By Brooke Shirley

Many High School Booster team held the Many Tiger Football Fall Bass Tournament Sept. 9 at Cypress Bend Park. Fisherman crowded the waters from early Saturday morning until 3 p.m., which is when the weigh-in was officially closed.

Andy Cosenza and Chris Adair worked hard debagging the catches into a basket for the fish to be weighed as well as entertaining everyone during the long wait to see who won! They also had sausages, buns, and beverages readily available for guests to enjoy during the wait.

The final results are as follows: 

1st Place- Mitch Shoffiett & son Layne with a total weight of 23lbs 31 ounces

2nd Place- Randy Pennington & John Gillard with a total weight of 22lbs 38 ounces

Big Fish- John Gillard caught the biggest bass weighing a total of 7lbs 41 ounces

The audience clapped their hands, tapped their toes, cheered loudly, and danced on the dance floor and in the aisles for the recent  Brandy Roberts Tribute Show at the Many Community Center Sept. 9.

Roberts’ music show was met with wild enthusiasm and many people asked how quickly he would return for another show. Roberts promised Many’s Cultural District Chairperson, Mary Brocato, that he would be happy to return.  “I had a blast,”  Roberts wrote her after her returned to Shreveport.  Brocato said she hopes to schedule him no later than the early spring of 2018.

“That will give all his new fans plenty of time to yearn for his return,” she laughed.
Roberts played Jerry Lee Lewis songs for three hours.  He also played songs from Mickey Gilley, Charley Pride, Ray Charles  and other popular rock ‘n roll, country, blues entertainers. Rather than just playing and singing the songs, Roberts talked about each song and told stories about the songs and the singers who made them famous.

A whiz on the keyboard and a singer with a crystal clear voice that sounds just like a young Jerry Lee Lewis, Roberts  received a standing ovation at the end of his performance. Fans lined up for his autograph and eagerly bought his CDs.
Roberts played and sang  every song from “Great Balls of Fire” to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and even threw in some gospel music for good measure.  There was a song for everyone.

A conversation with his mother, Sandy Roberts, revealed that Brandy first took organ lessons as a young boy.  Then he heard Jerry Lee Lewis and told his mom that was the kind of music he wanted to play.  She said she told him he couldn’t play that kind of music on an organ but only on the piano.  “So we bought him a piano,” she laughed.

Mrs. Roberts said after a period of time, his piano teacher called her and said, “I’ve taken Brandy as far as I can take him.  After he hears a song once, he can play it.”  Mrs. Roberts continued, “I never had to make Brandy practice.  When he came home from school, he went straight to the piano and played the rest of the afternoon.”

Roberts’ repertoire of songs is extremely wide.  He told his audience that he never knew ahead of time what he was going to play and he doesn’t play from a set list. “I just play whatever song pops into my head, and my band keeps up with me,” he explained.

Roberts’ music career is a true family affair. His father, Preston Roberts, is his manager, and his mother is his strongest and most faithful supporter.  A devout Christian family, they came with Brandy to Many and enjoyed meeting and talking with people attending the show.

Some members of the audience commented on Roberts’ performance.

Mrs. Nancy Spiller  of Many said, “I agree that this was a fantastic show. I think Brandy Roberts is just as good (maybe better) a piano player and showman as Jerry Lee Lewis himself. If I ever get chance to hear him again, I WILL!”

Mrs. Cheryl Wooley, also from Many,  commented, “Good crowd and great music!”

Mrs. Cathy  Seymour who came from Natchitoches to hear Roberts said, “He was fabulous!! We loved the evening. He is so very talented!!”

Ms. Vickie Weaver of Many said, “Brandy was great. The best yet. If you didn’t come you missed a great show.”

“It’s going to be impossible to bring a show to Many that will top the  Brandy Roberts’ show,” Many’s Mayor Ken Freeman commented.

“We’re not even going to try,” Mary Brocato, who booked the show, responded.  “But we will bring  him back again and , in the meantime, we’ll try to bring some other good entertainers to Music in Many as often as we can. People will just have to be patient until Brandy can fit us into  his schedule. But that will give us something to look forward to.”

Brocato added a personal comment: “It was my lucky night.  I listened to  a musician of the very highest caliber, and I made three new friends:  Brandy, Preston, and Sandy Roberts.  “Those kinds of nights happen only rarely,.”

Pictured above are Entertainer Brandy Roberts and Many Cultural District chairperson Mary Brocato.  “Brandy’s not just the man playing the piano. He’s a really good person, and I feel lucky to be his new friend,” Brocato said.

By Brooke Shirley

Kimberly Remedies taught a painting class themed “A Walk on the Beach” at the Many Historic Depot Museum Sept. 9.

The “Happy Hours” classes, co-sponsored by the Town of Many Cultural District Advisory Committee and the Depot Art Guild, are hosted every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturday in the month. Mayor Ken Freeman and the Town of Many are also sponsors. All of the class instructors are members of the Depot Art Guild and all play a major role in making everything possible.

Upon arriving, everyone was greeted with a smile and a friendly hello from the employees at the Historic Depot Museum. Canvases, paint, and brushes were distributed before Kimberly started the instructions. Students painted an ocean scene with a little sea turtle making his way to the shoreline.

All of the students seemed to be enjoying themselves as they all painted and chatted amongst each other. A few had a little hiccup painting the turtle onto their canvas, but nonetheless everyone’s masterpiece turned out beautiful.

Kimberly has taught this class for over a year now and has high hopes for the future. She said, “I want to see this art class grow and really prosper. I enjoy being able to do this for people who want to learn how to paint and honestly, it’s fun for me as well.”

If you or anyone you know is interested in an arts and crafts class, head on down to the Historic Depot Museum every 3rd Saturday in the month. Shanna Gaspard, the instructor of the class and President of the Depot Art Guild, will be making fall pumpkin home decorations this coming Saturday, Sept. 16.

The class only costs $20 and it is recommended that you call 318-602-1614 to reserve your spot today.

By Mary Brocato

When she made a recent visit to the Depot Art Gallery, located in the Many Historic Depot Museum, the Cultural District Program Manager for the State of Louisiana said Many has one of the most active cultural districts in the state.

Gaye Hamilton of the Lt. Governor’s Office was highly pleased with the many events, art classes, movies, and music shows offered on a regular basis at both the Many Historic Depot Museum and the Many Community Center.

“Louisiana is a big state with many cultural  districts,” she commented.  She complimented the Art Guild and the Cultural District Advisory Committee for their hard work in bringing so many events, art and culture to the town’s cultural district.

Hamilton met with Shanna Dees Gaspard, president of the Depot Art Guild; JoAnn Cason, a member of the art guild; Janice Randow, Mayor Ken Freeman’s assistant; and Mary Brocato, chairperson of the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee.

Hamilton used the information from the Many Cultural District as one of several examples in a presentation called “Where Heritage Meets Tourism” at the Lt. Governor’s Tourism Summit. The examples demonstrated how being part of the network of Cultural Districts across the state can help catalyze and enhance local efforts to revitalize places, creating interesting and often unusual experiences that help retain residents and attract tourist.

The Many Cultural District Advisory Committee  is finding new uses for old buildings like the Depot Art Gallery in the old Many KCS train depot. It provides an exhibition space for local arts and a new market for art and cultural products. Plans are to turn the remaining depot rooms into a museum.

Renovations to the Sabine Theatre created a venue for community gathering and a wide range of cultural events. It is now called the  Many Community Center and has regularly scheduled movies, music shows, plays, and other special events.

The Many CD team also  has plans to engage residents in design and creation of public art around town, with its first location being the historic depot museum.  It’s currently introducing book nooks, or little free libraries to the town and plans to introduce opera at the Many Community Center in 2018.

The Many Depot Art Gallery is open every Saturday from10 am until 4 pm. Art Guild members also teach painting, crafts, and jewelry making classes three Saturday afternoons each month.

Pictured from left are JoAnn Cason, a member of the Many Depot Art Guild; Janice Randow, assistant to Mayor Ken Freeman; Shanna Dees Gaspard, president of the Depot Art Guild; and Mary Key Brocato, chairperson of the Cultural District Advisory Committee. They recently met with the Louisiana Cultural Districts Program Manager and were pleased to be told that the Many Cultural District is one of the most active districts in Louisiana.

 

By Donna Dyson Horn

Ronald Rains of Marthaville never stops. He is constantly on the move and is always working. But work is something he has done all of his life. After 45 years in the oil field, he retired and has been going strong ever since. Between farming and raising cattle, he has taken on a new project and that is raising muscadines.

I had just made it in from work one evening when Ronald drove up at my house and wanted me to do a story on his muscadines. Long story short, I loaded up and headed out to 3825 Highway 487, right out of Marthaville to see what he was talking about.

When I drove up to his house, he told me to just keep on driving. I did and what I drove up on was a nice fenced in, beautiful and healthy muscadine orchard. Ronald started showing me around and telling me about his plants that he ordered from the state of Georgia. He started this around 4 years ago and has been selling them for the last 3 years. All of these plants have a name: there is Darlene, Janet, Big Red, Scarlett and Ison.

Not only did I get to meet all of these plants and take pictures of them, I also was able to find out just how good these muscadines are for us. They can boost our heart function and promote a healthy heart, help to reduce or balance Cholesterol Levels, help regulate blood pressure, boost the immune system, protect against mild memory loss and reduce signs of aging. We all need the last one! Another thing is that they are also an excellent source of dietary fiber. Another plus we need.

One thing about it, red wine, red grape and grape seeds are fantastic! With these grapes, you can make plenty of wine and lots of canned jelly. One gallon of muscadines is equal to around four pints of jelly. With one glass of wine during or after supper, think of all the benefits you will receive from it, plus you might get a little buzz from it and sleep better. (Thought I would throw that part in.)

Now I bet you are wondering just where can you find these big, plump muscadines. You can call Ronald Rains at 472-8888 or 663-3005. The price is $8 a gallon if you pick and $10 a gallon if he picks. He will deliver, if it’s not too far out. You can’t beat that!

Don’t think on this for too long. I wanted to know about how much longer these will be available and he told me about two more weeks. Another thing, muscadine jelly is good on so many things, one thing is steak. Ronald told me that you would be surprised on how good it is!

 

“Hidden Figures,” an important film about struggle and will power, is the feature film at the Many Community Center Saturday night, Sept.16, at the Many Community Center. The free movie will begin at 7 p.m. Pictured above, three African American female scientists worked for NASA in the early1960s and paved the way for African Americans and women to work in the fields of science and technology.

The film centers on these three pioneering African American women whose calculations for NASA were integral to several historic space missions, including John Glenn’s successful orbit of the Earth. These women—Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan—were superlative mathematicians and engineers despite starting their careers in segregation-era America and facing discrimination at home, at school, and at work.

The film celebrates individual mettle, but also the way its characters consistently try to lift others up. They’re phenomenal at what they do, but they’re also generous with their time, their energy, and their patience in a way that feels humane, not saintly. By showing the overlooked lives and accomplishments of Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson, “Hidden Figures” manages to be more than an inspiring history lesson with wonderful performances.
“Hidden Figures” begins in earnest in 1961. Katherine, Mary, and Dorothy are part of NASA’s pool of human “computers” —employees, usually women, charged with doing calculations before the use of digital computers. Due to segregation laws, African American female computers have to work in a separate “colored” building at the Langley Research Center in Virginia.

But the U.S. is so desperate to beat the Soviet Union into space that NASA becomes a reluctant meritocracy: Because of her expertise in analytic geometry, Katherine is assigned to a special task group trying to get Glenn into orbit. She arrives at her new job to find she’s the sole black face in the room.

Katherine is closest to the excitement, but “Hidden Figures” widens its scope beyond her. Mary must navigate layers of racist bureaucratic hurdles in her quest to become an engineer. Dorothy is fighting for a long overdue promotion, while the arrival of an IBM machine threatens to put her team of computers out of work.

The women consistently out-think their higher-ranked (usually white, male) colleagues, whether by learning a new programming language, solving problems in wind-tunnel experiments, or calculating narrow launch windows for space missions. Each is uniquely aware of the broader stakes of her success—for other women, for black people, for black women, and for America at large—and this knowledge is as much an inspiration as it is a heavy weight.

The film only portrays a fraction of the individuals who worked on the space program—and the experiences of the many African American women working at NASA at the time.
Despite its historical lesson, the movie is entertaining and worthy of seeing. “Hidden Figures” shines with respect for the accomplishments of women in science and technology and imparts a profound appreciation for what was achieved in history’s shadows.

“Hidden Figures” is an important film brought to you by Movies in Many, an ongoing program provided twice monthly at the Many Community Center by Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Town of Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, and the Many City Council.

Admission is always free at Movies in Many. Concessions are only $1 for popcorn and soft drinks.

Movies in Many is part of efforts to bring entertainment, the arts, and events to Many so its citizens don’t have to travel elsewhere for “something to do.”

 

Fall is in the air, and pumpkins are on the mind of Shanna Dees Gaspard, president of the Depot Art Guild and instructor of the Happy Hours craft class that will be taught on Sept. 16.

Gaspard will teach her students how to make wooden decorative pumpkins of all sizes and colors.

The class will be taught from 1-4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon at the Many Historical Depot Museum. Class size is limited so interested students are encouraged to call 318-602-1614 to reserve a place. The $20 fee is for supplies and materials.

Gaspard likes the idea of making pumpkins because, as she said, “Pumpkins can be used for home decor from now through Thanksgiving when we start putting up Christmas decorations.”

A talented painter, Gaspard enjoys crafts as well. She has studied art under some well-known painters and now enjoys teaching students her techniques.

She also likes the new name that the painting, art and jewelry making classes use — Happy Hours classes. Gaspard said the three creative hours spent on Saturdays at the Many Historic Depot Museum are quite happy because students, in addition to creating new works of art,also enjoy the time visiting with other students and making new friends.

The Happy Hours creative classes are sponsored on Saturday afternoons by the Depot Art Guild, Mayor Ken Freeman, the Cultural District Advisory Committee and the Many City Council.

 

MF “Little Bill” Rutledge IV and his brother Shawn were raised with a passion for plumbing and serving the community. With 63 combined years of experience, Little Bill and Shawn grew up learning the trade from their father, grandfather and Uncle Norman Norsworthy.

After making a lateral move, they’re proud to announce the opening of Rutledge Plumbing LLC, in conjunction with Rutledge Road Boring.

Little Bill and Shawn remember going to job sites after school, on weekends and during summer. Working with their family was their hobby.

“Working with them has given my brother Shawn and I some of the best times of our life,” said Bill IV.

Their love for the community was instrumental in the decision to offer this new business venture to Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn and Red River Parishes. The Rutledge family appreciates the support and encouragement it’s received from the communities it serves.

MF Rutledge II started MF Rutledge Plumbing and Heating in the Fall of 1947 with the support of his wife Otho. They ran the business out of their home on Berry Avenue and it soon proved to be a success.

The location moved to Texas Street around 1980, but MF Rutledge Plumbing and Heating has been a family owned business for 70 years. According to the family, about 90 percent of plumbers working in the Natchitoches area have roots back to the business.

MF “Bill” Rutledge III went to work beside his father at an early age. He married Noreen Bennett and they worked alongside family members and many friends until she passed in 2003 after 41 years of marriage. Bill passed in July, 2017.

Opening Rutledge Plumbing LLC to keep the family tradition alive, Bill IV (A master plumber for 25 years) and Shawn (A master plumber for 12 years) appreciate the outpouring of love and support they’ve received from family, friends and the numerous contractors associated with their father and grandfather.

“It’s what we were raised doing,” said Bill IV. “It’s in our blood. It’s what we do. It’s our family.”

Family was a factor in Bill IV and Shawn’s new business venture. Bill and his wife Nancy have one son, MF “Quinten” Rutledge V and two daughters, LeAnn and Meaghan. Shawn and his wife Bonnie have two sons, Hayden and Kort.

“Just like we worked with our father and grandfather, we wanted to have some forward thought for the future of our families,” said Bill IV. “When you think about starting a business you think of your family.”

Among the employees, who are all considered part of the Rutledge family that will be working with Bill IV and Shawn, are Matt Robinson, 50+ years experience; Joe Robinson, 35+ years experience; Joseph Robinson, 15+ years experience; and Charles McGaskey Jr., 15+ years experience.

Call 318-352-3475 or email rutledgeplumbing@hotmail.com for service work, remodeling and all your plumbing needs. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7 am – 4 pm. Emergency calls only after hours.

Proverbs 22:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Magnolia Spa and Wellness enjoys keeping things new in the Natchitoches community and offering their clients the latest spa services on the market. Owners Leigh Lambert and Aimee Walker are happy to announce the addition of the following new services:

Bronze Biologics Spray Tanning- Incredible natural color, no streaking, no toxic ingredients, no dyes or perfumes and it dries in minutes.

Deluxe Hand and Foot Treatment- Includes scrub, paraffin, and massage. This can be a stand alone treatment or and add-on to any service.

Cellulite Massage- A body toning treatment to fight skin laxity on a cellular level, stimulating collagen and reducing the volume of lipid cells for a smooth, contoured body.

Fascia Blaster- An add-on to any massage for $40 per 30 Min treatment. This service uses the fascia blaster tool to heat and loosen restricted connective tissue in the body called fascia, resulting in improved muscle function, lessened appearance of cellulite, increase in blood flow, decrease in soft tissue pain, and the break up of fat.

Ellabana Eyelash Lift and Tint- Makes natural eyelashes appear longer without the use of eyelash extensions. Lashes stay lifted 6-8 weeks, no damage to your natural eyelashes. Swim, shower and play with no fuss and no aftercare. Suitable for short and long eyelashes.

Call Now for an appointment: (318) 238-2843

 

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Talented local artisans will now offer “Happy Hours” classes at the Many Historic Depot Museum on the second, third and fourth Saturdays of the month. Students will participate in hands-on painting, crafts,and a newly added jewelry making class from 1 to 4 p.m.

Depot Art Guild President Shanna Dees Gaspard said, “We like our new name ‘Happy Hours’ classes because we all really enjoy the three hours on Saturday afternoons making something beautiful, visiting with our friends, and making new friends.”

 

 

Painting will continue to be taught by Kimberley Remedies on the
second Saturday of every month. The September class will be Sept. 9, and its theme will be “A Walk on the Beach”. It will feature a sandy beach with a small sea turtle walking across the beach to the ocean. Remedies has been teaching the popular class for more than a year. The fee for this class is $20. The number to call to reserve a place in the class is 337-424-6526.

Crafts on the third Saturday afternoon of each month will be taught by Gaspard, president of the Depot Art Guild. Sept.16 is the date of her first fall craft class. Students will be making fall pumpkins to use in autumn home decorations and for Halloween and Thanksgiving. The charge for this class is $20. People wanting to take the craft class should call 318-602-1614 to reserve a spot.

 

Talented jewelry designer Cheryl Pearsall will teach the newest class which will be jewelry making. Pearsall has been designing jewelry for 16 years, and her handmade one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry is featured at the Depot Art Gallery. The first jewelry making class will be on Sept. 23 and students will be making a brightly colored beaded bracelet. Fee for this class is $25. Students should call 727-534-1057 to reserve a place. They are urged to call early as this is expected to be an extremely popular class.

The “Happy Hours” classes are co-sponsored by the Town of Many Cultural District Advisory Committee and the Depot Art Guild. All teachers are members of the Depot Art Guild and enjoy sharing their talents with their enthusiastic students. Mayor Ken Freeman and the Town of Many are also sponsors of the popular Saturday afternoon classes.

The Cultural District Advisory Committee is planning to offer photography classes on the first Saturday of the month starting in January. “Fine photography is also an art, and we are delighted that photography classes may be offered starting early next year,” said Gaspard. “We are looking forward to offering some type of art class every Saturday afternoon of the month.”

Rhonda Jones, MidSouth Bank City Manager and Melissa Collier, Royal St. Branch Manager, present a check for $500 to Rick Hudson, Symphony Pres. for this, the 52nd year of the Symphony Society.

Persons interested in joining the Society can do so by contacting Gayle Howell at 318-352-8055.

 

Northwestern State University First Lady Jennifer Maggio has initiated a service project, Forks up for Literacy: The 1884 Campaign, with the goal of collecting 1,884 new and gently used books for children ages 5-15. The books will be distributed to schools and youth facilities throughout north Louisiana.

Maggio, who was an educator and school administrator for several years, recently read one of her children’s favorite books to pre-k students at L.P. Vaughn Elementary. Those students are Cameron Graham, Jae’dyn Brown, John Wright IV, Devon Robinson, Jamarion Owens, Zaela Howard, Kevon Efferson Jr., Lakyn Miller, Gonzalo Gonzalez, My’Rhyia Spearman, Ivory Davis, Jalasia Lewis, Christeun Jones and Brooklyn Reeves.

Anyone who would like to donate to the book drive is invited to drop off books at Collins Pavilion during the pregame tailgate at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Monetary donations will also be accepted. For more information, email Maggio at maggioj@nsula.edu.

 

Get ready to rock and roll at the Many Community Center on Saturday, Sept.9.

There’ll be a whole lotta shakin’ going on starting at 7 p.m. when nationally known entertainer Brandy Roberts performs his tribute show to Jerry Lee Lewis.

“We are both surprised and thrilled to have a performer of his caliber agree to do a show in our town,” Many Mayor Ken Freeman said. “Frankly I was shocked when he accepted our invitation because he is booked up to a year in advance. One of the reasons we can attract musicians like Roberts is because they enjoy performing in the historic old theatre that is now the Many Community Center.” Brandy Roberts from Shreveport, Louisiana, is a young rockabilly singer one needs to get ac

Brandy Roberts is a high energy performer offering a Jerry Lee Lewis type show. Brandy is personally endorsed by the Killer himself. Brandy Roberts will definitely arouse and please the crowd at the Many Community Center.

Roberts has opened shows for Jerry Lee Lewis and performed at Jerry Lee’s private birthday celebrations from 1995 to 2000. At the gathering celebrating Jerry Lee Lewis’ 40th year in the music business, Brandy performed on stage with Jerry Lee.

Brandy Roberts was a member of the Louisiana Hayride in Bossier City, Louisiana from 1985 until it closed in 1987. He performed at the world famous Reo Palm Isle in Longview, Texas from 1997 to 1999. There he opened shows for performers such as Gary Stewart, Johnny Rodriquez, and Eddie Raven.

When recording his first CD in Memphis, TN, Roberts used Jerry Lee Lewis’ All Star Road Band. Now many CDs later, he has sold numerous CDs across the United States and around the world in Europe, France, Germany, Australia, and Sweden to name a few.

Jerry Lee Lewis had this to say about Roberts, who performs every year at Lewis’s birthday party, “Brandy Roberts has been a personal friend of mine for many, many years. He is extremely talented in his field and I highly recommend Brandy for any upcoming performances he may encounter.”

Roberts is Jerry Lee Lewis through and through. Roberts was smitten with Lewis’s style of music at an early age and from then on that’s how he wanted to play.

However, rock and roll and boogie-woogie are not his only talent. He is a fine country singer as well. For his Sept.9 show in Many, he has chosen a mix of upfront rock’n’ roll, Jerry Lee Lewis songs, blues and ballads. There will be something to please every member of the audience.

He sounds and plays the piano very similar to Jerry Lee Lewis. Critics say that of all the Jerry Lee Lewis imitators, Brandy Roberts is the closest thing to Jerry Lee Lewis on the planet. His stage act is like the Jerry Lee Lewis of the 50s-60s. This piano rockabilly is considered to be the clone of Jerry Lee Lewis.

He will play much of the Killer’s material along with the hits of Carl Perkins, Mickey Gilley, Chuck Berry, Charley Rich, and others.His repertoire consists of rockers, blues, and ballads. His stage performance is considered to be “Wild”!

Some of the songs he will perform include “I’m On Fire”, “Great Balls of Fire”, “Nadine”, his own composition of “Boogie Child”. His ballads will include “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Blues songs include “Good Night Irene”, and “Mexicali Rose.”

Roberts has been awarded “The Entertainer of the Year” Award for best rockabilly CD.

Doors to the Many Community Center will open at 6 p.m. on Sept.9. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

The Brandy Roberts Show is sponsored by Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee and the Town of Many.

Concessions will be available and Brandy Roberts cds will also be for sale.