July 23, 20152 Vol. 7 • No. 7

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July 23, 2015 • Volume 7 • Issue 7

715 Kirby St.Lake Charles, LA 70601Phone: 337-436-7800Fax: 337-990-0262www.thejambalayanews.com

Publisher/Executive EditorLauren Abate de Albuquerquelauren@thejambalayanews.com

ContributorsNicole Shuff ArabieGeorge ClineDan EllenderMike McHughRoger MillerJason MachulskiJustin MorrisRussell PawlowskiBrice PerrinBrian PitreBritney Blanchette Pitre Terri Schlichenmeyer

Salessales@thejambalayanews.com

GraphicsArt/Production DirectorBurn Rourk

BusinessOffi ce ManagerJeanie Rourk

Legal Disclaimer

The views expressed by The Jambalaya News columnists are their own and do not necessarily refl ect the position of The Jambalaya News, its editors or staff.

The Jambalaya News is solely owned, published by Jambalaya Media, LLC, 715 Kirby Street, Lake Charles Louisiana 70601. Phone (337) 436-7800. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The Jambalaya News cannot be held responsible for the return of un-solicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even if they are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope. The views expressed do not necessarily refl ect those of the publisher.Copyright 2014 The Jambalaya News all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

COVER STORY24 The Lake Charles Charter Schools

REGULARS6 We Are SWLA!

8 The Dang Yankee

8 Adoption Corner

9 Tips From Tip

10 Fishin’ Tales

12 A Ruff Life

13 Tales of the Bayou Pickers

14 Soul Matters

15 The Pirate’s Platter

FEATURES4 HALOS Support Group

16 Back to School Safety

18 MusicMakers2U

THE SPICE OF SWLA26 American Cancer Society Presents ‘Jamaica Me Crazy’

28 Event Guide

30 Family Fun Night at the Movies

31 Bookworm Sez…

32 Sakura Sushi

34 Nightlife Guide

38 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles

41 Funbolaya

42 Society Spice

On cover: Lake Charles Charter Academy, Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy, and Lake Charles College Prep

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“It takes a whole village to raise a child,” is an oft-quoted African proverb. And it makes a lot of sense. A child is not only a product of his parents. The world around him, and the people in that world, can make or break him, help or hinder him. Our environment plays a huge role in our growth.

But what happens when that child grows into a man? Is the Village still responsible? Are we still our brother’s keeper? Or is it every man for himself ?

If you’re a small city known for caring about its brothers and sisters, you band together, and you help those in their time of need. A perfect illustration of this concept happened yesterday.

A friend of mine, and many others, was walking into Wal-mart on Nelson yesterday when he was accosted by several men who were purportedly repre-senting a church. They had set up shop by the Walmart entrance and were aggressively demanding donations to their “outreach” program.

Our friend has a physical dis-ability. He walks with a limp and his speech is slurred at times.

He tried to explain to them that he would give on his way out of the store, which was more than I would have done. If I don’t know the charity, I don’t give. Anyone can set up a table and claim they’re helping those in need. It’s my Boston upbring-ing: don’t trust anyone until they prove themselves. I notice it’s different in the South. It’s “trust everyone until they prove otherwise.” But I digress.

Our friend was not speak-ing clearly, and these supposed “men of God” did not under-stand him. So they immediately began mocking him.

Humiliated, our friend made his way into Walmart. Shaken, he completed his errand. But when he tried to leave the store, he was confronted by these same men, who began harassing him yet again. Feeling threat-ened, he retreated into the store, and asked an associate to escort him out of the building. But he was so nervous he couldn’t speak clearly. The employee rolled her eyes.

So he went on social media. He put his plight on Facebook.

Th e Village moved into action.

Within minutes, friends from all over were posting, asking for clarifi cation on the situ-ation. Shortly thereaf-ter, Walmart’s phones started ringing.

The store manager ended up giving our friend an escort out of the building. Safely home, he related the story to his family. His teenage son went directly to Walmart and confronted the men, who of course, denied eve-rything and tried to intimidate him. He caught it all on video.

One of the nicest people I know, Eligha Guillory, Jr., made a visit shortly afterwards. Guil-lory walks the walk and talks the talk. He discovered that these men had no credentials, did not have permission to so-licit funds, and could not even produce any paperwork on their “church,” which is supposedly in Dallas. He sent them packing.

Here is a photo of one of the men. They have been seen around the area for a few weeks. Today, they could be at another Walmart or anywhere else, for that matter. Some research on this “New Life Church” out of

Dallas indicates that it’s a shady operation.

Yesterday, Lake Charles be-came the perfect example of the Village. And this is why I will not live anywhere else. This is why it’s my home, forever. Be-cause when people are in need, this city comes together. I’ve seen it over and over again here, but never with such immediacy and never with such love.

A Note From Lauren

Lauren Abate de Albuquerque

It Takes a Village

July 23, 2015 3Vol. 7 • No. 7

July 23, 20154 Vol. 7 • No. 7

By Lauren Abate de Albuquerque Th e loss of a loved one is devastating to

begin with, but imagine learning that the cause of that death was suicide? Sadly, a lot of people have experienced this type of grief, which brings with it a storm of emotions that can be diffi cult to handle. Th ankfully, there is support for those of you who need it.

Local residents Amy Johnson and Jody Tyler Barrilleaux are two women who have come together in their mutual grief to make a diff erence.

HALOS (Helping All Loved Ones Sur-vive) is the support group formed through the SPICY (Suicide Prevention Intervention Coalition for Youth) coalition. Th e coalition is a not-for-profi t organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disor-ders as well as those impacted by suicide.

Since 2009, SPICY has provided education and information through public workshops, trainings, videos, publications and public service announcements. Th e main facilitators

are volunteer mem-bers of the coalition.

HALOS member-ship had previously decreased, but the members remained available to recent survivors on an-as needed basis. Fast forward a year, and as suicide has gained greater awareness via media, outreach and the unfortunate death of superstar Robin Williams, the need of suicide survi-vors to speak more openly about their losses has become even more apparent.

Johnson (the group’s facilitator), Barril-leaux and the coalition feel that now is the time to get the HALOS group back to meet-ing on a more routine basis.

Personal Loss Leads to GivingJohnson’s only child, Cole, took his life at

the age of 13 in 2010. “I don’t want another parent (or anyone else) to go through what I experienced,” she says. She joined SPICY soon aft er his death to fulfi ll a need to help the youth in our area realize how much life matters, relaying her message at various youth gatherings.

“Th ere’s no ‘do over’ [with suicide] as in video games,” she tells them.

Working in the healthcare fi eld, Johnson understands how support groups can have a positive impact on those suff ering from tragic situations and wants to help others by facili-tating neutral, confi dential and real life frank discussions.

Once she met Barrilleaux, Johnson knew

she had the right person to assist in reaching out to suicide survivors. Barrilleaux’s father, Kenneth Lynn Tyler, Sr., committed suicide this past April.

“It was very much unexpected,” Barrilleaux says. “He was the toughest man I knew. He was 73 and in good health. Th e last couple of years of his life he absolutely loved ‘cowboy-ing’ as we called it for the Buryl Baty Cattle Company. No one saw this coming, from family members to his cowboy buddies.”

Barrilleaux knew a month aft er his death that she had to fi nd “someway, somehow, someone to help get a support group started for survivors of suicide, as there was not an active one in the Lake Area.” Her counselor told her to wait at least three months before she attempted to do anything.

“Well, at three months I had to do some-thing as I waited for the bigger call on what to do next, so I started my Facebook page ‘Suicide Sucks,’” Barrilleaux recalls. “Th at’s the word I used most as I did my Daddy’s

Jody Tyler Barrilleaux and Amy Johnson

Cole Johnson

July 23, 2015 5Vol. 7 • No. 7

‘Celebration of Life’ ceremony. I kept say-ing, “Th is sucks!”

Th e Community Relations Director at Hixson Funeral Homes, Barrilleaux had just been trained and certifi ed as a Cel-ebrant a month before her father passed. “I could not have ‘faced the elephant’ in that room if it had not been for that training,” she recalls.

“Th e grief journey we are all on is long and winding and I for one needed oth-ers who have gone through this to talk with,” she continues. “So enters Amy Johnson into the picture. I had put a call out to someone who then referred me to someone else who passed my number to her. She was the call I had been waiting on. Aft er we sat and talked and cried and shared and laughed, we then realized both our husbands names are Dwayne.”

Th e two women have started the jour-ney. “Amy will facilitate and I will do the PR and anything else we might need to get the word out.”

My Father’s PassingJody Barrilleaux says she could not have

let all her friends and family leave the funeral home with such a heavy burden of how he passed.

“So, I had my two grown sons Trey and Brent come and clear the top of the casket. Then I said these words loud: ‘My dad com-mitted suicide and I’ll be dammed if anyone leaves today with that being the last thought.”

Barrilleaux provided Marks a Lots for eve-ryone to sign the casket with their love and thoughts of him. “It was like a wind of peace flowed through the room as everyone waited to have their turn. We had my husband Dwayne’s band playing the old country music my dad loved and I asked Greg Blanchard and Brad Brinkley to start singing, and for almost an hour they sang. Everyone was laughing and talking about dad and their love for him. Anyone passing the funeral home as everyone left would have thought we had all gone mad, because we truly were celebrating KT’s life.”

How HALOS Can HelpBarrilleaux and Johnson understand that

the positive energy from HALOS will help encourage those who are feeling anger, aban-donment, devastation, fear, guilt, loneliness, sadness, and shame express their feelings confi dentially with others who probably have felt the same. Th e group will listen, cry, laugh, encourage and heal all together.

“I want to off er my experiences to help others on their bumpy grief rollercoaster,” Johnson says. “I want to bring some hope and positive solutions to those who are suff ering with a broken heart.”

Barrilleaux wants HALOS to be a compas-sionate support to those who are experiencing the painful journey of dealing with a loved one’s suicide, and to give some hope for those who have newly and unexpectedly become part of the group.

HALOS plans to meet the fi rst Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in the cafeteria confer-

ence room. Th e fi rst meeting is coming up Aug. 4. Barrilleaux encourages attendees to bring a photo of their loved one.

“Many who suff er the loss of a loved one through suicide feel isolated and alone,” Barrilleaux says. “Th ey can fi nd hope and encouragement from others who have suff ered the same kind of loss.” A grief support group provides a place to heal within a circle of hope and compassion.

“We will no longer whisper the word SUI-CIDE,” she says adamantly. “We will be loud and proud about Amy’s son Cole and my dad Kenneth. Th e way a person leaves this world does not defi ne who they were.”

For more information, join the Suicide Sucks Facebook page.

Kenneth Lynn Tyler, Sr.

Jody with her sister Susan Tyler and brother Kenneth Tyler, Jr.

WCCH Hospital Honors Two EmployeesWest Calcasieu Cameron Hos-

pital has named its May and June Employees of the Month for 2015: Mary Craig, radiologic technolo-gist and Donna Landry, benefits coordinator. Craig conducts x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and bone density screenings and is the McNeese student coordinator for WCCH’s radiology department.

She has been with the organization for eight years. Landry manages all enrollments, changes and coverage terminations and also pro-vides assistance to those who may be faced with worksite injuries. She has been with the organization for eight years.

Dr.Kalil Ieyoub HonoredFamily, friends and former students of Dr. Kalil P. Ieyoub have

established the Dr. Kalil P. Ieyoub Scholarship in Science with a $12,591.25 donation through the McNeese State University Foun-dation to honor his 48 years of service at McNeese as a retired chemistry professor, chemistry department head, dean of the college of science and vice president for administration and stu-dent affairs. He was also honored by the university with Professor Emeritus status.

Lyons Earns Specialized Certifi cationHaleigh Lyons, a physical therapist

with Lake Charles Memorial Health System, is now a Geriatric Certi-fied Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Special-ties. According to ABPTS, Lyons is only the fifth therapist to receive the certification in the state of Louisiana. Lyons has worked as a physical thera-pist at Memorial since 2004. She is also a published author in the Inter-national Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation.

LC Rotary Donates to SOWELAThe Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club presented

SOWELA Technical Community College with a do-nation of $12,500 as a portion of the Club’s proceeds from their annual auction. The funds will be allocated to the Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club Endowed Scholarship.

Magnolia LNG Supports ACTS TheatreMagnolia LNG has donated $2,000 to ACTS Theatre’s Celebrity

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. Funds raised at the event, which will take place Sept. 17 at L’Auberge Casino Resort, will help fund repairs to the thea-tre’s nearly 100-year-old building in Lake Charles. The mission of ACTS Theatre is to present quality theatre productions and promote theatre education in the Lake Charles community. For more informa-tion, visit www.actstheatre.com.

New President of Port Board of CommissionersBarbara McManus, a director of Eagle Federal Credit Union,

was recently elected president of the seven-member Board of Commissioners of the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District,

Mary Craig Donna Landry

(L to R) Gretchel Grout, Kalil Ieyoub, daughter Allison Davis, sons Chris and John Ieyoub, and daughter Laura Yonich.

Haleigh Lyons

Marianne White, executive director of Institutional Advancement at SOWELA, Frank Webb, past Rotary Club president, Patricia Philmon, president of the SOWELA Foundation board of directors,

and Sean Vidrine, Rotary Club auction chairman.

Tammy Truax of Magnolia LNG with ACTS Theatre Board President Michael Ieyoub.

July 23, 20156 Vol. 7 • No. 7

which operates the Port of Lake Charles. Dr. Daryl Burckel, a pro-fessor of accounting at McNeese State University, was elected vice president. Former mayor of Westlake, Dudley Dixon, was elected secretary/treasurer. Michael Eason was elected assistant secretary/treasurer for the commissioners.. For more information on the Port, call (337) 439-3661 or visit www.portlc.com.

McDonald’s of SWLA, Navarre Chevrolet Cadillac Support Calcasieu Soccer Club Eff orts

McDonald’s of Southwest Louisiana and Billy Navarre Chev-rolet Cadillac recently donated $15,000 to the Calcasieu Soccer Club to support its youth recreation program, which serves over 800 area youth each year. The sponsorship allows CSC to offer free soccer clinics for children, add new equipment and increase the organization’s reach in the community.

Simancas Named Media Professional of the Year by Geaux Blue

Sofia Simancas, a CASA Volunteer with Family & Youth’s Court Appointed Special Advocates, was awarded the Media Profes-sional of the Year award, given by Geaux Blue for Kids! Simancas received her award during the Annual Geaux Blue for Kids! Awards Ceremony. Many CASA and CAC staff, volunteers and community partners, who made extraordi-nary efforts in serving Loui-siana’s abused and neglected children in 2014 were honored during the ceremony. Simancas became a CASA volunteer in 2012, clocking 53 case hours while advocating on behalf of nine different kids in the court system.

CITGO Hosts EducatorsCITGO Petroleum Corporation recently hosted a group of

more than 20 area educators as they participated in the Nautilus Exploration Program CITGO STEM Academy at the CITGO Park. The continuing education program for teachers is a part of the CITGO Caring for Our Coast initiative dedicated to coastal restoration and long-term recovery in the Gulf Coast region. The public can follow the 2015 Nautilus expedition 24 hours a day on social media at NautilusLive on Facebook and Instagram, @EV-Nautilus on Twitter and online via www.nautiluslive.org.

Memorial Names Employee of the Year

Myrtle Brown has been named the 2015 Rosie Thomp-son Employee of the Year for the Lake Charles Memorial Health System. She is a 16-year veteran of Memorial, working in the environmental services department. Brown was recog-nized through fellow employee nominations and continues to receive compliments because of her commitment to doing a good job and her caring and compassionate attitude. Her dedication to Lake Charles Me-morial is evident every day.

(L to R) Ryan Navarre of Billy Navarre Chevrolet Cadillac, CSC board member Charles Stewart, CSC league administrator Paul Burgess and McDonald’s of SWLA owner/operator Doug Gehrig.

(L to R) Faith Vincent, CASA Coordinator of Family & Youth; Sophia Simancas, CASA Volunteer; and

Chae Johnson, CASA Coordinator of Family & Youth

(L to R) Meyer & Associates President Vernon Meyer, Office Manager Tammy Broussard and Airshow President Randy Robb.

Meyer & Associates Sponsors Airshow at $25,000Local engineering consulting firm, Meyer & Associates, Inc.,

has recently committed to a $25,000 premiere level sponsorship for this year’s Chennault International Airshow, which is set for Oct. 24-25, 2015, at Chennault International Airport. The sponsorship will be dedicated to the aerobatic and pyrotechnic act, Tinstix of Dynamite of Permberton Aerosports. The family-friendly airshow will also feature a nostalgic array of aircraft of all vintages and kids activities. For tickets or more information, visit www.chennaultair-show.com.

Myrtle Brown

July 23, 2015 7Vol. 7 • No. 7

Earlier this year, my wife signed us up with a new doc-tor. “All in all, I’d say you’re in decent health for your age,” he told me at my fi rst appointment. “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!” Th at sounded good to me, but there was a problem. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing that was keeping me healthy.

Certainly, it couldn’t have been my fondness for Louisiana foods such as gumbo and bou-din, although I’ll admit I was tempted to latch onto that one as the primary factor. I’ve spent these past few months racking my brain for answers, only to conclude that, given my lifestyle, the only thing that my body should be good for right now is to fertilize our tomato plants.

Th e answer came to me sud-denly last weekend, while I was watching the Grateful Dead on pay-per-view, performing one

of a series of farewell shows in Chicago in honor of their 50th anniversary as a band. “So, what’s the Grateful Dead got to do with staying healthy?” you might ask.

Th e question is legitimate. Aft er all, four (count ‘em, four!) of their keyboard players, in ad-dition to front man Jerry Garcia, have gone to that great gig in the sky over the band’s tenure. Statistically, it makes playing for the Dead among the world’s most hazardous professions, easily eclipsing Alaskan crab fi shing and a close second to suicide bombing.

But fortunately, this risk of mortality doesn’t carry over to the band’s fan base. Th inking back over the 40 years that I’ve followed the Dead, it’s easy to see why.

First off , “Deadheads,” as they’re called, have to be the

healthiest eaters on the planet. As proof, one only needs to peruse the off erings of the food vendors in the parking lot out-side any show. Every single item on every menu is prepared from hummus. You’d be hard pressed to fi nd a funnel cake outside of a Dead show, and if you did, odds are it would be made from hummus.

I’m sure this is one reason that I’ve never seen many over-weight fans at a Dead concert. Hummus contains fewer calo-ries than the equivalent weight of air. Moreover, whatever calories Deadheads do consume get quickly burned off by their dancing. Fans never stop mov-ing the entire show, dancing even while the band is tuning up, something they’ve been known to spend 20 minutes doing between songs. If you look down from an airplane at a

stadium during a Grateful Dead show, it would bear a striking resemblance to a fi re ant mound that had just been kicked over.

Now I can fi nally tell my doc-tor what it is that’s been keeping me going. But with the band now offi cially retired, my fear is that I might fall victim to what could become a national health crisis (not to mention the dev-astating impact on the hummus industry). Luckily, their music lives on in the form of a huge library of live audio and video recordings. I wonder if I could get my doctor to write me a prescription for the box set from the farewell tour so I can charge it against my health insurance.

Mike McHugh’s column has appeared in “The Jambalaya News” since 2009. You can read more from the Dang Yankee on his website, thedan-gyankee.com.

Living on the Dead

Timmy is 4 ½ years old, 25 pounds, house-trained and great with people of all ages! Fully vetted, he was returned after four years when his elderly owner passed away. Call Cyndi’s Adoptive Dogs at (337) 496-9911 for more details. Hurry, Timmy is waiting!

July 23, 20158 Vol. 7 • No. 7

Watch the Screen!You read an advertisement,

you see a commercial on TV, you hear a promotion on the radio, you clip a coupon from the newspaper, or you get a cer-tificate in the mail. Somebody is trying to interest you in pur-chasing their products. You go to the store and check out with that price in mind--and? More often than you would think, the price rings up higher than you expect and the hassle begins. There are people behind you waiting to pay for their stuff and get on with their lives, and there you are, holding up the line for a quarter. Heaven for-bid that you saw a price posted that said one thing and it rings up differently.

The line is now at a standstill while the checkout person goes across the store to see if the price you saw is the price you saw, and the hassle continues. The people behind you start grumbling, shuffling, looking around and there you stand. That is one of the most aggra-vating occurrences that happen too routinely at our neighbor-hood markets.

At many stores, the register screen where you watch your purchases ring up doesn’t show the promotional price until the end of the transaction. So everything comes to a standstill while you see if your pricing is correct; hopefully, before you have paid and have to go to the

customer no-service counter for correction.

It is understandable that if you must purchase a specific quantity of a product to receive a certain price, enough items must go through to show the discount, but it should be immediately after the quantity has been met, not after the rest of your items have been rung up. To make sure you get your money’s worth, you have to closely check the method your store uses and be on top of the transaction. It is your money, so get what you are supposed to get.

Protect and Serve–and Profi t

The powers that be in Kinder have decided to merge their police department with the department of revenue. It has been announced that in an effort to generate more rev-enue, they have established a “Special Traffic Enforcement Detail,” referred to as “STED” (reminiscent of something you need to go to the doctors and get a shot for). We do not en-dorse any disregard for traffic laws and are always supportive of highway safety but specifi-cally preying on motorists as a source of financing municipal funding leads to many abuses of power. The police chief was quoted as saying that this allows officers to “Earn addi-tional money doing what they do best.”

We should hope the good officers of Kinder have higher talents and abilities than merely operating a speed trap. Kinder has always been regarded as a friendly com-munity; it would be shameful to lose its reputation. Police patrolling should be about protecting and serving, not profiting.

Mallard Cove Golf Course: History?

Mallard Cove Golf Course as we know it may be history. The Chennault International Airport Authority is work-ing on plans to utilize the area including the golf course grounds to expand their opera-tions. There is talk of using the old Pine Shadows Golf Course to replace the lost course at the airport. I am not a golfer; therefore, it makes very lit-tle difference to me where the municipal golf course is. The area golf crowd may wel-come the combination of Pine Shadow into Mallard Cove II or not; that remains to be seen. We are in the beginning stages of area-wide expansion, but we must be careful about what we do away with and what replac-es them.

I had wondered about the wisdom of building the Lake Charles Regional Airport when it was constructed many years ago; we had Chennault Airport functioning as the Lake Charles airport when I was young and had flown in and out of there many times (Chennault has a large enough

runway to have been an al-ternative landing site for the Space Shuttle).

Supermarket Roundup

Shopping survey this time is for a few random items that I frequently purchase. The pric-es were obtained on Thursday, July 16 and reflect the posted amount on the shelf where the product was placed for sale. The stores were: Albertsons-Country Club Road, Market Basket-Nelson Road, Kroger-McNeese Street and Walmart-Hwy 14.

Eggs, large, Grade A, per dozen: Albertsons $2.79, Market Basket $2.44, Kroger $2.36, Walmart $2.86. Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, per pound: Albert-sons $2.49, Market Basket $3.39, Kroger $2.49, Walmart $1.99. Butter, unsalted, house brand, per pound: Albert-sons $2.50 (2 for $5), Market Basket $3.69, Kroger $3.69, Walmart $3.24. Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, 12-ounce box: Albertsons $3.69, Market Basket $2.99, Kroger (18-ounce box $2.99), Walmart $2.68 (18-ounce box $2.98). Wolf Brand Chili, no beans, 15-ounce can: Albertsons $2.99, Market Basket $1.89, Kroger $1.99, Walmart $1.98.

July 23, 2015 9Vol. 7 • No. 7

Sung to the tune of “Old Man River.” “Lift that line, Tote dat chest, Drink a little Gator-aide, You gonna land dem crabs.”

It all started with Mark

Fontenot’s (from my “La Pair Extraordinaire” column) request for us to go crabbing at Jimmy Bel’s Hunting and Fishing Lodge. Can do. Quick call to Jimmy’s

wife Lana and Jimmy gave the OK. We’re set to go. Wrong!

Mark wimped out with a lame “I gotta work” excuse but told me that Jake Shaheen (the other half of La Pair Extraordinaire) and David O‘Keefe can go. Fine by me. My podna and former president of the Thrifty Nickel Glenn Bordelon signed on, too. Just the four of us and big blue crabs, right? Wrong again. Jake wussed off with that same lame “work” excuse and David claimed a “conflict.” Fine. Glenn and I will harvest crabs all by our lonesome. We’re retired.

Glenn’s coming along could certainly prove interesting. You see not only is he three months older than I, he only has one and a half legs. He lost the lower part of his left leg to diabetes. Sure, he has a prosthesis, but he can’t exactly hustle from crab line to crab line using a cane, much less his walker. As he puts it, “The only thing healthy about me is my head and I’m not too sure about that.” Agreed, especially the last part. After all, he has me for a podna.

As for expertise, he hasn’t been crabbing since he and his son Shannon went 35 years ago. I think Eisenhower was presi-dent the last time I went. Glenn assured me he had everything it took for the trip. He did have a net, two ice chests, and chicken, but alas, no string for crabs. So

with one quick excursion for string, we were set to go.

We left at the crack of dawn with visions of crab boils danc-ing in our heads. We soon pulled into Jim Bel’s Hunting & Fishing Lodge southwest of Hackberry. I mean, crabbing is fishing, right? I snapped some pics for The Jam and Glenn sneaked a look at the near 100 paired waterfowl mounts hanging from the ceiling in the great room. He was suita-bly impressed. We pulled out and followed the signpost that marks the turn to Bel’s. It also says, on a higher different directional slat, “God’s Country.” We were truly there. Eight thousand acres of pristine marsh and a veritable army of crabs awaited us.

At the first culvert, we leaped out. Well, I did anyway. Glenn sort of extracted himself. We happily noted the water pouring through the culvert. The God of Tides was with us. The crabbing is better if the water is moving with the tide. Glenn tied the chicken parts bait on the lines. I quickly put them out and we awaited our harvest. And waited. And waited. And sweated. And I soaked through my T-shirt after a mere 15 minutes of waiting.

It was time to haul our zero crab butts to the pier just beyond Jimmy’s boathouse. The wharf is a memorial to Earl Barger. Earl was a beloved local pharmacist and sportsman. His Barger’s

Crabbing Earl’s Pier

Roger�and�Glenn

July 23, 201510 Vol. 7 • No. 7

Drug Store/Shop on Lake Street was a marvelous shopping mecca that went with the prescrip-tions cheerfully dispensed. Earl was also an avid hunter, fishing fanatic, and gin player excep-tionaire. The sign on the side of the pier’s roof says “Barger Pavilion.” Somehow, I could feel Earl’s smile and amiable nature as I hurriedly threw out the lines.

It was now 9 a.m. I had man-aged to sweat through my shirt, too. But Earl’s wharf has a roof. And chairs. That means SHADE. Somehow, with the SHADE and the breeze off the Gulf it felt 20 degrees cooler. Did I mention the SHADE? Anyhow, I was already one quart of Gatorade down and grabbing for another, but thankfully, I was out of the boiling sun.

I had six crab bait lines out. Oh yeah, Glen’s chicken bait was backs and legs defrosted the night before, so we had only the finest of backs and legs for our still-in-the-water crab supper. Exhibiting their appreciation, our big blue crustaceans began

pulling our lines taut in their greed to feed. The harvest had begun.

As our ice chest began to fill, I noted a friendly six or seven foot gator had arrived to observe our harvest. Reminded me of why my girlfriend Rue was not along. Seems the last time she went, about 35 years ago, one of those friendly reptiles took her bait and damn near pulled her in. Thus, no Rue. That, and redheads have no love for Louisi-ana’s burning summer sun.

As we, or should I say I, hustled in our harvest, Glenn decided he simply had to pull some in, too. He rose from his chair and limped to a crab line that was tied off to one of the roof supports. I had visions of him tumbling into the canal, prosthesis, bad shoulders and all. Then I’d have a treading water human serving as gator bait with our too-friendly gator about ten yards away.

Having been disabled once myself, I know how clumsy one gets trying to haul reluctant body

parts about, much less on a wharf. I knew bet-ter than to say anything to Glenn. No problem, though. Glenn was suf-ficiently cautious as he hauled in one big blue crab after another. As I dumped the netted crabs in the ice chest, I noted that it probably couldn’t hold any more. I already had to open and close the lid hurriedly; crabs were climbing over the chest’s edge. I even had to chase a couple of the escapees down.

It was then that I turned back to Glenn. The last nine years were seemingly gone, his body whole again and his smile expansive. It is not often that one has an epiphany but Glenn was having so much fun it was catching. I was a kid again and Eisenhower was presi-dent. On Earl’s Wharf. At Jimmy’s. A lasting epiphany for two.

July 23, 2015 11Vol. 7 • No. 7

Force-Free, Science-Based Training: It Works!Psychology can be defi ned as “the

science of mind and behavior.” So, dog training IS a form of science, and science is ever evolving. Force-free science-based trainers must keep up with this science. Once they become professional dog train-ers, they must constantly educate them-selves on the latest research about dog behavior and training techniques.

Th is evidence is what is called “empiri-cal evidence”—it has been experimented and retested using the scientifi c method. “Anecdotal evidence” is based on non-sci-entifi c observations. A statement such as, “Th is worked with my other dog so that’s why I do it,” is a prime example of using anecdotal evidence—it’s based off one or a few personal experiences, rather than scientifi c data.

We know that cigarettes cause cancer based on empirical evidence. Just because someone smokes cigarettes all of his or her life, and never gets cancer does not mean that cigarettes do not cause cancer. Th e same concept applies with dog train-ing. Just because Fido responded to some-thing does not mean that Cooper will. Th is is another reason as to how positive force-free science-based dog trainers can help pet parents and dogs.

Th ere was a time when people did not believe that dogs could think. Th at sounds insane now, doesn’t it? Th ere was also a time when people did not believe dogs had complex emotions like humans. Th at has also been proven to be false. Th en,

there was that long period of time that dogs were believed to be pack animals that were constantly struggling over hier-archy. Dog owners were taught to “domi-nate” their dogs by using physical force so that the dogs would understand that the humans were “alphas.”

Well, science, has, yet again, proven that dogs are not pack animals and they are not seeking human (and world) domi-nation! We now know that dogs do what works for them—a lot like humans, really. Th is is why reward-based training is so ef-fective, with no negative side eff ects—un-like old-school dominance-theory-based dog training.

Hiring a force-free science-based trainer will help you save time, stress, and money. It is always best to be proactive, rather than reactive. Just as it is easier for us to develop a habit than it is to break an established habit, it’s the same with dog train-ing. It is easier to teach Fido acceptable behaviors and reward him for those behav-iors, than it is to physically punish him for unwanted behaviors. So, don’t think twice about it. If you have a dog, or you are getting a dog, fi nd a good POSI-TIVE, FORCE-FREE, and SCIENCE-BASED dog trainer!

Here are a few

websites that I recommend to find a dog trainer near you!www.ccpdt.orgwww.petprofessionaguild.comwww.apdt.comwww.karenpryoracademy.comwww.academyfordogtrainers.comwww.positively.com

Until next time…HAPPY TRAINING!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •Britney (Blanchette) Pitre, CPDT-KABONS CHIENS Dog Training, LLC.337.422.4703 • www.bonschiens.comFacebook.com/BonsChiensDogTraining

July 23, 201512 Vol. 7 • No. 7

I have been giving my last few lectures out of a trashcan. I use the trashcan to symbolize that some people’s trash can be another person’s treasure. I always start by opening the trashcan and separating the trash from the treasures.

Picking is always an adven-ture. Every turn may lead to treasure, but also to danger. I’d like to tell you a story about a pick I was on that has a little bit of adventure to it.

It all started one stormy night when I received a call to look at an old house that was slated to be demolished. I was excited that it was inside (it was raining cats and dogs), so I rushed into the picker mobile and headed out. When I pulled up to the dilapidated house I noticed the weeds were so high that they had started to creep up the side of the home.

An older man was waiting on the porch. He invited me in and apologized about the weather. Lightning struck and thunder shook the old house

filled with dust and debris. Of course, such places hold a lot of treasure and history, just waiting to be uncovered, and I was happy that the house had been locked up for years. The man said he was going to take a seat and let me do what I came to do. He pointed the way to

the attic with a grin on his face.

Every crash of thunder made the lights flick-er. I proceeded to dig through the spider webs that were cover-

ing every item. It was so hot that sweat was run-

ning down my eyes and I could barely see. Dirty from head to toe, I pushed forward.

With my headlamp on, I slowly opened the closet under the staircase. As I peeked in-side I noticed bins full of what appeared to be old records—a great find. There wasn’t much on the second floor, which left me only one place to go: the attic. I opened the door and a musty odor hit me. There were no lights at all up there, only

the lightning that spo-radically lit my way. My headlamp grew dim, but of course, I pushed on.

The air was so dry and stagnant it was as if I had opened King Tut’s tomb. From a distance I could see a little shimmer, but it was nothing more than some old, built-up debris. The cobwebs were so dense they were almost un-breakable. I dug and dug as I pushed forward but so far-- nothing at all. As I turned, I found myself face to face with the biggest spider I have ever seen on a pick before. I pushed the web and the spider out of the way so I could get to the end of attic.

I was reaching the end of my adventure. With a little battery power left, I saw a cigar box and what seemed to be a metal foot. When I got closer, I real-ized that what I had thought when I arrived at the house was

true. The treasures I found were well worth the effort.

I ended up uncovering an old tin robot from the 1940s, a cigar box filled with baseball cards dating back to the early 1960s and an old tin construc-tion toy from the early to mid ‘60s. I quickly grabbed my loot and went down to negotiate my finds. The gentleman was pleased with my offer and I was pleased with my finds.

This particular story illus-trates the importance and ad-venture of uncovering artifacts in my day-to-day life. There can always be an adventure out there—so get out and uncover some history!

July 23, 2015 13Vol. 7 • No. 7

The wounds of love can run so very deep inside. Betrayal, Denial, Judgment, Separation and Abandonment…their purpose is to faithfully con-nect you with God, our soul and our human heart. My ex-perience with all of them have led my soul to what I truly feel is now its job description, which is to love.

Love opens the way into the interior of the soul’s home and guides us on a tour of each room. The soul advanc-es according to its level of love. Wouldn’t that make you want to love with everything that you are?

Most of us have experienced the limitations of love. Some-times, the love in our heart is never fully shared because of the pains and hurts we may have experienced in our lives. This may lead us to turn off the loving side of ourselves, and we only make the hurt-ful part of ourselves avail-able, since this is what life has taught us. We never really turned the love in our heart back on. So, when we enter into a relationship, the damage

that we inflict upon another can be devastating. Eventu-ally, we walk away from the relationship and create deep wounds in that loving-hearted person. Now, this person who was hurt will probably close their heart off from love. Can you see the cycle that happens?

The heart is the part of us that God wants the most.

These wounds

of love can lead to God

dependence, or self-dependence.

The choice that reveals itself within

is the soul’s desire to either walk the path

of Earthly Love or Divine Love. I believe the purpose is to build the courage within that will lead to love.

We yearn deeply for love because love is the glue that connects everything together. Love should be full of sweet-ness. It brings with it the knowledge that despite all of the pieces, we are all part of a greater whole that is defined by goodness.

Pay attention to your life and notice when you are disconnected to being, giv-ing and receiving love. I truly

believe that when this happens, we

are disconnecting our hearts from God. Do you truly feel that God believed in you so much that He gave you life? If so, then

why aren’t you fulfilling your job requirements?

What if God was your em-ployer? What would your yearly review

look like? Would you get a raise? Would you get a promotion? You

have a purpose here and it is to LOVE! If you can look at everything with loving eyes, the world around you becomes beautiful. Love is not some-thing that you do; love is the way you are.

How do you define love? We are how love enters into this world. How do we view love? Most of us view love through our eyes. We should view love through our hearts. Our hearts speak and see the truth of all that is in this world. But we have learned to act as though we are being loving towards one another and in doing so, ig-nore our hearts.

You must learn to love yourself first. To love without expecta-tion, you have to be okay with yourself, okay with opening your doors, spread-ing your arms, bar-ing your heart and understanding that not everyone is go-ing to be gentle with it. You have to know that you can recover from those aches, that you can heal your own wounds, that you can trust yourself to walk away from the situa-tions that do not grow or assist you.

Here is the thing about placing expectations on oth-ers: expectations seem to fit in the category of selfish needs, such as the need for others to accept you, to validate you, to tell you that you’re good and worthwhile and strong. And if you can do that for yourself, if you can live up to your own expectations and desires, then the need for other people to do it for you begins to disap-pear.

Learn to love yourself first. Then, the transformation of love begins. Love is something freely given from the heart, and whatever is given from the heart is a gift. The heart is the center of us and the essence of who we all are. Knowing that you are loved and that you are love is so important. Once you truly believe this, then noth-ing can ever take it away.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made per-fect in love.” 1 John 4:18

To book a Soul Matters Ses-sion with Nicole Shuff Arabie, call (337) 540-6573. You can also go to her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Declut-teringYourSoul

Wounds Of Love

What is Love?I recently asked my Facebook

friends what love is, and I am sharing a few of their answers below:

“Love is infinite in its possibili-ties. It touches and motivates each of us in different ways. It provides an abundance of Joy at times and endless sorrow at others. It can be the breath that wakes you every morning or the tears that put you to sleep at night. It is patient and suffering, while glori-ous and faithful. It will hurt at times but it is also the most important gift GOD gave us. Love covers all.” ~Tina

“To me, love is knowing someone and all their imperfections…and still seeing how perfect they are. ~Liz

“Love is to love self first and then let God lead you. Then you can love another.” ~Mara

July 23, 201514 Vol. 7 • No. 7

Chicken with lemon is the perfect summer meal. We are going to cook this tasty dish on indirect medium heat. Indirect grilling is a barbecue cooking technique in which the food is placed to the side of the heat source instead of directly over the flame. This can be achieved by igniting only some burners on a gas barbecue or by piling coals to one side of a charcoal pit.

Ingredients1 whole chicken, 4-5 lbs.Kosher saltFresh ground pepper4 sprigs of fresh rosemary¼ cup white wine

Prep for PasteRemove the papery loose outer skin from the garlic head

and cut about ½ inch off the top to expose the cloves. Place on large sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle olive oil over it. Fold up the sides leaving a little room for air similar to a pocket. Grill over indirect medium heat until the cloves are soft (30-45 min.) Remove the garlic from the grill and allow to cool. Squeeze the garlic from the individual cloves into a small bowl.

In the bowl with the garlic, combine the lemon zest, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, rosemary, salt, pepper and Cajun Redhead Sea-soning. Mix well.

Prep for ChickenRemove and discard the neck, giblets and any excess fat

from the chicken. Rinse the chicken inside and out and pat dry with paper towel. Loosen the chicken skin gently with your fingers and brush half of the paste under skin. Season the inside of the chicken with salt, pepper and Cajun Red-head seasoning and place rosemary sprigs inside cavity. Pour

remaining lemon juice and wine into cavity. Coat the out-side of the chicken with the remaining paste, pressing into skin.

Grill the chicken breast side up over indirect medium heat until all the juices run clear or internal temperature of 180 degrees is reached. Should take approximately 1 hour 30 min.

Enjoy this summer treat!

Lemon Zest Chicken

For the Paste1 head of garlic1 tsp. olive oilLemon zest from three lemons2 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice1 ½ tsp. fi nely chopped rosemary1 tsp. kosher salt½ tsp. fresh ground pepper1 tbsp. Cajun Redhead Seasoning

July 23, 2015 15Vol. 7 • No. 7

July 23, 201516 Vol. 7 • No. 7

School will be in session before we know it. Time to re-view some basic travel rules with your children:

SCHOOL BUS• Always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb. • Make sure they walk where they can see the bus driver (which means the driver will be able to see them, too).• Look both ways to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street, just in case traffic does not stop as required.• Do not move around on the bus.

CAR• All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat. • Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a har-ness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when she has reached the top weight or height allowed for her seat, her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat. • Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4’ 9” in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat;

the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach. • All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for exam-ple), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.• Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should require seat belt use, limit the number of teen passengers, and do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations, texting, or other mobile device use to prevent driver dis-traction. Limit nighttime driving and driving in inclement weather.

BIKE• Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride. • Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic. • Use appropriate hand signals. • Respect traffic lights and stop signs. • Wear bright-colored clothing to increase visibility. White or light-colored clothing and reflective gear is especially important after dark. • Know the “rules of the road.”

WALKING TO SCHOOL• Make sure your child’s walk to school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.• Identify other children in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school. In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider organizing a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.• Be realistic about your child’s pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traf-fic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision. • If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them the first week or until you are sure they know the route and can do it safely.• Bright-colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

Traveling To and From

School Safely!

Our children deserve the best education and the best opportuni-ties to plan for that future. That’s why the Partners in Education pro-gram is so important. A project of the Calcasieu Parish School Board, it creates a partnership between a business and a school by enriching the educational process with the company’s direct involvement. The goal is to improve education with the assistance of the private sector.

The program, established in 1988 as a collaborative project between the CPSB and the Chamber/South-west Louisiana, is an opportunity for the school system and the busi-ness sector to share its resources, time, talent and expertise. It con-nects schools and businesses to improve student achievement and foster lifelong learning for the stu-dents.

The following businesses have partnered with schools in Calcasieu Parish:

Partners in EducationA Step Towards the Future

LAIA Member Company Partner in EducationAir Liquide R. W. Vincent Elementary, SulphurAlcoa Carbon Henry Heights Elementary, Lake CharlesBasell Cooley Elementary, Lake CharlesGRACE Barbe High, Lake CharlesCertainTeed W. T. Henning Elementary, Sulphur

Our Lady’s School, SulphurChemical Waste Management W.W. Lewis Middle School, SulphurCITGO Calcasieu Alternative School

E. K. Key Elementary, SulphurSulphur High, Sulphur

Sulphur High 9th Grade Campus, SulphurTrunkline LNG Oak Park Middle, Lake CharlesPhillips 66 LaGrange, Lake Charles

Westlake High, Westlake Entergy S. P. Arnette Middle, WestlakeFirestone Moss Bluff Middle, Moss BluffGrace Davison Barbe High, Lake CharlesPPG Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles

Sam Houston High, Moss Bluff Vinton High, Vinton

Sasol North America Western Heights Elementary, Westlake Westwood Elementary, Westlake

Westlake Group Maplewood Middle, SulphurVincent Settlement Elementary, Carlyss

July 23, 2015 17Vol. 7 • No. 7

Dust off and donate your musical instruments for area students! Drop off instruments at any CSE Federal Credit Union location between July 27-31 and be assured that your musical in-strument will be given new life with a deserving music student.

MusicMakers2U, Inc. is an organiza-tion devoted to providing youth with access to musical instruments. The 501-(c)-3 non-profit group collects used musical instruments, has them refurbished and cleaned, and with the help of area school band directors and music teachers, pairs them with stu-dents who otherwise might not be able to realize their dreams. Students in

elementary, middle school, high school and college are eligible.

CSE locations are collection points year-round, but will be ready to receive lots of instruments during the instru-ment drive. Donors will fill out a brief information form, which the receiv-ing student can use to send a note of thanks or to invite the donor to a fu-ture recital or concert. The student and parents sign a contract agreeing to care for the instrument and if the instru-ment is no longer needed, to return it to the group for reassignment to an-other student.

CSE locations are at 4321 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, 2154 Swisco

Road in Sulphur, and 1170 Sam Hou-ston Jones Parkway in Moss Bluff. Instruments may also be dropped off at any of the Sax in the City concerts on the last Sunday of each month July through November, 7 p.m. at Chateau du Calcasieu, 932 Enterprise Blvd.

For more information, visit their Facebook page, www.musicmakers2u.org or call (337) 244-9314. Monetary donations are always needed to cover the cost of refurbishing and cleaning the instruments and may be mailed to MusicMakers2U, P.O. Box 7964, Lake Charles, LA 70606.

Keep the music playing in Southwest Louisiana!

MusicMakers2U Instrument Drive July 27-31

(L to R) Mickey Smith, Jr., VP of MusicMakers2U; Rick and Donna Richard of Empire of the Seed and Trinity, a new MusicMaker receiving her very own tuba. Rick and Donna made the purchase of two tubas,

two trumpets and two trombones from Mack Brass of Virginia possible.

July 23, 201518 Vol. 7 • No. 7

July 23, 2015 19Vol. 7 • No. 7

SOWELA OrientationSOWELA Technical Community College is offering new

student orientation sessions to prepare incoming students for the fall 2015 semester. All sessions will be held in the Arts & Humanities Building, Multi-Purpose Room 145.

Incoming students are required to participate in orienta-tion to provide a smoother transition to the College. Face-to-face sessions are offered during morning, afternoon, and evening sessions on campus to provide greater flexibility. Upcoming sessions include:

• Friday, July 24, 9 a.m. – Noon• Friday, July 31, 1 – 4 p.m.• Thursday, August 6, 4 – 7 p.m.• Friday, August 7, 9 a.m. - Noon• Friday, August 14, 1 – 4 p.m.• Friday, August 21, 9 a.m. – Noon

Orientation will help students learn about the programs of-fered at the college, as well as admission, registration, place-ment exams, financial aid, and tuition and fee payments.

To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/sowela-new-student-orientation-fall-2015-tickets-7069796953 and select the session that works best for you. Walk-ins, parents, and guests are welcome.

For more information, visit www.sowela.edu/orientation or contact Dedria Walton at (337) 421-6967 or Dedria.Wal-ton@SOWELA.edu.

July 23, 201520 Vol. 7 • No. 7

About UsOur Lady Queen of Heaven

School offers high-quality educa-tion for students in pre-kindergar-ten through eighth grade. Since its founding in 1958, OLQHS contin-ues to set the pace for excellence in Catholic education, focused on its mission of learning and living the Good News; fostering academic success for all students. OLQHS challenges each student to develop his or her greatest potential – intel-lectually, culturally and spiritually through meaningful educational experiences. Students are encour-aged to use their God given talents, building a life-long commitment to Christ-like leadership.

Faculty & StaffWith a gifted and dedicated

faculty of 30 classroom teachers, as well as full-time Art, Spanish, Mu-sic, Band, Technology, and Physical Education teachers, OLQHS offers excellent learning opportunities,

enhanced by enrichment studies and activities. Teachers are dedi-cated to the spirit and the tradition of OLQHS. There are currently 29 faculty/staff members have been serving this school community for 15 years or more and 15 faculty/staff members are OLQHS alumni. Both of these numbers are evidence of the importance of community and the bonds that are created and continued at OLQHS.

CurriculumFrom pre-kindergarten to eighth

grade, teachers present a high-quality and advanced curriculum, designed to challenge and open children’s minds. Middle school students have unlimited opportuni-ties for hands-on learning with the school’s new state-of-the art science and technology lab. In order to best prepare students for the future, OLQHS seventh and eighth grade students are provided with Google Chromebook laptops to use for

all class work and assignments, allowing technology integration with classroom curriculum. Eighth grade students are given the op-portunity to enroll in math and Spanish courses for high school credit, providing them another way to stay on track and plan for their education after OLQHS.

Foundation of FaithOLQHS is not only a school, but

a faith community. Together chil-dren gather to pray, celebrate, and share their gifts. Daily prayer and religion classes, along with weekly liturgies at OLQH church help students to grow together in faith. Faculty and staff at OLQHS work daily to provide children with an atmosphere of love and community, working with families to create a foundation for faith development.

Please contact Our Lady Queen of Heaven School or the Early Child-hood Center, for more information on programs or enrollment.

A Message From the Principal Our Lady Queen of Heaven School

is a wonderful place to be! For more than 50 years, we have been providing excellence in Catholic education for children in the Lake Charles area. Our mission of living and learning the good news has remained constant and our vision focused on providing the best learning environment for our students.

Beginning in 2012, our community began working together to raise funds through our Cornerstone Capital Campaign, actively planning for the future of our school. As a result of this very successful campaign, last August we started the school year with a new middle school building, as well as newly renovated classrooms for our pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and fourth grades. The Center will have new, larger classrooms, an administra-tion building and an activity room.

This year, we look forward to the continuation of the growth and devel-opment of our school. Phase III, the construction of a new Early Child-hood Center and the final phase of our Capital Campaign project, is now underway. The Early Childhood Center provides loving care and the begin-ning of faith and educational develop-ment for the youngest members of our community, ranging from 6 weeks to 4 years of age. The new Center will have new, larger classrooms, an administra-tion building and an activity room, as well as room for classroom expansion. By the fall of 2016, the Center will be able to nearly double its enrollment, providing two classrooms for the fol-lowing age groups: infant, one-year-old and two-year old. The new facility is scheduled to be completed in spring of 2016. The Early Childhood Center is the future of OLQH School and I am thrilled to see this new Center becom-ing a reality!

We are ready to accommodate the new families who are choosing to make Lake Charles their home, and look forward to introducing them to our wonderful community here at Our Lady Queen of Heaven School. The gift of Catholic education provides children a strong foundation built on faith, family and community. At Our Lady Queen of Heaven, we prepare our students for living independently and successfully in a rapidly-changing world. The values children learn here will last a lifetime and prepare them to live their dreams and fulfill a world of potential.

If you are interested in joining our school and faith community, please contact the main office at 337-477-7349. We would love to share with you what Our Lady Queen of Heaven School is all about!

Sincerely, JoAnn WallworkPrincipal, Our Lady Queen of Heaven School

UPCOMING DATES• August 5–7: Back to Business Days for Current OLQHS Families• August 17: First Day of School• August 25 (6:00 p.m.): PTC Open House• September 11 (9:00 a.m.): Opening School Liturgy (grades Pre-K–8)

OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLEFor information on enrollment or to schedule a tour, please contact

Megan O’Quin, Director of Advancement, at moquin@olqhs.org or 477-7349.

OLQH School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, nationality or ethnic origin.

Location& School Hours3908 Creole StreetLake Charles, LA 70605(337) 477-7349

www.olqhs.orgHours: 7:50 am – 3:15 pm

July 23, 2015 21Vol. 7 • No. 7

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July 23, 2015 23Vol. 7 • No. 7

When the doors opened at Lake Charles Charter Academy (LCCA) in 2011, it was the first charter school in Southwest Louisiana. Information ses-sions were packed with parents inter-ested in learning about this new educa-tional option available to them. At the time, parents were most excited about the fact that they would be permitted and yes, even encouraged, to participate in their child’s education. They were intrigued by the promise of consistent, fair and enforced disciplinary actions that attempt to alter behavior instead of just punish. The concept of a school that would provide personal learning plans for every student seemed almost too good to be true.

Now, four years later, there are three charter schools governed by the Lake Charles Charter Foundation and the Southwest Louisiana Charter Founda-tion. The SWLCA was in the top 15 percent of schools statewide and in the top 13 percent in Calcasieu Par-ish for progress points earned

for growth. The LCCA was in the top 18 percent of schools statewide and in the Parish for progress points earned. These schools are not only providing an educational option for students; they are providing a better option for students.

The third charter school to open is Lake Charles College Prep, or The Prep, as it’s commonly called. It’s the charter high school that is currently accepting students in ninth and tenth grade. It opened last year as a ninth grade, and each subsequent year, the school will open the next grade. Cur-rently, The Prep is located in the former Bridge building until the new high school is built. However, the lack of a modern facility has not slowed progress with students at all.

Three SchoolsOne Goal

As part of the Charter Schools USA family-of-schools, LCCA, SWLCA

and The Prep all focus on one

thing and one thing only – students. Based on the Marzano educational model, every student’s success is based on data. Each child works along with his or her teacher and parents to deter-mine reasonable and stretch goals in every classroom. They meet frequently to determine where the student is and what he or she still needs to do to reach their goal. The impact this has made on economically disadvantaged students is remarkable.

“We serve a very high percentage of students who live in an economically challenged home,” said Pam Quebod-eaux, principal of Lake Charles Charter Academy. “Although economic dis-advantages can and do affect student outcomes, we are thrilled to see that 66 percent of our students who received free and reduced lunch performed at or above grade level. We want that number to reach 100 percent and will not stop until we have brought every student to their highest potential. We offer inten-sive and remedial courses to every child who struggles.”

Each School Has Its Own Personality:Lake Charles Charter Academy

Lake Charles Charter AcademyWith core values of leadership,

character, commitment and at-titude, LCCA’s staff employs an attitude of doing whatever it takes to make sure students succeed. They literally work year-round to help students from tutoring after school, on Saturdays and during holiday breaks. Some teachers are conducting summer camps or are involved in professional development to further ensure

student success. At LCCA, eve-

July 23, 201524 Vol. 7 • No. 7

ryone feels like a family who takes great pride in knowing each student individu-ally and helping them reach their high-est potential.

“We are a Leader in Me school, which helps students learn and use the Covey Foundation’s 7 Habits of Highly Effec-tive People model for students,” added Quebodeaux. “We also offer advanced learning opportunities with two Cam-bridge University’s Program of Studies classes in every grade from K-8. We can’t do it alone, though. We greatly ap-preciate the active role our parents have taken in their child’s education.”

One parent, Tara Nicole Simien, who has served as room mother for five out of the past six years, was chosen by the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana as a 2015 Volunteer of the Year. She has served as the school’s Par-ent Teacher Cooperative (PTC) chair-person for the past four years.

Southwest LouisianaCharter Academy

Southwest Louisiana Charter Acad-emy has a new principal at the helm this year and there are certain to be many new and exciting programs of-fered. LaTonia Harris, who came from Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy in Lafayette, holds a doctorate in educa-tion from Nova Southeastern University. She has extensive experience leading a diverse student population and is look-ing forward to bringing students to the highest level of their potential.

“Every single child has his or her own personality, strengths and weaknesses,” said Harris. “We want to meet every child where they are and bring them to places they’ve only dreamed of be-ing. What I have personally found as a school leader is that students will step up to a challenge. If you tell them they can achieve something and give them the right tools and the plan to get there, they will consistently meet and exceed expectations.”

The SWLCA has started a Respon-sive Classroom program where students start their day ready to learn. They have morning meetings to encourage stu-dents to transition their thoughts and actions from home to school. Then, they

are given opportunities to choose the way they will learn different concepts. For example, if students are learning to count, they may be given a choice to use buttons, magnets or marbles. When students can actively choose their method of learning, they are more likely to retain the material they are learning.

Lake Charles College Prep

As a growing high school, The Prep has some unique opportunities and chal-lenges. As students wait for their new school to be built, they are busy creating the culture for which this school will be known for in the future.

“We are developing a reputation as a new kind of high school experience,” said Lorette Bass, the school’s principal. “Th e students who are starting here at Th e Prep realize that their legacy will forever be im-printed in the history of this school. Th ey are the pioneers who are creating a culture of excellence in academics that will bring success to students now and in the future. We place a heavy emphasis on college preparation and keep students focused on setting and meeting goals.”

Although still in its infancy, the school is already developing an active sports pro-grams that many students desire. Th is year, LCCP student athletes will begin competi-tion in varsity football, basketball and track as members of the Class 1-A.

The LCCP also has implemented a very popular school supply program. All parents pay a one-time $25 registration fee that is used to purchase all the school supplies students need.

“What we have found with students at the Prep is that they have a strong desire to succeed. Some are extremely gifted and some have had difficulties,” added Bass. “We take each student and start fresh. We are all about creating new be-ginnings for those who need something different than what they’ve had in the past and stretching those who are already succeeding to reach heights that they only imagined before.”

A Governing Board That is Truly Involved

Judge Gene Thibodeaux is the presi-dent of both governing boards and has

gotten personally involved in the suc-cess of each of these schools from the very beginning. Board members can be found on any given day walking the halls and encouraging students. His board includes high-profile commu-nity members: Charles Honore; Clyde Mitchell; Aneeta Afzal, M.D.; Patricia Kelty; Drew Ranier, J.D. and Mark Boniol.

This team has worked tirelessly to assure that students in Calcasieu Par-ish and beyond are given a high quality choice in their education. After suc-cessfully negotiating approval for the first charter, they built Lake Charles Charter Academy. Then, as promised, they secured another nearby site to meet demand and built Southwest Lou-isiana Charter Academy. Now, they are actively working on building the high school to move the current students to their final destination.

“Our continued goal is to provide the highest quality educational opportuni-ties possible to the students here and we will do everything possible to con-tinually improve our schools,” Thibod-eaux says. “I am so impressed with the quality of the leaders and educators at all three of the schools. When you walk the halls, you can see the absolute dedi-cation our staff has to these students. They guide them with consistent and caring discipline and encourage them with enthusiastic praise when deserved. They know that students are more than just a number – they are children who are eager to learn and who will stop at nothing to make their mark on this world.”

How to ApplyIt is easy to apply to the three

schools. There is limited availability, but there are a few seats open, espe-cially in kindergarten at the two el-ementary schools. There are also a few seats available in 9th and 10th grade at The Prep. You can apply online for Lake Charles Charter Academy at www.LakeCharlesCharter.org; Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy at www.swlouisianacharter.org; and at Lake Charles College Prep at www.lakechar-lescollegeprep.org.

July 23, 2015 25Vol. 7 • No. 7

The American Cancer Society’s “Jamaica Me Crazy” is expected to be attended by a large crowd on August 14. This social event is an annual fundraiser hosted by the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel to raise dollars toward the fight against cancer.

This year’s event will feature a magnificent dinner prepared by the chefs at the Isle of Capri, silent and live auctions, photo booth fun, and much more. Live entertainment will be provided by the Flamethrowers, Louisiana’s number one party rock cover band.

“From a mouth-watering menu, the best entertainment in town, to Jamaica-style fun – it is sure to be a

night to remember!” says Katie Mc-Carty, senior director of the American Cancer Society. “This special event is an opportunity for guests to kick back and enjoy a wonderful evening – while helping raise dollars to elimi-nate cancer.”

The tropical feast includes ceviche, blackened grilled shrimp, roasted pig, pork loin, jerk chicken, blackened redfish, rum cakes, Pina Colada bread pudding with a rum glaze—and the list goes on!

“We are fortunate to have the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles as the present-ing sponsor each year for our social party, and they have gone above and beyond with everything from remod-

eling the event center to a unique menu you will not want to miss,” Mc-Carty continues. Other sponsors are Hertz Investments and First Federal Bank of Louisiana.

Braylin Jenkins will emcee the event, with Phil de Albuquerque run-ning the live auction.

There are currently 200 seats re-served for the event and tickets are going fast! Tickets are $75 per person, $125 per couple or $800 for a reserved table of 8. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and resort-wear attire is sug-gested. Attendees must be 21 years of age to enter.

“Not only is the American Cancer Society continuing to make history in cancer-treatment breakthroughs with research, but we also continue to provide services to local patients and families during their cancer journey,” McCarty says. “Last year alone, the Society provided over 1,300 services to more than 700 people in SWLA. The success of events like ‘Jamaica Me Crazy’ makes these efforts possible.”

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at (337) 433-5817 ext. 5 or email Katie.Mc-Carty@cancer.org.

July 23, 201526 Vol. 7 • No. 7

Governor’s Program Events July 23-26

The 2015 Governor’s Program for Gifted Children at McNeese will present two theatre productions, an art show, a student recital and a concert as a finale to its summer program Wed.-Sat., July 23-26. Performances are free and will be held in the Tritico Theatre while the art show will be held in the Grand Gallery of the Shearman Fine Arts Annex. The schedule is as follows: Xanadu, a musical production – 7 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; Terminal Terror and Gargoyles, a drama produc-

tion – 3 p.m., Thurs.-Fri.; Art show – 2-7 p.m., Fri., and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat.; Student recital – noon Fri.; Choral/large ensemble concert – 3 p.m. Sat. www.gpgc.org.

Ainsley’s Angels 5K July 25

The Second Annual Ainsley’s Angels “Roll with the Wind” Sunset 5K is scheduled for July 25 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The fun and festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. The 5K run will begin one hour before sunset. Runners and walkers of all ages and fitness levels are invited to participate. Following the 5K Run, a post-race celebra-tion for participants ($10 fee for non-participants) will take place at the Lake Charles Civic Center Amphitheater. To register, go to www.AinsleysAngelsRaceSeries.com.

NAMI’s Family Fun Day July 25

National Alliance on Mental Illness of SWLA is excited to announce the Second Annual Family Fun Day to be held on July 25 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Pinederosa Park in Westlake. This event will feature entertainment, great food, prizes, and lots of family fun. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit www.namiswla.org.

Movies in the Square July 25, August 8

Bring the family out to Movies in the Square at The Grove at Herit-age Square, 1211 Ruth St., Sulphur. Starts at dusk around 8 p.m. and admission is free! Everyone will enjoy Disney Animation’s adapta-tion of the popular Marvel Comics series Big Hero 6 on July 25 and Grease on Aug. 8! www.sulphur.org.

Full Throttle Wrestling July 25

Habibi Temple presents Full Throttle Wrestling, Sat., July 25! The FTW heavyweight title will be on the line, as Champion Houston Carson faces challenger One Man Mike Dell. Also on the card will be Nigel Rabid, and the Rabid Empire, featuring Kore da Kajun, The Iraqi Madman TK Riot, FTW Lightweight Champion Crymsyn, and a mystery newcomer to FTW. Also on the card will be The Southern Gentleman Teddy Nall, Hambone and Moonshine Mantell, among others. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $5; kids 6 and under get in free. Habibi Temple, 2928 Pack Rd. Lake Charles. (337) 436-9782.

Marshland Festival July 25-26

Continuing our Louisiana heritage of great food, music and fun, the 26th annual Marshland Festival will be held July 25-26 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. There will be entertainment, craft booths, vendors, games, exhibits and so much more! Proceeds go towards

July 23, 201528 Vol. 7 • No. 7

Hackberry youth activities. Go to www.marshland.com for band sched-ule and admission information.

Sax in the City July 26

Sax in the City featuring GRAMMY-nominated Mickey Huber Smith, Jr. will take place the last Sunday of every month July-November at Chateau du Calcasieu Event Center, 932 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles. The catered dinner at 5:30 is followed by the concert at 7 p.m. The SITC season will kick off July 26 with Mickey Smith, Jr. and friends such as vocalist Kenosha White, who most recently performed at the 2015 Country Music Awards show! Tickets are $30 (includes preferred seating, dinner and show (MUST be purchased in advance), or $15 concert only (available at the door starting at 6:30 p.m., no dinner). Tickets can be purchased at Swicegood Music (308 E Prien Lake Rd) and at Bearden’s Music (202 Cities Service Hwy). www.mickeysmithjr.com.

National Night Out August 4

National Night Out is a fun event to heighten community aware-ness of crime and drug prevention. Enjoy musical entertainment, free food and drinks, antique cars and crime prevention displays! Local and state law enforcement agencies will participate in this community block party at the West Cal Event Center on Tues., Aug. 4 from 6-8 p.m. to help spread the importance of neighborhood safety to the pub-lic. Local Louisiana antique car chapters will display hundreds of the finest antique cars along with Sulphur’s own monster truck, Southern Sunshine. Free admission. www.sulphur.org.

‘Jamaica Me Crazy’ August 14

Get tropical for a good cause! Head to the Isle of Capri on Fri., Aug. 14 for “Jamaica Me Crazy,” the American Cancer Society’s premier fundraiser! Enjoy delicious Caribbean-style food and desserts, live and silent auction ,photo booth fun and music by SWLA’s top dance band, the Flamethrowers! Come in your resort-wear attire and get ready to party! Tickets are $75 per person, $125 per couple or $800 for a

reserved table of 8. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Attendees must be 21 years of age to enter. (337) 433-5817.

Arts & Crabs Fest August 15

Arts & Crabs Fest brings regional cuisine, culture, and art to the forefront. Festival-goers take part in an extensive crab and beer tast-ing which features area chefs and restaurants each offering a crab dish representative of their cuisine’s styles and personalities. Dishes are then paired with Louisiana craft brews. Enjoy local art displays, interactive cultural activities and live music. Serving for the general public is from 5-7 p.m. at Burton Coliseum. Ticketholders must be 21 years of age or older. (337) 439-2787.

Jurassic Quest August 14-16

Jurassic Quest is the LARGEST, most realistic dinosaur event on the continent and it’s coming to the Lake Charles Civic Center! This exhibit walks you through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous peri-ods and includes fossil digs, dinosaur rides, dinosaur cinema, science station, dinosaur bounce houses, and much more! These are huge, life-size, animatronic dinosaurs and they are coming August 14-16 (Fri.-Sun.)! Don’t miss out on all of the dinosaur fun! For ticket infor-mation, go to www.jurassicquest.com/lake-charles-la.

Children’s Museum Imagination Celebration August 29

The Children’s Museum presents the13th annual Imagination Celebration! This evening is just for the grown ups... and will be “the cat’s meow!” Celebrate the rip-roaring 1920s with the Celebrity Karaoke Contest and sample fabulous food from 20+ area restaurants! Come dressed in your “bee’s knees” 1920s attire! They’re hoping the bids for the unique, must-have items in the live and silent auctions will bring in a lot of “clams.” There will be dancing to follow and you might take home a fabulous prize as winner’s names will be drawn throughout the night! Reserve your table today. www.swlakids.org.

August 1 Real Cowboy Association presents The Black Rodeo

August 8 Whitetails Unlimited 2015 Banquet

August 14-16 Jurassic Quest, The Largest Exhibition of Life size, Moving museum quality dinosaurs in North America

August 15 VFA presents Mixed Martial Arts Fight-ing featuring female and male fi ghters

August 22 Full Throttle Wrestling

August 29 Imagination Celebration, Children’s Museum Fundraiser

August 29-30 Don Rich Gun and Knife Show

Lake Charles Civic Center900 Lakeshore DriveLake Charles, LA 70601(337) 491-1256AUGUST

July 23, 2015 29Vol. 7 • No. 7

So, what are Minions? The third installment in the Des-picable Me franchise hopes to answer that question. The movie begins at the very beginning, with the creation of life on earth. Even as one-celled animals, the Minions are drawn to the biggest, baddest creatures around.

Fast forward to the 1960s, and three Minions are in the USA, headed for Villain-Con, to find the ultimate boss for their tribe.

Here’s the thing: the Minions have evolved into smallish yellow pill-shaped creatures with a language that sounds like gibberish. They’re childlike and cute, with big eyes behind goggle-like glasses. In

short, they’re cartoon char-acters. And now they have their very own movie.

In Despicable Me, the Minions serve Gru, the greatest villain of all time. But Minions happens be-fore Gru comes along and it makes all the difference in this movie. The beginning of Minions seemed to go slow to me. It was all about the Minions’ history, full of little jokes that just didn’t come off as funny.

However, most of the movie concentrates on Bob, Stewart and Kevin, who have been sent from their tribe to find the biggest, bad-dest villain in the human world, so their tribe will have a larger purpose. Our three Minions quickly at-tach themselves to the evil

Scarlett Overkill, who lives in England and gives them the task of stealing Queen Elizabeth’s Crown. (Scarlett showing Bob a picture of Queen Elizabeth:” Do you know who this is?” Bob:” La Cucaracha?”)

From this point on, the movie becomes unpredict-able, outrageous, and much funnier than the slow begin-ning. In particular Bob, the youngest of the Minions, keeps pouring on the cute and humor factor. Bob is extremely fond of the oc-casional ba-na-na, (one of the few words we can under-stand) and seems to think yellow fire hydrants are at-tractive females. Figure that one out yourself.

During their quest for the Crown, the Minions make several detours, which I won’t divulge here, but let’s just say the British culture is the butt of most of the jokes.

My favorite character was a young Queen Elizabeth, with a cultured accent and stunning overbite that define her speech and appearance. The British are especially funny, drinking tea at every turn and always properly polite. Scarlett Overkill is voiced by Sandra Bullock, and is definitely powerful with her red dress that hosts rocket pow-er, nuclear power, and all sorts of

weapons.Those who are fans of the

earlier films will want to watch for younger versions of characters from Despi-cable Me, and many other jokes that the younger au-dience probably won’t get. Since this is the ‘60s, Min-ions is lifted by songs from the Beatles, Animals, Rolling Stones, and others.

For those of us who think characters like the Minions are best suited for Saturday Morning Cartoons (which I understand don’t exist anymore,) the climax of our movie is at least very logi-cal and complete, with our tribe running off to meet its singular fate.

A lot of you will be won-dering if smaller children will enjoy this film. I would say yes. Most of the humor is geared for them and while there is some violence, it’s mostly cartoonish and hard-ly ever suggestive. Adults may find it quite ridiculous, but if you liked the Minions in Despicable Me, you’ll be amused here.

So bring some little ones to see the Minions and you can talk to them about it for years to come. Or at least ‘til Minions 4 comes out.

Minions is rated PG for nothing that I could figure out. Some people swear they heard the Minions using foul language, but really, how would you know? Enjoy.

Minions (Universal, 2015)

July 23, 201530 Vol. 7 • No. 7

For months now, you’ve been growing out your hair.

One day, it will be long enough so that you can be-come an aerialist who hangs by her locks, looking like a mid-air ballet artist. And if that doesn’t work, you could be a lion tamer, for sure, or maybe a clown. But no matter what you choose, read Big Top Burning by Laura A. Wool-lett and stay safe.

In the middle of World War II, when resources and money were both scarce, a trip to the circus was a huge treat. Families sometimes saved for months for the chance to see big cats, elephants, trapeze acts, and clowns.

That was the case for many residents of Hartford, Con-necticut, when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus came to town that day in early July 1944. Everyone was excited – even the gov-ernment knew the circus was good for morale – and they quickly took their seats on bleachers or in fold-up chairs lined up on boards.

“More than 6,000 people at-

tended the circus on that hot July 6 afternoon,” says Wool-lett. The Big Tent (which was “massive” and weighed over 75,000 pounds) filled quickly with circus-goers, clowns and horses, bears and lions, tigers, chimps and elephants. Large chutes at the entrances whisked the animals in and out, the air smelled like popcorn, and the afternoon promised to be a fun one.

It’s likely, then, that few people noticed the tiny flame on the side of the tent in the corner by the men’s room. Those who did probably thought the circus workers would take care of it; fires were pretty common at cir-cuses at that time. The tent was waterproofed with wax and gasoline, but nobody gave that much thought…

… until the fire spread, and so did panic. Screams filled the air and circus-goers raced for exits, some of which were blocked by animal chutes. A few people escaped be-neath the circus tent. Others fell to the ground and were crushed. Within ten minutes,

the Big Tent had burned to the ground, injuring more than 480 people and killing 167 people, 59 of whom were children under age ten.

But how did the fire start, and who were the people whose bodies were never claimed? The answers to those questions are still un-known.

It’s summertime. Who wants to read history books in the summer, anyhow? Give your child Big Top Burning, and rest assured that he will.

With a sense of urgency and just the right setting in time, author Laura A. Wool-lett presents this true story in a way that will resonate well with the age group for which

this book is intended (10 and up). I was riveted by the per-sonal accounts of this tragedy, and I think the lingering mys-tery at the end will capture kids’ interest.

While the photographs inside this book aren’t terribly graphic, some of the narra-tive might be a bit much for sensitive young readers. Just be aware because, even for an adult, Big Top Burning can be a hair-raising book.

“Big Top Burning”by Laura A. Woollett©2015, Chicago Review Press $18.95 / $22.95 Canada167 pages

Big Top Burning

July 23, 2015 31Vol. 7 • No. 7

By Brian PitreOriginating in Southeast

Asia, contemporized in Japan, and popularized all over the world, sushi has become a new favorite for the Lake Area over the last decade. With sushi houses popping up all over the city, the demand for qual-ity plates with reasonable prices is a growing issue for enthusiasts looking to explore the cuisine. As daily consumers, we tend to equate the quality of goods and services to how much they drain our wallets, but anyone who has ever eaten

at Sakura Sushi can tell you that could not be further from the truth .

Opening their doors just two months ago, Sakura has already begun building a long list of regular custom-ers. Offering a variety of sushi, sashimi, and au-thentic Japanese appetizers served by a professional and knowledgeable staff are part of what keeps their customers returning day after day. From the soups to the specialty rolls, every bit of every bite on every dish is plated beautifully with a style and design that is unique to Sakura’s sushi

chefs. The chefs are dedicated

to making each roll with precision and care, priding themselves on their cus-tomers’ happiness. Using their extensive knowledge on flavors and fish, they have also begun blend-ing age-old traditions with those rooted here in our own kitchens. Masterpieces such as the “Big Easy Roll,” a rice-out roll of yellow tail, and Cajun spicy tuna covered in sweet but bold honey wasabi are a perfect example of the blending of cultural flavors.

The mixing doesn’t stop

with sushi; Sakura runs a full bar complete with wines, wells, and top shelf selections as well as a tal-ented staff who are blend-ing a lot more than just culture in a cup. Mai Tais, daiquiris, sake bombs and more, Sakura has every-thing you’re looking for at a Japanese-themed bar. The drinks are known to make you hungry, so if you find yourself needing to load up on finger foods, be sure to sample one of their many appetizers. Items such as their soul-warming miso soup and their deliciously pan-seared gyoza make the

July 23, 201532 Vol. 7 • No. 7

perfect drinking companions for you and your friends. Friends are something you can never have too many of at Sakura.

Boasting a grand party room with an assortment of seating arrange-ments, Sakura’s party section allows you to host any type of event for up to 75 guests. And remember, when you order within a large group you can enjoy the made-to-share spe-cials. Any four orders of sushi and/or sashimi are built into a special-order boat with a variety of toppings and side sauces that make sharing and sampling the entire menu a real possibility. Paired with one-of-a-kind cocktails and plenty of room to mingle, the event room is one of Sakura’s most attractive features.

In addition to sushi and sashimi, Sakura also offers Bento boxes, Udon rice dishes and Mongolian bowls.

All of the greatness of the décor, cuisine, and service seems to be trumped by their greatest selling point…the sushi and sashimi are HALF OFF! Bring your friends and jump on these outstanding prices.

Sakura Sushi211 W Prien Lake Road

Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 564-6922

Open seven days a week

July 23, 2015 33Vol. 7 • No. 7

Thursday, July 23Happy Hour4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Kay Miller and Aaron Horne6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Alfred Doucet7 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Candlebox@Party by the Pool7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Jukebox8 p.m. – midnight @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Brandon Green8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Karaoke Night9 p.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Friday, July 24Kay Miller and Aaron Horne7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Red Republiq8 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Tanya Tucker8:30 p.m. @ The Event CenterGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

RKW Acoustic Show9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Jukebox9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

3-H-G9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Isis9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Josephine9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Mr. DJ9 p.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Dance Night9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ CaGe11 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, July 25Kay Miller and Aaron Horne7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Special Event Night9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Brian Racca9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Josephine9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

3-H-G9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Jukebox9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

July 23, 201534 Vol. 7 • No. 7

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Isis9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

DJ CaGe11 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, July 26Chester & Jarius Daigle11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

@Jack Daniels’ Whiskey Brunch

L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Street Side Jazz Band11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill710 Ryan St., LC

Kenzie Newman4 p.m. @ Loggerheads3748 Hwy, 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Kris Harper5-9 p.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, July 27MÁS Summer Series6 p.m. @ Tipitina’s Music Co-op2128 Hodges St. LC

Open Mic Night9-midnight @ Luna Live710 Ryan St., LC

Tuesday, July 28Guys Night @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith6:30 @ Loggerheads3748 Hwy 305, LC

Two for Tuesday on Everything!9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Wednesday, July 29Kris Harper7:30 – 11:30 p.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rapture8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots6:30 @ Loggerheads3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.), LC

Joe Ecker9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

July 23, 2015 35Vol. 7 • No. 7

Talent Night9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Thursday, July 30Happy Hour4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Amanda Walker6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Leroy Thomas & Zydeco Roadrunners7 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

An Evening with 311@Party by the Pool7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Swagger9 p.m. – midnight @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rapture8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 2 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Karaoke Night9 p.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Friday, July 31Amanda Walker7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Swagger9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rapture9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Bigg Redd & Creole Soul9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

No Idea9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Karaoke 9 p.m. @ Coolers3622 1/2 Ryan St. LC

Dance Night9 p.m. – 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LCAlbert Simpson9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Larry Tillery & the Vagabond Dreamers9:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, August 1Amanda Walker7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Special Event Night9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Albert Simpson9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Bigg Redd & Creole Soul9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Swagger9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rapture9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

No Idea9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

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Sunday, August 2Chester & Jarius Daigle11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

@Jack Daniels’ Whiskey BrunchL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Street Side Jazz Band11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill710 Ryan St., LC

Kris Harper5-9 p.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Monday, August 3MÁS Summer Series6 p.m. @ Tipitina’s Music Co-op2128 Hodges St. LC

Open Mic Night9-midnight @ Luna Live710 Ryan St., LC

Tuesday, August 4Guys Night @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads3748 Hwy 305, LC

Kris Harper8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Dancing9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Wednesday, August 5Karaoke with DJ Cornbread7 p.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Dead or Alive7:30 – 11:30 p.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., LC

Brandon Green8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Kade Fontenot8- 11 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Karaoke with Avid Sounds9 p.m. @ Coolers3622 1/2 Ryan St. LC

Talent Night9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Thursday, August 6Happy Hour4 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

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Ramble On…Musical legacies can come from the

strangest of places and, oftentimes, the humblest of beginnings. Were he still with us, Luderin Darbonne could tell you all about that. At the age of 17 he met a guitar player by the name of Edwin Duhon and started just such a legacy that spanned nearly 80 years. Even though their namesake is a small town in northern Cameron Parish by the name of Hackberry, it’s a name now known the world over because of the music of the Ramblers.

Started in 1930, The Hackberry Ramblers found themselves riding the airwaves by 1933 under the auspices of RCA’s Bluebird Records and pro-duced music that became defining of the Cajun genre with the famed “Jolie Blonde”. It became one of their trade-mark songs by the end of the decade, some 30 plus years before the oft-called “Cajun National Anthem” was officially adopted as the fight song for our beloved McNeese State Cowboys.

The band was Cajun, to be sure, but with the musical influences of Dar-bonne’s time growing up in Texas and the influences of other Ramblers that came and went over the decades, their sound was more than Cajun. It was blended with blues, country, rockabilly, folk and swamp pop that remain part of this area’s inherent musical sound and led to a versatility that saw them breaking generational gaps in their

audiences. They eventually took their music around the world, playing at the International Cajun and Zydeco Festival in Holland, The Country Rendez-Vous and Nuits Des Cajun and Zydeco Festi-vals in France and (of course) the famed New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in good ol’ NOLA.

Darbonne and his fellow Ramblers did a bit more than put Cajun music on the map, but they made

Katie Whitney & Chip Radford6 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Bernie Alan7 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Blues Traveler & Winner of Battle of the Bands@Party by the Pool7 p.m., L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Rockbox8 p.m. – midnight @ Blue Martini

Golden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Brandon Green8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort

2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Karaoke Night9 p.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

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a few innovations that not only set them apart, but have influenced the genre as a whole in ways that re-main in effect to this day.

Cajun music of the 1930s was hardly any-thing for large stages and crowds, but even the little dancehalls they frequented in the early days got a surprise when they got a taste of what a public ad-dress system sounded like. Granted, it was powered by the idling engine of Darbonne’s Model-A, but it was amplification and it was the first time it had ever happened to Cajun music. Couple that with his lead fiddle instead of the more traditional diatonic accordion, and one can see that this was something musical the likes of which no one had ever heard before and something that just hasn’t quite been repli-cated since.

By World War II, things had begun to slow down for the Ramblers and though they dropped out of sight and considered hanging it up altogether by the time the ‘60s arrived, a relation-ship with Arhoolie Records led to the reissuing of older recordings and the release of new work from the band.

Friday, August 7Katie Whitney & Chip Radford7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Killawatts8 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Gordie Brown8:30 p.m. @ The Event Center

Limited Engagement from Vegas!Golden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Luke Cooper9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

Rockbox9 p.m.-1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Allison Collins9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

At Fault9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Though it is a veritable lifetime that has passed since Hackberry got its Ramblers, that lit-tle town is still just as plucky and vibrant as ever, and still passionately embraces the music and cuisine of the Cajun culture. And this is the 26th year that the community has banded together for an annual event designed with three primary intentions: Continue their Louisiana heritage of Cajun music and cuisine, help promote the tourist industry of Southwest Louisiana and support the surrounding business community. You may know this event as the Marshland Festival.

Friday and Saturday, July 24-25: The 26th Annual Marshland Festival - Lake Charles Civic CenterOnce again, the Marshland Festival takes over the Civic Center and delivers a weekend full

of wonderful Cajun food and music. Over a dozen acts fill this year’s roster and including Brad Brinkley and Comfort Zone, Keith Frank and The Soileau Family Zydeco Band, Louisiana Ex-press with T.K. Hulin and Johnny Allen, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, Lil Nate and many more! Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday with music starting at 6. Gates and music are both at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is $10 on Friday and $15 on Saturday for adults. Kids 12 and under and active members of the military get in for FREE! For more information, visit www.warshlandfestival.com.

I’m Just a Living Legacy to the Leader of the Band...Maybe not me as much as the fine folk and musicians who make this thing happen year after

year. All the proceeds go toward non-profit youth organizations in and around Hackberry, so they too are making a mark on that small community in their own way as well. I’m sure Mr. Luderin Darbonne would be proud. Right proud, indeed. Until next time gals and gents! I’ll see you at the show!

Something’s Happening Here...

A resurgence in popularity of the genre through the ‘80s gave the longtime performers more of a foothold and led to the release of two albums in the 90s: 1993’s Cajun Boogie that featured collaborative efforts from famed country artist Rodney Crowell and Beausoleil’s Michael Doucet and the 1997 release Deep Water, which welcomed back Doucet and Crowell and added native Blues artist Marcia Ball and Jimmy Dale

Gilmore of the Flatliners in what became the band’s first GRAMMY-nominated effort.

Sadly, Mr. Luderin isn’t here to tell you all about it himself. After 95 years on this big blue marble, he finally laid his fiddle down and has left us wanting more for the seven years he’s been gone. I never had the pleas-ure of meeting the man, but I feel I have gotten a good idea of him from people who did know him and grew up with

the music of the Hackberry Ramblers on the radio.

I know he loved his music and he loved his home and that he was proud to not only put little ol’ Hackberry on the map, but to have spent his long life doing just what he loved: playing music and making people dance. That’s a legacy to be proud of, if ever I heard one. It’s certain-ly one worth remembering. I certainly will and I do hope that you all will, too.

July 23, 2015 39Vol. 7 • No. 7

LA Express9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Mr. DJ9 p.m. @ Bourbonz3436 Ryan St., LC

Dance Night9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

DJ Crush11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Saturday, August 8Katie Whitney & Chip Radford7 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine Bar777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Gordie Brown8:30 p.m. @ The Event Center

Limited Engagement from Vegas!Golden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Special Event Night9 p.m. – 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Reece Sullivan9 p.m.-midnight @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd., LC

LA Express9 p.m. @ Gator LoungeDelta Downs 2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Allison Collins9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Rockbox9 p.m.– 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

DJ Jose Mata9 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

At Fault9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

DJ CaGe11 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Sunday, August 9Chester & Jarius Daigle11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

@Jack Daniels’ Whiskey BrunchL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Street Side Jazz Band11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill710 Ryan St., LC

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Kayla and Jody Taylor Burn and Jeanie Rourk

Kelley Saucier with Angie and Trent Peshoff Hannah Werner and Jackson Leach

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE The LC Symphony’s Summer Pops took fl ight in an evening of wonder and music that turned the Civic Center into a strange and magical place.

Cirque de la Symphonie featured the symphony joined by aerialists, strongmen, jugglers, dancers

and more that swept the entire house up in a breathtaking experience on par with

even the best-known Vegas show. Bravo!

Austin and Danielle Brown, Mallory Hay

Donnie, Darian and Taylor HardinXavier and Ryan Levy

Farrah and Oakley Black

Ashley, Chuck, Dean and Bennett Ardoin

SASOL’S SECOND SATURDAY AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The summer rolls on at The Children’s Museumand the good folks from Sasol made their way out

recently to teach the kids a thing or two about science. This installment of Sasol’s Second Saturday Science Show focused on magnetism and electricity.

It was a “hair-raisingly” good time!

Mary Nelle and Jerry Sinitiere with Jim and Jean Evans

Pepper Manuel, Kaelyn Guillory and Ella Arabie

Jean Estes and Jerry Cardiff Barbara and Theresa Cox

Brittany Fabacher and Grayson Lacey Piraro and Janet Piraro

CAJUN MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL

Good Louisiana food, music, friends, beauty queens and air-conditioning were the staples at the annual Cajun Music and Food festival

this past weekend. The Burton Complex was home to two days of dancing, laughter

and good eatin’! REALLY GOOD eatin’!

Shelley Johnson and Monty Hurley Pat and George Swift

Joe Cironi and Lauren PerrinJohn Bridges and Brittany Glaser

GRIDIRON 2015 Not to be outdone, the annual Gridiron, put on

by the Ad and Press Club of SWLA, had a healthy menu of grilled politicians, local celebrities and newsmakers. Hundreds attended the pre-show

social hour at the Rosa Hart Theater and snacked on tasty treats from local restaurants. There were also a few laughs to be had, and that, my friends,

is an understatement!

Ronnie and Michelle Johns

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