Harlan Kirgan
The time capsule buried 25 years ago was opened Thursday as the city’s celebration of its 125th birthday neared.
The capsule’s contents were pulled out by city street department employees Paul Carrier and Todd Smith as Mayor Scott Fontenot looked on with his committee that is organizing the celebration.
After each took a brief look at old newspapers, sealed envelopes, a VHS tape cartridge and other items they were placed back into the steel tube.
A full examination of the items will have to wait on their display at the celebration scheduled Sept. 14 on the east end of Park Avenue.
Present at the time capsule preview were Connie Thibodeaux, an alderwoman doing much of the planning; Ernest Blanchard, alderman; and Aimee Summerlin, Drake Aguillard and Kitty Jo Deshotel.
Also on Thursday, the committee members met on some final details that include directing political candidates to participate in the cooking contest rather than the parade or arts and crafts.
Fontenot said they do not want to offend any of the candidates, but the parade is meant to honor several people including past city officials and the spouses.
On Friday, Kristy Wallisch, park ranger and public information officer for the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, stated in an email that it should be known by Tuesday whether the air conditioning at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center and Liberty Theater can be functioning for the city’s birthday celebration.
Rebecca Lasell, Jean Lafitte’s deputy superintendent, has been talking with the city on how we can make the Pine Leaf Boys concert happen whether or not the Liberty Theater is open, she stated in an email.
The Grammy-award-winning band Pine Leaf Boys is scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. to cap off the day’s celebration. Tickets are $20 for the performance.
The Pelican/Aracadia Publishing company, which published the Clovis Crawfish books that will be on sale during the birthday celebration, will have a representative in Eunice for the unveiling of the Clovis Crawfish statue.
There will be specially designed birthday T-shirts on sale for $15 each as well as posters. The T-shirts should be on sale by Tuesday at City Hall.
Vivian Soileau Broussard, a Eunice artist, created and designed the two birthday celebration products, Thibodeaux said.
The Eunice Kiwanians will sponsor a Children’s Face Painting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 14.
The Eunice Players’ Theatre will supply all paints, brushes and supplies for the face painting.
Events start at 10 a.m. with a parade beginning at Picou’s drug store on North 2nd Street and ending on 300 South 2nd Street at City Hall. It will honor past and present local dignitaries, LSUE, school bands, spirit groups, Miss LSUE, Eunice Teen, Teen Louisiana queens, and more.
Outside events end at 6 p.m. and the last event is with the Pine Leaf Boys at the Liberty Theatre .
There will be:
A chance to win $12,500 with a dice game.
Children dressed in authentic Acadian clothing and face painting.
Many photo opportunities such as wooden cut outs of Acadian Boy (garcon) & Girl (fillette) outfits for pictures, photo cut out of Mrs. Eunice Pharr Duson statue to take pictures with your face as Mrs. Eunice statue, picture frame for selfies.
The opening of the Centennial Time Capsule at 12:30 p.m.
Cajun Rice & Gravy food cook-off, food trucks, arts and craft vendors and booths, and a Classic Car show.
Live music and dancing all day: Fred Charlie, 10 a.m. to noon; Kyle Huval, 1 to 3 p.m., Geno Delafose, 4 to 6 p.m; and The Pine Leaf Boys, 6 to 8 p.m.
Thin Blue Line with crime stoppers will have booth with food, snacks, fingerprinting, and more
The main event of the day is the unveiling of the new Clovis Crawfish statue by descendants of Mary Alice Fontenot, with illustrator R.A. Keller at 3 p.m. The statue is a depiction of Clovis’ house illustrated by Reginald Keller. Clovis Crawfish Books will be signed by Julie Fontenot Landry.
Registration pricing includes: food booths $25; arts and crafts booths, $35; food trucks, $100.
For more information call the Eunice Mayor’s Office at 337-457-7389, extension 1.