LakeCharles.com Articles

Local fighter Josh Quayhagen erupts L'Auberge with yet another Bellator victory

Fri, 25 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Although on May 18^th, L”Auberge Casino played host to a night of most excellent MMA action, the top story of the night was local fighter and owner of Performance Evolution gym Josh Quayhagen.

Coming from Leesville, Quayhagen is a "bigger picture" fighter. He is not a blood-thirsty brawler looking to get rich by knocking people out. On the contrary, Josh has the ultimate respect for martial artists and all the fighters involved. It is a love and a passion that equates into determination to hone his God-given skill set. A journey of self-discovery.

But what rounds Quayhagen out is his will to pass on martial arts to those around him. The term “Peaceful Warrior” characterizes Quayhagen's philosophy for fighting.

“At our gym Performance Evolution starting in June we are gonna have a Peaceful Warrior Training Day for an hour or two on Wednesdays throughout the summer. This will be a free program to join, but it must be each kids own decision to join and they must fill out a small admission and commitment form. This program will give the young people of the Calcasieu area a chance to come together to try and change their own world for the better,” Quayhagen encouraged LakeCharles.com.

Quayhagen continued, “The first mission for this group will be taking on is "Knocking out bully by Killing with Kindness." How they will do that will mostly be up to them. But we will be teaching and helping them learn the “Peaceful Warrior” way of life. Myself along with many other passionate people including my father Ric Quayhagen, Wayne Crader, and John Newport, all three of whom are Martial Arts Black Belts help out our PE Karate Team. I also hope to get more teachers, speakers, athletes, and others involved with the program.”

Quayhagen also works with people of all ages in his own gym. Performance Evolution. According to their website, “PE is innovative Fitness, the most complete Mixed Martial Arts programs, and Sports/ Athletic Training... We help you reach any goal: lose weight, improve self-defense and self-confidence, improve your game, meet new friends or whatever your goal is. Performance Evolution or PE is a combination of Fitness, Martial Arts, Athletic Training, and MMA. Our programs are based on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)”.

With airings on Spike and MTV2, Bellator Fighting Championships is rapidly growing as one of the most viewed MMA leagues. Quayhagen has been stacked up against two very tough opponents in his last two fights. Cosmo Alexander was a Muy Thai Champion who many people in the MMA world expected Josh to lose to. His fight last Friday against a very quick Cliff Wright might have seemed close to the average viewer, but the decision went Josh's way after three rounds of simply getting better shots in and overall domination.

Josh is an unassuming sight in the ring. He is only 5'11” and 155 pounds. But his eyes are open wide and his reflexes are spot on. On top of a solid overhand right, Josh has both a left and a right kick that land faster than a jab.

“The next fight is always different from the last. In the fight itself because every opponent has there own strengths and blend of mixed martial arts style. This sport is too open ended to be the same. Its one of the things I like the best about it. You have to put your personality into it,” Quayhagen informed.

The MMA fans of Lake Charles and surrounding cities feel very lucky to have the Bellator fights here in town. These events sell out every time and the Bellator staff is as professional as they come. Considering the way the entire room erupted when Josh's name was called out, it is obvious Bellator will continue to book him on the local card.

On the future, Quayhagen commented, “A victory means moving forward and getting better. Of course a loss means means the same thing, moving forward and getting better. A win means getting where I plan to go faster, and a loss is just a set back. I plan to move forward in my life's destinations either way because my true victory is my Christian Faith so really nothing that can stop me.”

Hats off to all fighters like Quayhagen who are so much more than just fighters. And a huge thanks to Bellator for hosting there “Peaceful Warriors” so the martial art fanfare can grow in our area. For more information, please visit Bellator.com.

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CrossFit Lake Charles team goes to the South Central Regional

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

During the weekend of April 27-28, our local CrossFit Lake Charles gym sent a team to the South Central Regional Competition in San Antonio. Out of the thirty teams that qualified, CFLC finished 7th. Might not sound like a big deal, but the pool of thirty started out as a pool of thousands.

And on top of that, the South Central Region includes the state of Texas.

If you plan to start doing CrossFit, you might as well do it at the 7th fittest gym (also known as a “box”) in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The CrossFit Games has a new format where anyone can enter. The workouts are judged and scored by their own local judges and submitted to the website for posting or even by video. From a huge field, CFLC fell into the qualifying group of thirty teams from a pool of over 700 teams. To give you a better idea of just how remarkable it is to qualify for Regionals, the number of total athletes who signed up for the open was over 68,000.

By now, even the slightest fitness enthusiast has heard of CrossFit, but for the sake of clarity here is the definition: “CrossFit describes its strength and conditioning program as “constantly varied, high intensity, functional movement,"with the stated goal of improving fitness (and therefore general physical preparedness) which it defines as "work capacity across broad time and modal domains”. (Wikipedia)

In other words, CrossFit is hard, often times to the point of nausea. It is without a doubt a test of the will. But standing up to that challenge provides rewards and results that fuel it's annual growth of 350%.

“We want to spread the awareness of what is it that we're doing. This is a worldwide thing and the competitions are compared to the Olympics. These people are serious athletes and the winner gets crowned “Fittest Man/Woman on the Planet,” CFLC co-owner and coach Ashley Navarre shared.

The prize for the top Male, Female, Team and Masters finisher is $250,000. That is 150K more than the winner of the Boston Marathon.

“To be able to be in competition with eight year old boxes and have them chasing our times was a greater feeling than winning the whole thing. To hear our name getting called all weekend long was amazing. We were always the first heat and smashing the times, so the second and third heats were chasing us,” Navarre shared enthusiastically.

The top three Male, Female, Team, and Master fisher from their particular region goes on to compete at the games. CFLC was four places away from a trip to the 2012 CrossFit Games with a 7th place finish at the South Central Regional Qualifying. After a disappointing 2011 showing, Team CFLC is extremely proud of this finish.

“ Last year the regional competition was at a ranch. This year it was at a coliseum. In one year CrossFit has grown tremendously.”

“I was not surprised at all as to how well we did. We've been training since January and I know the six of these people's heart so together we were a “super-team”. What was surprising was the workouts we thought we had an advantage on were toughest and then vice versa.

CFLC's team consists of Mitch Sawyer, Danielle Sawyer, Ben Vines, Detlef Gharst, Ashley Navarre, and Megan Norris. Detlef, Megan, and Ashley all are coaches at CFLC. If the way they coach is any sign as to the way they train, then it is no surprise that the downtown gym has continued growth. From the view on Broad Street, onlookers can see that every 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. classes are well attended.

“I have heard from many of my clients that other boxes are lenient on form. I think that plays a huge part in our success. Our team knew what depth they needed to go to and the standards for all the moves and we knew how that felt like,” explained Navarre.

CFLC client Coy Vincent attended the 2012 Regional competition in San Antonio.

“I really just wanted to go so I could see what's going on after hearing all about it in the class. I also have family in San Antonio so it was a nice vacation.”

“The thing that stood out to me was how many fit people there were across the board. Also you never saw a carbonated drink or popcorn like at typical sports events. It was all water, fruit, or nuts and jerky,” Vincent described.

Vincent usually attends class in the afternoons several times a week and enjoys the unmatched camaraderie and the coaching.

“They had some tremendous athletes at Regionals. I mean some real animals, but our team went toe to toe with them. To have finished third in three out of six events is a pretty remarkable feat. Just like at the competition, its always great when people finish a workout and instead of leaving or hitting the showers, they stay and cheer the people on who are still going. Then you feel like you have accomplished something together,” Vincent shared enthusiastically.

Vincent spends a good deal of time on the road and visits other CrossFit gyms when he is in other cities. He is convinced after his experience in other “boxes” that the coaching here at CFLC is far superior than other cities.

CFLC plans to attend the Regional Competition again in 2013 and refuses anything less than a trip to the games. Keep up with CFLC's progress at crossfitlakecharles.com.

For more information on CrossFit Lake Charles or to meet any of the coaches call (337) 721-3262.

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Benefitting Area At-Risk Kids: The Good Works of BAAK

Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

BAAK of SWLA got its start in Lake Charles and the surrounding area in 2009. A rash of child abuse cases, and more importantly, the case of a couple that physically abused their three children, resulting in the death of their one year old, became the reason BAAK was formed. At the time this tragedy happened, Bob Redmon happened to be searching for a worthy cause to be the recipient of the proceeds of a poker run.

This heartbreaking story led Redmon to Amy Dunn, executive director of Educational and Treatment Council (ETC) and Harbour House, a non-profit organization that helps abused and at-risk children.

“Harbour House is the only facility in our five-parish region that has a safe haven for these kids,” said Redmon. After meeting with Amy, he knew he’d found his worthy cause—and led to the formation of the non-profit BAAK (Benefiting Area At Risk Kids) of SWLA, which is now in its fourth year.

Harbour House, one of several programs within the ETC network, was opened in 1985. It’s an emergency shelter for children in need and serves abused, at-risk, or vulnerable youth; runaways and homeless youth; and children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.
Kids come to Harbour House through referrals from schools, counselors, law enforcement, foster care workers or by parents or children contacting the shelter themselves. Ages range from nine to 17, with an average age of 14.

Harbour House serves approximately 12 children on-site at any given time. A staff of approximately 30 supervises, teach, and cook for them. There are two classrooms and a computer lab on-site provided by the Calcasieu Parish School Board. There is also counseling and therapy for individuals, families, and groups.

“The average length of stay for these children is about two weeks,” Dunn said. “These kids want to go home. They want a family. They want to be loved and nurtured. The majority of our kids do go home.”

Harbour House serves youth from families that are struggling. “Maybe the parents are dealing with tough parenting issues or other problems,” she continued. “Harbour House is a safe place for the kids to be while the parents do what they need to do and improve their home environment. We offer the families counseling and parenting programs. These parents are like any parents — most of them want good things for their kids. But they don’t know where to go or how to do that.”

BAAK consists of a diligent 13-member board of directors. Redmon, who is the board president, carefully recruited people whom he knew and trusted, all of them movers and shakers in the community. He purposely chose people with varied backgrounds, such as advertising, medicine, legal, retail, industrial, and secretarial. The board is a microcosm of the local community, so they can recognize its needs and relate well to the area.

Redmon is proud of his hard-working board. “You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with,” he said. “I’ve got the best board of directors I’ve ever worked with in my whole life. They’re dedicated. Their mission is to raise and donate funds to help the children at Harbour House. They organize fundraisers throughout the year and have several upcoming events.”

UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
• The Inaugural BAAK of SWLA Golf Tournament will be held on May 5 at 7:30 a.m. at Mallard Cove Golf Course. This is a four-person team scramble, with an entry fee of $400 per team. Food and drinks will be provided. Call the Mallard Cove Pro Shop for more information at (337) 491-1204 or go to ETC’s website, www.etcyouth.org, to register.

• On June 2, the BAAK board will host its annual benefit at Micci’s Lounge on Ryan Street. This fun-filled day of events includes a poker run, a silent auction, and a 50/50 split. They’ll raffle off two Saints football tickets with an overnight hotel stay in New Orleans. BBQ chicken dinners will be sold from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $6 a ticket, and will deliver orders of ten or more. Three bands will take the stage: Perfectly Good Airplane, Signature, and Bryan Fontenot and Outlaw, from Ottawa, Kansas. There’s something for everyone (it’s not just for bikers!).
For those of you who are unfamiliar with poker runs, this fundraiser event consists of motorcycle riders and their passengers who bike to five different stops, usually bars. At each establishment, they pull one card from a deck of playing cards. After all five stops are completed, whoever has the best poker hand wins. You can register for the poker run at Micci’s Lounge or through BAAK’s website, www.baakofswla.com at a cost $25 per rider, $15 per passenger. Participants receive a T-shirt.

• Each year, the City of Lake Charles hosts Downtown at Sundown, a concert series held four Fridays from mid-May to mid-June. The dates this year are May 18 to June 8 from 6-9 p.m. BAAK will facilitate the sale of beverages at these events, with proceeds benefiting Harbour House.

BAAK’S OBJECTIVES
BAAK’s primary purpose is to raise money for the children at Harbour House. But they don’t stop there. They truly care about these kids, and get personally involved with them.
Katy Corbello has been on the BAAK board of directors for two years. “We come out and do a Fun Day with the kids after an event,” she said. Members of the board participate with cookouts, games, bouncy blow-ups, DJs and karaoke equipment. Or they might join the kids for an art activity.

“It’s eye-opening and rewarding at the same time,” Corbello added. “No child deserves to be left behind. We put in an extra effort for these kids.”

Redmon and his board want these children to know they are important and loved. “Some of these kids have never had the attention that they deserve,” he said. “They might not have the parental support or the love and care that they need.”

Redmon hopes that, by the board spending time with them, the kids will come to learn there are people who care about them, no matter what their circumstances or where they came from.
Part of the mission at ETC and Harbour House is to help reconnect youth and families with the community.

“A lot of the people we serve often feel disenfranchised, or they’ve been labeled as problems, or they feel defeated,” Dunn said. “We want to reconnect them with the community and let them know that they are assets, that people care about them, and that they have something to offer the community. Our goal is to help them become productive members of society, and give them skills and resources so they can stay connected to the community. Having the BAAK volunteers come out and do Fun Days with the kids is part of that reconnection.”

BAAK’s third goal is to increase public awareness about what Harbour House is, what they do, and how they help the community and the five-parish region. They want to educate the public about the issues facing some of our area youth.

“We discovered there’s a lot of people who are unfamiliar with the problems of kids in our area – abused kids, at-risk kids, vulnerable kids,” Redmon said. “A lot of people say, ‘I’ve heard of Harbour House, but what is it?’”

He loves to answer that question. “We’re getting the word out to the community about the problems that exist with youth in our area,” he said. “More and more people want to help address that problem.”

BAAK also encourages people to speak up and report a potential problem if they see a situation involving a young person that doesn’t seem right.

BAAK has been more successful with each passing year. As evidence of their growth, in their first year of fundraising, they donated $3,900 to Harbour House. Last year (their third) they raised $24,800! “We’re becoming established now,” Redmon said. “We’re making a name for ourselves.”

VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED
Redmon admits that BAAK couldn’t do what they do without the support of the community, local area businesses, and a tremendous number of volunteers. They hope to sell 3,000 BBQ tickets this year (with help from students from Delta Tech and the McNeese State University cheerleaders)—and it takes a lot of manpower to cook and assemble that many chicken dinners. Redmon encourages people to volunteer.

“Everyone has spare time,” he said. “I wish more people would organize their schedule and take some of that spare time, not even necessarily for this organization, but just go help somebody.”
Many ETC staff members volunteer time to help at BAAK events. “These ladies have been tremendous,” Redmon said. “They get there early in the morning and work late in the afternoon and love every minute of it.”

“As the organization recipient of the fundraisers, it’s been inspiring for our staff to have this group of dedicated volunteers,” Dunn added. “We work here, but they are volunteering their time and energy to assist us in our mission.”

She said that is why her staff is willing to volunteer at BAAK’s events. “BAAK doesn’t have to do this,” she said. “They could have chosen another organization, but they chose us. We’ve been extremely fortunate and grateful for their willingness to partner with us. Having this partnership with BAAK also helps us get the word out to more people about who we are, what we do, the services we provide, and the needs of youth and families in the community.”

“It’s been a win-win situation for both parties,” Redmon said. “These kids really do appreciate it. We’ve come over for the Fun Days and they’ve had a thank you card as big as a table, and a big cake [for us]. When we come in, they hug us. I don’t know what it does for the kids, but I know what it does for me and the other board members. Even though we’re tired at the end of an event, it makes us think, wow, it was worth it. We put a smile on a kid’s face.”

For more information on BAAK of SWLA, their events, or how to volunteer, check out their website, www.baakofswla.com, or call Bob Redmon at (337) 249-7285.

ETC Services

Educational and Treatment Council (ETC) believes that community involvement is crucial to resolving community problems. For that reason, they provide the following programs at no cost to eligible families.
• Harbour House. Emergency shelter and support services for youth ages 9 – 17 who are in need of a safe, temporary place to stay. The shelter serves runaway and homeless youth, abused and neglected children, status offenders, foster youth, and other children in crisis situations.
• Transitional Living Program. Supervised apartment housing and support services for youth ages 16 – 21 who are aging out of the state juvenile and foster care systems. The program helps youth attain their education and learn basic life and work skills.
• Resource Program. Child abuse and neglect prevention program helping parents referred by the child welfare system to improve parenting skills, keep children safe, and preserve the family. The program offers Nurturing Parenting courses and Visit Coaching.
• Drug Court Treatment Services. Outpatient drug treatment program designed to help substance-abusing youth overcome addiction. A component of the Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice Services.
• Family Support Services. Counseling and support services delivered directly in client homes to address issues, teach new skills, build on family strengths, and improve relationships.
• Crisis Intervention Services. Home-based assessment and intervention services for youth experiencing a mental health crisis. Families access services through the 24-hour CART crisis hotline (800 272-8367).
• Camp New Directions. A weeklong camp for children ages 9-11 focusing on strengthening resiliency and enhancing self-esteem.
• Crime Victims Assistance. Home-based counseling for children involved in the juvenile justice system who are also victims of crimes.
• Youth Reaching Youth. Teen volunteers who are trained to assist in various ETC programs such Camp New Directions and Resource.

By Angie Kay Dilmore
Source: The Jambalaya News

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First Friday Reading Series Presents Fiction Reading

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The First Friday Reading Series returns on Friday, May 4th, with a free fiction reading by two McNeese MFA candidates at 7 p.m. at the Porch Coffee House & Café in Lake Charles. The monthly reading series is sponsored by the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and acts as a way to encourage local poets and writers to further take part in the area’s booming literary scene.

Allie Mariano and Kelly Chase are both second year graduate students studying fiction in McNeese’s Masters of Fine Arts program in creative writing which recently was ranked as the 40th best MFA program in the nation by Poets & Writers. Chase, originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, attended college in Oneonta, NY, and spent time working through AmeriCorps in St. Louis before pursing her studies at McNeese. Mariano is a native of Memphis, TN, and earned degrees in English and French at the University of Memphis before teaching in Angers, France.

The Porch is located at 4710 Common Street in Lake Charles, and live music follows each reading. For more information about the reading series, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787 or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

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The Dang Yankee: Vegging Out: The Sequel

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

There’s one thing I know for sure about gardening in Louisiana—don’t use water that you’ve used to boil crawfish on your tomato plants.

I’ve always known this, or at least I believe I did. Crawfish water has lots of salt in it; you’d do better giving your garden a steady diet of margaritas. That goes for roses and geraniums as well as tomatoes, but unfortunately, it doesn’t hold true for Bubbagrass. That’s the name I use for that pervasive weed that rises up out of the drainage ditch, the one so tall and thick that it could eat an LSU lineman for breakfast. You can’t get anything that would kill that stuff without arousing the attention of Homeland Security.

So then, why would I ever suggest to my wife that she pour the vile red liquid into her freshly planted vegetable garden? I have wrestled with this question for over a week now, and I think that I’ve finally figured it out. In short, the devil made me do it.

It was about a month ago when she attended a garden show. She came home all glassy-eyed, having succumbed to the spell of the Giant Hogweed. I could hear her chanting to no one in particular. “I must have a vegetable garden…I must have a vegetable garden.”

At first, I thought I was in the clear. The yard was so wet from the spring rains that I doubted even rice could grow there. But then, miraculously, the sun came out for two straight weeks, and suddenly I could navigate my property without a pirogue. No longer did I have an excuse. I was about to become a gentleman farmer. (Okay, the gentleman part might be a stretch.)
It’s scary to think about. The Giant Hogweed not only controls my wife; it also holds sway over the weather. It’s out to get me. It’s revenge over the intense chemical warfare I’ve waged on the battleground that is my lawn.

It ruined a perfectly beautiful Saturday afternoon, one tailor-made for watching some Texas Hold-‘em on the big screen with a six-pack at my side, the sun peeking through the window and tickling my cheek. That would have been just enough dissolve any guilt of wasting a perfectly fine day indoors.

But it was not to be. My wife and the Hogweed would not allow me that luxury. Instead, my fate was to slave away the balmy afternoon with hammer, saw and shovel; piecing together a raised bed with scrap lumber and filling it with soil for the benefit of the Hogweed’s minions.
I worked like a dog, oblivious to the beckoning of ESPN and the tall cool ones in the fridge. I, too, had fallen under a spell. At first, I wondered if the Hogweed had claimed me as well. But then, while taking a quick pant between shovels, I ventured a glance towards the pool, and right then I knew the force that controlled me. It was something more powerful than the strongest electromagnet. It is called marriage.

There I saw her, lounging in the floating recliner that I’d bought her last Christmas. The foam is so light that it floats several inches above the water. She had an apple martini in one hand and a paperback in the other. But her eyes were not on that book; they were glancing toward me, and they were accompanied by that familiar, authoritative smile. And to think that the money that lounge cost me would have bought a fine set of mud flaps for my F-150 pickup. You know the ones—fine rubber, complete with the outline of a sexy babe.

That’s the power of marriage. There ain’t no psychic Hogweed that could ever make me go for those mud flaps over her pool lounge.

But still, it seems, the married man possesses deep within himself an innate force that strikes back when his manliness is threatened. And this, I think, is what took control when I suggested that she douse her precious seedlings with the poisonous brine. Deep down, I always knew she was gullible. I knew that from the day she agreed to marry me.

That’s my theory, anyway. My wife’s take on it is different—something or other about the beer talking. Well, she can believe what she wants to believe. I still like to think there was a higher power at work.

I’m counting on it working again. I’m dying to see what it’s going to do now that she suddenly has this new plan to double the garden’s size.

Anybody want to trade some mud flaps for a pool lounge?

By Mike McHugh
Source: The Jambalaya News

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City of Lake Charles to Hold Tuten Park Grand Opening and Arbor Day Celebration

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The City of Lake Charles will hold a grand opening and Arbor Day celebration for the newly renovated Tuten Park, 3751 Nelson Road, on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At 9 a.m. there will be a grand opening ceremony followed by a tree planting ceremony.

Interactive booths for the public to visit throughout the celebration will include the following:

McNeese State University
Team Green of Southwest Louisiana
Junior Team Green, Lake Charles Garden Club
Diggers and Weeders Garden Club of Lake Charles
Boy Scouts of America
Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Home Depot
Calcasieu Parish Public Schools
Louisiana Urban Forestry Council
City of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks

A variety of activities will be offered at the event, including a nature scavenger hunt, a hydrological cycle demonstration, workshops to create bird feeders and planter boxes, tree experiments, and wildlife displays. Also, the City’s “reTREE LC” program will be giving out 50 trees and T-shirts.

The public is encouraged to attend.

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1st Annual "Big Lake Trout-a-thon"

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Bolton Ford has announced its partnership with Lake Charles Tackle to host the 1st annual Big Lake Trout-a-Thon on Saturday, May 12, at Calcasieu Point Landing in Lake Charles. Registration may be completed at either business location, with an entry fee of $100 per team, maximum of two people per team.

Sponsored by O’Charley’s, the Big Lake Trout-a-Thon is a family-friendly event open to all ages. Music, food and drinks will be provided. Adult teams will consist of division ages 13 and up, and a youth division fishing for kids 12 and under. Teams will weigh two best trout with added live-weight bonuses with a chance to win a 2012 Ford F-150 Super Crew XLT 4x4 for catching a Big Lake record trout. A 1st place cash prize of $3,000 with 20 places paid, and Shimano rod & reel combos will be awarded for each division.

The official trout weigh-in will begin at 2:00 pm and will serve as a commencement to the afternoon festivities.

For more information, please contact Jillian Thompson, Director of Operational Marketing at Bolton Ford, at 337.474.0070 or jthompson@boltonford.com.

Media coverage is invited.

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Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue's ask for vet bill assistance.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue is a 501c3 non profit organization. Lake Charles Pit Bull Rescue is a breed specific rescue organization that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of pitbulls and pit mixes.

LCPBR is also an educational based organization. LCPBR educates through breed specific historically correct facts, dog training, specifically bully breed training classes and individual training sessions, and youth based educational material and meetings against dog fighting and animal cruelty.

LCPBR is also dedicated to erasing the homeless pet population through the spaying and neutering of all of our rescued animals, and through the education on the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

LCPBR no longer has a vet that can care for our dogs and they are reaching out to the community and local businesses for help to keep our doors open for the theses animals and owners who can no longer care for them.

If any persons or company would be willing to make a donation of any size directly to our vet office this would benefit this local organization.

All companies who make a donation will be recognized on our face book page and we will also love to advertise for you at our Adoption events as well.

If you would like to donate directly to our vet you can follow the link below.

Donate: http://lcpbr.chipin.com/lake-charles-pit-bull-rescues-vet-bill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesPitBullRescue

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Downtown at Sundown Plans Announced

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The City of Lake Charles announces plans for the annual Downtown at Sundown concert series.

On four consecutive Fridays from 6-9 p.m., the event will feature a variety of music from local and regional bands as well as food and beverage booths, table top galleries, and activities for kids. In addition to heightening awareness and appreciation of the artistic and musical talent in Southwest Louisiana, the event has also contributed greatly to attracting residents, businesses and tourists to Downtown Lake Charles.

The inaugural concert in 1999 garnered a couple of hundred people. Now, there are over 1500 concert goers in attendance each week as the area has become a thriving cultural district with restaurants, nightlife, retail, studios, lofts and offices. Event manager, Denise Fasske said “This will be a transitional year. As the Ryan Streetscape project progresses, it will be necessary to reconfigure the logistics. This year’s event will take place within the 600 block of Ryan Street between Division and Mill Streets. The former site of the event will be open and available for parking cars. We want everyone to come downtown to patronize the businesses and see the ongoing metamorphosis.”

Beverage sales will be facilitated by B.A.A.K. of Southwest Louisiana (Benefiting Area At-risk Kids). B.A.A.K. of SWLA was founded in 2009 with the sole purpose of raising funds to help the abused and vulnerable children of our area. B.A.A.K. has designated that all revenue from beverage sales will benefit Harbour House ETC, the only emergency shelter for youth in the five parish region. Harbour House is a program of Educational and Treatment Council, Inc. (ETC). ETC provides intervention and prevention services which address the issues affecting youth and families who are in at risk situations. Since opening its doors in 1985, Harbour House has been a safe haven for over 7,000 children.

It is through the philanthropic support of The American Press, CITGO, Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel and Entergy that this popular, family-friendly event is sustained. The music line-up will be: May 18, Boomerang; May 25, Chris Ardoin and NuStep; June 1, Soul Vacation; June 8, City Heat.

If inclement weather prevails, the concerts will be held inside the Lake Charles Civic Center. Concert goers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, however, no outside beverages or pets are allowed on site. For more information, call the City of Lake Charles Arts and Culture Department at 337-491-9147 or visit www.CityOfLakeCharles.com

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Locals Owning Businesses – and Loving It!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

What better way to celebrate the local businesses of the Lake Area than on the third anniversary of The Jambalaya News?

Yes, this issue starts Volume Four! It seems like just yesterday we started The Jam on our dining room table on March 9, 2009—and one day short of a month later, we had the first issue out on the stands. I still can’t believe how much has happened in these past three years. What an experience!

It is NOT easy owning a business, as anyone will tell you. A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into it, and you can never relax, can you? There’s always something….

At the same time, it appears that most business owners wouldn’t have it any other way. Once you own a business, it gets in your blood. You call the shots. It’s your baby. And there’s nothing more satisfying than watching your business grow!

The Jam decided to talk to some local businesspeople to find out what made them go out on that limb—and why they’re still there!

The husband and wife team of Oran and Michelle Parker own Parker Brand Creative Services, and are a perfect example of combining the talents of two people and turning it into a business. “Michelle and I both come from families of small business owners,” Parker said. “In fact, I owned and operated a small sign company in North Louisiana before moving back to the Lake Area to reinvent my advertising career.”

The couple spent many years in the Southwest Louisiana advertising scene working for other advertising agencies and production companies before making the leap to start their own company.

“It was all valuable time invested,” Parker explained. “Combining our experiences and talents helped us develop ideas on how to run an effective creative agency in this market.”
The Parkers love their business. “We get to do what we love to do with only our imagination as the limit,” he said. “We’re able to entertain any idea as a possibility.”

The only disadvantages are the occasional odd hours. “But sometimes, that works to our benefit,” Parker said. “In our industry, the deadline is king; there is always that looming about. Still, using rabid project management techniques helps us to keep the clock in check. Deadlines can make stress amp up in our industry. You either thrive in it, or you get left behind!”

Frank Guidry purchased Gayle’s Hardware in 2001—but the business was established in 1902!
“My wife and I wanted something to keep us busy after retirement,” Guidry said. “We wanted something to leave to our daughter and grandson, and the thought of keeping an old piece of Lake Charles alive also played into the decision to buy Gayle’s Hardware.”

Guidry feels that taking over the business wasn’t any more difficult than the other things he’d done in his life. “Having worked with oil and gas, lumber and vehicles, I had a good understanding of inventory and cost management,” he said.

Of course, there were things he needed to learn about the business, but it’s all gone smoothly. “Our daughter has stepped up and learned the business very well,” Guidry said. “She’s taken over purchasing and generally manages the stores operations with little input from me.”
He knows that people grew up shopping at Gayle’s. “It brings back good memories when they come in,” he said. “And, with the one-on-one service we offer, it’s a great way to break away from the ‘big box’ experience we’re surrounded with more and more these days.”

Dixette Williams opened Slender Solutions in 1999 “because I had gained 30 pounds and felt terrible!” she said. “It worked for me, so I decided to try it out.” Slender Solutions is the licensed provider of the exclusive Victoria Morton’s Suddenly Slender, The Body Wrap.
Williams said that once she started advertising, her company started moving fast. “I had to move to a larger building after my first year [which is unheard of], which definitely resulted in more clientele from all over the parish,” she said.

Williams loves the fact that her services are geared towards good health, and encourages a better self image for both women and men . “Their confidence level rose after each session/treatment,” she said. “It was a pleasure watching each client grow!”

She said that the transformation in her clients is definitely the most rewarding aspect of her business. “The only negative is the long hours,” she said. “But, I would definitely do this all over again—with a few changes.”

Harlow’s Lawn Mower Sales had been in business since 1950 when John and Cindy Palma took it over in November of 2004. “John had been a mechanic all of his life, and with his family’s help, we were able to afford this venture,” Palma said.

She admitted it was quite difficult starting out. “We had no previous experience in running a business,” she said. “There’s a lot more to it than repairing lawn mowers.”

But there have been so many positives. “We so appreciate our customers and our Harlow family,” Palma said. “Without the dedication from our employees, we would not be as successful as we are today.” A family-oriented business, they have outside fun with their Harlow family and try to provide a relaxed and fun atmosphere inside the store. “All our customers love our dog, Harlow,” she said. “She’s been coming to work for seven years now!”
Palma said that in retrospect, she’d think harder about the responsibilities of business ownership. Trying to run a business in today’s uncertain climate isn’t easy. “Small businesses do make this country grow and succeed,” she said. “We need to keep these values and freedoms alive!”

Businessman Willie King first started out in business in 1979 with a transmission service—and never stopped!

“Since then, I’ve continued to build and start new ventures almost every year with new investments,” he said. “My funeral home was far down the line of small business ventures. It was started in 1994, and it has grown consistently with our efforts.”
King said it’s a very rewarding business—and you have to give your best at all times. “You must be nice and helpful to people who are hurting inside because of the loss of a loved one,” he said. “You also get to meet the entire community at one service or another. This is a people business.”

At the same time, he admits the funeral business is difficult to start and maintain. “You need people to trust you with their loved ones,” he said. “Then, it becomes a tradition within families to continue using our services.”

King said he would do it all over again if he had to. “But, I would do it much better because of the life lessons it has taught me,” he pointed out. And, he knows that when you own a business, it’s 24/7. “Honestly, you are really never off, even if you say you are off,” he said. “The brain never quits thinking of new ways to love your dreams and make them come true.”
Wade and Staci Boudoin of Australian Super Tans, LLC, opened their business in 1993. “At the time, there was only one other small salon in town, so we knew there was a need for it,” Staci Boudoin said. “We wanted to offer our community a larger salon with the highest quality tanning equipment. Our goal was also to run a very professional, super-clean facility with the best in customer service.”

She recalls that getting started was extremely difficult. “When we tried to get a business loan, the banker thought we were crazy,” she said. “Our industry was still very new and many people did not know much about it.”

But they persevered. “We have been blessed, as our business has grown over the past 19 years,” Boudoin said. “Many salons have opened and closed during this time. With hard work, dedication and a lot of prayers, we have remained a strong, reputable business in this area.”
She said that being willing to commit themselves mentally, physically and financially for several years was a big part of their success. “We started out small and saved and reinvested in our business every year,” Boudoin said. “Australian Super Tans now has three locations in Lake Charles and Sulphur!”

Another couple that started a brand new business from scratch is Scott and Sabrina McCoy, who opened Blazin Truck Parts & Accessories, LLC in March 2009. Sabrina is the owner and Scott is the manager.

“Since Scott had almost 30 years of experience in the heavy-duty truck parts industry, we wanted to bring something new and fresh to the industry in this area,” Sabrina McCoy said.
“With the economy the way it is, starting a new business can sometimes be a challenge, but with the help of wonderful customers, friends, and family, we have had a very blessed three years,” she said. “We are very proud to say that we are the largest chrome shop in Southwest Louisiana.”

“It has been a wonderful learning experience.” McCoy said. “There is nothing more rewarding than being able to wake up every morning and do something that you love. We are very blessed to be able to have that!”

Kenny Fuselier & Co. has been serving the flooring needs of the Lake Area since 1987. Kenny and his wife Lucy still are amazed at the success of the first year.

“We hit the floor running and did $1 million our first year—without a warehouse or a forklift!” Kenny Fusilier said. From there, the company continued to grow. “Our complaint ratio is next to nothing,” he said proudly. “That’s because we only use the best qualified installers.”

Their staff is certainly the secret to their success. “Making our customers happy is the most important thing,” Fusilier said. “My father Pete has close to 40 years experience in the business; our salespeople Mike Blevins, Bud Granger and Alan Walker are knowledgeable and courteous; and Lucy goes out of her way to help everyone she can.” They also pride themselves on having the most modern, up-to-date showroom in the area.

Would he do it again? “Yes, we would!”

By Lauren de Albuquerque
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Annual Low Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics Scheduled

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Office of Animal Services will be offering two drive-thru rabies clinics in an effort to prevent the spread of Rabies Infection in Calcasieu Parish. Louisiana State Code requires that all dogs and cats over the age of three months must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed.

Vaccination and licensing rates for spay/neutered animals is $8. Unaltered pets will cost $10.00. Dogs will need to be on a leash and cats must be in a portable kennel. Pet owners may pay by cash or check.

Clinic dates, time, and locations are:

March 31^st 7am – 12pm Burton Coliseum Northwest Parking Lot
April 14^th 7am – 12pm Sulphur High School Parking Lot

Pets are required to wear a license tag in all areas of the Parish once a pet is vaccinated by a licensed Louisiana Veterinarian in Calcasieu Parish. Cat owners are also encouraged to place the tag on a humane breakaway collar.

Please note: residents or groups feeding stray animals should be mindful that they assume ownership of animals under their care. The legal definition of a pet owner is “any person, business or any other legal entity that provides care, harbors, acts as custodian, or permits an animal to remain on or about his premises.” In the event someone is bitten, this person or entity could be held responsible.

For more information call Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and Adoption Center at 721-3730.

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The Dang Yankee: A Senior Morning

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

My wife and I don’t allow ourselves to get concerned about the aging process. Why bother? You can’t do anything to stop it. The changes that go along with it are inevitable. Some of the things you can fix, thanks to the wonders of pharmaceutical science. Others you can’t fix, but there are wonderful products out there to help you deal with them. Depends fits in that category. Then, there are others where you’re completely on your own.

My wife’s experience last Monday morning fits in the third category. We’d pulled our monthly stint on the work crew for a charity bingo the night before. My job on the crew is to handle the money. I don’t know why they chose me for such a trusted assignment. It’s probably because I usually do a half decent job with the paperwork. Charity bingos are tightly regulated by the State of Louisiana, and for this reason the level of documentation is comparable to that required to operate a hazardous waste facility. They say that this is needed to prevent fraud—an activity that in our state is reserved strictly for elected officials.

Unfortunately, I was not on my game that evening. After completing the paperwork, the final numbers indicated that I was about $30 short. That, I feared, might be enough to earn me an extended stay at Angola State Prison. It was a thought I didn’t relish. Sure, I hear that the other guests there have a reputation for being neighborly, but I can’t envision them bringing me home-baked cookies when I move in.

I had to leave for a business trip early Monday morning, and so I entrusted my wife to drop off the bag of cash and the paperwork to Ross, the bingo coordinator. Hopefully, he had a trick or two up his sleeve. After all, you don’t get to be bingo coordinator for nothing. So, off I went across the state line, leaving the bulging sack of proceeds from the lucrative evening on the kitchen counter.

That evening, my wife texted me, asking if I had dropped off the money after all. I replied that I had not, and her smiling photo promptly displayed itself on my caller ID. From her tone, I knew that this was not a Kodak moment.

We had a mystery on our hands, and, alas, it wasn’t the first in our 27 years of marriage. No one had been in the house that day, and there was no sign that anyone had entered. “Perhaps you moved it somewhere,” I said. “Maybe you should check where you mislaid your keys.”
“But I found my keys, and the money wasn’t there!” she managed to say, in between her gasps for air.

The only thing that we could figure is that she may have left it on the seat of the convertible that morning while running errands. Abe Lincoln would probably find it hard to resist a bank bag full of cash sitting on the front seat of an open ragtop. My shortfall suddenly had a couple of zeroes added to the end of it, and I began to think it my best option would be to linger a while across the state line.

I called Ross the next morning to deliver the bad news. “There’s a bit of an issue with the bingo money,” I said.

“I know,” Ross said. “You were $30 short, but we can deal with that.”
“You got the money, then.”

“Yes, your wife dropped it off to me yesterday. What did you think?”
“Oh, nothing,” I answered after a pause that was not sufficiently brief to hide my anxiety. “You have a nice day.”

So for now, I’m still a free man. But as for the future—well, I just hope the prison has a geriatric ward.

By Mike McHugh
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Second Annual Art Battle Seeking Team

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

On Friday, April 13th, the Arts and Humanities Council's annual Spring Art Walk will bring back the Art Battle in downtown Lake Charles, and the Arts Council has partnered with Fusion Five, SWLA's premiere's young professional organization to present this second annual event. Local and regional artists who would be interested in competing solo or on a team are currently being solicited. The Art Battle is a great way to celebrate the creation process in local art while generating fresh ideas and energy for our city's art scene.

The Art Battle will invite individual artists or teams of artists to compete and create a mural live in front of an audience in only an hour. Art Walk participants will vote on their favorite mural by depositing tips into the team's tip jar, and all of the murals will be featured in the night's silent auction. The Arts Council's mission is to help support artists, so the teams will receive 50% of voter's tips and will take a 70% commission on their sold murals. The winning mural will be featured at the Central School Arts and Humanities Center as public art for 30 days until its silent auction purchaser claims it.

Up to four artists can be on a team, and the size of the mural will be determined by the number of teammates. Each team will receive a sheet of primed plywood, but teams must supply all other materials. Any mediums, materials, and themes are allowed.

Registration is open to the first ten teams with a fee of $25, and the deadline is March 30th. Registration forms are now available at the Arts Council office or online at artsandhumanitiesswla.org Any artist who is interested in competing in the Art Battle or in the Spring Art Walk should call the Arts Council office at (337) 439-2787.

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“Lake Charles Young Band Nation Summer Camp” teaches music and character

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The most noble thing any musician can do is pass on his or her gift to young people. When it comes to rock and roll, most young kids are left to their own devices as far as how to make it happen. Often what they end up with is unproductive practices, disorganized instrumentation, egos, and usually a series of low quality recordings.

Local music instructors and long time musicians Doug Gay and Marcus Johnson aim to change this for young Lake Area musicians. Enter the “Lake Charles Young Band Nation Summer Camp”. The camp entails a week long journey into the “details” of music creation and development with other players.

Elements such as band “practice”, instrument “care” and implementation, song-writing and “development”, “communication” with other musicians in a band, and how to record and perform with “courage”. Notice the words in quotes: PRACTICE, CARE, DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATION, and COURAGE. Parents of young musicians can expect their children to learn just as much about character than music itself.

Here is a statement from Johnson... “What I've found is that when kids take guitar lessons, which is all well and good, there's something missing. Kids wanna learn this song and that song, but there's no method to the madness. We want to bring that in and have a more specific curriculum. I did band so I have that side of the education too. With playing rock and pop music, there's a lot more to it. What we are doing is really just showing kids how to behave in a social setting and how to be a good person.”

Below is our Q&A with program director Marcus Johnson...

LakeCharles.com: How did the idea of doing this camp originate?
Johnson: Doug Gay and I had talked about it before and I know he had done this in Baton Rouge and that he was doing well with it. Me, already being a band director, but not a traditional band director, I was interested. So I picked his brain for a bit. He suggested we should try a summer camp and see if the community would support it and be able to do something like this year round.

LakeCharles.com: How did you decide on Central school as your location?
Johnson: We were looking for a facility because ultimately we want as many kids as possible, so we needed a big facility. We reached out to Matt Young at Arts and Humanities and he is unbelievable. He has gone above and beyond as far as helping make this happen. On top of that, the facility is great. Its weird how underutilized the place is, especially with A&H being so easy to work with.

LakeCharles.com: Tell us more about the showcase on Friday, March 16th?
Johnson: Doug is bringing bands from Baton Rouge Music Studios and another band that's playing at Jazz Fest and we're gonna go around to OLQH, Holy Family and show some people what we wanna do. We invited the St. Louis and the Barbe show choir.
The whole goal is to service kids that don't have the traditional music education, they're not in band, etc., but approach it from the music education side too. We are also trying to make it philanthropic. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Arts & Humanities.

LakeCharles.com: What ages and skill levels are welcome?
Johnson: 12-17 yrs old. We have all the instruments needed as far as guitar, keys, drums, etc We are going to give away a scholarship the night of the 16th. Pre-registration will begin that night and registration can be done anytime after that. There will be a form online where parents and kids can print off. Its really aimed at kids who like to play music and wanna be in a band, but don't know how to go about it.

LakeCharles.com: What will kids learn at the camp this summer?
Johnson: It's more of a rock n roll camp, but we want to do a spectrum of stuff. Doug's band that is coming is playing at Jazz Fest and will be performing all Louisiana music. We have quality music education that you're not gonna get at school. Stuff kids should know...if there's something buzzing how to figure out what it is, how to tune drums, how to change a string (even on a bass). There will be a lot of rehearsals and a lot of learning songs as best as we can in a week. The quality of instruction will be extremely high and kids will have fun learning a trade that is priceless and eternal.

For more information, visit the Lake Charles young Band Nation Band Camp's facebook page or email Doug at contact@brmusicstudios.com.

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Central School Collecting Memorabilia for Centennial Anniversary

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Friends of Central School has begun preparing for its anniversary event on April 28 from 10 until 2pm. The group seeks to collect memorabilia and other photo artifacts from members of the community who either attended Central School or have relatives who attended school at this historic community landmark. Items collected will be on display through the end of April at 809 Kirby Street and will be returned upon the event?s conclusion.

Designed and built in 1912 by New Orleans architectural firm Favrot & Livaudais, Historic Central School sits in the historic Charpentier District in Lake Charles and is a comprehensive arts and cultural center. Upon entering Central School for the anniversary event, visitors will be greeted by docents who will provide a free special tour of the building?s history. Also featured will be live music, an art exhibit highlighting 100 years of Central School, and other surprises.

As part of this anniversary event, a limited number of pewter ornaments have been created to commemorate the cultural history of the facility. Proceeds will go toward the historic preservation of Central School. For more information, contact the Arts Council at 439-ARTS. Artifacts are being accepted now at 809 Kirby Street, Suite 202.

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Local band "BOBCAT" is Paul Gonsoulin, Taylor Lee, Henry Johnson, and Joseph Norman.

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Bobcat is the offspring of Canvas Red, Silicon Warriors, Hobo Junction, Punch Dylan, Plaid Carpet, and many other retired bands.

LakeCharles.com: Tell us a little bit about the formation of Bobcat?
Bobcat: Joe and I originally had the idea to start a cover band and do indie songs and stuff we like, but we started writing originals pretty early on. “Free, Alone” was written way back, I think we played that at our first show. We took a break for awhile because we were bored with covers and regrouped as an original band.

LakeCharles.com: Congrats on the record...where did you record the album?
Bobcat: We did at EMF Studios at Lake Charles Music. We had talked about going somewhere and doing it, but it was hard to solidify time and costs. Also, we really like Mark Robertson and all the equipment there. We did it during the week so it was the easiest. Mark was great- he was never pushy and always offered suggestions. We've been friends with him for a long time so that helps.

LakeCharles.com: What is the album like?
Bobcat: The album has a real live feel. We all write so all 4 of us have songs on there. They really flow well together. The album has a real live feel. It's not a “quiet” record. The actual recording process was fast. We were originally gonna do an e.p. and take the 5 or 6 best songs, but we liked the way they flowed together. The majority of the time was spent trying to figure out how everything sits in the mix. We spent most of the time mixing. The actual recording process was fast though. I think it was 2 full days. I mean, we have played those songs so many times so it was quick.

LakeCharles.com: So after this CD Release Party, what can we expect?
Bobcat: We want to do shows where cover songs would drive people away. We had a great all-original show at The Varsity so we want to keep that going, playing Lafayette and Baton Rouge. We want to get our stuff out to as many people as possible.

LakeCharles.com: What was the CD art process like?
Bobcat: Just like in the band, we don't tell anyone what to do. We did the same for the art- we just let our friend Tanner do whatever he wanted. We love what he came up with. Our ideas were horrible so we are glad that he came through. He definitely came through and then some.

LakeCharles.com: What do you think of the local scene here in LC?
Bobcat: Even though the Lake Charles scene doesn't really cater to original music, there's a lot of really good bands right now. I've played some bad shows with some bad bands in other cities and there's really some good ones here. We feel this album does a great job of putting across who we are.

LakeCharles.com: Where can we get the album?
Bobcat: People can get the CdDon Amazon, CD Baby, and Itunes, and FREE @ Luna at the show. If we could say anything to our fans it would be to give the CD a good listen because at 40 minutes, it's one of those albums that you can listen to the whole way through. Just listen to every song and we think a lot of people will be surprised. Stuff happens at the end of songs ;-)

Review of Bobcat's album “ATTACKS”:

The album starts out kinda metal. I was a little shocked. I liked it. I could feel something. It was immediately raw and precise. Then a nice round drum beat and eventually that signature Gonsoulin voice. I felt like I was in the groove instantly.

My eyebrows raised again when at 2:34 I hear Gonsoulin screech “simple waste of time” sang with a force and a rasp reminiscent of Axl himself. After the first track, I knew it was full speed ahead.

The second tune, “Free, Alone” plays with a confidence of a veteran band putting out their fourth album rather than a debut effort. “We're so free, but we're alone.” So true!!

The third track slows down a bit but is a missile lyrically. The stoic reality of the verse, “Drive...plugging up the drain that's bleeding time...stitching shut the wounded human mind...strung upon a truss up in the sky...leaning on a cloud that's passing by” makes “Time Again” unforgettable.

After only three songs, I know this disk will be stuck in my car for weeks and a perfect road album. It is rockin', but introspective. Confident, but not too serious.

Nestled in between tracks four and six is the melodic and catchy “Fall Down”, a soon to be sing-along favorite with an intro that hooks the listener.

For fear of giving too much away, let us just say that the rest of the album plays out well. There is no confusing one song with another like some pop records. Each song is a different idea infused with each members' different style.

My only complaint is that I wanted more songs, more more more!!

It is more than refreshing to hear a local band put out an album that is high-quality but has an analog feel, that listens well from beginning to end, and a record that exemplifies the democratic way it was written, where everyone has equal share and say in the creation process.

To get a free copy of the debut Bobcat album “ATTACKS”, drop by Luna Live tonight around 9:00 p.m.

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Lake Charles needed an affordable and different place to shop...so I created it!

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

LakeCharles.com: How did the idea originate to buy Mimosa?

Monroe: I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion world and this was my way to do that! Lake Charles needed an affordable and different place to shop so I created it!

LakeCharles.com: Obviously you have some things for women of all ages...but how would you describe your most loyal customers?

Monroe: Our most loyal customers are women who LOVE fashion! The women who can’t wait to pick up the latest style magazine and can’t wait to wear the latest trends are the women that will be in Mimosa on a weekly basis!

LakeCharles.com: Describe your relationship with other female business owners and the synergy that helps each others' business?

Monroe: I love cross promoting with other women owned businesses! When you work together with other business owners it really opens up your customer base.

LakeCharles.com: In what people are calling a bad economy, how are you finding ways to stay successful?

Monroe: I feel like you have to “fill a hole” in the market. Mimosa offers different products to the Lake Charles area.

LakeCharles.com: How many years have you been open and what are the brands that have consistently sold & withstood the test of time?

Monroe: Mimosa has been open for about a year and a half now. BCBGeneration is a brand that always sells very well. It is a great price point and people know the name and know the fit and will always love the design! We also do well with Free People, French Connection and Joe’s Jeans. These brands have created a name for themselves and we are excited to offer them the Lake Charles area!

LakeCharles.com: What are you looking forward to this Spring? Do you have any upcoming events that people should know about?

Monroe: We are SO excited about this spring! The store looks like spring right now with tons of bright colors and spring dresses! We actually have a HUGE event coming up on March 29th. We will hold our 2nd Fashion Fusion Runway Show! We will be joining together with other women owned businesses and bringing the area an amazing show! You can check out the website and buy tickets there at fashionfusionlc.com.

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My GPS for Success! The Jr. Women’s Conference

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

We all need direction from time to time. A gesture to point us in the right way, a map to show us where something is located, or the voice of experience from someone who has been there before.

Many people find the service of a little device called a GPS (Global Positioning System) is the best thing ever to help them find their way. It is fitting, then, that the third annual Jr. Women’s Conference is titled “My GPS for Success!” In this instance, GPS is an acronym for “Goals, Preparation, and Strategy” which are just the things a young woman needs to set, and do, to head in the right direction.

The Women’s Commission of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. is holding the third annual Jr. Women’s Conference on Sat., March 17. The event will be held from 9:15 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Parra Ballroom on the McNeese State University campus. This conference is just the thing for girls who are seeking direction in their lives.

Young Lake Area women in grades 8 through 12 are invited to come spend a day with their peers to have fun, form new friendships, and get headed in the direction they need to achieve their future goals. McNeese State University is the co-sponsor of the conference, with cheerleaders and sorority sisters serving as hostesses.

The Women’s Commission of SWLA, Inc. committee that sets up the Jr. Women’s Conference is dedicated to community outreach through activism, and will make sure that the young women have educational benefits and practical, helpful information about college available at the conference. The event encourages them to become self-sufficient and independent.
The young ladies who attend will enjoy a motivational keynote speaker, lunch, breakout sessions, a fashion show, a college prep section and a marketplace. Those registered by Feb. 27 receive a T-shirt.

The day will get started with check-in and shopping at the marketplace, which features local vendors who carry products such as mobile phones, fashion jewelry, and make-up, all geared towards high school-age girls. Local organizations will be on hand to share information about their causes.

McNeese State University will present the general session “Preparing for College.” Participants will then head to breakout sessions that feature hands-on participation in physical activities, creative endeavors, and educational opportunities. You can attend a Zumba exercise session, and then learn how to best present yourself at an interview, and conclude with scrapbooking. The breakout sessions are varied and cover a wide range of interests.

At lunch, keynote speaker Nomica Guillory will give a presentation that includes tips on building your self-esteem and creating a new or improved self-image. Guillory holds degrees in nursing and mass communications, is a former runway and catalog model, a former Mrs. Louisiana and a business owner. She is currently a graduate student at McNeese State University. Lunch will also include entertainment from Paul Gonsoulin.

The afternoon fashion show will feature beautiful prom dresses from Mam’Selle’s in Lake Charles, along with casual fashions from the MSU Bookstore and WalMart. Who knows—the girl sitting next to you at lunch might even be one of the models in the afternoon fashion show.

Jackilynn “Jackie” Julian will be attending the Jr. Women’s Conference again this year and will be modeling in the afternoon show. Julian is a freshman at Iowa High School and enjoyed the conference last year. “I liked the conference so much,” she said. “I was nervous when I first walked in, but with all the activities, I met new friends.” When asked what her favorite activity was, she said, “Everything!”

Julian said that all the things she learned about life and what she will need to do as a college student encouraged her to become more involved with activities outside the classroom. She enjoyed setting goals at last year’s conference that include a plan to head to North Louisiana and attend Grambling State University once she finishes high school.
Encouraged by her church pastor to attend the conference last year, Jackie wishes that every teen girl had a pastor, parent, grandparent, or friend that encouraged her to go to the conference. “They pack a lot into one day!” she exclaimed. “You will learn so much about life. Make sure you attend!”

Registration for the event is kept at the low rate of $10 per girl. Parental permission is required for registration. You can find registration information on the Women’s Commission of SWLA, Inc. Facebook page, by going on-line to www.womenscommissionswla.com, or from your school guidance counselor.

By Rhonda Babin
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Go Red For Women—and Save Your Life!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Some of the things that come to mind when we think about this holiday are hearts, love, and doing special things. For local residents Heather Hendrix and Joann Drury, it’s a day to celebrate their now-healthy hearts!

According to the American Heart Association, approximately eight million United States women live with heart disease, yet only one in six American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat. One in three American women die from cardiovascular disease each year. It is the national number one killer of women—greater than all forms of cancer combined—and it is often silent, hidden, and misunderstood.

Women need to share their survivor stories, along with the facts about the ways females are affected by cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. We need to be educated and make choices that can be the difference between life and death.

Heather Hendrix just celebrated her “Scars Birthday” with her friends and family. This day honors the scars left from Hendrix’s life-saving surgery on Jan. 21, 2011 to correct a congenital heart defect. Her mother likes to call it “Heather’s re-birthday.”

Always an active woman, Hendrix participated in various sports, was in the school band, and ran regularly. But she found it strange that she became winded when climbing some stairs while a Master’s student at Louisiana State University. She attributed this to perhaps not exercising regularly. When on a treadmill, her heart began pounding within a few minutes. Shortly afterwards, she came close to passing out three times. She came home and saw her family physician.

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) revealed that Hendrix’s heart was four times larger on the right side than it should have been. From there, an echocardiogram and heart catheterization found the heart defect. Surgery was performed three days before her birthday last year.

“Be aware of the little things happening with your body,” Hendrix urges. “If something seems strange, get it checked out.” A year later, her wound is healed and she takes no medications. She will be attending the Go Red For Women Luncheon this April, where she will share her story in detail.

The SWLA Go Red for Women Luncheon will be held Thurs., April 12 at L’Auberge Casino Resort. Members of our community will be brought together to celebrate this movement and to hear from guest speakers.

Go Red For Women is part of the American Heart Association’s solution to help save women’s lives. It is a movement committed to fighting heart disease and to eliminate many of the deaths that could have been prevented.

A premiere source of information and education is found at www.GoRedForWomen.org. This website connects millions of women of all ages and gives them realistic ways to turn personal choices into lifesaving actions. You will find heart-healthy recipes, suggestions of how to live a healthier, aware life, and learn the signs that indicate you’re having a heart attack or stroke.
Other sources of information include events such as the luncheon, walk-a-thons, and National Go Red For Women Day, which was just held on Feb. 3. On this day, women and the men who love them are encouraged to wear red to show that they are fighting the number one killer of women.

According to Janice Ackley, regional director of the American Heart Association, the mission to fight heart disease needs to be shared. “Go Red For Women celebrates the energy, passion, and power we have as women to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke,” Ackley said.

Research shows that women who participate in Go Red are more likely to make healthy choices that include weight loss, more exercise, diet changes, checking their cholesterol levels, and talking with their doctor about developing heart health plans.

Heart disease can be prevented if women discover the truth about taking measures to improve their health and prevent the disease. Educating women and the men who love them is one of the goals of the speakers at this year’s luncheon.

Guest speaker Supriya Jindal, Louisiana’s First Lady, will share her personal story about her young son’s experience with heart disease. Mrs. Jindal is a loyal supporter of the mission of the American Heart Association throughout the State of Louisiana.

Keynote speaker Jennifer Galardi is a fitness expert who has earned national recognition starring in a dozen best-selling dance/fitness DVDs. Galardi has taught dance and fitness classes in Los Angeles and New York City, and as a leading influence in celebrity fitness, has gained knowledge and insights regarding the source of food nutrients and how to maintain a healthy balance of energy.

With a gentle approach of self-acceptance and moderation, Galardi will share that defining health isn’t from measuring the number of calories you consume or the amount of hours you exercise. Her belief is that the heart-healthy woman is someone who has rich and full work, homes, relationships, and friendships where she can enhance the lives of all she meets.
A Southwest Louisiana resident who plans to be there to hear this inspiring role model of health is Joann Drury.

Drury had a heart attack in 2009. Due to her husband’s insistence that she go the emergency room, she is here to share her story.
Drury had taken the day off to spend with him. After lunch at a local restaurant, they ran a few errands, did some shopping, and planned to meet with friends. During the course of their activities, Joann remembers saying, “Man, I don’t feel good.” She recalls that she felt slightly faint and sick to her stomach, but she soldiered on, thinking those symptoms were due to the meal she just eaten.

Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, she continued to hurt, but went on with her activities. Her husband Mike finally brought her to the emergency room of a local hospital, but she refused to go inside because the pain had subsided. But after they returned home, the pain returned. Mike brought her purse and shoes to her and said, “Come on. Let’s go now!” Those were life-saving words.

At the hospital, she was informed that she had had a light heart attack. The realization of that moment—knowing her life was in danger—was overwhelming. She had experienced classic symptoms that, like many women, she just ignored.

Testing revealed five blockages, and Drury had open-heart surgery a few days later. After four months of recovery, she was given a clean bill of health. Her lifestyle changes included no smoking, making healthier meals, and getting more exercise.

She was asked what to advise someone who had symptoms similar to what she had experienced. “I would put them on my back and carry them to an ER!” she said emphatically. “Responding early to symptoms of a heart attack can save a life.”

To purchase individual tickets to the luncheon and/or make a donation to SWLA Go Red, visit www.heart.org/swlagored.

For questions or to sponsor or purchase a corporate table, contact Janice Ackley by emailing janice.k.ackley@heart.org or calling (337) 794-1404.

By Rhonda Babin
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Lake Charles enjoys best plate lunch in town at Jackson's Deli

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

As soon as our plates got on the table, I realized how much of a crime it was that I had never been to Jackson's Deli. Located at 3607 Legion Street, Jackson's is connected to Fast Stop Deli, a hub for hungry Chennault, Aeroframe, Grumman, Sowela and Mallard Cove patrons.

When I took the first bite of Smothered Chicken I could tell everything was made from scratch. I wanted to know more about this place and why this food was not being served in a restaurant building with servers and hostesses.

“We are an anomolie for sure. How we have made it blows my mind."

"We have not spend a single advertising dollar. Everything we get goes back into the business. We are an oasis in a growing part of Lake Charles,” owner Chad Jackson admitted jubilantly.

Jackson's Deli is a plate lunch restaurant where the menu is never set in stone except for Taco Tuesdays. But it is so much more than that. Everything is hand-made from scratch and Jackson places the stamp of good product on every meal he prepares.

Although the deli's setup is meager, Jackson's ideas and dreams are big.

“I would like to be able to deliver meal replacements. I feel like the days where we eat dinner together and converse as a family are gone. I want that back. I want people to be able to go on a website and pick from a few different meals and have it cooked and delivered to their house.”

“I also want to deliver sandwiches, soups, and salads to offices. That has been successful in other cities, especially if you can give them the same freshness in the sandwiches. Offer three different types of each and use handmade mayo. People would really love it.”

Jackson has enjoyed success in California having his own business there. He has brought a little of the Cali flavor over here and has great stories of catering for the likes of Steve Young. Jackson is a perfectionist and makes sure his product speaks for itself. His philosophy covers all the small things too.

“We did an article with Archie Hebert and during the interview I told him we treat everyone who comes into the door with respect. That's been kind of our motto around here. Food is about soul; it's about passion.”

While most Lake Charles residents are still in bed dreaming of their lunch destinations, Jackson is at the restaurant preparing the kitchen for a days work of breakfast and lunch.

Lake Charles residents are encouraged to reserve one day a week and make that Jackson's Deli day. For more info on hours and meals, call 513-9987.

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Gallery Talk to Answer Questions about African Art

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The City of Lake Charles will host a special interactive gallery talk by Jeff Ferguson, African art collector. Ferguson will share some his collection and knowledge as he covers topics including how and where to collect and purchase African art. Is it really art? Who made it? Who was it made for? What was it made for? How to tell how old it is? And the big question, why does it smell? The gallery talk will take place Thursday, February 23 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street. All ages are welcome to attend at no charge.

While visiting an African art gallery in Taos, New Mexico in 1991, Ferguson’s thoughts were, “This stuff is ugly, not colorful, and it really smells.” Later, in 1996, he again saw African art while visiting museums and galleries in Houston. He said, “This time I gave it a chance. African art had not changed, I had. I got the courage to purchase an Akua mma fertility doll from Ghana, hung it on the wall in my studio and we looked at each other for several months.” He said the doll looked lonely, so he purchased a few more pieces and hung them. Then the questions came: What does this stuff mean, and really, why does it smell? As he learned more about African culture and the meaning behind the art, the collecting overtook the learning. His walls are now covered with nearly 300 pieces.

Ferguson’s talk and collection will be presented in conjunction with Art of Africa, currently on display from the Warren Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications, toured by International Arts and Artists of Washington, DC. Art of Africa presents over 60 objects including masks, sculpture, textiles and jewelry of nearly 30 cultures of sub-Saharan Africa. Both collections will hang through March 10. While visiting the arts and cultural center, stop in at the first floor gallery for Open Shutters on the Big Easy through March 15.

Historic City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

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Inner City Slickers: Building Confidence, Breaking Down Barriers

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Inspiration comes from a variety of things. The movie City Slickers and running out of gas on a road somewhere between Kansas City and Bell City are two things that inspired a non-profit called Inner City Slickers to come to the Lake Area.

Inner City Slickers is a program that puts together troubled youth ages 10-17 with horses and expertly trained adult volunteers to help build confidence and break down the barriers of prejudice. Using the moral and ethical values of cowboys (and cowgirls), this organization helps struggling and hurting kids learn to trust.

Bell City resident Renee’ Mudd was on her way home from Kansas City after attending a weekend session to learn firsthand about this national non-profit that she had been exposed to on Facebook. Outside of Louisiana, her vehicle ran out of gas. She was tired, alone, cold, and crying, and needed help that was literally a mobile phone call away.

She realized that if an adult, who had faced plenty of problems, could still be overcome with a feeling of helplessness, how did kids growing up in a non-supportive environment handle their own issues? At that point, she knew that 1.2 acres of her land and at least five of her horses would be the foundation for a Bell City location of Inner City Slickers.

On January 20, a Supper Get Together was held at the Community Center in Iowa for community members, volunteers, and the curious to meet Michael McMeel, founder of Inner City Slickers, and wranglers from Tennessee and Missouri. McMeel, a former drummer for Three Dog Night and commercial actor and horse enthusiast, shared his story of how he made his first location a reality.

In 1991, McMeel saw the film City Slickers. He knew that horses trust only when you trust them, and understood the strong bond they can form with humans in a short time. McMeel also knew that there were kids in his city that were involved in drugs, gangs, or literally living on the streets without positive role models in their lives. He received permission to use the name from the film, support from some cowboy friends, and started teaching his “Slickers” some cowboy ways.

McMeel said that Slicker kids learn “kindness, dependability, keeping their word, responsibility –- an ethical and moral code that will stay with them throughout their lives.” The kids also learn how to rope, groom, feed, and sit a horse. “Our kids learn what it’s like to trust and respect the horses, themselves, and each other,” he continued.

With this program, many of these kids have a greater chance of becoming responsible citizens. They learn that they can solve problems, change directions, and that there is a different way to live and approach others. They literally become cowboys in a day.

The passion McMeel has for this program is contagious. Mudd experienced that passion firsthand when she went to Missouri to learn more about the organization. “I was raised in Moss Bluff with some prejudices,” she said. “I was paired with an African-American child in Kansas City and wasn’t sure I could relate to her. This little girl’s experience of learning to care and respect the horses opened my eyes to the fact that kids are kids and you cannot see color in the world.”

Mudd became a cowgirl about 12 years ago when she married her husband, Kevin. She quickly adapted to the lifestyle and code of living. “I felt an amazing love and trust that develops when you work with horses,” she said. “If you make a mistake, the horse will let you know, and you try again.”

Mudd equates it to life. “When you make choices, sometimes they aren’t the best ones, but we can turn a bad choice around and learn from a mistake,” she said. Having the kids go through the paces of a series of exercises with the horses and volunteers teaches them about developing trust.

At the Bell City location, disadvantaged youth become familiar with horses that include Montana, Yeller, and a Palomino named Lou. There are activities and exercises designed around those that would happen in the Old West, such as riding a bucking bull. In this instance, it’s a barrel bucking bull named “The Gator.” There will also be a hay wall where square bays of hay are moved to construct a sturdy wall that can be climbed on . And, participants are encouraged to take a leap of faith into the arms of the cowboys in an exercise called “The Ladder.” Ten men interlock their arms while the child climbs a ladder and then freefalls into the safety of the waiting arms of fellow wranglers with whom they’ve spent the day. These exercises are all voluntary, of course. “No child is forced to participate in every exercise unless they want to,” Mudd stressed.

Volunteers work with each child, and the mentoring continues after the day’s activities are over. The mentors keep in touch with them, so the children know that they have someone to turn to and share whatever might be on their minds.

Mudd shudders at the memory of local kids who were eating out of trashcans. “Sometimes, there are problems of abuse and the youth affected have nowhere to turn to build trust,” she said. “And, some of the youth who need this program aren’t abused; they simply have problems and no positive adult role models they can discuss things with.” She urges readers to watch out for their neighbors and to open their doors, eyes, and minds to the possibility of helping a Lake Area youth with proven programs like Inner City Slickers.

“There is nothing like seeing an early exercise where a youth, on the back of a horse for the first time, stretches their arms overhead, closes their eyes, and leans forward to wrap their arms around the horse’s neck,” Mudd said. “That is the first time you see the trust developed between man and beast.”

“There is something magical when a child and a horse meet for the very first time,” McMeel echoed. “There is suspicion and distrust at first, but they start to relax and develop a relationship and sense of trust. You find that both of their lives are being touched in a unique and profound way.”

A grand opening for the first Louisiana location for Inner City Slickers will be celebrated early this year. Six of the trust-building weekends will take place at the Bell City location and are scheduled for April, May, June, September, October and November.

Volunteers and good neighbors are needed to help this organization get off to a strong start here in the Lake Area. You can donate food, hay, or dollars; help with the kids or serve food. One of the most important ways to help is to encourage a young person who may not be in the best situation to attend one of the weekends.

The Bell City Inner City Slickers in located at Coulie Jack Ranch, 6808 Duhon Road. For more information, Mudd welcomes calls at (337) 274-7737 or messages sent via her Facebook page. You can also visit the website at www.innercityslickers.com.

By Rhonda Babin
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Arts Council Distributes Funds to Regional Arts and Cultural Organizations on behalf of Calcasieu Parish Police Jury

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Four years ago, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury initiated a new grant program that would enable Southwest Louisiana arts and cultural programs to receive funding for the events and programs that strengthen our state’s cultural economy. Since its inception, the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana allocates these funds each year through the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury grant, and the program has become an exemplary avenue of funding for the arts in Southwest Louisiana during a time of economic hardship.

This year, fifteen organizations in Calcasieu Parish were awarded funding. Organizations include the Lake Charles Civic Ballet, Art on Wheels, the Children’s Theatre Company, the Brimstone Museum, the SWLA Science Educational Foundation, the Calcasieu Historic Preservation Society, Louisiana Choral Foundation, Cajun French Music Association, Louisiana Film and Video Art, Bayou Writers’ Group, Black Heritage Gallery, Dr. F.G. Bulber Youth Orchestra, Whistle Stop, Eljay Foundation for Parkinson Awareness, and Iowa Rabbit Festival.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury grant program is administered by the Arts and Humanities Council, and it seeks to sustain and support cultural programming for our region. For more information on the Arts Council’s other grant programs, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org or call 439-2787.

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The Sports Report: Moving on: LSU’s Biggest Problems Won’t be Back

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Boy, am I glad that’s over. Not that LSU’s roller-coaster of a football season wasn’t fun, but, honestly, it really feels good to move on, doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong. I was thrilled as the Tigers tore through ranked opponent after ranked opponent. It looked like LSU would overcome all of the drama of Steve Kragthorpe’s tragic preseason medical diagnosis, of curb-stomping Marines at Shady’s Bar, of players smoking artificial turf, and of quarterback controversies.

Then came the disaster that was the BCS National Championship Game when it all dumped on the Tigers’ heads like a crimson sludge. But, I’m sure you’ve heard enough about that.

I’m here with the good news. LSU is going to be fine. The Tigers are armpit-deep in talent, even considering the early departures to the NFL. The offense, which next year will be led by an actual, real-life quarterback, will be much improved while the defense looks as formidable as ever.

And, I’m happy to say, some of the team’s biggest problems won’t be back. Most importantly, the team’s biggest knuckleheads, Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, are gone pecans.
Sure, they’re really the only two quarterbacks on the roster with game experience (not counting Zach Mettenberger’s garbage time against Ole Miss), but tell me what LSU is really going to miss from these two jokers?

In Jordan Jefferson, the Tigers are jettisoning a quarterback who is athletically talented but pathologically indecisive (leading to his patented triple-pump fake, run for two yards move…not quite as catchy as the “Discount Double Check” to be sure), hopelessly clueless against any sort of defensive voodoo (once you take away his first pass option, he’s a lost puppy), and criminally immature (Shady’s Bar, anyone?).

A caveat: please don’t buy into all the rumors that Jefferson was out partying at Harrah’s until 4 a.m. the night before the big game and blah, blah, blah. Believe me, if an LSU fan, and I’m sure there were plenty around, saw Jordan Jefferson at the time and place Jefferson was alleged to be, his picture would be on the front page of every newspaper and sports website in America. As there is no such photo, and none appeared in the days after the BCS debacle, I would advise you not to believe the hype.

However, one needs only judge his maturity level by his reaction to his interception against Alabama in the BCS title game. I literally stopped watching the game after that play. I couldn’t see anymore. To sit there and blame Spencer Ware, one of the best running backs in the SEC, for blocking downfield instead of reading your pea brain and turning around to catch an impromptu shovel pass was the pinnacle of Jefferson’s knuckleheadedness.

I don’t think any quarterback has been so universally hated in this state since former Saints joke Aaron Brooks (not that he cares…is that a smile I see?). It’s been since Josh Booty (and his infamous audible to a made-up play against mighty Alabama-Birmingham) that an LSU quarterback has engendered so much vitriol. Destrehan should be so proud.

And good riddance to Jarrett Lee, too. The man who single-handedly changed the state’s official motto from “Union, Justice, Confidence” to “Put Lee In” (and, for one abysmal year, “Take Lee Out”) is now free to join the Arena Football League team of his choosing. No more whiny-baby act on the sidelines, sulking at the far end of the bench like a five-year old while daddy calls up whoever will listen to complain about his wittle boy’s playing time. Did Lee lead the team to an 8-0 start this year? Yes. Was it unfair that Lee got the hook in favor of Jefferson? Of course. But be a leader, be a man. Suck it up and help your team or get out. Speaking of daddy issues, good riddance also to T-Bob Hebert and his village idiot father, one former New Orleans Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert.

T-Bob’s sole career contribution of note was snapping the ball before Tennessee could get their 42 some-odd players off the field in their 2010 meeting. Meanwhile, his main on-field contributions were drawing penalties, temper tantrums (like throwing his helmet), and being flattened by superior defensive linemen. Nevertheless, ole’ Bobby got a case of “le derrière rouge” after the coaching staff benched little Bobby Joseph III and, after the Tigers’ atrocious BCS performance, decided to confront Miles in the post-game press conference.

Ostensibly, Bobby’s screed, using the stupid jock logic that “he played pro football for 15 years,” was about whether Lee should have played instead of Jefferson. Fair enough, lots of LSU fans were asking themselves the same question. But, are you seriously telling me that was his only reason for calling Miles out in front of a horde of real-life professional reporters?
No, I think Hebert was simply in a position, working as a talking head for WWL, to embarrass Miles in front of a national audience over his staff’s treatment of poor T-Bob.
In any case, fare thee well, losers.

You are gone and Miles is still coach. LSU looks like it will just reload and is the preseason favorite next year. And the good news is, without you guys, next year’s run at the championship looks to be a straight shot instead of a carnival ride.

By Brandon Shoumaker
Source: The Jambalaya News

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

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Garden Club Recognizes Downtown Historic City Hall

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Each month the Lake Charles Garden Club recognizes a business that they feel has made an effort to enhance their landscape and therefore contribute to the beautification of Lake Charles.

For the month of February they chose the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. The landscaping of the center is maintained by Lake Charles Public Works Beautification Grounds Department, under the supervision of Ronald Young.

The award was presented to Denise Fasske, Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs and Carol Anne Gayle, Exhibit Specialist.

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Central School to Host Contemporary Music Workshops and Student Concert

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Marcus Johnson, Lake Charles middle school band director and guitar instructor, along with the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and Baton Rouge Music Studios (BRMS) are combining efforts to ignite a spark in young musicians of Southwest Louisiana.

The plan begins with a showcase of fifty students in ten bands from BRMS performing in Southwest Louisiana schools throughout the day on Friday, March 16th, then performing a free concert at the Central School Theater later that evening. This event will be an introduction to a new kind of music camp that Johnson is planning for the Lake Charles area. The camp is set to take place at Central School from Monday, June 11th to Friday June 15th, culminating in a concert by the students.

In addition to being a band director, Johnson has over a decade of experience as a professional guitarist in music genres ranging from jazz and blues to rock and zydeco, and he is passionate about working with young musicians who may not fit the school band mold or who want to supplement their school music experience with contemporary music. With a passion for popular music, Johnson has a drive to initiate a new music school for area youth that focuses on contemporary music.

In order to see this project come to fruition in the near future, Johnson has met with the BRMS director of programs, Doug Gay, who is currently running a contemporary music school in Baton Rouge. Johnson and Gay discussed all of the possibilities to start a new venture together in Lake Charles and decided that a summer camp would be a good litmus test to see if there is enough interest to one day start a full-fledged school of contemporary music and music technology, similar to the school Gay has built in Baton Rouge.

Originally from Lake Charles, Gay is excited about the possibility of helping Johnson build a community of young musicians, parents, and local music professionals in his hometown. Over the past 6 years, Gay has built a school of contemporary music from the ground up, and his student base is now growing faster than ever with over 250 students per week. Now he works with a full staff of administrators and instructors and multiple programs in music performance and technology. Gay is confident that Johnson has the passion and drive to create these same opportunities for young musicians in Lake Charles.

Young Band Nation is the nickname of Gay's flagship program at BRMS, officially labeled the “Young Band Development Program.” The program consists of 50 students in 10 bands, some of whom will be performing 4 major music festivals this year including Festival Internationale in Lafayette and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The students learn a variety of genres and learn the intricacies of a career in music. They rehearse several hours a week, create Facebook pages and websites to market their bands, learn how to use audio and video hardware and software, and write and record original songs that they release through BRMS’s mastering and CD duplication studio, as well as on SoundCloud and YouTube.

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Marcus Johnson or Doug Gay, please call Baton Rouge Music Studios at 225-769-6225 or email Doug Gay at contact@brmusicstudios.com.

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Girl Scouts - One Hundred Years and Still Growing!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

A Lake Charles billboard near the corner of Ryan and 7th Streets reminds us that “It’s time!” to order Girl Scout cookies. It’s also time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the organization of this special group.

The Girl Scouts have proclaimed 2012 to be “The Year of the Girl.” There will be celebrations over the next 12 months to insure that the millions of women who have benefitted from this service organization can take part in wishing it an incredibly “Happy Birthday!”
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who can make the world a better place. In addition to cookies, crafts, and camping, Girl Scouting uses specially designed programs to create leaders. The skills taught to girls ranging from kindergarten age through high school seniors are for a lifetime.

“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers,” was the belief of Girl Scout’s founder Juliette Gordon Low. She didn’t believe that girls should be limited to wearing dresses and staying at home. This was novel thinking for a woman living in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. At the first Girl Scout meeting (on March 12, 1912), she encouraged girls to put on a pair of pants and go outside to play, interact, and learn! That thinking produced an organization that has allowed millions of women worldwide to learn skills that change the planet.

Girl Scouts has been the premier leadership organization for the past 100 years because they build skills for a lifetime. And through the years, the organization has evolved to fit the changing needs of its members. The focus has remained on leadership, but today’s Girl Scouts also learn public speaking, nutrition, goal setting, decision making, how to maintain a positive body image, and financial literacy.

Membership is available for girls in kindergarten through 12th grade, beginning with Daisy, grades K-1; followed by Brownie, grades 2-3; Junior, grades 4-5; Cadette, grades 6-8; Senior, grades 9-10; and Ambassador, grades 11-12. Women and men over 18 can join as adult members.

Membership Specialist Patricia Lore is in the Lake Charles office of “Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf.” The office is part of a division from Alexandria (the Pines), to Cameron (the Gulf). The Lake Charles office reaches out to girls in the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard, and Vernon, and also serves Fort Polk girls.

Lore’s experience with Girl Scouting is 31 years strong. As a child, she was a Brownie (then the youngest division of Girl Scouts), while her older sister was a Cadette. She moved to Lake Charles in 1965 and continued to be involved in scouting events with her children. In 1999, she went to work for the Girl Scouts in an outreach program.

Lore’s enthusiasm for scouting is contagious. “Girl Scouting instills good values,” she said. “Girls learn how to be leaders, discover their talents, and connect with other girls building friendships that last a lifetime.” The local Girl Scouts have participated in many local projects, including collecting blankets for the animal shelter, making cards for nursing home residents, and re-building Millennium Park.

When asked about some past local Girl Scouts, Lore mentions Iowa Mayor Carol Ponthieux, a lifetime member, and her daughters Vicki and Tina. Mayor Ponthieux believes in the values taught through scouting. She started as a Girl Scout in grade school, was a troop leader when her daughters were scouts, and is still a trained counselor for girls seeking their Religious Recognition Awards.

She lives by the Girl Scout Promise: “On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout law.”

A girl can join a local troop or become a Girl Scout using several different “pathways.” She can find the pathway that suits her needs at the moment, or mix and match her primary interests and make her own path. They include:

Camp Pathway – Explore the outdoors, new habitats and build unique skills at day or resident camps during the summer, and complement that with weekend camping trips any time throughout the year.

Event Pathway – Pick and choose from a menu of events that they would like to attend throughout the year.

Series Pathway – Participate in a series of programs with the same group relating to a specific theme or purpose (e.g., high-adventure teen group)

Travel Pathway – Plan, earn money, prepare, and participate in regional, national, and international trips.

Troop Pathway – Participate in a series of programs with the same group of girls over the course of an academic year.

Virtual Pathway – Explore interactive, high-quality program activities in a safe, secure, online environment supplemented by live events. (Currently in development!)
Having additional pathways is essential to keeping girls involved, since in today’s world, not every girl has the opportunity to attend scheduled troop meetings.

But attending a weekly troop meeting is how Westlake resident Brandi Clary became a Brownie and later, a Cadette. She joined the Scouts for a very different reason then most: Her mother couldn’t always find a sitter for her because she could be “handful.”

“I became a Girl Scout out of necessity for my mom, and until this day, I still use the skills I was taught,” Clary recalled. She learned CPR, sign language, leadership, and recycling. She also remembers arts and crafts, and lessons that exposed her to different cultures.

“I earned many badges. My sash was full front and back,” she said proudly. And she was always able to sell extra cookies because her father would bring them to work for her. “I was taught the importance of having a schedule and being disciplined. I used those skills in the military and at school and they helped me be successful,” she added.

Clary recalls the fun she had and the importance of always having a project to work on through scouting. She hopes to have her seven-year-old daughter join the scouts this year.
There are many ways to become involved with the Girl Scouts. Cookie Rallies will be held throughout the month of January that teach marketing, key business techniques, and how to set up a store. On Feb. 25, members and non-members alike are invited to Alexandria for the 100-Year Celebration, which will feature presentations on the history of the Girl Scouts, “Forever Green” businesses, and a vintage fashion show. World Thinking Day is planned for March 17, and there will be events in Lake Charles and around the state.

Whether you support the Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf by purchasing cookies, attending events, volunteering time, and/or making financial contributions–-make sure you become a part of the Girls Scout’s 100th Birthday Celebration!

For information, contact the Lake Charles office at (337) 497-0791, toll-free at (800) 960-2093, or visit www.girlscoutspinestogulf.org.

By Rhonda Babin
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Bayou Biz - Better Business Bureau: Celebrating a Century of Trust

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Who do you turn to when you need to find out if a business is reputable? Who do you contact to file a complaint against a company? You go to the authority on trust in the marketplace—the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The Better Business Bureau has set and upheld high standards for ethical marketplace behavior since 1912. The organization provides consumers with objective, unbiased information about businesses and charities, and distributes consumer and business education information, tips and alerts.

BBB helps us make wise buying decisions through innovative programs and services such as BBB Business Reviews and ratings, advertising review services, Charity Control, BBB AutoLine, BBB Military Line, Smart Teen Programs, Savvy Senior Programs, and dispute resolution/arbitration as well as an annual “Secure Your ID” Shred Fest.
There are 116 local bureaus serving communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities.

The BBB of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. was started in 1950 by a group of local businessmen with the Chamber of Commerce who saw a need to self-regulate advertising issues. While they are different organizations today, their services are both needed. The Chamber promotes business, while the BBB protects both business and consumers.

BBB Accreditation

“BBB accreditation is an honor – and not every company is eligible,” said Carmen Million, president of the BBB of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. “Businesses that meet our high standards are invited to join BBB. Businesses meeting BBB standards are presented to local boards of directors (or designees) for review and acceptance as a BBB accredited business.”

Accreditation is by invitation only. A company must be in business for at least one year and must not have unanswered, unresolved or a pattern of complaints. Along with being properly licensed by its governing industry and/or local occupational licensing agencies, it must also agree to abide by the BBB Standards for Business Practices, which is a commitment to work with the BBB on any issues brought to their attention.

The company must have and maintain a B or better rating before it can be eligible.
“When we invite a business to become an accredited member, it’s because we have checked them out and confirmed that they meet the standards,” Million said. “This includes the BBB Code of Business Practices, which represents sound advertising, selling and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business.”

BBB accredited businesses agree to live up to BBB’s Standards for Trust. “They are a comprehensive set of policies, procedures and best practices focused on how businesses should treat the public –- fairly and honestly in all circumstances,” she explained.

Every BBB accredited business is monitored for continuing adherence to BBB standards. If it does not adhere to the standards, then its accreditation is brought to the BBB board of directors for revocation. BBB does not compare businesses against each other, but rather, evaluates businesses against their standards.

“Our standards clearly speak to the character and competence of an organization,” Million said. “BBB is the resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses. Our network of national and local BBB operations allows us to monitor and take action on thousands of business issues affecting consumers at any given time.”

Million said the BBB exists so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust. “We provide educational information and expert advice that is free of charge and easily accessible at www.bbb.org,” she said.

The Benefits

Based on recent survey findings, Million said that 70 percent of consumers indicated that they would be more likely to buy from a company designated as a BBB accredited business.
A BBB accreditation indicates that this company does business ethically. It’s an honor not every business enjoys, and is a sign of a company’s good reputation.

BBB reviews accredited and non-accredited businesses alike, processing complaints on both. Reviews only note a business’ accreditation status. While all complaints are processed the same, an accredited business must respond to a complaint to meet the standards set by the BBB.

Filing a Complaint

What do you do if you have an issue with a company that’s given you less than satisfactory service? The BBB is usually the first step you can take to resolve the problem. “We attempt to settle the dispute in a fair manner with no cost to either party,” Million said. “If the matter is not settled through the BBB process, then the consumer still has the option to seek legal action.”
All complaints must be submitted in writing by mail, e-mail, and fax or online at www.bbb.org. “Olivia Collins, the complaint manager in our SWLA office, reviews all complaints to determine if it is a valid complaint, based on the information provided, and also if it is in our jurisdiction,” she said.

A copy of the complaint is then sent on to the company. “The outcome of the complaint is reported on the company’s record after our mediation process is completed,” Million said. “Our procedure helps filter complaints before they are reported. For instance, we do not report a complaint until the company has received a copy to help determine if it is actually their customer. In fact, we contact the company on three occasions, with the last letter sent certified.”
Million points out that a complaint is not necessarily a negative. “It’s an opportunity to know what your customer is saying and gives you the chance to make improvements. If a company is not aware of their shortcomings, then they cannot make the necessary changes.”

If you do not find a BBB Reliability Report for a business, it may mean that it is new to the area, or BBB has not had sufficient activity to develop a report. It is neither positive nor negative. BBB suggests you check the business’ references and licensing information.
BBBs do a lot more than help settle disputes. Through the support of their accredited businesses, they maintain standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses and provide information to the public before they purchase products and services. In fact, more than 80 percent of the calls the BBB receives are pre-purchase inquiries.

About the BBB Staff

The local BBB staff of four provides many benefits to the six parishes they service and each employee wears several hats.

Carmen Million joined the staff in January 1983 as a file clerk. She worked her way up by eventually performing every position at the BBB. The BBB board of directors selected her as the president in 1999.

Million’s most memorable achievements have been working with the board to get the local BBB computerized and online, as well as finding a home for the BBB. “Personally, the most rewarding service we provide is our educational programs to senior citizens and high school students,” she said.

Kathleen Leonards, VP of business relations, along with her assistant, Gisele Weber, monitor standards and provide services to Accredited Businesses. Leonards originally joined the BBB Staff in 1989 and Weber has been with the BBB since 2004.

Complaint Manager Olivia Collins processes and monitors complaints and assists with programs in the public. She also offers information and counseling to consumers and businesses. She joined the BBB staff in 2008.

For more information on the BBB, or to file a complaint against a company, call (337) 478-6253 or go to www.bbb.org.

By Lauren de Albuquerque
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Hearing both sides of The LCFD story: Local 561 vs. the City

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:00:00 GMT

During all of the back and forth between the Lake Charles City Council and the LCFD, most of the media coverage has been one-sided. The goal in this article is to present both sides of the story. Below is two interviews, one with Wil Veuleman, Union 561 President, and City Council President John Ieyoub.

LakeCharles.com: What is the argument the union proposes?
Veuleman: I've argued this so many times. It's easy for either side to do the study and say your overpaid or underpaid when we are comparing a similar size city. But I'm not in competition with Alexandria, Lafayette, etc. But I AM in competition with Sulphur, who makes over $3,000 more than us. The same with Carlyss, and other nearby departments. Lake Charles is the flagship of SWLA and we have some of the lowest paid firefighters. L.C.P.D. are making right over $30,000 but they're guaranteed supplemental pay from the city. Everyone gets State supplemental pay, but cops get an extra $150 a month for the first year. After the first year, we both receive supplemental pay. That serves as a common denominator for the salary. Firefighters work 2,912 hours a year, which is more than cops. They also get to use city vehicles. But what they have and what we don't have is not the issue here. And as far as the risk, the risk is the same.

LakeCharles.com: What progress has been made?
Veuleman: There has been no progress. We got an 8% raise over two years ago, but at the time our pay was at 8.19/hour and that was some progress. This was verbatim from the City, “We are gonna get y'all up to Sulphur's rates.” The next year the economy busted and we lost some things, but my guys were very understanding. And anyway, when you are losing some benefits its not a raise. We are tired of paying for our own raise.

LakeCharles.com: What came of the proposed millage tax?
Veuleman: As far as the millage tax goes, they shot that down. They say that no one department can get a raise without everyone getting one. Well, that only came about after they did away with the “me-too” clause. Any time another department got a raise then every department got the same- this was called the “me-too” clause. The city worked hard to get rid of that. I asked them what happened to the "me too" and why did y'all get rid of it?
If you look at the raise history it's all there. They took away a raise they gave us in 2001 or 2002 and we chose not to sue even though that was against state law. When we began talks of the tax. We asked for this solution. They supported us going and finding a solution. I really feel like they should have been behind it. They also would have been able to add nine additional workers.

LakeCharles.com: What is the current situation with overtime?
Veuleman: Overtime was extremely high two years ago and that's because the city would never take a full staff and we had some guys take additional sick leave due to cancer. So, we altered the sick leave policy. We became accustomed to it and adjusted. This year we saved them over 1 million dollars in overtime. And to not see that back in any sort of way was a slap in the face. Some of them work to make forty grand, but they earned it. At the same time, if you see a two-year hose-man making more than a twenty year captain then something's wrong with that.
This is happening because if you got an open cap spot, you get a driver and move him up to captain. If you get a hose man to work driver and pay him overtime and do that every day it adds up. Its their individual option though.

LakeCharles.com: Are our citizen's safety being directly affected?
Veuleman: the City thinks we only need two men and every study in the nation is saying you need at least four. But what it comes down to is the city is using a bare-bones budget. The city said they're only gonna shut down one truck now, but it doesn't matter because your running some trucks without a hose man. So you have to call another truck. But the thing is that is robbing another area of a truck. The city is jeopardizing our citizens safety and they are hoping the worst won't happen.
Some of my guys went door to door handing out fliers letting them know that their area is not protected like it should be. If I'm in that area I would by saying "Why are some people more important than others. The flier had a little fact sheet about studies done on different organizations on manpower issues and how it affects safety. The results say, "Your safety is increased exponentially when you have four to five guys on the truck.” In the last two years they they've decided to consistently run ladder trucks with only two people. And there's always two or three trucks that run short now. It's just crazy.

LakeCharles.com: What has been the response from the citizens of our area?
Veuleman: Its still amazing to me how the citizens of Lake Charles were stripped of their rights. They made a decision for every citizen in Lake Charles. It wasn't even for salary paid men, it was also for non-additional men. We just keep hearing “We are in an operating deficit.”

Win, lose, or draw you let the people decide. If the council would come to me and say "We changed our mind..." I don't know if it's worth it, but they have drug it through the mud so much so I don't know where we are at right now. I think the city is hurting itself. My door is always open for them, but I cant do anything if they have empty hands to offer.

LakeCharles.com: How important is it that our residents get all the facts correct before they speak?
Veuleman: There lady in American Press in the opinions section who was totally wrong. Our case before had no paid lobbyists present, it was not a 9 million dollar suit. Some of her info was off and it's a shame when the media get it wrong.
Another example is when an article came out saying we are costing taxpayers more money. That's not true at all. With the benefits we've lost, we are saving them money. The bottom line is that these guys love their jobs and love helping people and the city uses that to their advantage because they say, well, that's why we can run short. Because they know we are gonna do everything we can to help people, even if we are shorthanded.

Below is the Q&A exchange with Ieyoub...

LakeCharles.com: What is the current situation with the L.C.F.D.'s proposal?
Ieyoub: As a city we are focused on the business side, not the personal side. We can't say enough that we appreciate what they do. We preface every negotiation with that. The public seems to always bring the personal side into it. If we could separate that and look at it that way, it would help. That's like anything in the private sector.

The firefighters came up with a tax increase and that didn't happen. So, they fall off from the city under the Civil Service Law. They lose some things that way; in other words, with the city we throw in some perks. Just one example is that firefighters are given 365 days of sick time, which is basically a workers comp so if they hurt themselves they can be compensated before workers comp kicks in. With that came a lot of sick calls. They lose that now and that's just one example. Another is we allow early retirement. There are so many more like that.

LakeCharles.com: What happened with the millage tax proposal?
Ieyoub: As far as the millage tax, Wil came to me and asked, "Would you mind putting on a millage tax and let the people vote?” It would show up as a property tax increase to fund their pay raise a 27% raise over three years. Well, they already get a 2% raise every year.
The Police Department had the same issue and they were fine with what they have. Public Works is also. So, you can't go for a tax for just one department. We received a letter from all the other departments saying they are ok with their compensation.

LakeCharles.com: What happened to the progress of the millage tax?:
Ieyoub: So we asked them to give us a presentation as to what the millage would be dollar wise, what it would cover, etc. They showed up at the meeting with absolutely nothing, and it ended in a 7-0 vote. They wanted the city to fund the election cost and the campaign to have it passed. Their requests were unfeasible. On top of that, I had a letter from every union president saying they are absolutely against the millage tax.

LakeCharles.com: What other issues are involved?
Ieyoub: There's also the issue of their benefit package with Health Insurance and Retirement. Retirement is becoming unsustainable because it's draining municipalities. If an organization decides to invest in something and loses, those losses come from the city and those firefighters are under contracts with the city.
This retirement problem is nationwide epidemic. After thirty years as a firefighter, you get paid your full salary every year. If our pool gets cut, then we can't continue to give the firefighters the same amount when others might not receive. And the only way to amend that is for the State Legislature to amend that, so it's not just us.

Another issue is fire-ratings. To maintain a fire-rating is important (each one is given a rating by LSO in conjunction with insurance). 1 is the best and 10 is the worst. As your rating goes up, your insurance costs more. We've always had a 2. To maintain a 2, you have to have a staff of a certain amount of people per truck. It's a staffing nightmare. So you have a lot of people sitting around. Or with people calling in sick, you are short.

LakeCharles.com: What is the City's stance on the overtime issue?
Ieyoub: The union started to refuse to work up so we're having to call people from home and we have to pay them more. The chief works for us and works for them and does the best he can to mitigate. He's brought in a brownout, which is one of those things that are used to mitigate. The union is gonna say that we are going to lose our ratings if we brown out and the citizens will have to pay higher insurance, but there are a lot of insurance issues that go into that.

LakeCharles.com: How important is it that the public and media know all the facts before they argue?
Ieyoub: The general public just doesn't know all the facts. These proposals go on between city officials and union members. The city council basically gets a final product to vote on. The first one I dealt with they negotiated, we voted, and we were done. This time we went back and forth.
When the American Press put out their article with the caption “Firefighters will not strike”, that was a perfect example of even the media not having all their facts straight. The firefighters can't strike. We will always be protected no matter what our recommendations are. They are mandated to always have to be of service. There's much more to it than the people realize and it's important they learn all the parts.
There's nothing personal. I've met with Wil and he does a great job. And I can't stress enough how grateful we are for the job they do.

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Residential Solid Waste Convenience Centers Open to the Public

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury officially opened two Residential Solid Waste Convenience Centers on the eastern and western portions of the Parish yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. With the opening of these Centers, Calcasieu Parish Residents can now take their solid waste normally too large to place in residential bins to one of two parish drop-off facilities.

The Convenience Centers are open to all Calcasieu residents with a valid driver’s license. Attendants will be on site to scan licenses and assist residents with any questions they may have. There is no additional cost for this service. The Police Jury also encourages residents to bring recyclable materials to the Convenience Centers as recycling bins will be present.

Operating hours are 7am – 5pm, Thursday – Monday. The physical locations of both Residential Solid Waste Convenience Centers are:

East Maintenance Facility

5500 B Swift Plant Road

Lake Charles, LA 70615

West Maintenance Facility

2915 Post Oak Road

Sulphur, LA 70663

Guidelines for Residential Solid Waste Convenience Centers:

You must be a resident of Calcasieu Parish.
A valid driver's license is required.
Residential Solid Waste only, please.
Commercial and Industrial Waste is prohibited.
Five tires per day limit.
No medical waste.
Paint cans must be open and dried.
Doors must be removed on all white goods.
Motors, tanks and cans must be drained.
No automotive or industrial oils, grease or antifreeze.
Animal carcasses must be reduced as much as possible, double bagged and tied.
All acceptable waste must fit in waste containers provided.

The following items can be accepted for recycling:

Aluminum cans
Brown Paper bags
Cardboard
Catalogs, magazines and phone books
Chipboard (cereal boxes, shoe boxes, etc.)
Colored Paper
Computer Paper
Envelopes
Newspapers and junk mail
Plastic bottles and jugs
Tin and steel cans
Empty aerosol cans

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Imperial Calcasieu Museum: Treasures Within a Treasure

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The Imperial Calcasieu Museum in Lake Charles is a leading cultural and educational resource for Southwest Louisiana. Housing a unique collection of the area’s historical memorabilia, it also serves as an arts and cultural hub for the region.

Addressing a strong need for cultural awareness and history, the Junior League of Lake Charles initiated the creation of a museum that would house historical artifacts from, and for, the area. In March 1963, the museum, then called the Fine Arts Center & Museum, opened in City Hall. In August of 1963, the museum became its own 501© (3), and that December, it moved to 1019 Lakeshore Drive, now headquarters of Junior League of Lake Charles.

In 1970, the museum was officially named the Imperial Calcasieu Museum to represent the five-parish Imperial Calcasieu area that it serves: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis. At that time, the museum moved to its current location on 204 West Sallier Street, Lake Charles. It seems fitting that the museum is located on its current site, since the property was once the location of Charles Sallier’s winter home—and Sallier is one of the founders of Lake Charles.

Serving the Southwest Louisiana community for over 48 years, the ICM is well established. It strives to encourage and support the visual arts and artists; enhance art awareness and appreciation by providing educational opportunities for the community; and to serve as a repository for objects unique to the culture of the old Imperial Calcasieu region.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and offers a variety of exhibits. It’s home to several permanent exhibits and galleries, and houses an extensive collection of historic artifacts and memorabilia from the ancient Mayans and Native Americans. “People are amazed at our collection,” said Susan Reed, ICM’s executive director.

The Historic Exhibit is a permanent exhibit with rotating artifacts depicting life from pre-1850 to the present. It includes period rooms such as a turn-of-the-century kitchen, barbershop, pharmacy and parlor. In addition, there’s a room dedicated to our nation’s war history, as well as exhibits of our region’s waterways. The museum also features an exhibit on the 1910 Fire of Lake Charles; and houses unique items such as Mayan artifacts from a 1920 expedition in the Yucatan, as well as a Magic Lantern, which was a precursor to the movie projector.

The Gibson Library houses important historical documents as well as an extensive collection of John James Audubon prints, with approximately 29 pieces on exhibit. Audobon is well-known for his bird and wildlife drawings. The works of Boyd Cruise and Charlotte Hatchette are also part of the permanent art exhibit.

The Sallier Oak and Lynda Benglis Sculpture Garden features the contemporary sculptures of Louisiana’s own Lynda Benglis and the famous 400-year-old Sallier Oak. Legend has it that the historical live oak was the site where Charles Sallier allegedly tried to kill his wife by shooting her in the chest. A brooch worn by Sallier’s wife apparently stopped the bullet and saved her life. Legend aside, the live oak has been a favorite backdrop for many special occasions celebrated by area residents, from weddings and birthdays to family photo sessions. To assure its longevity, a certified arborist is employed by the museum to care for the tree.

“The tree belongs to the museum,” Reed said. “It’s a community treasure that the museum wants to share with the community.” But 400 years does put a strain on the big tree. “We would like people to respect it so that it can be preserved and future generations can appreciate it,” she said.
Aside from its impressive permanent exhibits, the Gibson-Barham Gallery at the museum plays host to more than six art exhibits each year, representing local, regional, and nationally known artists.

Schoolchildren learned about Africa through an exhibit of rare African masks donated by local collector Jeff Ferguson. Louisiana artist George Rodrigues brought his Blue Dog to life during a special lecture and showing at the museum.

“Hurry on Down: A Celebration of the Life of Nellie Lutcher,” featured live musical and monologue performances, interactive listening stations, personal items, promotional material, rare photographs, recordings and so much more. The exhibit was a show-stopper, much like Nellie Lutcher herself. “Hurry on Down,” has been developed by the museum into a traveling exhibit to educate school children around the state on thhe life of this amazing woman.
The ICM continues to offer unique and interesting exhibits. “We are currently working on a possible Andy Warhol exhibit,” Reed said. “If things fall into place, the exhibit will take place early next year.”

Over 10,000 schoolchilren benefit from the museum annually, as the museum develops and produces curriculum guides and student workbooks for its exhibits. These educational materials enable teachers to prepare students before they visit the exhibits, and the books and activities ensure that the learning opportunity follows from the museum back to our schools. “We aim to provide children an educational experience, and not just a field trip,” Reed said.

Aside from the students, the museum has an average of 6,000 visitors a year. “We regularly offer tour groups for the Convention & Visitors Bureau.” Reed said. “We have ‘walk-ins’ from the area, and visitors from Europe and Mexico are common.”

As is the case with most non-profits in these troubling economic times, the museum is in need of resources to continue operating. The ICM is funded by individuals and corporate memberships; some fees for services (gallery rental, touring exhibits); and local, state, federal, and private grants.

There are also fundraisers, such as the bi-annual Upscale Attic Sale and the annual Boogaloo.
The Attic Sale gives buyers an opportunity to purchase wonderful, gently used antiques. “We have a variety of furniture, rugs, and other home accessories that are available for purchase,” Reed said. The most recent sale was held just a few weeks ago at the museum.

The annual Boogaloo is a themed event and the museum’s biggest fundraiser. “Forty percent of our budget comes from Boogaloo sponsorship,” Reed said. The 2012 Boogaloo is set to take place April 14, 2012. The theme is “Boogaloo in Reality” where guests dress as their favorite reality show stars. “Guests can come dressed up as Snookie or Kim Kardashian,” Reed laughed.
Museum membership is also a good way to support the organization. “We have several levels of membership that could fit any individual or family’s needs,” Reed said.

For example, membership to the Sallier Society involves a $1,000 donation a year. Membership to the society includes tickets to all museum events as well as a “seedling” from the Sallier Oak. The museum is working with Robert Turley of LSU AG center on cultivating the seedlings.
“Membership to the Sallier Society is a nice way to assist in funding museum operations and literally a have a part of the Sallier Oak,” Reed said.

For more information about the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, call (337) 439-3797.

By Maria Alcantara Faul
Source: The Jambalaya News

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The Sports Report: The LSU Year in Crazy

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Here is what I know: Les Miles is messing with you and me.

I hadn’t noticed it before but, in the aftermath of LSU’s 42-10 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship, it is perfectly obvious that the Mad Hatter does not care about the staid old conventions of winning football games the traditional way.

How else do you explain the increasingly bizarre and convoluted ways his Tiger football team has been winning football games this season? It appears the rules of civilized football have gone completely out the window, more so than in any other Miles-led year.

In fact, it seems Miles’ only rule for winning football is that the kicker or punter must do something kickers and punters do not do on a regular basis.

To illustrate the year in crazy, here is a top 10 list (in chronological order) of the insane ways Les Miles has had his LSU Tigers win football games this year:

1. Beat the No. 3 team in the country with 10 or fewer pass completions. Check. (Jarrett Lee, 10, vs. Oregon, 40-27 win.)

2. Beat a Top 25 team on the road, scoring less than 20 points while also scoring only one touchdown. Check. (No. 25 Mississippi State, one touchdown, four field goals, 19-6 win.)

3. Beat a Top 25 team on the road by double its score while allowing over 500 yards of offense. Check. (No. 16 West Virginia, 533 yards of offense allowed, 47-21 win.)

4. Beat a Top 25 team but your punter (must be Australian and, no, New Zealand, doesn’t count) must be flagged for taunting while scoring a potential touchdown. Check. (No. 17 Florida, Brad Wing’s 15-yard “what, suckers?” gesture erases a touchdown, 41-11 win.)

5. Beat a Top 25 team after suspending your best rusher, defender and a key defensive backup. Check. (No. 19 Auburn, Spencer Ware, Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon out for smoking the artificial turf, 45-10 win).

6. Beat the No. 2 team in the nation (which has a defense as good or better as yours) while allowing more yards, more first downs and more third-down conversions. Oh, and you can only score by field goals. Check. (No. 2 Alabama, 295, 17, 5-13, three Drew Alleman field goals, 9-6 win.) Following the epic game against the Crimson Tide, Miles turned the crazy all the way up to 11.

7. Beat a cupcake opponent by more than 30 points, but lead by only one touchdown at halftime. Check. (Western Kentucky, 14-7 LSU at the half, 41-9 win.)

8. Beat your opponent so badly your third-string quarterback must take a knee with 5 minutes left in the game. Check. (Ole Miss, Zack Mettenberger kneels with 5:10 remaining, 52-3 win.)

9. Beat the No. 3 team in the nation by double their score or more after spotting them a 14-0 lead. Check. (Arkansas, 14-0 lead 12:41 into the game, 41-17 win.)

10. Beat the No. 12 team in the nation in a conference championship game, spotting them a
10-0 lead. Oh, and do that without a first down in the entire first half. Check. (Georgia, 10-0 lead after one quarter, zero LSU first-half first downs, 42-10 win). Bonus points if you gain less than five total yards in any one quarter (LSU second-quarter yards: 1).

So, what can we expect from LSU and Les Miles in the BCS National Championship game?

Well, I know Les is busy preparing to take on the powerful Crimson Tide defense for a second time (because the first game evidently doesn’t count in BCS-land), so I’ve come up with a few creative suggestions for how he can defeat Alabama and earn LSU’s fourth national championship.

In order for the national championship to count, Miles must choose one of the following options and must follow the rule to the letter. Should Miles win the championship but not follow the rules exactly, the BCS championship will automatically go to Boise State because it would finally shut up all of their whining about being left out of the BCS.

So, to paraphrase from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Choose wisely, Les Miles. Choose wisely.

1. Beat Alabama by at least 10 points, but only gain yards by allowing Brad Wing to rush the football.

2. Beat Alabama while scoring 16 points or more, but the only scores allowed are safeties.

3. Beat Alabama with LSU soccer star and YouTube sensation Mo Isom in place of Tyrann Mathieu on defense. Call it Meaux vs. ’Bama.

4. Beat Alabama with former LSU baseball player and current San Francisco Giants weirdo Brian Wilson in place of Jordan Jefferson at quarterback. Many fans might prefer this arrangement anyway.

5. Beat Alabama with Swamp People stars Troy Landry, Trapper Joe and Trigger Tommy as offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators, respectively. Troy is only allowed to say “Choot ’em” into Miles’ headset. Make sure Tommy doesn’t forget the kicking tees in the truck.

I have some other ideas, like having Reuben Randle catch passes thrown by Drew Brees from the rafters of the Superdome or having Michael Ford run the option with former Alabama behemoth Terrance “Mount” Cody harnessed to his back. But those just seem too crazy, don’t you think?

Certainly, Miles doesn’t have to choose any of these options; they are just there to help. But I do hope he continues to bring the crazy. Because, if he’s not careful, he’s going to mess around and win another national championship.

By Brandon Shoumaker
Source: The Jambalaya News

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

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Lake Charles native Omar Luqmaan-Harris (Qwantu Amaru; Pantheon Collective) releases supernatural thriller

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Lake Charles native Omar Luqmaan-Harris, (writing as Qwantu Amaru) has completed his novel “One Blood” after more than a decade of work. According to Luqmaan-Harris, “12 years had passed and I needed every single one of them to deliver a book of which I couldn’t be more proud. A dream was fulfilled.”

Luqmaan-Harris, who spent his high school days at Barbe, where he was Prom King and was also named Mr. Barbe. Perhaps that was a sign of times ahead. Since then he has pieced together a string of accomplishments that have paved a pathway to this book.

After completing his MBA at Florida A&M, Luqmaan-Harris has gone on to write multiple volumes of poetry, perform spoken word from coast to coast, and partner in his own publishing company; Pantheon Collective.

According to a press release, “One Blood takes the reader on an epic journey that spans over 200 years and briskly moves from New Orleans to the fictional locale of Lake City, LA to Baton Rouge, to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. The novel revolves around a diverse cast of characters connected by a curse from slavery. “One Blood is a story about the power of suggestion and the beliefs that shape our lives,”

Amaru wrote in his synopsis. “There are secrets sealed in our blood, you see. The best answers, as always, lie within.”

LakeCharles.com caught up with Luqmaan-Harris for a short Q&A. Below is the conversation we shared:

LakeCharles.com: What has been the response to "One Blood thus far?
Luqmaan-Harris: Even before the book came out, as soon as people saw the book trailer and the book cover , interest was very high. I posted a free 30 chapter preview of the book a few months before it launched and it received almost 800 downloads! And now that the book is out (it's been a little over 2 weeks as of this writing), I've already received several 5 star Amazon reviews, conducted a few author interviews, and been asked to guest blog on several sites. It's been very exciting and gratifying to see the response so far.

LakeCharles.com: People are calling OB a horror. Often the audience's take is different than the creator... How would YOU categorize this book?
Luqmaan-Harris: I would categorize it as a supernatural thriller or even speculative fiction novel because it isn't a traditional horror novel in the blood and guts and gore since of the word. Although there are some very scary parts in the story, the horror in the book works more on a psychological level than a purely visceral one. But I think the voodoo element in the story automatically puts this in the horror category for a lot of readers. Which I'm totally fine with as Stephen King, the master of horror, is my favorite author!

LakeCharles.com: Describe growing up in Lake Charles and the influences you had coming up?
Luqmaan-Harris: I moved to Lake Charles from Charleston, WV, when I was 11 and just starting the 6th grade. Coming from the north to the south was a major shift for me. I'd never had a hard time fitting in before, but the first year or so was pretty difficult. I went to Oak Park and then S.J. Welch in middle school and from there on to Barbe for high school. I was always an avid reader, friends can attest to me reading Stephen King novels while watching the varsity basketball team practice. I was greatly influenced by the atmosphere of Louisiana. The rich history was very seductive to me. The culture of the state is so unique, there is no place like it! I was also influenced and greatly curious about the origins of Lake Charles, especially the involvement of Jean Lafitte. I always found it interesting that the town would celebrate a pirate every year! And it was actually while attending Contraband Days back in the early 90's that I met my number one influence for writing One Blood, David Duke. But that's another story...

LakeCharles.com: What are some of the trends/methods being discussed in your circle of friends/writers as to how an author can tell a great story, but do it uniquely?
Luqmaan-Harris: Every writer talks about finding their "voice" which is really just a way of describing your "style" or how you translate your created worlds to readers. Just as you can often tell who a singer is from one note of a song, you should be able to identify a writer, just by reading a small sample of their work. In the beginning, though, we all "sound" like someone else. I probably sounded a lot like Stephen King and/or Richard Wright when I first began One Blood. Over time (it did take me 12 years to complete and publish the novel), I began to develop my own unique way of describing characters and settings, creating dialogue, and crafting suspense. I think that every great story starts with great characters and characters are very often influenced by the people we come into contact in our lives. So if you write about people you know or have interacted with and stay true to the characters you can't help but be unique and that's the best place to start. Let the characters dictate what happens and you are on your way to writing a great story!

LakeCharles.com: Describe your relationship with Pantheon Collective...what is the vision this group shares?
Luqmaan-Harris: Back in 2009, myself and two authors, Stephanie Casher and James W. Lewis, thought it might be an interesting idea to start our own independent publishing venture. We did this because we saw a clear shift in the publishing industry with the emergence of social media, e readers, and the decline of bookstores and felt strongly that we could produce a product as good (if not better) than the big guys. We wanted to take our publishing destinies in our own hands while simultaneously blazing a trail for other authors to follow. And we each had a unique skill set to bring to the table. Stephanie is an editor extraordinaire, James is a wizard at forging online connections, and I had the business/marketing background. So we created a mission to publish 4 books and blog about the entire process in order to empower and inspire other writers to take control of their publishing destinies like us. And we've developed quite a following in the months since.
Anyone interested can check out our website: www.pantheoncollective.com and keep tabs on what's old and new with James, Stephanie, and myself. On the business end, we have been very successful, with each of our titles to date eclipsing the magic 1,000 books sold barrier (85% of all books published sell less than 1,000 copies during their lifespan) and selling nearly 10,000 copies in 2011 alone! We feel we have a unique industry template that utilizes social media (facebook, twitter, YouTube, goodreads, shelfari, slideshare) to reach audiences we never could have without it, connect with the readers, and convince them to take a shot on our products. With One Blood now published (our 4th title), we will be publishing 2 books in 2012 on how other authors can do it themselves: The Independent Publishing Plan and From Authors to Entrepreneurs as well as follow-up novels from James and Stephanie and a few other surprises!

LakeCharles.com: Do you have any plans to return to Lake Charles in promotion of the book?
Luqmaan-Harris: I'm very much looking forward to the opportunity to come home and meet and greet old friends and new fans! If this article gets a great response, maybe that will happen sooner rather than later. But one way or the other, I couldn't launch One Blood, which for all intents and purposes is a book that takes place in a city "very much" like Lake Charles, and not come back to the town that made me!

For info on "One Blood", Omar, and all of Pantheon's upcoming projects, visit www.pantheoncollective.com. One Blood is currently available for Kindle at Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/s2CA4s

Hard copies will be available very soon!

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Kenny Rogers brought hits and delightful Christmas music to L'Auberge

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Kenny Rogers still has it!

Even though Rogers is getting older, does not move around much, and strains a bit for the high notes, his overall person-ability made for a tremendous heart-felt show at L'Auberge on December 3^rd. Singing almost all his hits to a packed house, Rogers seemed to be having a good ole time doing what he does best; telling timeless stories of love and life.

The show started out abruptly with the voice in the sky introducing Kenny and then immediately the band went into Ruby. After nearly the whole crowd singing along and loud cheers as the song finished, Rogers proceeded to talk to the crowd for about ten minutes. His contagious laugh and smile set the tone for the evening. And even though these are the same jokes Rogers performs night after night, his heart-felt warmth earned loud laughs from everyone.

After moving through the likes of "Ruby", "Coward of the County", "Daytime Friends", "The Gambler" and more, Rogers took a seat and welcomed out the larger than life Billy Dean.

Dean has risen to acclaim with his Dave Mason cover “We Just Disagree”. With a great set of teeth, Dean's large presence (over six feet tall) and pure voice gave the fans a nice turn in the show.

After a few more Rogers songs, including what he stated was his favorite song to sing from the 80's “She Believes in Me”, a short intermission ensued with Rogers reassuring everyone to stick around for what will now be the Christmas portion of the show.

Upon the shows resumption, the band was able to show its stuff a little, with a beautiful instrumental. Dean returned to the stage surprisingly accompanied by several local children who busted into song with Billy. Dean and the kids rocked out “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and then the kids sat to be serenaded by Dean's original tune, “Let Them Be Little”. Later, Randy Dorman and LaGrange High School Choir came out to sing more Christmas songs.

The crowd might not realize how much work goes into something like this. I could not help but think about the fact that these kids had to practice with Dean the day and week before. I am certain these kids had to go through a crash course rehearsal to prepare for this show.

Even more impressive is the way the parents felt when their kid came home from school and told them they were going to sing at the Kenny Rogers show. It is very thoughtful for Rogers and his show to include kids in the production with him. What a neat deal.

The whole show felt more like a concert during the holidays rather than a Christmas Show, even though Rogers gave a short lecture on the importance of keeping the words “Merry Christmas” around. This was an ideal concert for a Friday night in Lake Charles. Getting to hear Rogers hits and getting some holiday cheer at the same time made for a very special evening.

Even though Rogers is 73, he does not look like he is ready to fold em yet. Check out his future dates and news at kennyrogers.com. Also, make sure you stay in the loop with all shows at L'Auberge at ldlcasino.com.

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City Adjusting Fire Department Overtime Policy

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

After a review of operations over the last month, the City of Lake Charles is adjusting the Fire Department’s overtime policy to limit the number of ladder trucks taken out of service (brownouts) on any given day. After the Fire Union terminated its contract with the City, the City Council had to adjust personnel policies to conform to state and federal law. Since the City had no prior experience from which to estimate the budget impact of such policies, the Department sometimes took two ladder trucks out of service for a workday in recent weeks to control the anticipated increase in the cost of overtime.

Said John Cardone, City Administrator:
“So far, the cost of overtime appears to be within budget as a result of the new personnel policies adopted by the City Council. Effective immediately, the City is reverting to its original policy of limiting brownouts to no more than one ladder truck per day. We will continue to monitor the cost of overtime and other operations in an effort to control expenses. By March, we should have enough information to help us determine if this policy is working as intended.”

Said Chief Keith Murray:
“Given the number of ladder trucks we have in the City, we have some flexibility in taking one or two of these trucks out of service without adversely affecting the safety of our residents. We have other resources that we can deploy, if necessary, to make sure that we can respond to any emergency. Brownouts of this nature are customary in the fire industry when departments are required to adjust operations to fit within the budget. However, it is always better policy to man all ladder trucks as often as we can.”

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Le Peep Cafe brings its choice breakfast and tasty lunch specials

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

After two visits to Le Peep Cafe for lunch, it is clear that the Lake Area's newest restaurant prides themselves in a friendly staff, nutritious portions, and a menu that offers anything one can think of.

Upon first arrival, the restaurant seems a little drab. The slow paced Christmas carols playing over the speakers does not help the cause either. But a smiling, friendly greeting by the hostess perks things up a bit.

After sitting in a comfortable booth, my hungry companions look over the menu. Soon enough we find ourselves looking for what they DON'T have instead of what they DO have. This place has burgers, pasta, wraps, salads, crepes, waffles, fish, and more. Le Peep is able to cater to whatever mood patrons are in.

After ordering the Catfish, which is the special for the day, I glanced at the breakfast menu. It is exquisite, with dishes such as Nutella Crepe, , Waffle Sandwich, Lumberjack Breakfast, Crabby Patty Benedict, and Banana Walnut Pancakes to name just a few.

Creatively named are the Panhandled Skillet Dishes, which comprise of the Wanderer, Nomad, Gypsy, Hobo, Drifter, and the Sweetie Pie Skillet, which is sweet potatoes on a skillet, onions and diced ham under a blanket of Swiss cheese topped with 2 basted eggs on top.

Enough about the menu, let us get to the food. As our server brought the Catfish out, the portion seemed very small. Granted we are in Louisiana where the portions are usually too big. So I assume Le Peep is trying to keep the servings in a healthier size, which is a good thing.

The Catfish special I must say was delicious. The small filets came filled with tasty stuffing and topped with a hollandaise-like yellow sauce. With a side of corn, potatoes, and green beans, it was a truly majestic Southern meal. I felt full and happy, but not too full.

My fellow eating mate enjoyed his food as well. “I was pleased with my food. I got the Taco Trio and everything tasted fresh, but I did feel like the portion was a tad bit small. Service was good. As far as the decor, it could use some more character. It seems like they played it safe with that,” hungry man Jason Hardesty shared.

My other hungry sidekick Josh McGee commented,“ I got the Farmers' Benedict. The biscuit tasted a little funny and I think the potatoes were out of a bag. It was a little pricey too, but I can see the potential. I've heard the burger is delicious.”

As with any new restaurant in Lake Charles, the true test starts after the initial wave of being a brand new place to eat wears off. With the extensive menu, good location and healthy portions, Le Peep hopes to instill itself in the fabric of breakfast and lunchtime destinations.

Le Peep Cafe is located at 3800 Ryan St. For hours, directions, and menu please visit lepeepcafelakecharles.com.

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Lake Charles musician Taylor McMahon hopes to build on MTV success

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

It is very rare to hear about one of our lake area musicians used in the same sentence as MTV. But Shreveport born Lake Charles-ian “Taylor McMahon” is a special musician who has done just that. McMahon, who co-writes his original songs with his Dad, has a song featured on an episode of Real World: San Diego.

This all happened via a friend of his believing in him and loving his music. This friend, who made connections by advancing into the later rounds of American Idol, mentioned Taylor to ZODLOUNGE in Nashville.

“They contacted me and said they wanted to record. While I was up there recording, there was a guy who played drums there who is also an agent and he went up there and pitched it to them and they liked it,” McMahon enlightened.

And although McMahon hopes to build on this and work more with MTV, he is forming a band and kicking off a string of shows and songwriting, while at the same time studying to attain a degree in “Communication Design”.

McMahon and his family moved to Lake Charles when he was ten. His Dad played guitar and would rock out to Johnny B. Goode and other rock n' roll and blues songs. Consequently he fell in love with music, but at a young age, sports was Taylor's passion. While running track, McMahon suffered an injury that caused him to spend three months on a rehab machine.

It was during this time that Taylor started playing guitar. “I never had any intention of writing music,” McMahon explained.

“My Dad bought a USB microphone just to record covers in an interesting way. While we were toying around with it, I wrote this little song. We showed it to some people and they really liked it. My Dad usually co-writes with me. He has a bluesy style while my style is more like Jack Johnson. My parents were always listening to The Beatles and James Taylor and then in high school I got into Wilco and Ben Harper so my music is a mix of all that.”

Taylor is currently working with the multifaceted agency A&G Sync. He also has a cover of “Deck the Halls” coming out, which Taylor went on a weekend crash-course mission to record.
His album “Memory Music” is available for free download on his Facebook page and is also showcased on A&G Sync's website.

For upcoming shows, news, and other info visit www.facebook.com/pages/Taylor-McMahon. Taylor and other similar local artists can be heard for free on louisianaindieradio.com.

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"Preventing Family Violence Workshop" Reveals Disturbing Link

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Animal Abuse and Child Abuse: ‘Preventing Family Violence Workshop’ Reveals Disturbing Link

On Nov. 5, The People’s Advocate hosted its third-annual “Preventing Family Violence Workshop” with one goal in mind: to “Make the Link – Break the Cycle.” The workshop is aimed at bringing together all of the agencies involved in responding to family violence, including law enforcement, lawyers, judges, mental health professionals, women’s shelters, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and animal cruelty investigators to collaborate and engage in making the link between animal and child neglect, and breaking the cycle of family violence. A crucial step in achieving this end is recognizing the warning signs in a home by acknowledging the health and state of its animals.

With a list of participants like The People’s Advocate, ASPCA, Louisiana Bar Foundation, Oasis (Women’s Shelter), the District Attorney, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office, Lake Charles Police Department, DCFS, Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and national leaders, the workshop is well on its way to creating the link, or at least the dialogue.

Beth Zilbert is the founder of The People’s Advocate, an organization founded, among other things, to represent and advocate for children caught in the juvenile justice system. Part of the organization’s mission is to work toward ending the cycle of family violence and violence toward animals.

In their efforts, they have created a domestic violence task force made up of The People’s Advocate, the Women’s Shelter and the Southwest Louisiana Law Center. However, Representatives from law enforcement, the judicial system, and DCFS regularly attend the task force’s quarterly meetings. The goal of the task force is to create communication and cooperation among all of the agencies that play a part in responding to domestic violence. To that end, the Preventing Family Violence Workshop gives all of those players a voice, and helps to educate everyone on the seriousness and reality of the link.

Zilbert was inspired to create the workshop by her own experiences in the juvenile justice system.

“The first time I was in court as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, I remember hearing the DCFS investigator testify regarding the reasons the children should be removed from the home,” she said. “She mentioned that the dogs in the home looked like they had not been fed and there did not seem to be dog food in the home, and that there was dog feces all over the home. This sounded like neglect to me, and later I asked if the investigator had contacted anyone at Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and the answer was no.”

The connection made by the DCFS officer is a step in the right direction, but Zilbert believes that a more holistic approach and earlier intervention is necessary to really take strides in ending family and animal violence.

“All of the partners, colleagues, and players that make up the set of agencies, organizations, and advocates that focus on specific areas of family violence need to get together to help both educate each other and brainstorm solutions,” Zilbert said.

While animal cruelty has been linked to sociopathic tendencies in cases like that of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who started his violent path by killing animals, not everyone makes the link between animal cruelty and child and family violence.

“I thought about animal cruelty and the connection with serial killers, but I never really brought the connection to family pets and children,” said former DCFS investigator Jessie McInnis. “As an investigator, we would see the children first outside of the home at a school or daycare if possible. When in the home, we were looking more specifically for the things the children were exposed to and living with. If I were still investigating, [questions about animals in the home] would be something I would begin asking on intake.”
A reoccurring theme among conference attendees was the shock at the overwhelming evidence linking animal abuse and child abuse, and the shocking number of those cases still happening in 2011.
Brenna Thomas, a former foster care worker present at the workshop, said that if there is anything she took away from the workshop, it is the prominent link between animal and human cruelty.
“The workshop opened my eyes to the fact that animal abuse is a warning sign of child abuse,” Thomas said. “I would not have put the two together without this training.”

Kathy Brown, director of Jeff Davis Community Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) in Jennings said that the similarities between child abuse and animal abuse were shocking to her. Because of the training, CADA will incorporate a questionnaire for children entering the shelter that discusses their pets and treatment of the pets in the household.

“The workshop was informative on both sides (law enforcement and social services),” Brown said. “I would like to see even more involvement of law enforcement with (social services) to create a complete understanding of each other’s roll and an open dialog to better serve our victims.”

Included in the workshop handouts were shocking statistics and studies. The People’s Advocate fact sheet reported the alarming statistic that 60 percent of battered women in domestic violence shelters reported violence towards their animals. Eighty-seven percent of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75 percent in the presence of the children.
“The thing I found most informative is that in 70 percent of families seeking protection in a women’s shelter, the animals were either abused first or as a way of keeping those others who were being abused or witnessing abuse from telling anyone about it or leaving,” Zilbert said. “The animals are often the first victims, and [their injuries] don’t lie.”

Zilbert has a lofty goal for the outcome of the workshop. “I want to see an end to our area being number [one] for violence and abuse in our state, because our state is number three in the nation,” she said. “We need to reverse those statistics – finally be last in the bad things and in the top 10 for the good.”

She points out that what we have to realize is that even if and when the abuser/molester goes to jail, they do get out eventually – and what then? “We need programs in place in which no one organization, agency or advocate is trying to heal the whole family alone,” she said. “By working together, we make each other’s work more effective.”

Domestic violence is not likely to disappear, but the ongoing dialog is a huge step in the right direction. There’s an old saying that “with knowledge comes power.” By learning, collaborating and communicating, SWLA has the power to lower domestic violence rates, and become an example for the state and the country in how to fight domestic violence and animal cruelty.
For more information about making the link and breaking the cycle, and how you or your agency can become part of the solution, contact Beth Zilbert at The People’s Advocate at (337) 436-3475, or visit www.thepeoplesadvocateswla.com.

By Candice Pauley
Source: The Jambalaya News

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The Dang Yankee: The Stress Test

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I began to experience a strange tingling in my chest. I figured that either some fire ants had built a nest in there, or it was a symptom of a heart condition. Either way, I thought I’d better see the doctor and get it checked out. After all, I do have a few risk factors for the latter. One of these is heredity, and this particularly concerned me, since the feeling started about the same time that my daughter asked for a loan.

Once at the doctor’s office, the nurse gave me an EKG. This is a kind of test where they hook a bunch of wires up to your chest, making you look like one of those science fiction movie characters who pilots his spaceship via cybernetic connections. The wires are attached to your chest by suction cups. This is a real challenge with guys like me, who, without a shirt, could easily pass for Chewbacca. The nurse was prepared for this challenge, however, as she produced a razor the size of a lawnmower blade. She easily dispatched the offending hair while, at the same time, seemingly doubling the size of my resident fire ant colony.

The EKG machine produced a bunch of squiggly lines, the likes of which I have only seen spray-painted on subway cars back in Yankee Land. The doctor, after examining them, told me that he didn’t notice anything abnormal. Still, as a precaution (presumably against the cancellation of his malpractice insurance), he ordered a stress test.

The “stress” component of the test became apparent when the clinic called with instructions on how to prepare. I was to have no food—or worse, caffeine—for 12 hours beforehand. I was also advised to bring all of my prescription medications, which, with my various ailments--not to mention my doctor’s golf outings with drug company reps--I had to cart in with a wheelbarrow. This seemed too much to ask of someone who hadn’t had his morning coffee.

After arriving at the clinic, I was ushered into an examining room, complete with an examining table (a handy thing for examinations), a chair, and a stack of National Geographic magazines dating back to May of 1965. Waiting there, I did some examining of my own, browsing the National Geographics for pictures of topless native women. (There weren’t any.)

Then, a technician came in carrying a lead tube that looked like the main fuse for AC/DC’s sound system, except it had these radiation stickers all over it. In it was a tracer consisting of radioactive isotopes that they needed to inject into my blood system. They said it was so they could trace what was going on inside my heart during the test. I suspected the purpose for it was that if I should I try to escape during the procedure, they could track me using a Geiger counter. He then stuck an IV the size of a whale harpoon into my hand, through which he added the tracer.

Thusly injected, I was made to wait some more for the isotopes to do their work. Waiting, it seems, is a key element in the conducting of stress tests. Sitting there thinking, I wondered how they’d react if I just dropped myself onto the examining table with a loud thud and then lay there in a lifeless manner. I rejected this thought immediately, however, considering that one possible reaction might be for them to walk in and start harvesting internal organs.

The technician returned (presumably following a round of golf with my doctor and the drug company reps), and put me in this machine to take pictures of my now-radioactive heart. I spent another long time in there, all the while wondering—what with those isotopes—if right then and there, I’d turn green, split my hospital gown, smash the machine, bust through the wall, and go spend the afternoon vaulting back and forth over the Capital One Building.

Luckily, that didn’t happen. Instead, they took me out of the machine and hooked me up again with those cybernetic wires, after which they made me run on a treadmill—still without the benefit of so much as a latte. Then it was more isotopes and more pictures.

I’m now waiting to hear the results. Regardless of the prognosis, I must say that I’m glad I went through it. You can go to L’Auberge every weekend if you so desire, but your health is nothing to gamble with. Sure, I’m as much afraid of isotopes as the next guy, but I’m even more afraid of leaving my wife without somebody to leave do-lists for. Still, I’m hopeful that the doctor will give me a clean bill of ………….. agggghhhhh!

Just kidding there; y’all aren’t getting rid of me that easy.

By Mike McHugh
Source: The Jambalaya News

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SLAC Commemorates World AIDS Day

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Methodist Church Hosts Candlelight Vigil

The Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council (SLAC) and the Lake Charles District United Methodist Church are hosting a World AIDS Day candlelight vigil and church service on Thursday, Dec. 1st, at Warren United Methodist Church on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Orchid St. The vigil will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by the service at 6:30.

Join us as we gather to commemorate 30 years of HIV/AIDS in our country through music, and prayer. We will honor those we have lost, those who continue to struggle, and those who fight to end the war on AIDS. Persons living with HIV in our community will share their stories and their strength with those in attendance. Special vocal performances will also accompany the church service.

“It is important that we educate people about the existence of HIV in our community, country and world, but it is equally important to remember those who have struggled and continue to struggle with it,” said Kelli Barnes, Program Coordinator for SLAC. “World AIDS Day is a perfect time to reach out to our community and honor those affected by HIV/AIDS.”

Everyone is invited to join SLAC and Warren United Methodist Church as we work to raise awareness of HIV in our community, and reduce the stigma associated with the disease to make a better future for those living with HIV and work to prevent the spread of this global pandemic.

SLAC’s mission is to provide education to the people of Southwest Louisiana about HIV/AIDS and HIV prevention and to offer assistance to those affected by the disease. HIV affects not only the person infected, but also his/her family, friends, and community. In the U.S. alone, someone is infected with HIV every nine and a half minutes. The state of Louisiana is ranked 5th in the nation in HIV infection rates. This fundraiser is an easy way to give back and help us fight this disease that continues to ravage our country and the world.

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Arts Council Presents Poetry Reading by McNeese Students

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

On Friday, December 2nd, the First Friday Reading Series will present a free poetry reading by Kevin Thomason and Nancy Correro at 7 p.m. at the Porch Coffee House & Café. The Porch presents this monthly reading series cooperatively with the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana and provides a venue in the Lake Area for upcoming writers from across the state.

Kevin Thomason is from Memphis, TN, and graduated from the University of Memphis in 2008 with degrees in English and History. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts at McNeese State University’s highly sought-after Creative Writing program. Nancy Correro was raised in the Mississippi Delta and Atlanta, GA, and is a former editor of the Times of Southwest Louisiana. Correro is also working to earn her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at McNeese. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Poets For Living Waters, Swamp Lily Review, and Rougarou.

The Porch Coffee House & Café is located at 4710 Common Street in Lake Charles. For more information on the First Friday Reading Series, contact the Arts Council at 439-2787 or visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.

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Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

The holiday season is a time when busy people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. The following tips from the Lake Charles Police Department can help you be more careful, prepared and aware during the holiday season.

Stay alert and be aware of what's going on around you. (Situation Awareness)
Park in a well-lighted space, and be sure to lock the car, close the windows, and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
Deter pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Don't overburden yourself with packages. Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket.
Shopping with kids? Teach them to go to a store clerk or security guard if you get separated.
Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas.
Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, ask a security guard for an escort.

Shopping during the holiday season can present unique danger. Taking a few prevention measures can help keep your holiday season joyous. You may call the Lake Charles Police Department for assistance or to report any crime.

Deputy Chief of Police Mark Kraus
mkraus@mail.city-lakecharles.org
337-491-1456 ext 1224

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Christmas in SWLA

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! As always, there’s so much to see and do in the Lake Area during the holiday season. So take some time to enjoy these special events with the special people in your lives. And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas! Decking the Halls in DeQuincy

DeQuincy Christmas Parade - Dec. 2
Sponsored by the DeQuincy Chamber of Commerce, the parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2, with Christmas in the Park at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 7 p.m.

Taste of the Holiday/Tour Of Homes Dec. 3
The DeQuincy Civic Club will celebrate the holidays with a tour of several beautifully decorated homes beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, followed by the tasting at the JCE Center at 6 p.m. Patrons will be given a commemorative cookbook, including the recipes from the event. Tickets are $12. Call Krystal at (337) 274-3572 for tickets.

Christmas at the Railroad Museum - Dec. 3-31
Come to the DeQuincy Railroad Museum and enjoy thousands of exterior lights, a laser show and multiple indoor trees. Visitors are welcome to walk around the building and view the indoor trees. Night tours are available by reservation. Call (337) 786-2823 or go to www.dequincyrailroadmuseum.com for more information.

Holiday Inspiration in Iowa - Dec. 10

Christmas in the Park & Parade
The Iowa merchants will usher in the 2011 holiday season with the 18th Annual Christmas Parade on Sat., Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. Christmas in the Park will begin at 6 p.m., at Lawrence Toups Memorial Park. Admission is free.

Christmas Joy in Jennings

Christmas Festival & Gumbo Cook-off - Dec. 3
Sample some of the best chicken and sausage gumbo in the area at the 13th Annual Christmas Festival & Gumbo Cook-off at Louisiana Oil & Gas Park with judging at 4:30 p.m. The parade is at 5:30 p.m. down Main Street, followed by live entertainment, a bonfire, and fireworks at the park. Free admission.

Light Up Lake Charles

Mistletoe & Moss - Nov. 16-19
A holiday tradition held every year at the Lake Charles Civic Center, shoppers can experience the sights and sounds of festive holiday decorations and entertainment while shopping for Christmas! Preview Party Gala Wed. 7 - 10 p.m. $40; Preferred Shoppers Breakfast Thurs. 9 – 11 a.m. $25; Ladies Night Fri. 5:30 -7:30 p.m. $25. Donuts with Santa Sat. 8:30 - 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - noon, Cookies with Santa 2 - 3:30 p.m. $10 per adult and child (children 1 and under are free). General admission is $8 (no fee for children 8 and under), and a three-day shopping pass is $20. Hours: Thurs. 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, call (337) 436-4025.

White Night Lights with the LA Shoppe Girls - Dec. 1
Open House Holiday Shopping Extravaganza! Thurs., Dec. 1, from 4-8 p.m., Lake Area businesses will be showcasing their products and services and will be offering big discounts and promotions. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served at all locations and three amazing grand prizes will be raffled—valued at up to $700 a prize. Visit all locations for a better chance to win! White Lights Night is a charity event to raise money for the Calcasieu Women’s Shelter. Visit www.lashoppegirls.com for locations of the participating businesses.

Original Art Christmas Shopping Experience - Dec. 1-23
Fifty pieces of original art will be exhibited for sale for $50 a piece on Thurs., Dec. 1 from 5 - 8:30 p.m. at the Gallery by the Lake. This is a unique Christmas shopping experience with music and demonstrations. As part of the Charlestown Cultural District, the art is tax-free for a Merry Christmas indeed. The exhibit will continue until Dec. 23 at 106 Pryce St. (formerly Lawrence St.). Call (337) 436-1008 or go to www.gallerybythelake.com for more information.

Cinderella’s Holiday Dining - Dec. 3
The Children’s Theatre Company, Lake Charles welcomes you to a magical castle glistening with icicles and falling snow surrounded by toy soldiers. Children will join their favorite storybook characters for anunforgettable experience. Character meals are $25 per person with seating at noon. Seating is limited, and reservations must be made. An addition is Magical Princesses, for kids to feel like royalty with a dazzling tiara, shimmering makeup, hair accessories and a sash for an additional $50. For reservations, call (337) 433-7323.www.childrenstheatre.cc.

Light up the Lake Christmas Lighting/Parade - Dec. 3
The excitement kicks off at 2 p.m. with a street parade through downtown Lake Charles. Bring the entire family to the Lake Charles Civic Center for a variety of free activities such as Santa’s Workshop from 3 - 5 p.m.; Community Band Concert from 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.; and the Lighting Ceremony from the front entrance from 5:15 - 6 p.m. This will be followed by a spectacular Lighted Boat Parade at the seawall from 6:30 - 7 p.m. topped off by the Light Up The Lake fireworks extravaganza at 7:30 p.m. Call (337) 491-9147 for more information.

J&R Carriage Christmas Light Rides - Dec 3-31
J&R Carriage offers evening Christmas light carriage rides along Shell Beach Drive. Reservations required. Call (337) 842-0778 or got to www.jandrcarriage.com.

Santa Pet Photos - Dec. 4 and 11
Even Fido and Fluffy believe in Santa, so bring them along to have their picture taken from 6 - 7 p.m. at the Sears Court in Prien Lake Mall. For more information, call (337) 477-7487.

Swamp Pop Christmas Pageant - Dec. 7
A one-of-a-kind over-the-top holiday extravaganza featuring Warren Storm, Tommy McClain, David Egan, Steve Riley, CC Adcock, Richard Comeaux, Dickie Landry, David Ranson and Pat Breaux. With the final night being broadcast live on KRVS by the great Lee Kleinpeter, this specially created show will be full of amazing music, infectious spirit and surprises better than anything you’ll find in your stocking! Begins at 7 p.m. at Central School, located at 809 Kirby Street in Lake Charles. For more information, call the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787.

Very Merry Christmas Party For Seniors - Dec. 8
A fun-filled, festive day at the Lake Charles Civic Center for seniors 60+ begins at 9 a.m. with a continental breakfast, a live band for lots of Christmas dancing, caroling children and a full Christmas lunch. Afterwards, there will be Entergy Bingo for more than $1,500 in prizes. The event ends at 2 p.m. For more information, call (337) 474-2583.

Central School Holiday Promenade - Dec. 8
Come and visit this 100-year old community landmark. The Central School Arts and Humanities Center will open its doors to the public from 5-8 p.m. Help yourself to holiday music, art exhibits, the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the state, and yummy treats from 5-8 pm on Dec. 8. For more information, call (337) 439-2787.

Kenny Rogers Christmas & Hits - Dec. 9
Music icon Kenny Rogers will be celebrating 30 years of performing his Christmas & Hits Tour at the L’Auberge Event Center on Fri. Dec. 9 at 8:30 p.m. with a festive show featuring holiday classics and his biggest hits. Rogers is known for creating an inviting atmosphere with this critically acclaimed performance, which has become a holiday tradition in its own right since its start 30 years ago. Tickets go on sale Nov. 11 for $45/55 (stadium/floor) at www.ticketmaster.com or the L’Auberge Business Center.

Love Came Down - Dec. 9 and 11
“Love Came Down” will celebrate the Christmas season with two concerts offered both in Lake Charles and Sulphur. The Lake Charles performance will be Fri., Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm at the Lake Charles Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The Sulphur venue will be Immaculate Conception Church on Maplewood Drive on Sun., Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. The Bayou Bell Choir, Bruce Allured, director, and Les Petite Voix, the Louisiana Choral Foundation Community Children’s Choir, directed by Kari McCarty Proksch will join the Chorale for both concerts. Tickets (adults $15 and students $5) may be purchased at the door.

LCCC Presents Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Dec. 10
The Lake Charles Civic Ballet presents Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer—a performance for all ages! With professional costumes and settings, it is more than a ballet; it’s total theatre. Audience members visit Santa’s Toyshop and enjoy this classic story through music and dance. Rudolph even flies through the air in triumph! Performances will be held at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Rosa Hart Theatre, Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, call (337) 802-5779.

Children’s Museum Christmas Activities

Meet Santa! Dec. 17
Meet Santa Claus from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. and make a candy cane Rudolph in ArtSpace throughout the day.

Gingerbread House Workshop - Dec. 19
The kids will learn how to make a gingerbread house with graham crackers and icing in the ArtSpace at noon and 1 p.m., and there will be a Christmas reading at 11 a.m.

Holiday Art Activities
Dec. 20, Christmas placemats; Dec. 21, foam Christmas trees; Dec. 22, candy cane crafts; Dec. 23, Christmas boxes.

Merry in Moss Bluff

Christmas Parade - Dec. 10
The annual Moss Bluff Christmas parade begins at 2 p.m. in downtown Moss Bluff. Come out and join in all the fun! Call (337) 855-7522 for more information.

Silver Bells in Sulphur

Christmas Under the Oaks - Dec. 1-4
Twinkling lights, holly wreaths and winding oak branches mingled with a soft glow from falling snowflakes in…Louisiana? Yes, it snows every year at Sulphur’s Christmas Under the Oaks Festival, located at the Brimstone Museum Complex in the heart of Sulphur at Heritage Square where music, carnival rides and holiday shopping are at their height!

Festival dates are Fri.-Sun., Dec. 2-4, with shopping available at the Holiday House on Fri. and Sat. The Holiday House will also feature a preview party, Thurs, Dec. 1, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and available for advance purchase. Hours are Fri., 4 – 9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m. Last year, the City extended the festival one more day, with Christian entertainment, food and carnival rides on Sunday. For more information on Sulphur’s Christmas events, contact the Henning Cultural Center at (337) 527-0357.

Kiwanis Christmas Balloons on Parade - Dec. 3
Cypress St., Sulphur. The colorful, giant balloon parade begins at 3 p.m. (337) 527-0357.

A Very Merry Vinton Christmas

Christmas Parade - Dec. 2
The town of Vinton has exciting festivities planned for its parade. It will be held in downtown Vinton at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 followed by games, music, food, family fun and a visit from Old St. Nicholas at Vinton Elementary Gym at 1610 Hampton St.

Trees of Hope - Dec. 5 – 21
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel invites you to come out and vote on local charities’ unique Christmas tree decorations as they compete for a share of $10,000 in cash. Awards ceremony is Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. Call (800) 589-7441 for more information.

Holiday Wishes in Westlake

Christmas Parade - Dec. 10
Everyone is getting ready for the Westlake Christmas Parade, which will be held Sat., Dec. 10, through the heart of downtown Westlake at 4 p.m. Candy and Christmas fare will fly through the air, and spectators will be dazzled by the Christmas spirit. The parade, sponsored by the West Cal Kiwanis, will roll down Sampson Street. After the parade, don’t miss a lighting ceremony at city hall with caroling and hot chocolate with Santa.

Source: The Jambalaya News

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Arts Council to Host Cultural District Workshop for Area Businesses

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, November 30th, in Room 108 at Central School at 5:30 p.m., the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana will host a free workshop on the economic and cultural benefits of Cultural Districts to Southwest Louisiana. The Louisiana Cultural Districts Program was initiated during the 2007 legislative session to spur community revitalization that focuses on developing cultural activity through tax incentives to local businesses and consumers. Residents and business owners alike benefit from the effects of Cultural Districts, and the public is invited to attend this workshop to better learn the extent of these benefits to our Southwest Louisiana economy.

Since 2008, four Southwest Louisiana districts have been recognized by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism as Cultural Districts including the Cottage Shops Cultural District and the Charlestown Cultural District, both of Lake Charles. Beyond this, the City of DeRidder boasts its own district, the Downtown DeRidder Cultural District. The Town of Welsh Cultural and Historic District became the fourth district in Southwest Louisiana to be certified in 2011.

?Cultural Districts offer a business approach to making art work in local communities by allowing consumers to purchase original artwork tax-free within the designated districts which increases the marketability of original art while increasing foot traffic to the businesses in these districts,? explains Matt Young, executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council.

The workshop will focus on the utilization of volunteers within Cultural Districts and the advantages to businesses of selling and marketing local artwork. A discussion of Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits which encourage preservation of historic buildings located in the districts will follow the discussion.

Gaye Hamilton, Program Coordinator for Louisiana Cultural Districts in the Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism, will join local officials in the discussion. Also present will be members of the Downtown Development Authority in Lake Charles, along with Director Lori Marinovich, who has helped many downtown building owners take advantage of the rehabilitation tax credits. Representatives from each of the four Cultural Districts will be on hand for a question and answer session. For more information, contact the Arts and Humanities Council at 439-ARTS.

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Two local women offer their favorite gifts in downtown's

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

There are few things more exciting than two local people opening up a local business in downtown Lake Charles. Laurie Duhon and Suzanne Johnson are tired of driving to Austin and Houston to buy their favorite things, so that is exactly what they did.

Nestled behind Pujo St. Cafe at 318 Pujo Street is our newest business, “Le Petit Cadeau”, where local shoppers can find gifts, treats, and clothing found nowhere else in town. Le Petit Cadeau is French for “small gift”.

But these women are not just about offering exclusive gifts. They love Lake Charles, especially downtown, and want to be a part of the thriving pulse that our downtown area always seems to be on the verge of.“We love this part of town. Downtown needs more retail and we feel the construction will help make downtown more pedestrian friendly,” Johnson shared.

“We have many gift items and small gift baskets. We want people to appreciate the organic fair-trade products we carry. We are offering the Indigo Wild (ZUM) line, which is a body care line that you would have to go to Whole Foods to find. We hope to keep it all organic cotton and all “fair-trade” made,” Duhon informed optimistically.

“We have "Theo" which is organic handmade chocolate out of Seattle and our other main chocolate line is Moonstruck out of Portland, Oregon, which is not organic but still handcrafted artisan chocolate. It is absolutely delicious. "

Despite the construction, LPC is easy to access. The parking lot across the street north of Pujo has been made available and parking spots are plentiful. Lake area residents should not be discouraged by the construction at all.

The store not only offers unique gifts, but has a very unique feel. LPC is utilizing the aesthetics of the building. With plenty of browsing room, both the products and the culture of the building stand out more; a specialty store, but with something for every gift occasion.

After the completion of this particular part, construction is supposed to hold off till after Mardi Gras. Duhon and Johnson hope people will stop in for their teacher gifts, or little birthday gifts.

“This is a collection of our favorite things and products that we've used for years. We've looked and tried to make sure our vendors are unique,” Johnson continued enthusiastically.

Le Petit Cadeau owners are members of the Shoppe Girls, which help support and promote local, women-owned businesses. LPC will open their doors for the Shoppe Girls yearly celebration, White Lights Night, Thursday, December 1st, from 4 - 8 p.m., where all locations will have drinks and hors d’oeuvres, along with discounts and special promotions.

Lake Charles residents doing their holiday shopping are encouraged to stop into Le Petit Cadeau and pick up a small gift for someone. To all those who eat downtown, make LPC a daily stop for some organic chocolate after lunch. Call (337)564-6750 with any questions or product inquiries.

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Pinnacle Entertainment to honor Veterans

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Pinnacle Entertainment’s three Louisiana properties today announced they will be honoring veterans and active duty military personnel by offering complimentary meals on Veteran’s Day this Friday. The appreciation meals will be available as follows:

L’Auberge Casino Resort – Lake Charles
Le Beaucoup Buffet
8:00am – 3:30pm
www.ldlcasino.com

Boomtown Bossier Hotel & Casino
Cattleman’s Buffet
7:00am – 4:00pm
www.boomtownbossier.com

Boomtown Casino New Orleans – Harvey
Bayou Market Buffet
10:00am – 4:00pm
www.boomtownneworleans.com

L’Auberge Casino Resort provided complimentary meals for veterans in 2010 and the offer was so well received that Pinnacle decided to expand the gesture statewide in 2011. Between all three properties, Pinnacle expects to offer more free meals to veterans this Friday than any other company in Louisiana.

“There are never enough words to thank our veterans and military personnel for preserving our freedoms and way of life, but we know a simple thank you means a lot to those who serve,” said Pinnacle Entertainment Senior Vice President of Louisiana Operations Geno Iafrate. “In the South, food is love, and we can’t think of a better way to show our gratitude than by sharing a delicious meal at our award winning buffets with such dedicated men and women; we look forward to seeing everyone on Friday in Lake Charles, Bossier City and New Orleans.”

A veteran’s card or valid military ID should be presented to the buffet cashier to qualify for the complimentary meal; one per person. For more information, log on to the properties respective Facebook pages.

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City Begins Community Driven Brownfields Inventory Initiative

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMT

As part of the future vision of Lake Charles North, the City of Lake Charles has begun a Community Driven Brownfields Inventory Initiative (CDBI) to identify and categorize tax delinquent and blighted properties. The primary goal of the Initiative is to engage the local community in the identification of possible sites which may be remedied under the Brownfields Program or corrected by City programs such as Property Standards.

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of a "Brownfields" is “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

As part of the implementation of the Initiative, the City has selected a commercially available and supported application called Mobile Property Evaluation DeviceTM (MoPED). MoPED allows participants to load the application on their smart phone or other supported mobile device and, at any time, stop, snap a picture, fill out a few fields, and submit their comments and information directly to the City of Lake Charles Brownfields Program Manager.

The data will then be uploaded and sent to the appropriate City staff, affected City Council members, and Lake Charles North Redevelopment Authority members. These stakeholders will actively encourage redevelopment, the removal of blight, and the elimination of any safety or environmental concerns of these properties.

A link to MoPED can be found on the homepage of the City of Lake Charles web site, www.cityoflakecharles.com, under Hot Topics. This application is also currently available on iTunes or the Android Market under MoPED Mobile Property Evaluation DeviceTM

Citizens interested in participating or who have questions about the Community Driven Brownfields Inventory Initiative should contact Ron Fossett, Brownfields Program Manager, rfossett@cityoflc.us or 337-491-1513.

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Louisiana Hauntings: SWLA Paranormal

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Things that go bump in the night: Explainable—or not? That’s what SWLA Paranormal sets out to do when they investigate for otherworldly activity.

The group has been in existence since 2005. Founded by Rev. Lonnie Hall, a Church of Christ minister, Hall wanted to start a group using scientific methods to research and document possible paranormal activity instead of using psychics, Ouija boards or séances.
“We go in to search for answers,” said member Susan Patrick Lamendola. “Our mission is to disprove hauntings and find logical explanations for unexplained incidents. We do all the research and investigation at no charge to clients and it’s totally confidential, unless the client approves full disclosure.”

The group gets calls from families and businesses that have unexplained things occurring that frighten them. “We try to do an average of two investigations per month as time allows, because we all work full-time jobs,” she said. Member Anncie Wright indicated that investigations depend on the time of year. “Fall seems to have more investigations than summer,” she said. “Summertime, everyone is so busy that we slow down a bit.”

Investigations take many hours. Research on each site is done beforehand; there’s the actual investigation and afterwards, the group goes over hours and hours of audio and video evidence. An average investigation probably takes a total of about 60 hours or more from start to finish.
SWLA Paranormal uses digital voice recorders, electro-magnetic field detectors, lasers, Infrared cameras and a DVR system, laser thermometers and motion detectors, plus some old-school methods such as props or baby powder. Members are responsible for supplying their own equipment, as the group does not solicit funds in any way.

The group started with approximately seven active members and has now grown to 15. The team is always looking for new members with new ideas and techniques, as long as they fall within SWLA Paranormal’s philosophies of investigating.

The size of the investigation determines the amount of team members needed. Once that is determined, whoever the lead is on the investigation chooses members for his team. And they’ve gone all over the state.

“We’ve traveled all over Louisiana, from Chauvin to Shreveport,” said investigator Darrell Buck, who also happens to be the art director for The Jambalaya News. “Not all members go; it typically depends on the size of the investigation. During the investigation, no investigator is left alone. We work in teams for safety reasons and also so that we can validate each other’s findings.”

Group members have had a lot of bizarre experiences in the course of their work.
John Wright recalls an investigation in Kinder where the group ended up outside in an open field. “We were standing in the field, and heard a herd of horses running towards us,” he said. “Right before you’d think they’d be right up on you, the sound stopped and we didn’t hear anything else. There was no light outside and the whole area was pitch black. When we talked to the owners, they said they had never had horses on the property.”

Buck’s favorite investigation was in Shreveport. “The building was over 100 years old in an old part of the city,” he said. “We saw shadows and it had an electromagnetic field that seemed to travel around the top floors. We were actually able to follow it around with EMF detectors. There was also a spot in one room that felt like static electricity. We were able to measure it, and I even had the pleasure of laying in it. I’ve never experienced anything like that. We also caught some very good EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) including one that said ‘not gonna hurt you’ and another EVP that sounded like a conversation between a man and a woman. Very cool.”

The Jambalaya News office is in an old building in downtown Lake Charles. As you can expect, even before we moved in, SWLA Paranormal paid a visit. They’ve done several investigations in the past few years, and have come up with a lot of unexplained phenomena.

Team member Anncie Wright remembers what happened during the second investigation. “We were coming down the stairs,” she recalled. “I said, ‘If you want us to stay, give us a sign.’ Well, the last guy down said ‘Ow, that burns!’ When we looked at his arm, he had been pinched, and you could see where fingernail marks broke the skin.”

When the group went back upstairs, Anncie spoke to “whatever” might be there. “I told it that it didn’t need to hurt us. If it wanted our attention, it could touch me,” she said. Unfortunately, she did get touched later—and the entity left a red handprint on her arm! Both incidents were photographed and recorded on video.

Buck likes what he calls “the ceiling fan incident.” “In the sales office, there are three ceiling fans,” he said. “On that night, we noticed that the middle fan was spinning slowly. We checked that it was turned off and it was. We even thought that it may have been a draft, but it would start and then stop again. We even asked that it stop and spin the fan in the opposite direction—and it did! We still haven’t been able to figure that out, but it was very exciting!”
That same night, John Wright said he will never forget sitting in Buck’s office and seeing the shadow of a woman in front of the window going towards the stairs.

I’ve heard a woman singing as I’ve gone down the stairs and had someone whisper in my ear. My former editor saw a woman through the window standing on the front porch. When she opened the door, no one was there. I often work late at night and I personally love the idea of spirits in the old house, although I probably wouldn’t appreciate getting pinched by one!
It’s pretty safe to say that The Jambalaya News office is haunted, but the group has investigated other places and found absolutely nothing, or reasonable explanations for what had been occurring.

“You have to be a skeptic,” Buck said. “Don’t think that every noise in the night is something paranormal. Most of the time, these things can be debunked. But at the same time, don’t have a closed mind. There are some things in this world that can’t be explained.”

To contact SWLA Paranormal please visit their website at www.swlaparanormal.org.

By Lauren de Albuquerque
Source: The Jambalaya News

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Halloween Happenings around SWLA

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

SHANGRI LA SCARECROW FESTIVAL OCT. 18-NOV. 12
The Scarecrow Festival at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange, TX., will take place from Oct. 18 through Nov. 12. Scarecrows from various local businesses, schools, organizations, families and individuals will be on display along the pathways of Shangri La. Visitors can vote for a favorite entry and prizes will be awarded in several categories. The festival concludes during Shangri La’s Autumn Fair on Nov. 12, at which time winners of the Scarecrow Festival will be announced. For more information, visit www.shangrilagardens.org.

USS ORLECK’S HAUNTED SHIP OCT. 21-31
The USS ORLECK Naval Museum is proud to present its first Halloween Haunted Ship featuring the BLUDD SHEDD Crew! The Halloween Haunted ship will be open for tours from Oct. 21-31. Fri. -Sat. 6 p.m. - midnight or until, Sun. – Thurs. 6 – 10 p.m. or until, and Oct. 31 (Halloween): 6 p.m. – midnight or until the last victim leaves! Cost is $12 per person (Sorry, no discounts for young children, minimum age for entrance is 10.) Group rate: $10 per person for groups of 15 or more. VIP Fast Pass: $20 per person - skip the long line and move to the front!

WITCHES AND WHISKEY AT L’AUBERGE OCT. 29
Win your share of $10,000 in the Jack After Dark costume contest Sat., Oct. 29, 9 p.m. – until at Jack Daniel’s. Register at 10 p.m. and receive one free drink. Winners will be announced at the witching hour of 12:10 a.m. There will be a $15 cover charge after 9 p.m. (discounted cover charge if you attend the Goo Goo Dolls concert). Enjoy Halloween drink specials and “freak” to the beats of DJ CaGe. Scary Good Times!

CENTRAL SCHOOL HAUNTED HOUSE OCT. 30
Friends of Central School invite you to experience another side of local history by bringing the family to the Central School Arts and Humanities Center on Sun., Oct. 30 in downtown Lake Charles for an evening of ghost stories, haunted history tours, and spooky kids’ activities. From 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Central School will transform into a family-friendly haunted house with an array of activities and performances for all ages and a bonfire in the parking lot at 7:30 p.m. Meet spooky clowns and other creepy characters, get your face painted and listen to ghost stories! Come dressed in your Halloween best. There is no admission but donations are welcome. For more information or to volunteer in the haunted house, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HALLOWEEN OCT. 31
Jack-O-Lantern Mask Workshop classes at the Children’s Museum in downtown Lake Charles begin at 11 a.m. and noon. Color your own Jack-O-Lantern mask! Classes are limited to 15 children. Members only Halloween Fest is from 4-6 p.m. This is a great opportunity for parents to bring their kids into a non-scary and safe environment for trick-or-treating fun. Be sure to bring something to carry your candy! Cookies and punch will be served. Get your membership today to join the fun! Museum will CLOSE at 3 p.m. Call 337-433-9420 or visit www.swlakids.org for more info.

CITY OF LAKE CHARLES HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES OCT. 31
The City of Lake Charles Recreation and Parks Department will host Halloween Harvestfest 2011 on Mon., Oct. 31, at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum, 900 Lakeshore Dr., from 5 to 8 p.m. A variety of music, games, prizes and trinkets will be available for the entire family, including bowling, spacewalk, balloon art, golf hole-in-one, arts & crafts station, face-painting, football throw, a basketball shootout and much more. Free admission and no costumes required. The City recommends that trick-or-treat activities end at 8 p.m. Parents are encouraged to have their children home by 8:30 p.m. unless they are attending a supervised function sponsored by other parents or civic organizations.

HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL PUMPKIN PATCH THRU OCT. 31
The church grounds of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church will once again be covered with big orange pumpkins grown in and around the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. The Pumpkin Patch will be open until Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and noon - 6 p.m. Sundays. School classes, daycare facilities and grandparents can bring children to Pumpkin Patch Storytime. There are two classes on 10 different days, so please call the church office (625-4288) to schedule a visit. Picnics can be held in the Pavilion if arrangements are made beforehand. The proceeds from the sale of pumpkins, gourds, and pumpkin bread fund Holy Trinity’s outreach projects. The church is located at 1700 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur. For more information, please contact Cyndi Khoury at 527-8787 (CMKTypist@aol.com) or the church office at 625-4288.

JENNINGS MAIN STREET HALLOWEEN OCT. 31
Local merchants and individuals will once again be handing out trick or treat favors and candy to area goblins from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Trick or treating is limited to children 12 and under. Main Street will be blocked off between Academy and Market Street for the safety of the youngsters. The spaces to hand out candy are free to any merchant or individual interested. Call Polly at 821-5532 for more information or to reserve your space.

Founders Park will be the location of the tenth annual Jennings Daily News Costume Contest. The Canine Costume Contest begins at 5:15 p.m., with the Children’s Costume Contest on stage at 5:30. The entry fee for both divisions is a canned good or non-perishable item or $1 cash for Caring Hands. For contest details, call 824-3011.

Source: The Jambalaya News

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Cold Weather Plumbing Tips

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

It may seem a little early to start preparing for the upcoming winter, but now is the time. With colder temperatures just around the corner, a thorough home inspection could mean the difference between frozen pipes and flowing faucets.

The first step to Fall and Winter preparation is checking for potential leaks. During the summer, it is easy to overlook leaks. But these leaks will be more than noticeable when they burst through pipes. Checking for leaks is as easy as turning all faucets off and listening for the sound of water moving.

Although there are a few things you can do to your home, it might be a good idea to spend some money and have a professional come do an inspection. Of course make sure that the plumber is certified and experienced. Looking for an inexpensive company to save money can often backfire. In the business of plumbing you get what you pay for.

Another thing to look for is any exposed pipe. Now do not limit your search only to rooms you frequent. It is very important to check in the attic and crawl spaces or any area in the house that is not heated. Any exposed pipe should be insulated before the cold weather arrives.

Make sure to have a look at any outside faucets. Many outside faucets are not the frost-proof model. If you do not have the frost-proof style faucet, then make sure all water is drained after use. This will help prevent freezing or bursting. Disconnect and stow away any garden hoses that have been left outside.

A tip that a lot of people do not think about has to do with the water heater. Flushing out your water heater will remove any sediment buildup. This buildup can affect the lifespan and efficiency of your water heater. Having your water heater in the best shape possible will help avoid any problems.

Sponsored by:

Lanier Plumbing Inc.
24 hour emergency service available: 337-436-3502
No overtime charges (flat-rate on service)
Lake Charles, La
www.lanierplumbinginc.com

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