January 28, 20162 Vol. 7 • No. 19

January 28, 2016 3Vol. 7 • No. 19

January 28, 2016 • Volume 7 • Issue 19

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

Publisher/Executive EditorLauren Abate lauren@thejambalayanews.com

ContributorsNicole Shuff ArabieGeorge ClineDebbie HayesBraylin JenkinsJason MachulskiRoger MillerJustin MorrisRussell PawlowskiBritney Blanchette PitreTerri 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.

COVER22 Oak Park Dental Free Valentine’s Day Dental Clinic

REGULARS5 We Are SWLA!

7 Tips From Tip

7 Adoption Corner

8 Huntin’ Tales

10 Tales of the Bayou Pickers

11 A Ruff Life

12 Soul Matters

13 The Pirate’s Platter

FEATURES14 Keeping Seniors Young16 Pre-diabetes: Can You Turn It Around?

17 Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana Chapter

18 Eating Well as We Age

20 Fighting Dry Eyes During Winter

21 Age-related Eye and Vision Problems

THE SPICE OF SWLA24 Lake Charles Symphony Valentine’s Day Concert

26 Event Guide

29 Bookworm Sez…

30 Nightlife Guide

30 Lake City Beat!

34 Justin Morris’s Lake Charles

36 Noon with Noone: Herman’s Hermits Q&A

37 Funbolaya

38 Society Spice

36

1310

1429

7On Cover: Dr. Harry Castle, Oak Park Dental

January 28, 20164 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Now that I’ve been rescued by the most wonderful little dog in the world (it will be a year in March), one of the things I have to do for Cooper is walk him. And it’s a pleasure.

I remember dog-walking in Bos-ton in January. It was not a pleasure. It was cold and miserable and icy, and Scottish Terriers (I had three consecutively) take their time when they are doing their business.

Now, it’s a whole different story. First of all, there’s no snow and ice to worry about. Snow on the city sidewalks always means salt, which is sprinkled to prevent ice from forming. It also burns little paws. Bad for our four-legged friends. And if there’s no salt, there may be ice. Bad for us two-legged creatures. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve

slipped and fallen dramatically, similar to those slip-and-fall videos that are currently all over Facebook. Thankfully, that part of my life is over. Even if it’s cold here, there are no worries about precipitation on the ground.

Walking a Chihuahua is always an adventure because they are so dramatic. Everything catches Coop’s eye and if it doesn’t past muster he will growl his disapproval. From big dogs being walked a block away to sanitation workers emptying dumpsters, Cooper always has an opinion. They say Chihuahuas only like other Chihuahuas. I haven’t seen him around his own breed, but he’s either indifferent or momen-tarily annoyed when another dog comes along, for the most part. He’s his own man.

And while my Scotties just ambled along, Chihuahuas are fast walkers and Coop skips when he’s happy: his left back leg goes up every few steps he takes. It’s ador-able. He sniffs and leaves his mark here and there as we walk around the block. Sometimes he will stop and look up at the sky and sniff the air. He makes me stop and take a breath, too. I’m in my office all day into the evening and now I have an excuse to get out there and get some exercise every few hours.

He also has Specific Routes. He either goes right or left. If he goes left, then he will automatically walk onto the driveway on Pujo Street and cut through to the back of the Jam building. If he goes right, then we have to walk all the way around the block until we return to the front of the Jam. It usually never varies. He’s a creature of habit.

Nighttime is another story. This is when Cooper goes on Raccoon Patrol. He hates them and goes berserk whenever he runs into one. He’s chased them up trees and under the house, barking loudly. Just their scent alone will get him going. He’ll stop, lift his front paw and stand at attention, ears up. Then he’ll growl and follow the scent. A man on a mission. Of course, he’s always on his leash so he doesn’t go far. But they don’t come around as much as they used to, so I believe he’s doing his job. Earn your keep, Coop!

But night is the best time with Coop. He’s not a late-nighter and likes to turn in fairly early. He hates

it when I’m on deadline. He usually sits on the couch in Burn’s office, supervising layout. Every half hour or so, he’ll run to my office and stand in the doorway with one leg up and his head cocked. When I say “Not yet,” he’ll resignedly go back to Burn. When I tell him that we can go, he twirls around delight-edly and runs down the stairs. He waits impatiently by the door while I get his leash and my keys. When we’re ready, he flies out the door and down the stairs and chases random cats along his route to the house. If there are no raccoons to be found, then he runs to the house and beelines it to the bedroom, where he jumps on the bed and proceeds to kick the pillows and roll around under the comforter, looking for that perfect spot to rest his weary little Chihuahua head.

And when I finally get into bed, he’ll come out from under the com-forter and cover my face with kisses, both paws on my chest, and look at me with such love.

Thank you for rescuing me, Cooper.

Lauren Abate

Life with the Chihuahua

January 28, 2016 5Vol. 7 • No. 19

SW District Livestock Show & Rodeo Top 20 EventThe Southeast Tourism Society recently honored the Southwest

District Livestock Show & Rodeo as a Top 20 Event for the first quarter of 2016. The event will be held Feb. 4 – 6 at the Burton Coli-seum Complex in Lake Charles. “The Greatest Show on Dirt” will feature rodeo performances, livestock shows, a stick-horse rodeo, appearances by Miss Rodeo Louisiana and more. The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau is a member of STS, an organization that promotes travel to and within the southeastern part of the United States. The bureau nominates all area fairs, festi-vals and events quarterly. For more information, visit www.visitlake-charles.org.

Stacy Corbello Named Chair of 2016 SWLA Heart Ball Stacey Dion Corbello, Financial Advisor

with JD Prime Investments, a subsidiary of JD Bank, will serve as chair for the American Heart Association’s 2016 Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball. The gala will be held on Saturday, April 16th at The Lake Charles Civic Center and will begin at 6 p.m. The event will generate funds to support education, research and aware-ness to prevent heart disease in the Southwest Louisiana community. The theme of the 2016 event is “The Heart of Napa” and the evening will feature both a silent and a live auction, a

local survivor’s story, dinner, and live entertainment. Tickets can be purchased at www.swlaheartball.ahaevents.org.

FYA Receives Donation from Magnolia LNGFamily & Youth Counseling Agency received $5,000 in sponsor-

ship from Magnolia LNG for the 3rd Annual G2X FISH-O-RAMA,

which was held this past fall at Calcasieu Point Landing. Over 150 individuals participated in the tournament and enjoyed great food, fun, and entertainment. Proceeds from the event support the eight divisions of Family & Youth Counseling Agency, whose mission is to provide affordable and professional services to children, families, and individuals in Southwest Louisiana.

Clay Hammett, MD Joins Memorial Medical Group Memorial Medical Group welcomes Clay

Hammett, MD, a fellowship-trained cardiolo-gist to its staff at Heart & Vascular Center locat-ed on the 2nd floor of 1717 Oak Park Boulevard. A native of Ferriday, Louisiana, Dr. Hammett is a graduate of Louisiana Tech in Ruston. He received his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Hammett com-pleted his cardiology fellowship at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and has conducted extensive research in his field of expertise. Dr. Hammett is board certified in cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular computed tomography, and nuclear cardiology. To schedule an appointment, call the Heart and Vascular Center at (337) 494-3278.

Louisiana Credit Union League Donates to Children’s Miracle NetworkThe Lake Charles Chapter of the Louisiana Credit Union League presented CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation’s Children’s Miracle Network with a check for $5,418 at the Chapter’s November meet-ing. The Chapter raises money throughout the year for CMN, and the donation will be used locally to address children’s healthcare needs in Southwest Louisiana.

Holiday Art Market Donates to Bulber Youth Orchestra The F.G. Bulber Youth Orchestra was recently presented with a

donation of sales from the annual Holiday Art Market at Central School, presented by the Arts Council of Southwest Louisiana and the City of Lake Charles. This festive event, held December 11-13, offered an array of local art handcrafted by area artisans as Christ-mas gifts. Eighteen artisans and organizations donated a portion of

Annette Richey (center), chairman of the board of directors of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, presents the Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event award to Nancy McCluskey, sponsorship chairman

(left) and Blain Crochet, president of the Southwest District Livestock Shoe & Rodeo Board (right)

Stacy Corbello

L to R: Julio Galan, President/CEO of Family & Youth and Tammy Truax, Magnolia LNG.

Dr. Clay Hammett

Clark Yelverton, president of the Lake Charles Chapter of the LCUL, presents CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation’s

(CMN) director Cara Wyland, with a check for $5,418.

January 28, 20166 Vol. 7 • No. 19

their sales to benefit the F.G. Bulber Youth Orchestra. Contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787 or visit www.artscouncilswla.org for more information on year-round events and services.

Tab Finchum Named WCCC Citizen of the YearLocal businessman and civic leader Tab

Finchum has been recognized as the West Cal-casieu Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Citizen of the Year. The presentation was made at the organization’s 66th annual banquet held at the West Calcasieu Events Center in Sulphur on Nov. 19. Originally from Orange, Texas, Finchum came to Sulphur in 1984 to work as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones and is a million dollar producer. He is a current member of the WCCC; the Sulphur Industrial Development Board; the Contraband Days, Inc. Board; the Krewe de la Louisiane Board; the Sulphur Rotary Club and

the SWLA Chamber-Economic Development Alliance. He is married to Misty Finchum and has a daughter, Taylor.

Paul Leis Named West Calcasieu Cameron Employee of the Month

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently named Paul Leis as its Employee of the Month for January 2016. As a mem-ber of the hospital’s Plant Operations team, Leis assists in a variety of tasks related to the buildings and facilities at WCCH and surrounding clinics. Leis has been with the organization for nearly 25 years.

The Salvation Army of LC Receives Entergy GrantAs part of its service to Lake Charles and the surrounding com-

munity, Entergy Louisiana presented The Salvation Army with a $10,000 grant to be used for the Corps feeding program. The Lake Charles Salvation Army provides a nightly meal for those in the sur-rounding area who are in the greatest need. The Corps also provides groceries to families in emergency situations who are making the tough choices on how to use their limited resources. LC Toyota Donates to McNeese’s KBYS

Lake Charles Toyota has do-nated $5,000 to the McNeese State Univer-sity Founda-tion for the operation of McNeese’s radio station KBYS located at 88.3 FM.

G2X Energy Hosts Groundbreaking CeremonyG2X Energy, a developer of advanced natural gas to methanol projects, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony recently to celebrate the

beginning of Phase 1 construction on their world-scale methanol production facility located here in Lake Charles. Once complete, the Big Lake Fuels Methanol Plant will produce 1.4 million metric tons of commercial grade methanol per year and will have the necessary facili-ties to convert methanol to automotive gasoline in the future. For more information regarding G2X Energy, call (713) 943-2200.

L to R: Emma Guillory and Kerry Evans of the Francis G. Bulber Youth Orchestra, with Shonda Manuel, President, Board of Directors, Arts Council of SWLA

Paul Leis

Tab FinchumL to R: McNeese President Dr. Philip Williams, LC Toyota owner Philip Tarver

and Chad Thibodeaux, McNeese’s chief information technology officer and KBYS general manager. McNeese Photo

January 28, 2016 7Vol. 7 • No. 19

Kudos to Memorial Home HealthWe recently had a surgical procedure in

the family that required the follow-up use of home health services. We were more than well served by Lake Charles Memo-rial Home Health. Our community is for-tunate to have such a dedicated organiza-tion in our locale. I know there are other exceptional home health providers in the area, but I can only report on the one that we were blessed with. Their personnel were professional, prompt, caring, courte-ous, and very knowledgeable. We could not have asked for better in any manner (one of the nurses was a real “dog” per-son and even had treats for Gracie Lu). I can recommend Lake Charles Memorial Home Health service without any reserva-tions. We gratefully thank them for their wonderful care.

Road WoesWith the Cove Lane interchange/

roundabout in full function, the south-bound traffic on West Prien Lake Road/

Ihles Road to Elliott Road corridor has become congestion city. The Lake Charles City Council has approved a new 47-home subdivision on the extended end of West Prien Lake Road that becomes Ihles Road. There is an obvious need for that roadway to be expanded to four

lanes with turning lanes implemented at main intersections. This area of town is bursting at the seams with residential and apartment construction, leading

to even more traffic problems. Now is the time to enable the roadways

to handle the flow that has already be-come burdensome upon residents in that area. It is going to become a road rage center if not corrected soon. The residents moved there to be away from that kind of congestion and deserve some considera-tion. In addition, the newcomers will be resented if the quality of life for that area suffers.

Patrolling for Profi tWe have written before about the

practice of “Profit Patrolling” used by police departments for revenue enhance-ment. Nearby Welsh, Fenton and Iowa are known for vigorous traffic enforce-ment that finances their needs. The Lake Charles City Council has amended their agreement with the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office for the partici-pation in the Local Agency Compensated Enforcement, which pays the officers in-volved $55 per hour. In 2015, the program generated around $400,000 in revenue.

What has happened to “Protect and Serve?” When did revenue generation become the function of the police depart-ment? Fortunately, this doesn’t apply to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff ’s Department and the Lake Charles City Police Depart-

ment. Our deputies and officers appear to be well-trained and disciplined. Motorists need to follow the traffic laws, but preying on drivers for monetary gain is not the right method. Bills have been introduced in Congress to ban the utilization of minor infractions and misdemeanors as a source of raising revenue.

Supermarket RoundupFor our shopping survey this issue, we

decided to check out some basics that are found in almost every kitchen. This sur-vey was performed on January 22 at the following locations: Albertsons-Country Club Road, Market Basket-Nelson Road, Kroger-McNeese Street and Walmart-Nelson Road. These prices are the ones posted on the shelf where the product was placed for sale.

Jif Peanut Butter, Creamy, 28-ounce jar: Albertsons $4.99, Market Basket $4.87, Kroger $4.59, Walmart $3.98 Velveeta Cheese, Original, 32-ounce container: Albertsons $5.99, Market Basket $6.99, Kroger $6.49, Walmart $5.96 Pillsbury Best, All Purpose Flour, 5-pound package: Albertsons $3.39, Market Basket $2.95, Kroger $2.99, Wal-mart $2.48 Sugar, house brand, 4-pound bag: Albertsons $1.79, Market Basket $1.69, Kroger $1.89, Walmart $2.22 Eggs, AA or A Grade, dozen, house brand: Albertsons $1.25 (4/$5), Market Basket $1.52, Kroger $2.57, Walmart $2.57

Meet Violet, a very special girl waiting for a special home. She was rescued and has lived with her family for about a year but has never been able to fully adjust to having siblings. Her family wants her to have a home where she can be the “only.” In return, she promises to give

years of love and devotion. Violet is one terrific girl--she is fully vetted, heartworm negative, housetrained, knows several commands, and will be a loyal companion. For more information, call or email: (337) 478-7294; lapaw@bellsouth.net. Home visit and vet check required prior to all adoptions.

January 28, 20168 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Over five years ago, I’d promised noted local artist Frank McDonald that if I ever got the chance, I’d take him to Jim Bel’s Hackberry Hunting & Fishing Lodge. After I retired from Lacoste Lodge, I had no place of my own to hunt for the first time in my life. The Miller farm now grew that godawful sugar cane, good for nothing to wildlife except rats. I knew Jim from our youth, Ducks Unlim-ited and a group of friends special to us.

Over the years since Lacoste Lodge, Jim has graciously al-lowed me four hunts a year. I tried to return that kindness by bringing only selected people. The reason for that is that Jim’s is the last of the old school lodges. Part commer-cial and part private guests, it’s always a mixture of people of all classes that some-how mesh into what I call the Jim Bel Ex-perience. That, and he married a long time dear friend and hostess extraordinaire Lana Brunet, now Bel, to the mix in 2002.

This time, I had Frank and unfor-

tunately, the damned dreaded croup. I loaded up on antibiotics and cough syrup and off we went. After storing our gear, Frank and I headed to the first culvert for an afternoon of red fish and

flounder fishing on the big “if ” of was the water pouring through with a run-ning tide? It was.

Using the dark green Gulp lures, we soon were into the rat reds but no fish

De Crupe Hunting

Photos by Chris Romero

Ronnie�and�Roger

David�Kestel�and�Frank�McDonald

January 28, 2016 9Vol. 7 • No. 19

of the 16-inch keeper size. A crew of eight Ducks Unlim-ited leaders from Michigan were in for a three-day hunt and curiosity got the bet-ter of them as they stopped their stroll along the Loui-siana marsh to watch. They made my day as I hooked and landed a good rat red just as they were walking up. Not to be outdone, Frank showed his expertise by also catching a nice one. They may not be Michigan salmon or muskie or ice chest fillers but we sure had one hell of a fine after-noon of angling Louisiana marsh style.

As usual, the appetizers were superb and the supper a culinary delight. What hap-pened afterward is the norm at Jim’s. The group of DU hunters gathered to watch Monday Night Football. Then we realized there wasn’t any due to the playoffs. No mat-ter, as Frank and I and the gentlemen from Michigan got to know each other sit-ting in Jim’s great room. We discussed the future of DU, hunting, wildlife conserva-tion and the sorts of things men way over 50 often dis-cuss, such as their families. No big drinking party, dirty jokes, card games or asinine behavior but instead, the type of fete that joins us closer as people no matter our status financially or socially. Add-ing to the camaraderie was the rarity that the Michigan group had been making hunts together for a very long time, some of them for 40 years. They were all simply a delight to be around.

The usual ten o’clock bed-time came and we settled in. The next morning, I was in-formed that I was driving the bateau and also guiding for Frank to a blind called “The Tub,” where Jim often brought me, along with his dear friend Coach Ralph Hudson. I haven’t driven a Go-Gator engine or boat in 15 years

and it proved a fast relearning process, yet we somehow got to the blind safely.

There is a boarded walk-way to the blind and for once I didn’t fall off. It was a truly marvelous day. Cool, clear and near windless, it was perfect for every living thing, especially the non-existent ducks. We had one flock of teal light on Frank’s side. Being the sportsman he is, he flushed the teal before he shot. And missed. I shoot teal (aka flying fillets) on the water, and I explained this to Frank. But alas and alack, nothing came by except one over-the-shoulder, sky-high, warp-speed teal that Frank helped on his way with a goodbye frustration shot. I kept humming Willie Nel-son’s, “Nothing but blue skies do I see….” Aggravating I may be, but Frank and I really got to know each other on this no-duck morning with tales from our lives we had never shared with each other. I only knew Frank the artist and now I know Frank the man.

The next morning, Frank took one look at my ghostly pallor and ordered me back to bed. He was correct as de crupe was winning. We headed home but not before he presented Jim and Lana Bel with an exquisite piece of his art done just for them, honoring their work in wild-life conservation. The Copper Red Fish would go with their other two McDonald copper art pieces, a Blue Heron and a Duck In Flight already hang-ing in their lodge home.

Frank left me with strict instructions to see my Doc, which I did. Meanwhile, he returned to Jim’s with his longtime hunting compan-ion, local dentist and sports-man David Kestel. Without me as albatross they limited out, and now David is added to those fortunate souls who have shared the Jim Bel Expe-rience.

Shane,�Roger,��Jeanette�&�Glenn

January 28, 201610 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Along with bringing back memories of childhood, Boy Scout memorabilia is highly collectable. I recently stumbled across a small hoard of scouting relics and decided to dig a little deeper into the history of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Scouting’s history goes back to the turn of the 20th century to a British Army officer, Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. While stationed in India, he discovered that his men did not know basic first aid or the elemen-tary means of outdoor survival. Baden-Powell realized he needed to teach his men frontier skills, so he wrote a small handbook called Aids to Scouting, which emphasized resource-fulness, adaptability, and the qualities of leadership that frontier conditions demanded.

The seeds of Scouting were also growing in the United States. On a farm in Connecticut, a naturalist and author named Ernest Thomp-son Seton organized a group of boys called the Woodcraft Indians, and Daniel Carter

Beard, an artist and writer, or-ganized the Sons of Daniel

Boone. In many ways, the two organizations were similar, but they

were not connected. The boys who belonged to the

American group had never heard of either Baden-Powell or

the Boy Scouts, and yet both groups were destined to become Boy Scouts soon.

After all the negotiations and plans to make this group an organization, on Feb-ruary 8, 1910, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America. From this day forward, it would be one of the biggest groups ever created. Scouting has grown in the United

States from 2,000 Boy Scouts and leaders in 1910 to millions strong today. It has spread into a program including Tiger Cubs, Cub

Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Ventures.

By 1929, the new Cubbing program (it wasn’t called “Cub Scouting” until several years

later) was taking shape and was introduced as a demonstration

project in a limited number of com-munities. Its structure was similar

to today’s Cub Scouting, except that dens were led by Boy Scout den chiefs that included a neighborhood mothers’ committee to encourage participation. In 1930, Cub Scouting was formally

launched, with 5,102 boys registered at the end of that first year. By 1933,

the time had come to promote Cub Scouting throughout the country as a part of Scouting.

Now that I have given you a brief history, we can talk about the collectability of BSA items. Boy Scout collectors gener-ally look for items officially marked either by the BSA or its various lesser known groups, like the Cub, Sea, and Air Scouts. Most items issued by the Scouting pro-grams have included outdoor supplies or tools such as compasses, first-aid kits, can-teens, and flashlights, as well as a long line of pocket knives. The folding knives were produced by major manufacturers includ-ing Ulster, Imperial, and Remington, often with a traditional faux-bone handle inlaid with a metal Boy Scouts insignia.

The many tokens or coins created by the organization, often inscribed with the Boy Scouts’ motto “Be Prepared,”

make up another popular col-lectible area. These range from the “Good Turn” coin, a token to be switched from the left to right pocket after performing a good deed, to the “Get Out the Vote” coin awarded to Scouts for en-couraging Americans to cast their ballots during the 1950s. In addition to the abun-dance of insignia and outdoor supplies, the Boy Scouts created a much smaller selection of toys and games, like mechani-cal Boy Scout banks or miniature Scout figurines. I have always been intrigued by the craftsmanship of the BSA items. They are been durable and have survived the test of time.

Patches top the list for collectability. A simple patch from 1948 can fetch as much as $2,500. Patches were a very important item for Scouts as they were mostly awards given out in recognition; patches could also be purchased to commemorate visits to BSA camps and jamborees.

Collectability is one thing, but the sto-ries and memories of one’s Scouting years are worth listening to. Reach out to a Scout as the odds are there is one or more

in your family. If you do not ask, you will never know. Learn and share

some history today.

January 28, 2016 11Vol. 7 • No. 19

Winter can be a stressful and chal-lenging time for dog owners. With bitter morning winds, gloomy afternoons, and frost-covered yards, winter is hardly ideal for outdoor activities. It’s just not fun to go outside at all—especially to exercise yourself and your dog. This makes for some ultimately hyper-active and ex-tremely bored dogs during January-March here in SWLA. No matter how much fun we have lounging around the house, after a while, we usually find ourselves gazing out the window, begging Mother Nature for summer.

Sadly for our pets, curling up with a cup of warm cocoa and getting lost in a good television show is not as much fun for them as we may find it to be. Long days of limited mental and physical stimulation can take a toll on anyone. As humans, we can experience a wide variety of behav-ioral changes during the cold months, ranging from acute irritability to deep de-pression, which is also known as “seasonal affective disorder.”

Our pets are not exempt from the same behavioral changes--in fact, they may have it worse. Ever notice that your dog seems to get into more trouble when he’s been cooped up in the house all winter? The vast majority of dogs are bred with qualities to provide some sort of service or assistance, which results in dogs who have much higher activity requirements.

According to a 2013 study done by The American Humane Society, one of the top three reasons why dogs are turned over to shelters is due to behavioral is-sues. The majority of these dogs are between five months and 3 years of age, the time in a dog’s life when they are at their most active.

But, winter does not have to be so cold towards you and your pets. Just because it’s dreary and cold outside doesn’t mean

you and your fur friends can’t have fun and enjoy yourselves.

Start by hitting the toy aisle at your favorite pet store, and stocking up on a unique assortment of interactive toys and feeding devices. Toys stuffed with treats will keep your dog occupied for quite some time, and hiding multiple interactive treat toys around the house will help spread the activity out over the course of the day. Plus there’s the added bonus of your dog exhausting herself walking around the house in efforts to find them all.

You can even make your own safe and interactive pet toys with items commonly found at home. Take an old shoebox or Amazon box, and line paper towel or toilet paper rolls vertically within the box (it will create a honeycomb-type view when viewed from the top). You can then drop treats or kibble within some of the newly-formed compartments to create a fun and interactive toy for your dog, who will spend hours searching for food. Another great idea is hiding treats or kibbles in the compartments of a muffin tin, then cover-ing them with tennis or racquet balls!

Sometimes, I actually hide kibble or treats in various spots in my living room while my dogs are in a “stay” position in another room (or outside). Once released from the stay (or brought inside), my dogs have A BLAST exploring the room, searching for goodies!

Next, make your way over to the “natural chews” aisle, where you can find a mixture of deer antlers, bully sticks, cow hooves and/or bull horns. Carefully select these treats based around your dog’s age and health requirements; consult your vet should you have any concerns before giving these to your dog. Be sure to grab a few ropes for some good old tug of war fun, and before you leave the store make

one more pass by the treat aisle to load up on quick rewards.

Once you have an arsenal of treats, toys, and games at your disposal, take some time to plan out how and where you would like to place these items around your home, as this is an important step in ensuring your dog remains occupied throughout the day. Try placing food-filled toys and gristly treats in areas where they can be cleaned up easily, and other less messy items in areas where they can be hidden to encourage searching.

For those of us who have those dogs that just need to get out and about, there is still hope for you. The Lake Area is home to a number of pet services that give your frisky pups plenty of opportunities to get out of the house. When your regular evening playtime is canceled due to cold, try hiring a professional dog sitter to play with and walk your dog during the day while you are at work. Maybe book them a day or two at a doggie hotel. The time away from home and socialization is the perfect activity to give you and the family a break and your dog a fun-filled vacation.

Enrolling in a training class with a certified trainer is one of the best ways to beat the boredom, with trick classes, agil-ity work, nose work and obedience educa-tion. No matter what type of training class you choose, working with your dog to teach him something new or brush up on current knowledge not only gives him the maximum amount of mental and physical-ly stimulation, but also further strength-ens the bond between you and your pet.

We all get a little bored during the winter, but our pets are the only ones who lack the ability to entertain them-selves productively. It’s up to us to make a conscious decision to consider our pet’s entertainment when we think of our own. Be your dog’s best friend, and be sure they beat the boredom this season.

As always, be patient, and HAPPY TRAINING!

Beat Winter Boredom!

January 28, 201612 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Directions.Why do we get so lost? How

does that happen? What hap-pened to my heart’s compass? The struggle of choosing which direction to go is real.

Have you ever experienced yourself, at some point, stand-ing in front of arrows pointing in different directions? How

long did you stand there before you chose which way to go?

Where is my heart happy? Which direction does the sun shine down upon? Look closely from the inside out. You can’t just look at what’s on the outside.

Prayers finally manifested into my life what I had prayed for. Those directions I spoke

about appeared as two men that could offer the love that I’d yearned for. Talk about confusing. I struggled to knock down the thick walls around my heart for so long and let love in. That love rushed in unexpectedly in double doses.

Watch out for what you pray for.

Those uncharted waters of my soul… Do I decide to follow His voice straight into the dark and the course that He in-tended? Do I depart? Speak to my wandering heart, oh Lord. Point me in the direction that is unseen in my heart where your light shines brightly so that I can see clearly. Remove all the obstacles that appear to be blocking my way.

It’s easy to let our beliefs be changed by family and friends. Let God’s word be our moral compass. He is the only way, the only truth and the only

giver of life. Veering off course happens to almost all of us at some point. Making a com-mitment to follow God’s truth above EVERYTHING is what is most important to me.

The struggle between doubt and faith is so difficult at times. I don’t know why. I WANT to have more faith, but instead, I worry and try to take things into my own hands. I have seen that my faith has grown the most during life’s challenges—when I HAD to rely on God because I couldn’t do it on my own. Every single time I sur-rendered to Him, He has come through for me.

If you’re going through the impossible right now, just give up trying to do it yourself and surrender to Him. He will take you in His arms and carry you through the stormy waters.

I praise God for changing my perspective. While I know that I get to face my creator and review my life one day, I know that it will only be filled with grace and joy.

Do you ever find it challeng-ing to live the life you proclaim to believe and accept? Is your love of God evident in your day-to-day actions? I don’t want to just say I love God, I want my actions and thoughts to reflect His love in my heart.

Let’s let the love of God in our hearts shine to others in all we do. Always ask your heart to show you the real truth. Step past the fear. This is where and when it gets easier. Open up the doors and jump into the unexplored doors of your heart. There you will begin to under-stand your own story.

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/Declutter-ingYourSoul

My Heart’s Compass

January 28, 2016 13Vol. 7 • No. 19

Let’s cook a fancy but healthy omelette alternative that originates from Italy. Frittata (the word roughly trans-lates to “fried”) is an egg-based dish similar to an omelette or crustless quiche, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, vegetables or pasta. The Pirate has teamed up with Cajun Red Head to put a healthy frittata together.

Ingredients¼ cup bell peppers green¼ cup bell peppers yellow½ cup onion yellow1 tbsp. coconut oil1 tbsp. sea salt1 tbsp. fresh ground pepper1 tbsp. Cajun Red Head Season All 4 eggs1 cup egg whites2 tbsp. coconut milk, unsweetened¼ tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice1 tbsp. butter, unsalted½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Onion and Peppers FrittataPreparation

Saute’ chopped onions and peppers in a pan with coconut oil, salt, pepper and seasoning. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Add eggs, egg whites, coconut milk and lemon juice in a bowl and whisk together well. Spread butter in a glass Pyrex dish with a paper towel. Add onion, peppers and cheese to the Pyrex dish and distribute evenly. Top the onions and peppers with your egg, milk and lemon juice mixture. Bake frittata for 30 min-utes. Let cool for 4-5 minutes then cut into wedges. Enjoy!

January 28, 201614 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Welcome 2016! A new year full of hope and potential. There is something about the New Year that inspires us to grow and stretch and look for ways to improve our lives. We look back and we look forward; optimisti-cally straining toward what is yet to come. We set goals, some set resolutions, and some just think about things they can im-prove upon from the prior year.

Regardless of your age, one of the most important goals we can all have is to stay active, fit and healthy, and Senior Circle just might be the solution to reaching that goal in 2016.

Senior Circle is a national organization that makes life

even better for men and women over 50. As a Senior Circle member, you join a network of more than 100,000 members nationwide in 140 chapters, one sponsored locally by Lake Area Medical Center (LAMC) in Lake Charles. The core of the program is the commitment to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for seniors by providing programs that feature continued learning, wellness, health and volunteering, coupled with a host of social activities.

The Senior Circle chapter at LAMC was established in April 2010 with the sole intent to give seniors in Southwest Louisiana an array of opportunities to stay

active and involved.To improve one’s physical

health, the LAMC Senior Circle offers free weekly exercise classes taught by fitness experts from SNAP Fitness, as well as discounted local gym member-ships and line dancing. Physi-cians and health experts present educational programs and/or screenings once or twice every month, giving seniors access to learn about important health topics for themselves and their senior friends, along with the latest medical advancements or new technologies that could help them maintain a healthy body and mind.

For emotional health, an

Activity Center is located on the campus of Lake Area Medi-cal Center--a place to come to connect and fellowship with friends over a cup of coffee or a sweet roll. Many members enjoy the organized opportunity to meet monthly at various local eateries for Breakfast Buddies, Lunch Bunch and/or Supper Club. Monthly birthday celebra-tions, Bingo, Game Days, Book Club & Coffee Talk and Movie Mania are favorites amongst local members. Connection with other seniors certainly has proven to be healing and ben-eficial.

Another added benefit of the program is the Senior Circle

January 28, 2016 15Vol. 7 • No. 19

travel component. The Lake Charles chapter organizes and offers day trips, overnight travel and extended travel to local and far away destinations. You could take a day trip to the Houston Zoo on March 30, or if an over-night trip is more up your alley, then Paragon Casino on Febru-ary 4 might interest you. Also in February, 44 area seniors will fly out of the Lake Charles airport to Hawaii to cruise the Polynesian islands. The adven-tures continue in 2016 with a trip to Nashville in April, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas in September, and then over to the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina for a Christmas trip to remember.

As the New Year revs up and we all continue to age grace-fully, we may find the need for hearing aids or prescription as-sistance. Another health benefit to Senior Circle members is the national group discounts which include Prescription discounts (ScriptSave), Dental Care discounts (Careington), Vision Care discounts (VSP), Hear-

ing Care discounts (Beltone), Personal Emergency Response Alert Systems (ADT), Home Helpers Direct Link Medica-tion Dispenser, ID Theft Assist or even car rental discounts through Alamo Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental.

Last, but certainly not least, seniors can connect with like-minded members across the country through a compli-mentary subscription to Inside Circle magazine, and keep up with all the local merchant and hospital discounts and activities available through the Lake Area Medical Center’s local chapter through the quarterly Circle Newsletter.

A Senior Circle member-ship is only $15 a year, but the benefits can be priceless to your health and happiness. For more information, please call Becky Dent, Senior Circle Advisor at (337) 475-4002 or stop by the Activity Center on the south-west corner of the Lake Area Medical Center campus anytime Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The coffee is hot!

January 28, 201616 Vol. 7 • No. 19

In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are slightly higher than normal, but still not as high as in diabetes. People almost always develop pre-diabetes before they get type 2 diabetes. Th e rise in blood sugar levels that is seen in pre-diabetes starts when the body begins to develop a prob-lem called “insulin resistance.” Insulin is an important hormone that helps you to process glucose (blood sugar). If usual amounts of insulin can’t trigger the body to move glucose out of the blood-stream and into your cells, then you have insulin resistance.

Once insulin resistance begins, it can worsen over time. When you have pre-diabetes, you make extra insulin to keep your sugar levels near to normal. Insulin resistance can worsen as you age, and it worsens with weight gain. If your insulin resistance progresses, eventually you can’t compensate well enough by making extra insulin. When this occurs, your sugar levels will in-

crease, and you will have diabetes.

SymptomsPre-diabetes is oft en called

a “silent” condition because it usually has no symptoms. You can have pre-diabetes for several years without knowing it. Certain risk factors increase the chance that you have pre-diabetes. Th ese risk factors include:• Being overweight• Being 45 years or older• A family history of diabetes• Low levels of high-density lipo-protein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)• High triglycerides• High blood pressure• A history of gestational diabetes• Being African-American, American Indian, Asian-Ameri-can, Pacifi c Islander or Hispanic American/Latino

If you have one or more of these risk factors, your doctor may recommend a blood sugar test. An abnormal result is likely to be the fi rst sign that you have

pre-diabetes.Getting diagnosed with pre-

diabetes is a serious wake-up call, but there is still time to turn things around by making the fol-lowing lifestyle changes:

Lose weight: If you are over-weight, now is the time to drop some pounds. Even modest weight loss of 10 or 15 pounds in a person who is 200 pounds can dramatically reduce the risk of diabetes.

Exercise lowers blood glucose levels and decreases body fat. Both aerobic and strengthening exercises can reduce blood sugar. You should exercise for a mini-mum of 30 minutes daily.

Get enough rest. Not getting enough sleep regularly makes los-ing weight more diffi cult. A sleep shortfall also makes it harder for your body to use insulin eff ective-ly and may make type 2 diabetes more likely. Set good sleep hab-its. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Relax before you turn out the lights. Don’t

watch TV or use your computer or smartphone when you’re try-ing to fall asleep. Avoid caff eine aft er lunch if you have trouble sleeping.

Change your eating habits: Vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, carrots, and green beans are good for you. Try to get in at least three servings a day. Add more high-fi ber foods to your diet, and eat more whole-grain foods instead of processed grains, such as brown instead of white rice. Also, replace high-calorie foods with low-cal. Drink skim milk rather than whole milk, diet soda rather than regular soda. Choose lower-fat versions of cheese, yogurt, and salad dressings. For snacking, replace high-fat chips and sugary desserts with fresh fruit, low-fat cheese or whole wheat crackers with peanut butter.

See your doctor more oft en: Visits every three to six months will give you a clear idea of what is going on with your health.

Pre-diabetes: Can You Turn it Around?

January 28, 2016 17Vol. 7 • No. 19

By Debbie HayesAccording to the Alzheimer’s

Association, Alzheimer’s dis-ease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently there are more 5 million Americans living with the disease. The statistics are staggering. Every 67 seconds, another case of Alzheimer’s de-velops. By 2050, it is estimated that 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease.

Right here in Louisiana, there are some 83,000 citizens liv-ing with the disease But these devastating statistics don’t tell the complete story. Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death in the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured.

Here in Lake Charles, the Alzheimer’s Association is working with dedicated volun-teers to change the course of

Alzheimer’s disease. Many of the volunteers and supporters have personal connections to the disease and have witnessed the sad journey firsthand.

Sarah Davis is one of our youngest supporters and she participated in the 2015 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Sarah was only 3 when her grandmother was diagnosed. Sarah’s mother, Kelli, told us that Sarah remem-bers visiting her in Shreveport and having fun with her. “She also remembers sitting on her grandmother’s lap and knowing she was loved,” she recalls. “She made everyone laugh. She may not have been able to remember our names but her smile came from her heart and you felt it through her eyes into your soul. Sarah prayed for a miracle to cure her grandmother. It wasn’t meant to be. Sarah now prays that she can be a part of helping

to find a cure so that someone else gets their miracle.”

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary organi-zation in Alzheimer care and support. It works on a global, national and local level to en-hance care and support for all affected by Alzheimer’s and re-lated dementias, but community volunteers are needed to reach all those affected. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Researchers and scientists are working every day to develop therapies and new disease-alter-ing drugs. There is an interna-tional effort to conquer Alzhe-imer’s. But realizing this vision will take a movement across the country, starting in every town and parish and state.

Make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease today by becoming a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Asso-

ciation Louisiana Chapter. Our amazing volunteers help bring Alzheimer’s awareness, support, and education to communities throughout Louisiana. With your help, we can make a differ-ence in the lives of those living with the disease.

Volunteer opportunities are available in a variety of areas, including community educa-tion, support group facilitation, advocacy, fundraising commit-tees, speakers’ bureaus, and so much more. Not sure if your skills and passions fit? Contact us to learn more about volun-teer opportunities available to you and have your questions answered.

For more information, con-tact Debbie Hayes at dhayes@alz.org or (318) 861-8680 or Megan Bourg at mbourg@alz.org or (504) 613-6505 ext. 8038.

Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana ChapterW O R K I N G T O C O N Q U E R D I S E A S E

January 28, 201618 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Eating a well-planned, bal-anced mix of foods every day has many health benefi ts. Sen-sible eating may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. If you already have one or more of these chronic diseases, eating well and being physically active may help you better manage them. Healthy eating may also help you reduce high blood pressure, lower high cholesterol, and manage diabetes.

Eating well gives you the nutrients needed to keep your muscles, bones, organs, and other parts of your body healthy throughout your life. Th ese nutri-ents include vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and water.

Eating Well Promotes Energy

Eating well helps keep up your energy level, too. By consuming enough calories -- a way to meas-

ure the energy you get from food --you give your body the fuel it needs throughout the day. Th e number of calories you need de-pends on factors such as how old you are, whether you’re a man or woman, your height and weight, and how active you are.

Food Choices Can Affect Weight

Consuming the right number of calories for your level of physi-cal activity helps with weight control. Extra weight is a problem for seniors because it can increase joint problems and the risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Eating more calories than your body needs for your activity level will lead to extra pounds.

If you become less physically active as you age, you will prob-ably need fewer calories to stay at the same weight. Choosing foods which have a lot of nutrients but relatively few calories can give

you the nutrients you need while keeping your calorie intake down.

Food Choices Affect Digestion

Your food choices also aff ect your digestion. For instance, not getting enough fi ber or fl uids may cause constipation. Eating more whole-grain foods with fi ber, fruits and vegetables or drinking more water may help.

Stay HydratedWater is an important nutrient,

too Don’t let yourself get dehy-drated—drink small amounts of fl uids consistently throughout the day. Tea, coff ee, and water are your best choices. Keep fl uids with sugar and salt at a minimum, unless your doctor has suggested otherwise.

Calcium is ImportantEveryone needs calcium to

protect bone health, but seniors should really bone up on calci-um-rich foods like low-fat dairy

products. A calcium supplement, usually paired with vitamin D — its partner in bone building — can also help you get what you need.

Shop for B12As an older adult, look for

foods, like cereals, that are forti-fi ed with vitamin B12. Because of the body’s decreased ability to absorb B12, getting more through diet and supplements will ensure that you meet your requirements.

Make One Changeat a Time

Eating well is part of a healthy lifestyle that you can adopt now and stay with in the years to come. Taking small steps and mak-ing one change at a time, such as reducing your salt intake and switching to healthier foods such as whole-grain bread, seafood, or more vegetables and fruits. Th ese changes may be easier than you think and are possible even if you are on a limited budget.

Eating Well as We Age

January 28, 2016 19Vol. 7 • No. 19

The Home Health Agen-cy of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital has been named a 2015 Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Honors Elite Recipi-ent.

This was based on a set of 19 satisfaction indica-tor measures. WCCH Home Health scored above the company’s national average in all areas. Pamela Bruney, RN, administrator of the Home Health Agency of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospi-tal, credits their exceptional nursing and support staff for the agency receiving such recognition. “The service

our agency provides is second to none and I’m very proud of

our employees and their ap-proach in ensuring the satis-faction of patients and fam-ily members alike. We are extremely pleased to receive this honor.”

The Home Health Agency of West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital has been serving Southwest Louisiana for over 25 years. The agency pro-vides in-home care under the direction of a patient’s physi-cian and its specially trained staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, therapists, and nurs-ing assistants.

WCCH Home Health receives recognition

January 28, 201620 Vol. 7 • No. 19

We may poke fun at our Northern neighbors who suffer months of 5-foot snowfalls, but we still have to endure a couple of weeks of harsh Southwest Louisiana winter. When you throw on a coat and scarf, you’re helping your body defend against the cold, but sometimes we forget to protect our eyes from win-ter weather.

Winter isn’t winter with-out dry, windy days, which can cause irritating dry eyes and throw off our eyes’ natu-ral moisture balance. Dry eye occurs when the eye does not properly produce tears or when our tears evaporate too quickly.

“Tears are produced by the lacrimal gland and are your eyes’ first defense against dust, debris and bacteria,” said Dr. William B. Hart of

Hart Eye Center. “Those af-fected by dry eye symptoms may be more susceptible to eye problems and infections.”

Dry eye symptoms affect millions of Americans, and symptoms range from sting-ing or burning sensations, blurred vision, eye redness and feeling as if something is in the eye.

“During cold days, it’s important to remember your eye health, and there are ways that can help prevent dry eye symptoms from getting worse,” said Dr. Hart.

Wear Sunglasses.“Polarized sunglasses with

100 percent UV protection helps keep your eyes from UV rays, but they can also help prevent your tears from evaporating too quickly,” said Dr. Hart. Sunglasses that closely hug your face can help prevent cold, dry winds from drying out your tears.

Use a Humidifi er.When the first cold snap

hits, you may crank up the heater, which dries up any moisture in the air as well as

in your eyes. Using a humid-ifier at night can help restore moisture in the air in your home. Also keep in mind to point your car’s vents away from your face when you blast the heat.

Hydrate and Eat More Fish.

It’s a no-brainer to hydrate yourself during the hottest summer months, but many forget to do the same during winter. “When winter brings dry and windy conditions, staying hydrated can give you a leg up in retaining moisture in your eyes,” said Dr. Hart.

Studies also show that omega-3 fatty acids—found in fish like tuna and salm-on—may help alleviate dry eye symptoms and may de-crease irritation.

Give your eyes a break. Many of us leave eight

hours of staring at a compu-ter screen only to go home and stare at our smart-phones, televisions or tab-lets. While streaming your favorite show on your tablet seems like an ideal plan when it’s cold outside, allow your eyes a break by remem-bering the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, let your eyes rest on something—be-sides your screen—least 20 feet away for at least 20 sec-onds. You may be surprised at the difference 20 seconds can make.

Before dry eye issues lead to infections, visit your eye doctor once you begin expe-riencing symptoms.

Hart Eye Center offers free cataracts and LASIK screenings twice a month. To find out more, contact Hart Eye Center at (337) 439-4014 or visit www.HartEye-Center.com.

Fighting Dry Eyes During Winter

January 28, 2016 21Vol. 7 • No. 19

In the years after you turn 60, a number of eye dis-eases may develop that can change your vision per-manently. The earlier these problems are detected and treated, the more likely you can retain good vision. Make sure you have annual eye exams, as they can help catch devastating eye diseases early. Early detection increases the chances of maintaining healthy vision in senior years.

The following are some vision disorders of which you should be aware:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease affecting the macula, which is the center of the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye, which causes loss of central vision. The macula is the part of the retina that allows us to see fine detail and colors. Activities such as reading, driving, watching TV and recognizing faces all require good central vision provided by the macula. While macular degeneration causes changes in central vision, peripheral or side vi-sion remains unaffected.

• Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases character-ized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision loss. People with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans and older adults are at higher risk for devel-oping the disease.

• Diabetic retinopathy occurs in diabetics as a re-sult of progressive damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. They leak blood and other fluids that cause swelling of retinal tissue and cloudy vision. The condition usually affects both eyes. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness.

• Retinal detachment is a tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue. It can be caused by trauma to the eye or head, health problems such as advanced diabetes, and inflammatory eye disorders. But it most often occurs spontaneously as a result of changes to the gel-like vitreous fluid that fills the back of the eye. It must be treated promptly, or permanent vision loss can occur.

• Cataracts are cloudy or opaque areas in the nor-mally clear lens of the eye. Depending upon their size and location, they can interfere with normal vision. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. Cataracts can cause a decrease in contrast sensitivity, a dulling of colors and increased sensitivity to glare.

Age-related Eye and Vision

Problems

January 28, 201622 Vol. 7 • No. 19

They begin showing up long before the doors open. For some, the crisp morning air is charged with a sense of anticipation. For others, it’s a sense of relief. Gath-ered beneath the arched entryway, the group soon grows in number. As the morning winds on, the line contracts and stretches; at one point turning a corner and snaking alongside the building. Still, all wait pa-tiently for their number to be called. Even for the busi-est of dental practices, it’s clear that this is no ordinary day at the office. And indeed it isn’t. This is Oak Park Dental’s annual Free Valentine’s Day Dental Clinic.

This February 15th will mark the 14th consecutive year that Oak Park Dental Family Dentistry and Spe-cialty Practice will provide free dental care for area residents who are unemployed and without insurance. Drs. Harry Castle, Kyle Ferro, Karlnelius Duhon, Rob-ert Lamb, and Mai Tran will provide free cleanings, fill-ings, and extractions on a first-come, first-served basis to local residents who are unable to pay for services.

According to Dr. Harry Castle, the idea for the unique annual Valentine-themed event began as a way for Oak Pak Dental to give something back to Lake area residents. “The staff at Oak Park Dental considers this our Valentine’s Day gift to those in the community who sometimes fall through the cracks,” said Dr. Cas-tle. “Today’s a day to make them feel special in every way we can.”

True to its intention, the long-running event has benefitted countless Southwest Louisiana residents. For some of the patients treated, it’s the first time in years that they’ve received dental care. Some are in physical pain. Others simply need their teeth cleaned, or cavities filled. Regardless of the procedure, each patient receives the same level of care and compassion as the next.

A day devoted to helping those who need it most. A day dedicated to compassion and gratitude. Earnest care rendered by those best equipped to provide it. It’s a simple idea with extraordinary results that no insur-ance can buy.

As many patients as possible will be seen beginning at 8 a.m., Monday, February 15, at the Oak Park Den-tal office, 1616 West McNeese Street in Lake Charles. As the event will end at 5 p.m., participants are asked to arrive early to receive a number and secure a place in line. In order to be treated, patients must be present when their numbers are called. For more information, call Oak Park Dental at (337) 478-3232.

Oak Park DentalFree Valentine’s Day Dental Clinic

January 28, 2016 23Vol. 7 • No. 19

16 Signs that you should see a Dentist

• Your teeth are sensitive; too hot or cold

• Your gums are puff y and/or they bleed when you brush or fl oss

• You have fi llings , crowns, dental implants, dentures, etc.

• You don’t like the way you smile or teeth look

•You have persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

• You are pregnant

• You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck

• You have diffi culty chewing or swallowing

• You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay

• You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, or are HIV positive

• Your mouth is often dry

• You smoke or use tobacco products

• You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy

• Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening or closing, chewing or when you fi rst wake up

• You have an uneven bite

• You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away

January 28, 201624 Vol. 7 • No. 19

The Lake Charles Symphony has a very special Valentine’s Day concert coming up—on February 14, of course! After your Valentine’s Day brunch with the one you love, come and enjoy the beautiful music of the Lake Charles Symphony followed by a Champagne and Chocolate After Party for $99 per couple (or $50 per person). The performance will take place at the Tritico Thea-tre at McNeese State University at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the musical portion of the program only are $25 for adults and $20 for students and military. For ticket information, go to www.lcsymphony.com.

About Jay Kacherski“Virtuosismo” and “technical dominance” are the words used by

the press to describe American guitarist Jay Kacherski. A native of New York, Kacherski has given solo and ensemble perform-ances throughout the United States and Mexico. He has also been featured on Austin Radio 90.5 KMFA and won second prize at the Texas A&M International Guitar Competition and Symposium in 2010.

In 2007, Kacherski was a member of the guitar faculty at the Escuela Nacional de Música, the music conservatory for the Na-tional University of Mexico. In 2008, he returned to Mexico as a Fulbright Scholar researching, performing, and promoting con-temporary classical guitar music of Mexico. His guide and teacher for his Fulbright work was the world-renowned Mexican guitarist Juan Carlos Laguna. Since then, he has been premiering many new Mexican guitar works in the United States and has created the first ever complete catalog of Mexican guitar works on the Inter-net with links to videos, audio, scores, and more. It is called the MGMC—the Mexican Guitar Music Catalog, and is available at www.kacherskiguitar.com.

This talented musician completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Texas at Austin with one of the premier U.S. guitarists and peda-gogues, professor Adam Holzman. Prior to that, he earned a Master’s Degree in Guitar Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with master guitar-ist Dr. Nicholas Goluses. He completed his undergraduate studies with Pepe Romero protégé Dr. Mark Switzer at Florida Southern College where he graduated with honors.

Kacherski is currently an associate editor for Soundboard Mag-azine of the Guitar Foundation of America and a reviewer for the American String Teacher Journal of the American String Teachers Association. He has also been a Visiting Lecturer of Music Theory at McNeese State University since 2013.

L A K E C H A R L E S S Y M P H O N Y

Concert 2: February 14The Musical Program

L’Italiana in Algeri Gioacchino Rossini

Guitar Concerto Joaquin Rodrigo

Featuring Jay Kacherski, Guitar

Symphony No. 8 Ludwig Van Beethoven

January 28, 201626 Vol. 7 • No. 19

City of Sulphur Mardi Gras Festival Jan. 30The City of Sulphur’s Mardi Gras Parade will be held on Sat.,

Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. In addition to the parade, the City has also add-ed a day-long festival at Heritage Square, which will include live music, food vendors, and entertainment for the kids from 12:30-6:30! There will also be a King Cake Taste Off from 3- 5 p.m. with local bakeries competing to take first place in the various catego-ries! (337) 527-4500 or mayorsoffice@sulphur.org.

Krewe de Les Cajuns Mardi Gras Dance Jan. 30

Come and cut a rug Cajun style with the Krewe de Les Cajun at their Mardi Gras Dance from 7-11 p.m. at the Cajun French Music Association Building at 3481 E. Prien Lake Road. Come in casual dress or costume and enjoy some gumbo! Cash bar or BYOB (hard liquor ONLY). No ice chests. Music provided by Chris Miller & Bayou Roots. All are invited to enter the costume contest. Admis-sion is $10; children 12 and under get in free. (337) 477-4475.

District Livestock Show & Rodeo Feb. 4-6The District Livestock Show & Rodeo returns to the Bur-

ton Complex in Lake Charles for “The Greatest Show on Dirt.” There will be a variety of rodeo performances, livestock shows, a Queen’s Pageant and more. This year’s parade is during the 2016 Mardi Gras Season! The Western Heritage Parade begins at LaGrange and Ryan Streets and travels South on Ryan Street to McNeese Stadium. (337) 944-9710.

Diamond Dinner Feb. 5The McNeese baseball and softball teams will host the third

annual Diamond Dinner on Fri., Feb. 5 at Treasures of Marilyn in Lake Charles. The event will begin with a social hour from 6-7 p.m., with a cash bar available throughout the event. Dinner will be served at 7, and supporters will hear from both head coaches regarding the upcoming season. There will also be a live and silent auction and a variety of door prizes. Reserved tables are $300 and will have premium seating for the event and recogni-tion at the dinner. General admission tickets are available for $20. (337) 475-5903, (337) 562-4245.

Coushatta’s Farmers’ market & Gumbo Cook-off Feb. 6

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will host the Fourth Annual Coushatta Farmers’ Market Amateur Gumbo Cook-Off on Satur-day, February 6 at Koasati Plaza, located on the corner of Highway 190 and Pine Street in Elton. Live entertainment by the Barney Floyd Band will begin at 9 a.m. Dozens of local vendors will be in attendance offering fresh produce, crafts and more, and Gum-beaux Gator will be here from 9 a.m.-noon. (337) 246-3199.

Lake Charles Gumbo Cook-off Feb. 6The public tastes from every pot of chicken and sausage,

seafood or wild game gumbo in a hot contest of more than 50 teams on Sat., Feb. 6 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Gumbo contestants begin cooking at 7:30 a.m., and judging is at 11:30 a.m., with gumbo served immediately afterward until 1:30 p.m. In addition to scrumptious food, there will be festive music. Admis-sion is $5, and you can sample from all the different gumbo pots. (337) 475-7393.

Krewe of Omega Parade Feb. 6The Krewe of Omega Mardi Gras parade will be held in down-

town Lake Charles at 2 p.m. The krewe was formed to bring Mardi Gras activities to the black community. To this day, it is the only Southwest Louisiana krewe to hold its own parade. The parade is held each year on the Saturday prior to Mardi Gras.

Krewe of Illusions Presentation Feb. 6Celebrate Mardi Gras with the 27th annual presentation of the

Krewe of Illusions. Tickets are $40 orchestra (formal attire re-quired) $18 balcony reserved seating and $15 standard balcony seating (casual attire). Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Rosa Hart Thea-tre. (337) 436-9588.

Children’s Day Feb. 7Children’s Day, a free event open to children ages 3 to 11,

combines Mardi Gras fun with culture, music and learning on Sun., Feb. 7, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall. Includes exhibitions of performing arts, technology and science, safety and health, and arts and crafts-all interactive and hands-on. At 3 p.m., enjoy a purple, green and gold parade for the young and young at heart. Goes from downtown Ryan St. to Sale Rd. in Lake Charles. (337) 436-9588.

Mardi Gras Royal Gala Feb. 8The Cinderella night of Mardi Gras manifests on Lundi Gras,

Mon., Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. with a lavish promenade of more than 60 krewes’ royalty in extravagant, glittering costumes before thou-sands of residents and visitors at the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. Begins at 7 p.m., $5 in advance, $6 at the door, chil-dren 5 and under are free. (337) 244-1466.

Krewe of Krewes Parade Feb. 9Hundreds of elaborate krewe floats, costumes, beads and more

wind through the city in the culmination of the Fat Tuesday celebra-tion in downtown-midtown Lake Charles. Starts at 5 p.m. Catch some beads and laissez les bon temps rouler! (337) 436-9588.

Color Vibe 5K Feb. 20The Color Vibe 5K is returning to Lake Charles on Sat. Feb. 20

at the Arcade Amphitheatre at the Lake Charles Civic Center (1000 Bord du Lac Dr.) and will begin at 8 a.m. The Color Vibe is a unique 5K fun run series. Throughout the course, participants run, walk, or dance their way through color stations, where vibrant colors tie-dye white outfits and costumes. When it’s over, everyone is invited to

January 28, 2016 27Vol. 7 • No. 19

a large colorful dance party hosted by a professional sound crew and DJ. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Lake Charles. Children 12 and under can participate for free. www.thecolorvibe.com/lakecharles.php.

Monster X Tour Feb. 26-27This event sold out early last year, so get your tickets now! Lake

Charles Civic Center gates open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7:30. Ad-vance discount tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000, all Ticketmaster Outlets, or at the Lake Charles Civic Center Ticket Office.

The Addams Family Feb. 27-28The Addams Family launches The Children’s Thea-

tre Company’s 2016 season. Directed by Kerry A. Onx-ley, this family musical will be performed on Sat., Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sun., Feb 29 at 3 p.m. Seating is limited to 400 guests. The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life onstage! Performance will be held at the Central School of the Arts & Humani-ties Center (809 Kirby Street) located in downtown Lake Charles. (337) 433-7323, mail@childrenstheatre.cc.

Brewers Dinner March 4Gearing up for the Louisiana Winter Beer Fest,

L’Auberge Casino Resort will once again host a Brewers Dinner on Fri., March 4, which will feature Louisiana beer selections paired with unique menu items pre-pared by award-winning Chef Lyle Broussard of Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill. The dinner is an opportunity to dine with brewers and beer industry professionals in an in-timate setting. Tickets are limited and will be available at www.lawinterbeerfest.com for $100 per seat.

Louisiana Winter Beer Festival March 5

The 2016 Louisiana Winter Beer Festival will be held on Sat. March 5 from 1-5 p.m. at the Historic Calcasieu Marine National Bank Building (844 Ryan St.) in Down-

town Lake Charles. This will be the second year for the Craft Beer festival, benefiting the Lake Charles Symphony. Regular admission tickets are $50 per person. VIP tickets are $100 per person and are limited. Tickets can be purchased at www.lawinterbeerfest.com.

Full Throttle Wrestling Benefi t March 5

The Full Throttle Wrestlers are back! On March 5, see them at The Water’s Edge Gathering at 2760 Power Centre Pkwy., Lake Charles. Doors open at 5 p.m., event begins at 6. Tickets are $10 and $5. Benefits Water’s Edge.

January 28McNeese Football Banquet

January 31Lake Charles Mardi Gras Chicken Run

Feb. 2McNeese Cowgirls vs New Orleans Privateers

Feb. 5Mardi Gras CarnivalMerchants ParadeZydeco Mardi Gras DanceMardi Gras Gumbo Cook offMardi Gras CarnivalKrewe of Illusions PresentationKrewe of Omega ParadeKrewe of Barkus Parade

Feb. 7Taste De LA LouisianaChildrens Day ParadeMardi Gras CarvivalLighted Boat Parade

Feb. 9Krewe of Krewes ParadeMotor Gras Parade

Feb. 12,13,14SWLA Boat, Sport and RV Show

Feb. 13, 148 National Talent Dance Competition

Feb. 13Black Heritage Pageant

Feb. 15Police Fire Department Testing

Feb. 16Region V Science and Engineering Fair

Feb. 17SASOL Employment Business Forum

Feb. 20,21SWLA Home Show

Feb. 20Color Vibe 5K RunVengeance Fighting Alliance VII, MMA Fights

Feb. 23Banners Presents Paul Taylor Dance Company

Feb. 26,27Monster Truck Show

Feb. 27Youth Weekend presents Blood Bought Stage PlayDistance for Diabetes Walk

Feb. 27,28,29Rhea Lana’s Premiere Consignment Event

JANUARY&FEBRUARY

January 28, 201628 Vol. 7 • No. 19

January 28, 2016 29Vol. 7 • No. 19

The extra chairs will never fit.

Because of that, you’re not sure where you’ll squeeze ten guests at a table that holds four. You could move the TV, but the bathroom door is in the way. Move the recliner to the bedroom, but that’s a pain. And yet, as you’ll see in My Couch is Your Couch by Gabriele Galimberti, at least you have those things to move.

Five years ago, with wan-derlust in his heart, Gabri-ele Galimberti decided to travel. He’d been “thinking for a long time about using couchsurfing as a way to do so” when an Italian magazine asked to follow his journey.

“I was excited – and, at the same time, terrified,” he says.

Couchsurfing, he explains, is a definite adventure. The good news: as a “basic rule,” overnight accommodations are free. The catch is that you sleep on strangers’ sofas, and you sometimes don’t know

where you’ll spend the next night.

For instance, Galimberti says he’s slept in open-air lofts, and he’s spent his zzz’s “in a private room in a princely villa…” - spots chosen not for location or the look of a host’s home, but on the people “who inspired me the most on a human level…”

In Botswana, he stayed with a spiritual man whose “humble but dignified” home sported a satellite dish but no indoor plumbing. In Ja-karta, Indonesia, he bunked with a journalist who report-ed on the terrorist events in her country, though “for-tunately, not all serious.” A Mexican couchsurfer put Galimberti up in a neighbor-hood that was iffy; he stayed with an Ethiopian host in a 100-square-foot home; and in China, where language was an issue, he learned that cleanliness “required… courage.”

Galimberti couchsurfed

in Thailand at the home of a transgender woman and, lat-er, with two gay men. In Ger-many, he stayed with a couple in their castle. Five minutes after he met his Chilean host, the host went to work; that was “blind trust,” says Galim-berti, but then again ,“there was nothing there to steal…” In tropical Fiji, he stayed in a home made of metal sheeting with no AC, and in Colom-bia, he found love.

At first blush, it appears that My Couch is Your Couch is more of a travel book. Author Gabriele Galimberti went around the world for two years on a budget of some $45,000, and wrote about it. Yep: travel.

But I saw this lavishly illustrated treat in a differ-ent way: it’s a book that will make you thankful. There are a lot of have-nots in the world, and Galimberti, in

both illustration and anec-dote, introduce them in a dignified way – just as he presents the people who have enviable lifestyles. The former definitely struck me more than the latter, however, and I couldn’t stop looking at those pictures.

And so yes, this is a travel book but there’s something subtle in here that goes beyond globe-hopping, something you must see to understand. And if you need a reminder to be appreciative, reading My Couch is Your Couch definitely fits.

“My Couch is Your Couch: Exploring How People Live Around the World” by Gabriele Galimberti©2015, Potter Style $22.50 / $26.50 Canada 176 pages

My Couch is Your Couch

Exploring How People Live Around the World

January 28, 201630 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Thursday, Jan. 28Katie Whitney & Chip Radford5:30 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

Perkins Road9 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Gogo Dolls9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden 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 NightKaraoke starts @ 11 p.m.9 p.m.-2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Friday, Jan. 29Katie Whitney & Chip Radford5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Mike Fulmer7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Louisiana Scramble8 p.m. @ 171 Junction Roadhouse2600 Moeling St. Ste. R, LC

Herman’s Hermits8:30 p.m. @ Grand Event CenterGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LCTickets on sale now @ Ticketmaster

Geno Delafose9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Gogo Dolls9 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

Perkins Road9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Troy Laz Band9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Dance NightDrink specials starting @midnight9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Luke Cooper9 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Larry Tillery9:30 p.m. @ Jack After DarkL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

January 28, 2016 31Vol. 7 • No. 19

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

Saturday, Jan. 30Katie Whitney & Chip Radford5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Flashback7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

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

Logan Soileau9 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Wayne Toups9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

Gogo Dolls9 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

Perkins Road9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Troy Laz Band9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

Sunday, Jan. 31Street Side Jazz Band11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grill710 Ryan St., LC

Reed Planchard4-8 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Richard LaBoeuf and Two-Step7 and 9 p.m. (2 shows) @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

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

Monday, Feb. 1Bryan Trahan5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

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

Tuesday, Feb. 2Chip Radford5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Jazz Night with Mickey Smith6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

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

January 28, 201632 Vol. 7 • No. 19

SIN NightTwo for Tuesday on shots and beer9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Wednesday, Feb. 3Chester Daigle5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Jim Pharis8 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

KIllawatts Acoustic8 p.m. @ Jack After Dark NightclubL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

The FUSE8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Superstar WednesdaysDrag Show starts at 11:30 p.m.9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Thursday, Feb. 4Amanda Walker5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

The FUSE8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

ENCORE9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

Backyard Boys9 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

Crystal BallMardi Gras Kick-off Party!9 p.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Friday, Feb. 5Amanda Walker5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Kenzie Newman7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Kadillacs9:30 @ Jack After Dark NightclubL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Reed Planchard & Drivin’ Dixie9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

The FUSE9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

ENCORE9 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

By Braylin Jenkins

New Venue in Town!171 Junction Roadhouse

The newness of 2016 almost seems to have worn off. As we enter February, the resolutions, goals and ambitions that we selected have either stuck and become a part of our daily routine or were nice thoughts that may be revisited at a later point. While individually we may decide what best suits our life and comfort, as a region the stop or delay button is much harder to press. With that said, the promise of growth that is expected for

the area is in full motion.Recently, I was asked to join some

friends at a music venue to listen to some live music and enjoy a Friday night. With no set plans, I asked the lo-cation and discovered a new establish-ment I had not yet heard of. Often, we hear of night venues opening and soon after, the hype dies down and the inevi-

table happens: either the establishment’s service and quality is compromised or an abrupt closure occurs. With this new venue, I do not see that happening.

As I approached the front door, I was greeted by one of the staff and entered into what felt like an underground music club that would be invitation-only. While not too large, the room was packed with people swaying to the sound of a live trio I would later learn were from Beaumont.

My friends waved me over and I made my way through the crowd and toward the stage to the front booth where they were sitting. In front of my eyes was a live blues band that was absolutely sublime. I would quickly be corrected, though. Larry Tillery and The Vaga-

bond Dreamers are not only a blues band, but also rock and country-based, which meant lots of dancing and smiles throughout the night. Tillery’s show-manship on his guitar was the first thing I noticed and the band’s energy overall is infectious. The bar staff were amaz-ing; it was as if they knew exactly when I needed to refresh my drink without fail.

As I made my way to the men’s room, I noticed the game room and other areas that were just waiting to be utilized by patrons. Soon they were filled with pool players and spectators, all of whom were just a room over from the amazingly talented live band and their fans. Later, I began to get hungry and my friends suggested the tacos, quesadillas, burg-ers and other tasty menu items. I had been craving quesadillas so I decided to go that route. Without going into detail and teasing you too much, the food was phenomenal. The sauces that came with the quesadillas set off the flavor even more and I knew I had made the right decision to join my friends at this hap-pening spot.

While I normally wouldn’t go off on

January 28, 2016 33Vol. 7 • No. 19

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

Dance NightDrink specials starting @midnight9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Clay Parker9 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Juz-B-Cuz 8 p.m. @ 171 Junction Roadhouse2600 Moeling St. Ste. R, LC

Killawatts9:30 p.m. @ Jack After Dark L’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

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

Saturday, Feb. 6Amanda Walker5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Frayed Soul7 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

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

Korey Fontenot9 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Reed Planchard & Drivin’ Dixie9 p.m. @ The Gator Lounge Delta Downs Racetrack Casino2717 Delta Downs Drive, Vinton

ENCORE9 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

The FUSE9 p.m.- 2:30 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

Larry Tillery9:30 p.m. @ 171 Junction Roadhouse2600 Moeling St. LC

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

Sunday, Feb. 7Street Side Jazz Band

11 a.m. @ Luna Bar and Grille710 Ryan St., LC

ENCORE9 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

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

Monday, Feb. 8Kevin Lambert5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Jamie Bergeron &the Kickin’ Cajuns7 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

a tangent about one location, I believe I have a duty to fulfill and this estab-lishment is everything we need in the Lake City. With the invigorating vibe, accommodating staff, clean venue, talented live performers, along with the high-quality, reasonably priced food and beverages, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

If you think this must be some ritzy place that has a high-dollar cover and an intimidating dress code, you would be incorrect. 171 Junction Roadhouse located at 2600 Moeling Street, Suite R is my newest example of what venues should be. There was not a cover and eve-ryone dressed to their liking. While I will personally continue to support the ven-ues I frequent, this location is special. I only wish other venues had the drive and foresight to revamp and awaken every-thing they opened their establishment for in the first place.

If this venue can pull in a diverse crowd with talented performers and all of the components I mentioned, why are venues that are located in the most sought-after locations not delivering

this feeling every weekend night at the very least? I believe in applauding those who do it right and this spot has gotten off to a grand start. The next time I visit will be at their famous Taco Tuesday night. What I loved most was that the attendees were kind and warm. Everyone was a friend that night and none of us felt out of place, a rarity I have found in this great city. I definitely plan to return with even more friends. Thanks to Renn Loren and Melinda Mose for the invite.

Goldbeat EntertainmentI must mention Goldbeat Entertain-

ment company. Their “Back to School Bash” was held at OB’s Bar & Grill, and while I’ve attended several events at this venue, it was immediate that this one would be different. Immediately, I saw Kristi of Weinie Dogs and knew I was in good company. I entered OB’s as I nor-mally do but this time, there was a dif-ference. The crowd, staging and lighting along with the sound caught my atten-tion. I was disappointed that I missed Hunter Romero’s band, The Iceman Special based out of New Orleans, but

the live DJ performance by Ross Low-der and Will Botting, the duo known as R!llo, made up for it. A room full of twenty-somethings gives the sure sign of a party and it was not long after I was entertained by R!llo that the founder of Goldbeat Entertainment, Thomas Ducote, known on the turntables as DJ project KnubZ made his way to the stage to further hype up the crowd. Kudos to this group of entertainers for joining together and presenting a great show.

Family PromiseFor this edition, I would like to

highlight Family Promise of Calcasieu Parish. Members of the non-profit or-ganization joined me on KBYS during the morning show and shared that over 2,000 children in our area do not have a home. This organization has a plan to help not only those children, but their families get to a home of their own. Contact Vince Endris at (337) 718-1763 or vinceendris@gmail.com for more in-formation on this local chapter and visit www.familypromise.org for an overview of the national organization.

January 28, 201634 Vol. 7 • No. 19

DJ Jose Mata8 p.m.- 3 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Mardi Gras Festivities/Drink Specials9 p.m.- 4 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Tuesday, Feb. 9Mardi Gras Dance PartyNoon-until @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Chip Radford5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Jazz Night with Clint Faulk6:30 p.m. @ Loggerheads3748 Hwy 305, LC

Bernie Alan 7 p.m. @ Mikko LiveCoushatta Casino Resort777 Coushatta Drive, Kinder

DJ Jose Mata8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Wednesday, Feb. 10Chester Daigle5:20 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort

When You Rock and Roll With Me...

Long before I ever had the pleasure of getting to work with musicians of all sorts and sizes and was but a young man, I remember hearing of “brushes with the industry” from my uncle who happened to be a limo driver in the DFW Metroplex back in the ‘80s. Outside of the occasional drop-off to school in the limo (which was pretty cool), I also got to hear the stories of all the great rock stars he got to drive around while they were in town. From Tina Turner to Elton John, to Pink Floyd to Michael Jackson, the list was crazy. Though he wasn’t my first musical touchstone, my uncle was certainly the one that lit a fire under me when it came to rock and roll and made me proud to tell the kids at school that I got to see Def Leppard’s “stuff ” that they left in the car while they were in the studio for the day.

A few years later, I remember asking him the “Who was the worst /who was the coolest” question and to this day, it’s my favorite story he ever told me about those days. It made me a fan of someone long be-fore I could ever begin to understand what this person and their music was all about.

For those of you who do not remem-ber, Anne Murray was a Nova Scotia-born songstress who lit up U.S. and Canadian

charts in the ‘70s and 80s netting four GRAMMYs with such hits as “You Needed Me,” “I Just Fall In Love Again,” Urban Cowboy’s “Could I Have This Dance” and “A Little Good News,” among others. It was with no hesitation that that was the first name I got out of his mouth..

“She was the worst!” he said. “So conde-scending and disrespectful and just acted like you weren’t even worthy to be in her presence. Of even the mega-stars that I drove, no one talked to me like I was dirt. Not like her. She was easily the worst.”

A bit taken aback, I laughed. “Wow. Okay, well, who was the best, then?

And with equal immediacy he replied... “Absolutely David Bowie.”

There’s a Starman Waiting In the Sky...

So do we really live in a world where the sweet lil’ Canadian songbird treats people poorly and the androgynous spaceman rockstar is the “nice guy?” Well, contrary to the behavior of “Mrs. Good News,” Bowie not only spoke to him like he was an honest-to-goodness human being but he was warm and familiar and made even a contracted limo driver feel like a friend.

Bowie poked his head back into the car outside of Benihana’s after everyone piled out and asked him, “Hey. What are you doing?”

“Ummm, I’m going to park the car, Sir.”

“Ah, that’s what’s valets are for (winks). Come on.”

And just like that, there he was having dinner with David Bowie and the band. It what was easily one of the highest points of his career and Bowie still took the time to treat people right and make a passing stranger feel like a friend. This just blew me away. It defied all my notions about both of these artists and of how ANY of those types of artists could behave. It humanized some of these iconic people in my mind, but it always made me feel some real love and appreciation for that man who was so huge and so loved by so many of us. I had no way of knowing then just what that man and his music would come to mean to me in time.

And on January 10, 2016, just two days af-ter his 69th birthday and the release of what is, sadly, his fi nal album, David Bowie left a world that will never forget him and that will be ever changed by his presence in it.

January 28, 2016 35Vol. 7 • No. 19

777 Avenue L’Auberge, LC

Chris Miller & Bayou Roots6:30 p.m. @ Loggerhead’s Bar3748 Hwy. 3059 (Old Town Rd.) LC

Jessie Taylor8 p.m. @ Cigar Club1700 E. Prien Lake Rd.

Orphan Annie8 p.m.- 1 a.m. @ RushGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Superstar WednesdaysDrag Show starts at 11:30 p.m.9 p.m. - 2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 Broad St., LC

Michael Krajicek9:30 @ Jack After Dark NightclubL’Auberge Casino Resort777 Ave. L’Auberge, LC

Thursday, Feb. 11Katie Whitney & Chip Radford5:30 p.m. @ Ember Grille & Wine BarL’Auberge Casino Resort

Space Rockers9 p.m. – 1 a.m. @ Blue MartiniGolden Nugget Casino Resort2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. LC

Karaoke NightKaraoke starts @ 11 p.m.9 p.m.-2 a.m. @ Crystal’s112 W. Broad St., LC

Dance Magic Dance...The two dozen-plus studio

albums, $140 million in record sales, multiple GRAMMYs and countless hits are only a part of the phenomenon that was “Bow-ie.” He was an award-winning actor that brought as much magic to the characters he played as he did to the musical stage in movies like The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Prestige, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, The Last Temp-tation of Christ, and none more memorable and magical than as the Goblin King in the 1986 Jim Henson Studios’ cult classic Labyrinth.

His status as a pop culture icon and his oft manic and bizarre costumes as well as his seasoned elegance made him a benchmark of style and fashion round the globe and his advocacy for equal rights and exposure for mi-norities in the arts made him the champion of many. That dynamic makes him, to my mind at least, a cultural and artistic loss on the scale of Elvis, if not more pro-foundly so.

But even with my passionate respect and love of his music, the most fundamental thing that started my love affair with this force that world knew as David Bowie was the knowledge that despite the magnitude of his artistry, his overwhelming global fame, and his near-storybook level of greatness, he remembered that before any of that he was just a man, a man just like that limo driver, and if a paragon such as he can remember THAT, even from their highest of pedestals, then it gives me hope that in

Something is Happening Here...Although the Thin White Duke may be with us no more, there are other innovative and fascinat-

ingly creative acts out there to enjoy, some of which just HAPPEN to be headed to the Lake City.

January 29: Peter Noone’s Herman’s Hermits at Golden NuggetFor those who may have missed our interview this issue with British Invasion legend and one-

time Bowie collaborator Peter Noone, he be bringing “Henry The VIII, I am,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and all of your favorite Hermits hits to the Nugget on January 29. GO SEE THIS SHOW!

February 10: Hank and Cupcakes with Pagoda at Luna LiveThis often painted up or otherwise wildly dressed husband and wife duo originated while both

were members of the Israeli Army and have since relocated their base of operations from Tel Aviv to Cuba and now the U.S. They deliver a unique brand of transgenre electropop that has seen stages around the world has been recorded in as prestigious a studio as Berlin’s Hansa Studios, home of Bowie’s own “Low” and “Heroes” records. Joined by Lafayette’s Pagoda, this promises to be a show to remember, certainly if the elaborate and bizarre are your cup of tea. GO SEE THIS SHOW!

February 12: Eddie Money at Golden NuggetA blast from my professional past as “Mr. Two Tickets To Paradise,” Eddie Money returns to the

Lake City. Having worked with him as recently as 2009, I can tell you that there’s still plenty of fire in the NYC rocker yet. He’ll be “Shakin’” his way into the Golden Nugget on February 12

Can You Hear Me Major Tom? Can You Hear Me Major Tom...?If you have not yet taken the time to listen to what has come to be the final David Bowie album,

“Blackstar,” I strongly urge you to do so. Its structure and lyrical content are unmistakably those of a man who knew he was facing his humanity and will be a haunting swan song, to say the least.

Here’s to 2016 getting over itself already and finally giving me some good news to print. Until next time, I’ll see you at the show!

time, the rest of humanity can follow his lead, remembering that before we are anything, we are simply human beings. Not race, rank or gender. Sim-ply. Human.

We Can Be Heroes,Just for One Day...

I think its safe to say that 2016 has started off by prov-ing once again that time is the ever-tenacious and unforgiving monster it has always proven itself to be and that even those who walk above the ground amongst

the masses will eventually be found its hapless victim, be it the 350-horsepower, whiskey-fueled Lemmy Kilmister or a beloved SoCal dusted “Des-perado” like Glen Frey or even ol’ Ziggy himself. Time waits for no man and it grants no quarter. Of this, you can be sure.

But I’m not ready to live in a world without David Bowie in it. I don’t want there to be a time that there is not some-body so magnificent in so many ways, being and doing all of the wonderful things

that he was and that he did and never losing kindness and humanity in the process. I don’t think anyone wants to live in a world where they watch their heroes die and I’m selfish enough to admit it. I just wish he was still here... Being Bowie... forever and ever.

You were a hero, Sir, to so, so many and, for as much of who you were and for all of the magic that you made, you were and will be one of mine, too.

We’ll see you in the stars.

January 28, 201636 Vol. 7 • No. 19

With the breaking Beatlemania wave crashing across American shores in the mid-60s, the musical exodus that came to be known as the British Invasion began, bringing a whole slew of new sounds from the other side of the pond that quickly dominated the Billboard charts. Among these acts was a group of Manchester Lads who embraced their “Britishness” maybe a bit more than the others.

Th e group was none other than Her-man’s Hermit’s, whose hits like “Some-thing Tells Me I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daugh-ter” and “Henry the VIII, I Am” are counted amongst the most memorable of Invasion Era hits. At the helm was none other than Peter “Herman” Noone who, aft er fi ve decades of music, is bringing his Hermits to the Lake City on January 29 at the Golden Nugget Casino Resort in Lake Charles.

I had a chance to hop on the phone and spend some time talking to the man himself, so I made my way to the Town-square Media studios where I met my longtime buddy, 92.9 Th e Lake Program Director Gary Shannon, who was playing host and engineer for my “Noone-time” interview. At noon on the dot the phone rang and an unmistakable Manchester ac-cent poured through the studio speakers.

JAM: Mr. Noone, it’s a pleasure to have you with us today! Th anks so much for taking the time out to chat.

PN: It’s my pleasure. Th anks for ‘avin me!

JAM: It’s now been over 50 years since Herman’s Hermits hit the scene and you have, during and since, continued to entertain crowds for over half a century. Th at’s an incredible history for a fan base. How does it feel knowing that you still have those fans coming out to see you and that you’ve been able to continue to entertain them all these years?

PN: You know, it was the best 50 years ever in my life and for loads of people. I think I’m lucky that the songs were good because we made records for the moment and the moment, obviously, was the right moment. We were the band of the moment and that moment still lives for all of us.

JAM: And that does play a big part, doesn’t it? Timing?

PN: Well, we had good songs and we expected that to last longer because of the quality of the songs. We made records to get on the radio. We didn’t expect anything else than to hear our songs on the radio.

Gary Shannon: I actually have a related question. What’s this I hear about you throwing onions through a window?

PN: Yeeaahhh… (laughs) Well, it was a deserted building and we had to pay for the onions! We were changing in a kitchen to go on stage and it was called “Th e Beachcomber” and what made it “Th e Beachcomber” is that they had a plastic bottle of wine and a beach in the picture (laughs). We were in the kitchen getting ready to go on stage and we heard our record “I’m Into Something Good” on the radio and there was a great big bag of onions waiting to be peeled in the kitchen, and there was an old deserted factory across the canal and me and Carl Green, we threw all the onions out of that bag through the windows. And it was a sewing machine factory so we knew we were fi nally “Singers.” (laughs) It was just the joy of being a teenager and hearing your song play on the radio. Th at’s all we ever really wanted.

JAM: And speaking on fan bases, in the beginning, the Hermits found quite a strong one here in the U.S. as the British Invasion was swelling up on this side of the pond. How do you feel about yours and the Hermits role in that and why do you think that sound resonated so much with American youth and, in your case, resonated more with them than it did in the U.K. at that time?

PN: Well, we were bigger in England because we were present, but in America we were the only British Invasion band and I was the only one of the lot that used my own accent. I was a British singer and they were all copying American vocals. Even though I was a fan of all American music, I sang with my own accent. I sang “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” with my accent, I sang “Henry the VIII” with my accent, I sang “Th ere’s a Kind of Hush All Over the World” with my accent and I sang “I’m Into Something Good” with my accent. We put our British stamp on the British Invasion and we still feel good about that: we made a choice to be diff erent than everybody else. You know, the idea was that if you wanted to make it in those days, you had to be diff erent. Th ere was already a Beatles and the Beatles weren’t like the Stones and the Stones weren’t like Th e Who and Th e Who weren’t like Th e Kinks and Herman’s Hermits weren’t like anybody else.

JAM: As far as the craft ing of the music and the production of the ‘60s Hermits, I know that Mickey Most had a lot of infl uence over content and per-formers through the years, but what song or what example could you give of what

best represented the creative power that you musicians had collectively? What do you feel best represents the talent of Her-man’s Hermits?

PN: Well, you know Mickey was my best friend. He was the best man at my wedding. He’s the godfather of my chil-dren and we had a unique ability to think alike, like brothers. Herman’s Hermits never recorded a song they didn’t like. We had to love the song before we would even record it. So that says a lot about the quality of people in the band. We recorded these songs because we liked them. It wasn’t because we owned them or wrote them so we always just chose the best song around and the proof is that 50 years later some of them are still being played.

JAM: Easily one of, if not the most recognizable of the tunes, “Henry the VIII I Am,” actually has ties to your childhood, does it not?

PN: Yeah, you know my grandfather used to sing it a few times. You know a lot of British Invasion musicians had parents and grandparents who inspired them. We got exposed to lots of diff erent kinds of music . Americans had Top 40, you had rhythm and blues, you had country... We only had one (laughs). It was all music

JAM: Well, it wasn’t always all music for you. I know that many of our readers may not be entirely familiar with Corona-tion Street, but you were on television before you were on the stage in what is one of the longest running British soap operas still today. How was the transition of child actor to pop star within just a matter of years?

PN: Being on Coronation Street, on live television with a load of actors knowing what they were doing made me realize that I should be knowing what I’m doing and always be in control of it. It was good for me. My future began. Eve-rything I learned on Coronation Street I’m still using today.

JAM: And, admittedly you’ve done quite a bit of other acting as well. So did “Herman” ever have that actor’s characterization behind him? Was there anything that was “Herman” that wasn’t or isn’t Peter Noone?

PN: No, no. Herman is Peter Noone is Herman. When we fi rst got going we had the same PR fi rm as the Stones--Andrew Oldham--and he’s a bit of a genius. He was also the Stones’ producer and manager, but he did our PR. and he said “I’m gonna create the opposite of Herman’s Hermits, which is the Stones,

and they’ll be the bad boys of rock and roll. Th ey’ll do all these terrible things and you just be the good guys of rock and roll.” And as I said, we didn’t even need to act. We just were the Hermits, we were just very nice people. We were just smart, above-average, British workin’ class boys that were thrown into a generation that just gave us all these massive opportuni-ties to be independent.

JAM: Th is has been a diffi cult week in the artistic world, particularly in the world of British artists with the loss of David Bowie and now Alan Rickman. You not only knew David Bowie but you recorded your version of his song “Oh You Pretty Th ings” with Bowie himself on keys. How has his work and his passing impacted you, personally?

PN: Yeah, he played the piano on it, actually. It was his song but he came over from the studio and he was the only per-son who could play it on the piano. And it was a BIG HIT in Europe. I still hear it on radio over there. I’m doing a tour of England in April and it’s one of the biggest songs in the show. Yesterday, my brother called me. My brother still lives in Liverpool, still “tawks loike that” and all and he told me that on the radio over there they’ve got a version of me singing “Life on Mars” with David Bowie on the piano. I go “What?” (laughs). I don’t even remember that. And then I fi nd out that there’s a YouTube of it. Peter Noone, “Life on Mars.” A YOUTUBE of it and I don’t even remember doin’ it. It’s probably not me. Probably someone impersonating me (laughs).

But David was a good bloke. He was a typical British, suburban, middle class, well-educated, NICE man. Always a gen-tlemen, he never did any harm to anyone, he made some great records… You know, it’s not bad if when you go out of the world all they have to say about you is “He was a really nice bloke.” Th at’s good (laughs). He made some great records as well, I mean I’ve got all his records. It’s quite a big amount of work. But he was sick for a long time and, you know, when your time’s up, you’re time’s up. Nobody gets to choose when they go out or what they get.

Tickets for Peter Noone’s Herman’s Hermits are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the performance starting at 2 p.m.

A big thanks to Gary Shannon and the Townsquare Media crew for the use of the studio (and the great “onion” question), thanks to Golden Nugget for getting us in touch and a big thanks to Peter Noone for taking the time to chat with us. It was a pleasure!

January 28, 2016 37Vol. 7 • No. 19

January 28, 201638 Vol. 7 • No. 19

Brenda and Allen Joyner Charles and Leslie Cubbage

Sarah Whitlock, Brytni Bankens and Richelle Kitzmiller Candace Hollingsworth and Kim Guillory

KREWE DE BONS AMIS BALLIt was a trip to Comic-Con for the Bons Amis Krewe as they

took over the West Cal Convention Center for their 11th annual Krewe de Bons Amis Ball. Revelers donned their best super

hero garb and turned out in full force to welcome the 2016 King and Queen King Henry and Queen Anne XI. Congratulations to Christine Draper and Christopher D’Errico on the royal honor!

Passer un Bon Mardi Gras, mes amis!

Cathy Chapman and Amanda Cox

Joseph Frazier and Beverly SchalonLane Richard and Annie Guidry

THE SYMPHONY PLAYS BINGO: BEETHOVEN, BUFFET AND BUBBLY It was a morning of mimosas, music and manic bingo callers

at the Lake Charles Country Club for the Lake Charles Symphony’s “Beethoven, Buffet and Bubbly” fundraiser event

on Saturday, January 23rd. Thanks to all who attended!

Queen Christine Draper and King Christopher D’Errico

Connie McDonald and Christine Casey

Beth Dawdy, Paul Arnold, Connie Ellender and Brandy Kinney

Donna Barker, Ellen Britten, Marguerite LeDoux and Pat Bevan

January 28, 2016 39Vol. 7 • No. 19

Tiff any Boudreaux, Emma Clatworthy, Paula Gillard, Nicole Butler and Miranda Fontenot

Darleen and Errick (Jr.) Wesley Daniel Castro and Matt Duplichan

Keith Breaux, Jenny Taunton withKatherine and Makenzie Metzger Wallace Wilson and Brian Waters

FULL MOON FESTWhen is a full moon more than just a passing sight in the

night sky? When it’s a party like the folk over at Yoga Y’all throw with their monthly Full Moon Fest at Infi nite Health. They had live art, yoga, local artisans crafting and selling their wares as the costumed guests dug in on the retro

tunes, enjoyed food from “The Velvet Pig” and and passed a fun moonlit evening. See you lunatics next month!

Candi Singleton and Leland Culotta Cora Broussard and Jason Cormier

Trevor Richard, Velma Salinas, Nick and Lindsey Miller, John MIchael White and Sarah Schultz

KREWE DES AMIS BALLWith an early Mardi Gras this year, it seems like everywhere

you turn you see another round of Mardi Gras Royalty! Krrewe Des Amis and friends filled up the Civic Center

Coliseum as the costumed revelers swept you off in a jun-gle safari with dancing, live music and party that

rolled well into the night. Was a great time, mes amis! Hope you all have a great Mardi Gras!

Beth Melancon, Gina Neck and Jennifer WatsonCasey Doucet and Sarah Parks

Danielle Babineaux and Mike Ballou