By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

GRAMERCY – The St. James Boat Club was filled with business owners and public officials during Tuesday’s 15th annual Small Business Appreciation Banquet.
The theme of this year’s banquet was “Business and Industry Covered Under One Umbrella.” St. James Parish has more than 600 small businesses, and more 285 guests attended this year’s event.
The banquet featured an opening prayer by Father Brent Maher
of East St. James Parish Catholic Churches
and a brief presentation by Wayne Wright,
the Second Congressional District small business liaison manager. Sydney Jack, a student at St. James High School, provided vocals for the national anthem. A buffet-style meal and beverages were served to all attendees.
The banquet also featured entertainment by Cajun comedian Kent Gonsoulin. The entertainer’s cultural wisecracks garnered shrieks of laughter from many in the audience. Gonsoulin also performed at the 2011 event. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne attended
the event as guest speaker.
Dardenne was re-elected to a full four-year term as Louisiana’s lieutenant governor in October 2011. He also served four years a secretary of state, 15 years as state senator and three years as a Baton Rouge metro-councilman.
Dardenne also showed off his good sense of humor by poking fun at Gonsoulin’s alleged drinking habits. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussel and Parish Council Chairman James Brazan provided the guest speaker introduction and closing remarks.