Need an easy gift idea which is guaranteed to fit everyone? McNeese State University Leisure Learning gift certificates are available for holidays or any occasion.  Purchase a certificate for a specific class or in a designated amount. For help deciding and a list of courses coming in 2013, call 337-475-5616 with Crystal or May or go to http://www.mcneese.edu/leisure.

Zydeco Crawfish is now open Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 9pm.  They are located at 5400 Hwy 14, south of McNeese St.  They offer boiled crawfish to go, live crawfish and catering.  Find them on Facebook to receive updates or call 337-479-2295. 

Young people from Family & Youth's Leadership Center are wrapping gifts Saturdays leading up to Christmas from 2pm to 4pm at Affordable Elegance (925 Enterprise Street, Lake Charles). There is no charge, but donations will be greatly appreciated. For more information call 337.436.9533, visit www.fyca.org, or like Family & Youth on Facebook.

Wonderland on Ice is back bigger and better than ever - ice skating at L'Auberge Casino Resort runs through Tuesday, January 1, 2013, with a larger rink. Skating sessions are three hours long and are $15 per person/per session. For more information, visit https://www.llakecharles.com/entertainment/wonderland-on-ice.

The Cash & Carry Farmer's market located in the historic Cash & Carry building on 801 Enterprise boulevard is opening the market to arts and craft vendors for the entire month of December.  The Farmer's Market is held weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 4 p.m. -6 p.m.  Space is limited, so secure your spot now by contacting Jacob Manceaux at lclocalroots@gmail.com.

The USS Orleck is now offering a First Edition Orleck Christmas ornament through their online store at www.orleck.org.

Max Air Helicopters, located in the Million Air Complex at Chennault Intl. Airport, recently announced that they have received a Part 135 Air Taxi/Air Carrier Certification awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration. This now allows Max Air Helicopters to operate as a full service Air Carrier/Charter Service for passengers and cargo for the entire 48 contiguous United States. So to celebrate this milestone, Max Air is discounting, up to 50% on all aerial photos located on their website, at www.maxairhelicopters.com . If you can't find what you want, please contact Max Trost at 337-802-4209 for assistance and pricing for charter flights.

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library will host three authors in December. On December 5, at 2pm, Louisianan Lori Leger, described as a contemporary romance novelist with a Cajun flair, will share her experiences and inspirations as the writer of the La Fleur de Love series and her latest series, Halos and Horns, which is set in a fictional Louisiana town. A book signing will follow. On December 10, at 10am, author of The Visionary, Pamela Thibodeaux, will talk about her new book, the events in the story that take place in Lake Charles, and how the writing development came about. An open discussion will take place afterward, with refreshments. Please register to participate. For more information please call 721-7101. On December 17, at 5pm, author Jennifer Thibodeaux will talk about her first book, Static, which is set to be released in December. The heroine of the novel lives in an alternate reality unbeknownst to even herself. Set in present-day Louisiana, the book is an epic romance with a supernatural twist. Thibodeaux will read from the book and speak of her experiences as a new writer.

Lil' Band O' Gold's The Return of the Swamp Pop Christmas Pageant will be held on December 5, at 7pm at the Central School Theater in Lake Charles. If you missed LBoG's Christmas special last year here's another chance. Bask in the golden sounds of C.C. Adcock, Steve Riley, Warren Storm, David Egan, Tommy McClain and the gang in an all-new Christmas program Louisiana style! From covers like Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas to Swamp Pop originals, LBoG will leave you swooning and in the Christmas spirit. Get tickets early this show will sell out quickly. (http://www.facebook.com/lil.band.o.gold) Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA, second floor, Central School or online through www.louisianacrossroads.org.

The McNeese State University Institute for Industry-Education Collaboration is offering the seminar entitled "Grant Writing 101" on December 6, 8am to 4:30pm.  The cost is $100, and seats are still available.  To register call 337-562-4139 or request info by email at iiec@mcneese.edu

The City of Lake Charles and the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana invite the public to visit the Central School Arts and Humanities Center on Thursday, December 6th, from 5pm to 8pm for a festive Holiday Open House. The Holiday Open House will feature an Art Market from 3pm to 8pm with an array of fine and handmade items by artists from the Artisan's Gallery as well as Central School based artists, with 10% of the proceeds helping to fund area art scholarships for the Calcasieu Parish School Board Arts Camp and other arts opportunities for children. A donation center will be set-up at Central School where art supplies such as crayons, markers, drawing paper, paint brushes, paints, etc. may be dropped off. In celebration of the historic building's 100th birthday this year, Friends of Central School will sell commemorative Central School pewter Christmas ornaments. Proceeds go toward the historic and cultural preservation of the facility. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For more information on the Arts Council's services and programs, visit www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org or call (337) 439-2787.

Jonathan Foret, MD, orthopaedic specialist, will be the guest speaker at "Find Freedom from Joint Pain," on Thursday, December 6, at Center for Orthopaedics in Lake Charles.  The seminar will begin at 5:30 pm. Many people accept joint pain as a normal part of aging. Others put off seeking treatment due to fear of surgery. Fortunately, there are many non-surgical treatment options that can provide real relief from arthritis pain. Seating for the seminar is limited and pre-registration is requested. Refreshments will be served. Call 721-7291 or register online in the event section of www.centerforortho.com. Center for Orthopaedics is located at 1747 Imperial Blvd. in Lake Charles.

Individuals are needed as volunteers to assist with providing free tax preparation for the upcoming tax season. United Way of Southwest Louisiana is looking for individuals to join their volunteer team as an Internal Revenue Service-certified volunteer tax preparer. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program provides free tax preparation services for low-income individuals and families. No experience is necessary to become a volunteer tax preparer. Volunteers will need to complete an online IRS course to obtain certification in basic tax preparation. There are a number of sites that will be providing tax preparation services. For more information and to sign up, call 337/433-1088, Ext. 11.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's PurpleStride Lake Area 2012 event takes place on Saturday, December 8, at Prien Lake Park at 7am. This year marks the eighth year of the walk and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. The event also features a raffle, silent auction, children's activities, a sweets shop and food and refreshments. For more information or to register for the event, visit the event website at www.purplestride.org/lakearea.

The Frame House & Gallery is having their Holiday Art Bash on December 8, from 10am to 3pm. There will be artists, music, food, and an art demonstration with Reajean Clark who will be doing a Gyotaku fish rubbing.   You can also pop a balloon for a Holiday Gift Prize - $300 handcrafted necklace. The Frame House & Gallery is located at 1640 Ryan Street in Lake Charles.

Mediated Solutions & Coaching, LLC is offering three (3) hours of Free Coaching (Divorce or Negotiation) for 2 adults, valued at $375/person. Divorce Coaching helps individuals/couples with financial and property division. Our Negotiation and Divorce Coaching saves you time and money in resolving disputes by helping you create a workable plan with alternative options along with preparing you for mediation if required. The drawing will be on December 8th. Register at www.mediatorandcoach.com.

Evergreen Life Services is raffling off two seats to ride in the Krewe of Orpheus' Mardi Gras parade and attend the black-tie after party in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 11, 2013. Two lucky winners will be given a chance to ride on the Leviathan float, and all beverages, food, and costumes provided. This entire package is valued at $3,000. All of the raffle proceeds will benefit the individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, served by Evergreen in Louisiana. Please support Evergreen and those we serve by purchasing a raffle ticket for you or as a gift. Tickets are $10 each or 3/$25. The winner will be drawn on December 12, just in time for Christmas gift-giving. 100% of all ticket sales benefit Evergreen Life Services. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Peggy Johnson at 337-564-2987 or peggy.johnson@evergreenls.org.

Do you support a Calcasieu Parish School? Elementary, Middle School, and High Schools, whether public or parochial - area schools have the chance to win -- and YOU can make it happen for your favorite school! Chick-fil-A at Lumpkin Plaza wants you to get the word out to your co-workers, PTOs/PTAs, teachers, staff and any student who has a facebook account!
    1 - Visit their page on facebook: Chick-fil-A at Lumpkin Plaza
    2 - "Like" the page and post the name of your school on the page!
    3 - Share with all your facebook friends, asking them to do the same.
That's all it takes! The contest ends on December 14th, at midnight! They will tally all the schools submitted, along with the number of people who posted that school's name on our facebook page.

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library will offer holiday entertainment on December 17 with The Kinders' rollicking music show. The programs can be seen at the following locations and times: Sulphur Regional Library (1160 Cypress St.) at 10am; and Moss Bluff Library (261 Parish Road) at 6pm. To learn more about the Kinders, please visit their web site at www.kindersongs.com. For more information on library services, resources and programs, please visit http:calcasieulibrary.org .

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to commit to one day (or more) of working on site with them on a new home! Available dates at this time are December 17-20, 2012. If you would like to come as an individual, or as a group, please contact us as soon as possible since we are expecting available times to go fast. Contact HFHCA's Volunteer Coordinator to reserve an available date for you or your team: volunteer@hfhca.org.

Be an Exhibitor at the 2013 Southwest Louisiana Home Show! Booth sales have begun for the January 12th and 13th event at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Booth prices range from $350 to $500. Reserve your booth by contacting Vicki Broussard at 337-478-7893 or vickihba3@bellsouth.net. Also available this year: Exhibitor Badge Sponsorships!  Every exhibitor will be wearing the badges during the entire show with possibly your logo on the back. Contact Vicki for more information.

The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau is honored to host the Lieutenant Governor's Tourism Summit in Lake Charles January 22-24, 2013 at L'Auberge Casino Resort. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne has declared 2013 the Year of Music, so the conference theme will be "Louisiana Strong - Tourism Jam Session." The Louisiana Travel Promotion Association has planned one of the largest educational opportunities for tourism professionals across the state at the Summit. Attendees will hear from the Lieutenant Governor and other legislators on the state of the industry; Roger Dow, the President and CEO of the US Travel Association; and the Louisiana Office of Tourism. Breakout sessions will be held for sales, marketing, leadership and communications. To attend the entire conference, the Early Bird Rate is $325 until December 31. Or, consider coming for a single day for $195. To find out more about the conference, go to www.ltpa.org.

The City of Lake Charles will host Ida and Em Set the Stage, an exhibition honoring two ballet legends of Lake Charles, at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center. The exhibition will hang through February 2.

American pop rock band, Matchbox Twenty, will hit the stage of L'Auberge Casino Resort on Friday, March 22. Matchbox Twenty recently released its fourth album, "NORTH," which debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. Tickets will go on sale on Feb. 8, and can be purchased for $55 via www.ticketmaster.com. Must be 21. For more information on upcoming concerts log on to www.mylauberge.com or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/laubergedulac.