AUGUST 3
•Sulphur’s 8th Annual National Night Out
The Sulphur Police Department and City officials are planning what is expected to be the biggest National Night Out event in its eight year history. The community-wide event, which is free to the public, takes place this year on Tuesday, August 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in its new location, the West Cal Arena, located at 2900 Ruth Street in Sulphur. National Night Out is a part of the National Association of Town Watch, a major advocate for neighborhood safety. The event is designed to heighten community awareness of safety and fire prevention issues and of crime and drug prevention. This year’s entertainment marks the return of Vince Vance and the Valiants. Vance was one of the headline acts for last year’s Christmas Under the Oaks Festival but had to end his performance early due to the evening’s unusual weather of snow flurries. He made the commitment to return to Sulphur and give the community a bonafide Vince Vance experience. Local and State Law enforcement agencies will participate in the community block party. They include: the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, State Police, Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the BLAST Program from the Sulphur Fire Department and Emergency 911. All groups involved will be there to help spread the importance of neighborhood safety to the public. Louisiana’s first and Sulphur’s own monster truck, Southern Sunshine, will make its first public appearance in 24 years at National Night Out. The truck-one of the original monster trucks from the early eighties-has recently been restored and will soon embark on a tour to be displayed to the viewing public. For more information, contact the Sulphur Police Department, at 527-4550.
AUGUST 5
•MSU Cancer Workshop
A workshop titled “Personal Side of Cancer” will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, in Stokes Auditorium of Hardtner Hall at McNeese State University. Topics and speakers will include: “Caring for Oncology Patients Beyond the Doctor Visit” by Lindsay Ardoin; “The Other Side of the Coin—A Nurse’s Experience with Cancer” by Mary Ann Kohnke-Borel; “Palliative Care and Symptom Management” by Sara E. Hughes; “Sexuality Issues of Oncology Patients” by Kathryn G. Froiland; “National Marrow Donor Program Overview” by Benita Davis; and “Targeted and Biological Therapies” by Dr. Henry J. Goolsby. July 31 is the deadline to register and cost is $50 for registered nurses and $40 for LPNs who meet the deadline. There will be a $10 late registration fee and a $15 on-site registration fee. This workshop is sponsored by the McNeese College of Nursing Continuing Education Program and the American Cancer Society and participants can earn five nursing contact hours. For more information or to register, call Stephenie Lavoi in the McNeese College of Nursing at 475-5753.
AUGUST 7
•Free Immunizations at Back 2 School Bash Health Fair at WCCH
On Saturday, August 7, West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in partnership with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and other local agencies will hold a children’s Back 2 School Bash health event. The event will be held at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital’s Stelly Lane Entrance from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free immunizations will be offered along with a variety of free health screenings for kids of every age and stage of growth. Book bags and school supplies will be provided by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. Nearly 20 local healthcare agencies will be on hand to distribute information on everything from injury prevention to safe sleep for babies. The Sulphur Fire Department will also be on hand to display a fire truck. For additional information, call 528-4735.
•Whistle Stop’s Mad Hot Ballroom Gala
The first annual Whistle Stop’s Mad Hot Ballroom Gala will take place Saturday, Aug. 7 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort benefiting the Dancing Classrooms program in area 5th grade classes. The thrilling evening will be filled with music, dancing, costumes, and first class dining all wrapped up in a mad hot competition! Before the evening concludes, a general dance will be held for the audience members with experts available for complimentary lessons. Reservations are being made now for table sponsors and individual tickets, which are both on sale to the public. Hosted by Bruce Hamilton and Katsie Fanelli, the celebrity dancers will perform choreographed routines judged by a seven panel mix of official dance judges and personalities from the political, business and art world. Backstage interviews will be conducted by Megan Monsour Hartman for the audience. The celebrities and their professional dance partners have chosen their costumes, choice of song and choreography to compete for the coveted first place Mad Hot Ballroom Trophy. Awards will also be given for second place, third place, and best costume. A People’s Choice Trophy will be awarded to the couple with the most cash/check votes from the audience. Event sponsors who have made Mad Hot Ballroom a reality include Aeroframe, Cameron State Bank, CITGO and Women & Children’s Hospital. The Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana is a Ballroom Sponsor and KPLC is the Media Sponsor. The local dance studios who have donated their facilities for months of practices include Bayouland Ballroom in Lake Charles, DaLanne’s Dance Academy, Latin Moves by Daniel, Munchkins & Mommies and Sarah Quinn Jones Ballet. The gala is a formal event with black tie attire preferred. Tables of eight are being reserved now for $1,200. Individual tickets for general seating are also on sale for $125. Call The Whistle Stop at (337) 562-2344 to purchase tickets or log on to www.celebritydancingswla.com for more information.
•Arts & Crabs Experience
The Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is proud to give Imperial Calcasieu the first annual Arts & Crabs Experience on Saturday, August 7, at Prien Lake Park from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event puts a spotlight on the importance of locally caught seafood while promoting regional art and culture in a family-friendly setting on the Calcasieu River. Several local chefs will be on site serving samples of crab-themed dishes, and Abita will also be on hand to pair each dish with a free and complimentary sample of a regional beer. Crab dishes will be served from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Prien Lake Park will also feature kids’ activities, demonstrations, craft and informational booths, additional food vendors, live music by Zydecane at 3 p.m. and City Heat at 6 p.m., and an art walk along the riverfront. The Louisiana Poet Laureate, Darrell Bourque, will be the event’s Honorary Master of Ceremonies, and at 5 p.m. he will give a reading of his poetry on the main stage. Bourque grew up in a rural community near Grand Coteau, and he is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His books include Plainsongs, The Doors Between Us, Burnt Water Suite, and The Blue Boat. The Arts & Crabs Experience will be held in conjunction with the Council’s annual fundraiser, the Gold Key Quest raffle. Participants who buy a $50 ticket will be entered into the drawing, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the park during the Arts & Crabs Experience, and will be eligible to win one of ten fabulous prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize provided in part by Bolton Ford. Wristbands are priced at $15 and grant participants access to sample all of the crab dishes and beer samples. A portion of the Arts & Crabs Experience proceeds will go towards helping to combat the Gulf Coast oil spill. For more information on the Arts & Crabs Experience or on Gold Key Quest, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org or call (337) 439-ARTS.
AUGUST 9
•Legis-Gator Luncheon RSVP Deadline
Governor Bobby Jindal has confirmed his appearance as keynote speaker for the 5th Annual Chamber SWLA Legis-Gator. The Chamber SWLA Legis-Gator will recap legislation efforts undertaken in 2010 and recognize legislators across the state for working on pro-business, pro-Southwest Louisiana legislation. This event will be held on August 20, 2010 at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort starting at 11:30 a.m. The cost for the luncheon is $40 for Chamber SWLA Members and $50 for non-members. This year, Business Champion Awards will be awarded to Federal and State legislators who have supported the Chamber SWLA’s legislative platform. Who will this year’s winners be? You will have to attend to find out, so contact Lynette Clark at 337-433-3632 or lclark@allianceswla.org to reserve your seats for this year’s Legis-Gator Luncheon. The deadline to R.S.V.P. is August 9, 2010.
AUGUST 10
•Diabetes Support Group Meeting at WCCH
Daughdril, emergency medical specialist with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, will be the featured speaker at the August 10 diabetes support group meeting at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. He will speak about Hurricane Preparedness for diabetic patients. The diabetes support group at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital meets the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the hospital’s cafeteria conference room. There is no charge to attend these monthly meetings. For more information, please call (337) 527-4282.
AUGUST 12
•West Calcasieu Association of Commerce Meeting
The West Calcasieu Association of Commerce will hold its August meeting on Thursday, August 12 at 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn at 330 Arena Road in Sulphur. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso will be the guest speaker. The catered lunch is $10 per person. For questions, contact Janice Ackley, WCAC Executive Director, by phone at (337) 533-1040 or by e-mail at associationw@bellsouth.net.
AUGUST 13
•Care Help Life Skills Class - Preparing for the Interview
Taking place on August 13 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Care Help's Social Service Waiting Room. Free and open to all regardless of income. Call 528-2273 to sign up. Upcoming classes: Sept. 10 - Budgeting, Oct. 8 - Resume Writing, Nov. 12 - Skills Assessment, Dec. 10 - Budgeting. Visit Care Help’s website: www.care-help.org
AUGUST 14
•‘Brushing with the Brimstone’ Class
The Brimstone Historical Society is proud to announce a new series of painting classes entitled “Brushing with the Brimstone.” The first of these classes will be held on Saturday, August 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Henning Cultural Center in Sulphur. Tickets are available at the Henning Cultural Center and require a $50 donation per participant. They will provide the canvas, paint, brushes, and the hors d’oeuvres. All you need to bring is your favorite beverage and a little creativity. At the end of the night, you will have created your very own masterpiece of a historic local building. Each of their classes will feature a different building of local renown. The first building that they will teach you how to paint is the old Prompt Succor Church (currently the Sulphur Judicial Center). This class will be led by artist Jamie Stang. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now. Come “paint the town” with the Brimstone Historical Society. For more information about this event, please call the Society at 337-527-0357. The Henning Cultural Center is located at 923 Ruth Street in Sulphur.
•Designer Genes Social Group
A new Downs syndrome and genetic disorder social group will kick off its first meeting at 12 noon at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women on Gauthier Road on August 14. It will be held every second Saturday of the month and pizza and drinks will be served. For more information please contact Jessi James at 337-563-1178 or email at Jessequejames08@yahoo.com.
AUGUST 14 & 28
•Free Eye Screenings at Hart Eye Center
Hart Eye Center of Lake Charles will hold free eye screenings on August 14 and 28 to help people protect their vision from the damaging effects of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are serious eye diseases that cannot only damage vision, but if left undetected or untreated, each has the potential to cause blindness. To schedule a free screening, you must call Hart Center at 439-4014 to make an appointment. For more information on free eye screenings or to check for future dates and schedule changes visit www.harteyecenter.com or call 439-4014.
AUGUST 28
•First Annual Vinton Heritage Pageant
Vinton will have a pageant for boys and girls to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the town of Vinton. The pageant will be held Saturday, August 28, at the Vinton American Legion Post 208, 5461 Joe Courville Road. The age divisions for boys is 0-2 years and 3-5 years. The age divisions for girls is 0-11 months; 12-23 months; 2-3 years; 4-5 years; 6-8 years; 9-10 years; 11-12 years; 13-15 years; and 16-18 years. There will also be a Ms. Group. All entries made on or before August 1 are $40; after August 1, entries will be accepted until August 25 for $60. For more information or an entry form contact Penny at 337-842-2193 or email pborel73@yahoo.com
SEPTEMBER 18
•Council on Aging Meals On Wheels Prom
Plans are underway for the second annual Meals On Wheels Prom to be held on Saturday, September 18 at the Civic Center. The Calcasieu Council on Aging announces that the hours of festivity are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the afternoon with a sit down dinner served at 5 p.m. for all attendees. This gala is to furnish an afternoon of fun and frolic for the elderly, but the reason for the event is to call attention to the critical need for funds to feed the parish’s homebound elderly. The need is rising by the day, and funds are not available to meet that need. Everyone is urged to attend and support this worthy cause. This year’s theme is “Casino” and seniors are encouraged to dress in their “speakeasy finest” that afternoon to party, dance, and remember those roaring days so long ago. There will be music throughout the afternoon allowing seniors to step back into the days when they were young and music was written for dance. A prom king and queen will be crowned after a royal promenade by all of the recreation center’s court. This king and queen will reign until the annual event next year. Tickets are only $5, which will pay for the entire afternoon, and may be purchased from any of the Council on Aging centers or by calling Nancy Fuller at 217-0500 at the Moss Bluff Senior Center, Council on Aging.
OCTOBER 1-3
•SHS Class of 1980 Reunion
The Sulphur High School Class of 1980 has started preparations for its 30th class reunion celebration October 1 to October 3, 2010. They are seeking current information on their classmates. You are asked to submit your information (mailing address, email address, phone numbers) to Allison Andreyk Kullenberg either via email (lsudiva85@yahoo.com) or phone 972-729-5465. They have established a Facebook alumni group “Sulphur High School (SHS) Class of 1980 - Louisiana.” Organizers are asking all friends, family and relatives to help in spreading the word to any classmate who might have moved out of the area.
ONGOING
•Care Help - Life Skill Classes
Care Help of Sulphur offers free Life Skill Classes taught by well known job educator, Carol Pettyjohn. Ms. Pettyjohn not only helps you with the necessities of preparing for a new job, but the classes also encourage students to gain the confidence needed for the job search process. Classes are free and open to all regardless of income. The purpose of these classes is to prepare job seekers by finding out what skills they already have, important job interviewing tips, how to create a resumé, and how to budget money. The location for the classes is 200 N. Huntington St. in the Social Service waiting room, enter through the double doors on south side of building. Classes are from 9 to 10 a.m. and seating is limited so please call to reserve a spot at 528-2273. Classes are every second Friday of each month.
•Sulphur Kiwanis Club Meeting
The Sulphur Kiwanis Club meets each Wednesday at noon in the West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital conference room located at 701 Cypress Street in Sulphur.
•Care Help Requesting Used School Uniforms
Care Help of Sulphur at 200 N. Huntington St. is collecting gently used school uniforms now for the upcoming school year. Donations are accepted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Call Sandy Friesner at 528-2273 if you have any questions.
•SHS Class of 2000 Reunion
Sulphur High School Class of 2000 is searching for former classmates addresses for its 10 year class reunion. If you haven’t already turned in your address, please do so to one of the following committee members. Brandi Bares Trahan at bbares906@yahoo.com. Carly Cluck Landry at carly.cluck@gmail.com. Shawna Boullion Carlson at bou1281@yahoo.com.
•Sulphur Academy of Dance Arts Dance Technique Classes
Classes will focus on technique needed to execute dance movements with beauty, grace, and proper form. Exercises to improve strength and flexibility will also be part of the class. Tuesdays in July: ages 5-7, 9:30-10:30; ages 8-10, 10:30-11:30; ages 11 and up, 11:30-12:45. Call 527-5377 or 496-3912 for information. Classes are open to all area dancers.
•Teen Dances at VFW
The VFW and Ladies Auxiliary 8107, located at 1235 E. Napoleon Street in Sulphur will sponsor Teen Dances every Wednesday night from 8 until 11 p.m. all summer until the Wednesday night before school begins. Cost is $6. Teens will be required to sign in and sign out. Dress and behavior codes are enforced. Security will be on duty and there will be plenty of chaperons as well.
•American Flags Needed
The VFW and American Legion are soliciting American flags (9 1/2 x 5 or 9 1/2 x 5 1/2) for a display on the Avenue of Flags for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the 4th of July celebrations. For more information please call 528-2907 or 527-7104 and leave a message.
•Sulphur Alzheimers/Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group
For caregivers struggling to care for a loved one with some form of dementia, the Sulphur Alzheimers/Dementia Caregivers’ Support Group meets at Stonebridge Place each month in the second floor activity room at 6 p.m. Stonebridge is located at 1511 S. Huntington Street in Sulphur. Meeting times for the remainder of the year are as follows: August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 14. For more information, please contact Kelly Savoie at (337) 527-4433 or Beverly Morrison at (337) 842-6890.
•Literacy Council Offers Online G.E.D. Course
Need help preparing for your G.E.D.? Work on-line at your own pace. All that’s needed is access to a computer with Internet and a $25 registration fee. Call the Literacy Council of SWLA to schedule your orientation at (337) 494-7000. Orientations are offered in Sulphur, Lake Charles, Westlake and Cameron.
•Wise Penny Thrift Store Hours
Care/Help of Sulphur’s Wise Penny Thrift Store regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Every first and third Friday is 50 Cent Day for clothes, shoes, and purses as well as daily 50 percent off sales.
•Wall of Honor-Annual Women’s Fall Conference
The Women’s Commission of SWLA, Inc. is a local non-profit organization that strives to empower women in our community. We invite you to recognize a special person in your life with a tax deductible gift to this wonderful organization. An Honor Gift is a meaningful way to acknowledge a special person who has made a difference in your life. Honor gifts can also be made in memory of an honoree. A tribute card will be sent notifying them or their family of the donation. All honorees will be recognized on our website www.womenscommissionswla.com and on our Wall of Honor at the upcoming 20th Annual Women’s Fall Conference, October 21, 2010. For additional information contact Melonie Himel at wallofhonor@womenscommissionswla.com.
•Life Drawing Classes at Gallery by the Lake
Life drawing classes are being offered to the public from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Creative Arts Center of the Gallery by the Lake, 106 W. Lawrence (Pryce) St. in Lake Charles. Fee and other information is available from Associated Louisiana Artists at (337) 436-1008. Gallery by the Lake is operated by Associated Louisiana Artists Inc., a nonprofit organization.
