A Review of The Research Turtles Debut Full Length Album

By Nancy Correro
The Times of SWLA




Do you like the Beatles during their psychedelic Helter Skelter days? I do. And I frequently wish for the days we could bring them back. How about something better...something better than that? How about it’s a local band and they are so creative that you could ‘Get Carried Away’ and did I mention it was a local band? That is how it’s better and pretty chill. The Research Turtles look like the 60’s Beatles with their similar haircuts and ties, but this is your late 60’s Beatles on this song (thick guitar sound and all).

The Research Turtles are Jud Norman on bass and vocals, Joe Norman on guitar and vocals, Logan Fontenot on guitar, and Blake Thibodeaux on drums. The self titled album was produced by Justin Tocket and engineered by Korey Richey. The album was recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA and mastered by Andrew Mendelson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, TN. Damn, Mission and Break My Fall were recorded at Jungle Room Studios in Los Angeles, CA and produced by Erik Eldenius and Dilana.

Damn. No, I mean Damn this song is good. Damn is the name of the second song. I can’t help but think these guys took out all of their parent’s albums and listened to them when they were tots. This song will remind you of The Cars’ Shake it Up, You’re Just What I Needed, and My Best Friends Girl all wrapped into one song.

Mission is a catchy tune with a clever 3-2-1 hook. Perhaps not as much appeal as the first two songs on the album.

Kiss Her Goodbye is a heavy, melancholy ballad.

Cement Floor has that hittin’ the road kind of feel. Get in your car and drive with this turned up really loud and I’m thinking all of your woes will disappear. There is a nice bridge in the middle of this song with some fine bass guitar work.

The Riff Song starts with that wonderfully excellent psychedelic guitar sound in the beginning. The vocal is put through some electronics to give it that trippy, in-the-can sound. Sit back with your favorite drink and enjoy.

Tomorrow is a very sunny, warm day song. It’s carefree, telling you that ‘tomorrow will be fine.’
Into A Hole is that do-wop love ballad you know you’ve heard, but can’t think of the name.
A Feeling has a heavy percussive and guitar driving sound. It’s only ‘A Feeling’ I get, but this song has got a catchy chorus with nice harmonies.

925 is a heavy driving song from the start with more of that thick psychedelic mix of fuzzy guitar work over snare drum and sixteen figure high hat work—Fast and furious and fun.

Break My Fall is possibly the catchiest song on this album. There are many elements on many levels that are nice about this recording. The lead vocal layered with the background vocals during the chorus are a nice touch. There is a break soon after the song begins with some driving guitar and percussive work then a heavy guitar solo all of which is reminiscent of some early Cream Strange Brew moments.

This is a solid album for The Research Turtles. These guys are going places. And just think Chuck, this band is from here. Everyone needs to go directly to The Research Turtles myspace page and check them out www.myspace.com/researchturtles.

I expect we will be hearing more from this group in the near future.

A Conversation With Switchfoot’s Drummer Chad Butler

By Nancy Correro
Editor, The Times of SWLA

Switchfoot

San Diego based band Switchfoot will be coming to L’Auberge Du Lac Casino to perform on August 13 at Party By The Pool, 7 pm.

Chad Butler, the drummer and one of the founding members of Switchfoot, called me from Seattle to talk about their tour, the band’s new album Hello Hurricane, and charities they are involved in.

“We are so excited to be playing the new songs. We’re trying them out. These shows are a chance for us to get out of the studio. This tour is actually before the record, the record comes out in the fall,” said Butler.

Switchfoot is Jon Foreman, lead vocals and guitar, Tim Foreman, bass, Jerome Fontamillas, Keyboards, guitar and vocals, Drew Shirley, guitar, and Chad Butler, Drums. If you aren’t familiar with their sound, think alternative, jam-band pop, with some funky, grungy mixed in.
The band has a strong presence online and they’re using the podcasts on YouTube to get some of their new music out to fans. If you search Switchfoot’s website you’ll discover the podcast link to YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/switchfootpodcast.

“You know this has been the biggest break between albums we’ve ever had so from the bands perspective we’re just itching to get this new stuff out there. We’ve been doing little sneak peaks on our website and YouTube page,” said Chad.

When asked whether or not he had a favorite song from the new record Butler was quick to respond.

“Yeah, there’s a song called “Mess Of Me” that is actually going to be the first single and it’s a song that really took a long time to record. We recorded maybe ten different versions of the song and different arrangements. It felt like a labor of love because it’s something we all believed in and it was a song that meant a lot to us on a heart level so it was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears we put into it. And we’ve been playing it live every night on the tour this summer and it’s gone over really well.”

The band has taken a couple of years to be creative and work on Hello Hurricane. The guys built their own studio in their home town of San Diego. To say they were productive is an understatement. According to Butler, the band recorded eighty songs. Yes, you read that correctly. I had to ask twice to be sure I understood him. Butler laughed as he explained their unbelievable productivity.

“You know as an independent band we had all the time in the world and all the freedom and then all of a sudden the horror becomes how do you define yourself? You’ve got all these different songs and different styles and different musical experimentations. It becomes a big mess, and that was the hard part you know?”

Switchfoot realized it was a challenge to then go through all of those songs, and yet it was an excellent opportunity to have plenty of time and plenty of material to create their record.

“About halfway through recording the record, we looked at each other and said what have we done? It was really fun and the dream was realized and hit this creative stride but then how do you make a statement and how do you define who you are and that’s when it came down to what are the songs saying and which ones mean the most to us?”

Jon Foreman, his bassist brother Tim, and drummer Chad Butler were surfing fanatics when they formed the group in 1996.

“Yeah, well I guess growing up in San Diego surfing is sort of second nature,” said Butler.
“Switchfoot” is a surfing term. It’s basically the switching of the feet on the surf board.

Since the band is so enthusiastic about surfing and giving their talent and time to causes, they have combined the two in the Bro-Am Surf Contest and Concert. The fifth-annual Switchfoot Bro-Am surf contest and concert, which was held at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas on Saturday, June 27, 2009, was created to give back to the San Diego community while also benefiting a local children’s charity.

This year’s event benefited San Diego’s StandUp For Kids.

“The whole Bro Am event benefits homeless kids in our hometown, San Diego, and it’s an incredible organization called “StandUp for kids” and it’s now actually nationwide but it was started in San Diego so it’s something that’s close to our hearts and our home.

The surf contest and benefit concert on the beach is all to raise awareness for that organization and we’ve been doing it for five years and it’s our favorite day of the year,” said Chad.

The band also finds time for several other organizations and charities like: Habitat For Humanity, To Write Love On Her Arms, and helping out their idols U2 with AIDS-in-Africa.

“We try to make a difference in local communities—something bigger than just rock n roll. We are really inspired by the people that come to our shows because they have really educated us on what they’re doing.

And people who are getting involved in their own backyards and building a house for Habitat for Humanity and To Write Love On Her Arms—helping kids that are dealing with depression, and suicide and things of that nature—I think those are real causes that don’t get enough support so we are definitely trying to spread the word.”

Since forming in 1996, Switchfoot has been rewarded and recognized for their Christian faith through their music. The band has headlined religious-music festivals, and scored a 2001 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album of the Year, plus several Gospel Music Awards (GMA Dove awards) and ASCAP Awards.

Chad Butler is quick to say that they have never labeled themselves as a Christian band. He was very adamant to tell me that while they are Christians, they are so by choice and that their music is a separate entity.

“We’ve always just called ourselves “rock band” and we are Christian by faith and not by genre. I am a believer and as a believer your faith is going to be reflected in your art, and it is exciting when you look out at our audience and see all different kinds of people with all different ethnicities, and religious backgrounds and I think we make music for thinking people and I appreciate the support of anyone who has an open mind and connects with the music.”

Switchfoot has certainly moved beyond the label and boxing in that one might experience if you called yourself strictly a Christian band. It’s not too often that Christian groups are able to have solid crossover success with their material. Except for bands like Jars of Clay, P.O.D., and Creed, the labeling can sometimes box an artist into a particular category.

Not so with Switchfoot. They have had the good fortune to be on some successful Soundtracks. The Spiderman 2 CD, Import version only, contains their song “Meant To Live”. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian boasts their song “This is Home”. ‘Four of their songs are on A Walk to Remember, the '02 Mandy Moore film.

“Well, it’s definitely an honor when someone from films or the visual art forms find a meaning or a placement for your music. To see your song in someone else’s art it’s an honor you know to have a director call and say hey I really like this song and I think it would fit well with what I’m trying to do in a movie—you know that’s a huge honor,” said Butler.

Recently, the band covered Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” and if you haven’t seen it, you should go online and check it out. It seems there is no putting this band into any kind of box when you watch the Beyonce cover. Chad laughed at the mention of the Beyonce cover. The band had fun covering the song.

“You know it’s funny, we pick our own songs very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves very seriously and I think if you watch enough of our podcast clips on YouTube you’ll figure that out very quickly. We’ve been covering that song this summer too.”

On the cusp of the release of their new album, Butler is introspective about their music and the up coming record Hello Hurricane.

“We are the same guys with the same goal of making the music we believe in. We’ve been doing this for over ten years now and that’s really what keeps us going. Really, what defines this new album is picking songs that we felt like had a hope. Because you turn on the TV this day and age and hope is hard to come by.”

On August 13 at L’Auberge’s Party By The Pool, Switchfoot will be playing the old favorites and their new, hopeful songs from the up-and-coming record Hello Hurricane, to be released in October.

“For me growing up, I looked to art and music when times were tough and I think there is a theme on this record of facing the storm head-on,” said Chad Butler.

Everyone around Lake Charles and the surrounding area certainly knows what it’s like to look into the eye of a hurricane. Switchfoot’s Hello Hurricane will be a welcoming storm.

For more information on Switchfoot you should check out these online locations:
http://switchfoot.com/
http://twitter.com/switchfoot
http://www.myspace.com/switchfoot
http://www.facebook.com/switchfoot

The Lake Area’s Dance and Performance Collective, Breathe, Bring It Full ‘Circle’

By Jessica Ferguson
Asst. Editor, The Times of SWLA






Breathe, the Lake Area’s Dance and Performance Collective, was created two years ago when a young woman—Jillian Ardoin—gathered her passion for dance and choreography, contacted some friends with the same interests, and ‘followed her dream.’ Ardoin has been dancing since she was three years old. It’s safe to say it’s in her blood, her heart, and her soul.

Ardoin graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School then attended the University of Texas in Austin where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

She absorbed her dancing and choreography classes, then took off to California where she participated in the Courage Group, a contemporary dance company committed to creating original dance works fusing classical art and architecture with metaphoric and resonant movement ideas. Ardoin also studied and danced with ODC which is considered one of the most active centers for dance on the West Coast.

Ardoin’s impressive resume shows a vast amount of experience.

She has studied in Texas, New York, Florida, North Carolina and California. In addition to being a certified dance instructor and a member of Dance Masters of America, Jillian Ardoin is a Licensed Massage Therapist at the state and national level.

These are the credentials that her peers said yes to when Ardoin placed that original phone call and asked, “Do you want to dance?” Otherwise, why would eight or nine people who hold full-time jobs and lead busy, active lives, invest themselves in yet another very demanding project?

The answers are: Passion for dance, passion for expressing themselves, passion to be creative, and respect and faith in Jillian Ardoin and her abilities.

Meet the Dancers
Lindsey Ardoin, Jillian’s sister has been a massage therapist for six years and has taught massage for two. She holds a Bachelors Degree from McNeese and is currently working on her nursing degree. As if that isn’t enough, she practices no less than twice a week for three performances in the up and coming Circular Connections.

Frances Fazzio began dancing at the age of three at Glenda Moss Academy of Dance. She holds a BFA from LSU with a concentration in painting and drawing. Frances has been an art teacher for four years.

Another native of Lake Charles is Elizabeth Gates who graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts. Elizabeth currently resides in Lafayette and comes to Lake Charles twice a week for practices with Breathe.
Tracy LeMieux serves on the board of directors of ACTS theatre and has performed two plays in 2009. For the past ten summers, Tracy has conducted her own Einstein art camp.

Colleen Locklin is a member of Lake Charles Civic Ballet and teaches for Lady Leah LaFargue School of the Dance. Locklin has performed with ACTS theatre, Houston TUTS Theatre and Fort Bend Theatre.

Lacy Vinson is also a product of the Glenda Moss Academy of Dance and has been dancing since she was three. She is a new home sales consultant in the field of real estate.

Lindsay Quebedeaux is a French teacher at SJ Welsh, a board member at ACTS Theatre and sings on her church praise team.

Sara Syron has been dancing for 23 years and works for Starbucks.

Chris Shearman, a personal trainer, is also a musician, songwriter, and singer. He currently
works at Smoothie King.

Let the Show Begin
Under the leadership and instruction of Ardoin, her small group of people who were all very interested in moving and dancing, collected together and started moving and breathing together. Their first performance was P.L.A.C.E.—performing local artists collaborating exhibition, and then there was THRILLER at the Poor Pony Music Festivals.

These performances put Breathe in the spotlight and gave them the confidence to expand further in an attempt to perform throughout the community.

They have since performed in events such as Poor Pony Thank You Party, V-Day and Pardi Gras as well as their annual fundraiser at Luna’s Bar and Grill.

Choreography, their first show, was such a success that they decided to continue entertaining and communicating the performing arts to the community.

This year, thanks to a DAF grant from the Arts and Humanities Council, and support from the Lake Charles Community Ballet, Breathe is able to perform bigger and better at Rosa Hart Theatre.

Breathe’s Circular Connections is the second annual showcase, and consists of modern dance with the help of some props, collaboration and a little aerial dancing.

Ardoin says the pieces in Circular Connections are definitely more near and dear to her heart. “They all have something to do with me and my past experiences in all types of relationships I have had since I’ve moved back home—there are moments of happiness and a lighthearted atmosphere throughout the show, ” said Ardoin.

Ardoin said while choreographing Circular Connections she focused on clarity in an attempt to relate her relationship experiences and the things that are most important to her. “Things such as Strength, Trust, Relaxation, Honesty, Engagement, Being Connected,” said Ardoin.

“We all go through these times in our lives and experience them very differently,” said Ardoin. “I hope our audience can feel and see how he/she is connected to everyone around them, even if it’s by the simplest thing as our Breathe, which is a continuous Circular Movement.”

Jillian Ardoin has done exactly what Mayor Roach and many parents and grandparents have hoped and dreamed for their children: she’s brought her talent, her dreams and expertise home—back to Lake Charles, Louisiana. She’s giving back to her community by being an integral part of the community.

The six dances Breathe will perform are called, Relax, Support, Strength, Connections, Honesty and Trust, and while each performance shares a huge chunk of Ardoin’s heart and soul, it’s the third dance called Strength that exhibits much of Jillian Ardoin’s character.

“This dance portrays how powerful we can be together and individually,” says Ardoin, “and how understanding the importance of our own strength can get us far in reaching our personal goals.”

BREATHE, the Lake Area's Dance and Performance Collective presents "Circular Connections," at 8 p.m. on Aug. 21-22, at Civic Center's Rosa Hart Theater. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Expressions and Gordon's Drug Store or at the door.

The Lake Area Film Group Gets Top Billing

By Jessica Ferguson
The Times of SWLA




Welcome to the movie industry! That got your attention, didn’t it? That’s exactly what it was meant to do, because the film and media industry is a hot item these days. Almost every parish has a film alliance or commission, trying to woo Hollywood to the great state of Louisiana. And why not?

Louisiana has flavor, atmosphere, alligators and swamps, beautiful oaks and cypress trees, antebellum plantations and flashy casinos. Our people are characters, and our weather is warm year long. Enticing film and media to our state and community would be a plus for our economy. But that’s the business side of it.

What about the creative side?
Meet the Lake Area Film Group.


The Lake Area Film Group was founded in September 2004 by a group of passionate individuals interested in growing a filmmaking community in Southwest Louisiana. The original group committed to the mission statement: to create a network of people, ideas, and resources which, would be shared collectively, enabling the independent filmmaker in the Lake Area, and to host an annual film festival in Lake Charles, which would serve to both motivate and to inspire.

That’s exactly what LAFG does.

Some film groups are highly structured and wax long and eloquent on writing rules and philosophies, but they intimidate and quench that bold creativity needed to just go for it and put it all out there. “It” is that deep-down-in-the-gut-in-the-heart dream a person holds dear—that dream to create by writing or producing or directing or acting in a film.

“It’s not out of reach,” says Scott Waldrop, a KPLC employee and president of the Lake Area Film Group. “Filmmaking is not as elusive as it sounds.”

Julie Fay, also an employee of KPLC and one of the founding members of LAFG, writes screenplays. She meets weekly with her screenwriting critique group to make sure what she’s writing works. Julie is also one heck of an actress. On top of that, Julie does an excellent job of keeping the group informed of national film festivals, competitions and film sprints across the state.

What’s a film sprint? Hard work and a lot of fun. And a learning experience.

“Film sprints are popular across the country,” Waldrop says. “Teams are given certain criteria—it might be a location, a prop, and a line of dialogue that has to be included in your short. You tie it all together within 24 hours. You have to write the script, produce it and edit it within that 24 hour period.”
Sounds like reality TV, doesn’t it?

Waldrop says within each team there is a writer, an editor, a cinematographer, and a director. “And if you’re lucky you have some talent,” he says.

LAFG is a loose-knit group and the reason they get together is to encourage each other and to help members with their individual projects. They invite anyone with an interest or passion for filmmaking to join them.

“We’re all passionate about what we do,” says Waldrop. “Just to different degrees.”
Waldrop also says they want LAFG to be fun. While the structure might not be there, the passion is. They’re all serious about their craft, learning more and achieving their individual goals. They all produce something.

For anyone who has an interest in filmmaking, Waldrop says there’s a place for them with Lake Area Film Group. “You can get as creative as you want to get,” he says. “There’s a place for you if you want to write, produce, direct and if you want to make independent films. With LAFG you can build your skill sets up, even if you have no skills.”

John Ware, another KPLC employee, sums it up by saying, “I would like our group to grow with like-minded people because when we’re bigger, we’re better. We learn from each other.”

Mark your calendar now. LAFG meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM at Central Library in Lake Charles. LAFG can also be found on myspace and facebook. Don’t be shy. Lake Area Film Group is warm and inviting and they honestly want to encourage you.

If you have been stifling that heartfelt desire to be an independent filmmaker, stifle no more. To familiarize yourself with their work, go to www.youtube.com and search for lafilmgroup.

Don’t forget to read the credits! For more information email LAFilmGroup@gmail.com.

From Wood Chips to Electricity

By Chaney Ferguson
The Times of SWLA




If seeing is believing, then many Lake Area residents became believers in
biomass technology. Farmers, city officials, and even a local principal gathered at the McNeese Farm on June 18th to watch as switch grass was burned and converted into enough electricity to power lights.

“Basically we have a system that converts any carbon based biomass into energy,” said Heath Barnett, Ph.D. Chemistry.

That energy can take the form of electricity, liquid fuels, propane, diesel, or methanol. It can become heat to produce steam to provide heating purposes.

“So we can take in wood chips, switch grass, banana peels. Basically, if you can burn it in a bonfire we can run it. We can make a marshmallow based gas fire if we wanted to. It would burn and produce gas and we could turn it into energy,” said Barnett.

Skeptics believe it is either too difficult or not economically feasible.

Barnett says those reasons are a myth and not true at all. He does admit there are pros and cons, just like with any other technology.

“Today we are trying to get away from fossil fuels and 80% input of foreign oil, well this is one of the solutions we can have. We have tons of landfill waste, the wood industry is dying, and we are becoming a paperless society,” said Barnett.

Proponents of this technology believe it will provide America with cheaper energy prices.
Dr. John Sutherlin, Spokesman for Renewable International Fuels, LLC believes areas that are used to having power knocked out by hurricanes can benefit from the technology.

“You chop up some wood, power up the BTE unit and it produces electricity,” said Sutherlin.
“Imagine a unit like this working side by side with FEMA trying to restore our gulf coast after hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Instead of going and chipping up that wood and putting it into a landfill use it to re-power the city,” said Sutherlin.

There are a couple of limitations.

“You need to be in an area, obviously a rural setting is best, or if you are going to be in an urban setting something that isn’t congested. This is never going to be a unit that will be downtown in the middle of a city,” said Sutherlin.

“You want this where you can bring in the wood and have it automated where it is continuously feeding into the BTE, but that’s it,” said Sutherlin. “The limitations are getting your feedstock to the BTE, and the electricity you produce.”

Sutherlin said the reason they like producing electricity is because they can produce it as needed.
If you are producing a fuel you have to store it. With electricity it is an optimum system,” said Sutherlin.

Barnett said the technology has been around since World War II when the Germans used it to produce liquid fuel to power their war machine.

Now, as technology is constantly changing the same technology can be used as a clean renewable resource.

For more information check out Renewable International Fuels LLC website at www.stumptopump.com.

DeAngelo’s Rises Like a Phoenix From the Ashes

By Jessica Ferguson
The Times of SWLA






Richie Gregory, an LSU graduate, will admit his experience in restaurant work is limited to sitting down and eating in them. But that experience served him well when it came to choosing the right franchise—DeAngelo’s Pizzeria, a company founded by Louis DeAngelo in 1991 in Baton Rouge.

“I don’t profess to know the restaurant business. I was smart enough to find someone who did,” Gregory said.

“He’s learning,” said co-owner Ben Herrera.

Richie Gregory and Ben Herrera are two extremely different, yet compatible personalities. Herrera is a chef by trade. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, he grew up in the restaurant business, busing tables, washing dishes, doing whatever needed to be done. Having worked in several high-end restaurants, Herrera became involved in more complicated projects and ended up in culinary school in New York. When that didn’t work out for him, he found himself in Denver at the Emily Griffith School of Opportunity Culinary School, the nation’s oldest and most experienced career and technical college.

The two men discovered each other when Richie Gregory, 20 years in the insurance business, sold a health policy to Herrera when Herrera worked at Pujo Street Cafe. Evidently something clicked because a friendship and an eventual partnership grew from that business transaction. They received a lot of advice early on about partnerships and they admit they spent a lot of time discussing how tough partnerships are. According to Herrera, they worked everything out, discussed exactly what kind of partnership they wanted.

When Gregory and Herrera finally decided to become restaurant owners, they trekked over to Baton Rouge so Herrera could taste his very first DeAngelo’s sampling. “I ordered the most simple thing on the menu—a pepperoni pizza.” According to Herrera if they could make a simple pizza good, that was enough for him.

“It reminded me of the pizza I grew up on back in Colorado—a simple New York style pizza. I was impressed,” said Herrera.

The two men’s friendship is genuine. They actually laugh at each other’s jokes. They share a mutual respect for each other and that’s the core strength of their partnership. More than likely that mutual respect is what helped them survive the shock and bitter disappointment when they watched DeAngelo’s burn to the ground—six years of hard work was nothing more than a sooty pile of ashes.

Was there ever a moment they considered not rebuilding? Both men gave a resounding, “Yes. And we’re still discussing it.”

Of course, the project is well underway and the guys are anxiously awaiting the new DeAngelo’s Pizzeria just like all fans throughout the city.

“We couldn’t have done it without Cameron State Bank. They really stepped up to the plate and supported us,” said Gregory. “The trick was designing something we could afford.”
According to Gregory, to set the record straight, DeAngelos will not be two story. “The restaurant will be approximately the same size—maybe a little bigger, but it will actually seat more people,” he said, “with no wasted space.”

“The neighborhood bar will be slightly larger,” said Herrera.

Herrera is looking forward to the wide open show kitchen.

“Anywhere you sit, you can see everything going on—Gas and wood-style ovens, ceramic ovens—that will be the focal point of the restaurant,” said Herrera. “That’s what’s changed.”

According to Herrera, DeAngelo’s will still have their famous salads, the popular pasta dishes everyone loves, and their calzones. “We’ll eliminate large pizzas—the 16” pizzas,” said Herrera. “We’ll add a whole line of proteins: steaks, veal, fish, and we’ll be running a full service ala cart menu.”

“We’ll have the fried shrimp,” said Gregory.

“Fried zucchini,” said Herrera.

Most in Lake Charles can’t wait to walk through the doors of the new DeAngelo’s and once again savor the finest and freshest ingredients available. DeAngelo’s prides itself on being a classic Italian pizzeria and the company is known for hiring highly motivated people committed to their job and their customers. According to Herrera, DeAngelo’s will hire somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 employees. Between the two locations—Ryan Street and their DeAngelo’s Express on Country Club—they’ll employ around 85 people.

For anyone who needs that DeAngelo’s fix immediately, the DeAngelo’s Express is located at 2740 Country Club Road, next to Albertson’s. Call 478-5784 to place your order or just pop in. While there’s limited seating and a fast-food atmosphere, the pizza, calzones and baked lasagna tastes every bit as good as their pre-fire South Ryan Street location, but then that’s the mission of DeAngelo’s: naturally delicious with the finest, freshest ingredients.

Ben Herrera and Richie Gregory agree they don’t want to be the best Italian restaurant in the area–they want to be the best restaurant.

The partners appreciate all the positive comments and encouragement they’ve received from their DeAngelo’s fans.

“In the six short years we were in business,” said Gregory, “it seems we became a landmark restaurant.”

Their customer’s support and enthusiasm makes a difference.

The Times of Southwest Louisiana/ Fusion Five Up And Coming & Under 40 Awards Banquet

In our June 11 issue, The Times of Southwest Louisiana announced the 2009 annual Up and Coming and Under 40 honorees. Each year, we take the opportunity to tell our readers about 10 local young adults that are making a positive impact on the community. We use criteria that focus on several points. Those points are: being expert and having specialized knowledge in the field in which they practice, excellent practical and literary skills in relation to their profession, and a high standard of ethics, behavior, and work activities.
As always, participation with Fusion Five is special to us. The young adults of Fusion Five came together through a desire to create an organization that would allow them to educate, facilitate, and illuminate the voice of young professionals. They are the perfect partner for the Up and Coming and Under 40 search.
On June 15 at The Isle of Capri, the recipients, their friends, and families gathered to celebrate with a dinner and awards presentation.
We were honored to present Mr. Ray Shoemaker, CEO of Rural Healthcare Developers as our speaker. We took the opportunity to tweet the entire event. Oran Parker was our tweeter. Go to twitter and search for lc_tweets and look for #under40 entries. The event was said to have been a prime opportunity to network with future leaders of our community.


CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR RECIPIENTS FOR 2009

• Dr. Lisa A. Vaughn – Doctor at SWLA Center for Health Services
• Beau Hearod – Owner and President of Jeff Davis Insurance Agency
• Heath Allen – Executive Director of Lake Charles Regional Airport
• Angela Tezeno – Life Coach For Women, Author, Singer, Songwriter
• Judd Bares – TV Producer/Director, Owner of Sweet Spot Telemedia, Nashville Recording Artist
• Brooks Donald Williams – Head Coach for McNeese State Women’s Basketball
• Nicholas (Nic) Edward Hunter – Owner and Operator of Harlequin Steaks and Seafood
• Cassondra Savoy Guilbeau – Regional Director for the American Heart Association
• Richard Cole – Assessor for Calcasieu Parish
• Faith Thomas – Accounting Administrator with Texas Industries Anacoco Aggregates Division