When you think of local eateries in Lake Charles that have reached icon status, only a few come to mind- and one of those is Ball s Fried Chicken.
Just like many other businesses in the lake area, Ball s was delivered a bad blow from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Their business was too damaged to reopen to the public. Also like everyone else in SWLA, the restaurant has had to deal with their insurance company dragging their feet with payments after the storms.
Owner Reginald Ball Jr. told KPLC they re waiting for the Health Department to give their final check of the restaurant before they can open their doors to the public. He also said a lot of locals had the impression that Ball s was closing up shop for good. Thankfully, that s not the case. Their establishment is a part of the community and Ball said closing the business was the furthest thing from his mind.
Berkshire Athenaeum Expands Library Hours
The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield’s public library, is extending its hours.
The library is offering lobby services, which includes holds placement and pickup, copying, and faxing, at the Wendell Avenue entrance without an appointment. Curbside pickup with an appointment is available in the Bartlett Avenue parking lot.
The extended hours are:
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
There is no in-building browsing available at this time. All visitors are required to wear a mask for the entirety of their visit, as well as follow social distancing and hygiene protocols.
For more information, please call 413-499-9480 or visit www.pittsfieldlibrary.org
Ten Black Women Inventors Who Changed The World
Many states had laws that kept enslaved people from owning property, and that included a U.S. patent because slaves weren t considered American citizens and the rights of the Constitution didn t apply to them. To make it even more difficult, the Patent Act of 1793 included an oath where applicants had to swear their invention was original and prove their U.S. citizenship. Slave or free, Blacks couldn t take the oath because they didn t have country or citizenship to swear to. It wasn t until the 14th Amendment and various Naturalization Acts were passed that Blacks could gain citizenship and freely apply for a U.S. patent.