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LOUISIANA Your Cooperative Connection

PHEC News

September 2018 â€¢ www.phec.us

C O U N T RY

Teaching youngsters the important lesson of energy efficiency

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8/8/18 11:37 AM

Teaching youngsters the important lesson of energy efficiency

Electronic and mobile devices, TVs, computers and gaming stations have become ubiquitous fixtures in our homes. This ever-connected world is the modern environment in which children are growing up. And with lifestyles increasingly reliant on energy consumption, teaching youngsters to save energy is an important life lesson. The Why - But before parents can teach their children how to save energy, they must first answer the question, “what’s in it for me?” As most parents can attest, convincing kids to care about

energy efficiency is a hard sell. Parents need to explain why it’s important to save energy and how it benefits the child – otherwise they will not understand the need to change their habits and will be less motivated to do so. In the simplest terms, less money spent on an electric bill can mean more money used for fun activities. Less tangible, but just as important, using less energy means running your home more efficiently and helping the environment. Learning by Doing - Because “sav-

ing energy” is an abstract concept for children, be specific about energy efficiency actions and set an example. We know that children learn by observing. Even if they don’t say anything, children are processing your actions. When you turn off the lights when leaving a room or unplug the phone charger once the device is fully charged, they will notice. Learning about energy efficiency doesn’t have to be a boring lecture. Make it fun for greater impact. For younger kids, turn energy efficiency into a “treasure hunt” to locate

things in your home that use electricity. Challenge them to count and group the items into categories: electronics, appliances, lights, etc. If age appropriate, have them create a list. Ask which gadgets and appliances could be turned off or unplugged to save power every day. For older children, show them how to program the smart thermostat and appliances. Shop for LED lights and discuss ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. Show them the electric bill so they can see the costs, energy use and how their actions impact the bill.

Louisiana Country Your Cooperative Connection

Formerly Rural Louisiana, founded March, 1950 September 2018

Randall C. Pierce CEO/Publisher Billy Gibson Director of Communications Louisiana Country is published in the interest of members of the electric cooperatives in Louisiana and is the official publication of the following co-ops: Beauregard Electric Co-op, DeRidder Claiborne Electric Co-op, Homer Jefferson Davis Electric Co-op, Jennings Northeast Louisiana Power Co-op, Winnsboro Panola-Harrison Electric Co-op, Marshall, Texas South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, Houma Washington-St. Tammany Electric Co-op, Franklinton

WE ARE ALL UP TO THE CHALLENGE. Using technology to better serve every member helps your electric co-op achieve energy efficiency. And when we work together to use energy wisely, we all save money together. Learn more about the power of your electric co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.

Advertising is accepted and published in Louisiana Country on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold at the advertised prices. Louisiana Country and Louisiana’s electric coops do not endorse any products or services promoted herein. Address inquiries and rate requests to: Louisiana Country, 10725 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. National Advertising Representative: American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), 611 S. Congress, Ste. 504, Austin, TX 78704 (800-626-1181).

Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published monthly by The Assn. of Louisiana Electric Co-ops, Inc. 10725 Airline Hwy., B.R., LA 70816

Ph.: (225) 293-3450 ext. 19 1-800-355-3450 Fax: (225) 296-0924 website: www.alec.coop Annual SubscriptioNS: $2.64 Members $5 Non-members

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816-4299. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, LA 70821. Audit of Excellence NECEA-RESMA

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September 2018 • Louisiana Country • Page 3

Saved from the searing heat by a pressure washing Good Samaritan

I don’t usually go around throwing out the term “miracle” very lightly. But in the story you’re about to read, I believe the term applies. The Oxford Dictionary defines a miracle as “An extraordinary and welcome event not explicable by natural or scientific laws.” Yes, I’m going with that. This story involves heat. Lots and lots of heat. Like 107 – that’s a 1, followed by a 0, then a 7 at the end. That was the heat index at the moment this miracle occurred. The story also involves pressure washing. Lots and lots of pressure washing. The plan on this particular summer day was to take the pressure washer I’d borrowed from my buddy, Damon “Dr. Dee” Lowrey, to my in-law’s house in Batchelor and buff up their driveway before returning the machine to Damon’s house. I rolled out of bed before dawn, loaded up the compressor and lit out for the 90-minute drive to Batchelor. The job took a couple of hours but I was able to get out of the sun and under the porch by 10:30. So far, so good. I visited with the in-laws for a spell and then turned the Tahoe back toward Denham Springs. Having skipped breakfast, hungry and hot, I grabbed a bag of M&Ms and an Icee on the way – not the brunch of champions, I know – and got back to town before 1 p.m. On the way, I remembered a couple of things. First, I remembered Damon was out of town with his family doing a weekend community service project. I also remembered that my wife and kids were on a day trip and wouldn’t be home until later that evening. That meant I had to tend to Jasmine, our little black mixed-breed cockadoodledoo, or whatever that thing is. But I had a great idea before I got to Damon’s house – why not clean up his

Viewpoint

by Billy Gibson Director of Communications Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives

driveway so he’ll have a pleasant surprise when he gets home. It should only take a few hours and I’ll go home and take care of the pooch later, I reasoned. So I unloaded the washer and snapped together my 15-inch surface cleaner, plopped on my Crocodile Dundee hat and long-sleeve fishing shirt and started scrubbing away. Well, apparently I severely underestimated how much concrete was laid out in front of Damon’s three-car garage. I knew it looked long enough to land a Cessna 172, but I was surprised when I looked up after three hours of grinding and figured I was only two-thirds done. And, not insignificantly, it was getting hot. Scalding hot. At this stage the M&Ms and Icee weren’t helping. Still, I was soldiering on, inspired by the thought of how pleasantly surprised Damon and his family were going to be when they pulled up to that clean ivorywhite driveway after spending their weekend helping others. That’s when the big rig mysteriously showed up like Clint Eastwood walking through a haze of gunpowder and smoke. The driver must have felt some pity on the old man out in his Crocodile Dundee hat roasting in the searing hot sun and not really making much progress with that puny 15-inch cleaner. Maybe he could see the blood from the road. An hour earlier I’d stopped to fill the compressor with gas. The trigger didn’t

have a lock, so I was using an old strip of Velcro to hold the trigger down. I thought I had loosened it enough to disengage it, but when I went to crank the compressor back up, the trigger did what triggers do – it triggered - and the sprayer wand started swirling through the air at mach speed and coiling around my waist and knees. At first, I figured I’d just go turn the motor off but then I thought, nah, I’ll just catch it. Maybe 20 years ago I might have snagged it on the second or third pass, but after the sprayer circled me for about the 10th time, wrapping me up boa constrictor style, I reached out to snatch it and the metal connection on the sprayer cagged the back of my hand and made a big gash. Whatever his motivation, the man stopped and stepped down from his truck. Turned out this fellow was a pressure washing pro and his rig was loaded with a huge water tank, a half-mile of reinforced hoses, a 5,000-psi compressor and everything needed to do a commercial-grade pressure washing job the easy way. Him: “Hey, why don’t you let me get my disc out and finish up that job for you.” Me, with too much pride: “Oh, I think I’ll be okay. It shouldn’t be too much longer. But I appreciate it.” Him: “Are you sure? It should take about 10 minutes and you’ll be done.” Me, thinking to myself, “Wait, what?! Ten minutes?!” I thought some more. Ten minutes vs. another two hours. I thought about that

triple-digit heat. I thought about the stars and spots forming in my peripheral vision. I thought about my aching back and shoulders. I was still debating about accepting this fellow’s generous offer when I finally thought about the dog. Man, if something happened to that danged dog, there would be hellfire to pay. You see, this is about the most pampered pooch on the planet. Talk about a snowflake. It had been several hours since this diva-dog received any human attention. In the stress of the heat, I had visions of the dog being passed out on the kitchen floor, starved for a full five hours with no doggie treats, ear scratches and belly rubs. How inhumane. Me: “Okay, that would be great. Thanks for the help.” Within seconds William and his teenage son went to hooking up the hoses and cranking up their mammoth compressor. William, a real brawny dude, broke out the mother of all surface cleaners, a huge circular dome that looked as big around as a combine tire. That behemoth made my pitiful little red Home Depot special look like a toy frisbee. It was so big and powerful, it required handlebars on both sides to control it. He looked like he was riding a Harley gliding over that dirt and grime. William guided his ginormous disc across the concrete and I sprayed the black goo off into the grass and we were done in no time. Afterwards, William and his boy loaded up as quickly as they unloaded and were on their way. But not before we visited a bit. I thanked them profusely and noted the irony that they were turning a good deed for a fellow who was trying to turn a good deed for someone who was off turning a good deed for someone else. Funny how that stuff works. A miracle? You be the judge.

Big Green Egg drawing supports statewide student scholarship fund Kevin McBrain, a member of Beauregard Electric Cooperative (BECi) in DeRidder, was the lucky winner of the 2018 Big Green Egg drawing. The drawing was held by seven electric cooperatives across the state and administered by the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) in Baton Rouge. Proceeds from the drawing go toward the Sandra B. Stockwell Scholarship Fund. Stockwell was a long-time employee of ALEC who was active in many youth leadership programs throughout her career, including the state 4-H Foundation. McBrain was the winner among hundreds of entries. “I really bought the ticket when I was at the Beauregard Electric office just to support education,” he said. “I never really expected to win, but I’ll definitely put it to good use.” Pictured at right in front of the Stine store in Lake Charles are Andrew Gaither, Joni Kitchen (ALEC), Tammy Leviner (BECi), Kevin McBrain and Danielle Tilley (BECi). Page 4 • Louisiana Country • September 2018

Pierce leaves electric co-op Statewide to become CEO at DEMCO annual membership meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and is immediate past president of the Rural Electric Statewide Managers Association. Pierce, a graduate of Natchitoches High School and Northwestern State University, began his electric cooperative career as director of public relations at Valley Electric in his hometown of Natchitoches. He later served for 12 years as manager of marketing and public affairs at Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, a generation and transmission company owned jointly by the state’s rural electric distribution cooperatives. In 1995, Pierce joined ALEC as director of regulatory affairs and editor of Louisiana Country, the monthly publication for ALEC member cooperatives. He is past president of the Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Member Services Association and the Louisiana Council of Farmer Cooperatives. He has served on the boards of the Audubon Girl Scout Council, the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation and St. Andrews United Methodist Church. Pierce said he is proud of his track record of performance over the past three

decades but was attracted to the opportunity to lead DEMCO into the future. “During my career over the past 30 years, the one thing I’ve never done is hold a position as general manager at a

continue carrying out our mission to deliver the world-class service all of our members expect and deserve.” DEMCO Board President Danny Berthelot welcomed Pierce to his new role as CEO at the locally-owned cooperative. “Our co-op and our board members have known Randy and worked with him for a number of years,” Berthelot said. “We’ve found Randy to be an experienced and skillful leader and we have a tremendous amount of respect for the outstanding work he has done for all the cooperatives at ALEC. Now we look forward to Randy channeling all of his considerable experience, skill set and talents into his new role at DEMCO.” Jeff Churchwell, president of the ALEC Board of Directors, said the statewide association is in the process of finding a new CEO for the organization. “We’re sorry to see Randy go because he has really been a true champion for the sustained success and vitality of our state’s electric cooperative system,” Churchwell said. “But we’re pleased that DEMCO will continue to be a part of our statewide and we’re glad Randy will still be involved with our manager’s group and our committee structure and will continue to have an impact in our organization and all the things we do for the benefit of every electric cooperative member across the state.”

distribution cooperative,” Pierce said. “With so much economic activity and business expansion in the Greater Baton Rouge area, the stage is set for solid growth. Our co-op is primed and poised to not only show new and expanding businesses what we can do but also to

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Randy Pierce has been named the new CEO and general manager of DEMCO, an electric distribution cooperative providing power in and around the Greater Baton Rouge area. Pierce served for more than 20 years as CEO of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) in Baton Rouge before taking over the top spot at DEMCO. DEMCO is the state’s largest electric distribution cooperative with more than 124,000 meters and 8,500 miles of power line spanning seven parishes in the State Capitol region. During his time at ALEC, Pierce was the point person representing the organization’s member cooperatives at the Louisiana Legislature and the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He was responsible for meeting with Commissioners, Legislators and other policy-makers about key issues such as renewable power, competitive practices, net metering, regional transmission rules and regulations and many more. Louisiana’s electric cooperatives provide electric service to over one million consumers in 50 of the state’s 64 parishes. In his role as CEO at ALEC, Pierce was also responsible for representing Louisiana’s electric cooperative system at the national level. He was a voting delegate at the

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September 2018 • Louisiana Country • Page 5

Dickard announces retirement from PHEC Long-time PHEC employee, Mickey Dickard of Marshall, TX, recently retired on July 31 after nearly 36 years of continuous service with our cooperative (1982-2018). He served our members in many positions through the years such as lineman, serviceman, crew foreman, and construction supervisor. “We will miss Mickey and all that he gave to our cooperative, but want to wish him the very happy retirement he deserves after being so loyal to us all these years,” said Kathy Wood, PHEC General Manager.

Basel Gibbs, President Jerry Holmes, Vice President Albert Tiller, Secretary Paul Fortune Jay Goswick Sandra Stephens Gene Stough

Year organized: 1937 Counties and Parishes served: Harrison, Panola, Caddo, and Desoto Connected Meters: 19,854 • Members: 13,684 Miles of Energized Line: 2,465 miles (Distribution); 72 Miles (Transmission)

Page Louisiana Country Country •• September September 2018 2018 Page 6 6 •• Louisiana

Panola-Harrison News

Kathy Wood, Manager Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 1058, Marshall, TX 75671 (903) 935-7936

Extreme summer temps prompt high bill alert

Residential electric bills normally follow consistent patterns each year. However, over the course of a year, a number of things can cause your bill to seem higher than usual.

Why residential electric bills vary from month to month 1. The cost of electricity in homes varies with seasonal use. In most homes, more electricity is used during summer and winter months than in fall and spring months, usually for heating and cooling purposes. 2. Your electric usage is billed to you after it is consumed, so your most recent bill is for the energy you used in the prior month. Sometimes, by the time you get your bill, temperatures have become less severe, which may cause confusion as to why you may have higher than normal energy usage when the temperatures are mild outside. Please take notice of the dates of service on your bill and the

number of days for which you are being billed. 3. The cost of power that PHEC purchases from our power supplier fluctuates from month to month, which causes the PCRF rate to fluctuate from month to month as well. If the power cost rises in the summer, the PCRF rate will rise also. A higher PCRF rate coupled with higher summer usage can cause bills in the summer months to increase over normal monthly averages. 4. Summer weather will bring about an increased use of electricity for air conditioners, fans, and dehumidifiers. Refrigerators and freezers have to work harder, since even air-conditioned homes are generally warmer in summer than in the fall, winter or spring. All of these factors combine together to help explain why customers may find that their electric bills may be higher in the summer months than in spring and fall months.

Be alert to latest scam

Scammers are targeting unsuspecting citizens with greater frequency—and increasing creativity. Crooks now threaten victims with everything from legal action involving the IRS to turning off your power. Or they pretend to help victims avoid complications with utility, phone, video streaming, bank or other accounts. But there is good news: Scams are being recognized and reported more often. And all it takes to thwart one is awareness and vigilance. In one of the latest scams, an individual poses as an employee of your electric cooperative, telling you that your power will be turned off for nonpayment of your bill. The scammer says you can avoid disconnection by giving them money via a prepaid credit or debit card.

If you suspect you’ve already been the target of a scam, be proactive. If you already have provided financial information to someone you later suspect as

Manager’s Message by Kathy Wood General Manager

Disasters don’t plan ahead, but you should Be prepared. It’s a Scout’s timeless motto and sage advice for all of us. September is National Preparedness Month, a good opportunity to stress the importance of planning for the unexpected, particularly harsh storms, while affirming our commitment to doing the same in our own backyard. A critical component of preparedness is having an emergency communication plan for your family. Something as simple as a list of names and phone numbers tucked away in a wallet or purse could make all the difference if the power goes out and your cellphone battery dies. Co-ops have their own detailed communication plans for crises, when staying in touch becomes particularly important and our employees have to be able to reach one another and our members. While a written contact list is vital, we also use technology to stay updated in the event of a rapidly unfolding situation. Electronic notifications are available for everything from changes in weather to voice messages from local law enforcement. Check with your parish

office of emergency management or sheriff to sign up for alerts for your area. It makes sense to take advantage of all available tools in an emergency. Finally, assemble an emergency supply kit to see you through a few days, with or without electricity. The kit should include essential items such as water, nonperishable food, a battery-powered or handcranked radio, flashlight, batteries, a first-aid kit, medications and copies of important personal documents. Keeping your vehicle’s gas tank full and some cash on hand are also prudent steps. Maps of the area, pet supplies and activities to keep kids occupied could be important as well. A few moments of rounding up many or all of these things into a bag or container and informing everyone in your home of its location could make a potentially dangerous situation merely unpleasant or, hopefully, just inconvenient. Just as we take steps to be ready for whatever disasters may come our way, we encourage you to prepare now for your safety and that of your family.

Panola-Harrison Electric Director District Map

District Director fraudulent, immediately contact your bank. Notify the organization the scammer claimed to represent, and the police. They might not be able to do anything, but every report helps build a body of information.

Residential survey helps PHEC prepare for the future

Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative will soon be conducting a residential consumer survey. The purpose of this survey is to collect information we need to plan for future energy needs. A sample of our members will be randomly selected for the survey. Your participation in the survey is very important to us, so please consider taking the survey if you receive a questionnaire in the mail. We know your time is valuable, and we appreciate your effort to participate in the survey. Information you provide will remain completely confidential.

1 �� Paul Fortune 2 �� Albert Tiller (Secretary) 3 �� Jay Goswick 4 �� Basel Gibbs (President) 5 �� Vacant 6 �� Jerry Holmes (Vice President) 7 �� Gene Stough

September September2018 2018• •Louisiana LouisianaCountry Country• •Page Page77

L.O.E. Lower Operating Expense

L.O.E. DOWN

by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen

Dear Pat: Our kitchen and dining rooms are in major need of some natural light. We’ve been thinking about installing a skylight, but we’re wondering if that will increase our energy bills. Can you provide any advice? - Monica Dear Monica: Skylights can bring a little of the outside world indoors and make your living space more livable— when they are installed correctly. But they can also impact your energy bills and comfort level, so you’re taking the right steps by doing some research ahead of time. One downside of skylights is they can add heat to your home during the summer and heat loss during the winter. The amount of impact depends on a number of elements, including the skylight’s energy rating, size, placement and quality of installation. You can check its energy efficiency by looking at the skylight’s NFRC Energy Performance Label, which shows four important pieces

Do sky lights bring sky-high power bills?

of the energy efficiency puzzle: • Insulation value (U-Factor) • Ability to transmit solar heat (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) • Ability to allow light to transfer (Visible Transmittance) • Air leakage. Finding a unit with the best ratings in all categories will help maximize your skylight’s energy efficiency and performance. It’s probably worth spending a little more on a better product, since professional installation takes up the lion’s share of the cost of installing a skylight into an existing roof. That said, even the best skylight has a much lower insulation value than a properly insulated attic. Just as important as finding the right skylight is determining the proper size, number and placement. You want adequate light, but too much can make a room less functional on a bright day. Skylights on a steep, north-facing roof will reduce the unwanted solar heat gain in the summer, but this also reduces the desirable solar heat gain in winter. Ultraviolet (UV) light can cause furniture finishes to fade. This can be minimized by making sure your skylight has high-quality glazing or by applying a special film to the skylight. Proper installation is essential to avoid all-too-common problems. One serious issue is water leaks—a problem often caused by improper exterior installation on the roof. Flashing must be

SEPTEMBER 7-8 - Lydia Cajun Food Fest, New Iberia, 4412 Weeks Park Road, 337.367.1192, iberiatravel. com 8 - St. John the Baptist Knights of Columbus 6th Annual Car Show, Folsom, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, registration at 9 a.m., judging begins at 11:30 a.m., 985.796.3992 8-9 - Oldies But Goodies Festival, Port Allen, 2750 North Westport Drive, 225.344.2920, westbatonrouge.net 13-15 - Kiwanis Pepper Festival, St. Martinville, 200 N. New Market St., 337.442.1597, cajuncountry.org 14 - Jamey Johnson, Lake Charles, Golden Nugget, 8:30 p.m., 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., goldennugget.com 14-15 - Pioneer Heritage Festival, Greenwood, 9359 Greenwood Road, 318.938.7261, greenwoodla.org/pioneer-heritage-festival.html 14-15 - Mamou Cajun Music Festival, Mamou, 516 Main St., 337.789.0646, villeplattechamber. com 14-15 - Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival, Marthaville, Downtown, 800.259.1714, natchitoches. com 14-15 - Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival, Natchitoches, Historic Downtown, 318.352.8072, natchitoches.com 14-16 - St. Theresa Bon Ton Festival, Sulphur, 4822 Carlyss Drive, St. Theresa Catholic Church, 337.583.4800, visitlakecharles.org

Page 8 • Louisiana Country • September 2018

installed correctly to be effective for the pitch of the roof and the type of roofing materials. Another potential problem area is the skylight shaft that transmits the light into the living space below. Inadequate or poorly installed insulation is a source of heat loss and can cause ice dams that allow water to find its way into the home. Air leaks in the shaft can also cause these types of problems. Moisture problems can cause condensation build-up inside the home, resulting in mold, mil-dew and rot (especially in bathrooms). An alternative option to the regular skylight is the tubular skylight. A small skylight on the roof is connected to a flexible tube that runs through the attic to a room below. This system provides a diffused natural light. The tube is much smaller than a skylight shaft and is easier and less expensive to install. The tube has less heat loss and is less leak-prone. Tubular skylights can fit into spaces that a traditional skylight can’t, and can

Country Calendar

15 - Le Tour de Bayou, Alexandria, 3601 Bayou Rapides Road, Kent Plantation House, 318.487.5998, letourdebayou.com 15 - Tour de Tangipahoa, Hammond, Cooke Field, Southeastern Louisiana University, 985.507.7312, hammondkiwanis.org 15 - Art and Wine Stroll, Ponchatoula, 10 E. Pine St., 985.386.2536, tangi-cvb.org 15 - Highland and Jazz and Blues Festival, Shreveport, 600 Columbia St., Columbia Park, 318.869.5706, highlandjazzandblues.org 15-16 - Garden Bros Circus, Lake Charles, Burton Coliseum, 7001 Gulf Highway, 941.343.2378 20-23 - Gueydan Duck Festival, Gueydan, 404 Dallas Guidry Road, Duck Festival Park, 337.536.6456, duckfestival.org 20-23 - Springhill PRCA Rodeo and Parade, Springhill, 101 Machen Drive, Springhill Rodeo Arena, 318.469.6358, visitwebster.net 21-22 - Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival, Gonzales, 9039 S. St. Landry Road, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 225.675.6550, ascensionballooning.com 22 - Celebration of Butterflies, Haynesville, Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds, 5K run, parade, seminars, children activities, music, vendors, monarch tagging demonstrations, conservatory and more, 318.624.1929, loicelacy@gmail.com or City Hall 318.624.0911 22 - Dwight Yoakam, Lake Charles, Golden Nugget, 8 p.m., 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., goldennugget.com

be a better choice in rooms with high moisture, like bathrooms, saunas or indoor swimming pools. As you consider your options, it may be worthwhile to think back to your goals. Perhaps you can gain more light in these rooms without installing a sky-

light by trying these steps: • Paint the room a lighter color. • Hang mirrors. • Replace heavy window coverings with lighter ones. • Add indirect lighting such as upward-facing pole lamps. • Trim trees that shade the windows. If you’ve done your research and decide to move forward with new skylights, find a contractor with experience and solid references to provide the installation. Good luck!

22 - Cajun French Music Festival, New Iberia, 5509 La. Hwy. 14, 337.369.7538, iberiatravel. com 22-23 - Fried Chicken Festival, New Orleans, 1 Canal St., Woldenberg Park, friedchickenfestival. com 27-30 - Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, New Iberia, 317 E. Main St., 337.369.9323, hisugar. org/wordpress 28-29 - Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Festival, Bogalusa, 625 Willis Ave., Cassidy Park, 985.205.1075, bogalusablues.com 28-29 - 12th Annual Natchitoches Car Show, Natchitoches, Front St. & Riverbank, 855.342.7469, natchitochescarshow.com 28-30 - Gretna Heritage Festival, Gretna, Huey P. Long Ave., 504.361.7748, gretnafest.com 28-30 - Alligator Festival, Luling, 13825 River Rd., Westbank Bridge Park, alligatorfestival.org 29 - 6th Annual Folsom Fall Garden Festival, Folsom, Midway Church Park, sponsored by SE LA Nursery Assn., 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 985.875.2635, wafton@agcenter.lsu.edu 29 - Kentwood Fall Music Festival, Kentwood, Ave. F. St., 985.229.3451, tangi-cvb.org 29 - Mooringsport Cypress Festival, Mooringsport, 574 Greenwood Mooringsport Road, Edwin Tuttle Currie Park, 318.469.6282, mooringsportfestival.com 29-30 - Red River Revel Arts Festival, Shreveport, 101 Crockett St., Festival Plaza, 318.424.4000, redriverrevel.com

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September 2018 • Louisiana Country • Page 11