Beyond Katrina

The Original Beyond Katrina Blog

2011-08-28T22:24:29-05:00

Greetings. This is the original blog site for Beyond Katrina: The voice of Hurricane & Disaster Recovery. The site is in archive but all the original posts beginning 8/28/2005 are still intact. The domain name when the site was active was www.hurricane-katrina.org

Margaret Saizan

Live from La: 8/30/08 11:12 am

2008-08-30T11:16:41-05:00

Everybody is at the LSU Appalachian state game. I stayed behind with the electricians who are here hooking up a generator to my electrical panel. My power is off so I can't get online. I am posting from my mobile phone. Right before the power shut off I read the latest NHC updates which currently have Gustav making landfall as a major hurricane somewhere around the Houma Louisiana area. That's a big coastal wetlands area - this will be a major set back for wetlands/coastal restoration work. I imagine hell is starting to break loose as folks start evacuating. I just heard the last flight out of NOLA is 6:00 pm tomorrow.

Time to leave New Orleans

2008-08-29T17:55:59-05:00

From Dr. Jeff Master's (posted about an hour ago - 8/29/08 4:23 pm EDT)

Today is the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's catastrophic hit on the Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama coast. Unfortunately, I think that people living in New Orleans should mark the anniversary of Katrina by getting the heck out of the city. You live at the bottom of a bowl, ten or so feet below sea level. This is not natural. Nature wants to fill up this bowl with huge quantities of Gulf of Mexico sea water. There is a storm capable of doing that bearing down on you. If you live in New Orleans, I suggest you take a little Labor Day holiday--sooner, rather than later, to beat the rush--and get out of town. Gustav is going to come close to you, and there's no sense messing with a major hurricane capable of pushing a Category 3 storm surge to your doorstep. Don't test those Category 3 rated--but untested--levees. Conventional pre-Katrina wisdom suggested that the city needed 72 hours to evacuate. With the population about half of the pre-Katrina population, that lead time is about 60 hours. With Gustav likely to bring tropical storm force winds to the city by Monday afternoon, that means that tonight is a good time to start evacuating--Saturday morning at the latest. Voluntary evacuations have already begun, which is a good idea.

Read the full blog post here.

Katrina 3rd Anniversary Events

2008-08-29T15:57:10-05:00

Katrina 3rd Anniversary Events

ORLEANS PARISH

Levees.org hosts premiere screening of documentary “The Katrina Myth: the Truth About a Thoroughly Unnatural Disaster," produced by FoodMusicJustice.org
Free admission
Thursday, August 28
Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Avenue
6:30pm - Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres with live jazz band "Some Like It Hot"
7:30-8:30pm Presentation and premiere of 10-minute documentary and after-show discussion

“Days of Hope” at Louisiana Children’s Museum

Two-day commemoration of the third anniversary on Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30 is designed to inspire hope for the future and give children a voice for their own thoughts about what lies ahead.

National experts in child learning will visit the museum, including national children’s television producer Alice Wilder (Super Why!, Blue’s Clues) who will lead writer’s circle workshops in the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood exhibit. Children and families can write their own story in a brand new book, illustrated by prominent local artist Katie Rafferty.

Megan Lambert, Instructor of Children’s Literature Programs for The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA, will provide special story times using The Carle’s inquiry-based model, The Whole Book Approach.

Inspired by the world-renowned Eric Carle book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, butterflies of all shapes and sizes will be crafted and suspended in the three story atrium, creating a dramatic display.

Also on display during Days of Hope are several exhibits of children’s work including the Doors of Hope, a gift from the youth of New York to the youth of New Orleans through the public arts organization CITYarts in New York. Memory boxes, journals and urban planning designs from students at MLK Jr. Charter School also will be on display.

Days of Hope programming is 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29 and Saturday, August 30. The Museum is open on those days from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 420 Julia Street.

Worship Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5800 Canal Boulevard

Service will include debut of a new book called The Essence of Grace.

On August 29 at 7:00pm, the church will unveil the debut of a book that tells the stories of 17 faith-filled people of the Grace community coming home to New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, and the grace they experienced that has given them healing and hope.

The evening is being billed as "The Essence of Grace: An Evening of Healing and Hope." The book was created as a way of giving thanks to God for all the members, partners, supporters and volunteers who helped rebuild the congregation and community.

For more information, contact Caitlin Moen, the editor of the book, and Grace's Coordinator for Community Development at coordinator@gracenola.com or 651-276-1676; or Pastor Leon Philpot at lphilpot@cox.net or 218-779-8566.

Katrina Memorial Display at Immaculate Conception (Jesuits) Church, Baronne Street

Beginning August 23-24 and continuing through Labor Day weekend, an interactive display will be placed at the entrance to the church, which remains open from 6:30 AM until 5:30 PM daily. The display will invite the public to post notes, photos, and prayers related to their Katrina experiences. The display will also allow individuals to deposit specific prayers and petitions, which will be remembered throughout the week at the church’s various Masses. For more information, contact the parish office at (504) 529-1477.

Katrina Anniversary Mass – St. Louis Cathedral

New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes will celebrate the 7:30 am Mass at St. Louis Cathedral on Friday, August 29 to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Mass for Hope and Healing - Immaculate Conception (Jesuits) Church, Baronne St., New Orleans

On Friday, August 29, the noon Mass at Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church will be offered as a Mass for Hope and Healing. Prayers, readings, and music have been specially selected for the occasion, and priests will be available for a communal celebration of anointing for anyone still suffering from physical, spiritual, or emotional distress. Complimentary parking will be available for the event at the old Chevron building parking garage on Common Street. Call 504-529-1477 for more information.

Katrina Memorial Interfaith Service

Friday, August 29

7:00 p.m.
Temple Sinai, corner of Calhoun and St. Charles Ave., New Orleans
504-596-3023

Archbishop Alfred Hughes will join with religious leaders from Protestant Christian, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, and Sihk faiths to recall the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina and celebrate the accomplishments of the community as it continues to rebuild. People of all faiths are invited to attend.

Eastern New Orleans Candlelight Vigil & Day of Remembrance
Thursday, August 28
7:00 p.m.
On the Levee at 9630 Hayne Blvd.

      Jazz Funeral
Friday, August 29
   8:00 a.m.
   Begins at corner of Canal St. & Carrollton Ave., ending at Charity Hospital Cemetery on Canal at City Park Ave.

      Wreath-Laying at Algiers Ferry Landing
         Friday, August 29
   9:00 a.m.

   Bell-Ringing Ceremony
      Friday, August 29
   9:38 a.m.
   Charity Hospital Cemetery, Canal St. at City Park Ave.

      Katrina III: Stories of Helping and Hope
      Friday, August 29
   7 p.m.
   Loyola University
The heroic events directly following Hurricane Katrina will be celebrated at Loyola University New Orleans during an anniversary program called, Katrina III: Stories of Helping and Hope. The program will feature the courageous story of and an appearance by Molly the Pony; the uplifting sounds of Shades of Praise gospel choir; and heroic stories of first responders including Joe Cull, McFarland Institute Chaplain assigned to counsel the New Orleans Police Department in the days immediately following Katrina. Katrina III: Stories of Helping and Hope takes place Friday, August 29, at 7 p.m., in Roussel Performance Hall on Loyola’s main campus. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at smsnyder@loyno.edu or call (504) 861-5882.

JEFFERSON PARISH

Katrina Memorial Mass - St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, Metairie

St. Lawrence the Martyr, 2505 Maine Avenue, will host a memorial Mass on Friday, August 29 at 9 a.m. commemorating the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Prayer Service of Remembrance and Hope - St. Catherine of Siena Church, Metairie Road & Bonnabel Blvd.
Friday, August 29

7:00 p.m.

On the evening of August 29, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. St. Catherine of Siena Church will celebrate a Holy Hour in remembrance of the storms of three years ago. The Eucharist will be brought to the main altar of the church from our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, The Chapel of the Holy Innocents. The setting for our prayers that evening will be Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Call 504-835-9343 for more information.

PLAQUEMINES PARISH

“First Parish Hit – The First Parish to Recover” anniversary events
Friday, August 29

9:00am
Roger Halphern Memorial Park (Rex Field)
35410 Highway 11
Buras

1:00pm
Belle Chasse Auditorium
8398 Highway 11
Belle Chasse

Events will include:
Recognition of those who aided in the recovery: FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, LRA, Plaquemines businesses and more.
Unveiling of Plaquemines Parish new Community Centers
Recognition of the completed work: Debris clean-up, canals, drains, parish buildings & more.

ST. BERNARD PARISH

Friday August 29
7:30am
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, 2320 Paris Road in Chalmette, will observe the third anniversary with a reunion/memorial Mass at 7:30 a.m. celebrated by the Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Refreshments will be served in the school gym immediately following the Mass, sponsored by the Archbishop Janssen Knights of Columbus 3068.

8:30-10:00am
The St. Bernard School Board will hold its third annual Day of Reflection Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the Chalmette High School Gymnasium at 1100 E. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. This year’s theme is “Be Somebody’s Hero.” The event is open to the public. Tickets cost $5 per person and must be purchased in advance. For information or tickets, call 301-2000 or go to the School Board Administration Office at 200 E. St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette.

11:00-11:30am
St. Bernard Parish Government will hold a Katrina Commemorative Service at 11 a.m. at Shell Beach where officials will rededicate the Katrina Monument and unveil a corrected and updated list of victims' names. The memorial site on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet will now have the names of 163 St. Bernard Parish victims of Hurricane Katrina who died as a result of the storm, whether it was during the actual event or because of the evacuation. The newly engraved monument includes about 20 more names and corrected spellings for several of the initially listed victims. A few names were removed because the people originally were listed as missing, but they indeed survived.

Live from Louisiana: A Hurricane Blogger's Personal Journal 8/29/08 3:04 pm CT

2008-08-29T15:30:07-05:00

When I started this blog on the eve of Hurricane Katrina's landfall it was titled "Live from Louisiana: A Hurricane Blogger's Personal Journal". After Katrina went on to be the biggest disaster in contemporary U.S. history, I changed the name of the blog to "Hurricane Katrina"...and then eventually settled on "Beyond Katrina: The Voice of Hurricane & Disaster Recovery".

While recovery continues to date, about a year ago I found that I had Katrina fatigue and that I really couldn't talk about the issues publicly anymore. For the reason, over the past year or so, the blog has more or less functioned as a news aggregator. However, inasmuch as today is Katrina's third anniversary and I'm facing the eve of another potential Louisiana land falling cane, I feel moved to ramp up the personal blogging again. Thoughts are I'll do it as a series at this blog in honor of the pubs original title. So here's the first post in the series:

It's mass insanity here in Baton Rouge and across the state today as Louisiana prepares for the possibility that Gustav will make landfall somewhere on our coast. We're all experiencing a time warp - it's dejavu all over again. As was similar for Katrina we're moving into the week-end (same time frame three years later) in a great deal of anxiety and anticipation.

I have heard from all of Beyond Katrina's contributors and stakeholders over the course of the past few days. My wonderful and talented PR strategist, Rebecca Rainer just emailed and reminded me that I need to eat my wheaties if I'm gonna make it through this marathon. Paul Greenberg and Itouched base few days ago. He writes, "We're all pretty nervous here in New Orleans right now. I'm going to Morgan City on Friday night for the Shrimp and Petroleum festival, and if I have to evacuate I'll go from there, I guess toward Lafayette. UGH!". Rick Portier is about to head out on storm coverage assignment at ground zero, should Gustav truly make it's way here. Matthew White, who is situated at the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, (right where Katrina made its second landfall at the Pearl River La/Ms border) is making evac plans as we speak. And Maida Owens (who works for the state) said every body seemed a little manic yesterday as folks rushed plans to completion before leaving for the Labor Day Holiday.

The theme that runs through most of these conversations is DREAD. While we Louisianians are seasoned veterans when it comes to the canes, it's just too soon. Our memories of Katrina and Rita are still so fresh and indelibly etched into our brains. And while we're all aware that this could be a total bust - Gustav could land anywhere - we still have to go through all the motions - we have to act as if. Storm prep and particularly EVACS are just no fun...

In Commemoration of the Third Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

2008-08-29T04:25:16-05:00

American Flag Raised at Lake Catherine, Orleans Parish, LA After Hurricane Katrina. Copyright, Matthew White

To view a selection of images click here.

Left Behind?

2008-08-29T00:47:00-05:00

By: Rick Portier

I don't get introspective often. It's not what you come here for. The cocky persona, the swagger I adopt when I strap on my babycam are more necessity than really me. It's just easier to witness the low points in so many lives through cynically colored glasses.

But Gustav has given me pause. Five years ago, the best meteorologists could give us with any measure of certainty was a three day forecast. That gave fools like me, who rush headlong into the teeth of stroms, little time to reflect on what might be. Three days was just enough time to throw some clothes in a bag, gas up the sat truck and make it to the coast to watch the surf roll in.

Now, with five-day projections, my brethren and I get to sweat the details. While storm virgins around the station jockey for position to nab a spot on the beach, I've had a knot in my gut for three days.

From the time Gussy flared up, I've had a bad feeling about this one. Twenty years chasing these damn things has taught me to trust my instinct. He may not be another Katrina, but Gustav ain't gonna be pretty.

Storm coverage is never easy. Three, four, five days eating sandy food from a celophane bag. It's long hours, mind-warping stress, and adrenaline rushes you'll never find in any amusement park. It's sugar highs, and big crashes. It's arguments with the house boys, and props to the crew who are the only ones who really know what it took to get the coverage on the air. It's a time for newsies to prove what they're made of. And it's no place to take chances.

Two nights ago the Missus told me she didn't want me to go. No fussing. No arguing. Just a simple statement.

In some homes that might go without notice. At the turdpolisher ranch, it was the first time she's ever said that. It hit home hard. She knows I have to. She'd never reallly try to keep me home. And she knows too well I'd be miserable chasing fallen limbs around Cap City instead of in the thick of the battle. Still, part of me wants to be left behind.

It's not the dry assignment in the State Office of Emergency Preparedness I want. (X-Ray Ted's whiney ass will be comfy and well fed.) It's not that I loathe sleeping on the sat truck floor, a raging case of swamp ass, sand in my teeth, or seaweed in my shorts. It's what these little excursions into absurdity do to my family.

For the past twenty years, every time the suits turned the crank on the hype generator, my wife has put on a brave face, and kissed me good-bye at the door, not really sure when I was coming back. She's been left to keep life normal at home without me.

As much as I worry about everyone back home while I'm wind surfing with a satellite dish, I cannot imagine what I'm putting them through.

Just once I might like to be left behind . . . Probably not. But when winds are raging outside, it's a lot nicer curling up to the STW than a smelly news crew.

Love ya, Gail. See ya when I get back.

Rick Portier is a television news photographer in Baton Rouge. For more of his unique stories and interesting rants see his personal blog at https://turdpolisher.blogspot.com/

Half of Katrina victims were 75 or older

2008-08-29T00:22:06-05:00

CHICAGO - As New Orleans residents warily track another threatening storm, a new report presents the clearest picture yet of deaths from Katrina in Louisiana. Of the nearly 1,000 who died, almost half were 75 or older, according to researchers. Continue>>>

Global Kids to Launch Online Community and Game, “Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City,” to Raise Youth Awareness on Eve of 3rd Anniversary of Katrina

2008-08-28T22:38:34-05:00

August 27, 2008, New York, NY – To mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, youth leaders for Global Kids, Inc. have created an online community and game in conjunction with Game Pill, Inc., AMD and Microsoft Corp.’s Partners in Learning where young people can engage in and experience the ongoing relief efforts in New Orleans.

Global Kids, the foremost nonprofit in New York City dedicated to educating urban youth about civic engagement and international affairs, and Game Pill, an innovator in online games development, have created a socially conscious game and web site, “Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City” (www.tempestincrescentcity.org). This is the second game developed by Global Kids youth following the highly successful Ayiti: The Cost of Life (costoflife.org), which educates players about the obstacles to education faced by children in developing countries. Ayiti has been played worldwide over 1.5 million times and serves as a new model for games that address serious issues to increase youth awareness and involvement.

Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City is a comprehensive social networking website featuring an educational “game” experience where participants are encouraged to act in support of New Orleans residents. The site provides links to a variety of relief groups as well as information about New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina including multiple timelines, analysis of media coverage, and supporting articles for all information presented. The site also features multiple curricula about Hurricane Katrina including Global Kids’ own workshops for teachers to use as educational tools. Visitors who join the site become part of a social online community and contribute to forums about Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the continuing reconstruction.

The site was developed during the past school year by Global Kids Youth Leaders from Brooklyn’s Canarsie High School, who selected the topic of Hurricane Katrina. They worked with Game Pill to create an educational game within a social networking site that focuses on the local heroes that emerged during the disaster while educating its players about the essentials of disaster readiness.

“Game Pill is proud to be involved with Global Kids in this effort,” said Mike Sorretini, head of Game Pill. “We hope that the site serves to educate, enlighten and show the facts of Hurricane Katrina in an interactive and dynamic medium.”

“AMD Changing the Game initiative is taking an expertise that the company has in the gaming industry and marrying it with our focus on education. Through gaming, we are giving kids a medium that they really enjoy, and giving them an opportunity to work with a team of their peers to actively collaborate and develop a positive game with social content,” said Ward Tisdale, Director of Global Community Affairs at AMD.

“Global Kids’ work on engaging teens through the Hurricane Katrina site showcases an incredible vision for using technology to develop life-long social activists and responsible citizens,” said Mary Cullinane, Director of Innovation and Business Development for Microsoft U.S. Education, “and it is aligned with Microsoft’s Partners in Learning engagement with students and teachers who live and work in New Orleans as they tirelessly rebuild and redesign their beloved city.”

Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City was developed through Global Kids’ Playing for Keeps (P4K) program, which receives support from AMD and Microsoft’s U.S. Partners in Learning Mid-Tier Grants Initiative. The game's main character is Vivica Waters, a young woman from New Orleans who moved to New York after surviving the storm. The game takes place in Vivica’s dream, where she searches for her mother during the storm and helps her neighbors as the hero she wishes she could have been. The site will increase students’ awareness and understanding of the need for development and improved coordination of local community resources in support of rebuilding efforts. It can be used within a classroom or after school setting.

Katrina 3-Year Coverage: Building on community driven successes with the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act

2008-08-28T22:12:56-05:00

The federal government and national organizations have failed to meet the needs of the Gulf Coast 3 years after Katrina hit. How are local communities coming together to build a new vision for resident-led recovery? Almost three years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the breakdown of Louisiana’s federally constructed levee system, the media, Congress, the White House, our Presidential candidates and even, surprisingly, the progressive community have for the most part moved on. Continue at Facing South>>>

Three Years After Hurricane Katrina, Homelessness Looms

2008-08-28T22:00:31-05:00

"That's President Bush hugging me. See how tightly he's hugging me?" It was the chilly end of 2006 in Baker, Louisiana, when Lena Beard asked me this, proudly waving a newspaper clipping my direction as we talked in her still-temporary home. The fading photo, taken the same day the mother of two took refuge on a mattress in a church after Hurricane Katrina, had served as proof after the levees burst that she was going to be okay. "I'm a veteran who has served my country and put my life on the line. I believed my country would take care of me and my family," she said. Continue at Mother Jones>>>

Storm Alert For Cultural Individuals and Organizations in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast

2008-08-28T17:59:49-05:00

August 28, 2008 –

The Office of Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism urge you to take every precaution to protect yourself and property in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. The Cultural Assets Rescue (www.crt.state.la.us/culturalassets) website was developed in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to serve as a clearinghouse and information center for artists, individual cultural workers, cultural organizations and businesses. It contains valuable information to assist in relocation, restoration and recovery from disasters.

Please use the resources provided here and register your contact information in the Directories section. For direct communication click the feedback link to generate an email message or call 225-342-8200.

Susan Brunner

Chair

Louisiana Parntership For The Arts

Like somebody has kicked over an ant pile in Louisiana today

2008-08-28T16:01:24-05:00

yes. all hell has broken loose here in Baton Rouge and elsewhere across the state today. 4:45 Bobby Jindal is holding a press conference - I am told he will talk about evacuations of special needs patients and people in low lying areas. contra flow from NOLA to Baton Rouge on Saturday. My blog posts here are becoming decidely short and twitter-ish given to the sheer volume of information that is pouring in...we've heard the shelves are empty at Wal-Mart. I'll make my run this evening to stock supplies - i have never bought supplies five days before a storm that may not even come here. People this time out would rather be over-prepared...

Jewish New Orleans undergoing dramatic transformation

2008-08-28T00:56:59-05:00

Three years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the face of Jewish New Orleans is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The traditional Southern community that was nearly destroyed by the hurricane on Aug. 29, 2005 has been energized by an influx of young newcomers and has a new pioneering spirit, community leaders say. Continue>>>

Three Years After Hurricane Katrina, Unidentified Victims are Memorialized and a City Reflects on Presidential Promises of Recovery in Jackson Square

2008-08-28T00:40:36-05:00

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26 -- The City of New Orleans and the New Orleans City Council will host three city-wide events on Friday, August 29th in observance of the third year since the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the failed levees devastated the city and caused the city's first ever mandatory evacuation.

"August 29th will forever be remembered in this region as the day that changed millions of lives. We are working as one community to restore our beloved city and all the richness of its culture. But in the midst of this historic undertaking to move toward a better future, we cannot and must not forget those who lost their lives in the storms and floods. It is in this spirit of reflection that we continue to move with great determination to secure the resources and funding needed to fully rebuild our city," said Mayor C. Ray Nagin.

"On this third anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we come together as one community to remember those who lost their lives and reflect upon the progress we have made," said New Orleans City Council President Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson. "Three years after the devastation of these storms, our citizens continue to move forward rebuilding their neighborhoods and communities. Although we have made great strides in our recovery efforts, there is still much to do. We will continue to do whatever it takes to fully rebuild this great City that we call home."

Beginning at 8:00 a.m., the New Orleans Forensic Center Coroner's Office will sponsor a New Orleans traditional jazz funeral and symbolic burial memorializing the unidentified victims of the storms and flood. The site of the memorial ceremony and final resting place for the unidentified victims will be the newly constructed Hurricane Katrina Memorial housed at the Charity Hospital Cemetery, 5056 Canal Street. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Katrina Memorial was held on August 29, 2007.

The jazz funeral will travel a total of eight (8) blocks down Canal Street to the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. City dignitaries, citizens and visitors, lead by The Young Men Olympia Benevolent Society, Treme Brass Band and Storyville Stumpers Brass Band, will proceed to the Katrina Memorial for the burial.

The Katrina Memorial is a burial ground honoring the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the flooding. The memorial design incorporates the actual shape of Hurricane Katrina taken from a satellite image. The approximate construction cost of the monument is $1.5 million.

Following the jazz funeral and memorial, Mayor Nagin and Mrs. Seletha Nagin will be joined by community members and elected officials as they ring ceremonial bells signifying the series of levee breaches that occurred throughout the city. Bells will ring for two minutes (9:38 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.). Simultaneously, members of the New Orleans City Council will lay wreaths on levees throughout the city in their respective districts.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26 -- Concluding the day at 7:30 p.m., the City will again host a candle light vigil in Jackson Square, the location where President Bush in 2005 declared to "do whatever it takes" to rebuild New Orleans and the devastated region. The vigil will feature the city's first responders -- the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD).

SCHEDULE OF COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
Event: Traditional Jazz Funeral
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Procession to begin at corner of Canal Street and Carrollton
Avenue

Event: Ceremonial Bell Ringing
Time: 9:38 a.m.
Location: Katrina Memorial Cemetery/Charity Cemetery, 5056 Canal Street

Event: Candle Lighting Ceremony Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Jackson Square

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MEDIA CREDENTIALING PROCESS AND MEDIA CENTER

OPERATION DURING THIRD COMMEMORATION OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA

MEDIA CREDENTIALING

The City of New Orleans is hosting a virtual media credentialing site for events planned for the commemoration of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

To register for media credentials, go to www.progressinlouisiana.org and complete the virtual application. Media can also visit www.cityofno.com for information regarding the events.

Media credentials may be picked up at the Anniversary Media Center beginning at 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 28th at Gallier Hall located at 545 St. Charles Avenue.

MEDIA CENTER BRIEFINGS

The City will conduct briefings regarding the recovery and rebuilding in the region on Thursday, August 28th. A media briefing schedule will be posted in the Media Center and on the City's website.

For more information visit www.cityofno.com.

CONTACT: LESLEY EUGENE, (504) 416-7694;
leugene@mayorofno.com

JAMES ROSS, (504) 906-9123
jross@mayorofno.com

CHARELL CHARLESTON, (212) 219-7106
ccharleston@uwgny.com

SOURCE City of New Orleans

Media Center On-site Contacts: Lesley Eugene, +1-504-416-7694, leugene@mayorofno.com, James Ross, +1-504-906-9123, jross@mayorofno.com, Bill Rouselle, +1-504-638-8244, billr@brightmomentsnola.com, or Lisa Posey, +1-646-831-7974, lposey@uwgny.com,

Hurricane Katrina 3rd Anniversary Events in NOLA

2008-08-28T00:35:58-05:00

Source: The Bayou Buzz (It's a great pub - check it out!)

Darling Readers,

Post your events and see what is 'happening in Louisiana.

This is going to be a very special week since we are commemorating the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on the 29th and it also marks the Labor Day weekend when so many people from all over the country comes to celebrate and participate in the Southern Decadence Festival - Aug. 27 to Sept. 1.

I am looking forward this Tuesday, August 26 to attending the very special dinner that has been prepare by Louisiana Cookin' in honor of five promising Chefs to Watch. The award dinner will take place at the Theatre at Harrah's. The guests will enjoy a cocktail reception starting at 6:30 pm and a five-course dinner paired with complimentary wines at 7:00 pm. This year’s winners are Chefs David Bridges, Bella Fresca, Shreveport, Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery, New Orleans, Spencer Minch, Emeril’s Delmonico, New Orleans, Jude Tauzin, Catahoula’s, Grand Coteau and Susan Zemanick, Gautreau’s, New Orleans.

The event will be emceed by well-known WWL news anchorman Eric Paulsen and will showcase the five

Louisiana

chefs at work creating their signature dishes. Tickets for the event are $125.00 per person or $1250 for a table of ten. Seating is limited, so reserve your tickets today! The net proceeds of this event will benefit Café Reconcile. For more information on the event and to order tickets simply go to https://www.louisianacookin.com/ or call 504-482-3914.

                     This Tuesday, there will be as usual a Wine Tasting of American Varieties and Blends from 6 to 8 p.m.at DOS JEFES UPTOWN CIGAR BAR,5535 TCHOUPITOULAS ST. N(504) 891 8500;dosjefescigarbar.com. FREE FOR LADIES and $10 for the gentlemen.. Entertainment at 9:30 p.m. by talented CARL LEBLANC + ELLEN SMITH

Experience an evening of cultural indulgences at the JW Marriott Lobby Lounge this Wednesday, August 27, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when the local artist will be Lashun Beal-"Celebration of Women" (Mixed Media, Reliefs on Wood, Acrylics on Canvas.) Entertainment by RICCARDO CRESPO (Brazilian musician, singer and songwriter who plays acoustic guitar and harmonica) Complimentary Wine Tasting and Hors D’oeuvres.

New Orleans

' favorite artist, cartoonist Bunny Matthews, opens a NEW show, 'Da Eve o' Destruction,' at Vega Tapas Cafe,

2051 Metairie Road

, on Thursday, August 28 at 5:30 pm. The public is invited to attend the opening party. Complimentary wine, sangria, and tapas will be served. Bunny will display new original drawings and paintings, many featuring his signature
characters, Vic & Nat'ly. Bunny Matthews' works will be on display and available for purchase through the end of October.

LEVEES..ORG commemorates third anniversary of Katrina with film debut, "The Katrina Myth: the Truth About a Thoroughly Unnatural Disaster" on Thursday, August 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Avenue, uptown New Orleans. The event is free and open To The Public and will feature Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres with live jazz band Some Like It Hot.

“Tipsy Tini Thursdays Happy Hour Celebration” at the Ritz Carlton is a celebration that you do not want to miss.. You can get 2 for 1 Rain Vodka Martinis for $14 with complimentary Sushi Tasting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. You can dance the night away every Friday through September at the French Quarter Bar from 7:30 p.m. on. Dance lessons starting at 8 p.m. $30 cover charge for General Admission; $50 VIP includes lesson, 1 ticket for signature drink and valet parking. Reservations required at 504-670-2828. You can reserve a table but there is $50 per person minimum bar tab.

Renowned Latin vocalist Fredy Omar and guitarist Pepe Coloma are playing every Thursday from 8-11 p.m. at the Columns Hotel,

3811 St. Charles Avenue

The New Orleans Botanical Gardens’ “Music in the Garden Series” continues with “Thursdays at Twilight" presenting on Thursday, August 28: John Rankin, considered by many as

New Orleans

’ best acoustic guitarist. , Pavilion of the Two Sisters, New Orleans Botanical Garden, City Park-5–8 p.m. Performance begins at 6 p.m. $6.00 Adults, $2.00 Children-5-12.

The Ogden After Hours presents multi-instrumentalist L.C. Ulmer in collaboration with Ponderosa Stomp Foundation (R&B) 6-8 p.m. at Lobby Atrium of The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 900 block of

Camp Street

opposite the

Contemporary

Arts

Center

. While there, I urge you to visit the new exhibits at the museum.

Ingrid Lucia, Trio - Women in Jazz will be performing at the Mystick, Royal Sonesta Hotel,

300 Bourbon Street

from 9:00 p.m. to 12 midnight. No Cover

The Polo Club Lounge at the Windsor Court Hotel is jazzin’ it up every Friday and Saturday with the hot entertainment series, "Playin’ At The Polo," featuring popular local musicians performing a repertoire of sophisticated jazz. See the schedule below:
Fridays, August 29, Ed Perkins 9 p..m.–12 Midnight

Saturdays, August 30, Leah Chase 9 p.m.- Midnight
Sunday – Wednesday, Pianist Jim Harris 6–10 p.m.

Polo Club Lounge Entertainment & Afternoon Tea, Thursday-Saturday, Pianist Michael Pellera. 7 –11 p.m. Thursdays;7–9 p.m. Fridays; 6–9 p.m. Saturdays. No cover charge. Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch in The New Orleans Grill presents the Christopher Kohl Trio.

Glitz- The Art of Impersonation is back by popular demand! Thursday, August 28 through Sunday, August 31.

Starring Roy Haylock as the infamous Bianca Del Rio and performing as

Cher

! Glitz includes a full cast of female impersonators performing as Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Liza Mannelli, Judy Garland, Tina Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Paris Hilton and Carol Channing! This show also features a brand new country segment with Reba McIntire and Dolly Parton! Get tickets now, call the box office at 504-533-6600. The show start at 9p.m.

RETHINK, RENEW, REVIVE” -Third Anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Program-August 29,2008
                     Program
                     8 a.m. Traditional Jazz Funeral
                     Procession begins at the corner of

Canal Street

and

Carrollton Avenue

ending at the

Charity

Hospital

Cemetery

5056 Canal Street

. This event will commemorate the official final resting place for the unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina.
                     9 a.m. Katrina Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony -N. Claiborne Avenue and Tennessee Street
Participants will then march across Claiborne Avenue to the top of the bridge for a wreath laying ceremony at 9:38 a.m.
                     9:38 a.m. London Avenue Canal Wreath Laying Ceremony-Corner of Mirabeau Avenue & Pratt Drive
                     9:38 a.m. Ceremonial Bell Ringing -Katrina Memorial/Charity Hospital Cemetery, 5056 Canal Street
For two minutes, a ringing bell will signify the series of levee breaches that occurred throughout the city.
                     10 a.m. Hurricane Katrina Memorial Ceremony Gulf Coast Bank,

848 Harrison Avenue

, 2nd Floor
                     10 a.m.. Humane Society Pet Memorial Dedication -City Council Chambers, City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street
                     11 a.m. Lake Area High School Groundbreaking -6026 Paris Street
                     7:30 p.m. Candle Lighting Ceremony -Jackson Square
Citizens will light candles to commemorate and participate in a vigil to remember the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

There will be a Lakeview Katrina Recovery Celebration Sponsored by The Beacon of Hope,

St. Paul

Homecoming

Center

, and the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association on Friday,August 29th, at St. Domenic School Yard at 8 a.m.

8:30 AM-* Celebratory Mass at St. Dominic Church
10:00 AM- Press Conference with Councilwoman Shelley Midura and Community Leaders at Gulf Coast Bank & Trust,
848 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans LA, 2nd Floor .

The Faulkner Society will observe the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on August 29 with MEET THE AUTHOR event, celebrating publication of books of fiction related to Katrina by two

New Orleans

authors, Tom Piazza and Amanda Boyden. Piazza's new novel, City of

Refuge

, and Ms. Boyden's debut novel, Babylon Running take place in

New Orleans

. The Faulkner House on Pirate Alley will be the setting for the event from 6 to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public., RSVP are requested and you could reserve signed copies by calling 504-524-2940 or e-mailing Faulkhouse@aol..com


                     From August 27 to November 2, the New Orleans Museum of Art will present Coping with Katrina: Artwork from the Hyogo-NOMA Children's Art Therapy Initiative, an exhibition of artworks by children who lived through the 2005 hurricane and subsequent flooding. A public reception in honor of the participants will be held at the Museum on Wednesday, September 3, from 6-8 p.m.

Every Wednesday, the New Orleans Museum of Art is featuring special program to highlight the Hispanic culture and this Wednesday, August 27, there is SALSA DANCE LESSONS and a film on Katrina : Last Things in New Orleans (Please note that this film begins at 7 p.m.)

The Official Marigny Decadence XXXVII Kick-off Party will be on August 27 at Tomatillo's,

437 Esplanade Ave

from 11 p.m.

Sippin' in Stilletos -an evening of shoes cocktails food and fun will take place this Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Belli Baci Lounge at Cafe Giovanni,

117 Decatur Street

.

The Humane Society of Louisiana, a New Orleans-based humane organization whose facility was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, has created the first national monument that will pay tribute to the animals lost during the 2005 storm season and to the people who aided them. It is estimated that more than 50,000 animals were saved by rescue groups, some of them with only a small staff or a few members. During a ceremony in the chambers of

New Orleans

City Hall

(August 29, 10 a.m.), Councilwoman Stacy Head will accept a sculpture to honor those heroic groups and their actions. The sculpture, which will remain on permanent display in the foyer of City Hall, is a bronze, life-sized statue of a cat and dog trying to stay afloat during the flooding of

New Orleans

. A reception will be held at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel immediately after the unveiling of the statue. A concert benefit for the Humane Society of Louisiana will follow at Tipitina's, located at 501 Napoleon, one of

New Orleans

’ most renowned nightclubs. Tickets are $10 at the door which open at 9:00 pm. Music by Billy Iuso and Restless Natives.

The New Orleans Opera Club is pleased to announce a fund-raising wine dinner at Peristyle’s Restaurant,

1041 Dumaine St.

(corner of Rampart in the Quarter) at 7PM on August 29. Valet parking will be available. The menu designed by Tom Wolfe, owner/chef of Peristyle’s, is a
This delicious six course dinner will be complemented by wines .the price is $125 per person including tax and gratuity. Part of the cost will be tax-deductible as a donation to the Opera Association. Sitting is limited. Please contact Gina Klein at the Opera Office, 529-2278 x227.
Talking about food and chefs, WYES' Season of Good Taste is continuing at one of my favorite restaurant:,Latil's Landing at Houmas House - Friday, August 29, 7 PM (Bus $10.00 per person)
Please visit our website at https://www.wyes.org/ for menus. Dinners are $85.00 per person tax and gratuity inclusive. Reservations will be accepted, via phone at (504) 840-4886, on a first come first served basis.

This Friday, August 29, the weekly meeting of the Obituary Cocktail Society will chill out at the Oasis Bar at the Pool in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Chef Peter Page will be grilling specially selected menu items from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests will experience the cool Latin rhythms of Riccardo Crespo's music as you settle in to enjoy informal modeling by Hemline presenting stylish fashionable trends. Not to be missed!

Armand St Martin appears solo on the Steinway every Friday and Saturday night at the Ritz Carlton Cigar Bar on the 3^rd floor from 6 to 11 p.m. $25/per or private membership.

My darling fellow Realtor MaryFlynn Thomas is performing every Saturday at Chef Andrea Apuzzo's beautiful new lounge, Capri Blu Lounge at Andrea’s Restaurant in

Metairie

The Chateau Sonesta is hosting on Saturday, a pool party and fashion show to benefit Project Lazarus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 586-0800.

Saturday, August 30 at 2 p.m., Chef Frank Davis will be signing and discussing his book "Making Good Groceries" at the Southern Food and

Beverage

Museum

better known as SoFAB at the Riverwalk. Books available for purchase in the museum store. Members enjoy free admission to weekend programming.

Take a "Staycation" with a tropical flair at the Arts Market of New Orleans on Saturday, August 30th in Palmer Park. Visit the perfect destination to be a tourist in your own hometown. Dress loudly and lightly to cruise colorful art by inspired local artists. Presented by the Arts Council of New Orleans, this monthly open air festival of creativity features art influenced by the exotic array of plants, flowers, wildlife, and scenes to be found in our port city and surrounding bayous.

                     Sway to the sizzling sounds of Riccardo Crespo & Sol Brasil at 1:00 pm, followed by Rudy's Caribbean Funk Band at 2:30 pm in the Music Tent. In the Kids Tent, see the Porta-Puppet Players performance of "Pork in Teams" the comedic courtroom drama of the Three Little Pigs. Children will make their own Sock-a-Saurus puppet after the show.

                     The Arts Market of New Orleans is Saturday, August 30 in Palmer Park (the final stop of the

St. Charles

streetcar) at the corner of Claiborne and Carrollton Avenues, 10 am - 4 pm. Enjoy foods sold to satisfy any craving. Free. Visit artscouncilofneworleans.org or call 504.523.1465.

As a part of the 3rd Anniversary commemoration of the Katrina disaster and its aftermath, the AALP will host its 3rd "Hands Around the Dome Ceremony" on Saturday, August 30, from 1 pm to 3:30 pm at the Louisiana Superdome (plaza level and parking is free).

A second benefit for Humane Society of Lousiana( HSL), entitled "Yappy Hour New Orleans," will take place at the Ritz-Carlton, 921 Canal, on Saturday, August 30, from 5-7 p.m. Ms. Diamond and her traveling canine companion, Lucky, will also be the recipients of the Humane Society of Louisiana's International Animal Ambassador Award, for her work to promote the humane treatment of animals throughout the world. Cost of the event is $50 per person. For information, please call 1-888-6-humane.


                     Krewe of Boo is having their first Black-Tie Soiree this Saturday, August 30 at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in

Algiers

. There will be a "Silent Auction" to the Soiree's agenda in which guests will be able to bid to be part of the inaugural Krewe of Boo Royal Court, including the opportunity to become the first annual King, Queen, Count or Countess. Royal Court positions are available to both members and nonmembers. Entry to the Soiree' for nonmembers (not accompanied by a member) is $50 at the door. An additional 40 fantastic

New Orleans

items are also included in the auction. Payments may be made by check or credit card upon auction closings and item(s) must be taken at the end of the night. The auction tables will open at 8:00 pm and bidding will end at 10:00 pm. Black Tie or Official New Orleans Police, Fire, or EMS Uniform preferred for entry.

If you haven’t made plans yet for Labor Day you’re in luck! Saturday August 30th at 5pm is the

BOURBON STREET

EXTRAVAGANZA! It is a free outdoor concert held on the corner of

Bourbon Street

and

St. Ann

. This year’s concert boasts a great line up with headliners:
                     Deborah Cox, (“Nobody’s supposed to be here”)
                     Kimberly Locke , (from American Idol Season 2)
                     Thea Austin, (“Rhythm is a Dancer”)
                     and Jeanie Tracy (Everybody Up).
                     Opening the show will be Carlos Saenz (a top 25 finalist in the casting for the band O-Town)

Capricious Production present at the The Basement Theatre of St. Paul Lutheran Church,

2624 Burgundy Street

the play "
Camp

Winnetka
" on Saturday, August 30- 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 31- 3 p.m. For more information, call 504-945-3741.

Put on your calendar that on September 3, at the Prytania Theatre, there will be a premiere of documentary "Walking on Death Fish" at 7 p.m. to be followed by a party at Handsome Willy's, 218 S. Robertson.

                     Have a great week.

                     Margarita

Bergen

, Realtor

LATTER & BLUM,INC

811 Marigny Street

, Unit C

New Orleans

Louisiana

70117

Tel/504-947-0555 Cell 504-495-9181 Fax/504-940-6201

Architecture is a political act: Three years after the storm

2008-08-28T00:27:39-05:00

From Architecture for Humanity:

Dear readers,

It is a busy week in America. Tomorrow some bloke is giving a speech in a football field, then next week some other guy speaks in some convention center. Kidding aside, if you truly care about the natural and built environment it is vital for you to take note of whose policies will affect the United States. With crumbling education facilities, neglected infrastructure and outdated housing policies, put down your morning coffee and please register to vote.

This week marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Many families are still in trailers and crossing their fingers Hurricane Gustav does not hit this weekend (currently projected as a Cat. 3 heading for New Orleans). We are committed to seeing our last projects get built including The Guardians Institute. While there is so much to be done, we'd like to give a special thanks to all those community members and those who came to the coast and helped rebuild. These families would not be home without you.

Gulf Coast Retrospective

For everyone working on the Gulf Coast, the last three years have gone by quicker than a Jamaican Olympic track star. We've gotten to know and respect so many of the people and families we worked with in the rebuilding effort. Willie Maes Scotch House restaurant (awesome video), one of the very first projects we helped through a grant to Heritage Conservation Network to preserve this historic property and gathering place, is up and running. We slept on floors, in car parks, in cars (that one made it on Car Talk), in tents and sofas to help families home. All in all thousands of families lives were touched by Architecture for Humanity volunteers, design fellows and architects.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to rebuilding along the Gulf Coast. Here's a few of the projects, made possible by your time and your talents:

Housing Recovery:
Parker Residence, Biloxi, MS by Brett Zamore Design
Desporte Residence, Biloxi, MS by CP+D Workshop
Robinson Residence, Biloxi, MS by Huff & Gooden Architects
Odom Residence, Biloxi, MS by GCCDS with Jeanne Gang Architect
Tyler Residence, Biloxi, MS by Marlon Blackwell Architect
Tran Residence, Biloxi, MS by MC2 Architects
Nguyen Residence, Biloxi, MS by MC2 Architects
Guillen Residence, New Orleans, LA by David Briggs AIA
Mona Lisa Saloy Residence, New Orleans, LA by Maureen Nes, John Dwyer and Tracy Nelson
Ms. Kathy's Laundry Room, Waveland, MS by University of Minnesota

Community Design Studios and Construction Workshops
Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, Biloxi, MS led by Mississippi State University
Mike's Construction Workshop, Biloxi, MS led by Mike Grote, Architecture for Humanity and Hands On Network
Hands-On Preservation Workshops, led by Heritage Conservation Network
Design Studio at NENA, New Orleans, LA, led by John Dwyer, AIA

Community Rebuilding:
John Henry Beck Red HouseBiloxi, MS by GCCDS and Hand On Network
Biloxi Shade Structure by AFH Austin
Calhoun McCormick Gallery and Studio by Shelter Architecture
Calhoun Residence and Back House by Shelter Architecture
Guardian Institute, New Oreleans, LA by Rockwell Group

Even after completing all these projects, it's humbling to realize how much is left to do. Please take a moment, to help families buy furniture, household goods, and finish rebuilding their lives by making a donation. Note "Gulf Coast" in the designation field and we'll make sure it goes where it should.

Many other groups are also rebuilding on the Gulf Coast and have shared their work on the Open Architecture Network. To see just a few of the projects, see the sidebar to the right.

Rebuilding After Disaster
Hurricane Katrina
The Biloxi Model Home Program

Design is only innovative, if it is shared. One of the projects we learned the most from was the Biloxi Model Home Program. So, we thought we'd share some of the hard won lessons of that project in a book. This 100 page book covers the birth, development and construction of the Biloxi Model Homes--from family selection and financing to sheer walls and windows. It's an honest look at what it really takes to rebuild after disaster. The first edition is ONLY available by pre-ordering from our website and newsletter. Proceeds will go towards the rebuilding effort.

Many thanks to all the participants who helped put these lessons on paper. We are grateful to you.

Over the summer we have written a book dedicated to the lessons learned in rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and what communities can do to prepare themselves if disaster strikes. The first edition of the book will ONLY be available online and can be pre-ordered below. If Design Like You Give A Damn was a compendium of humanitarian work, this new publication is a field guide manual in getting it done.

As always there are plenty of ways to get involved, volunteer (see below) or donate. Even If you don't have two pennies to rub together, you can help by nominating us for the AmEx Members Project. We need to break the top 25 and we are currently in 33rd place with 990 votes and only 4 days left. So close... ...will we make it?

Finally for those in San Francisco next month we will be holding a design event for kids as part of the Architecture and the City Festival. If you are in San Francisco and have young'ins drop by our office at 848 Folsom St. on September 6th. Cookies and Creativity abound.

Cheers,
All of us at Architecture for Humanity

Three-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina Brings Renewed Commitment to Help Rebuild and Revitalize New Orleans

2008-08-28T00:19:34-05:00

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf shore, people around the country and across the world generously donated relief funds and volunteered their time to help. This week marks the third anniversary of that devastating day -- and a reminder that help and contributions are still very much needed to bring this region fully back on its feet.

So much has been accomplished in these past three years, though so much more is yet to be done. This summer, leading up to the anniversary this week, Patron tequila has partnered with New Orleans' St. Bernard Project and Preservation Hall to create a national fundraising initiative called the Music in Motion tour (https://www.musicinmotiontour.com/). The initiative is one of many such programs currently under way to help complete the important work of revitalizing the region. The centerpiece of this program is a vintage 1927 train car, the Patron Tequila Express, which is riding the rails from city to city collecting donations and offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people who raise the most money to ride the train to attend music-related events. The train departed from New Orleans last month and has already visited such cities as Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh (and all points between).

This week, the train car is in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, where a reception is planned to honor the St. Bernard Project, a recipient of a Friends of New Orleans "Hero of the Storm" award. Friends of New Orleans is a nonpartisan membership group of people from across the U.S. and abroad who care about the New Orleans region. From there, the train will travel to the Republican National Convention in Minnesota for similar events.

"Our rail car was actually used quite often by political dignitaries, a good many of them from Louisiana, back before air travel became commonplace," says Pam Dzierzanowski, director of national events for The Patron Spirits Company. "The Patron Tequila Express train car, which has been completely refurbished to its original 1920s grandeur, has a historical tie to New Orleans, having been based there for several years. It's truly the perfect vehicle for our Music in Motion tour, to spread the word across the U.S. that New Orleans still needs our support."

To participate in the Music in Motion tour, people simply log on to https://www.musicinmotiontour.com/ and select one of the two participating local charities: St. Bernard Project or Preservation Hall. The site will then direct visitors to set up a fundraising page through FirstGiving.com, where they can invite friends and family to start donating. People who raise the most funds will be eligible to win prizes, including the opportunity to ride the train with their friends to attend music events throughout the country. The next major prizes on the tour are an all-expense-paid trip for two to the 2008 Video Music Awards in Los Angeles in early September (including a visit to the exclusive celebrity-attended Style Villa lounge atop the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel), and a red-carpet event in New York the week of September 15 that includes an auction of one-of-a-kind music memorabilia. Most important, all money raised directly benefits efforts in New Orleans to rebuild homes and help bring music and musicians back to the city.

The St. Bernard Project is a community-based organization that began in August 2006 to rebuild homes that were damaged by floodwaters from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in St. Bernard Parish. St. Bernard Parish is a uniquely tight-knit, working-class community adjacent to New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, the area hardest hit by the storms. To date, the St. Bernard Project has rebuilt 131 homes and is currently working on more than 30 others. Using volunteer labor, skilled supervisors and donations for building supplies, it takes an average of 12 weeks and $12,000 worth of materials to completely rebuild a house.

Preservation Hall is the best-known and most respected music organization in New Orleans. Founded in 1961, Preservation Hall is a sanctuary dedicated to protect and honor New Orleans jazz. The hall's mission, to perpetuate the musical and cultural traditions of New Orleans, took on an increasingly important urgency post-Katrina. Through Preservation Hall's music education programs, the organization is ensuring the future of the city's great musical legacy through student/musician lessons with jazz veterans, after-school mentorship and cultural awareness.

Partners on the Patron Music in Motion tour include Gibson, Fiji Water, and Zazzle. For more details about the tour, please visit https://www.musicinmotiontour.com/. For information about The Patron Spirits Company and its portfolio of ultra-premium spirits (Patron tequila, Pyrat rum and Ultimat vodka), visit https://www.patronspirits.com/.

Contact: Greg Cohen The Richards Group 214-891-3544 office 917-714-8237 mobile greg_cohen@richards.com

Patron Music in Motion Tour

CONTACT: Greg Cohen of The Richards Group, +1-214-891-3544, mobile,+1-917-714-8237, greg_cohen@richards.com, for Patron Music in Motion Tour

Web Site: https://www.musicinmotiontour.com/

https://www.patronspirits.com/

CUE THE CLUSTERF^(#

2008-08-28T00:06:30-05:00

By: Rick Portier

It happened just as the third story of the day slipped through my sweaty fingers. Governor Bobby the Reformer called a press conference.

know what you're thinking. Big deal. Politicians are always summoning news crews to spout some innanity or another. But this presser was official. Even the out of town crews trundled their giant satellite trucks up the highway and onto the lot at the state's office of ememgency preparedness.

9 cameras, five live/satellite trucks. A couple print guys and a radio reporter or two jockeyed their mics for position on the governor's podium. For something this big, it's important the folks back home see your mic flag and know you were there.

Then he said it. If he'd been in Indianapolis, it would have sounded like, "Gentlemen start your engines." Under the portico of the state building, it was more like, "Katrina's coming back and she's pissed."

Bobby the Reformer was quick to point out, and repeat adnausem that Hurricane Gustav was still many days away, but it was time to start preparing. According to the governor, the state is doing its part. And now is the time for the folks at home to do theirs.

In newsrooms across the boot-shaped state, news directors, stackers, and other house boys salivated on cue. (There's nothing like covering a cat. 3-4-5 hurricane from the confines of the turd factory where it's always sunny and 72 degrees.) Then they removed their station's well thought-out ememgency plan from under the foot of the news director's desk (where it was being used to keep the damn thing from wobbleing everytime the head suit touched the keyboard). Blew off a thick layer of dust and chucked it out the window.

Who needs a plan when there's hype to spout? So from now till the killer storm lands somewhere near New Orleans's doorstep, it'll be all Gustav all the time. And just in time for the third anniversary of Katrina.

But seriously, I remember the lack of preparation around the state three years ago. Things sound a lot more organized this time around. And the station is using all the stuff we learned during our Katrina coverage to fine-tune our plans.

This morning, it's looking like we'll be in evacuation/contraflow mode by Saturday. And we'll all be eating soggy Moon Pies and MRE's soon after that. Cue the clusterf^(#!

Rick Portier is a television news photographer in Baton Rouge. For more of his unique stories and interesting rants see his personal blog at https://turdpolisher.blogspot.com/

New Amsterdam Records to Release Composer Ted Hearne's KATRINA BALLADS in Honor of Hurricane Katrina's Third Anniversary

2008-08-27T23:52:06-05:00

In recognition of the 3^rd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Amsterdam Records will release a digital version of Ted Hearne's powerful work "Katrina Ballads" on August 29.

Composer and "Katrina Ballads" singer Ted Hearne says: "It is my hope that setting primary-source texts from the devastating week in 2005 when Katrina hit will help us keep this time active in our memory, challenging us to cut through the spin that followed, and bringing us closer to an understanding of the true aftermath. New Orleans has long been a musical epicenter and a real crossroads of culture. The musical influences present in Katrina Ballads are plentiful and diverse. In that sense, this work is a tribute to the life of music, and its ability to shape and inspire us."

The work has 11 instrumentalists and 5 singers and is very much about American music as a homage to New Orleans, as is evident in the variety of musical styles of the singers featured in the recording. Some of the instrumental performers are staples in the NYC classical music scene while others hail from South Carolina and are predominantly jazz players. The singers are a mix of contemporary classical, gospel, R&B, and musical theater performers. There are influences of gospel, jazz and spirituals in the work, along with an operatic feel at times. All of the lyrical content in Katrina Ballads comes from primary-source texts, such as the famous quote by Kanye West "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

Here are some of the things reviewers have said about its performances in South Carolina and Connecticut:

"Hearne, a sophisticated composer with a songwriter's instincts, draws on blues (naturally, in a piece about New Orleans), gospel, grunge, electronic processing, and chance music, with homages to Varese, Glass, and New York's downtown new music scene. In Hearne's capable hands, somehow it all makes sense—it's really good stuff." --Charleston, South Carolina Spoleto Overview (June 2, 2007)

"Baritone Anthony Turner brought me to tears with the lament 'Hardy Jackson: 8.30.05.' His rich tone was like heavy cream as he sang, 'My wife, I can't find her body, she gone…' Semmes closed with 'Ashley Nelson,' a gripping meditation from an 18-year-old New Orleans resident that brought me to tears, again."—Charleston Post and Courier (June 1, 2007)

"For Katrina Ballads, Hearne sets primary-source texts — quotes taken from New Orleans residents, government officials, journalists, and celebrities (including a large chunk of rapper Kanye West's oft-quoted tirade against the portrayal of blacks in the media) during the harrowing days following Katrina's landfall — to his stirring, diverse original compositions, resulting in songs like the unsettling, staccato "Brownie, You're Doin' a Heck of a Job," in which Hearne repeats and cuts up the infamous sentence spoken by George W. Bush, to rousing effect." –Charleston City Paper (May 30, 2007)

"Composer and singer Ted Hearne led a performance of his "Katrina Ballads" that electrified his New Haven audience and powerfully reminded them that the tragedy in the Gulf Coast is far from over… The audience…gave the performers a standing ovation. The applause trailed off and then burst out in another long round of enthusiastic clapping and hollering." –New Haven Independent (March 6, 2008)

You may listen to the album here (not for duplication or sale):

https://newmusiccollective.org/katrinaballads/media_kit/press.html

Three Years After Katrina While Republicans and Democrats Gather and Celebrate, A City Still Searches for Recovery

2008-08-27T23:47:42-05:00

By Jordan Flaherty
https://www.leftturn.org

While much of the media focuses on conventions and running mates, the third anniversary of Katrina offers an opportunity to examine the results of disastrous federal, state and local policy on the people of New Orleans. Several organizations have released powerful reports in the past week, examining the current state of the city; while grassroots activists have plans to broadcast their message from the streets. For those who have heard only uplifting stories about the city's recovery, the facts on the ground offer an urgent reminder of the ongoing disaster.

According to a study by PolicyLink, 81 percent of those who received the Federally-funded, State-administered Road Home grants had insufficient resources to cover their damages. The average Road Home applicant fell about $35,000 short of the money they need to rebuild their home, and African-American households on average had an almost 35% higher shortfall than white households.

More than one in three residential addresses – over 70,000 - remain vacant or unoccupied, according to a report by the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center. While workers with Brad Pitt's Make It Right project are working on overdrive to finish the first of their scores of planned houses in the notoriously devastated Lower Ninth Ward, the neighborhood overall ranks far behind other neighborhoods in recovery, with only 11 percent of its pre-Katrina number of households. The same report notes that since the devastation of the city, rents have raised by 46% citywide (much more in some neighborhoods), while many city services remain very limited – for example, only 21% of public transit buses are running.

Race and Class

Its not only radicals that speak of race and class divisions in New Orleans. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 70% of residents feel we're divided by class and/or race. The Kaiser survey also found unity among New Orleanians: we're united in feeling forgotten by the rest of the US. Eight out of 10 said the federal government has not provided sufficient support. Nearly two-thirds think that the US public has largely forgotten about the city.

The survey found large percentages saying that their own situation has deteriorated. Fifty-three percent of low- income residents report that their financial situation is worse today than pre-Katrina. The percentage of residents who say they have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness such as depression has tripled since 2006.

There is a continuing debate about how many people live in the new New Orleans, with no definitive figures until the next complete census. But last year, the census bureau estimated a population of 239,000. Other analysts – and Mayor C. Ray Nagin – estimate the population to be nearly 100,000 higher. By any measurement, the growth in that number has stagnated, while even optimistic figures report that 150,000 - 200,000 former residents (out of a former population of nearly 500,000) have been unable to return. The once nearly 70% African American city is now estimated to be less than 50% African American, a change reflected in the changing face of electoral politics statewide. While Republicans have been losing across the US, Christian Coalition candidate Bobby Jindal was easily elected Governor last year, and in the city, decades of Black-majority city council shifted to a white majority.

Blank Slate or Burial Ground

Much of the change in the city is led by a new strata of the city's population – planners, architects, developers, and other reformers. Many of them self-identify as "YURPs" – Young, Urban Rebuilding Professionals - in their work with countless nonprofits, foundations, and businesses. Some have spoken of New Orleans as a blank slate on which they can project and practice their ideas of reform, whether in health care, architecture, urban planning, or education. What this worldview leaves out, according to some advocates, is the people who lived here before, who are the most affected by these changes, and have the least say in how they are carried out. "It wasn't a blank slate, it was a cemetery," says poet and educator Kalamu Ya Salaam. "People were killed, and they're building on top of their bones."

The vast majority of New Orleans' new professionals have come here with the best intentions, with a love for this city and a desire to help with the recovery. However, many activists criticize what they see as token attempts at community involvement, and a paternalistic attitude among many of the new decision makers.

For example, our education system was in crisis pre-Katrina, and certainly needed revolutionary change. Change is what we have gotten – the current system is in many ways unrecognizable from the system of three years ago – but this revolution has been overwhelmingly led from outside, with little input from the parents, students and staff of the New Orleans school system.

Shortly after the post-Katrina evacuation of the city, the entire staff of the public school system was fired. Not long after that, school board officials chose to end recognition or negotiation with the teachers' union – the largest union in the city, and arguably the biggest outlet of Black middle class political power in the city. Since then, the school landscape has changed remarkably – from staff to decision-making structure to facilities. According to Tulane professor Lance Hill, "New Orleans has experienced a profound change in who governs schools and a dramatic reduction of parent and local taxpayer control of schools."

The school system used to consist of 128 schools, 124 of them controlled by the New Orleans School Board. Now according to Hill, 88 have opened for the fall, and "50 of them are charter schools (privatized management) governed by self-appointed, self-perpetuating boards; 33 are run by the State Department of Education through the Recovery School District; and only five are governed by the elected school board."

"There are now 42 separate school systems operating in New Orleans," Hill continues, with their own "school policies, including teacher requirements, curriculum, discipline policies, enrollment limits, and social promotions. Publicly accountable schools in which parents have methods for publicly redressing grievances are limited to only five schools (5.6% of the total)."

Several recent articles have expressed excitement and admiration for the new school system, including pieces in the New York Times and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. For school reformers, who came to New Orleans with a desire to try out the changes they had imagined, this represents a dream come true. They have media support, federal, state and city officials on their side, and a massive influx of cheap (and young, idealistic) labor. Teach for America supplied 112 teachers last year, has committed 250 this year, and a projected 500 next year, while tens of millions of dollars in funding is coming through sources such as the Gates and Walton foundations.

There is no doubt that some students receive an excellent education in the new school districts, but critics are concerned that the students that are being left behind, are those that need the most help – those without someone to advocate for them, to research and apply for the best schools. According to New Orleanian Kalamu Ya Salaam, who is director of a school program called Students at the Center, the new systems represent "an experimentation with privatization, and everything that implies."

Although the new charter schools have been able to choose from the best facilities and have used methods such as state standardized tests to pick only select students (including 40% fewer special education students), there are still serious questions over the extent to their much-heralded success. G.W. Carver School, the subject of a fawning NYTimes piece last Spring, received an 88% failure rate for English and an 86% failure rate for math on state standardized tests.

Anniversary and Commemoration

August 29, the anniversary of the devastation of the city, falls between the Democratic and Republican conventions. While the Democratic and Republican parties crown their nominees, activists on the ground will be on the streets, still fighting for a just recovery. "It ain't to rain on Obama's parade," says Sess 4-5, a New Orleans-based hip hop star and activist, "but the people down here need the world to understand that its still a tragic situation. The rent has tripled, the health care system is in shambles, we have less access to education for our kids. The working class and poor are being exploited, while everyone at the top is getting fat off our misery."

"We think August 29 should be holy day, not a day for business as usual," explains Sess, who is one of the organizers of a Katrina March and Commemoration, starting Friday morning in the Lower Ninth Ward, and marching into the 7th Ward. That march is one of two activist commemorations in the city that day, the other starting uptown, near the BW Cooper development, one of the major housing developments torn down this year. "The Mayor announced to the world that New Orleans was 'open for business' but we're here to tell you that it is closed for families," declares former public housing resident Barbara Jackson, who will be part of the demonstration at BW Cooper, called Sankofa Day of Commemoration. "Five thousand demolished homes. Eight thousand new jail beds. This is their one for one replacement plan for us."

Taking to the streets is not the only agenda of local activists. In New Orleans, people have been organizing at the grassroots, working together to build a movement. In the aftermath of the US Social Forum last year in Atlanta, a broad coalition of social justice organizations began meeting monthly to combine efforts. This group, called the Organizers Roundtable, is an important spot for collaborations and community building.

It's been community, not foundations or government, that has led this city's recovery at the grassroots. Bayou Road - a street of Black-owned, community-oriented, businesses in New Orleans' seventh ward – has rebuilt post-Katrina to more businesses than they had before the storm. It hasn't been government help that has enabled these businesses to come back, but the effort of community members coming together. It was also local support that brought back the membership of many cultural organizations, like the network of Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, the century-old Black community institutions who organize secondline parades nearly every weekend throughout the year, as well as benefits for causes such as school supplies for students.

Nationally, the Right to the City alliance (RTTC), a coalition of organizations that focuses on urban issues such as health care, criminal justice, and education, sees the continuing crisis on the Gulf as central to their work, referring to New Orleans as "the front lines in the struggle against displacement and gentrification in the US." They are co-sponsoring the march in New Orleans, as well as actions in seven other cities, including Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, Providence, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Miami.

The work of RTTC deserves special notice, as a coalition that has worked to support the struggles of the people of New Orleans, and to bring that struggle and solidarity home to their own communities, while taking guidance from voices on the ground. In this time of many competing visionaries struggling to reshape this city, that willingness to listen to the people who lives are being affected, and to take that struggle and those lessons home to their own communities, may be the radical change New Orleans needs most.

Jordan Flaherty is a journalist based in New Orleans, and an editor of Left Turn Magazine. He was the first writer to bring the story of the Jena Six to a national audience and his reporting on post-Katrina New Orleans has been published and broadcast in outlets including Die Zeit (Europe's largest circulation newspaper), Al-Jazeera, TeleSur, and Democracy Now.

Resources for Information and Action:
Reports:
Greater New Orleans Community Data Center
https://www.gnocdc.org/
Kaiser Family Foundation Poll
https://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/7789.cfm
Policylink Report:
https://www.policylink.org/threeyearslater
Activism:
Right To The City Alliance
https://www.righttothecity.org/
Katrina Information Network Schedule of Commemoration Events:
https://www.katrinaaction.org/node/339
Sankofa New Orleans March
www.sankofanola.org
Katrina March and Commemoration
https://katrinacommemoration.ning.com
Safe Streets Strong Communities
https://www.safestreetsnola.org
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
https://www.incite-national.org
Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children
https://www.fflic.org
New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice
https://www.neworleansworkerjustice.org/
Justice for New Orleans
https://www.justiceforneworleans.org/
Color Of Change
https://www.colorofchange.org
Media and More:
Left Turn Magazine:
https://www.leftturn.org
Grit TV, hosted by Laura Flanders – Week of 8/18 featured excellent coverage of New Orleans
https://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/
Kalamu Ya Salaam
https://www.kalamu.com/

If Gustav Copies Katrina, US May Tap SPR

2008-08-27T22:18:55-05:00

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--It's late August, and a major hurricane may soon be bearing down on the key U.S. Gulf oil and natural gas producing region and the nation's main refining hub. Comparisons with August 2005 and the havoc of Hurricane Katrina that spurred prices to record highs above $70 a barrel are inevitable.It's far too early to say whether gusty Gustav will prove to a be Katrina clone. But, if oil output or refinery operations again suffer heavy damage, the Bush administration may well tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stave off supply shortfalls and calm prices.Continue>>>

Astrodome not open for evacuees if Gustav hits

2008-08-27T22:14:15-05:00

HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said the Astrodome will not be open for evacuees if Gustav hits New Orleans. The reason, according to county officials, is common sense. Continue>>>

New Orleans Pumping station requires repairs

2008-08-27T21:37:13-05:00

Officials will begin temporary repairs to one of the city’s drainage pumping stations Wednesday. The station, which is listed as Drainage Pumping Station No. 7, is located on Orleans Avenue and helps protect the Mid-City and City Park areas. Continue>>>

The Cone of Insanity!

2008-08-27T21:22:32-05:00

A spot of some humor by New Orleans blogger Michael Giordano:

You’ve seen it. You’ve heard about it. You’ve read about it. And you’re probably talking about it more than you could ever have imagined. The National Hurricane Center calls it the Forecast Cone...Continue at Best of New Orleans Blog.

On Tap for the Republican Convention: Karmic Payback?

2008-08-27T21:13:53-05:00

This is one way of saying pay back is hell...From the New York Times Blog:

And now, a brief word about the Republican National Convention:There is apparently a real chance that Hurricane Gustav could hit New Orleans next Monday — which happens to be the day that President Bush, Laura Bush, and Vice President Cheney are scheduled to speak. Continue>>>

Katrina 3-Year Coverage: New Institute report finds faith groups "critical" to long-term rebuilding

2008-08-27T17:32:20-05:00

The Institute of Southern Studies has just released a report on the contribution made by faith based groups in Hurricane Katrina recovery - see Chris Kromm's wonderful post on the subject, here. I very much concur with Chris' observations:

After Hurricane Katrina struck three years ago, faith and religious groups mounted an unprecedented response that made them the go-to resource for tens of thousands of storm victims. Now, as New Orleans and coastal Mississippi struggle to rebuild, the expertise, resources and commitment of faith groups will be an indispensable ingredient to the success of long-term revitalization of the Gulf Coast.

Do go check out his full post - it's a great read.

Download the Report via the following link:Download FaithGulf.pdf

Louisiana Lifts Deadlines for Most Road Home Applicants

2008-08-27T14:42:27-05:00

State extends time for homeowners to make their Benefit Option Selection

BATON ROUGE, La. (August 27, 2008) - The state of Louisiana is lifting deadlines for the 12,000 Road Home applicants who were facing a series of rolling cut off dates to move forward in the program and extending the timeframe for homeowners to make their final benefit option selections.

This change affects more than 7,000 Road Home applicants who previously had been facing deadlines to return documents, prove occupancy and ownership or resolve title and financial issues. The state is also rescinding deadlines for 5,400 applicants who sold their homes prior to the program's launch.

"After meeting with homeowners and community leaders, it became clear that many applicants affected by the deadlines were elderly and low income Louisianians who would be unable to comply with the program deadlines," said Paul Rainwater, Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "I judge this program not by the number we have served, but by the homeowners we haven't yet been able help."

Applicants who have not returned their Benefit Selection Forms now will have until November 1, 2008, to choose their Road Home option. More than 2,615 applicants are affected by this deadline.

"We will focus these next months on working with individual homeowners to resolve their outstanding issues and to help them get the rebuilding dollars they desperately need," Rainwater said.

By extending timeframes for applicants to resolve their long-standing issues, the state is providing additional time for applicants to receive legal advice and complete complicated title work.

Homeowners who are affected by normal program deadlines, including timeframes related to the appeals process, must still comply with program rules and timelines.

"We had hoped that by offering case-by-case extensions, we could help individual applicants in the program. Because of the extremely difficult issues facing our homeowners and because these extensions were not always provided on a consistent basis, we determined that the fairest action to take was to give everyone affected more time," Rainwater said.

<Affected Homeowners

The following groups of homeowners do not currently face deadlines:

1,200 who have yet to provide documents proving they occupied their homes at the time of the storms;
2,700 who have yet to provide ownership documents;
900 whose files are missing other documents, such as social security cards;
2,800 with legal, title, financial and power of attorney issues;
5,400 who sold their homes prior to the program's launch and now want funding from the Road Home.

The only homeowners facing a deadline of November 1, 2008, are 2,615 homeowners who have not yet returned their benefit selection forms. All deadlines relating to the appeals process remain the same.
>
Outreach Events

The Road Home has served more than 4,100 applicants at its first nine events being held statewide to support homeowners facing deadlines, with many of the applicants able to move forward because of action taken there. There are two more public events scheduled, one in Plaquemines Parish and another in New Orleans.

For a full list of Outreach Events, visit https://www.road2la.org/homeowner/events.htm

Applicants with Questions

Homeowners with questions about their files or program deadlines have three options:

Attend a Road Home outreach session and meet with Road Home counselors who will review the file and explain what action needs to be taken;
Call the Road Home hotline at 1-888-762-3252 (TTY: 1-800-566-4224);
Call the Road Home representative that has been handling their case.

Sold Homes

When the original Road Home action plan was written and approved in 2006 it included a provision to pay grants for applicants who sold their homes at a loss prior to the launch of the Road Home, but only if the program had funds remaining after paying compensation and elevation grants.

Applicants must have owned and occupied the damaged property and used it as their primary residents at the time of Hurricane Katrina (August 29, 2005) or Hurricane Rita (September 24, 2005).

Applicants must have applied to the Road Home program before the application deadline of July 31, 2007, and must have attended their first appointment by December 15, 2007.

Single units, double units, town homes, mobile homes and condominiums are eligible. The residence must be located in one of the 37 presidentially declared disaster parishes, must have been registered for FEMA assistance and must meet one or more of the FEMA criteria listed in the Road Home program policies.

Applicants must have sold their homes before August 29, 2006, during these dates:

For Hurricane Katrina: The home must have been sold between August 30, 2005, and August 28, 2006, and the sale must have been recorded with the parish no later than September 29, 2006.
For Hurricane Rita: The home must have been sold between September 25, 2005, and August 28, 2006, and the sale must have been recorded with the parish no later than September 29, 2006.

###

Katrina victims memorial taking shape

2008-08-27T13:43:10-05:00

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Six mausoleums for the unclaimed dead of Hurricane Katrina stand on what was vacant land just five weeks ago, as New Orleans - in what could be a testament to its determination - scrambles to complete a memorial by Friday's third anniversary of the storm. Continue>>>

Bringing New Technologies to Lousiana

2008-08-25T23:57:58-05:00

From Governor Bobby Jindal:

Dear Friends,

I was very pleased to announce last week that EA Sports, the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company, will be creating a North American Test Center on LSU’s South Campus. As Sharon Knight, EA's senior vice president, said in the New Orleans Times Picayune reported, the center will be “the first of its kind for the company, which has never before partnered with a university on a job project,” and is a great example of the sort of technologically-driven jobs we must continue to bring to Louisiana.

The center will create 20 full time jobs and more than 200 part-time jobs for Louisianians. As the Baton Rouge Advocate reported, these are the “kind of jobs” that have “the potential for keeping young people excited about staying in Louisiana.” This announcement is a critical step in creating a digital media economy and is a great example of drawing on the strength of our universities. For example, as I said in the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, the University of Lafayette has “one of the most advanced 3-D imaging centers and its video game design degree program provides a well-trained work force for a company seeking to locate a manufacturing facility here.” We will continue to work to bring new companies to our state creating the sort of opportunities that will allow our children to realize their dreams right here in Louisiana.

Supporting our Teachers

Last week in Monroe I announced that Louisiana has received a two-year, $3.4 million grant from The Wallace Foundation to support educational leaders across the state. The Monroe News-Star reported that “The Wallace Foundation has funded administrative training in other states for several years because research has shown the difference that qualified leaders make in struggling districts.”

The Wallace Foundation grant will allow the Governor’s Office, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the Department of Education, the Board of Regents, and the University of Louisiana system to work hand in hand to continue using various educational leadership initiatives to ensure that Louisiana is moving forward in its ability to recruit, train, and retain qualified school principals. As I stated in the Baton Rouge Advocate, “we know that the key to strengthening our children’s education is to put a good teacher in every classroom…and ensuring that we have innovative educational leaders is critical to supporting the efforts of our dedicated teachers.”

The University of Louisiana-Monroe and LSU-Shreveport have already begun their Louisiana Leader Fellows Programs, which will certify specially selected teachers to become school administrators in high-need areas throughout the state within the year. We will continue to work with educational leaders throughout our state to increase opportunities for both our students and our teachers, as we strive to make Louisiana’s educational system a model for the rest of the nation. Visiting Communities StatewideLast week we traveled to Oak Grove, Jeanerette, Napoleonville, Pollock, and Jonesville to talk face to face about the progress we are making in our state. I take your thoughts and concerns very seriously, and we most assuredly take them into account when looking at ways to improve our state. This week I will be travelling to Jonesboro, Columbia, Wisner, and Rosepine, and I look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulating the Olympics

As the Olympics have come to a close in China, I want to acknowledge and congratulate all of Louisiana’s outstanding athletes that took part in the games. Representing our state and country in international competition is a great honor, and our men and women are certainly worthy of it. Twenty athletes and two coaches with Louisiana ties traveled to Beijing to compete in eight different sports, the largest contingent from Louisiana ever. Thirteen of the athletes currently live and work in Louisiana, while eleven were born in our great state. They did a great job of not only representing our country, but Louisiana as well, to the rest of the world.

Sincerely,

Governor Bobby Jindal

My Encounter with Segundo Pastor

2008-08-25T21:02:30-05:00

Keith Horcasitas (who is hosting the labyrinth walk for the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina) sent me this beautiful story about his love of the guitar and his encounter with Segundo Pastor. With several tropical systems in motion and the third anniversary of hurricane Katrina coming up on August 29, 2008, I thought it might be fitting to post something inspiring...

My Encounter with Segundo Pastor

With all the recent popularity of "Guitar Hero" and after reading the current Advocate article about Martin guitars, I was inspired to write about my love affair with that stringed instrument.

“A guitar is like a woman. She needs to be caressed;” this is a quote by Segundo Pastor. I had the blessing of meeting that famous Classical Guitarist in the late 1970's while attending Loyola University in New Orleans. One of my elective classes was "Classical Guitar," so we were given the opportunity to attend his recital. I had always hoped to see Andrés Torres Segovia, an even more well known Classical guitarist but never had had the opportunity.

In high school, my first motivation to learn how to play basic guitar was per the Beatles. Still, the first song that I learned to play was "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens with those "G," "C" and "D" chords When I was much later on able to consecutively play the quick changing chords to "Blackbird" from the Beatles White Album, I felt a lot more confident in my playing abilities.

Initially and most of the time, I could use a simple folk guitar pick to strum songs and never thought I could finger pick songs, a technique which would figure in greatly with my meeting of Segundo.

During my early college years, Scott, David and I soon got the chance to play our first gig at the Penny Post Coffee House, where an open microphone allowed for neophytes like us to play on off-busy days. After a few botched renditions of "All My Loving" and "If I Fell" by the Beatles, the Penny Post staff passed the hat, as was the custom - we fetched a total of $ 2.57! While it may have been "chomp change," it made us feel at least like quasi performers.

I can truly say that playing guitar helped me to grow as a person. Normally, I had been very timid and shrugged from any leadership opportunities as a child. At church, I got invited in my later high school days to join in the music ministry for Mass. This was a scary thing - getting up in front of everybody and being embarrassed about likely messing up. As time went on, I felt a greater sense of security and confidence in this and eventually became the leader in college for various church music functions.

It was special to be asked to play guitar at the graveside for my grandmother's funeral. I started with "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and ended with "Amazing Grace." Everyone shared that they'd been holding back on showing their emotions, but when the music started, all the tears began to flow for all of us.

So back to my Segundo story - after the Loyola recital that I attended one evening, attendees were invited to a wine and cheese reception. I waited in line and thought how I may convey to Segundo about my interests in guitar. It should be noted that Segundo did not speak any English, so he had an interpreter at his side to help with the meeting line folks like me.

Even with an Hispanic name like Horcasitas, I never learned Spanish fluently, so I got an idea. It happened that I used to always carry a spare guitar pick in my wallet. So as I approached Segundo and made eye to eye contact with the celebrated performer, I proudly held up my pick in my hand and gestured it to the interpreter in a strumming motion. Little was I prepared for the maestro's response.

Segundo's facial disposition abruptly changed from smiling to frowning, and he blurted out some loud Spanish words that I was unfamiliar with, as his arms went flying up as well to punctuate his feelings. After he calmed down and I tempered my embarrassment, the interpreter told me Segundo's translation: "Don't limit yourself to just one pick, use all of your fingers!"

It has been many years since that encounter with Segundo, and I have gladly followed his suggestion. I have been blessed by God to be able to write some my own songs and enjoy the acoustic guitar immensely with the plucking resonance of not using a pick. Recently, I was finally able to figure out the exact chords to "If" and "Aubrey" by David Gates of Bread - some real beauties that sound better with picking. And I was inspired recently to pen a song for Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta based on the Beatitudes (Matt 5: 1 - 12). Thanks, Segundo, for getting me straight back then!

Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, Prayer Care, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas@yahoo.com, June 29, 2008

Interfaith Prayer Walk and Reflection @ Labyrinth for 3rd Anniversary of Katrina: Th 8/28/08 7 P - 8 P

2008-08-25T20:16:06-05:00

Photo courtesy Michele Fry

On the Eve of and In Commemoration of the 3rd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Thursday, August 28, 2008, 7 PM - 8 PM

To be held at the LABYRINTH located behind the Baton Rouge Gallery at City Park

Coordinated by Prayer Care
Facilitated by the Baton Rouge Labyrinth Project (BRLP)

For more info: 225-715-3870, khorcasitas@yahoo.com

The general public is invited to this simple gathering in remembrance of all affected by Hurricane Katrina, and we will give thanks to God for all Blessings and ask for continued protection from storms. Participants will quietly pray and reflect as they walk on the beautiful Baton Rouge Labyrinth, which provides a common ground for all walks of faith. We want as many people who can benefit from this to be aware and possibly come to this. The Labyrinth can even accommodate individuals using wheelchairs. If desired, participants may make donations at the event for hurricane victims affected this season - this will given to the Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC); special thanks to Victor Howell, CEO, ARC, for his assistance with this endeavor. And special thanks to Maida Owens, Margaret Saizan, and Daria Woodside, BRLP Founders. - Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, Prayer Care

Coping and Caregiving with Displacement

As we are approaching the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, a vast assortment of emotions, thoughts and soul-wrenching feelings are being experienced by most of us. All of us have been
touched in one way or another by that devastating storm.

On a personal basis, both of my parents, who were displaced from New Orleans on the Saturday before Katrina and never made it back there, died in 2006; Mom on June 1 and Dad on October 20. As a professional social worker with an emphasis in gerontology (study of aging), I certainly was blessed to truly learn the reality of caregiving for loved ones during that time - something I'd long preached to my own patients and clients.

And I was able to experience, in a direct and dramatic way, coping with caregiving per my involvement with my parents' home care, hospice and nursing home placement for my dad, funeral arrangements
for them and after care. Thanks especially to the extended care and support of family, friends and especially the hospice staff, we have had someone to be there for us.

Howard, one of my best friends who is back in New Orleans now and was with Saul - his widowed father - is also a professional social worker who has been a great support to us. He's had a unique caregiving
diplacement experience with actually 4 storms.

After Katrina, when Howard and Saul's Metairie home was damaged, they were displaced for a while to Iowa, Louisiana - near Lake Charles. Not long after that in late September, they were displaced by Rita to Miami, Florida. Well, lo and behold, they were displaced again not much later in late October by Wilma to Pensacola for awhile, where his other family had been displaced the year before by Ivan!
Unfortunately, Mr. Saul died recently. As a humble Conservative Jewish Congregational member, Howard has simply noted Job's famous quote: "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; Blessed be the
Name of the Lord!" (Job 1: 20 - 21).

Following my father's death, I was able to work with people who have been displaced by Katrina and who are trying to make it back to New Orleans. Everyone's story is significant and needs to be told and
heard. Sometimes, the main thing that FEMA nor any recovery agency can provide that we all need is for someone to listen to us and for us to know that someone cares. While we try to do our best per the
limited, bureaucratic means that our programs may offer, may we always strive to "Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place If you can," as Diana Ross has noted.

We're all wounded and displaced in one way or another and need each other and God to help cope and find hope. For people of all walks of faith, please join me and others in an quiet interfaith prayer walk
and reflection on Thursday, August 28, 7 PM - 8 PM, on the eve of and in commemoration of the 3rd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, at the City Park Labyrinth, located next to the Baton Rouge Gallery.

Thanks
and God bless.

Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, khorcasitas@yahoo.com, August
15, 2008.

State Adds Outreach Session in New Orleans, Clarifies Road Home Deadlines

2008-08-22T10:46:29-05:00

BATON ROUGE, La. (August 22, 2008) - The state of Louisiana wants to help homeowners affected by deadlines in the Road Home program by adding an additional outreach session to assist these applicants on September 5, 2008, in New Orleans.

We are eager to work with homeowners who are struggling to meet the requirements of the program," said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. "In order to offer individual homeowners flexibility, we have to hear from them. We need homeowners to return their forms, to come to outreach events or to call the program and let us know what their needs are."

The state has committed to giving an extension to individual homeowners who cannot meet their deadline if they can show they are working toward a resolution. For example, a homeowner who needs more time to get signatures on a power of attorney document would be granted an extension. All requests for extensions will be reviewed and approved by state staff, not by ICF International employees. /p>

Many homeowners can take simple action to move forward in the program. More than 1,500 homeowners who must prove occupancy can do so with an electric or water bill from the month preceding the storm, which can be provided by the electric or water company, regardless of whether the homeowner owes the company money.

The state also needs homeowners who do not intend to move forward in the program to notify the state in writing so that the Road Home can move their files to inactive status.

>Clarifying deadlines

round 13,000 Road Home applicants are affected by critical program deadlines. These homeowners have been notified by letter of their deadline and which action they must take. Forms these applicants must return are included with the letters. The 2,364 applicants with active Road Home appeals are not affected by these deadlines.

September 5, 2008

Homeowners who have not returned their "Benefits Selection Forms," provided documents proving they occupied their homes, provided ownership or other documents must do so by September 5, 2008, or request an extension of the deadline from the state.

October 1, 2008

Homeowners who can schedule a closing but have not must schedule their closing by October 1, 2008. These closings must be complete by November 1, 2008. Homeowners who cannot close must explain why and request an extension by October 1, 2008.

Homeowners with title, power of attorney or other legal and financial issues must resolve these issues by October 1, 2008 or request an extension of this deadline from the state.

November 1, 2008

Around 900 homeowners affected by the October 1, 2008, deadline to schedule their closing must complete their closings by November 1, 2008. Applicants who cannot meet this deadline should request an extension from the state.

Additional New Orleans event

n addition to the August 26, 2008, event already scheduled in New Orleans, the state is adding a September 5, 2008, outreach event in the city. Both events will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the UNO Lindy Boggs Conference Center, located at 2045 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans .

The Road Home has served more than 2,800 applicants at its first seven events, with many of the applicants able to move forward because of action taken there. There are four events remaining across south Louisiana, including events in Lake Charles and Plaquemines Parish.

For a full list of Outreach Events, visithttps://www.road2la.org/homeowner/events.htm

Homeowners with questions

Homeowners with questions about the deadlines or who need an extension of the deadlines have four options:

Attend a Road Home outreach session and meet with Road Home counselors who will review the file and explain what action needs to be take;

Return the form included with the letter the Road Home mailed them and either provide the information requested or indicate why they cannot meet the deadline;

Call the Road Home hotline at 1-888-762-3252 (TTY: 1-800-566-4224);

Call the Road Home representative that has been handling their case.

New Report Issued: New Orleans Neighborhood Recovery Rates, Data on Unoccupied Residences

2008-08-21T23:36:09-05:00

The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center issued two short reports today:

1. They now have pre-Katrina data on households receiving mail so they can finally measure precisely how far neighborhoods have come since Katrina. From West End to West Lake Forest to the Lower Nine, several neighborhoods are still struggling to recover. But other neighborhoods like Broadmoor and Gert Town have astonishing recovery rates. The center hope this analysis helps the world to remember how much farther residents have to go before New Orleans is completely rebuilt.

2. Data on unoccupied residential addresses indicates that New Orleans may have fully 65,000 blighted residences or empty lots. All told 34 percent of our residential addresses are unoccupied. The next closest city in our analysis, Detroit, has only 18 percent. As we struggle to recovery, blight is likely to be one of the long-term challenges the city must face.

To see "Percent Recovery by Neighborhood (pre- and post-K)" and "National Benchmarks for Blight," go to:

https://www.gnocdc.org

Rising Tide III: A Conference on the Future of New Orleans

2008-08-21T15:31:38-05:00

August 22-24, 2008

After the flood that followed Hurricane Katrina’s landfall, the internet became a vital connection among dispersed New Orleanians, former New Orleanians, friends of the city and of the Gulf Coast region. A surge of new blogs erupted and, combined with those that were already online, a community of bloggers with a shared interest in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast developed. In the summer of 2006, after the success of the first Geek Dinner, and to mark the anniversary of the flood, the newly formed NOLA Bloggers organized the first Rising Tide Conference, taking their shared interest in technology, the internet and social media and turning advocacy for the city into action.

Chris Cooper and Robert Block, Wall Street Journal correspondents and authors of Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security, were keynote speakers at the first Rising Tide, which was held at the New Orleans Yacht Club on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. In year two Dave Zirin, syndicated columnist and author of Welcome to the Terrordome, keynoted as the event grew beyond expectations.

The three day conference consists of a Friday night cocktail reception, the Saturday sessions, which include lunch, and a Sunday public service component. This year’s Rising Tide is shaping up to be the best yet.

To register for the event and find out more information see the website.

2008-08-08T13:19:20-05:00

Photo Exhibit: Elemental/Environmental: SPACE

August 2 - September 20, 2008

Lake Pontchartrain (11/07)

Matthew White was selected to exhibit at the New Orleans Photo Alliance exhibition Elemental/Environmental: SPACE at the New Orleans Photo Alliance Gallery, 1111 St. Mary St. The exhibition will be on view from August 2, 2008 through September 20, 2008. The opening reception will be Saturday, August 2 from 6 - 9 p.m. Gallery hours are Fridays, 3 - 6 and Saturdays, 11 - 4 or by appointment.

This impressive national juried exhibition was curated by nature and environmental photojournalist Gary Braash. Braasch helped establish the International League of Conservation Photographers, and in 2006 the Sierra Club awarded him the the Ansel Adams Award for conservation photograph.

The exhibition may be viewed online via this link.

Katrina patient deaths case not over, AG says

2008-08-05T14:06:54-05:00

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell hinted Monday the murder investigation into patient deaths after Hurricane Katrina may not be over. Continue>>>

Tropical Storm Edouard Bulletin- Jamaica Beach, Tx Weather Observatory

2008-08-03T22:04:34-05:00

7:40 PM CDT Sunday, August 3, 2008

...TROPICAL STORM WATCH IN EFFECT ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST INCLUDING ALL OF THE HOUSTON/GALVESTON METROPOLITAN AREA. THIS MAY BE UPGRADED TO A HURRICANE WATCH OR HURRICANE WARNING LATER TONIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING...

...PERSONS ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST SHOULD PREPARE FOR A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM AND POSSIBLY A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE MAKING LANDFALL ON TUESDAY MORNING...

...DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE ARRIVING ON GALVESTON ISLAND AS EARLY AS MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH WIND GUSTS TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE IN SQUALLS...

...JAMAICA BEACH CITY OFFICIALS WILL BE HOLDING A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY MORNING...

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH is in effect along the upper Texas coast from Port O'Connor, TX eastward to west of Intracoastal City, LA. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING is in effect from Intracoastal City eastward to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Along the mid and upper Texas coast...the Tropical Storm Watch includes: Victoria, Calhoun, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson and Orange Counties. This includes all of Matagorda Bay, Galveston Bay and Sabine Lake and the Houston/Galveston and Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange Metropolitan areas.

All or portions of this area may be upgraded to a HURRICANE WATCH or HURRICANE WARNING later tonight or Monday morning according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Jamaica Beach Mayor Victor Pierson has advised the Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory that Jamaica Beach city officials will be holding a special meeting on Monday morning and will be making appropriate decisions concerning evacuation. Please listen for the latest news information in case an evacuation is either recommended or ordered.

The Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory is getting numerous inquiries as to what to expect from Edouard. I am recommending the following advice to Galveston Island residents including the city of Jamaica Beach:

WINDS: You should expect the landfall of a severe tropical storm and possibly a Category One hurricane along the upper Texas coast on Tuesday morning between 6:00 AM and Noon CDT. Rremember, this is the expected arrival time of the CENTER (EYE). Actual weather conditions will begin deteriorating on Galveston Island as early as Monday afternoon with wind gusts in squalls of 30 to 50 mph between 6:00 pm and Midnight on Monday Night...increasing to gusts of 40 to 60 mph between Midnight and 6:00 AM on Tuesday morning...and gusts of 60 to 90 mph between 6:00 AM and Noon on Tuesday morning. These wind gust estimates are based on the current official track of the National Hurricane Center which shows a direct hit on Jamaica Beach and Galveston Island. These wind gust estimates are subject to change on future JBWO updates.

TIDES (STORM SURGE): I've been hearing a lot of misinformation and rumors going around about how high the tides may get. I can tell you that because this storm will be making landfall within 48 hours, it will NOT have time to build up an exceptionally high storm surge. Therefore, I would disregard any information you might be hearing about "tides 6 feet above normal". Instead, I would expect tides to be more on the order of about 3 to 4 feet above normal near and just to the right of the point of landfall. This means an actual tide gauge reading of 4 to 5 feet above Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). This will cause some minor flooding of the lowest roadways in the city of Jamaica Beach and elsewhere on west Galveston Island. It will also cause tidewater to overtop many bulkheads, piers and low-lying yards on the bay side of the island and beach/dune overwash from high surf on the Gulf side of the island.

STORM PREPARATIONS: Normally, you would wait for the Tropical Storm Watch to be upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning prior to making storm preparations. However, as mentioned above, there will be less than 24 hours from now before the onset of deteriorating weather conditions. Therefore, it is imperative that all preparations for this tropical storm/hurricane begin in earnest now and be rushed to completion no later than 9:00 pm CDT Monday evening.

POTENTIAL INTENSITY: As I stated previously, I would prepare for a severe tropical storm and possibly a Category One hurricane. However, there is even the possibility of further intensification into a low end Category Two hurricane if Edouard undergoes a period of rapid strengthening prior to landfall. You should be prepared for this possibility.

The Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory will continue to monitor the latest information and pass it along to you as necessary. Further details will also be included in tomorrow morning's JBWO Daily E-Mail Weather Alert & Forecast Blog.

Source: Jim O'Donnel Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory email Us

Deputy tells of the moments following gator attack

2008-08-01T12:50:55-05:00

On Thursday morning, while St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Detective Ben Godwin was preparing for a follow-up visit to his doctor before returning to duty, he explained why he needed medical clearance and what had happened the prior afternoon in Slidell. Continue>>>

La. residents near levee lose fight to keep trees

2008-08-01T12:46:07-05:00

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Carol Byram sees paradise every time she gazes at the dogwood, hackberry and cherry laurel trees in the backyard of her New Orleans home. The federal government sees the seeds of another disaster for a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Continue>>>

Laughs with Leno: NOLA Oil Spill

2008-08-01T12:11:15-05:00

Jay Leno: “And the Coast Guard closed over 100 miles of the Mississippi River after an oil spill of over 400,000 gallons of oil. The Federal government leaped into action…within 30 minutes of the spill. … How does this make the people of New Orleans feel, huh? They get wiped out by Hurricane Katrina, it takes FEMA, what, six days to show up? A barrel of oil spills, the White House goes, ‘No!’ And they’re down there.”

Source: Agweb.com

Groups seek limits on Mississippi, Gulf pollution

2008-08-01T01:06:30-05:00

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Environmental groups in nine states have petitioned the federal government to set and enforce pollution standards in the Mississippi River basin and the Gulf of Mexico. The petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency followed Monday's announcement that the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the second largest to date at 8,000 square miles. Continue>>>

The Sixth Annual Grand Isle Juried Exhibition/April 12 - 20, 2008

2008-04-10T22:25:11-05:00

Lake Pontchartrain, 11/07 --copyright Matthew White

Matthew White was selected to show some of his photography in the 6th Annual Grand Isle , La. Juried Exhibition. The exhibition theme, “Water Consciousness” will spotlight works relating the natural beauty and potential loss of the island and the surrounding wetlands. The goal of the Exhibition is to raise awareness of Louisiana’s coastal erosion through an artist’s eye and to encourage the creation and preservation of images of this culture and its disappearing habitat for future generations. Works selected will be on exhibit at the Grand Isle Community Center, Hwy. 1, Grand Isle, Louisiana April 12 - 20. A reception and awards presentation will be held on April 20 2008.

Click here to view images.

Call for Speakers/Ideas: Katrina Event in Houston, Texas

2008-02-18T13:32:24-06:00

I am working on a Katrina/Rita related program or event for a Foreign Media Tour of Houston, Texas ---March 5-7. The theme is how Americans view health care, the economy, and immigration in an election year. Since Houston is a major gulf coast city that has also been impacted by the hurricanes of 2005, there may be room in the schedule for a Katrina/Rita related program. If you are a Katrina survivor who has relocated to Houston, or an individual or group working on behalf of Hurricane Katrina recovery issues, I would like to speak with you regarding ideas for this event. This is a great opportunity to support the cause - i.e. to brief the foreign media and help them better understand issues and challenges related to ongoing gulf coast hurricane issues as well as recovery and rebuilding efforts post-Katrina. If you have an interesting idea or contribution to make towards this endeavor, please contact me at beyondkatrina@gmail.com.

Margaret Saizan
Beyond Katrina: The Voice of Hurricane & Disaster Recovery
www.hurricane-katrina.org.

help foreign political reporters better understand the role of local and state governments, parties, and lobbying organizations in U.S. elections. To deepen the reporters’ understanding of the 2008 contest, the tour will also focus on key issues that both parties and all candidates are debating: the economy, immigration, and health care.

Images from New Orleans Mardi Gras

2008-02-08T02:26:40-06:00

City of New Orleans from Algiers Ferry - © 2008 Matthew White

The above photograph of the New Orleans skyline was taken by photographer Matthew White on the morning of Fat Tuesday as he made his approach into New Orleans to take Mardi Gras pix. He said the crowds were lighter this year, and some have chalked that up to the fact that the city's most famous celebration fell so early this year. I had a very emotional reaction to this particular image - the metaphor is obvious I think. As it is said every picture is worth a thousand words. For more of Matthew's images of Mardi Gras 2008 check out his image gallery.

Governor Blanco's Final Column

2008-01-10T14:18:00-06:00

It has been one incredible ride - and the honor of a lifetime - to serve as your governor during this most challenging of times.

Eleanor Roosevelt said "A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." In my case, it just happened to be the greatest natural disaster in American history.

When you face the unprecedented, you give it your all. You don't worry about headlines. You trust history to bring perspective to an incomparable situation. And you keep working.

That's what I've done, and I leave office proud to hand over a strong fiscal environment with sound accomplishments that will lead Louisiana well into the future.

Until now, public education has never been the priority in Louisiana, but we have truly put education first. From expanding Pre-K to funding teacher pay at the Southern Regional Average to fully funding our colleges or universities and investing in new technology, our reforms and efforts will revolutionize public education and end the culture of poverty that for too long has held us back.

We are making progress in economic development as well, having helped more Louisiana companies expand during my term than any in our history. And we've taken that effort on the road, aggressively promoting ourselves around the world in new ways to bring home new jobs. After four years, our work has yielded more than 41,000 new jobs and billions upon billions in new investments.

One example of this effort is an imminent announcement on the Guide Plant in Northeast Louisiana. Since the fall of 2006 - when we learned we may lose Guide - I have been personally working with a major investor I met while traveling to recruit businesses. This deal is now in its final stages, and promises to provide some 800 good paying jobs for our workers.

Our reforms expand way beyond education and economic development. We passed the largest single increased investment in Louisiana's history to road and infrastructure improvements. More than $1.3 billion dollars hits the highways this year. Another $256 million will go to building priorities in hurricane protection and ports. You are going to see construction like never before.

We enacted new building codes to increase safety. We reformed the juvenile justice system to a national model, and passed the most stringent ethics reforms this state has seen. We dramatically expanded access to health care for Louisiana's children.

We reformed the way we act on hurricane protection and coastal restoration. We have enacted a long-term state coastal plan - and are driving the long-term regional solutions. We're actively managing our own destiny as an energy-producing state, rather than just watching our coastline disappear.

We've done all of this, and we've done it while overcoming the largest natural disaster in American history.

This state committed at least $5 billion to the recovery. And, after nine trips to Washington, I've finally checked off the last big thing on my To Do list, having secured the final Road Home help we need. More than 90,000 families now have their award checks in hand. The momentum is underway, and some 150,000 families are expected to receive grants by June.

I've often questioned why those storms had to happen to our people and under my watch. But I will always be so honored and humbled to have served during these most trying of times. We have laid the long-term groundwork that will carry us forward over the next ten to fifteen years. And we're finally seeing the very visible progress in the neighborhoods of coastal Louisiana that our people so desperately need.

Ten years from now, Louisiana will be a different place. We will reach new heights in competitiveness, productivity, good paying jobs and opportunities for our children to succeed. Thank you again for the opportunity to do this work on your behalf.

###

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org 1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521)

BRING NATURE BACK

2008-01-10T11:58:20-06:00

Plant a Tree on Arbor Day and Help Restore Wetland Forests at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center was named one of the top five urban nature centers in the United States. The Nature Center suffered considerable damage from Hurricane Katrina which devastated its interpretive center, exhibits and the 86 acres of bottomland hardwoods and bald cypress-tupelo swamp. The swamps were inundated with muddy saltwater for nearly a month and an estimated 75 percent of the forest was destroyed. The Nature Center has not reopened to the public since August 2005 and the resident and migrant wildlife that flourished in this area have not returned in large numbers.

Please volunteer on January 19th to help BRING NATURE BACK.

When: Louisiana Arbor Day - Saturday, January 19th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Where: Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, 5600 Read Boulevard, New Orleans East

Who: The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Audubon Nature Institute, Entergy Corporation and Restore America's Estuaries invites all interested volunteers to participate in a community based habitat restoration project at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center in New Orleans East.

What: Volunteers will assist the Coalition and other partners to plant over 1,000 trees in five acres to begin restoration of this devastated forest.

REGISTER NOW Email Natalie Snider at nsnider@crcl.org or call (888) LACOAST Please respond by Friday, January 18, 2008

No Home for the Holidays

2007-12-16T09:38:07-06:00

by Paul A. Greenberg

One of the after-effects of the Katrina experience for many of us who live in New Orleans is that we stay home a lot more than ever before. Home. Home became so critically important to us after the storm. Home was the only thing we had to hold on to while we were hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles away. Home became our recurring dream. Songs about home evoked that curious lump in our throats that we could not quite explain. Home took on some kind of deep meaning that we never knew before.

Last night, as I double-locked the front door to the home I purchased just months after the storm, I suddenly thought how fortunate I am to even have my own front door. I have always been one of the lucky few who emerged from Katrina relatively unscathed. My employers paid me throughout the time I was exiled from home. I came back to find my apartment in good shape, my friends returning one by one, and my life intact. I never take my good fortune for granted.

So, I cannot help but wonder about those who are still struggling with home issues more than two full years after the coming of the giant wave that sought to annihilate us. Their collective plight is front page news right now. Here are some recent headlines:

FEMA Trailers Will Undergo Testing for Formaldehyde

As if it were not bad enough that 28 months after the hurricane we still reportedly have 46,000 individuals or families living in trailers throughout the Gulf Coast, now we are told it is possible that formaldehyde, a colorless, odorless gas, may be causing respiratory problems in trailer residents. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency considers formaldehyde a "probable human carcinogen" that can lead to various cancers.

I liken this problem to what first responders are currently dealing with in New York. Those who spent time at Ground Zero in the days and weeks that followed the World Trade Center bombings are now reporting severe respiratory ailments in inordinately high numbers. Will we see similar results along the Gulf Coast because of the slow moving bureaucracy that failed to support an entire quadrant of the U.S. after the largest natural disaster in U.S. history? Will Katrina's wrath be more layered, potentially lethal and slowly revealed than we first imagined?

FEMA reports it will start testing formaldehyde levels in trailers next week, one by one. The potential formaldehyde crisis was first reported 18 months ago. Why did the government wait this long? You have not read about this in your local paper outside of this area. And the nightly news does not say much anymore about FEMA trailers in Katrina-devastated areas. But the truth is that almost 4,000 individuals or families have requested FEMA's assistance in moving out of the trailers and into alternate housing, because of their fear of the effects of formaldehyde. It is not happening. Most of them are still in their trailers. Breathing.

The U.S. government's inexcusable tardiness in confronting this problem, and FEMA's announcement of testing, comes at a most ironic moment. On December 14, 2007, FEMA announced its intention to close down all of its trailer parks in Louisiana, within six months. I am doing my level best not to envision thousands of FEMA trailer residents - some with newly minted breathing problems - without homes. It is currently estimated there are 12,000 homeless people living in New Orleans. That's roughly twice the number of homeless in the city before Katrina. Just for perspective, consider also that these 12,000 citizens are among a much smaller local population than 28 months ago. Add to these 12,000 who knows how many more displaced FEMA trailer residents, and the crisis deepens.

It is a nightmare. It needs to become a national priority. It needs to become a campaign issue.

More headlines:

Duncan Plaza Residents Given Deadline to Move Out

Have you heard of Duncan Plaza? If you do not live in New Orleans, chances are you have not. Duncan Plaza is an open area downtown, surrounded by office buildings, one that used to house the Louisiana State Supreme Court. Since Hurricane Katrina, Duncan Plaza has become "home" to hundreds of homeless people who live alternately in tents and other makeshift shelters. The media seems intent on using the number 150 to quantify the homeless population in Duncan Plaza, but I disagree. I drive by Duncan Plaza every day on my way to work, and if that is 150 people I am looking at, then my third grade math teacher did not do her job. I see hundreds of people, and more importantly, I see a community of disenfranchised citizens who are suddenly an inconvenience to a city that has decided to demolish a nine-story former state office building that borders the plaza. The city announced last week that all of the homeless in Duncan Plaza have to leave.

I see Duncan Plaza as the embodiment of all that is wrong with the post-Katrina Gulf Coast. How does a city of this size and renown justify having hundreds of its citizens living in open air, with no facilities and no hope? Further, how does the city justify simply "removing" people from the small plot of land they have come to think of as their (hopefully) temporary home, with no plan to assist them? This is not a third world country. The citizens who live in Duncan Plaza are not useless, drug-addled degenerates. In fact, some of them actually get up every morning and go to work. They simply have not been able to reestablish themselves to the point of home ownership or rental yet. They are not cattle. They are human beings. What gives the city the right to simply uproot them and tell them to go away?

Further, where should they go? The city currently has about 200 shelter-based beds available for the homeless. So, in percentages, the city can accommodate about two percent of its homeless. Can you think of something more shameful and inhumane? I cannot.

I thought about the Duncan Plaza homeless last night as I left my home to walk my dog. The air was cold and very damp. I did not really want to even walk down the block and breathe it in. What about those who spend every night exposed to the elements? No bathrooms, no showers, no clean clothes, no heat. It is unfathomable. And it is ridiculous.

More headlines:

Protesters Stall Housing Demolition Progress

Everyone knew it was coming, but when the long-planned demolition began of 14 brick buildings at the B.W. Cooper public housing development - work that had been scheduled since long before Katrina - dozens of protesters marched on the site, claiming the demolition smacked of racism and classism. Maybe it does. After all, the racial divide in New Orleans, long a dirty little secret known predominantly only among locals, is probably worse now than it has ever been. All those people still banished to places like Tennessee, Utah and Peoria are mostly black. We all know that. And we all know why. They were the ones without the resources to rebuild, return or restore their local lives. And, of course, we all know that many of them lived in places like B.W. Cooper. So, did the giant wave make it convenient for New Orleans to rid itself of the poor? Maybe it did.

Here is the carefully-crafted statement issued on December 12, 2007, by the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO):

"The units that are being demolished at B.W. Cooper, which is a resident-managed site, are a part of the demolition of 14 buildings that were scheduled to be eliminated before Hurricane Katrina. HANO approved the demolition in July 2005 to de-densify this site. Both the residents and management of B.W. Cooper were included in this process. HANO approved the notice to proceed during its public meeting on August 29, 2007. The removal of these units was previously approved as part of our commitment to creating quality housing and safer communities for our residents."

Mayor Ray Nagin, speaking to a television reporter, said he found it odd that most of those who marched on B.W. Cooper were not residents of the development, and many were from out of town. How did he know that, and why does it matter? Even if they are activists from other cities, they are here to lobby the city on behalf of the residents whose homes are about to be torn down. I would point out to Mr. Nagin that most of the people who marched in Montgomery, AL in 1965 with Dr. Martin Luther King were not residents of Montgomery, either.

Nagin was not present at the demonstration. Nor was he present the next day when about 150 people peacefully protested at the entrance of a downtown Federal courthouse, under the banner of an apparently recently-formed group called Coalition to Protect Public Housing. The group also marched to City Hall, and to HUD headquarters. Eventually, four demonstrators were jailed after chaining themselves to the HUD headquarters. Civil disobedience, it is called. The object of their ire is much bigger than Cooper. C.J. Peete and St. Bernard developments were also slated to be razed this month. Demolition of a fourth public housing complex, Lafitte, near Treme, still needs approval from the City Council, but the conventional wisdom here is that approval is imminent.

By Friday, December 14, plans for the destruction of everything except B.W. Cooper were on indefinite hold, according to HANO. Now, the three remaining developments will only be demolished with the direct approval of the New Orleans City Council.

What does it mean? I believe it means that the American right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is alive and well, and that at least one Civil District Court Judge, Herbert Cade, sees the value of taking a more prudent, measured approach to the destruction of citizens' homes. However, it may just be a momentary stumbling block for those intent on demolition of public housing. Considering the complexion of the current City Council, demolitions may be fast tracked as early as next week. Just in time for the holidays.

And nothing says "Noel" quite like bulldozers and front-end loaders, right?

If demolition happens, what will replace these thousands of housing units? "Mixed-income" housing, we are told. This was already instituted on the site of the former St. Thomas development, just minutes from downtown New Orleans. The results have been mixed. After all, as mentioned earlier, the venerable racial divide is intact. Mixed income housing is the grand concept that envisions various races, ethnic groups and socio-economic population segments peacefully co-existing. Looking at the housing that today sits on the St. Thomas site, one is somehow reminded of Wysteria Lane. Still, those of us who have lived and breathed the racial tension in this town for decades have to wonder if the ghetto now just has a prettier facade.

Color me skeptical.

America needs to know about all of this -- the gas in the trailers, the eviction of homeless people, the deliberate demolition of public housing buildings that are structurally sound. All citizens need to know that government agencies founded to protect them, do not do so. Otherwise, it would not have taken 18 months for FEMA to begin testing for formaldehyde in its trailers.

And above all, America needs to know that here in the Southeast, we think of Katrina in present tense. Katrina is still happening. Maybe more than ever.

Hurricane Homeowner Aid Deadline Nears

2007-12-03T04:29:02-06:00

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Nearly 12,000 applicants for homeowner aid through a hurricane recovery program have not signed up for appointments to calculate their grants — or determine their eligibility — as a weekend deadline looms.Homeowners who do not schedule a first appointment with Road Home officials by Saturday lose any chance for rebuilding or buyout money, and those who do not show up for an appointment with a housing adviser by Dec. 15 also won't be eligible for aid. Continue here.

Hotel mogul threatens lawsuit over hurricane expert's gloomy forecasts

2007-12-03T04:25:10-06:00

Uh oh. The Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2007 has ended and you would think the milder season would be cause to rejoice. Yet one hotel owner in Florida is threatening to sue forecaster William Grey "for his gloomy storm prediction" that he claims "have damaged state tourism". A litigious society we surely have become. Read it and weep here.