COVER STORY
Joy Nalty Hodges: 2009 Cenla-ian of the Year

By Holly Jo Linzay

As a recipient of many distinguished awards and accolades throughout the decades, Joy Nalty Hodges has made quite an impact on Central Louisiana. But two recent awards have brought her legendary recognition. This month, Cenla Focus magazine and a panel of community leaders named Joy the Cenla-ian of the Year. “It is quite an honor,” Joy, a philanthropist and business leader, said about the selection. The Cenla-ian of the Year award is reserved for a select few who exemplify noteworthy leadership qualities and whose works are community standouts.

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Financial FOCUS
Tips and Taxes

By Gray Easterling

Let’s start with taxes, bearing in mind that this is a general discussion and not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal or investment planning advice. In the 4/30/2009 online version of Financial Planning magazine, there was an article outlining some of the new tax breaks created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The following include some of those listed, and you will want to discuss them with your tax advisor before taking any action.

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ART FOCUS
Louisiana Landscape Artists Leave Rich Legacy

By Prof. Roy de Ville, AAM, ICOM

One of the first questions I ask my art history/appreciation students is to name their favorite artist. I usually get the standard “coffee table art” answers, like Monet, Leonardo, and van Gogh. When I ask them to name their favorite Louisiana artist, I am met with blank stares! Only the rare student will know the plantation scenes of Clementine Hunter or the blue dogs of George Rodrigue. It doesn’t go any further than that.

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