312. Victoria Coy, Part 1

312. Part 1 of our interview with Victoria Coy. Victoria is a native Louisianian and Tulane alum, where she proudly received the 2009 Sylvia Dreyfus Memorial Award for leadership and activism on campus. Her dedication to social justice work has brought her all over the world; from Fiji where she opened the country's first rural women's crisis center, to Cameroon where she served as the Economic Development Advisor to the African Model Forest Network. Gun violence has been important to Victoria since the loss of two childhood friends at the hands of their father in her formative years. Therefore, upon returning home, her focus has shifted to ending Louisiana's dangerous and preventable gun violence epidemic. She founded the Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition, which is the state's only state-specific gun violence prevention organization. 

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 12, 1678 LaSalle given permission to explore "Louisiana" by King Louis XIV.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On May 11, 1988 a fire destroyed the third floor of the Cabildo, one of the principal buildings of the Louisiana State Museum. In the following years, the architects of the New Orleans firm Koch and Wilson, along with construction crews, labored over this national historic landmark's restoration. Although the Cabildo fire was tragic, it did present opportunities for an archaeological dig in the courtyard directly behind the historic landmark.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   May 17-19, 2019
   Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow
   Chief Joseph Alcide Pierite
   Pow Wow Grounds
   Marksville, LA 71351
   Friday. Education Day. Free.
   Saturday 10:00 am - 10:00 pm. $5.00 admission
   Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. $5.00 admission
   For centuries, neighboring nations have gathered for sport, singing, dancing, and feasting. Like any other good neighbor, Indian nations have also shared their crafts, music, and stories. The modern pow wow, as we know it, came into existence in the late 19th century especially as tribes moved closer together in the American West. No other event captures the American Indian spirit like the pow wow.  Dancers in colorful dress move gracefully around the ring, a steady drum beat directing their movements. Tradition is passed from one generation to the next. The Native attire worn and the dances, songs, and drum rhythms performed express traditions that began over 20,000 years ago.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to trumpeter ET in Jackson Square. 

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311. Jaya McSharma, part 2

311. Part 2 of our interview with Jaya McSharma, MD. "Hi! I’m Dr. Jaya McSharma. I’m an actor and writer currently living in Shreveport, La. I have loved acting and writing as long as I have been able to understand purpose and passion. It’s what sets my soul ablaze. My husband and I formed #McSharma Productions and had our first-ever short film, #BrownBridgetMD, selected as a top 20 finalist of the Louisiana Film Prize in 2018. I also won Best Actress at the festival! Currently we are in pre-production to take our short film and turn it into a TV or streaming series."

1. This week in Louisiana history. May 4, 1970. T.H. Williams wins Pulitzer Prize for his biography, Huey Long.
   
2. This week in New Orleans history. President John F. Kennedy delivers an address to a large crowd of people at City Hall [Duncan] Plaza, May 4, 1962.
3. This week in Louisiana.
   May 3-5, 2019
   Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
   Celebrity crawfish eating contest, Cajun dance lessons, Cajun cooking demonstrations, Crawfish etouffée cookoff, parade, and music.
   The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has become one of the largest gatherings of world famous Cajun, Zydeco and Swamp Pop musicians and plays host to over 30 bands on three stages during the three-day festival.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the band at the Funky 544 on Bourbon St.

310. Jaya McSharma, part 1

310. Part 1 of our interview with Jaya McSharma, MD. "Hi! I’m Dr. Jaya McSharma. I’m an actor and writer currently living in Shreveport, La. I have loved acting and writing as long as I have been able to understand purpose and passion. It’s what sets my soul ablaze. My husband and I formed #McSharma Productions and had our first-ever short film, #BrownBridgetMD, selected as a top 20 finalist of the Louisiana Film Prize in 2018. I also won Best Actress at the festival! Currently we are in pre-production to take our short film and turn it into a TV or streaming series."

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 28, 1862. Forts Jackson and St. Phillip on the Mississippi river are surrendered to Union troops.
2. This week in New Orleans history. The Illinois Central Railroad introduced the original City of New Orleans on April 27, 1947 as a daytime companion to the overnight Panama Limited. EMD E7 diesel locomotives pulled new lightweight Pullman Company coaches. The 921-mile route, which the City of New Orleans covered in 15 hours 55 minutes, was the longest daytime schedule in the United States.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   El Festival Espanol de Nueva Iberia
   April 26th, 2019 - April 28th, 2019
   Bouligny Plaza
   102 W Main St,
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   337-349-7343 | Fax
   Website | Email
   Celebrating New Iberia's Spanish roots with "Dave Robicheaux Running of the Bulls" 5K race, re-enactment of the arrival of the Spanish on Bayou Teche, paella/jambalaya cook-off, fais-do-do at the Pavilion, food demonstrations, original Spanish family genealogy, guest lectures, exhibits, the Downtown Art Walk featuring a Spanish artist and more. Bouligny Plaza, 102 W. Main St., New Iberia, 337-349-7343.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to Tuba Skinny.

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309. Donna Pierite, part 2

309. Part 2 of our interview with Donna Pierite.  Donna is part of the Tunica-Biloxi Museum and Cultural and Educational Resources Center Library. Their gift shop is at 151 Melancon Drive in Marksville, or at the LA1 Shop at Paragon Casino Resort next door. For more information, call (800) 272-9767. She, Elisabeth Pierite-Mora, and John D. Barbry have written a book, entitled The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe: It's Culture & People. Donna her daughter, son and brother (Steven Madere) wrote and produced Tawaka (in Tunica "sub-commander"), the language and culture page that appeared in the Tunica-Biloxi tribal newspaper. Along with her husband, children and her brother, Mrs. Pierite has given various presentations at schools, universities and other venues, including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 23, 1831. Ponchartrain Railroad opened, first west of Alleghenies.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On April 23, 1939, the Zephyr first whisked New Orleanians into the sky along its winding path around the park.  Harry Jr. remembered, when he was a twelve year-old, "It was fantastic to get on top of the Zephyr and see nothing but cow pasture as far as you could see in Gentilly".
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Festival International de Louisiane
   April 24th, 2019 - April 28th, 2019
   11:30 am - 10:00 pm
   Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana
   315 Lee Ave,
   Lafayette, LA 70501
   337-232-8086
   Website | Email
   The 32nd annual Festival International de Louisiane will be held in Downtown Lafayette, April 25-29, 2018. Featuring six music stages, arts and crafts vendors, local food and other family-friendly activities.
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the Glen David Andrews Band.

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308. Donna Pierite, part 1

308. Part 1 of our interview with Donna Pierite. Donna is part of the Tunica-Biloxi Museum and Cultural and Educational Resources Center Library. Their gift shop is at 151 Melancon Drive in Marksville, or at the LA1 Shop at Paragon Casino Resort next door. For more information, call (800) 272-9767. She, Elisabeth Pierite-Mora, and John D. Barbry have written a book, entitled The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe: It's Culture & People. Donna her daughter, son and brother (Steven Madere) wrote and produced Tawaka (in Tunica "sub-commander"), the language and culture page that appeared in the Tunica-Biloxi tribal newspaper. Along with her husband, children and her brother, Mrs. Pierite has given various presentations at schools, universities and other venues, including performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 15, 1795. The Pointee Coupee Slave Rebellion.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Born in New Orleans on April 13, 1926, Cosimo Matassa is the recording engineer and studio owner responsible for nationally renowned R&B and rock and roll recordings at his New Orleans studios. Matassa described himself simply as a "sound engineer" in a July 19, 1981 Times-Picayune article written by John Pope. He went on to say that his formula for success was not complicated in any way..."Do it live or do it over again until it was done right". He did it right for hundreds of young unknown musicians including Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Mac Rebbenack (Dr. John), Mickey Gilly and so many more from 1945 through 1968 in his studio in the Quarter and later in the Central Business District.  J&M recorded Alan Toussaint's first record, "The Wild Side of New Orleans" which was released by RCA Victor.  He recorded Aaron Neville's "Tell it Like it Is", Robert Parker's "Barefootin'", and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" in 1956 — a recording which has been acclaimed as a seminal Rock and Roll song.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   46th Annual Street Rod Reunion
   April 13th, 2019
   7:00 am - 4:00 pm
   Boomtown Casino & Hotel
   300 Riverside Dr.
   Bossier City, LA 71111
   318-655-5838
   Website
   The Red River Street Rod Association Street Rod Reunion will be held at Boomtown Casino in Bossier City Louisiana. The event features  cars and trucks 30 years old and older. This event is free for spectators and open to the public. Come out and view stunning examples of Street Rods, Hot Rods, Custom Cars, Trucks. Food, music, entertainment, auction and fun.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens the the Milly Raccoon Band.

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307. Viola Fontenot, part 2

307. Part 2 of our interview with Viola Fontenot about her memoir, A Cajun Girl's Sharecropping Years. Viola is a sharecropper's daughter. Spanning from 1937 to 1955, Fontenot describes her life as the daughter of a share-cropper in Church Point, Louisiana, including details of field work as well as the domestic arts and Cajun culture. The account begins with stories from early life, where the family lived off a gravel road near the woods without electricity, running water, or bathrooms, and a mule-drawn wagon was the only means of transportation.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 7, 1682. LaSalle and Tonti reached mouth of Miss. River.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Ground was broken for Tulane stadium on April 7, 1924.  It opened on October 23, 1926 with a seating capacity of roughly 35,000. New Orleans-Item sports editor Fred Digby popularized the term "Sugar Bowl" in 1927. The first Sugar Bowl game was played there on January 1, 1935, against the Philadelphia Temple Owls.  The last was on December 31, 1974 when Nebraska beat Florida 14-10. In 1947 the stadium was expanded to accommodate 80,985 fans. Lights were installed in 1957. It was the home of the  Saints, from their first game on September 17, 1967 when John Gilliam returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown (but they lost 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams) until December 8, 1974 when they won 14-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals. On November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey made his record-breaking 63-yard field goal there, pushing the Saints into a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Baton Rouge Blues Festival
   April 13th, 2019 - April 14th, 2019
   12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
   Downtown Baton Rouge
   200 North Blvd.,
   Baton Rouge, LA 70801
   225-612-2112
   Website
   The Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the oldest blues festivals in America. The free-to-the-public, family-friendly festival will feature internationally-recognized performers and local blues legends alike, including Mavis Staples, Kenny Neal & the Neal.Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to further their Baton Rouge blues experience beyond the festival at hangouts like Phil Brady's (with the longest-running 21-year Thursday night blues jam around) and the inimitable Teddy's Juke Joint.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Joe Shedlo on Royal St.

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306. Viola Fontenot, part 1

306. Part 1 of our interview with Viola Fontenot about her memoir, A Cajun Girl's Sharecropping Years. Viola is a sharecropper's daughter. Spanning from 1937 to 1955, Fontenot describes her life as the daughter of a share-cropper in Church Point, Louisiana, including details of field work as well as the domestic arts and Cajun culture. The account begins with stories from early life, where the family lived off a gravel road near the woods without electricity, running water, or bathrooms, and a mule-drawn wagon was the only means of transportation.

1. This week in Louisiana history. March 31, 1807. St. John the Baptist Parish created (one of original parishes).
2. This week in New Orleans history. Delta Air Lines, Inc., DC-8, N802E, operating as Flight 9877, crashed during a landing approach to Runway 1 at New Orleans International Airport, Kenner, Louisiana, on March 30, 1967. Five crewmembers and an FAA observer were fatally injured. This was a training flight with no passengers aboard; however, impact occurred in a residential area and 13 persons on the ground were also killed.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Water/Ways Smithsonian Exhibit
   February 24th, 2019 - April 6th, 2019
   10:00 am - 4:00 pm
   Jeanerette Museum
   500 E Main Street,
   Jeanerette, LA 70544
   337-276-4408
   Website | Email
   The Jeanerette Museum Board of Directors, in cooperation with Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), will examine water as an environmental necessity and an important cultural element as it hosts “Water/Ways,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program. “Water/Ways” will be on view Feb. 24 through April 6 at the Jeanerette Museum located at 500 E. Main Street on the corner of Main St. and Moresi Alley, Jeanerette, LA.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to a saxophone player in the French Quarter.

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