Around Acadiana for July 10, 2012

The Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism’s lecture series continues at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the topic of Louisiana Dancehalls.

The lecture will be held at the Vermilionville Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road.

The Patin family of Breaux Bridge will talk about their family-owned dancehall, La Poussiére, and Eugene Manuel will share stories of several bars in Mamou opened by his father.

People who attend are encouraged to bring stories, photos and memorabilia of their dancehall excursions.

The event is co-sponsored by Shoot Yeah Productions, which is producing a documentary on south Louisiana dancehalls.

War fallen honored

Opelousas will hold a ceremony at noon Wednesday that designates it as a “Gold Star City” to honor the city’s members of the military who have been killed in action.

The ceremony will be in the Council Chamber at Opelousas City Hall and is open to the public.

Volunteers needed

Louisiana Senior Medicare Patrol, a program that educates seniors to prevent health care fraud, needs volunteers for outreach efforts in Acadiana.

Outreach is typically five hours a month teaching other seniors how to prevent, detect and report health care fraud. Volunteers receive extensive training and ongoing support. Training sessions for Lafayette are being scheduled now.

For more information, call [phone].

Panama business meeting

Le Centre International de Lafayette, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s international trade division, will hold a luncheon on doing business in Panama at 11:30 a.m. July 17 at the Petroleum Club.

Export expert John Hyatt, vice president for imports for the Irwin Brown Co. of New Orleans, will be the guest speaker.

Hyatt will discuss the market in Panama and current business opportunities for Louisiana companies in the country.

Seating is limited. Advance registration with a payment of $20 per person is required. Contact Vanessa Paredes, international business specialist, at [phone] or by e-mail at: [e-mail].

Upper Lafayette meets

The Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation will meet at 11:30 a.m. July 18 at Oakbourne Country Club to discuss “urban core revitalization.”

Guest speakers include Melinda Taylor, Gary McGoffin and Patricia Leyendecker, who will discuss development efforts in the heart of Lafayette.

Lunch is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. RSVP to [e-mail].

Benefit for CUPS group

Communities Uniting in Prayer and Service will hold a barbecue hamburger sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28, at First Presbyterian Church, 1130 Johnston St.

Burgers, chips and soft drink are $5.

The ecumenical organization assists residents in need.

Submit items to Acadiana bureau chief Richard Burgess at [e-mail] or by fax to: [phone].

Discount prescription cards available

United Way of Acadiana and Family Wize are offering free discount prescription cards to residents in Lafayette, Acadia, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes.

Community members may text the word “family” to 700700 to receive a free Family Wize prescription discount card sent to your phone by text and save up to 75 percent on the cost of prescriptions.

The free cards are also available for download at: www.UnitedWayofAcadiana.org. The cards are accepted at about 95 percent of pharmacies nationwide.