Times Picks 9/17/09

Multi Award Winning artists Kool & The Gang Coming to Delta Event Center October 10
World renowned R&B group Kool & The Gang has been keeping everyone dancing for decades. On Saturday, October 10, Kool & The Gang will be bringing their classic party hits to the Delta Event Center for a one-night-only performance, starting at 8 p.m.
In 1964 Khalis Bayyan (AKA Ronald Bell) and his brother, Robert “Kool” Bell, joined Jersey City neighborhood friends Robert “Spike” Mickens, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith to create a unique musical blend of jazz, soul and funk.
Tickets for Kool & The Gang start at $40 and are available online at deltadowns.com or ticketmaster.com, at The Delta Downs Gift Shop, or to charge by phone call 1-800-745-3000.

Dessert Extravaganza
September 19
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Local restaurants, bakeries and pastry chefs will allow the community to sample their mouthwatering creations.They'll also teach guests about the latest trends in wedding cakes, cupcakes, birthday cakes, ice cream and more.

McNeese Annual Faculty Exhibition
The McNeese State University Annual Faculty Exhibition is currently underway through Friday, Sept. 25, in McNeese's Abercrombie Gallery. The exhibit is sponsored by the McNeese Department of Visual Arts.
There will be a closing reception from 6–8 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Abercrombie Gallery honoring faculty artists. The reception is free to the public and coincides with the citywide Annual Gallery Promenade 2009 that Friday.
The exhibition features 45 recent works by McNeese visual arts faculty members Robbie Austin, Cynthia Howes-Baskin, Ken Baskin, Martin Bee, Meghan Fleming, Teresa Johnson, Heather Ryan Kelley, Lisa Reinauer, Lynn Reynolds, Larry Schuh, Lewis Temple and Gerry Wubben. The works presented will include ceramics, drawings, graphic design, illustration, intaglio, lithography, mixed media, monoprints, paintings and photography.
The Abercrombie Gallery, located in Room 125 of the Shearman Fine Arts Center, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, call the visual arts department at (337) 475-5060. Individuals requesting an accommodation to attend this exhibit or reception under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the McNeese visual arts department at least three business days in advance.
Title: “Archetype Classification: Cynosur Three”
Medium: archival pigment print

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral Chorale
September 26
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles. The concert program will include Samuel Barber’s “Agnus Dei” and “O Vos Omnes” by Pablo Casals, as well as a number of spirituals including “Elijah Rock” by Moses Hogan and
“True Light” arranged by Keith Hampton. Also included in the program will be “The Lord is My Shepherd” by Howard Goodall, which was the theme
from the popular BBC television series “The Vicar of Dibley.” Soloists for the concert are Colette Bulber Tanner, Damian France, Phillip Soileau, Allen Van Metre, Deanna Kolde and Michelle Taylor. The choir is under the direction of Robert Marcantel and accompanied by Charlotte Hine. The concert is free of charge and open to the public.

Tri-Parish Youth-a-Thon Opportunity
“Stepping up to the Challenge, Let Your Voices be Heard”
DeRidder Youth in 7th – 12th grade and their families are invited to take part in the Tri-Parish Youth-a-Thon on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. The event, sponsored by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Youth Advisory Committee of Local Workforce Investment Area 50, will bring together youth from the Vernon, Beauregard and Allen parish region for games, food, music and prizes.
Participants will learn how they can make a difference in their community and schools by getting involved in positive activities. Youth also will have a chance to meet with others their age from across the region to share ideas.
“Our state’s youth and their viewpoints are important to their communities, and we want to encourage them to take part in this event not only to have fun, but also to find out how their involvement can make a difference in their area,” said LWC Deputy Director of Emerging Workforce Johnny Riley.
The day will feature several special guests and chances for participants to win gift certificates and other door prizes. An “End of the Summer” ceremony will take place for all youth who participated in the WIA Summer Youth Employment Programs. Certificates and gift cards will be given to the WIA participants. These participants must be present to receive the gift card.
Questions concerning this event can be directed to 337-639-2175 in Allen Parish, 337-462-5838 in Beauregard Parish or 337-238-4179 in Vernon Parish. We look forward to seeing our area youth at this event.

Delta Downs Announces September Lounge Entertainment
Zero Echo
The music they play will take you back to the 80’s when you heard songs like "Just like Heaven” "Jenny 867-5309" and "Tainted Love" just to name a few cool tunes. So when you feel like going "back to the future” come out and see Zero Echo.
September 17th 8 pm-midnight
September 18th 8:30 pm – 1 am
September 19th 8:30 pm – 1 am
T-Broussard
Accordionist, singer, and songwriter are among several of Bryant Keith "T" Broussard’s musical talents. He also plays drums, scrub board, and bass guitar. Although Zydeco music is Bryant's primary performance style, he also plays traditional Creole music.
September 24th 8 pm-midnight
September 25th 8:30 pm – 1 am
September 26th 8:30 pm – 1 am
All shows in the Gator Lounge at Delta Downs are free and open to the public. The Gator Lounge opens Thursdays - Saturdays at 4 p.m. You must be 21 or older to attend the shows. More information is available on the Web at www.deltadowns.com .

SAGE Program
The McNeese Senior Academic Group Encounter, or SAGE, program will offer its fall lecture series from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays in Gayle Auditorium, located on the first floor of Gayle Hall, with the theme of “Evolution of a City: Lake Charles from Past to Present.”
SAGE programs are open to adults age 50 and over and the cost is $39 for all five lectures.
The lecture series schedule is as follows:
Sept. 28—“Growth of Education,” Annette Ballard
Oct. 12—“Historical Development of Local Health Care,” Dr. John Noble Jr.
Oct. 26—“Growth of Business and Industry,” Adley Cormier
Nov. 9—“The Influence of Religion and the Arts,” Father Henry Mancuso, the Rev. Henry Bowden and Bill Kushner
Participants will enjoy an added treat after each lecture with a tasting from the Junior League of Lake Charles’ “Marshes to Mansion Cookbook.”
For more information or to register, call the McNeese Office of Continuing Education at 475-5615 or 475-5127.

Coushatta Tribe to Host 15th Annual Coushatta Powow Celebration
October 2-4, 2009
Hundreds of Native American dancers and singers are expected to gather at the 15th Annual Coushatta Powwow Celebration on October 2-4, 2009 in Kinder, Louisiana. One of the largest gatherings in the South, the powwow will feature competition dancing and Native American arts & crafts exhibits in the spectacular three-day festivities. Traditionally, the term “powwow” is defined as “a gathering of nations.” Coushatta’s powwow brings together representatives of tribes across the US and Canada, converging in a pageant of majesty and splendor.
The powwow will begin with Gourd Dancing on Friday, October 2nd at 5:00 pm followed by the Grand Entry at 7:00 pm. During the grand entry, Native American dancers dressed in full traditional regalia will parade around the dance arena in a brilliant spectacle of color and sound. Competitions and specialty dances will be seen throughout the three-day event.
Schedule Of Events
Gourd Dancing
Friday October 2 at 5:00pm
Saturday October 3 at 10:30am
Sunday October 4 at 11:00am
Grand Entry
Friday October 2 at 7:00pm
Saturday October 3 at 12:00 noon &7:00pm
Sunday October 4 at 1:00pm
The powwow also includes exhibitions of the many talents of Native American tribes. The famous “Indian frybread” and “Indian tacos” as well as other foods will be sold. Talented Native American artists and craftsmen will showcase their wares in the Powwow Market: turquoise and silver jewelry, hand-made beaded items, hand-woven long leaf pine needle baskets, and more. The public is invited to attend this family-friendly alcohol-and-drug-free event. For more information about the 15th Annual Coushatta Powwow Celebration, visit the website: www.coushattapowwow.com
Coushatta Casino Resort is located in Kinder, Louisiana on Highway 165 (I-10 exit 44), featuring over 2800 slots and more than 70 table games. Phone 800-584-7263 for more information or visit the website at coushattacasinoresort.com