JULY 1
•4th of July Blue Ribbon Pie Contest
Bakers are invited to participate in the third annual Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest, held in conjunction with the Red White Blue & You Fourth of July Festival in downtown Lake Charles. Simply bring your baked pie to 1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1. The judging will take place later that afternoon. Each pie will be judged on overall appearance; the color, flavor, texture and doneness of the crust; the consistency, doneness and flavor of the filling; and the wild card – creativity! Pies must include at least 60 percent apples in the filling. Entries that require refrigeration will not be accepted, so please do not use frozen toppings, whipped cream or like products. Pies may be single or double crust, and a recipe must be submitted with the entry form. The winners will be announced on stage during the patriotic program on Saturday, July 4 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center Arcade Pavilion. If inclement weather prevails, the event will move inside the Civic Center Coliseum. First place will receive a blue ribbon and $100, second place will be awarded a red ribbon and $75, and the third place winner will receive a white ribbon and $50. Contestants are encouraged to pre-register in order to ensure a contestant’s space on the judging table. There is no fee to enter. To pre-register or for more information, call 337-491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.
JULY 6
•Contraband Chapter AACA Meeting
Contraband Chapter of Antique Automobile Clubs of America will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, July 6, 2009, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Classic Café, 277 Hwy 171 North, Moss Bluff. Anyone interested in antique or collectable vehicles is welcome to attend. For more information, contact Joe Richardson, Chapter President, at 337-477-2521.
JULY 6, AUGUST 3, SEPTEMBER 7
•First Monday in the Atrium
The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital presents First Monday in the Atrium
The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is pleased to present First Monday in the Atrium, a musical interlude held on the first Monday of each month from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the atrium at Memorial Hospital on Oak Park Boulevard.
The next guest performance will be held on Monday, July 6, and will feature blues and more from Josephine Unplugged with vocalist Jodi Ricci, Eric Sylvester on guitar, and Don Zimmerman on bass.
“Music has such a calming effect that it is used often in hospitals to alleviate pain, elevate patients' moods and counteract depression,” said Leif Pedersen, Sr. Vice President of Philanthropy at Memorial. “It’s been used to promote movement during physical rehabilitation; to calm patients and induce sleep; and counteract apprehension or fear.
“We are introducing First Monday in the Atrium for our patients, physicians, and staff, but also for the community as a whole.”
Future musical performances include jazz guitarist Adam Bock on August 3 and pianist Diana Castleberry on September 7.
First Monday in the Atrium is free and open to the public. The performances are made possible thanks to the generous support of Business First Bank, The Eye Clinic and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
For more information on First Monday in the Atrium or The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, please call (337) 494-3226.
JULY 10
•Care/Help Life Skills Class: Resumé Writing
Need help preparing your resumé? Care/Help of Sulphur will have a life skills class on Friday, July 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. to show you: The importance of a resume, and how to prepare the most effective resume. Care/Help is located at 112 E. Thomas Street in Sulphur. Call 337-528-2273 to sign up. Life skills classes are every 2nd Friday of each month and are free to the public regardless of income. There will be a drawing to win a Wise Penny Thrift Store gift certificate.
JULY 11, AUGUST 18
•Brimstone to hold ‘2nd Saturdays in Sulphur’ Program
As in previous years, activities take place on the second Saturday of every month: July 11th, and August 8th. This year’s theme will be the environment. Children can be dropped off at 9 a.m. and must be picked up by 1 p.m. Lunch is provided on all three days, and each student will receive a free t-shirt. On July 11 three very talented photographers from the area, Mark John, Geoff Russell, and Kelly Keers, are going to teach the children about fundamentals of photography. Cameras will be provided, and the students’ work will be developed free of charge. Finally, on August 8, the students will learn about visual arts from Charlene Kaough and Madge Dutel. The students will also learn about the Coastal Plains, and native Louisiana grasses and flora. This program is FREE of charge, so you don’t want to miss this great opportunity to help your child tap their creative potential! The program is open to children from six to 12 years old. They will also accept five year olds who have just finished Kindergarten. Parents are invited to attend with their children, but are not required to stay. For more information, please call 527-0357. The Brimstone Museum’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Applications can also be downloaded from their website at http://www.brimstonemuseum.org and can be faxed to them at 527-0359. Space is limited.
JULY 18
•Carlyss Fire Dept: 2009 Fill the Boot Campaign
Make sure to watch for the Carlyss Fire Department as they hit the streets again this year in support of MDA. They have already collected once this year, bringing in close to $600. Their tentative dates for the 2009 Fill the Boot campaign are set for July 18; weather permitting. The department has a goal of $2000 for the year. You can call the local MDA office at 337-234-0088 for more information.
JULY 22
•CPSO Free Bingo and Jambalaya
he Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Free Bingo and Jambalaya event for senior citizens 55 years of age and older on Wednesday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Pryce/Miller Recreation Center. The center is located at 216 Albert St. in Lake Charles. Please RSVP by Friday, July 17. Call 491-3626 for more information
JULY 25
Gridiron 37
If you’ve ever made an impulse buy after watching one of those fast-talking TV commercials, then you won’t want to miss the Ad & Press Club of Southwest Louisiana’s 37th annual Gridiron Show. The fundraiser, a satire of local newsmakers and the media, is set for Saturday, July 25, in the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Sudduth Coliseum. This year’s theme is “As Seen on TV,” a localized spoof of TV shows and commercials, plus other current-events satire. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for a social and networking hour. During that time, guests will be able to dine at several serving stations that will feature heavy hors d’ouevres and other specialties from local restaurants and vendors. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. The fundraiser pokes fun at local and state newsmakers and the media through skits, songs, monologues and videos. Proceeds from the show will benefit students at McNeese State University through the club’s permanent scholarship foundation and provide funds to the Commercial Arts Department at Sowela Technical Community College. The Ad & Press Club is Southwest Louisiana’s oldest organization for communications professionals. The show is written, staged and performed entirely by club members. Brett Downer, longtime area writer and newsman, is once again the show’s director. Each year Gridiron awards the Pan Award — a trophy made from a cheap skillet — to the newsmaker who gets “panned” the most in the show. Last year’s recipient was McNeese State University. Tickets are $60 per person and $400 for a table of eight. Several levels of sponsorships are available. Deadline to buy tickets is Wednesday, July 22. Seating is limited, and tickets are going fast. For tickets, call the Gridiron hot line at 583-4766; e-mail gridironshow@yahoo.com, or order online at www.adpressclub.com.
OCTOBER 9 and 10
•SHS Class of 1999 Reunion
The Sulphur High class of 1999 is currently looking for classmate addresses in preparation for their 10th reunion. Addresses can be emailed to sulphurhighschoolclassof1999@hotmail.com. The reunion will be the weekend of October 9th and 10th.
OCTOBER 15
•Baxter Keynote Speaker at Women’s Conference
The Women’s Commission of SWLA, Inc. invites you to mark your calendar for Thursday, October 15, 2009 for the Annual Fall Conference. The day begins with an Opening Ceremony in the Lake Charles Civic Center Coliseum. The Conference then moves into the Exhibition Hall, 2nd and 3rd floor mezzanine where the MarketPlace offers numerous local businesses and services who provide a sampling of their services. Workshops offer fun, personal development, career planning, emotional, spiritual activities to build your personal value and self-esteem. Mid-day entertainment in the coliseum is provided by local artists and the featured speaker, Meredith Baxter, will deliver a motivational and moving presentation during a wonderful luncheon. At the luncheon, the Jack V. Doland Citizen of the Year will be announced. In addition, the Commissioner of the Year, the New Commissioner of the Year, and the Advisory Commissioner of the Year will be recognized. You may contact the commission by visiting their website www.womenscommissionswla.com or email at info@womenscommissionswla.com.
OCTOBER 24
•Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk® 2009
The Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walk® will take place on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at Prien Lake Park in Lake Charles, LA. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Held annually in hundreds of communities around the country, this inspiring event calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Champions include those living with the disease, families, caregivers and corporate and community leaders. We’re on the move to end Alzheimer’s. To start a team or make a donation, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/louisiana or call (337) 984-4884.
ONGOING
•Master the Art of Reading
Master the Art of Reading is a program for adults running through July 17 at Calcasieu Parish Public Libraries. Adult readers may join at any time, and obtain information at any public library or on the library website at www.calcasieu.lib.la.us. Participants will log the books they read with reviews online and be able to read reviews that others have written. The program is open to anyone who is over 18 years of age. To complete the program and receive a certificate, each participant reads and reviews at least 5 books. At the end of the program a drawing will be held and 3 grand prizes will be awarded. There will be a celebration party to meet and mingle with the other reviewers at the program’s end. According to library spokesman Judy Davidson, “the Collaborative Summer Program is a great way to relax and catch up on reading, while providing a good role model for children, and having a opportunity to meet with others who enjoy reading.” For information, please call 271-7118.
•WCCH Diabetes Support Group Held Monthly
A Diabetes Support Group meeting is held on the last Tuesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in the Cafeteria Conference Room. This meeting is free to the public. The topic for this month is Exercise and Diabetes with Robert Kingham, Director of Dynamic Dimensions as the speaker.
•VFW Teen Dances Every Wednesday
VFW and Aux 8107 with The Voice from La Sallette Church will sponsor teen dances every wednesday night from June 3rd until school starts in August. The dances will be held at VFW Post 8107, 1235 E. Napoleon St (across from Family Dollar). Dances will be from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. and the cost is $7. A police officer will be on duty and behavior and dress codes will be enforced. For more information, contact Lennis Hoffpauir, Commander, 527-7104.
•Summer Leadership & Career Exploration Program 2009
The Leadership Center for Youth offers a new innovative summer leadership program for students ages 10-17. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Membership is $50 per year. Summer fees are: Member rate $10 a week, Non-member rate $25 a week, Registration fee is $25 per child. Activities include weekly focus on art projects, culinary arts, sports competitions, field trips, academic focus on reading and lots of fun. Career exploration and guest speakers in areas of medicine, computer technology, banking, restaurant management, and government. The Leadership Center for youth is located at 2517 Ryan Street in Lake Charles, directly across the street from Casa Manana. You can also visit us on the web at www.fyca.org.
•Help Save Iggy’s Home!
On April 22, the Children’s Museum suffered a devastating fire that destroyed nearly everything on the first floor including 17 exhibits and all of their animals except for Iggy the Iguana. Insurance money will only cover a small portion of what was lost on the first floor. They are desperately seeking the help of the community to help quickly replace these exhibits and reopen the 3,600 square feet of damaged museum space. Donations can be mailed to the Children’s Museum, 327 Broad St. in Lake Charles, or dropped off at any Cameron State Bank location. To reach the museum, call (337) 433-9420.
•Wise Penny Thrift Store
Care/Help of Sulphur’s Wise Penny Thrift Store is having a sale. Every first and third Friday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., all clothes, shoes, and purses are just 50¢ each. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fifty percent off sales everyday. Care/Help is located at 200 N. Huntington Street.
•POMC Monthly Meeting
The montly meeting for the parents of murdered children is held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 2409 2nd Street (across from St. Henry’s Church in Lake Charles). POMC is a support group helping families, friends and survivors of homicide with the resolution of grief. For more information, call 583-2602.
•Care/Help of Sulphur Bible Study Classes
Study the Bible with Pauline Rogers and Betty Coleman feeding your soul with basic Bible truths that can change your life for the better and forever. Classes are held every Tuesday morning at Care Help of Sulphur’s Social Service waiting room from 9 to 10 a.m. at 200 North Huntington St. They will have Bible’s available for each person attending. Don’t be intimidated by God’s very own words written especially for you, His child, as a guide for you life. You will be amazed at how basic God’s principles are to improve your life in getting closer to Him. This class is free and open to everyone regardless of income and open to all denominations. They look forward to meeting you as they start a journey getting to know each other in fellowship and discovering what God has to say to us through His written Word. No sign up, just show up as you are!
Sulphur, La. —
