112. Rain Prud’homme-Cranford Goméz, Part 2.

112.  Part 2 of our interview with Rain Prud’homme-Cranford Goméz.  Rain's research focuses on issues of Louisiana Indian (Choctaw, Houma, Tunica-Biloxi, Caddo, and other Louisiana Mvskogean and Siouan groups) diaspora and their relationships with Louisiana Creole (mestiza) Indigeneity as manifested in material culture ways, oral histories, and literature, specifically tied to geographic space, gender, and memory/culture. Her research seeks to make Native communities unavoidably visible showcasing Indigenous acts of reinscription (in response to assumed absences, ha untings, mythos, and exotification) and decolonization in material and literary culture (beadwork, basketry, poetry, prose, and music), while highlighting Louisiana Creoles as an Indigenous diasporic people within conversations around Indigenous literature/narratives in the American South.

1. This week in Louisiana history. July 11, 1804. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton is mortally wounded. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton is mortally wounded July 11 at age 49 in a duel at Weehawken, N.J. with Vice President Aaron Burr, now 48, who has heard of insults directed at him by Hamilton and demanded satisfaction . Indicted in New York and New Jersey, Burr flees to Philadelphia and proceeds to the South where he will conspire in the next 3 years with Gen. James Wilkinson, 44, who is secretly in the pay of Spain but will soon be governor of the Louisiana Territory.
2. This week in New Orleans history.
   Now over 100 years old, the City Park Casino opened on July 11, 1913, is now one of the park's few surviving Spanish Mission-style era structures. This photo was shot on March 26, 1939 after WPA repairs and renovations of the Casino as a part of the general improvement program in the park. For a time, the Swan boat docked nearby on Bayou Metairie. Renovated in 1999, and re-named the Timken Center, its second floor is used for meetings and parties. It is now used as a Morning Call coffee shop.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Native American Exhibit
   July 6th, 2015 - July 17th, 2015
   Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitor's Bureau
   13143 Wardline Rd., Hammond, LA 70401
   985-542-7520 | 800-542-7520 | 985-542-7521
   Website
   dana@tangitourism.com
   Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitor's Bureau
   This free event will share the untold stories of cultures that had significant impact on our community. Native American artifacts including life size teepee, pottery, baskets, skins, tools and weapons will be on display. We hope to see you at our event.
   For more details or group reservations, contact Dana Short at the Tangipahoa Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

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111. Rain Prud'homme-Cranford Goméz, Part 1.

111.  We interview scholar, poet, and activist Rain Prud'homme-Cranford Goméz.  Rain's research focuses on issues of Louisiana Indian (Choctaw, Houma, Tunica-Biloxi, Caddo, and other Louisiana Mvskogean and Siouan groups) diaspora and their relationships with Louisiana Creole (mestiza) Indigeneity as manifested in material culture ways, oral histories, and literature, specifically tied to geographic space, gender, and memory/culture. Her research seeks to make Native communities unavoidably visible showcasing Indigenous acts of reinscription (in response to assumed absences, hauntings, mythos, and exotification) and decolonization in material and literary culture (beadwork, basketry, poetry, prose, and music), while highlighting Louisiana Creoles as an Indigenous diasporic people within conversations around Indigenous literature/narratives in the American South.

1. This week in Louisiana history. July 4, 1900. Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, trumpet king, born.
2. This week in New Orleans history.  The Classical Greek-styled Popp Bandstand was dedicated in City Park on July 4, 1917. Designed by Emile Weil at a cost of $75,000 it was dedicated on July 4th. Its twelve granite ionic columns are topped with a bronze dome. Named for its benefactor John F. Popp, who had made his fortune in a lumber business which was headquartered on the New Basin Canal. The bandstand is a replica of Temple of Love in Versailles and the memorial plaque to Alexis Ribet is embedded into it. Many New Orleanians enjoyed their first glimpses of moving pictures here on summer evenings. Generations of musicians have played here including John Philip Sousa who performed in 1928. The bandstand still stands for our enjoyment if we wish to spend a 4th of July there near the Casino. The Popp family also funded the park's Popp Fountain.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   San Fermin In Nueva Orleans
   July 9th, 2015 - July 12th, 2015
   New Orleans Hotel Collection Luxury Hotel
   1380 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
   504-571-9334
   Website
   New Orleans Hotel Collection Luxury Hotel
   New Orleans becomes Pamplona for a day at this Running of the Bulls-inspired celebration, where the Big Easy Rollergirls - wielding plastic bats and wearing helmets outfitted with fake bullhorns, naturally - charge after runners through the streets of Downtown.  The 9th Annual Running of the Bulls at San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) is the city's most incredible Summer Spectacle! Join thousands of runners as they roam the streets of New Orleans and party with hundreds of Rollerbulls (roller derby skaters with horns on their helmets and plastic bats in their hands) from around the globe during the Encierro.

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110. Zack Kopplin interview, part 2

110.  Part 2 of our interview with Zack Kopplin, an Louisiana political activist, journalist, and television personality from Louisiana. Kopplin has campaigned to keep creationism out of public school science classrooms and been involved with other separation of church and state causes. He has opposed school vouchers because they provide public money to schools which may teach creationism. As a high school student, he organized seventy-eight Nobel laureate scientists in a campaign against the Louisiana Science Education Act, a creationism law. He is also involved with science funding policy and curriculum and textbook policy.

1. This week in Louisiana history. June 28, 1861. First Civil War battle engagement for Louisiana Tigers, at Seneca Dam on Potomac River.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. On June 27th, 1957, Hurrican Audrey, the most destructive hurricane to strike Southwest Louisiana until that time, moved ashore near the Texas/Louisiana border causing a disastrous storm surge.  Storm surges of 6 feet of more extended from Galveston, TX along the coast to Cocodrie, LA.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Essence Music Festival
   July 2nd, 2015 - July 5th, 2015
   Mercedes-Benz Superdome
   1500 Sugar Bowl Dr., New Orleans, LA 70112
   504-587-3663
   Website 
   Mercedes-Benz Superdome
   "Party with a purpose" at this star-studded celebration of African American music and culture in the Superdome. Jazz up your July with performances by the world's biggest hip-hop, R&B and soul artists.

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Zack Kopplin and Bill Nye

109. Zack Kopplin Interview, Part 1

109.  Part 1 of our interview with Zack Kopplin, an Louisiana political activist, journalist, and television personality from Louisiana. Kopplin has campaigned to keep creationism out of public school science classrooms and been involved with other separation of church and state causes. He has opposed school vouchers because they provide public money to schools which may teach creationism. As a high school student, he organized seventy-eight Nobel laureate scientists in a campaign against the Louisiana Science Education Act, a creationism law. He is also involved with science funding policy and curriculum and textbook policy.

1. This week in Louisiana history. June 20, 1968. Presidential candidate George Wallace speaks in Baton Rouge raising $60,000.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Al "Carnival Time" Johnson (born June 20, 1939, in New Orleans,) is an American singer and piano player best known for the Mardi Gras song "Carnival Time."
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Louisiana Peach Festival
   West Park Ave.
   Ruston, LA 71270
   Tel: 318-255-2031
   Website
   Description:
   The 65th Louisiana Peach Festival will be held June 26 & 27, 2015 in Downtown Ruston. The festival is in its 65th year, one of the longest running agricultural events in Louisiana. It's held the 4th weekend in June when the peaches are ripe and delicious!  In beautiful downtown Ruston you can enjoy the parade, concerts, kid's rides, art & crafts show, peach eating contest, peach cookery contest and more. Throughout Lincoln Parish there's also a rodeo, golf tournament, bass tournament, Kid's fishing tournament, 5K, tennis tournament, quilting contest, baby photo contest, diaper derby and antique car show. Something for everyone!
   Admission is charged for ages 7 and over. Friday $10, Saturday $10, Weekend Pass $15.

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Zack and the Science Guy

108. Sheryl St. Germain, Part 2

108.  Part 2 of our interview with poet Sheryl St. Germain.  A native of New Orleans, Sheryl has taught creative writing at The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Knox College and Iowa State University. She directs the MFA program in Creative Writing at Chatham University where she also teaches poetry and creative nonfiction.  The author of many books, her work has received several awards. 

1. This week in Louisiana history. June 15, 1910. Evangeline Parish created.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Melvin Lloyd ("Mel") Parnell, born in New Orleans on June 13, 1922, was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He graduated from S.J. Peters High School where he starred with future major leaguers George Strickland, Howie Pollett, Raymond Campo, Ray Yochim and Lou Klein. Parnell spent his entire ten-year career with the Boston Red Sox (1947–1956), compiling a 123-75 record with 732 strikeouts, a 3.50 earned run average, 113 complete games, 20 shutouts, and 1752.2 innings pitched in 289 games (232 as a starter) After his playing career, Parnell managed the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association in 1959 and a series of Red Sox farm clubs from 1961 to 1963.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   GospelFest2015 "A Celebration of Gospel Music"
   June 19th, 2015
   Downtown Shreveport's Festival Plaza
   101 Crockett St., Shreveport, LA 71101
   318-459-8211
   Website
   Downtown Shreveport's Festival Plaza
   This Festival will be in its second year of existence beginning in June 2015.  It boasts to have some of the biggest names in Gospel Music from all over the Northwest Louisiana, East Texas, Southwest Arkansas Areas- collectively known as the (ARK-LA-TEX), this event takes place in conjunction with the Let the Good Times Roll Festival hosted by the Rho Omega and Friends Omega Psi Phi Fraternity which is a festival that has taken place for the last 20 years plus; which draws thousands of people over the course of one weekend celebrating (Juneteenth) and the history, heritage, roots, and spirit of African-American Music! GospelFest II; which is what this event will be called, features "gospel" talent from all over, and all are welcomed to come and participate in this Gospel Music Showcase!

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Sheryl St. Germain

107. Interview with Sheryl St. Germain, Part 1.

107.  We interview poet Sheryl St. Germain.  A native of New Orleans, Sheryl has taught creative writing at The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Knox College and Iowa State University. She directs the MFA program in Creative Writing at Chatham University where she also teaches poetry and creative nonfiction.  The author of many books, her work has received several awards. 

1. This week in Louisiana history. June 7, 1892. Homer Plessy is arrested for taking a seat on a train that was marked "Whites Only."In 1890, the state of Louisiana passed a law (the Separate Car Act) that required separate accommodations for blacks and whites on railroads, including separate railway cars. Concerned, a group of prominent black, creole, and white New Orleans residents formed the Comité des Citoyens (Committee of Citizens) dedicated to repeal the law. They persuaded Homer Plessy to participate in a test case. On June 7, 1892, Plessy bought a first class ticket at the Press Street Depot and boarded a "whites only" car of the East Louisiana Railroad in New Orleans, Louisiana, bound for Covington, Louisiana. Additionally, the committee hired a private detective with arrest powers to detain Plessy, to ensure he was charged for violating the Separate Car Act, as opposed to a vagrancy or some other offense. As planned, Plessy was taken off the train at Press and Royal streets. Plessy was remanded for trial in Orleans Parish.  His loss in the trial Plessy v Ferguson made Jim Crows laws permissible until the modern civil rights movement.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. Joseph Samuel Clark, educator, civic leader. Born, Sparta, La., June 7, 1881. Education: public and private schools in Bienville Parish, Coleman and Bishop colleges; Leland University, B. A., 1901; Ph. D., 1914; Selma University, M. A., 1913; Arkansas Baptist College, Ph. D., 1921. Further studies at Chicago and Harvard universities. Served as principal of Slater High School, Donaldsonville, and of Baton Rouge Academy between 1901 and 1912; president of Southern University, 1913-1938. During his administration, the school progressed from an institution with an enrollment of forty-seven students and an appropriation of $10,000 to a university with 3,067 students and an appropriation of approximately one million dollars.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   The Last Surrender
   June 1st, 2015 - June 30th, 2015
   Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site
   135 Riverfront Street, Pineville, LA 71360
   318-484-2390
   Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville - The Last Surrender, This event commemorates the LAST FORTS SURRENDERED DURING THE CIVIL WAR, Forts Randolph and Buhlow. Union soldiers and sailors take possession of the forts after accepting the surrender of the local Confederate forces. A sesquicentennial ceremony will be reenacted for the public as Confederate colors are lowered for the last time.
   Website  

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Sheryl St. Germain

106. Interview with Alys Arden about Casquette Girls

106. Welcome to the beginning of our third year!  This week we interview Alys Arden.  She grew up in the Vieux Carré, cut her teeth on the streets of New York, and has worked all around the world since. She still plans to run away with the circus one day.  Her first novel is The Casquette Girls.  After the Storm of the Century rips apart New Orleans, Adele Le Moyne and her father are among the first to return to the city following the mandatory evacuation. Adele wants nothing more than for life to return to normal, but with the silent city resembling a mold-infested war zone, a parish-wide curfew, and mysterious new faces lurking in the abandoned French Quarter, normal will have to be redefined. Amidst the mayhem, strange events – too unnatural even for New Orleans – lead Adele to an attic where she accidentally opens a Pandora’s box – one that has been sealed for three hundred years. The chaos she unleashes threatens not only her life but everyone she knows.

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 31, 1964. Last run of Canal Street Streetcar.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On May 31, 1985, the New Orleans Saints were sold for $70,204,000.  Tom Benson acquired the franchise from John W. Mecom, Jr., the team's first majority stockholder.  Benson  hired Jim Finks as general manager and Jim Mora as head coach.
3. This week in Louisiana.New Orleans Oyster Festival
   Woldenberg Park
   New Orleans, LA 70130
   504.835.6410
   http://www.neworleansoysterfestival.org/
   May 30 - 31, 2015
   10:00 AM - 7:00 PM CDT  
   "More than 20 restaurants will be preparing oyster dishes for a festival that includes the Acme Oyster-Eating Contest, the P&J Oyster-Shucking Competition, and the New Orleans Fish House Largest Oyster Contest. There also will be arts and crafts vendors, and children's activities. Entertainers for 2015 include the Treme Brass Band, Colin Lake, the Bucktown All-Stars, Rockin' Dopsie, Marcia Ball, and more. Proceeds support the Louisiana oyster industry, the French Quarter community, and the 8th District of the New Orleans Police Department."

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The Casquette Girls

The Casquette Girls