Around Acadiana for Feb. 14, 2012

The Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism’s “In Your Own Backyard” cultural lecture series focuses on the country or rural Mardi Gras costume tradition at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Vermilionville Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road.

Speakers Robin Miller and Alyce LaBry will explain the traditions behind the costumes and guide the audience through the process of making a capuchon and screen mask. Basic supplies and tools will be provided; however, the audience is invited to bring embellishments.

The series is free and open to the public.

Forum on smart meters

Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel will host a public forum on smart meters at 5:30 p.m. Monday at The Fontana Center, 709 Kaliste Saloom Road.

Durel, City-Parish Council member Don Bertrand and a representative from Lafayette Utilities System will be available to answer questions.

The event is open to the public. Seating is limited so attendees are advised to arrive early. Additional parking is available behind the building.

Beautification ‘blitzkrieg”

Divine Touch and the West End Neighborhood Association have organized a community beautification “blitzkrieg” to help give four homes in the West End neighborhood of New Iberia a makeover on Feb. 25.

Volunteers are needed to assist with small home improvement repairs, painting, cleaning and landscaping. Volunteers will meet at 519 South Lasalle St.

For more information, contact Robbie Bethel at [phone], Eleanor Shaw at [phone] or Eva Lewis at [phone].

Bowl for Kids’ Sake

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser will be held Feb. 25 at Acadiana Lanes.

Online registration is available at http://www.acadianabigs.com. For more information, call [phone] or send an e-mail to: [e-mail].

Tourney seeks sponsors

Sponsors are needed for the 15th Annual Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent’s Scholarship Golf Tournament, scheduled March 5 at The Farm.

Varying levels of sponsorship are available and donations of refreshment and food service is also needed.

Proceeds raised benefit the school system’s scholarship program.

For more information, visit http://www.lpssonline.com/golftournament or contact Janet Hiatt at [phone].

Art discussion series

The first of a trio of discussions inspired by the art of George Schmidt on exhibit at the Hilliard University Art Museum begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The first lecture, “The Unbearable Lightness of Begging: Strategies for Generating Carnivalesque Laughter in the South Louisiana Mardi Gras,” will be presented by a panel that features Barry Jean Ancelet, Willis Granger and Tom Debaillon.

For more information, visit: http://museum.louisiana.edu.

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