By Darragh Doiron

The News staff writer

When the sparklers flare up and “Auld Lang Syne” begins to play, Esther Tomplait knows where she’ll be. She says she wouldn’t know how to celebrate New Year’s Eve without being a part of the K.C.ettes dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall on West Port Arthur Road.

“You can be with friends. Usually everybody in Port Acres knows everybody else. We work hard and get busy during the year and this is when we can see each other and visit,” Tomplait said.

The K.C.ettes of Knights of Columbus Council No. 3195 raise scholarship funds, too, so she encourages supporters to attend and hear Eazy and Dave Shaw. The dance will begin at midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

“Cake lady” is Tomplait’s title for the rest of the year. She’s been involved with K.C.ettes for about 20 years and has been baking cakes for the Knights’ weekly fried fish dinner sales for longer than she can remember. Pound cakes are her specialty for the dinners, 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays at the K. of C. Hall on West Port Arthur Road.

“Sometimes it’s lemon or pineapple. I usually bake my cake early in the morning,” she said. “My favorite cake is a carrot cake.”

Her Friday routine includes feeding her dog Cotton, an Australian Shepherd. After that doggy is fed, she can concern herself with feeding the rest of the flock. She heads out to the Hall to join husband James Tomplait Sr., who will already be preparing food for the sale.

Her sons James Jr. and John are also Knights.

Peggy Simon, K.C.ettes parliamentarian, speaks highly of Tomplait’s service.

“This woman has done everything. She’s done it all. When bingo was huge, she was there. She has taken care of her family. She’s done the mother thing and now she’s doing the grandmother thing,” Simon said.

Tomplait collects bells and is a retired office manager for the late Dr. Ben Colletti. She is a member of St. Therese Little Flower of Jesus Catholic Church in Port Acres where she’s on the Altar Society and prepares meals for families who have lost a loved one.

“It’s very rewarding. We’re helping them out. That’s what we’re here for,” she said about the meal service.

Tomplait said she’d love to have more attendees cutting a rug at the New Year’s Eve dance. Advance tickets are $30 a couple and $15 a person. At the door, tickets will be $35 a couple and $18 a person. Stick around for free gumbo after the dance. For information, call Mike Hebert at 736-0190 or Norris Simon at 736-3344. 

ddoiron@panews.com