Party Girl is so pleased to report that the new fund-raising strategy for the Lafayette Catholic Service Centers is a resounding success. This year, the diocese retired the Bishop’s Charity Ball after an impressive 20-year track record and embraced a series of smaller, more intimate gatherings at L’Eveche, Monsignor Keith Derouen’s beautifully restored residence adjacent to St. John’s Cathedral. Called Opus Christi Magnum (the Great Work of Christ), the events were hosted by a group of captains who invited friends to come together for an elegant evening and contribute to the cause, which helps fund several local programs, including the St. Joseph Diner and the St. Joseph Shelter for Men. It was my privilege to attend the final soirée, where it was confirmed that $463,000 was raised in 2008, breaking all previous records by $100,000. It’s even more impressive when you learn how little overhead is involved and that almost every penny helps the clients of the LCSC. What a great way to enter the holiday season in the spirit of giving!
Voorhies & Labbe attorneys and staff gathered downtown at City Bar Friday night for the firm’s annual Christmas party, so I made a quick stop. Much to my surprise and delight, one of my favorite restaurants, Zea, was catering the gathering — serving corn grits, Mediterranean hummus, ribs and the most mouth-watering grilled chicken breast I have ever tasted.
In mid-November the Krewe of Victoria celebrated the announcement of its 2009 Royal Court at a la carte. A delicious buffet dinner and dancing went on late into the evening, with music by the Hydromatics. Named Queen Victoria XVI is Dana LaBorde (whose husband Tom is a past prince), and Prince Albert XVI is Jimmy Guilbeaux. This year’s duchesses and their dukes are Lea and Lee Tanner, Carla Gala with Manny Gala, Ginny Kelly with Blaine Kelly, Betty Blaize and her son Charles and Linda Poche with Jim Poche. The Dame Commander was there also, but that’s a secret never to be revealed. Emcee for the night was past Prince Ken Privat of Crowley, who showed up in a frogman outfit complete with seaweed, befitting the “Under the Sea” theme of the ball. An enthusiastic second line started up later in the night, and no one wanted it to end. We’ll surely pick back up at the Krewe of Victoria Ball on Jan. 17.
UL fans are hands-down the best tailgaters in the Sun Belt Conference, so it was no surprise that hundreds of them ducked out of work early (I’m convinced some never even showed up) for the mid-week final game of the regular season on Dec. 3. The food was delish, but my favorite was MidSouth Bank’s chicken and sausage gumbo, served with a heaping pile of potato salad. Fans’ excitement continued into the night as the university retired the jersey of star running back Tyrell Fenroy right there on the field and the squad went on to defeat Middle Tennessee 42-28, which made the Cajuns bowl-eligible. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the last tailgating opportunity of the season, as the Ragin’ Cajuns football squad was passed over for a bowl game. But, hey, there’s always next year.
David and Betsy Koke, Colleen McDaniel, John Chappuis, Elizabeth and Tyron Picard
Susan Charbonnet, Charlie and Liz Baudoin
Linda and Richard Sturlese, Margaret Rucks and Suzanne Boutte
Janet Wood, Bill Charbonnet, Chuck Wood and Dr. Mose Rausch
Brad Duhe, Brenda and David Dooley Sr., and Sandy Duhe
Monsignor Keith J. DeRouen, Kimberly J. Boudreaux, the Most Rev. Michael Jarrell and Tyron Picard
Mary and Willard Hamilton
Duane Latiolais, Allen Armentor, Marlene Ziegler, Bill Bass and Kathy Hanks
Naanie Daigle and Lamont and Patty Domingue
Bill Bass and Marlene Ziegler
Queen Victoria XVI Dana LaBorde and husband Tom
Betty Blaize, Dana Laborde, Brenda Privat, Brenda Trahan and Carolyn Guilbeaux
Prince Albert XVI Jimmy Guilbeaux and wife Carolyn
Eric Mellington, Ryan Pecot, Brad Pecot and James Stevens
In rendering his ruling, District Judge John Trahan all but called the real estate developer a liar for inconsistencies in his accounts of what prompted him to punch a school teacher unconscious.
Frank’s Casing Crew, now doing business as Frank’s International, will make its final appearance on ABiz’s list of the Top 50 Privately Held Companies in Acadiana this year, and once again it will likely be at the top with more than $1 billion in annual revenues. The 75-year-old company specializing in tubular fabrication and installation services to the oil and gas industry plans to offer shares of its stock to the public for the first time.
The defeat, or rather highjacking of House Bill 420 in the final days of this year's Legislative Session, say Reps. Vincent Pierre and Terry Landry, is the result of the propaganda spread by one unidentified local media outlet and an unnamed former state Representative, but nothing to do with the original legislation's lack of checks, balances or details.
City-Parish Council Chairman Brandon Shelvin heaped steady doses of condescending ire on a Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana executive while failing to reveal his financial ties to a BC/BS rival.
Abbeville native David Primeaux was a popular professor until his death late last year, and while he was successful at camouflaging a dark past, he couldn’t outlive it.
Tehmi Chassion’s failure to recuse himself in the school board’s selection of a group health benefits provider raises ‘serious questions’ on whether he violated state ethics law.
He’s a singer. A songwriter. A piano man. A family man. He’s even got his own Wikipedia entry. He’s David Egan. And he knows ancient secrets about the monolithic stones of Stonehenge that he’s not willing to share.
Subscribe to this comment's feed