makes a lot of sense.

YOU MAKE THE RULES Formal weddings hold meaning for many couples—and their families.

Especially if Mom and Dad are footing the bill, they won’t be happy if you run off to an exotic isle. Even if they come along, they won’t be able to show off their child on their big FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 27

wedding/honeymoon for you, it is an expense for others.

day the way they could at home—not to mention invite everyone they’ve ever known. But that’s the beauty of a destination wedding. You get to call the shots. If you’ve untied the apron strings and are doing it on your own, this is great way to begin your new independent life.

You can have a ceremony in a location that reflects your true colors.

Best of all—you make the rules! You can wear what you want, go barefoot if you like, toss flowers into the ocean—you name it! If you can dream it, you can do it.

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PERFECT FOR SECOND MARRIAGES Couples who are getting married for the second time (or more) love destination weddings because they’re simple and private. It’s perfect for the bride and/or groom who have done the lavish production before and want something more intimate this time around. If there are children involved, you could get married at a kid-friendly, all-inclusive resort or cruise to help your new combined family bond.

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME REUNION OPPORTUNITY There’s an amazing amount of running around to do before a traditional

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wedding. Destination weddings, on the other hand, are basically a vacation.

Generally, you’re required to arrive a few days early to fill out the paperwork, so by the time of your wedding day, you’ve already had two or three days of fun with your love, family, and friends. When was the last time you spent no-rush quality playtime with dear friends? This is your chance!

TAKE NOTE Don’t keep a constant eye on the time. Remember, many tropical islands run on “island time.” Things happen when they happen. Keep an

open mind. Minor mishaps can sometimes make for the best memories.

When packing, don’t forget to allow ample room for your gown— which is why it may not be a good idea to go overboard on your choice of gown. Especially at an island resort, you should keep it simple.

Tell your bridal party about the destination before you ask them to stand up for you. This will give them the chance to gracefully decline if finances are tight.

Don’t be upset if some of your closest friends or relatives don’t attend. While this is a money-saving

Mexico has a little bit of everything — from four- and five-star resorts (often at a fraction of U.S. prices) to a staggering array of natural wonders. It’s not just about the beach: Your guests won’t want to miss Mexico’s ancient archaeological sites from the Mayan ruins on the Yucatan peninsula to the pyramid-lined Avenue of the Dead, just outside of Mexico City.

Sunbathing and sightseeing go hand-in-hand on the beaches of Cancun along the Yucatan Peninsula, where it’s also easy to reach some of the most stunning Mayan ruins. Los Cabos is home to some of the country’s most striking scenery, but the sometimes-choppy water makes these beaches better for kayaking and sailing than for swimming.

The best golf courses are found on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, while Puerto Vallarta is the great place to go for a true taste of Mexican culture, and colonial-era architecture.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

One of Mexico’s most popular ceremony spots is appropriately named Playa del Amor - Love’s Beach — near Cabo, which has breathtaking views of the Pacific.

MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS Residency requirements: Two to four days to complete paperwork, depending on the location.

Necessary documents: Drivers licenses or passports; certified copies of birth certificates which have been translated and notarized by the Mexican consulate with jurisdiction over the place of birth; copy of tourist card or visa; names, addresses, ages, nationalities and tourist-card numbers of four witnesses Note: Marriage requirements vary in Mexico depending on the city.

For more info: Mexico Tourism Board, (800) 44-MEXICO or visit visitmexico.com

JAMAICA Another destination wedding favorite, Jamaica is popular for its beautiful beaches, coral reefs, cascading waterways and fastflowing rivers. Water sports run the gamut from sailing and yachting to deep-sea fishing. River rafting is especially good on the Martha Brae and the Rio Grande. At Dolphin Cove, visitors can swim with a family of bottlenose dolphins or visit with rays, eels and sharks.

Sports enthusiasts find plenty of choices and superior facilities. A total of 12 golf courses offer varying degrees of challenge and elegant clubhouses for relaxation.

Horseback riding covers both land and sea, and a day at the races can be thrilling.

Museums and galleries present intriguing exhibits. The performing arts flourish here, with lots of theatre and dance, plus every imaginable music genre from rock to reggae. Dining is deliciously diverse everywhere in Jamaica, with options that range from elegantly chic to street-food casual.

There are a wide choice of accommodations available in each of Jamaica’s six resort areas: Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and South Coast. Five-star hotels are luxuriantly elegant and all-inclusive properties offer entertainment and value for all ages.

MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS Residency requirements: Visitors can be married just 24 hour after arriving in

Jamaica providing prior application has been made for a marriage license. To apply for the license, call the Ministry of National Security at (876) 906-4908 or visit the Ministry (address below).

The cost of a license is four thousand Jamaican dollars (approximately U.S. $75U.S.$80).

Necessary documents: Unlike many countries, Jamaica does not expect you take a blood test before getting married.

However, the following documentation is required: • Proof of citizenship - certified copy of birth certificate, which includes father’s name.

• Parent’s written consent if under 18 years of age.

• Proof of divorce if applicable (original certificate of divorce).

• Certified copy of death certificate for widow or widower.

There are non-denominational marriage officers who can officiate either at their offices, in their homes or at a place chosen by the couple, and are able to provide witnesses. They charge anywhere from U.S. $50 – U.S. $250.

Registrars Offices The registrar’s office should be contacted for specific rules regarding planning your destination or beach wedding in Jamaica.

They will also provide information regarding marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

We’ll make your wedding reception a memory that will last a lifetime.

We’re specially equipped to handle all the delicious details of your gatherings.

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PAGE 29

The Ministry of National Security Mutual Life Building 2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica Tel: (876) 906-4908 Office Hours: Mon. to Thurs. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fri. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

HAWAII Hawaii has always been overwhelmingly popular, not only for its incredible beauty, lush beaches, and balmy climate—but because this tropical paradise is in the United States— which means a minimum of paperwork.

If you’re into sun, beachcombing,

PAGE 30

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

surfing, dining, snorkeling—you name it—Hawaii is the place for you. From the bustle of the city of Honolulu to the black sand beaches of the Big Island of Hawaii to the luaus of Maui, Hawaii has so much to offer—in some of the most beautiful settings in the world.

There are dozens of resorts, wedding planners and wedding packages available, and there’s bound to be one that will suit your style. Get on the Internet and start looking!

MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS Necessary documents: To get married in Hawaii, a marriage license must be received from the Department of

Health before the wedding. No blood tests (or divorce records) are required, only valid photo ID’s and $60 cash.

You can download the document at: www.hawaii.gov/doh/records/vr_marri. html, or contact the Hawaii Department of Health at (808) 586-4544.

Important: If you are under 19 years old, you need to bring your birth certificate and a photo ID as proof of legal age to marry. If you have been divorced less than two months, you need to bring your divorce decree.

Single persons 18 years of age and above may marry without parental consent.

Heart

HEALTH

Separating Heart Health

Facts from Fiction In most cases, myths are harmless and can even be amusing. But when it comes to your heart health, believing the many myths about cardiovascular disease can be life-threatening.

Even with modern medical innovations, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of 750,000 people each year. That’s a death from heart disease every 33 seconds. Twenty-three million Americans are living with the disease, which represents nearly 12 percent of the total U.S. population.

That means it’s probably affecting you or someone close to you today, or will in the future.

Cardiovascular disease includes heart attack, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke and high blood pressure. Researchers have estimated that if Americans could eliminate all major forms of cardiovascular disease, their life expectancy would increase by 10 years.

One of the reasons that heart attacks continue to claim so many lives — despite so many medical advances in cardiac care — is that so many myths about heart disease persist. “We’ve come so far in the fight against heart disease, with better prevention, early detection and treatment methods than ever before at our disposal,” said Cardiologist John Winterton, M.D., a member of the medical staff of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. “But I am still amazed by how pervasive numerous misconceptions about heart health

care in our patient population.

Many of these myths are not only wrong, but are dangerously misleading to those who believe them.”

Huge ongoing public education campaigns by organizations like the American Heart Association have made great strides in helping people understand the causes and symptoms of heart disease, but Cardiologist Richard Gilmore, M.D., with Lake Charles Medical and Surgical Clinic, said this is a very complex, and often confusing, health issue, with a long list of risks, symptoms and treatments.

“With new research reports publicized in the media on a daily basis, it’s easy to see how so many misconceptions flourish,” he said. “Adding to the problem is that many people may actually be aware of the facts, but are in denial about the state of their own heart health. They choose to believe what they want to believe when it comes to making those tough decisions about living a heart healthy lifestyle.”

Winterton added that knowledge is a powerful weapon in avoiding heart disease, but can only work if your knowledge is based on proven facts, not second-hand reports and health myths. To help set the record straight, here are some of the most common myths about heart disease along with the facts.

Myth: More women die from breast cancer than from heart disease.

Fact: Heart disease kills eight times as many women as breast cancer does. Forty percent of women’s deaths are from heart disease and stroke.

Dr. Gilmore explained this myth likely exists because heart disease starts about 10 years later for women than it does for men. In addition, heart attack symptoms present differently in the sexes. Women’s symptoms are likely to include indigestion-like discomfort, nausea, back or neck pain and vague chest pain or pressure, along with more common signals such as acute chest pain and shortness of breath.

Myth: If you’re overweight, you must reach your ideal body weight to improve your heart health.

Fact: Losing even five to ten pounds can improve your heart health, especially if the weight comes off your midsection.

“When you lose pounds from your middle, the body’s ability to handle cholesterol and improves significantly,” said Dr. Winterton. “Don’t worry about trying to look like a supermodel, but instead work on slimming down gradually with regular exercise and a balanced, low-fat diet.”

Myth: I can stop taking my cholesterol medication now that my levels are at the recommended target.

Fact: High cholesterol is a condition that is “managed,” not “cured.”

Dr. Winterton said that although some people are able to manage their cholesterol levels through diet and exercise, others need cholesterol medications on a daily basis to keep their cholesterol under control. “These only work while you are taking them. Once your levels are at more desirable levels, it may be possible to lower the dose, but this should only be done under the supervision of your doctor.”

Myth: I am too young to have a heart attack.

Fact: Heart disease can occur at any age. Although it is not common, heart attacks can happen when people are in their 20s and 30s.

Dr. Gilmore says when this occurs, it is usually caused by high cholesterol levels that are hereditary. “That’s why it’s important to be aware of your family history and to start preventative care early when you know you are at risk.”

Myth: Food labeled “no cholesterol” won’t hurt your heart.

Fact: Cholesterol isn’t the only thing you want to avoid in your diet.

Saturated fat causes the liver to produce more LDL cholesterol. Trans-fats are especially harmful to the heart.

Polyunsaturated fats are less harmful, but monounsaturated fats, such as those FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 31

found in olive and canola oil, may be the most protection of all.

Dr. Gilmore advises that you read labels carefully so you know what you’re getting. He says some “no cholesterol” foods aren’t as healthful as manufacturers would like you to believe.

Myth: Drinking alcoholic beverages every day is good for you.

Fact: In moderate amounts, some research has shown that red wines and dark beers seem to increase the amount of HDL cholesterol.

“However, in large quantities, alcohol damages the body, including the

PAGE 32

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

heart, so this is by no means a recommendation to overuse alcohol,” said Dr. Winterton. Other beverages, such as tea and grape juice, also provide antioxidant benefits, without the adverse effects that can be associated with alcohol.

Myth: Chest pain always occurs if you are having a heart attack.

Fact: This is not always true.

People who have experienced a heart attack often describe pressure, squeezing, heaviness or burning in the chest rather than sharp or stabbing chest pain. Chest discomfort occurs less often in people with diabetes. Other

symptoms that can signal a heart attack include neck and shoulder pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and shortness of breath.

Myth: I don’t have a family history of heart disease. I have nothing to worry about.

Fact: Although there is a strong genetic component to heart disease, there are other important risk factors to consider.

Lifestyle factors such as being overweight, smoking, not exercising, stress and consuming a high fat diet can also put you at high risk for heart disease, according to Dr. Gilmore.

Myth: Smoking causes lung cancer, not heart disease.

Fact: Smoking is one of the most important preventable causes of heart disease. It increases blood pressure, which damages the heart’s blood vessels. Smoking also decreases levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol. This can lead to hardening of the arteries.

Dr. Winterton said that it’s never too late to quit. Within 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure may begin to decrease, even if you’ve smoked for years. Within 24 hours, your risk of a heart attack may decrease. Within one year, your excess

risk of heart disease may reduce to half that of a smoker. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease may be similar to that of someone who’s never smoked.

Myth: If you exercise and are not overweight, your cholesterol levels will be good.

Fact: Dr. Gilmore says you can’t always count on this. In addition to exercise, there are many other factors that affect blood cholesterol levels, such as diet, smoking, family history, age and gender. Physical activity helps improve blood cholesterol levels by increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol, maintaining a healthy body weight and improving the overall fitness of your heart and blood vessels.

These are just a few of the many myths about heart disease. There are many more, and as more research is done, facts often get misinterpreted, adding to the confusion. The solution?

Talk to your doctor. Both cardiologists agree that it’s important for people to stay up to date on new developments in heart health, but you should always rely on your doctor for the most accurate information relating to your specific condition. And remember, the truth may not set you free from heart disease, but without it, you are at a much greater risk.

First Lady Supriya Jindal Promotes

Heart Health Awareness

www.banners.org

Tickets available through membership, Web site and at the door.

First Lady Supriya Jindal recently announced that the Governor’s Mansion will join monuments around the country that will be lit up red every night for the month of February to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease.

“Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the country,” First Lady Supriya Jindal said. “We tend to think of heart disease as a men’s issue, but, unfortunately, more women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. In Louisiana, this silent killer has taken the lives of more women than men.”

“The Mansion’s lighting is one of many activities we will be involved in to encourage heart healthy lifestyles,” she said. “I encourage men and women to not only listen to their bodies, but to also prioritize proactive measures such as exercising and eating healthy. By establishing healthy habits for our families, our children will also carry this heart healthy behavior into adulthood.”

The First Lady continues to work with the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation, as well as with the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign. For more details, please visit www.goredforwomen.org.

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PAGE 33

Heart Association Urges Weighing

Benefit, Risk of Radiation Tests Heart scans such as computed tomography (CT) scans should be used judiciously to minimize exposure to ionizing radiation, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

One source of ionizing radiation is diagnostic tests that use X-rays such as computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy (a video X-ray such as an angiogram), or nuclear medicine studies. There has been some concern about the relationship between low-dose ionizing radiation (the kind used in medical imaging) and cancer.

While the risks are low, there is still uncertainty as to the exact level of risk.

With the use of imaging on the rise, particularly cardiac imaging, the association saw the need to advise practitioners on the prudent use of medical imaging exams.

PAGE 34

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Facts about ionizing radiation • Medical imaging is the largest controllable source of radiation exposure to the U.S. population, and its most important determinant is the ordering healthcare provider.

• CT studies in 2006 accounted for about half of the medical radiation dose of the U.S. population.

• Among nuclear medicine studies in 2005, cardiac imaging represented 57 percent of the studies and accounted for about 85 percent of the radiation dose.

• Medical imaging that uses X-rays is growing by 5 percent to 10 percent per year.

The recommendations for physicians • Cardiac imaging studies that expose patients to ionizing radiation should be ordered only after thoughtful consideration of the potential benefit to the patient, and in keeping with established appropriateness criteria.

However, medically appropriate examinations should not be avoided because of concerns regarding radiation dose.

• Health care providers should diligently review patient records, including those from other medical institutions, to ensure that imaging studies are not needlessly repeated.

• “Routine” surveillance radionuclide stress tests or cardiac CTs in symptom-free patients at low risk for heart disease are not recommended.

• If a cardiac imaging study that uses ionizing radiation is needed, every effort should be made to reduce patient dose, while still maintaining image quality that is sufficient for confident interpretation of the exam.

There is no federal regulation of radiation dose, except for mammography, according to the advisory.

Therefore, the appropriate use of equipment and radiation dose is up to the imaging facility and physician.

The purpose of the advisory is to

make general recommendations for the safe use of cardiac imaging that uses ionizing radiation.

The advisory notes that when speaking to patients about the risk of developing malignancies as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation in medical imaging, it may be instructive to compare this risk to the risks of developing a malignancy or dying as a result of conditions or activities of everyday life.

For example, the lifetime odds of dying from the radiation of a coronary angiography are 0.5 per 1000 people, whereas the risk of dying from a natural fatal cancer is 212 per 1000 people, and the risk of death from passive cigarette smoke for someone married to a smoker is 10 per 1000 people.

Heart

HEALTH

The Secret Life of Bees (2008) 1/2 (Grade B-)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) (Grade B) Directed by Eric Darnell Voices of Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Cedric the Entertainer, David Schwimmer, Andy Richter, Jada Pinkett Smith DreamWorks — Rated PG — Animated — 89 minutes The sequel finds zoo friends boarding a plane bound for New York City, only to crash-land on the African savanna. While Alex the lion (Stiller) is challenged by a devious usurper (Baldwin), Marty the Zebra (Rock) and Melman the Giraffe (Schwimmer) confront issues of their own. Gloria the hippo (Smith) is wooed by a hippo exhibiting his Barry White groove.

McGrath, Miller and Knight return in expanded roles as a gang of unruly penguins trying to start their own airline. The film works overtime to resolve many plot threads, but it’s the humor that keeps us traveling back to Madagascar.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) 1/2 (Grade C-) Directed by Kevin Smith Starring Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, Jason Mewes, Ricky Mabe, Craig Robinson, Katie Morgan Genius — Rated R — Comedy — 101 min Friends since grade school, flat mates, Zack and Miri are an unlikely couple. At 28, Zack still works at a coffee joint and Miri constitutes his entire social life. While Zack squanders his paychecks on juvenile toys, an argument against growing up is made

by Delaney (Craig Robinson), another overage coffee server. Trapped in an abusive marriage, Delaney kowtows to his demanding wife. Yet, the film never explains what prompts Miri to

put up with Zack’s irresponsible behavior and why she agrees to star in the skin flick that Zack promises will pay the past-due bills on their apartment. Zack’s cockamamie scheme grows out of a chance meeting, at their 10-year high school reunion, with a self-described star of amateur gay porno flicks (Justin Long). Though few alums remember Zack, he calculates he and Miri can easily sell 800 copies to their onetime classmates because “everyone is curious to see people they know having sex.” Zack and Miri’s saccharine relationship fails to elucidate the underlying subtext of their youthful quest for love and acceptance. Rogen appears to be a surrogate for 38-year-old Smith’s own search in this uneven romantic comedy that is far from the writer-director’s best work.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008) (Grade B) Directed by Peter Sollett Starring Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Jay Baruchel, Alexis Dziena, Rafi Gavron, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo Sony — Rated PG-13 — Comedy — 89 minutes Nick and Nora (Cera and Dennings) discover their mutual attraction during a kiss meant to make their ex-others jealous, and find their chemistry enhanced by a shared love of music. Having heard the CDs he made for ex-girlfriend Tris (Dziena), Nora admires Nick’s musical taste.

Sharing an affinity for a New York City band that performs in undisclosed locations, Nick and Nora decide to scour the city for the group’s current venue. It’s a deceptively simple but effective setup that examines the excitement and anxieties generated by budding romance.

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood Starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany, Hilarie Burton, Nate Parker Fox — Rated PG-13 — Drama — 109 minutes A Southern drama set in 1964; Secret Life examines racial tensions of that era. Following clues left by her deceased mother, a white girl, Lily Owens (Fanning), her black nanny (Hudson) in tow, arrives on the doorstep of the black Boatwright sisters. Unaware Lily is lying about her abusive father’s (Bettany) death, the beekeeping sisters take Lily in and treat her like one of the family. August (Latifah) mothers the runaway while August’s sisters, June (Keys) and May (Okonedo), confide in the girl.

Lily falls-in-like with a local boy (Wilds), but tragedy soon befalls their circle in this diligent, but cloying adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s bestseller.

Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2009) 1/2 (Grade B-) Directed by Michael John Warren Starring Will Chase, Shaun Earl, Eden Espinosa, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Andrea Goss, Rodney Hicks Sony — Not Rated — Musical — 152 minutes A group of NYC East Village residents pursue love and art while battling AIDS and fighting eviction. The movie is set in the 1980s, during efforts to gentrify the Lower East Side where drag queens hold sway. The story focuses on the bohemian lifestyle embraced by struggling artists as they attempt to protect their choices.

Richard Libertini, Perry Anzilotti, Dan Cortese, John Enos Lions Gate — Rated R — Comedy — 104 minutes Eight years after being dumped by his girlfriend (Petroro), 27-year-old Jake (Jablonski) is unable to move on.

Jake’s friends try to help — setting him up with Marisa (Vincent) — a beautiful Italian veterinarian from Boston’s North End. Jake, the owneroperator of a fish market, is afraid Marisa won’t take him seriously unless she believes he is Italian.

Trapped by his lie, Jake solicits advice on Italian culture from his bickering staff (Kapelos, Enos and Libertini).

The film, loosely based on the director’s own romantic experiences, depends upon comic situations so familiar that Jake’s efforts to find love seem like a paint-by-the-numbers scheme.

Lakeview Terrace (2008) 1/2 (Grade C+) Directed by Neil LaBute Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington Sony — Rated PG-13 — Thriller — 110 minutes Interracial couple, Chris and Lisa (Wilson and Washington), find themselves unwelcome next-door neighbors of LAPD cop, Abel Turner (Jackson).

Casting a black actor in the role of unrepentant racist could have taken this film where others fear to tread, except that loose canon Turner is in a league by himself. To drive away Chris and Lisa, Turner sabotages their property and harasses Chris. Likewise, on the job, Turner has a tendency to take the law into his own hands. In attempting to right their situation, the couple’s greatest challenge is overcoming the refusal of other cops to look past Turner’s blue uniform. Unfortunately, both the script and Jackson’s overacting, create a film more pitiable than enlightening.

Everybody Wants to be Italian (2008) 1/2 (Grade C-) Directed by Jason Todd Ipson Starring Jay Jablonski, John Kapelos, Cerina Vincent, Penny Marshall, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 35

Book Beat

By Terri Shlichenmeyer

Quirky Obits Book Will Tickle You to Death You’re a pretty fast talker, but you’ll never get out of this one.

You can plead, cajole, bargain, wheedle, whine, beg, beseech, make offers, make amends, and make intercessions, but it’s not going to work. You can ask nice, pretty please with sugar, and get down on your knees in supplication. But in the end, you’ll be stuck.

Because in the end, you’re going to die.

It happens to all of us.

If you’re lucky, though, or if you’ve led an exemplary life or have done interesting things, you may join the few who are immortalized by The Economist, a weekly British newsmagazine. In the new book, The Economist Book of Obituaries by Keith Colquhoun and Ann Wroe, you’ll read brief life stories of notaries, and others who should just be noted.

For the first 150 years of its existence, The Economist didn’t include obituaries. When 1980s-era British journalism made obituaries “lively, literary and irreverent,” Wroe says it was suggested that a “single obituary each week could add zest to [The Economist’s] back pages…” Writing obituaries wasn’t considered a plum job until Keith Colquhoun assumed the task in 1995 (Wroe succeeded Colquhoun in 2003).

In this book, you’ll find the ubiquitous politicians and businessmen.

Cyrus Vance is eulogized, as is Claudia Alta Taylor (known to the world as Lady Bird Johnson). So are Estee Lauder; David Packard of Hewlett-Packard fame; the founders of Club Med and Mensa; a beer man and a Beatle; and two wealthy women who died within days of one another.

No obituary book is complete without royalty (Princess Diana), heroes (the Columbia seven), and old warriors (the last French footsoldier of World War I, and a World War II soldier who emerged from PAGE 36

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

hiding 27 years after war’s end).

You’ll read about the glitterati of literati (Hunter S. Thompson and Mickey Spillane), Hollywood hotshots (Stanley Kubrick and Anna Nicole Smith), fashion-makers (Gucci) and law-breakers (Indian poacher and murderer Veerappan).

The thing is, though, you can find those obituaries anywhere.

What makes this book so fascinating are the eulogies of unusualness: The victim of Great Britain’s only criminal investigation for assault by a UFO; a hobo, a beach bum and a eunuch who served China’s last emperor. The last native speaker of Eyak, a now-lost language. A man obsessed with the origin of “okay.”

A geisha who was a reluctant spy during World War II. Think you don’t have time to read? You do when you’ve got The Economist Book of Obituaries. Pick up this heavy book, open anywhere, and dive in. Each eulogy is two pages in length, which means you won’t be stuck in the middle of a long chapter, nor will you feel bad about skipping any parts. The quirkiness factor is very high here, with biographies of statesmen next to those of inventors, followed by those of eccentrics in history.

If you have a curious mind, love the unusual, or if you turn to the obits page first thing in the morning, this irresistible book will tickle you to death.

The Economist Book of Obituaries

by Keith Colquhoun and Ann Wroe Copyright 2008 Bloomberg Press $29.95 / $34.95 Canada 409 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.

t i m e s

picks the best in lake area entertainment

MSU ART PROFESSOR EXHIBITS IN LAFAYETTE FEB. 14 - MARCH 6 — McNeese State University professor of art Heather Ryan Kelley is having a solo exhibition Feb. 14-March 6 in Lafayette’s Acadiana Center for the Arts.

The exhibition title is “Piso Mojado” and has as its subject imagery derived from floor surfaces. The exhibit opens Feb. 14, as part of the monthly second Saturday ArtWalk, and will include 50 oil-on-canvas and mixed media paintings.

The Acadiana Center for the Arts is located at 101 West Vermilion St. in Lafayette. For more information, contact Rose Courville, ACA curator of exhibitions, at (337) 233-7060.

THE MCNEESE SYMPHONIC BAND AND WIND SYMPHONY FEB. 19 — The McNeese Symphonic Band and the Wind Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 19, in F.G. Bulber Auditorium at McNeese State University. The free concert, under the direction of Dr. Jay N. Jacobs, will feature a wide variety of music for brass, woodwinds and percussion. Among the works by the Symphonic Band will be “Cajun Folk Songs,” a work by Louisiana native, Frank Ticheli. The Wind Symphony, the premier wind and percussion ensemble, will perform a 20th Century program that includes works by Eric Whitacre, Ronald LoPresti, Dana Wilson and Henry Fillmore.

CHRISTIAN WORLD PRESENTS AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR FEB. 25 — The internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir will perform in a free concert at Christian World in Lake Charles on Wed., Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. This is the only Louisiana concert scheduled for the 2009 tour. A love offering will be taken for the choir. For more info, visit www.christianworld.cc or call 475-0157.

MARDI GRAS MAMBO AT ISLE OF CAPRI FEB. 21 — Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel will have its first public Mardi Gras Ball Saturday, Feb. 21 from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Dance to the music of Barry Badon & The Bayou Boys, enjoy drink specials throughout the night, eat king cake and catch some beads. Join us for a great time. Tickets are available for $10 beginning February 9 in the Banana Cabana Gift Shop. Call (888) ISLE-VIP for more information. Must be 21 to enter event. For more information visit www.isleofcapricasino.com/Lake_Charles.

LCLT STAGING ALL-STUDENT MUSICAL CHARLIE BROWN FEB. 21 - MARCH 8 — An all-high-school cast has been announced for the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Lake Charles Little Theatre. The show, based on the classic Charles M. Schulz comic strip “Peanuts,” opens Feb. 21 and runs three weekends through March 8. Most of the cast members are making their Little Theatre debuts. The director is Barbara Downer, who has directed community, school and Gridiron shows locally. The box office opens Mon., Feb. 16. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students with ID. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Reservations are recommended. For tickets, call 433-7988 or go online at www.thelclt.com.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM MARDI GRAS WORKSHOP FEB. 23 — Come to ArtSpace to weave a beautiful Mardi Gras place mat! The workshop is free of charge for museum members. Non-members will be charged $1 per child. Classes are limited to 15 children and begin at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Children’s Museum is located at 327 Broad Street downtown Lake Charles.

Museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is $6.50 for children and adults. Memberships and parties are available. Contact the Children’s Museum at 433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org for more details.

HOUSTON’S LABARE AT ISLE OF CAPRI FEB 23 — The temperature is rising on Feb. 23 when Houston’s LaBare will perform live in the Event Center at Isle of Capri® Casino & Hotel the Monday night before Mardi Gras. Seven of the hottest male dancers will provide exciting entertainment for the evening. This will be LaBare’s sixth appearance at Isle of Capri Lake Charles.

Tickets available for $20 prior to show and $25 day of show by calling (888) ISLEVIP or in the Banana Cabana Gift Shop at Isle of Capri. Must be 21 to enter event.

Drums of War MCNEESE BANNERS PRESENTS DRUMS OF WAR MARCH 6 — The McNeese Banners Cultural Series and the Department of Performing Arts are co-presenting Drums of War: The Sacrifice for Troy, which will be directed by its creator and designer, Theodora Skipitares. The result will be a puppet spectacular that will tell the story of meddling gods, the fantastical character of beautiful Helen, the shores of fabled Troy, and the heat of battles between the superheroes of the Trojan Wars. Drums of War will take place on Fri., March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in F.G. Bulber Auditorium, McNeese campus. Tickets will be sold at the door and are also available at the Lake Charles Civic Center Box Office or online at www.banners.org (click on “Drums of War”). Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $5 for students and free for McNeese students with ID. Tickets are part of the memberships to both the Banners Series and McNeese Theatre. In addition, there will be a free performance of excerpts from the full productions at 9:30 a.m. on Thurs., March 5 in F.G. Bulber Auditorium. To reserve seating for this free performance, call LaDonna McKnight at (337) 475-5123 or e-mail her at ladonna@mcneese.edu.

BLUES TRAVELER AT L’AUBERGE MARCH 19 — Blues Traveler will perform poolside at 8 p.m. on Thurs., March 19 at L’Auberge du Lac Casino. The doors open at 6 p.m. for the season’s first outdoor concert. Blues Traveler has played more than 2,000 live shows in front of more than three million people. Their hit single, Run Around, is the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history. Tickets are priced at $15 through Ticketmaster. Guests who present a Mychoice card at the L’Auberge Business Center will pay just $10.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 13; all tickets are general admission. Show tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 488-5252 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available at L’Auberge Business Center.

All major credit cards are accepted.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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"Just Add Vodka" — mixing it up a little.

by Matt Jones • ©2008 Jonesin' Crosswords Brought to you by Melanie Perry, Agent State Farm Insurance

Last Issue’s Answers

Across 1 R.R. stop 4 "Eureka!"

7 March 17 honoree, for short 12 Actress Madeline of "Young Frankenstein" 13 Swimmer in the 1984 and 2008 Olympic Games 16 Racing dog attempts to sleep really close?

18 It may take many people to clean them up 19 Supervisor 20 Punch-to-the-gut noise 21 Lawn ornaments with hats 23 Gorbachev was its last leader: abbr.

25 Keep in place, like an article of clothing 29 Maine resident's swamps?

33 "Lost" actor Daniel ___ Kim 34 Like first, second, or third 35 Physics unit 37 Servant's complaint about serving a British queen one course of a meal?

40 Annual plant that produces many future plants, as its name would suggest 41 Home theater component, maybe 42 Quaint, in a rural kind of way

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

21 Gil who played Buck Rogers 22 In a grand way 23 West Coast sch. with a sister 45 No. on a business card campus in Berkeley 46 Green movement's concern: abbr. 24 Automaker headquartered in 47 Sweep up, say Trollhattan, Sweden 53 Lazy place to store your tools 25 Haughty in the kitchen?

26 Country singer Arnold and reggae 56 Dinner mix with a glove on the box singer Grant, for two 57 Barely manages, with "out" 27 Stop on ___ 58 Flat boats 28 ___ cavae (vessels near hearts) 59 ___-cone (carnival treat) 30 Sits after microwaving 60 Airport security org.

31 What vain people think may get them far in life Down 32 Fastened 1 Draped dress 36 Mazda minivan around since the late 1980s 2 It's promoted as infallible truth 38 It may fall near acorns 3 These days 39 "Rainbow" dessert 4 Hoo-has 42 Suffix after song or snooze 5 Frau's domain 43 Happen 6 Barack Obama's Secretary of Education ___ Duncan 44 "___ Doone" (1869 novel) 7 City map lines: abbr.

45 Florida baseball team, on some scoreboards: abbr.

8 Blouse, e.g.

47 WWW address 9 Free, in legal circles 48 Doesn't guzzle 10 "Get ___, you two!"

49 Fifty-fifty 11 High-strung 50 Inflatable bed company 12 23-across's CIA counterpart 51 "I ___ debt of gratitude to..."

14 They take up space in the newspaper 52 Chivas USA's sports org.

15 Leaky radiator noise 54 Monogram of the United States' fattest president 17 "The Girls Next Door" magnate, familiarly 55 ___ Moines, Iowa

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Fish Heads Fish Heads

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aybe you haven’t heard of the Radiators, but there were plenty of folks in Lake Charles on a cool Wednesday evening who had, and they packed the house for some “fish head” music at Central School Arts and Humanities Center with the Louisiana Crossroads. Touted as New Orleans’s longest-running rock band, the Radiators brought to the stage remnants of the city, people, musicians and experiences in a style all their own that had its birth in 1978.

With influences from many legends of New Orleans’ R & B, blues and funk, the Radiators created the unique style that keeps the fans loyal and coming back for more. Todd Mouton of Louisiana Crossroads kept the crowd going with his jovial banter as the Radiators wowed the crowd with their distinctive brand of entertainment. Fans such as Ken Gaar and Ronnie Dowty, who had heard the band for years, and Fred Eason who’s “been listening to fish head music since 1974” were there to see and hear once again.

I fully expected to see dancing in the aisles but was disappointed; however, I did see lots of folks keeping time to the music and dancing in their seats. Huh? Some special folks at the show were Kay and George Crosby, Ellie and Charles Lemoine, Judy Hannan and daughter Erin and sister Barbara Dugas, Judge John Hood and entourage, Roxanne

PHOTOS SHOWN: 1–Judge John Hood came to the Radiators concert escorted by Roxanne Germany, Kathy Bellard and Annette Tritico.

2–Erin and Judy Hannan and Barbara Dugas arrive for Louisiana Crossroads Thirty Years of The Radiators.

3–Coming in for the Louisiana Crossroads presentation of Thirty Years of The Radiators are Charles and Ellie Lemoine.

4–Joseph, Danella and Jerry Forsyth enjoy family night out at the Radiators concert.

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5–David Friend fan, Analynn Sober with Joseph Peltier, Joseph Guidry and Paul Moore at the David Friend Guest Recital.

6–Johnny and Jane Arrington arrive for the David Friend recital at Squires Recital Hall.

7–At the David Friend Guest Recital are Stephanie Hulsey, Katie Evans, Carol Hidgen and Alice Pippin.

8–Christy Vogt, coordinator of piano studies at McNeese with Emilee Wix and Spring Fontenot, a piano student at the Guest Artist Piano Recital.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 9–Old friends David Friend, Guest Artist, and Dorothy Salhmann meet at the Guest Artist Piano Recital.

10–Annaiye, Aaron and Demetria Johnson enjoy the opening reception for Joseph Pearson and Da Blues.

11–Friendly artists Aaron Johnson, Matt Duplichan, Larry Schuh, Gilary Gayle and Ken Baskin at the Da Blues opening reception at Central School Arts and Humanities Center.

12–Cynthia Daigle, Paul Picheloup, Derrick Guidry and Vivian Reed-Guillory at Da Blues.

Germany, Kathy Bellard and Annette Tritico, Reve Greenberg and daughter Jill. For information on future Crossroads programming, go to www.louisianacrossroads.org.

David Friend is no stranger to Lake Charles, and friends and family were delighted to welcome him home. The Shadow met David a couple of years ago when he appeared as guest artist at a Lake Charles Symphony concert, and therefore was eager to attend the Guest Artist Piano Recital presented by the McNeese State University Department of Performing Arts. The weekend “Amerinnovations” Piano Workshop included the Guest Artist Recital, a Master class for piano students, and an “Amerinnovations” Student Recital, all held in Squires Recital Hall.

The event was supported in part by the Lake Charles Piano Teachers Association in memory of Sarah Gibbs Spencer who was a long-time piano teacher and a member of the association. And speaking of teachers, David was reunited with his former piano teacher, Dorothy Sahlmann, who also assisted him on stage during the recital.

The artist brought sounds and techniques to the stage developed

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 13–Cynthia Daigle with artist Joseph Pearson at the opening reception of Da Blues.

14–Art Associates Board Members Mary St. Romain, Reva Chesson, Adrianne Hunt and Bonnie Anderson attend the opening reception of Da Blues.

15–“Still Life with Blue Table” shown here with artist Whitney Smith on right and Shane LeBlanc at the Juried Student Exhibition.

through his adventurous and openminded versatility. He performed some interesting and unusual techniques, producing new sounds from compositions by various composers.

According to McNeese’s Dr. Christy Vogt, these new sounds are new art forms. After a couple of selections, the artist began pulling items from inside the piano, including nuts and bolts, rubber, weather stripping and even a wooden spoon. I never saw anything like that! It was an unusual treat for the senses by a clearly recognizable master of the keyboard.

In a concerted effort, the Art Associates Gallery and the Black

Heritage Gallery invited the community to the opening reception for Joseph Pearson’s Da Blues Exhibit at Central School Arts and Humanities Center. His artwork fills two galleries (Art Associates Gallery and the Black Heritage Gallery); is filled with a range of mediums, and will stir emotions and inspire you. All his paintings tell a story, such as Demetira Johnson’s favorite “Still I Rise,” which shows a woman on hands and knees but with one foot up indicating hope. Matt Duplichan was intrigued by the mixed media piece titled “Girl Reading Danielle” which included fabric as a medium.

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 16–Shown with Kimberly Arp, Juror for the Juried Student Exhibition and wife Jocelia is Heather Kelley, Professor of Art at McNeese at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.

17–Friends, Ashley Dugas, Michelle Lavoie and Bethany Stefinsky enjoy the Juried Student Exhibition at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.

18–McNeese students, Camille Abshire, Alex Onken and Amber Irwin came to see the artistic work of fellow students at the Juried Student Exhibition.

Food and drink were in abundance as representatives from both galleries welcomed guests. Charlie Snead, President of the Art Associates Gallery and board members Mary St. Romain, Reva Chesson, Adrianne Hunt, Bonnie Anderson, Kay Crosby, Patty Grande and Gayle Cline assisted, along with Black Heritage representatives Derrick Guidry, Paul Picheloup and Barbara Cahee. Others in attendance included, Aaron Johnson, Larry Schuh, Hilary Gayle, Ken Baskin and Matt Duplichan. Da Blues will remain on view through Feb. 27.

The Imperial Calcasieu Museum, in conjunction with the McNeese State University Art Department, recently presented the 2009 Juried Student Exhibition, calling upon Kimberly Arp, Professor of Art at LSU, to make the winning selections.

The place was crowded with McNeese art students, families and friends, all eager to see this splendid show of talent, imagination and expression.

Susan Reed welcomed all to the event and introduced Lynn Reynolds, McNeese Visual Arts Department Head, who in turn introFEBRUARY 19, 2009

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 19–Fans of the arts, Len & Oili Barchak enjoy the Imperial Calcasieu Museum showing of the Juried Student Exhibition.

20–Katie & Gray Stream with Maestro William Kushner at the Lake Charles Symphony Discovery Series.

21–At the home of Stream Family Home for the Lake Charles Symphony Discovery Series are Sara Dennison and Joyce Mendelson.

duced Arp. An artist in his own right Arp viewed the many submissions with expertise and an eye for detail.

Winners included Laura Corman (Illustration) Sandra Lewis (Printmaking) Beth McCoy (Photography) Devin Morgan (Mixed-Media) Clay Moreau (Graphic Design) Marielle Myers (Ceramics) Robin Stodder (Painting) and Marcus Watson (Drawing).

The exhibit will remain at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum through Feb. 28.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

The Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra is a showcase of exceptionally talented individuals from Lake Charles and the surrounding area. The outreach of the LC Symphony includes informative preconcert glimpses of upcoming concerts aptly named the Lake Charles Symphony Discovery Series. Held in private homes and open to the public, the series presents performances by small ensembles from the orchestra.

The most recent of these events was held at the Stream Family Home hosted by Katie and Gray Stream.

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PHOTOS SHOWN: 22–Arriving for the Symphony Discovery Series are Ginger Pruitt and Fletcher Pierson.

23–Lake Charles Symphony Board Members, Dorothy McDaniel and Donna Richard attend the Discovery Series.

24–Frank Pruitt and Stan Chapman looking forward to the pre-concert discussion and music at the Symphony Discovery Series.

Debbie Reed, Symphony Director welcomed the guests while Dorothy McDaniel, Mary Ann Viator and other members of the Symphony Board provided that southern hospitality touch. Patricia Prudhomme and Donna Richard were among those who provided yummies such as chocolaty brownies, mini cheesecakes, homemade chicken salad sandwiches and more that proved to be irresistible to the Shadow.

Spacious and welcoming with sparkling libations and delectable finger foods, the Stream family home was the perfect setting for friends and music aficionados to gather for entertainment and edification of “Sounds From the New World” as

Lonnie Benoit, Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Percussion Studies at McNeese, and two of his students, Brent Gibson and Eric Boyett presented excerpts from the upcoming Symphony Concert. Filling the entry way was a marimba and an assortment of concert drums, all of which the musicians employed to grandly present excerpts from “The Glory and the Grandeur,” “Sea Refractions,” and “One Too Many.” This was but a tantalizing taste of what was to come on Sunday as the Lake Charles Symphony presented Concert # 3 at Rosa Hart Theatre.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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Dispatches from DeRidder Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce Has Lots to Celebrate J. Shirlene Cooper

T

he Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet, an annual “red-carpet” event, drew a crowd of well over 300 this year.

Conducted in the fairgrounds exhibition hall on Thurs., Jan. 29, the affair marked the 89th year for the chamber’s official introductions of new board members, in addition to honoring Beauregard Parish’s top businesses of the year.

The social hour included plenty of mingling with representatives from the area’s business community, as well as civic leaders and members of Beauregard’s many service organizations and non-profits. The music provided by Adam Lagneaux Productions set the tone as friends greeted old friends, and staff from one company took time to chat with employees of another.

At the request of the event emcee, KVVP radio station manager Rick Barnickel, guests made their way to assigned tables and a dinner feast, catered

by Mrs. Emily’s Kafe, Kakes and Katering. Much “shop talk” continued as friends and co-workers sat down to brisket, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and spiced cake. Wait staff – members of the Rosepine High School Student Council, made sure that drinks were kept topped off.

“It’s been a great year,” DeRidder Mayor Ron Roberts said, opening the evening program. Referring to the recent introduction of the Beauregard Education Link (BEL), he said he was “proud of the creation of our own college in DeRidder, Louisiana.”

The education center, located in what is commonly referred to as “First Street School,” serves students with a variety of post-secondary adult education classes and leisure learning opportunities.

The mayor also shared information about the area’s economic soundness. He said that contrary to the current national trend, the City of DeRidder had not had a down month in regards to sales tax revenues; but rather, had experienced a

JRTC and Fort Polk commander, Brig. Gen. James C. Yarbrough served as keynote speaker for this year’s chamber banquet.

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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce 2008 President Dick Myers (left) officially relinquishes the gavel to 2009 President Leon Lagneaux.

Prior to being named “”Big Business of the Year,” family and staff from City Savings Bank and Trust shared a table and fellowship at the 89th Annual Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet, in January.

During the chamber banquet festivities, keynote speaker Brig. Gen. James C. Yarbrough (from left), Kathy Yarbrough, Susan Myers, 2008 Chamber President Dick Myers, Ann Lagneaux, and 2009 Chamber President Leon Lagneaux gathered for a quick photo.

consistent increase over the last two years. “I feel the momentum. I feel the enthusiasm. We are at the very center of excitement in Louisiana,” he said.

Fort Polk commander, Brig. Gen. James C. Yarbrough served as keynote speaker for the event.

Having earned his commission from Tulane University in New Orleans, Yarbrough told banquet attendees that he and his wife, Cathy, had requested assignment at Fort Polk. On that note, he said he wanted to “share some good news” about the recent land acquisition for the neighboring military installation.

In January, the Department of the Army announced authorization for the purchase of an additional 100,000 acres. Yarbrough described this achievement, which will actually double the size of Fort Polk, as “a perfect storm of good decisions,” adding, “Never in the history of Fort Polk have things looked this bright.”

He said that between the years of 2004 and 2011, community members could look forward to $700 million in improvements at Fort Polk, including upgrades in training, with about 200 new trainers coming on board, as well as better housing and new businesses.

Additionally, 10 brigades would be training, operating and moving through the base and area on an annu-

al basis for the next few years.

Using a pet name for Fort Polk, Yarbrough said, “The priorities are right here at Camp Swampy.” The area’s increasing sales tax revenues, coupled with its rising construction, were an indication of an ever-growing list of opportunities, he said. “I’m here to tell you that I stand shoulder to shoulder with you in working on those opportunities. There’s no place I’d rather be,” he concluded.

Stepping to the podium, Dick Myers of Boise, Inc., presented a review of 2008 and his year as chamber president. Included in the events and projects either conducted by or in partnership with the chamber were the Super Saturday Auction, the 5K Fun Run; the tournament; and the Christmas Parade. Myers also spoke about recent happenings and developments, such as the BEL, and a trip to “Chamber Day at the Legislature.”

Honors for the chamber, Myer said, included membership to the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (LACCE) and Chamber Executive Vice-President Avon Knowlton’s recognition as Chamber Director of the Year.

Myers then conducted the “passing of the gavel,” handing over the mallet of leadership to incoming chamber president Leon Lagneaux of

Amerisafe, who expressed his excitement about recent progress in Beauregard Parish. He also pledged to work diligently with the chamber board and the community toward the economic security and development of the area.

Leaving the board at the end of their terms were Danny Kyle of Mead Westvaco; Robie Touchette of City Savings Bank and Trust; Martin Scott of Wal-Mart #405; Kelli Broocks of Beauregard Memorial Hospital; Wendy Stine-Smith of Stine Lumber; and Wesley Taylor of Fortune Forest Products.

In his first act as president, Lagneaux introduced new officers and members of the chamber’s board of directors, including Patty Evans of Walmart #505; Kade Bardin of Bardin Vending; Faith Thomas of TXI, Inc.; Mike Harris of Beauregard Electric; Webb Stark of Beauregard Federal Savings Bank; Deanna Phelps of Barksdale Federal Credit Union; and Paul Cador, retiredMilitary Affairs. Officers joining past president Myers and 2009 president Lagneaux are President-elect Jim Merritt of Sabine State Bank; and Treasurer Charles Barfield, retired.

Finally, Chamber Executive Vice President Avon Knowlton stepped forward to conduct the highly anticipated

portion of the evening: The official announcements of Businesses of the Year.

Two Sisters Pecan House and Deli was named “Small Business of the Year;” Morris Tire Service, Mid-size Business of the Year;” City Savings Bank and Trust, “Big Business of the Year;” Beauregard Memorial Hospital, “Corporation of the Year;” and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), “Non-Profit of the Year.”

Knowlton also took time to give credit to those individuals who had supported the chamber and community with gifts of time, money and elbow grease. “Volunteers of the Year” included Rose and Glenn Epperson, Erika Anderson, Jennifer Taylor, Glenda Dean, and Faith Thomas.

Even as the celebrations began to wind down, there were still other winners. At each dinner table, one guest held a highlighted program, which became the winning ticket for door prizes. Lucky winners collected an assortment of donated gifts as they made their way out, thus drawing the curtains closed on another successful year for the business community and the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce.

FocalPoint Media & Marketing is currently seeking a Graphic Artist. The successful candidate must possess strong graphic art - design skills complimented with good organizational skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, be attentive to detail, and able to juggle multiple projects in a creative environment.

The candidate must have expert computer skills, consisting of experience with Adobe Products, Quark and other imaging or creative software used in conjunction with graphic design, illustration and web design.

Mail or drop off resume and samples of work to FOCALPOINT MEDIA & MARKETING 617 Drew St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 FEBRUARY 19, 2009

PAGE 45

Below: A beautiful February day pond fishing.

Andy Jacobson displays several nice bass he caught Saturday morning.

Above: George "Tip" Cline gets into the Mardi Gras spirit at the Krewe de la Famille ball.

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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FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Below: Chloe Bertrand participating in Our Lady Immaculate Catholic School's Jump for Heart. She jumped for more than 10 minutes and could have kept going! All proceeds from this service project will be donated to the American Heart Association. Her parents are Melody and Terry Bertrand. All live in Jennngs.

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.

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

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