Rusty Cloutier, William Fenstermaker and Steve Afeman
Jim Craft, Ray Authement and Dud Lastrapes
Honoree Joey Durel
Dee Stanley, Greg Davis and Gary McGoffin
Cherry Fisher May and Tyron and Elizabeth Picard
Christopher Noyes of Winebow and Marilyn Tarpy
Marilyn Tarpy, Jerry and Kay Prejean, and Dr. Bob Tarpy
Boni Ritter and Hope Hebert
Dr. Teemie and Pat Landry
Roxanne Graham, Leanne Daigle and Allison Howard
Robin May and Pascale Henry
Barry and Angel Greer
A beautiful Friday afternoon and the Cajundome Convention Center Ballroom was the setting for the honoring of City-Parish President Joey Durel. Durel was chosen by the Evangeline Area Council Boy Scouts of America as the 2009 Distinguished Citizen, and he was presented an award at the annual celebratory luncheon. He is in good company, as former award winners include Dr. Ray Authement, former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and former U.S. Sen. John Breaux. Matt Stuller, the 1998 recipient, was the master of ceremonies. He came bearing gifts, one of which was a very special watch that didn’t have the time, but instead had the words “yes” or “no” for when Durel has to make those tough political decisions. Also giving Durel a good ribbing was tribute speakers (a nice way of saying roasters) Dee Stanley, Bill Fenstermaker, and Dr. Joe Savoie. After the award presentation, Durel exacted a hilarious verbal revenge on his attackers, to the delight of the crowd. He ended on a more serious note, saying thanks to his mother for encouraging him to be in the Boy Scouts as a youngster, and adding how important the Boy Scouts are in crafting young men into future upstanding citizens.
If you haven’t tried the Village Café’s duck crepes — rotisserie duck simmered in a rich tarragon veloute wrapped in delicate French crepes — you just do not know what you’re missing. Yet again, Chef Pat Mould has outdone himself creating a delectable menu for the restaurant’s new owners, among whom are Ind publishers Steve and Cherry Fisher May. I think his shrimp crepes florentine are equally delish, and the selection of salads is right up there with the best in town. I’ve also heard the daily lunch specials are going over well during River Ranch rush hour. The recently re-opened Village Café (on overhaul of the former Village Market located in River Ranch’s Town Square) hosted an early June wine tasting, hosted by Christopher Noyes of Winebow and attended by about 35 local wine enthusiasts. The café’s wine selection is superb; for now, wine tastings alternate with live music on Tuesday evenings.
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.
Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.
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 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.
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.
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.
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