Abbeville Meridional from Abbeville, Louisiana • 6

Page 6, Abbeville Meridional, Wednesday, March 6, 2002 JL JFESTYLES 1 Acadian Museum names T. 1 Cormier a 'Living Legend' i t. I 1 SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY A group of 35 family members and friends surprised Pat Farmer on February 23 with a gala celebration in honor of her 70th birthday. Hosted by her children, the party was held at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Betty Farmer. Pat Farmer's son, David, flew in from Colorado and special friends Dot and Beany Milam came from Zachary to attend the event.

In the photo above, Pat Farmer (second from left) is pictured her children, (from left) Bobby Farmer, David R. Farmer, Patty Beraud and Sandy LeCamus. Pat Farmer also has six grandchildren: Dodie Albert, Brandon Farmer, Brad LeCamus, Christi Hebert, Barrett and Brett Beraud; and two great-grandchildren, Drea Darby and Demi Boudreaux. Sheryl Cormier Methodist Church to hold annual revival Briggs United Methodist Church will host its annual revival, Sunday March 10 through Tuesday, March 12. Church invites everyone to share in this joyful, spiritual event.

The church is located at 13528 Community Rd. (Mouton Cove area). For information or directions, call 898-9399 or The services will begin at 7 lead the Sunday night service. Monday's service will be led by the Rev. Darrel Briggs of Franklin.

The Rev. Irvin Gage will speak during the Tuesday night service. The congregation of the Briggs United Methodist The Acadian Museum will induct the first Cajun female accordion recording artist, Sheryl Cormier, sometimes referred to as "La Rcine Cadjine" (The Cajun Queen) into the "Order of Living legends" at the Erath museum this Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. Kermit Bouillion, Museum program director said, "It is noted that Cleoma Falcon was the first woman to record Cajun music, but she recorded on the guitar. Sheryl Cormier ill go down in history as the first Cajun female artist to record playing the accordion." Sheryl Cormier was born in Grand Coteau on March 15, 1945 and moved to Sunset as a young child.

Her father was a sharecropper and played the accordion while her mother played the drums. She taught herself to play the accordion at the age of seven by sneaking her fathers accordion while he was working in the fields. Since both of her parents were musicians, she would go with them to the "French dances." When it was discovered that she could play the accordion, she started making guest appearances at local nightclubs around the Opelousas area. By 1978, she formed her own band and achieved her childhood dream of having an "all girl" Cajun band. For a while, it was the first and only group of its kind in Louisiana, something rare in the male dominated music scene 20 years ago in South Louisiana.

Cormier credits Blackie Forrestier in opening many doors for her while he performed in the Lewisburg area. She also admits being influenced by the style of Nathan Abshire, Aldus Roger and Lawrence Walker, thus allowing her to develop her own unique style. Cormier said, "I really like to listen to Mr. Lawrence Walker's style and Mr. Nathan Abshire.

Developing my own style was very difficult at times because I was a p.m. The three presiding ministers all have ties to Abbeville. The Rev. James Haynes of New Orleans will 1 She was inducted into the Cajun Hall of Fame in 1997 and was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award in 1993. In 1989, she and her band received the "Best Upcoming Band" award from the Cajun French Music Awards and in 1989 she won "Best Song" from the Cajun French Music Awards for her song titled "Mon Coeur et Mon Amour." In 1988, The Times of Acadiana voted her as Female Vocalist of the year; in addition to that she was named the Best Contemporary Artist for 1988.

The "Living Legends" series, free and open to the public, is now in its fifth year of recognizing and honoring those individuals who have helped shape and define our Cajun culture. The program is sponsored by the Acadian Museum of Erath a nonprofit organization and is held at the Museum Cafe in Erath. Immediately following the "Living Legends" program, there will be a music jam session from 3 PM till 6 PM featuring Cajun music. For more information, you may call 937-0012. lady.

I didn't always feel comfortable playing because of that." Having overcome the gender problem, Cormier has, over the past thirty years, successfully recorded 45s, LPs and CDs. She has played all of the major Cajun festivals and has played in all but three or four states. She has performed in Canada, and most of the countries of Europe. In just the last seven years, she has played in Austria, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Scotland, Switzerland and Wales. Cormier has performed at the annual Cajun French Music Awards, the Festivals Acadien, and the Jazz Fest in New Orleans.

In August of last year, Sheryl and the Cajun Sounds appeared at the United States Capitol for a noon-time concert. She also performed at the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and then traveled to Nashville to perform with Jimmy C. Newman. She has also performed at such diverse festivals as the Long Beach, California CajunZydeco Festival and the Bluegrass Festival in Wisconsin.

2 ij matters. 1-877-FIJNKRAI. 218 N.St. Valerie 209 East Putnum Street A I Abbeville 893-3777 Erath 937-0405 FUNERAL HOMES Serving families in Abbo ille, Er.ith, Lafayette, Ycuingsville. New lberi.i, Je.inerette, and Lonuuville VERMILION PARISH POLICE JURY Special Recycling ftoeci GeltmgcBellerflustGol9lotClo5erl OO 00 0 I eta Mrs.

Marie Landry, married to Mr. Paul Landry, has been a resident of Kaplan all of her life. She recently underwent total knee replacement surgery at a hospital out of town, came to KRH for rehabilitation therapy. Do you have a special project such as re-roofing, demolishing an old storage building or cutting down a tree? If so, the Vermilion Parish Police Jury has several trailers which are available for those residents who choose to do this work themselves. The Police Jury will deliver the trailer to your location, leave it for loading for up to 48 hours, and pick it up for transporting to the Solid Waste Plant at' no cost to you.

However, if you hire an independent contractor, the contractor is responsible for delivering the debris, using their own trucks and trailers, to the Solid Waste Plant (there is no charge for disposal of your debris). Piles of demolition debris, large tree trunks or untied limbs, etc. are not to be pushed to and placed by the roadway by residents or contractors. These types -of waste piles (unbound or over 6 feet in length or over 75 pounds) will hot be picked up by the Police Jury. Did you know that you can bring your old tires to the Solid Waste Plant? Yes the Police Jury has contracted with a recycling company which picks up waste tires from the Solid Waste Plant for recycling.

Each resident of the Parish is allowed to bring a few tires at a time to the Solid Waste Plant located at the end of Birch Road between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. Have any white goods (like.old refrigerators, washing machines or dryers) which you need to get rid of? You can either place your old white goods by the roadway for the Police Jury to pick-up, or you can bring them to the Solid Waste Plant (however, all freon and capacitors must be removed by you before disposal). The Police Jury has contracted with a scrap metal recycling company to recycle these white goods.

Are you doing any gardening or landscaping projects that require wood chips? The Vermilion Parish Police Jury has purchased several tree limb chippers and the wood chips are available to residents who request the wood chips based on-availability. By chipping these tree limbs, the Police Jury is creating a usable product and diverting these tree limbs from the landfill. Kaplan Rehab Hospital is proud to present another star patient, Mrs. Marie Landry "I was offered therapy at the hospital where I had surgery, but I have to think of my family first. It was so convenient to be in my hometown have family friends near.

It was so nice to see people I knew there. And the whole staff became like family to me. I was surprised by how much help I got even doing my laundry that made the pain easier to tolerate! Everyone was so friendly, and the follow up after care was very impressive. KRH really gives you that personal touch." Her Victory: Mrs. Marie can once again climb the 30 steps it takes to get to the "Upper Room" in Crowley to pray wfriends.

Congratulations! i i 0-4 Dnsist on Coming Hiomc for 337-643-6009 "cTpRAPLAN ft REHABILITATION ALL IT TAKES IS ONE CALL! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE SPECIAL PROJECTS OFFERED BY THE POLICE JURY, PLEASE CALL (331) 898-4338. HOSPITAL Your Therapy Team.