Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

July 30, 2010

Shreveport-Bossier City, La.¬- Arthouse Icons at Artspace presents a night of hilarious theatre with Cervantes Reck and His Renaissance Renegades “the bad kids of theatre.” Theatre has never been this much fun! Head out to Artspace on August 5 to experience this roll–on-the-floor laughter experience. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Performances include:

David Ives’ One-Act Masterpiece: “DEGAS C’EST MOI”
A man (Ed) wakes up one morning and decides to be the “dead, French, impressionist painter” Edgar Degas for a day. Out of mere loneliness and an identity crisis he goes out into the world in search of meaning. Only to find out at the end what is truly important to him –Love. Featuring the talents of Greg Wallin, Lewis Elder, Mary Wallin, Alexis McLeaish, Jane Ryder, John McLeaish, Kathe McMullan, Rachal Bouriaque, Trey Love, Rodger Jackson, Marchello Stewart, Timothy Miller, Cervantes Reck, and some interesting Cameo appearances (maybe you!).

“THEY CALL ME PATSY” – by Cervantes Reck
Let a young girl’s singing (“a la Patsy Cline”) take you through the events that shaped our lives in the year 1963 (in a very peculiar way…). Featuring music of the times and starring Rachal Bouriaque.  Also co-starring: Kathe McMullan, Mary Wallin, John McLeaish, Greg Wallin and Foster Kawaler (as the radio announcer).
Dancing is performed by “The Dance Renegades”
Most original artwork displayed on stage, including original paintings, and costumes will be for sale at the end of the show.
Admission is $10 per person. You may purchase food and drinks from the café @ Artspace to enjoy with the shows. For more information call 318-673-6535 phone or visit them online at http://artspaceshreveport.com/2010/08/05/twitter-tainment.

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NEWS RELEASE

July 30, 2010

Shreveport-Bossier City, La. - The SB Shortfilms website wants to showcase the rising contribution the movie and entertainment industry is making to the culture and economy of Shreveport-Bossier by having a competition to find the best screenplay in SB.

The winner will have their screenplay made into a short film. The short film will be premiered at the Robinson Film Center and submitted to film festivals all over the country.

Contestants will have until August 31 to submit their screenplay. The winner will be announced during the Red River Revel on October 9th at 7:30 pm on the main stage.

For more information or to submit your screenplay, visit http://sbshortfilms.net.

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NEWS RELEASE

July 30, 2010

Shreveport-Bossier City, La.- Artspace will transform into a 1950's Jazz Club for its latest exhibition showcasing the photography of international photographer, Jerry Dantzic, with never before seen photographs of Jazz legends from the 1950's and 1960's. The exhibition will also include Jerry Dantzic's Timex Jazz Show on loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.
Entertainment for opening night will be a Jazz band featuring the drum stylings of Brady Blade. Put on your best 1950’s attire and head out to Artspace to enjoy an evening of Jazz.
Admision is $10. For more information call 318-673-6535 phone or visit them online at http://artspaceshreveport.com.

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July 30, 2010

Shreveport-Bossier City, La.- FUMC will host a workshop designed for those working in the helping professions including medical staff, social service workers, hospice care, fire and police, clergy, teachers, mental health professionals, and the administrators/directors who manage them.  The workshop will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m., August 13, at the FUMC Sanctuary. Admission is $5.

Professional burnout is a serious problem within the helping professions, and treatment for this issue is specific. Many people who devote their time and energy to others in crisis can become weary from time to time. If this is left unchecked and self care is low on the list of priorities, significant problems can occur, and one’s job - even life - can be jeopardized.
Dr. J. Durell Tuberville, PhD, will administer the workshop.  Dr. Tuberville is the president of Personal Solutions, Inc. and Trinity Mediation, LLC.  He is a Nationally Certified Psychologist, Certified Trauma Specialist, Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress, and has been involved in trauma recovery since 1989.  He counseled emergency response workers during both the September 11 and Hurricane Katrina tragedies.  He also serves as Chaplain for the Caddo Parish Sheriff Department. 
Craig Kennedy, MA, FBCC, will also present information at the workshop.  Craig is a registered Counselor Intern, and is the Employee Assistance Coordinator for Personal Solutions.  He has over 15 years of manufacturing management experience.   Craig is a certified Chaplain through the Federation of Fire Chaplains and currently serves as Chaplain for the Bossier City Fire and Police Departments, and the Louisiana Professional Fire Fighters Association.  He is a Board Certified Faith-Based Clinical Counselor through the International Institute of Faith-Based Counseling and serves as a member of the Louisiana Local Assistance State Team for the National Fallen Fire Fighter Foundation. 
Also presenting will be Mark A. Connella, M.A.  Mark has a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and is retired as Captain with the Shreveport Fire Department after 32 years.
 Attendees will learn about:
• Identifying the warning signs of burnout and vicarious trauma
• Controlling dangerous behaviors to self and others
• How to assist others without harming yourself
• Understanding and dealing with secondary PTSD
• Intervention strategies for employers & managers
• Prevention plan for reoccurrence of CF symptoms
• Developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Call Debbie Buchanan Engle, Director of Serving Ministries, at 318.424.7771 to register for the event; or you may RSVP via email at:   dengle@fumcshreveport.org.

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NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact:
Julia Foley
Marketing Director
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
 (318) 673-6500
 http://www.shrevearts.org

July 30, 2010
  
Please join Mayor Glover and representatives of the Downtown Development Authority, Shreveport Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau and downtown Shreveport restaurants on Monday, August 2nd, 11:00 am, at 333 Texas Street (outside the Regions Building), for a PRESS CONFERENCE to announce the NEW WEDNESDAY DOWNTOWN LUNCH TROLLEY!  The Wednesday Downtown Lunch Trolley is a FREE service where Downtown workers and visitors may catch a free trolley ride to one of three downtown restaurants.  Downtown Development Authority, Shreveport Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau and participating restaurants are providing the new service beginning on Wednesday, August 4th.  The FREE lunch trolley will run each Wednesday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The Lunch Trolley will make stops every 20 minutes at Regions Bank Tower, 333 Texas Street; Government Plaza, 505 Travis Street; and each of the THREE participating restaurants.

The mission of the Wednesday Downtown Lunch Trolley is to provide convenient, easy access for downtown workers to enjoy lunch at one of three downtown restaurants!  Each restaurant will develop Wednesday specials that can be served and enjoyed within 20 minutes.  Riders can enjoy lunch at their favorite downtown restaurant without losing their parking place or fighting lunchtime traffic and are encouraged to go online and preview their menu choices.  For those running short on time, they can call ahead or email to place the order and catch the Lunch Trolley to pick up the order To Go. 

Participating restaurants are as follows:
• café @ artspace, 710 Texas Street, www.artspaceshreveport.com, 318.673.6535

• River Rock Grill in the Hilton Hotel, 104 Market Street, www.hilton.com, 318.698.0900

• Texas Street Grille in Mojo’s Bar, 203 Texas Street, www.texasstreetgrille.com, 318.221.0013

While on board the Trolley, riders can enjoy the sites in Downtown Shreveport and pick up information on what the City has to offer.  It’s sure to be a breeze in the comfort of the air-conditioned Trolley. 

Restauranteers are already planning dynamic Wednesday specials.  The café @ artspace allows diners to enjoy art exhibitions on two floors or purchase of a unique item in giftspace while enjoying the café’s signature soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts.  The Hilton Hotel’s River Rock Grill offers a contemporary fusion of all your local and regional favorites served in a casual sophisticated atmosphere.  Finally, the new Texas Street Grille features great big burgers, sweet potato fries, onion rings, club sandwiches, Shrimp PoBoys and a few mouth watering, hunger satisfying pizzas.

The Trolley will stop at the same locations each week, but riders are welcome to walk from any stop to the location of their choice.  To catch the Trolley, look for stops along the designated route, and then just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

For further information please contact:

Don Shea, Executive Director, Downtown Development Authority
(318) 222-7403; email: donshea@downtownshreveport.com
Stacy Brown, President & CEO, Shreveport Bossier Conv. & Tourist Bureau
(318) 222-9391; email: sbrown@sbctb.org
Bob Gansfuss, General Manager, Hilton Hotel Shreveport
(318) 698-0900; email: bob.gansfuss@hilton.com
Michael Chisum, Culinary Arts Director, artspace
(318) 673-6535; email:  michael@shrevearts.org
Rebecca Gonzalez, Manager, Texas Street Grille
(318) 221-0013; email:  rebekuh@gmail.com

July 30, 2010

An event you don’t want to miss!

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA -  Horseshoe Casino and Hotel is proud to present country superstar Pat Green special live performance on Friday, August 13th in the
Horseshoe Riverdome!  Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

For a man whose new album begins with a powerful song called "Footsteps of Our Fathers," Pat Green has blazed his own trail in a way that few artists today
can claim. Even with all the artistic and popular success he has experienced along the way, “What I'm For” is the stirring sound of Pat Green arriving as a major American singer-songwriter who has managed to make his own way in country music and beyond. To borrow a memorable phrase from the man's biggest hit to date, "Wave On Wave" of new faces have come along, but few have ever made such a vivid impression, both as a recording artist and performer as Pat Green.

Tickets are on sale and cost $20 & $30. Purchase tickets at www.riverdome.com,
888-512-SHOW (7469), or the Horseshoe Gift Horse® Gift Shop. Must be 21 years or older to attend.

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NEWS RELEASE

Media contact:
 Jessica Oliver
(318) 741-7800,
(318) 207-7363

July 30, 2010

(Bossier City, LA) -  Horseshoe Casino and Hotel is proud to present Texas-country superstar Robert Earl Keen and alternative country rockers Old 97’s in a special live performance on Saturday, July 31st in the Horseshoe Riverdome!  Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

Among the large contingent of talented songwriters who emerged in Texas in the 1980s and 1990s, Robert Earl Keen struck an unusual balance between sensitive story-portraits (Corpus Christi Bay) and raucous barroom fun (That Buckin’ Song). These two song types in Keen’s output were unified by a mordant sense of humor that strongly influenced the early practitioners of what would become known as alternative country music. Keen, a native of Houston, blends folk and country music for a unique sound all his own.

Some bands blast out of the gate and never recapture their early energy. Other bands establish themselves as models of consistency. Still, other bands take a while to find themselves. And then there are bands like the Old 97s, who blast out of the gate, establish themselves as models of consistency, take a while to find themselves, and then, fifteen years in, deliver a glorious record that sums up everything about them that fans have always loved. The Old 97’s formed in Dallas in 1993, and are often considered one of the pioneers of the Alt Country genre, although their influences are as varied as The Kinks, The Beatles, The Pixies, David Bowie, Johnny Cash (hence the name) and Merle Haggard. Their career got off to a fast start in 1994 with their debut release, Hitchhike To Rhome.  Now with Blame It On Gravity, the seventh Old 97’s record and the second for New West, the band has made its definitive statement.

July 16, 2010

It is easy being green, and here is how to do it: Sci-Port is hosting an afternoon on sustainability, noon-4 p.m., July 24. It will be an opportunity where experts in many fields share ideas, information and products to help you learn about what "being green" is and then show you how to be green.

The goal is to provide the best outcomes for the human environment and the natural environment, both now and into the future. Come listen to and interact with many local experts and community partners in areas such as Alternative Energy Sources, Rain Barrels, Solar Panels, Recycling Resources, Nutritional Education, Green Jobs and Green Builders.

Some of the businesses participating this year include:
LSU AgCenter - Community Gardening, Nutrition in Schools, Sustainable Vegetable Gardening
Shreveport Farmers Market - Locally Grown Foods, Free Trade
Shreveport Green - Recycling, ShreveCORPS, Waterway Clean-Up
ECO Mulch - Composting, Water Conservation Through Landscaping, Using Recycled Materials
The Green Home Advantage - Energy Analysis, State and Federal Incentives
WH Longhorn Ranch - Grass-Fed Chemical-Free Ranching.

Call 318-424-3466 for more information.
 
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July 23, 2010

Northwest, Louisiana – Did you know children entering foster care often use trash bags to carry their belongings? Our foster children are not trash. Why are we allowing them to use trash bags as luggage? What are we telling our children?
 
Bags not Rags is looking for new or used luggage, duffel bags, back packs, totes, diaper bags, etc.

“We live in the greatest country in the world but there are so many needs in our foster care system. If every person would pick just one need and fill it, we could provide the best possible foster care system for our children…who deserve it,” says Mindy Viteri, co-founder of Bags Not Rags.
 
A common practice in our foster system is when a child is removed from a less than adequate situation in their home and placed into foster care, they must often use a trash bag to place their personal belongings in. On top of a horrible experience, they now feel the items they hold most dear are seen as trash. Bags not Rags wants to stop this process. They want the norm to change from most children in foster care using trash bags as luggage to only seeing trash bags where they belong… in a trash can. Social Services has limited funding but you can make a difference. Donate a bag today, volunteer, or help us spread the word about the needs of our children.
 
About Bags Not Rags:
Bags Not Rags’ mission is to eventually insure that no child in foster care ever uses a trash bag as luggage again. Bags Not Rags is located in Carter Services Plus at 6210 Fairfield Ave STE B Shreveport, La 71106. For more information call (318) 754-2800 or toll free at (888) 868-4952 or visit them online at www.bagsnotrags.com.
 
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Contact:
Jacques Berry, Press Secretary
Louisiana Secretary of State
225-362-5103
jacques.berry@sos.louisiana.gov

Sec. Dardenne kicks off Heroes and Heritage Trail

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne is announcing the launch of the Heroes and Heritage Trail, a series of destinations throughout Louisiana and the department’s museums division. Trailblazers, as the participants are called, will follow the trail for a convenient set of day or weekend trips into different parts of the state. A “Passport to Louisiana Adventure” will guide trailblazers when planning trips and during the actual visits to museums. Those who visit 11 museums will be eligible for an overnight stay at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

“Our guiding philosophy in organizing this tour has been to bring Louisiana’s incredibly rich story to life for you and your family,” Dardenne said. “Every museum in our system celebrates some unique aspect of Louisiana’s remarkable people, their struggles through war and tough times, their joy in peace and prosperity, and above all, their willingness to work hard and build a better state and country for themselves and their children.”

Passports are available at state museums, online at www.sos.louisiana.gov/hht, or by sending a written request to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA  70804-9125. Participants should complete the registration card in the passport and return it to one of the museums or to the address listed above. The passport contains a complete list of rules.

For more information about the Heroes and Heritage Trail or the Secretary of State’s Museums Division, visit www.sos.louisiana.gov/museums.

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