APRIL FOOLS’ DAY JOINS EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday will next fall on April 1 in 2018. Easter Sunday has previously fallen on April 1 in 1714, 1725, 1736, 1804, 1866, 1877, 1888, 1923, 1934, 1945 and 1956.

Easter Sunday falls on April Fools' Day for the first time in more than 60 years.

Just how does this happen? And Who picks the date for Easter Sunday each year? Or Palm Sunday? Or Ash Wednesday, a Christian day of fasting and repentance, which happened to fall on Valentine's Day this year? Well, it's all about the moon. On the Gregorian calendar (the one that we use), Easter, the day when Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon on or after March 21, according to Catholic.com.

Easter, thus, always falls between March 22 and April 25. In addition to the religious significance to Christians, Easter is also a time for family festivities, community parties, egg hunts and the traditional visit of the Easter Bunny, bringing candy and other treats to children's Easter baskets to celebrate spring.

Since 1900, Easter Sunday has only fallen on April Fools' Day four times - 1923, 1934, 1945 and 1956 - and it won't happen again until 2029.

The Easter season coincides with Passover, one of the most important festivals on the Jewish calendar.

In 2018, Passover begins on Friday, March 30, and ends in the evening of Saturday, April 7.

Passover commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.*****I have to move on.*****Please come along, I promise it won’t do you no harm.

U.S. CITIZENS HAVE REASON TO BE AFRAID

President Donald Trump has hired one of the nation’s most hawkish foreign policy experts, former United Nation’s Ambassador John Bolton.

His belligerent policy ideas were too much, even for a Republican-led Senate, which in 2005, vetoed his nomination.

He served temporarily as a recess appointment and for the last decade he has been a Fox News regular.

He has expressed his opinion often on what the U.S. should do about Iran and N. Korea.

That is to attack.

He is a big fan of military force.

In 2015, he advocated air strikes against Iran.

“We could do a thorough job of destruction.” Last month, in outlining a justification for attacking North Korea, he said, “It is perfectly legitimate for the U.S. to respond to North Korea’s nuclear weapons by striking first.” Estimates of the dead in South Korea, should a first strike spiral out of control, have ranged as high as 300,000 in just the first few days.

Bolton’s appointment does not require senate confirmation.

Trump, who was a harsh critic of the Iraq War, now is bringing on board the architect and chief defender of the U.S. led invasion under Bush-Cheney in 2003.

Until recently, national security leaders served as safe guardians against Trump’s shoot from the hip actions.

Now Tillerson and McMaster are heading out the door.

Jim Mattis is the only force of reason who recognizing Trump is circling the wagons.

If his low approval numbers continue to drop only one thing could save his reelection and that’s war.

The Trump presidency continues to create causes for concern.

Tillerson and McMaster replacement Mike Pompeo and Bolton, “Captain Kangaroo,” don’t have a clue how to keep the world safe through reliable foreign policy advocates.

The U.S. entering war is much more likely with the war hawks on board.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME

15 Years Ago-2003

Garrett Clay Gros, the Dunn’s eldest grandson and Karen’s oldest, is celebrating his birthday March 28.

He’s coming in from Mississippi to celebrate with family and friends with boiled crawfish from Big Daddy’s.

*****Radio talk show host Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Handity have all prospered at the expense of the gullible.

Some refer to the foursome as the Bush National Network.

They never, never take issue with the administration.

It’s a perfect government, run by perfect people.

Only O’Reilly won’t go to the extreme and lie about it.

Their gimmick is to constantly spin, right or wrong, the far right wing side of things.

Lately, they have been trying desperately to find the smoking gun in Iraq because for months, they spun the tale of weapons of mass destruction like they had personally seen the weapons themselves.

Even if the smallest amount of evidence shows up, they start screaming, “I told you so.” Like the 100-acre plant they claimed was a chemical plant of mass murder.

Turned out they were wrong.

These four have become very wealthy spinning one-sided propaganda.

What amazed me is that people of fair intelligence count on these guys to tell them what they should believe and buy into everything they say, hook, line and gimmick.

***** Neighbor Cox plowed the sod, and Miss Virginia has sowed the seeds in the neighborhood garden.

The crop will depend on dry weather, not April showers.*****We understand Frances Harris has been talking to church groups.

Some people we spoke with in South America had tremendous praise for her missionary work involvement.*****Judge Flo has been retired only three months, but Gene says she has made him and Todd do 20 years of work.

Judge Edgerly claims we’re catching up on 20 years of neglect.

Gene says he’ll pay her salary if someone will hire her.

Retirement is killing him.***** I find it a little amusing that Saddam calls his elite troops Republican Guards.

Isn’t that what Bush calls Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld and Karen Hughes?*****David Fusilier Jr., Debbie and big David’s boy, is in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Some one did one heck of a selling job on that boy.*****Speaking of the service, a great guy named Howard Johnson raised four boys whose dad had been killed.

He married their Mom.

He was a World War II vet.

One thing he insisted on was the day after graduation from high school they had to go into the service for one hitch.

Howard is Constable Parker Thompson’s dad.

P.T. served during Vietnam.***** The First Presbyterian Church of Orange will celebrate its 135 anniversary Sunday, April 6.

We are running an exclusive story on the great church this week.*****We learned that Father Pat Turner of St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Orangefield died sometime Sunday night.***** Peter Arnett, a reporter in Baghdad, was fired by NBC and National Geographic after giving a 15-minute interview to the Iraqie TV network.

He was the best of the best at reporting war and calling it the way he saw it.*****Geraldo Rivera was escorted out of Iraq by our army.

He was kicked out because he drew a line in the sand indicating the route our troops would take.***** A blood drive for Jimmy Dillion, (The Sign Doctor),will be held from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

April 2 and April 3 at Lamar-Orange.*****The guys on Crossfire, James Carville, Tucker Carlson, Paul Begala and Bob Novak have been put on hold.***** On CBS, Face The Nation.

Vice President Dick Cheney said the war in Iraq would be only weeks rather than months.

The same day on NBC’s Meet The Press he said: “I think things have gotten so bad inside Iraq from the standpoint of the Iraqie people, my belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.

The regular Iraqie soldiers will not put up a struggle.

The Republican guard is likely to step aside.

The people of Iraq want to get rid of Saddam Hussein.”Mr. Vice President, I wish you had been right.

You also added, “It was unlikely that it would be a long, costly, bloody battle.”

OBITUARIES

10 Years Ago-2008

Dora Florence McKinney, 68, of Orange, passed away Saturday, March 29.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, April 1.

She was a longtime resident of the Orange area, worked as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

She is survived by daughters, Brenda Wilmore, Patricia McKinney and Moriah McKinney, son, Allen McKinney, husband, H. M. McKinney, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.*****Norma Jo Clark died Thursday, March 27.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, April 1.

She has worked for the past 30 years for the Stark Foundation.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 52 years, Lee Clark, son, Scott Clark and seven grandchildren, Norma is also survived by her mother, Ila Gafford.*****George Joseph “Joe” Robicheaux, Jr.

66, a 39 year resident of Bridge City, died Wednesday, March 26.

Funeral service was held Sunday, March 30.

He retired from DuPont Sabine River Works and was an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War.

Robicheaux is survived by his wife, Brenda Phariss Robicheaux, son, Eric Robicheaux, daughter, Michelle Robicheaux Hillman, grandsons, Noah Robicheaux and Tanner Robicheaux.

--

45 YEARS AGO-1973

Judge Grover Halliburton is doing quite well after heart surgery.

When asked how the attack, felt he said, “It’s like a big coon falling out of a tree and landing on your chest and every now and then biting you.”*****Ace Amodeo has come out of retirement after nine years of being away from the bowling circuit.*****A fire fund has been set up to help the Cecil Wingate family after their house burned.*****H.H. Houseman runs real estate advertisement for lots $1 down, $20 a month.

Uncle Henry’s slogan is, “The working man’s friend.”***** Kyle’s Fashion, located in Northway Center, features models Kathy Tandberg, Julie Bassinger, Shelly Bennett and Linda Howington.***** April Fontenot, Jimmy Segura and Bill Scott celebrate birthdays this week.*****Doctor Wynn Pearce tells Joe Molley, who is overweight, “You’re an addict and your grocer is a pusher.”*****Ed Bacon says he watches too much television.

He said, “I can’t quite decide who’s the sillier, the TV shows or me watching them.”*****’The Godfather wins the Academy Award for best picture of 1972.

Marlon Brando refused to accept his Oscar for best actor.

Lisa Minnelli wins for best actress for her performance in “Cabaret.”

A FEW HAPPENINGS

Our friend Phillip Welch came by last week.

They haven’t gotten back in their home yet since Harvey.

They made changes in the interior this time and only have the painting left. Johnny Montagne, Jr., is the contractor and the supervisor is Will Winfree.

Phillip brought me a jar of honey from Bo Henley’s Bobcat Honey Farm.

The local honey is manufactured by happy bees that hang out in McLewis and Mauriceville.*****For the first time in 50 years, every major league baseball team will play its season opener on the same day, Thursday, March 29.***** Mark Dunn’s son-in-law, Dr.

Clay Greeson, a former Kansas football player, was elated with the Jayhawks knocking off the Duke Blue Devils in overtime, 85-81.

The Jayhawks will face Villanova in the final four Saturday in San Antonio.

They will follow the Loyola-Chicago (with Sister Jean) game all on TBS.*****Speaking of the Greesons, Amber and 20-month-old Luke, have been visiting Bridge City from their home in Garden City, KS. It was Amber’s last chance to load up on boiled crawfish and crabs before the birth of her second boy inAugust.

It was a short trip but everyone enjoyed the visit.*****Our buddy, Marlene Merritt went through her foot surgery and said it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

Twice before she had the foot repaired, so this time all the hardware had to be removed and replaced and her toes straightened out.

She was in very much pain and was given a pain pill she was allergic to.

She had sleepless days and nights.

She will be off the foot for three to six weeks.*****Stormy Daniels’ interview on ‘60 Minutes’ got the second highest rating ever behind Barack and Michelle Obama, in 2008.

What we did find out was that Stormy wasn’t the only one Trump was cheating on his wife with.

He was also cheating on his mistress, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who had a 10 month affair with him.

At some point the Evangelicals will say, ‘Enough Already.’ Trump’s first wife says in 20 years of marriage he never set foot in a house of worship.

Tony Perkins and the religious leaders took his money and endorsed him.*****We wish Mike Cedars a long and great retirement.

He retires this week as Chief of the Orange County Appraisal District.

His shoes, long into the future, will be hard to replace.

No public entity is better run.

The great job the folks do at the Appraisal Dist.

is because of the policies Mike installed when he took over as manager.*****Michael Gobert, 18 year old West Orange graduate and a Southern University student was accidentally killed Saturday when someone accidentally discharged a gun at a Saturday night party.

A balloon release for the college freshman will be held at Orange Lions Park, Friday, 12 noon.

Funeral service for the young man will be held at Starlight Church of God, Saturday, 11 am.***** Our prayers go out to our buddy, David Harmon, who is battling cancer.

We will keep you updated.***** The Wednesday Lunch Bunch will dine at Robert’s this week and at JB’s next week.

Everyone welcome.

BIRTHDAYS

A few folks celebrating birthdays this week. March 28: Garrett Clay Gros, Mike Roberts, Rayford Spurgeon Dorothy Keith and Jean Jackson. Joining them are Pop singer Lady Gaga, 31, Country singers Reba McEntire, 62 and Rodney Atkins, 48, actor Vince Vaughn, 47.*****

March 29: Al Granger, Kaydee Wingate, Robert Clary, Jr., Julie Norwood all celebrate today.

Celebrities having birthdays on this day model Elle Macpherson, 53, actress Lucy Lawiess, 49 and Brandan Gleeson, 62.*****March 30: This day is ‘Good Friday.” Karen Bergeron, Lisa Smith and Terry Stuebing all have birthdays today.

Also celebrating are Country singer Thomas Rhett, 27, TV host Piers Morgan, 52 and Pop singer Celine Dion, 48 and Rapper MC Hammer, 55.*****March 31: Celebrating today are Dana Myers, Danny Carter, Hunter Wilson, Rebecca Hunter and Cristy Kourey’s pride and joy Coree Guerra turns 14.

Joining them in birthday celebrations are actors Christopher Walken, 74, and Rhea Perlman, 69 and former US VP, Al Gore, 69.*****April 1: Christians around the world celebrate this day, Easter Sunday. Having birthdays are Elizabeth Weir, Pam Savoy, Steve Adams, Angie Sellers.

Congratulations to Joe and Susan Kazmar on 42 years of marriage.

Celebrities having birthdays are Pop singer Susan Boyle, 56, Wrestler Randy Orton, 37 and Country singer Hillary Scott, 31.*****April 2: Vickie Foreman, Jason Vincent, Kellie Fontenot all have birthdays today.

Also celebrating are Radio host Bobby Bones, 37, TV actor Adam Rodriguez, 42.*****April 3: Eddie Asbury, Lannie Claybar and Hillary Benefield have birthdays today.

Celebrities celebrating are Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris, 19 and movie actors Eddie Murphy, 56, and Alex Baldwin, 59.

CAJUN STORY OF THE WEEK

It was Holy Week and Clarence Boudreaux, him, was having a little problem wit guilt so he went to confession. Wen he got in da little dark boot, he say, “Forgive me Father, for I tink you ought to know dat I kinda took a little lumber me, from dat new, big construction site a couple monts ago.

Father Guidry ax, “Wat did you do wit da lumber, my son.

Boudreaux answer, “Well Fatter, it’s like dis, my porch had a hole for a long time so I fix da hole so nobody breaks a leg dem.”

Father say, “Well, dats not so bad.”

Boudreaux say,“Well, Fatter, I had a little lumber left.”

“Wat did you do wit it?” Father Guidry ax.

“Well, my poor dog, Laptop, he ain’t never had no place to get outta da weather him, so I make him his own little doghouse.” Boudreaux say.

Father ask, “OK, is dere anything else?”

Boudreaux him, he say, “Well Fatter, I had a little lumber left me, so I made my pickup truck a two car garage to get it outta da weather.”

Da prist him, tell Boudreaux, “Now dis is getting out of hand”

“Fatter, I still had a little lumber left me.”

“Yes,” said da priest,

Boudreaux say, “Well, my wife, she always want a bigger house her, so I add two bedrooms and a new bashroom.”

“OK, Boudreaux, dats definitely too much. For your penance, you are going to have to make a novena. You do know how to make a novena don’t you?”

Boudreaux him, he tink about dat. “No Fatter, I don’t but if you get da plans I get da lumber me.”

C’EST TOUT

HANNITY STRICKLY TALK SHOW HOST

Sean Hannity has begun to consistently push the idea that his brand of pro-Trump commentary is not a take on the news but rather a model of what the news should look like.

He wants the viewers to believe that his talk show is a news show.

Hannity doesn’t appreciate what Fox News colleague Shepard Smith said in a Time magazine interview published recently.

The day the network announced Smith’s contract extension, Smith did not call out Hannity’s name when he said, “Some of our opinion programming is there strictly to be entertaining, they don’t really have rules on the opinion side.

They can and do say whatever they want.” Smith could have been talking about not only Sean but Tucker, Laura, Fox and Friends, etc.

Shepard Smith debunked the theory that Russia won U.S. government approval to purchase a uranium mining company in 2010 by bribing Hillary Clinton, then Secretary of State, with donations to her family foundation.

I was watching that 2 p.m.

show.

Smith said, “The Clinton State Department had no power to veto or approve that transaction.” He presented a basic fact that exposed the theories flawed logic as a lie.

Six hours later, Hannity recited his own version of the uranium deal and the Clinton conspiracy.

Smith was right, Hannity was wrong, but these days he is billing himself as the last honest person in the media.

Recently he said, “The media has lied to you, there is no Trump-Russia collusion.” That’s not news, that’s opinion.

Shortly after, a Fox News spokeswoman said, “Sean is keenly aware of his role as a talk show host, not a news journalist.” I find his alter-perception that news is to carry Trump’s water.

Monday night, he had on the three women that accused Bill Clinton 30 years ago.

That was to take the heat off of Trump. He never mentioned “Stormy Davis” in what he calls his newscast.

*****Well, my time is up.

Thanks for yours.

Have a nice Easter and may your heart and basket be full.

Take care.

God bless America.