52. Children's writer Donna Jo Napoli, author of Alligator Bayou.

52.  We interview children's writer Donna Jo Napoli, author of Alligator Bayou.  Her book covers a grim period in Louisiana history: the lynching of five Italians in Tallulah in 1899.  The men had moved there after a mass lynching of Italians in New Orleans in 1891.  Donna writes from the perspective of a fourteen year-old boy named Calogero, nephew to the murdered men.  While it is addressed to a young audience, adults will find it interesting also.

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 18, 1896. LA. case of Plessy v. Ferguson, "seperate but equal" [more info]The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the idea of "separate-but-equal" public facilities for blacks in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. The case grew out of a disagreement that occurred in Louisiana when a black railroad passenger named Homer Plessy refused to move out of a whites-only car. Plessy was arrested and challenged the state law allowing separate railroad cars for whites and blacks. A Louisiana judge ruled against him, and Plessy appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which also ruled against him.
2. This week in Louisiana. May 24, 2014.  8th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Cannon Firing and Encampment.
   15149 Highway 175
   Mansfield, LA 71052
   318-872-1474
   Website | Email
   Mansfield State Historic Site, Mansfield - 8th Annual Memorial Day Weekend Cannon Firing and Encampment, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The 4th Louisiana Artillery reenactment group will host a cannon-firing program and living history encampment on the park. Come see how the big guns were fired! Cannon firing demonstrations, camp tours, soldier-life talks and much more will be featured at this exciting event. Start your summer off with a bang!

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51. Interview with T Geronimo Johnson about Hold It 'Til It Hurts, Part 2.

51.  We complete our interview with the writer T. Geronimo Johnson, author of Hold It 'Til It Hurts. Johnson was born in New Orleans. His fiction and poetry has appeared in Best New American Voices, Indiana Review, LA Review, and Illuminations, among others. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a former Stegner Fellow at Stanford, Johnson teaches writing at University of  California–Berkeley. Hold It ’Til It Hurts is his first book.

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 12, 1678. LaSalle given permission to explore "Louisiana" by King Louis XIV.
2. This week in Louisiana.  May 8-11, 2014
   The City of Alexandria – in partnership with dozens of local arts organizations and programs – combines the success of existing cultural events, bringing them “all under one roof” for three days in Downtown Alexandria. Together with numerous local businesses, community participants, teams, civic leaders and sponsors, the AlexRiverFête celebration embodies the spirit of community, culture and collaboration.
   Locals and visitors alike will have plenty to see and do in Downtown Alexandria during the three-day AlexRiverFête: Festivities include:
   o Dinner on the Bricks – Come dine on the bricks as locally owned restaurants and caterers showcase the best of their menus. Musical entertainment provided by Jazz band Improv. Admission is free, but menu prices vary.
   o ArtWalk – Sidewalks, green spaces, and the streets of Downtown Alexandria will come alive as more than 65 local participating artists, vendors, and performers showcase their talent.
   o Louisiana Dragon Boat Races™ - Now in its third year, the 2013 Louisiana Dragon Boat Races™ will feature more teams, entertainment, food, fun and elaborate costumes than ever before. Presented by the Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA), this must-see family event is a full day of spirited racing and entertainment on and off the water.

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50. Interview with T Geronimo Johnson about Hold It 'Til It Hurts.

50.  We interview the writer T. Geronimo Johnson, author of Hold It 'Til It Hurts. Johnson was born in New Orleans. His fiction and poetry has appeared in Best New American Voices, Indiana Review, LA Review, and Illuminations, among others. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a former Stegner Fellow at Stanford, Johnson teaches writing at University of  California–Berkeley. Hold It ’Til It Hurts is his first book.

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 4, 1970. T.H. Williams wins the Pulitzer Prize for his biography, Huey Long.
2. This week in Louisiana.  May 3, 2014
   Heflin Sawmill Festival
   318-377-7539
   130 Woodmill Rd., Heflin, LA 71025
   Heflin Sawmill Festival will be held in Heflin. This event will feature store vendors, food booths and arts and crafts. For more information contact Cathy Lee at (318) 377-7539.

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49. Interview with CJ Hunt and Kyle June Williams of Our Sunken City

49.  Take a Spooky Tour or run for the King of Rex as we interview comedians CJ Hunt and Kyle June Williams,  creators of the YouTube series Our Sunken City. After college, CJ moved to New Orleans to teach middle school.  He fell in love with the city and stayed to teach improv to kids and help found The New Movement (a comedy theater with locations in New Orleans and Austin).  His affection for the city is rivaled by that of his co-creator Kyle.  Kyle moved down from New York to do a summer of theater and get away from the grind.  Kyle had forgotten what friendliness was like.  NOLA showed her what that was again, and so she stayed to continue pursuing her acting and comedy career.  They cast the series primarily out of their alma mater, The New Movement - NOLA. Sunken City grows directly out of a rich community of comedians and actors dedicated to turning New Orleans into the next great comedy city.  "The series is a savvy mix of Portlandia‘s vignette-fueled style and the crazy characters of Louisiana’s largest city." - TubeFilter. You owe it to yourself to watch Our Sunken City.   Many big budget projects set in New Orleans get it All Wrong, but they put in the effort to get it Right.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 27, 1806. Ville de Donaldson (Donaldsonville) formerly dedicated.
2. This week in Louisiana. May 2-3, 2014
   Mayfest
   201 S. Third Street
   Leesville, LA 71446
   337-238-0783 | 800-349-6287 | Fax: 337-238-3403
   Website | Email
   May 2-3. 39th Annual MayFest Arts & Crafts Festival held in the Downtown Leesville Historic District. Free state and regional musical entertainment, arts & crafts and food booths, and fun for kids of all ages. Includes AUSA sponsored 5k Armadillo Stampede and 1 mile Fun Walk and the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast. For more information call the Vernon Parish Tourism Commission at 337-238-0783, visit our website at or send an email to.

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Spooky Tours

  

The King of Rex

 

48. Interview with Marsha Recknagel, Part 2.

48.  We finish our interview with Marsha Recknagel, professor and author of If Nights Could Talk: A Family Memoir, "Between Two Storms.", and other works.  Marsha has a Ph.D. in literature and an M.F.A. from Bennington College Writing Seminars.  She has taught personal essay writing, creative writing, and writing workshops.  She wrote If Nights Could Talk about taking in her teenage nephew when he needed a place to live and exploring that experience against the backdrop of their extended family's history.  It was listed as one of the Best Books Of The Year by the Los Angeles Times Book Review.  Her book was excerpted in Vogue magazine, listed as recommended reading in Elle magazine, praised in Oprah magazine, and reviewed in the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, and New Orleans Times-Picayune, Tucson Weekly, and publications across the country. 

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 19, 1682. La Salle took formal possession of the Louisiana Territory for France.
2. This week in Louisiana.  April 25-26
   Choctaw Apache Indian Pow Wow
   Zwolle, LA 71486
   318-645-2588
   Celebration of Native Indian culture. Enjoy traditional dancing, craft items, Indian jewelry and fellowship. An educational experience open to the public.

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47. Interview with Marsha Recknagel.

47.  We interview Marsha Recknagel, professor and author of If Nights Could Talk: A Family Memoir, "Between Two Storms.", and other works.  Marsha has a Ph.D. in literature and an M.F.A. from Bennington College Writing Seminars.  She has taught personal essay writing, creative writing, and writing workshops.  She wrote If Nights Could Talk about taking in her teenage nephew when he needed a place to live and exploring that experience against the backdrop of their extended family's history.  It was listed as one of the Best Books Of The Year by the Los Angeles Times Book Review.  Her book was excerpted in Vogue magazine, listed as recommended reading in Elle magazine, praised in Oprah magazine, and reviewed in the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, and New Orleans Times-Picayune, Tucson Weekly, and publications across the country.  

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 12, 1861. Louisiana Gen. PGT Beauregard ordered first shots on Ft. Sumter to begin Civil War.
2. This week in Louisiana.  April 17-19, 2014
   Great Southern Spring Bluegrass Event
   Every day From April 17, 2014 until April 19, 2014
   Website. 985-516-4680
   30338 Hwy 21, Angie, LA 70426
   The annual Fall Great Southern Bluegrass Event will be held Thursday, April 17 through Saturday, April 19 at 30338 Highway 21 in Angie.
   

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46. Interview with Robert Leighninger on the PWA in LA

46.  We interview Robert Leighninger about his book, Building Louisiana: The Legacy of the Public Works Administration.  The Public Works Administration  (PWA) was a depression-era program to put the unemployed back to work building large public works like bridges, schools, dams, and hospitals.  When we speak of Louisiana architecture, our minds tend to go to the French Quarter, plantations, Creole houses, shotgun houses, and dog trots.  But the PWA buildings are all around us every day: courthouses, schools, city halls, post offices, college buildings, even the French Market in New Orleans.  Tbe PWA both offered jobs to people who needed work during the depression; it also helped provide us the infrastructure for a vital society.  These accomplishments remind us that sometimes government is the answer.

1. This week in Louisiana history.
   April 6, 1764. First Acadians actually arrived in Louisiana. 
   March 6, 1929 Impeachment trial of Huey Long held.
2. This week in Louisiana.  April 4-6, 2014
   Bayou Cajun Festival
   307 E. Fifth St.
   Larose, LA 70373
   985-693-7355 Traditional Louisiana dishes, music and dancing. Carnival mid-way, sport events, craft market, piroque races in Bayou Lafourche and a fun walk. Free parking and no gate fee.

The "Alphabet Soup" of Depression-era Programs

1. Civil Works Administration (CWA)
   
2. Farm Security Administration (FSA)
3. Federal Works Administration (FWA)
   
4. National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
5. National Youth Administration (NYA)
   
6. Public Works Administration (PWA)
   
7. Resettlement Administration (RA)
8. Social Security (SS)
   
9. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

For Further Study

• Living New Deal
• National New Deal Preservation Association
• Public Works Historical Society (APWA)
  
• When Government Helped (Book) Collins & Goldberg
• WPA Today

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