Unmatched Destruction
February 13th, 2007Here is a great editorial from the New York Times. Lets do something about it! Carla http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/opinion/13tue2.html?th&emc=th
Katrina CorpsFebruary 1st, 2007Katrina Corps is a grassroots effort to accelerate the return of Katrina-affected families to their homes. Its initial goal is to send 25,000 college students to New Orleans over spring break as house-gutting volunteers. The prospectus (PDF) explains:
Petition for continuing supportJanuary 31st, 2007Dear Friend, In the year and a half since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, hundreds of thousands of families have been struggling to rebuild their lives. After months of delays, thousands are just now starting to receive rebuilding help; thousands more are still waiting. Now, with so many homes still in ruin, FEMA is taking steps to end its housing assistance program. It’s shocking, but if FEMA goes through with this plan, over 100,000 families will lose the ONLY home they have right now. The survivors of Katrina and Rita deserve better than this. It is going to take many more months of hard work to bring back the Gulf Coast. It’s not fair to turn these families out when they have no home to return to-especially when their predicament is largely the result of bureaucratic delays. And it is not necessary-the 18-month deadline on assistance has been extended before for much smaller disasters. Families need timely assurance that they will have a roof over their heads in order for them to focus on the rebuilding that is necessary. They need a place to live while they repair their homes, work at their jobs, re-establish their children’s schools, and find doctors to care for their families. Don’t let FEMA take away the stability these families need to continue rebuilding their lives. Please act today and sign our petition-convince FEMA to extend the program. HURRICANE ON THE BAYOUJanuary 30th, 2007Have you seen it? It is an Imax movie at the Pacific Science Center. Made with 4 New Orleans/Cajun musicians, it stresses the loss of wetlands and the catastrophe imminent in the future due to the loss of wetlands. The most amazing thing about it is that shooting the film was started before Katrina by a Louisiana filmmaker intent on showing both the natural beauty of the area and describing a possible future disaster. Then Katrina struck - and he kept filming but changed much of what he had planned. The film includes impacts on people, culture, economy - but keeps the focus on the environment and the need for restoration of natural protection. Website is http://www.hurricaneonthebayou.com/ Note-this is a limited engagementState Farm Finally pays claimsJanuary 24th, 2007I have attached a link below for an article in today’s New York Times that details how State Farm Insurance is finally paying some of the insurance money owed to Katrina folks in Mississippi! Of course it is over 1 1/2 years since the storm…. Carla http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/business/24insure.html?th&emc=th Note from volunteer Brad SnowJanuary 23rd, 2007Hello All, I arrived in Bay Saint Louis by road Saturday afternoon, drove around a bit to get the lay of the land, was shocked by the destruction still evident, as well as the stark contrast of the few brand new commercial buildings and homes, and checked the Sister City Support website for contact information (free wifi hotspots are alive and well in BSL!). My first stop was at the Camp Coastal Outpost where I found the receptionist to be Marj Iuro’s daughter from Port Townsend. The layout there was attractive, but I was told they usually only take groups, not individuals. I left my name and number with them anyway in case they found anything for me to do, and went looking for other opportunities. Both the Lagniappe and St. Rose de Lima Churches seemed quiet, so I moved on to the First Presbyterian Church where I met first Bridget, the office person, and then Steve, the volunteer labor coordinator. Steve suggested that he had plenty of work for me, the crew and setup seemed very pleasant, and the cost, $40/wk for meals, bath & a place to park my van, quite reasonable. I signed up. Tomorrow I get my first work assignment and learn why I’m really here. Brad Snow January 18th, 2007Dear Sister City friends, I recieved this email from our friends at St. Rose deLima in Bay Saint Louis. They are doing wonderful work repairing homes in Hancock County. Please spread the word about this opportunity. Thanks! Dear St. Rose supporters, St. Rose is in need of your help to SPREAD THE WORD!! St. Rose was recently award 4 fulltime Americorps positions to last 10-12 months, all of which offer a $12,000 stipend, health benefits, free room & board and a $4750 education award upon completion. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to flesh out our long term staff — Unfortunately we are working on a very tight deadline and need to fill these positions by Feb. 15, to start short thereafter, and have very limited time to advertise and spread the word. We would love it if you could help spread the word and tell anyone who you might feel is qualified – At the moment we are looking to fill a few different of roles, although our immediate need is for skilled construction managers. In addition to the construction manager, other possible roles include:
For further details or to apply please Email St. Rose at stroseoutreach@gmail.com. All candidates should senda resume and two references with your Email; Thanks!! Jennifer Feltner Developers plan Old Town CasinoJanuary 15th, 2007Bay St. Louis developer Hester Plauché and Marrero, La.-based contractor Pete Vicari plan to go before the Bay City Council Tuesday night to unveil plans for an ambitious $100 million “boutique” casino, hotel, restaurant and retail project they say will reinvigorate the hurricane-ravaged Old Town area, restore its long-lost historic charm and – most importantly – bring back the downtown merchants deprived of their livelihoods by Katrina. “You won’t see the glitz and glamour, no neon,” Plauché said Thursday. “You will see the original architecture of Old Town.” Designer Al Fiori’s concept for the Old Town Casino, shops and renovated A&G Theater in downtown Bay St. Louis at Main St. and Beach Blvd. The project, planned by local developer Hester Plauché and Marrero contractor Pete Vicari, is scheduled to go before the Bay St. Louis City Council on Tuesday evening. Read the rest of this entry »BSL photosJanuary 15th, 2007Hi to all who are to be part of the delegation going to Bay St Louis this next February. I thought you might like to get a picture of your accommodations at the First Presbyterian Church on Ulman Ave….. I found these on the web from someone who’d been there and posted pictures. You might have to paste the links into your browser to open the pictures. http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2811c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2803c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2806c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2804c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2805c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2807c.jpg http://donchesnut.com/katrinaalabama/katrina3/images/DSCN2808c.jpg BSL travel contact informationJanuary 15th, 2007GOING TO BAY St. LOUIS to volunteer??CONTACT INFORMATION:PLACES TO STAY:Camp Coastal Outpost 16256 Hiway 603 Kiln, MS 39556Phone: 228-586-1579 Office/Fax Accommodations include: 27 12-bed bunkhouses that are air conditioned/heated with shower and bathroomfacilities in each one. $15 per day pays for 3 meals per day and workassignments that match the volunteer’s abilities. Free onsite training workshops in basic carpentry and construction skills for volunteer teams staying at the camp. This facility is about 10-15 driving time from central Bay St Louis, so transportation is required for general mobility. Lagniappe Church 647 Demontluzin Street Bay St Louis, MS 39520www.lagnaippechurch.com Cammie Chapman, Scheduling Coordinator 228-493-8747
cchapman@lpcpca.com This is a particularly helpful number in that it sends your fax to us electonically and available on the internet as a .pdf file. This would be our preferred way to receive a fax, but let us know you’ve sent it since nothing will ‘beep’ at us in the office! First Presbyterian Church114 Ulman Ave. There are a number of classrooms converted to bunk rooms (A/C), 6 large tents with at least 12 bunks per tent. No linens are provided. Cost is $30.00 for food for a week and no charge for sleeping. Plenty of hot water for showers (4 men and 4 women) and three showers without designation. Participants do the cooking; sometimes one group volunteers to do all (evening) meals. It is up the participants. Many groups go down without taking money with them to pay for materials. However, if you can, it certainly helps the church. There is a large collection of tools and a fair amount of material. St. Rose de Lima Church301 South Necaise Ave. Beau Saccoccia: site director for St. Rose Outreach and Recovery St. Rose de Lima Housing is at: St. Augustine Seminary, 510 N. 2nd St Bay St Louis, MS, 39520 Cost is $10 per person per day. Most rooms have 4 or 6 bunks, and all rooms have private showers with hot water and bathrooms. As linens are not provided, you should plan on bringing a sleeping bag or other linens and towel. Some cots are also available. We strongly recommend that you do not bring any valuables. Although the rooms have door locks, we will have cleaning crews coming through each day. Volunteers should be aware that they are staying in public space, may be sharing rooms with other groups and will not have the kind of privacy afforded by a hotel room. The kitchen at the Retreat Center is open for breakfast and dinner Sunday – Friday. Breakfast is from 7:30AM – 8:00AM and dinner is from 6:00PM – 6:30PM. Volunteers must prepare their lunches “to-go” before leaving breakfast. On Saturday the kitchen will be open for breakfast only; sandwich materials will be available to prepare to-go lunches and dinners. |
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