The Independent Media Group August 24, 2011 - The Independent Media Group

The Independent Weekly August 24, 2011

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Pathfinder
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 By Jeremy Alford Photos by Daniel Landry Rookie Congressman Jeff Landry of New Iberia found a home in the Tea Party and an alliance with Sen. David Vitter. But is either a path to re-election? ... Read More >>

RE: Gay and OK
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 It should be a point of pride that Lafayette’s LGBT community is relatively robust. ... Read More >>

Marketing the Mark-Up
Wednseday, August 24, 2011 By Heather Miller The firm that crafted Lafayette’s school facilities plan has been hired to manage its implementation. Now it just has to convince voters to approve a hefty tax increase. ... Read More >>

The Easy Way Out
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 By Leslie Turk HUD capitulates, paying two former housing assistance contractors 40 grand. ... Read More >>

Cochon Delay?
Wednesday, August24, 2011 By Anna Purdy Photos by Robin May *Nope. Chef Donald Link’s Lafayette version of his popular Big Easy restaurant is on schedule for a mid-September opening.* ... Read More >>

Pooyie 08.24.2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 C’EST BON The financial woes of Acadiana Outreach Center... PAS BON Downtown Lafayette’s Tex-Mex dining quotient went from awesome to lonesome... COUILLON When the League of Women Voters in Baton Rouge hosted a forum last week... ... Read More >>

Special Recognition
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Acadian Companies, Schumacher Group, Louisiana Rice Mill receive top honors at annual Acadiana Top 50 Business Luncheon Sept. 1 ... Read More >>

CASTING A WIDE NET

FoodNet is marking a quarter century of service to the less fortunate with a new leader and a renewed focus on its core principles. By Andrea Gallo

Lemel Jones laughs as she recalls her college days when, as a “rapid train who’s out of control,” she used to wake her friends from their Saturday morning slumber to work on projects, particularly ones involving feeding the hungry. While the people she inspires to volunteer may have changed over the years, her attitude of service and love for

Finds 08.24.11
A BOY AND HIS HORN Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects on New Orleans will not be soon forgotten, and there has already been a great number of books written on both the event and the people who endured it, but now there’s a new children’s book that relates this tragic happening through the innocent point of view of a 10-year-old boy. ... Read More >>

A&E Calendar for Aug. 24-30
The Independent Weekly’s calendar features community events, performances, workshops, meetings and more. ... Read More >>

Party Girl 08.24.11

The ’90s ruled at Barbara Olinde’s Sweet 16 2.0 birthday celebration at her swanky party pad. Walls were decked with strings of pink lights and movie posters from the era, including Pulp Fiction, Fight Club and The Big Lebowski. Guests dressed as their favorite characters from the decade, including Barbie herself, looking perfectly precious as Alicia Silverstone’s character Cher from Clueless. Other “celebrity” sightings included Nash Bridges, Princess Di, Madonna and Anna Nicole Smith
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Most Read

David Calhoun, ‘EB’ Brooks join Lafayette Central Park

David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Lafayette’s ‘sinking ship’ is cash flow positive

“We’ve crossed that magic threshold,” LUS Director Terry Huval says.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.