123. Interview with activist Mike Tidwell

123.  Our interview with Mike Tidwell. Mike is founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. He is also an author and filmmaker who predicted in vivid detail the Katrina hurricane disaster in his 2003 book Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast. His most recent book, focusing on Katrina and global warming, is titled The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Race to Save America’s Coastal Cities.

1. Lily the Street Poet joins our show for a new segment, The Week in Louisiana Poetry.  For her first visit with us, whe reads her poem, "My Miracle."
2. This week in Louisiana history. September 26, 1810. American settlers who live in western portion of Spanish West Florida, seize fort at Baton Rouge and declare region between New Orleans and Pearl River to Republic of West Florida and seek annexation to U.S.
3. This week in New Orleans history.  Mayor Ray Nagin officially reopened the French Quarter on September 26, 2005 to business owners to inspect property and clean up.
   
4. This week in Louisiana.
   
   Calca Chew Food Festival
   September 28, 2014
   Saint Margaret Catholic Church 
   Lake Charles, LA 70601
   (337) 439-4585
   7 am - 3 pm
   The festival is designed for people who want to experience a taste of 'Cajun'. The music is really French, as is the food. For those who have never tasted boudin or jambalaya or have never experienced the two‑step, will find this festival a delight. Our live auction is filled with items all can afford and our silent auction is a shoppers' paradise.
   The French mass starts off the festival at 7 a.m. and during the day, visitors can enjoy games, a live auction, raffles, a petting zoo, train rides and great Cajun music and food. Admission is free. 

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122. Mike Stagg, Part 2

122.  Mike Stagg interview, part 2.  Mike is active in Louisiana politics. He has been working for positive change in Louisiana through technology-based community and economic development initiatives at the regional, state and local levels for the past 20 years. And he has been actively focused on environmental, energy, and taxation issues for the past five years.

1. This week in Louisiana history. September 19, 1890. President Harrison signs bill killing Louisiana State Lottery Co.
2. This week in New Orleans history. September 19, 1947.  Hurricane George.  Katrina was not the first storm to breach the infamous 17th Street Canal. There were several breaks in the canal's levee caused by the hurricane of 1947 when the levees broke on the Jefferson Parish side, flooding wide areas of Metairie. Portions of the Orleans Parish lakefront and Gentilly also flooded in this storm.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Arts Market of New Orleans ‑ September
   September 26, 2015
   10:00 am - 4:00 pm
   Palmer Park - New Orleans, LA 70118 
   Presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Arts Market is a free open‑air festival of creativity held the last Saturday of every month at Palmer Park in the Carrollton section of New Orleans (where South Claiborne and South Carrollton Avenues meet)‑ the last stop of the St. Charles streetcar from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Arts Market also has live music performances, food and beverage booths, and a Kids Tent with a creative show & crafts.

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121 Mike Stagg, Part 1

121.  Part one of our interview with Mike Stagg.  Mike is active in Louisiana politics.  Mike is active in Louisiana politics. He has been working for positive change in Louisiana through technology-based community and economic development initiatives at the regional, state and local levels for the past 20 years. And he has been actively focused on environmental, energy, and taxation issues for the past five years.

1. This week in Louisiana history. September 13, 1987. Pope John Paul II begins three day visit to New Orleans.
2. This week in New Orleans history. September 12, 2005.  Heckuvajob Day.  Michael D. Brown resigned as Director of FEMA for, "the best interest of the agency and the best interest of the president."  Officials awarded a $30.9 million contract to repair the, "twin spans" I-10 bridge to New Orleans to Boh Brothers Construction Co. on September 12, 2005. It was estimated that 45 days would be required before the bridge could reopen to normal traffic. Water pressure had now been restored in the majority of the Jefferson Parish. A "boil water" order was still in force on the East Bank, but had been lifted for the West Bank. On the East Bank, 17% of sewage pumps were operational, and 39% were operational on the West Bank.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   The Bowie Festival & Bowie BBQ Throwdown
   September 25 - 26, 2015
   Riverview RV Park & Resort - Vidalia, LA
   Contact Ann Westmoreland or Glen McGlothin
   Join us in Vidalia, Louisiana - We will be Grillin' and Chillin' on the beautiful banks of the Mighty Mississippi River.  Vendors with authentic items, great festival and Louisiana foods, State Championship BBQ cook-off (KCBS Sanctioned), Entertainment you will not want to miss!!!  Every year - the last weekend of September.

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120. Dixon Hearne Update Interview

120.  We talk again with writer Dixon Hearne, who teaches and writes in the American South. In recent months, he has moved back home to Louisiana.  He's now in Sterlington, LA, near Monroe.  Much of his writing draws greatly from the rich images in his daily life growing up along the graceful river traces and bayous in West Monroe, Louisiana. After many years of university teaching and writing for research journals, his interests turned toward fiction and poetry—and the challenge of writing in a different voice. The Louisiana Anthology now has some of Dixon's stories for you to enjoy, and links to more.

1. This week in Louisiana history. September 6, 1717. John Law's Company of the West chartered.
2. This week in New Orleans history. De La Sallle High School, operated by the Christian Brothers, opened the doors to 76 Catholic freshman boys on Tuesday, September 6, 1949 in an old house on Pitt Street.  The brothers added a new class level each year, operating in several other old structures on the property spanning the 5300 block of St. Charles Avenue, between Valmont and Leontine streets, which the Archdiocese of New Orleans had purchased in April 1949 for $312,000. On Sunday, February 17, 1952 at 2 p.m., Archbishop Rummel officiated the formal dedication of the current De La Salle high school building which had been constructed at a cost of $375,000 to accommodate 750 students. 
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Lydia Cajun Food Fest
   September 11 - 12, 2015
   Weeks Park - Lydia, LA 70569
   Cajun Food Cook‑off, Food Court, Carnival, Arts & Crafts, Poker Run, Refreshments, Music.
   Cajun food certainly has its followers. On menus nationwide, you’ll find things like “Blackened Chicken Salad” or “Cajun Popcorn Shrimp.” As a general rule, these things are usually pale derivatives of the real thing. If you’re interested in the real thing, you’d be wise to be in the small town of Lydia, Louisiana, in September for its annual Cajun Food Fest.

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119. Interview with J. Dawn, Part 2

119.  Part 2 of our interview with J. Dawn, the author of Ashes of Betrayal in The Magicis Chronicles series. J. Dawn is the author of a growing series of books called the Magicis Chronicles. These books are set in the near future, where magic forces that have always been among us have become public.  New Orleans is one of the centers of magic, so the characters will be making their way to the Big Easy at some point in the next book.  Join us as we talk to J. Dawn about her magic series.

1. This week in Louisiana history. August 29, 1962. Heaviest rainfall in 24 hour period, 22 inches at Sabine Wildlife Refuge
2. This week in New Orleans history.   August 29, 2005.  Katrina breached the levees.  The city and metropolitan area were underwater in the aftermath of the hurricane.  This date should never pass without a pause to honor the memory of all who were lost that day.  And to remember or try not to remember all else that was lost.  Near  the bottom of this page is a time-line of the events which occurred on August 29, 2005.  If you choose not to "go there" (literally or figuratively) stop reading when you reach the bottom section.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   September 4-5, 2015
   Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run
   August 29 - 30, 2014
   Downtown Riverbank
   Natchitoches, LA 71457
   All musical events are held on the downtown stage in the historic district. Poker Run events will cover specified routes throughout Natchitoches Parish.
   Phone: Melvin Holmes 318-471-9960 or 354-0899
   Harman Winters 318-652-0079 or 354-1077

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118. J. Dawn, author of the Magicis Chronicles. Part 1.

118.  We interview J. Dawn, the author of Ashes of Betrayal inThe Magicis Chronicles series. J. Dawn is the author of a growing series of books called the Magicis Chronicles. These books are set in the near future, where magic forces that have always been among us have become public.  New Orleans is one of the centers of magic, so the characters will be making their way to the Big Easy at some point in the next book.  Join us as we talk to J. Dawn about her magic series.

1. This week in Louisiana history. August 22, 1701. Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Bienville succeeds Ensign de Sauvolle (Sauvolle's first name is unknown) as commandant of Louisiana.
2. This week in New Orleans history. On August 22, 1947, a hurricane passed offshore Grand Isle. Sabine Pass reported a 3.6 foot storm surge as the storm hit the Upper Texas coast September 19th, 1947: Hurricane force winds first reached the Mississippi and Louisiana shores at 6 a.m. and New Orleans at 8 a.m.. Gusts to 125 m.p.h. were estimated at Moisant International Airport (highest gust measured was 112 m.p.h.) and the pressure fell to 28.57".  A fifteen foot storm surge overcame the Bay St. Louis seawall. Ostrica saw an 11.5 foot surge and Shell Beach experienced an 11.2 foot storm surge. Water was 6 feet deep in Jefferson Parish. The air fields at Moisant were under 2 feet of water, closing the airport during its second year of operation. This storm demonstrated the dire need for tidal protection levees for New Orleans. Much of the city was flooded, and $100 million in damage was produced. The storm claimed 51 victims, 12 in Louisiana.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   39th Annual Gueydan Duck Festival
   August 27-30, 2015
   The first festival was held in November of 1977 and has grown considerably each year. Held originally on blocked-off streets in Gueydan, the Duck festival moved to its own grounds in 1980 when the Atlantic-Richfield Company donated 7 acres to the Gueydan Duck Festival and the Vermilion Parish Police Jury.  Early in 1996, the Gueydan Duck Festival Association purchased a 10 acre tract of land adjacent to the existing festival grounds complete with lighting and metal buildings for all the festival activities.
   P.O. Box 179 
   Gueydan, LA. 70542
   404 Dallas Guidry Rd
   Gueydan, LA. 70542
   Phone: 337-536-6456
   Fax: 337- 536-9997

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117. Sandy Rosenthal

117.  Today we interview Sandy Rosenthal, the founder of Levees.org.  She founded the website and the group as a response to Katrina to advocate for stronger levees and other flood defenses.  Following the government failures surrounding Katrina, Sandy began leading citizens to hold agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers accountable, to correct misrepresentations of what happened, and to demand better protection for New Orleans and other coastal cities. Now she has been named a Hero of the Recovery by the Editors of New Orleans Magazine. 

1. This week in Louisiana history. August 16, 1814. US gunboats attack Barataria, destroying all ships and pirate contraband.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Jazz drummer, cornetist and melophone player Arthur "Monk" Haze was born Harvey on August 15, 1903. He played with Emmett Hardy, Stalebread Lacombe, Abbie Brunies (the Halfway House Orchestra), and Tony Parenti. Monk led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra (which played for atop the Bienville Hotel at Lee Circle, and made recordings in 1928) and then spent time in New York playing with Johnny Wiggs, Jack Pettis and with his own group (1929–31). Hazel was in Hollywood for a period (working with Gene Austin) but eventually came back to New Orleans, performing with Joe Caprano (1937) and the Lloyd Danton Quintet. Hazel spent 1942-43 in the Army and then worked for a time outside of music. However during his final 20 years, Hazel was once again quite active in New Orleans, performing with Sharkey Bonano, George Girard, Mike Lala, Santo Pecora and virtually every other important name in New Orleans jazz. 

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Sandy Rosenthal