A toast to Frank Williams

"Thanks for proving me right, Frank. You did a hell of a job," shouted former Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower from his seat when asked to speak a few words at Frank Williams retirement fete.

Colleagues and friends gathered Aug. 23 at the University Club to bid Williams a fond farewell upon his retirement as executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

You may remember that his appointment was not without a great deal of controversy.

And admirers and friends like John Hubbard, Shreveport City Councilman Monty Walford and DDA deputy director Janie Landry talked about his accomplishments with a great deal of fondness.

They called him a great visionary, a lover of art. They talked about how he was quick to ask about the health of the crew who worked for him.

Williams, it seems, didn’t always call meetings and appoint committees.

He took action.

He walked the streets.

Shreveport City Councilman Monty Walford said that he and Williams tackled some cruising problems downtown on the riverfront area in an unorthodox way, but got it done — without any press notice. (I wonder where all of us were when this was going on!)

"A lot of positive changes were brought to my attention, things not glorified, but they changed downtown. I appreciate all he has done. He has made my job so much easier in downtown," said Walford.

Landry pointed out that there were little things, like bright new directional sings that took a lot of coordination and a lot of effort, but make a difference in the look of downtown.

"He brought with him a desire to bring cleanliness and orderliness to downtown.

And Williams, who loves art, got a mural put up on a wall in the Red River District, and a multicultural garden at Municipal Plaza.

"That meant a lot to Frank," said Landry.

"You left a imprint on downtown in a positive way," added John Hubbard.

One thing left undone: revitalization of Cross Bayou.

One speaker predicted that some day that will become a reality, too.

"It is a jewel downtown waiting to be developed," said Landry.

I always find Frank cordial, helpful — and he answers his telephone calls!

Good luck! Frank. We’ll see you around.

"Morgan's Adieu to You!"

Photos by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Morgan Ballengee, 14, who attended Caddo Middle Magnet last year, is heading soon to Choate, a boarding school in Wallingford, Conn.

To send her off, parents James and Waynette Ballengee gave her a party Saturday at Riverview Hall.

"It was a takeoff on the Dr. Seuss book, ‘The Places You Will Go,’" said Waynette. "Marc Marcussen took that theme and adapted it to what he envisioned."
Think elegant blown-up images of Morgan — four panels of four pics in the Andy Warhol manner.

Think spandex forms of ceiling high tunnels, towers, waves and tornadoes and arches to provide intimacy in the huge hall.
Think bright colors of neon for table treatments and chair covers.

No flowers here, but wiggly threads of metal entwined with neon-colored balls soaring from the center of the tables.

You get the picture.

But, there was more: a black fiber optic curtain was the backdrop for a 36-foot-long white sofa, a seating area, if you will, against a wall in the dance section.

The scene set, the purple and red costumed characters in the lobby, the doors opened.

Ballengee’s pals arrived in clusters as kids her age do.

They danced to music by spin-master D.J. AM, who plays at all the hot parties in Los Angeles and Las Vegas and mingles with the stars as recorded on the pages of such magazines as People.

The kids loved him. Once he started it all at 8 p.m., they never left the dance floor. Even as the lights went on at 11 p.m., they begged for more.

They giggled as they performed for Dance Heads — a process that films the singers, putting their heads on the bodies of cartoon characters that act out the songs. (It is a hoot, believe me!)
They hammed it up for the camera machine that produced a strip of four photos for them to take home, along with a candy bar channeling the six-pagebrightly colored color invitation.

And, they sampled John Cariere’s Cotton Boll’s mini hot dogs, grilled cheese, Jello shots, sandwiches and green eggs.

They sipped Morgan’s Mochalattes from Columbia Cafe and cold drinks from lighted glasses that were among their party favors.

It was, well, spectacular.

I oohed and aahed over every bit of it.

Here is just a very small sampling of those who stopped by: Morgan’s sister, Jordan Sandefur, Ryne Allen, Will Chadwick, Austin Love, Wiley LaVigne, Gina Goorley, Camille Cook, Ellen Booras, Colby Johnson, Marshall Watts, Christopher, Lawrence Harrison, Karen Ezelle, Emma Meek, Zach Savoie, Ahmad Ibrahim, Riley Hicks.

At the end of it all, everyone walk out with a caramel or M&M apple in a hand.

Photos from top to bottom show: Costume characters that greeted you upon arrival; party setting in Riverview Hall; images of Morgan in the entry; and Morgan's sister, Jordan Sandefur and Morgan in the photo booth.

To see a gallery of photos of party photos, go to http://www.shreveporttimes.com/ and click on photo gallery.

Mardi Gras madness

Photo: Special to The Times

Photo by: Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Mardi Gras coronations continue.

I cannot get to all of them and last weekend was especially nonstop on the social calendar.

One we missed: Krewe of Dionysos Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Natchitoches, but publicity chair Wanda Poche wrote us all about it, making it almost seem as though I were there.

The new reigning royalty who rule to "A Decade of Dionysos": King Dionysis X Ramon Triche and Queen Dionysos X Claudia Triche. Captain Dionysos X Dennis Bryant was also in the throes of things.

Night Train provided music for the semi-formal affair and Donald and Pat Horton of Coushatta served the vittles that included: marinated crab claws; crawfish tails; crab meat; tiny ears of corn and water chestnuts presented in giant pewter shells; meat balls in wine gravy; sliced barbecue brisket on croissants; down-home sausage; corn and crawfish chowder; jambalaya; deviled eggs and cream puffs served creatively in large Margarita glasses. (Is there anything they didn’t have?)

A live auction with one item — the first signed poster for the season — was up for grabs. And the winners of a special memory: the new Duke and Duchess of Decadence, Ray and Connie Mabile of Coushatta. The high bid: $500.

Other dukes and duchesses: Dance Jerry McElwee and Ronda Hernandez; Desire Trey Duke and Becky Monsour; Destiny Jamie Vanderlick and Darlene McElwee.

"All hail to the visiting royalty from the Shreveport-Bossier area. This was the largest group we have ever had in our 10-year history," Poche wrote.

In the first photo above, guests Andi Woods (left), Poche and Julie Gardiner pose at the happy Dionysos event.

We did skim over Interstate-20 Friday evening to Krewe des Ambassadeurs Coronation Gala at Pine Hills Country Club.

Their theme: "Hello Broadway."

King VII Eddie O’Neal and Queen VII Debra Smith and other court members danced their way in clever vignettes to the stage as music from Broadway filled the air.

Captain Ralph Greer was dapper in a formal hat and walking stick that he used theatrically to make his way through the crowd as "New York New York" pulsated through the festive affair.

Smith is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a huge Sooner fan and is a financial advisor.

O’Neal is an Excelsior University and Parker Chiropractic College grad and operates two chiropractic practices, one in Bossier City and one in Minden.

Other court members: Duke and Duchess of Prospterity Josh Hamilton and Caye Bryce; Hospitality Lane Davidson and Dianna Smith; Prince Derrick Greene and Princess Whittney Haynes.

The 2007 King Darin Mealey — one of the nicest guys you will ever meet — said that there were lots of parties and lots of spirit in the past season.

His favorite part: "The next morning, having coffee with (wife) Amy and going over the night before."

Among others taking bows: 2007 Queen Mahala Hutto and Captain Vickie Cullen.

I was amazed when 2007 Duchess of Hospitality Sue Gruber told me she and a passel of pals catered the event themselves!

And, such unusual goodies: orzo salad; black-eye pea salad; sandwiches; fab brownies and absolutely to-die-for tarts. Just a few items from the bountiful buffet.

Stay tuned for several more Mardi coronations.

In the second photo: Krewe des Ambassadeurs Debra Smith and King Eddie O'Neal dance the night away.

The third photo: Sherb Sentell III, a former Ambassadeurs king, checks out the buffet line.

On death and dying

"End-of-Life Issues in the Terri Schiavo Case" taught by Roberta Cawthorn captured our attention in Seekers Sunday School Class Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport. (Whether to remove Schiavo’s feed tube or not went to the Supreme Court that declined six times to hear the case, but Congress and President George W. Bush did involved.)

As part of the discussion, one member said, in essence, that to her dying just meant that you were going some place else.

The comment reminded me of one the late and much love artist Clyde Connell said about death:

"As for death, I don’t worry about it and I’m not afraid of it. I feel completely at home with natural cycles and death is obviously a part of that cycle.

"I also believe in a next step. I don’t know what it is, but I believe it’s there.

"I’ve told my children and friends not to mourn when I die. I’m just continuing on my journey, and they all know how much I love to travel." (From a story by David Connelly published in the Shreveport Journal.)

And this from John Denver in a letter to the mother of a fan who had died:
"...death is not an ending, but a symbol of movement along the path upon which we are all traveling. As it may be painful to lose contact with the physical aspect of one we love, the spirit can never be lost. We have been and always will be a part of each other." Signed: "Peace, John Denver."

What wonderful attitudes about death and dying.

As my mother used to say: "Death is a part of life."

Not a subject to be avoided nor dwelled upon, but part of the fabric of our lives.

A prayer for children

Perhaps it is the photos of children dying from AIDS or malnutrition or from bombs or bullets that I see when I flip through the pages of National Geographic and can hardly steel myself to read about.

Maybe it was the tiniest of children who begged as I walked the streets of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Then, again, maybe it was the words of my mother the very few times she spoke of her impoverished childhood in a loveless home. She was taken in as an orphan by cousins at four to work as a maid and until she graduated from high school never had a new article of clothing.

Maybe it was the young kid I interviewed in an outreach prison class who told me how intriguing solid geometry was to him, a class never offered to him when he attended public school. (The teacher told me he was "brilliant.")

Maybe it was of all of those and more, but I was particularly moved by "A Prayer for Children," we recited Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport. It was the day we recognized third graders.

The prayer is powerful, thought provoking.

It is too long to print in its entirety, but a couple of sections present a sampling of the whole:

"We pray for children who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
"who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money."
"And we pray for those
"who never get dessert,
"who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
"who watch their parents watch them die,
"who can’t find any bread to steal,
"who don’t have any rooms to clean up,
"whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,
"whose monsters are real
...

"We pray for children who want to be carried
"and for those who must,
"for those we never give up on and for those
"who don’t get a second chance.
"We pray for those we smother with love...and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it. Lord, help us to be that hand. Amen."

Amen.

Happy Birthday, Jackie Scott!

Times Photos by Paul L. Schuetze

Attorney Jackie Scott turned 50 with a lot of aplomb!

She hosted a golden celebration at her southeast Shreveport home.

You want barbecue! There was barbecue. Finger lickin' good barbecue

A roasted pig! You got it.

Perfectly fried fish. It was on the plate, crispy on the outside, moist inside.

(We tried it all and it was all out of this world great.)

Something to drink. There were two bars

There was face painting.

Toe tapping saxaphone music on the patio. And band sounds under a tent.

And exquisite flowers to set the scene.

Dr. Ricky and Freda Jones were cooling off in the pool — with their feet in the pool.

Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover shed his coat when he stepped outside for, indeed, it was hot.

Shirley Culbert held court in the den; Gia Kosmitos and Julie Blewer in the kitchen area.

Ron and Rose Weems were working the crowd. (As you might guess, the place was filled with lawyers.)

It was an inside/outside do.

And a lot of fun.

What a way to turn 50.

Throw yourself a bash.

The photos in order show:
Scott with Caddo Dist. Judge Jeanette G. Garrett and the Joneses coolin’ off.

(Stay tuned Monday for sights and sounds of Caddo School Board member Dottie Bell’s 60th birthday soiree. We’ll take you there!)

Let the good times roll

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Did you know that Mardi Gras started 19 years ago by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce to boost the economy during quiet January and February. (Krewe of Apollo was already in existence, but not open to the public.)

As Cary Petty has told us, "We were sitting around and someone suggested we start Mardi Gras."

And, although the celebration has changed dramatically from those early days, it is definitely part of our culture and heritage now.

And, not only does the festival boost the economy in January and February, but all year.

There are also Mardi Gras sponsored events and benefits for charity, things such as golf tournaments and garage sales.

All of them give much to charity.

On this blog, we’ll I thought I’d share photos snapped at the Aug. 11 Krewe of Centenary Royalty Coronation and Mid-Way to Mardi Gras Party and the Aug. 12 Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Royalty Coronation. Centaur’s was at Riverview Hall and Barkus held forth at the Mardi Gras Museum, Bossier City. (Definitely, a well kept secret.)

The 2008 King and Queen of Centaur are David Johnson and Barbara Zerrahn and 2008 King and Queen of Barkus & Meoux Queen’s Ambassador Cheryl Lynn Rockwell and King’s Ambassador Raymond R. Abney Jr.

The first is a photo of the Centaur court and the second, revelers enjoying hors d’oeuvres before Barkus begins and giving you a glimpse of the museum.

"Jesus loves me"

Mine is not a religion blog. Oh, no, colleague Diane Haag does a masterful job with "Everyday Faith" that I read almost as soon as I open my computer every morning.

However, I feel moved to share a special story about a whimisical happening during the Sunday service at First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport.

As she closed the children’s sermon, the Rev. Pattie Kitchen said that during a visit in the United States, the great Protestant theologian Karl Barth, a prolific writer, was asked about words that had meant the most to him. It was a word question.

He thought a minute and answered that they were from a song his mother sang to him when he was a child.

The work: "Jesus Loves Me." ("...this I know for the Bible tells me so.")

Then Kitchen asked the children to sing the song and invited entire congregation to join in.

There we were: Young and older, black and white, rich and poor — and in between — and a group, I am sure, very liberal or conservative — and in between — on social and theological issues.

We were: Doctors, lawyers, accountants, soccer moms, real estate agents, scientists, retired salesmen, educators, farmers, grandmothers artists, bankers.

We were united and equal in singing those words by memory and from our hearts.
"Jesus Loves Me."

As we sang, I would guess that most of were taken back to our childhoods, remembering the words we learned when we were very young.

Not just a catchy child’s melody.

A simple statement. An eternal truth. An ageless concept.

A royal evening

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Photo by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

On Saturday, hubby Paul Schuetze and I headed to Springhill for the Krewe of Artemis-Springhill Royalty Coronation VI.

King Artemis VI Charles Jacobs of Springhill, and Queen Julia Collins of Benton, greet their subjects in the photo above.

Other members of the court: Duke and Duchess of Mystery Karl Miller of Springhill and Caytie Green of Shreveport; Music Terry and Lisa Warner of Benton; and Merriment Johnnie K. Hill of Springhill, and Kathy Camp of Emerson, Ark.

And, in charge of it all for the 2008 season — Captain David Brice.

Always, we have a great time with the Artemis krewe. Their coronations and balls are done with panache, cleverness and creativity. I am always surprised and delighted with it all.

This year’s theme was "Experiencing the ‘70s."

Shreveporters Clayton and Angela Brakeville in the second photo were among those dressed in costume for the occasion.

So upon arrival, we received peace sign necklaces and later I tied one of 2007 Capt. Eric Simmons’ autographed peach tie-dye kerchief around my head — ‘70s style!

More signs of the times — ‘70s times — bright stylized flowers; Happy Face beach balls bouncing from the ceiling as the pageant got underway; a glowing peace sign, tie-dye fabric wrapped columns and a black screen with a tie-dye starbust at center stage.

Happenings on a summer afternoon

A golden toast to Karen Logan, Kay Lee and Ann Holland.

The Shreveport-Bossier Delta Delta Delta Alumnae did just that Thursday at "Back to Tri Delta," a late afternoon gathering at the southeast Shreveport home of Betsy Fritze.

It was a girly girly kind of party with Bellinis, wonderful hors d’oeuvres, and much conversation. (I was clicking the digital for Scene & Heard and gallery shots which will be in the paper and online later.)

And, there was a special Golden Circle ceremony for the Logan, Lee and Holland, who were initiated into the sorority 50 years ago at what is now respectively Rhodes, Colorado and LSU. (I will go through the Golden Circle in 2011 for my initiation at the University of Tulsa was in 1961 — remembered by me as the year of "the twist!" I must have twisted a 1,000 times to "Cotton Fields Back Home!" that spring.)

Alum prez Chouttie Hayter presided.

But our group is not all about parties. The chapter raises funds with a sale of wrapping paper and attendant products in the fall. (The catalog is filled with wonderful things, including great Christmas gifts. I can’t wait to order.)

The money goes to its Wish Upon a Star, Inc., which grants wishes to sick children.

I rode to Betsy’s with Dixey Thornton and she and I enjoyed a chat with Elizabeth Crafts, wishing her well as she leaves at the end of September to spend a year working in Denmark. (Doesn’t that sound neat!)

And, a hail and hearty farewell to four active Deltas who leave soon for LSU.

They are: Jessica Demello. Alycia Angle, Mamie Cowles and Cassie James.

... Earlier in the afternoon, we enjoyed a tour of the gardens on Cross Lake where David Helms and wife Anita McKeithen live. He showed us the exotic and common plants they tend to, paths through the woods he has created and their whimsical garden art. It is a story I am working on and you’ll see it soon on the home and garden page.

Hail to the new chief!

A swearing-in.

Lunch with the area’s preachers of all races and denominations.

Meeting with the staff.

Wednesday’s schedule was not a day for wimps.

But at the end of it, new Shreveport Police Chief Henry L. Whitehorn relaxed and shared hors d’oeuvres and conversation with neighbors, friends and colleagues at a party in his honor at the Cross Lake home of attorney Ron Weems and wife/nurse Rose Weems.

The Weems always set their table with food they prepare.

This occasion included 10 pounds of sausage Ron grilled that was dressed with a rosemary branch and sprigs of basil from their beautiful garden. There was marinated mushrooms for which Rose is famous, boiled shrimp, a mousse, wrapped sandwiches with salsa and the piece de résistance, the Weems’ pralines.

At the Weems, it is always an inside/outside party for people love their back garden overlooking the lake. They meander outside to rock on their back porch, sit on the brick steps, find the table shaded by a tree.

The chief, dressed in a tan window pane check suit and bright blue shirt — sans tie — came early with wife Waverlyn and stayed late.

Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover and wife Veronica also came early and stayed into the night.

Whitehorn’s North Cross Lake neighbor and best friend Lynn Braggs and wife Sharon were among those in the mix.

So were city officials Rick Seaton and Dale Sibley and up and coming young professional, former Homer Mayor David Aubrey, who now works for Southern University-Shreveport.

Drinking juice, Whitehorn chatted with such high profilers as state Sen. Lydia Jackson, Sam Gregorio, George and Carolyn Mills, Southern University Chancellor Ray Belton, Kit Gamble, Theron Jackson, Wiley and Wiley Pollard, Regina Winn, Brian and Denise Landry, Dee Peterson, Jerry and Jackie White and Winzer Andrews.

He exchanged banter with his host, laughing when Ron said, "Last night was probably your last good night of sleep." (Meaning, of course, that the new chief who is the first black police chief, has plenty of challenges ahead of him.)

So what does today hold?

"I am going home and rest and try to get to the first roll call at the police department," said Whitehorn, admitting that he would have to call to be sure of the time, but thought it was at 6:30 a.m.

"I am going to talk to them about my leadership philosophy and ask their support to help me get done to do what we need to do to make Shreveport a safe city," he said.

He is a nice man, Henry Whitehorn. You’ll like him.

Celebrating life boldly

Maggie Martin/The Times

Sabra Brown Martin. (Top photo.)

She was my mother.

At four, she was a victim of the Flu Pandemic of 1918 when her mother died in it.

And some 50 years later, she became a statistic herself in another kind of epidemic - breast cancer that spread to her bones.

So, thoughts turned to her, as they always do when I cover anything connected with cancer, on July 26 when I attended the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Shreveport-Bossier Affiliate "Celebrate Life with Boldness." A full house stopped by Ristorante Giuseppe for the gala noon affair.

I thought of her battle and to the progress made in research and treatment since those days when she had a masectomy and treatment that was agonizing, but futile.

There were many cancer survivors, like Linda Pedro, Patricia Claussen and Wanda H. Brooks at the luncheon.

And, there were activists, ike chairwoman Kedgy Larson and state Rep. Jane Smith. (Paula Linn is president of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Shreveport-Bossier Affiliate. She says that supporters are now referred to as "activists." Linn is shown in the second photo with new affiliate executive director Danielle Voumard. )

But it was a joyous affair that included a style show, luncheon, and contests and raffle prizes.
Guests were asked to wear pink and they did in boas, hats, dresses, pants, suits and even underwear!

My mother would have loved it!

But Komen hadn’t even been formed when my mother died in 1971 at 54.

Komen’s statistics today show that breast cancer death rate has been dropping about two percent annually since 1990 to 2002 in all women combined with larger decreases in younger women. It is a decline attributed to earlier detection through screening, increased awareness and improved treatment.

Even with that bit of good news, there are chilling stats. They include: "One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and one woman will die of breast cancer every 14 minutes in the United States."

The most proven and significant risk factors for getting breast cancer: Being female and getting older for a woman’s chance of developing it increases with age.

But Komen’s goal, said Linn, is to wipe breast cancer off the face of the earth.
It was a promise Dallas resident Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister Susan G. Komen.

To that end, she launched the well respected gloabal breast cancer movement.

To help with the fight, there is the well known Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

It will be held locally Sept. 15 at Mall St. Vincent.