Making their mark

I always enjoy reading our January issue featuring the “People to Watch.”

We get to meet up-and-comers who are poised to make their mark on our community. But just as satisfying is referring to last year’s list to see if they lived up to their potential, and who distinguished themselves. (You can read about the 2009 People to Watch, as well as the previous years, at 225batonrouge.com).

To me, looking back at our class of 2008, one man and one woman stood out. Timmy Teepell, Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief of staff, grew from a fresh, new face to impact player at the heart of state government. And among the women, LSU Tiger Sylvia Fowles elevated herself from All-American to Olympic champion.

As chief of staff, Teepell is Jindal’s right hand and closest confidante. After tackling ethics in the first special session, they took on cutting taxes in the next. Then they went into the regular session, revamped workforce training and took on the teacher unions and passed an educational scholarship program for New Orleans children.

Teepell has often been the target of the press (many times unfairly), and he has taken his share of bullets for the Gov. But he does it with a smile. And he spends untold hours away from his family in service to the state, including sleeping at the operations center during Hurricane Gustav. He was in the spotlight over the battle for the chair-elect of the LSU Board of Supervisors, which he won. Teepell spends much of his time dealing with legislators, and a few refer to him as “Guv.” I just call him an asset to our state.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Fowles evolved in 2008 from an already special basketball player to a distinguished one. She led LSU to the Final Four for the fourth time, setting many team records along the way. But she also joined the U.S. Olympic team, and along with fellow ex-Tiger standout Semoine Augustus, won a gold medal. What else can I say but “Wow!” Now in her professional career, she’ll certainly make her mark in the WNBA.

So, which man and which woman in the class of 2009 People to Watch will rise above the others? We’ll just have to wait and see. Until then, if you see or know someone making a mark in the capital region, share it with us at [email protected].

You may wind up reading about them in a future issue of 225.

Something delicious in your “in” box

225’s mission is to serve our readers fresh, new stories and information that enrich life in the Baton Rouge area. We’ve added yet another flavor to the mix.

A few months ago we conducted a poll to ask what you like and don’t like to read about in 225. Our market research revealed that 98% of our 225 audience are faithful readers who hunger for more stories about food and dining. So we introduced the first 225 Ultimate Menu Guide in the fall. The special issues have long since flown off the racks, but the good news is you can thumb through the virtual version on our Web site, 225batonrouge.com. It’s a useful tool to help you plan your next dinner out.

But we didn’t stop there.

We’re adding a new course to 225 dining coverage with the introduction of 225 Dine, an all-new e-newsletter for foodies. It’s packed with the latest on new restaurants, local chefs, culinary obsessions and features food writer Maggie Heyn Richardson’s popular food column, Spatula Diaries. It’s coming in February.

If you sign up now and return the postage-paid reply card tucked into this issue on page 16 (or online at 225batonrouge.com), you’ll be eligible to win dinner for four at your favorite 225 restaurant, and you’ll arrive in style courtesy of Riverside Limo (read all the rules and details here).

Bon Apetit!

The Steven Soderbergh story

You’ve seen his movies (Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen; Traffic; sex, lies and videotape), and maybe you’ve heard he has Baton Rouge roots. But this month’s cover story by Entertainment Editor Jeff Roedel (click here to read) tells just how U-High student Steven Soderbergh hooked up with a group of LSU film students and quickly began making original and unique films. And few could have predicted the kind of critical and commercial acclaim he’d achieve, becoming one of the hottest and most sought-after directors today.

Alvin Roy’s powerful impact

Ever wonder how today’s NFL players are so much stronger and pumped up than those cotton-clad guys in black-and-white clips from the 1950s? In large measure it’s because of the work of the late Alvin Roy, the Baton Rouge weightlifting guru credited with helping LSU win its first national championship in 1958, and with revolutionizing NFL strength training. Contributor Lee Feinswog tells Roy’s fascinating story here.

It’s Mardi Gras time

It’s hard to believe Mardi Gras is here already, but how to choose which parades to catch? 225 is here to help. Check out our preview of parades and Mardi Gras celebrations from Mamou to Spanish Town here.