Mardi Gras Queen Sandy Paul To Present King Jace Feb. 2

Newly Coronated Queen Sandy Paul will preside over Mardi Gras Saturday, Feb. 2 from 5:30 to 11 p.m., where she'll unmask her cohort, King Jace XIX.

As is tradition, King Jace XIX's identity is a secret. Dave Richards of radio station WOON, who has sponsored the contest, invites the public to guess who is portraying the king (see clues below).

This year the celebration will be held at two venues:

St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, 84 Cumberland St.:

Rhode Island based Slippery Sneakers band will play Zydeco, Cajun, blues and soul music.  Dinner will be catered by Chef Gary McLaughlin who will provide a menu which features Creole Pulled Pork and Cajun Roasted Chicken with his famous Bourbon Street Pudding.  

The Elks Lodge, 380 Social St.:

Jeff Gamache and his Orchestra will play swing, disco, blues, country and  rock and roll.  Dinner will be catered by Russell Morin Fine Catering featuring New Orleans style dishes.

A Children's Mardi Gras event will also be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The CYO Center, Search Room.  Sponsored by Catholic Financial Life, Chapter 2,  St. Jean Baptiste, this party is open to children in the range of kindergarten to fourth grade, and admission is free.

The Queen and her court were crowned in a special pre-Mardi Gras event Sunday at The Cakery, 91 Main St. The other members were Second Princess Kayla Guilbeault and First Princess Jo-Ann Maurice. The titles were awarded to the women according to the number of tickets they sold to Mardi Gras, with the proceeds funding the annual celebration.

Mardi Gras Ball tickets are still $25 in advance and can be purchased by calling Lorraine Cloutier at (401) 762-9072.  For more information, call (401) 658-0716 and please visit www.nrica.org.

Clues to King Jace XIX's Identity:

1. Worked with many presidents, including Harry and Jack.
2. Once lead a delegation to the Orient, and another to the old sod.
3. Lives in the same place he was raised.
4. Often toils in the halls of government.
5. Has fought the Battle of the Bulge.
6. His uniform now includes a tie.
7. Carves in stone on a new kind of tablet.
8. Has been close to the church all his life.
9. Couldn't do his job well without politics.
10. A victor over economic vicissitude.