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| NewOrleans.com | 839 St. Charles Ave., Ste. 307 | New Orleans | LA | 70130 |
Thursday, November 11, 2010
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
Fishing Pier - Lemonade from Lemons
In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the I10 Twin Spans that connect the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain with the southshore. The new, higher twin spans are almost complete and parts of the old bridge are going to be used as a fishing pier. Here's the story from NOLA dot com:
The first phase of the planned fishing pier project at the north end of the Interstate 10 twin spans over Lake Pontchartrain could be open by the end of next year, assuming all of the financial and environmental pieces fall into place as expected.
St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis said Tuesday that he is waiting for the federal government to release the $1 million that it has set aside for the project. He said he believes that expanded access to the lake is important for the parish's economic health -- spurring small business development with regard to fisheries -- and that the pier will provide increased recreational opportunities that will lead to a better quality of life for citizens.
The first phase of the project includes building a 700-foot pedestrian bridge from a jetty that juts into Lake Pontchartrain southeast of Slidell near Lakeshore Estates, then under the new twin spans and finally connecting to the old twin spans that will become the fishing pier, said Suzanne Parsons Stymiest, the parish's spokeswoman.
Davis is pushing to open both the bridge and the eastern span to fishing in 2011, with the western span taking a bit longer to complete, she said.
The Parish Council approved three ordinances last week to keep the project moving forward, including one that allows Davis to enter into a lease with the state for the lake bottom where the parish will need to build the pedestrian bridge. The second ordinance will allow him to enter into an agreement with the state Department of Transportation and Development to use a part of its right-of-way for the project.
The third ordinance will let Davis acquire a parcel near the lake's edge to build a parking lot and other amenities, such as restrooms, for the pier's patrons, Stymiest said. Though the parcel has not been identified, she said it likely will be located east of the new twin spans, near the jetty and the entrance to the pedestrian bridge, she said.
The parish is choosing to build the pedestrian bridge to the east of the new twin spans, and not to the west, closer to the pier, in part because the east side has a better access road to the site -- East Howze Beach Road -- and that doesn't go through a residential neighborhood.
On the west side of the twin spans, the road is narrow and runs through well-populated neighborhoods, Stymiest said. Further, the pedestrian bridge would have to be 900 feet long, or 200 feet longer than if coming from the eastern side of the twin spans.
The parish spent $19,300 to acquire 2,340 linear feet of the eastbound lanes closest to the north shore and 2,275 linear feet of the westbound lanes to use as the pier, Stymiest said. The cost is what the DOTD believes is the salvage value of the concrete, as federal regulations prohibit the state from donating anything with value.
Work already has begun to demolish the twin spans, which were damaged during Hurricane Katrina, now that the new $803 million spans are nearly complete. Boh Bros. Construction Co. remains on schedule to finish the work on the new bridges, which are a few hundred feet to the east of the old spans, by mid-to-late 2011, Lauren Lee, a DOTD spokeswoman, said.
At one point, the parish planned to create the pier using about 2,500 feet of the westbound lanes and perhaps 1,000 feet of the eastbound lanes -- the difference having to do with issues pertaining to the new twin spans. The final design has not yet been determined and may well change, Stymiest said.
Officials still hope to build a crossover to connect the two sides, and people might have to pay a $5 fee to use the pier to help fund the cost of running water to the pier, building and maintaining restrooms, and providing garbage cans. People would not be allowed to drive vehicles onto the pier.
The first phase of the planned fishing pier project at the north end of the Interstate 10 twin spans over Lake Pontchartrain could be open by the end of next year, assuming all of the financial and environmental pieces fall into place as expected.
St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis said Tuesday that he is waiting for the federal government to release the $1 million that it has set aside for the project. He said he believes that expanded access to the lake is important for the parish's economic health -- spurring small business development with regard to fisheries -- and that the pier will provide increased recreational opportunities that will lead to a better quality of life for citizens.
The first phase of the project includes building a 700-foot pedestrian bridge from a jetty that juts into Lake Pontchartrain southeast of Slidell near Lakeshore Estates, then under the new twin spans and finally connecting to the old twin spans that will become the fishing pier, said Suzanne Parsons Stymiest, the parish's spokeswoman.
Davis is pushing to open both the bridge and the eastern span to fishing in 2011, with the western span taking a bit longer to complete, she said.
The Parish Council approved three ordinances last week to keep the project moving forward, including one that allows Davis to enter into a lease with the state for the lake bottom where the parish will need to build the pedestrian bridge. The second ordinance will allow him to enter into an agreement with the state Department of Transportation and Development to use a part of its right-of-way for the project.
The third ordinance will let Davis acquire a parcel near the lake's edge to build a parking lot and other amenities, such as restrooms, for the pier's patrons, Stymiest said. Though the parcel has not been identified, she said it likely will be located east of the new twin spans, near the jetty and the entrance to the pedestrian bridge, she said.
The parish is choosing to build the pedestrian bridge to the east of the new twin spans, and not to the west, closer to the pier, in part because the east side has a better access road to the site -- East Howze Beach Road -- and that doesn't go through a residential neighborhood.
On the west side of the twin spans, the road is narrow and runs through well-populated neighborhoods, Stymiest said. Further, the pedestrian bridge would have to be 900 feet long, or 200 feet longer than if coming from the eastern side of the twin spans.
The parish spent $19,300 to acquire 2,340 linear feet of the eastbound lanes closest to the north shore and 2,275 linear feet of the westbound lanes to use as the pier, Stymiest said. The cost is what the DOTD believes is the salvage value of the concrete, as federal regulations prohibit the state from donating anything with value.
Work already has begun to demolish the twin spans, which were damaged during Hurricane Katrina, now that the new $803 million spans are nearly complete. Boh Bros. Construction Co. remains on schedule to finish the work on the new bridges, which are a few hundred feet to the east of the old spans, by mid-to-late 2011, Lauren Lee, a DOTD spokeswoman, said.
At one point, the parish planned to create the pier using about 2,500 feet of the westbound lanes and perhaps 1,000 feet of the eastbound lanes -- the difference having to do with issues pertaining to the new twin spans. The final design has not yet been determined and may well change, Stymiest said.
Officials still hope to build a crossover to connect the two sides, and people might have to pay a $5 fee to use the pier to help fund the cost of running water to the pier, building and maintaining restrooms, and providing garbage cans. People would not be allowed to drive vehicles onto the pier.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
SEVEN MONTHS of Lip Service
Screw you, Lisa Jackson from the EPA.
From the website Project Gulf Impact a report of what went down in the first meeting with useless Lisa Jackson:
Elizabeth Cook, stood up in front of the entire crowd demand answers for why the human health concerns were not being addressed. Cook also demanded answers on why there were no members of the CDC or any other health related organizations on the panel. Lisa Jackson politely told Cook she would try to address her question, yet this committee was “ecosystem” focused, not health.
From another attendee:
“I hand delivered to Lisa Jackson the report that (environmental scientist)Wilma Subra did for us on the Whole Blood Analysis. I told her I would be glad to give her the individual analysis on the workers & residents, started to explain how the report shows that people are being exposed at four times the 95th percentile<,/u> & the Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene and Hexane are volatile organic chemicals that are present in the BP Crude Oil. (Then) the secret service asked me to move away from Mrs. Jackson, then when I was trying to leave, I had to pass Lisa, and the secret service tried to rush me…until he realized I was only trying to exit. Lisa acted as if she had heard nothing of Wilma’s report… Let’s see if that’s case now…”
Lisa, I hope you never have to suffer like the Gulf Coast Residents exposed to these VOCs are suffering. But you WILL in some way pay for turning your back on these people.
Something else I've seen that may be an avenue worth pursuing
ATTENTION GULF RESIDENTS - Here is the link to the contact info for the US Surgeon General's Office. I believe this is who should be helping all the people that are ill from the BP Offshore Oil Drilling Catastrophe and the related toxic exposure to the Hydrocarbon VOCs and Corexit. Forget Secretary Jackson/EPA and Secretary Salazar/Interior -- their "duties" and offices are not for human health/illnesses. Start focusing on the US Surgeon General's Office. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/contactus/index.html
Here's another link covering the "proceedings"
From the website Project Gulf Impact a report of what went down in the first meeting with useless Lisa Jackson:
Elizabeth Cook, stood up in front of the entire crowd demand answers for why the human health concerns were not being addressed. Cook also demanded answers on why there were no members of the CDC or any other health related organizations on the panel. Lisa Jackson politely told Cook she would try to address her question, yet this committee was “ecosystem” focused, not health.
From another attendee:
“I hand delivered to Lisa Jackson the report that (environmental scientist)Wilma Subra did for us on the Whole Blood Analysis. I told her I would be glad to give her the individual analysis on the workers & residents, started to explain how the report shows that people are being exposed at four times the 95th percentile<,/u> & the Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene and Hexane are volatile organic chemicals that are present in the BP Crude Oil. (Then) the secret service asked me to move away from Mrs. Jackson, then when I was trying to leave, I had to pass Lisa, and the secret service tried to rush me…until he realized I was only trying to exit. Lisa acted as if she had heard nothing of Wilma’s report… Let’s see if that’s case now…”
Lisa, I hope you never have to suffer like the Gulf Coast Residents exposed to these VOCs are suffering. But you WILL in some way pay for turning your back on these people.
Something else I've seen that may be an avenue worth pursuing
ATTENTION GULF RESIDENTS - Here is the link to the contact info for the US Surgeon General's Office. I believe this is who should be helping all the people that are ill from the BP Offshore Oil Drilling Catastrophe and the related toxic exposure to the Hydrocarbon VOCs and Corexit. Forget Secretary Jackson/EPA and Secretary Salazar/Interior -- their "duties" and offices are not for human health/illnesses. Start focusing on the US Surgeon General's Office. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/contactus/index.html
Here's another link covering the "proceedings"
Sunday, November 07, 2010
PoBoy Festival - November 14th
I noticed that I get a lot of hits from people searching for the PoBoy Festival. Here's the website for this Festival
Here's a link to the list of vendors participating.
Hungry Yet?
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Farewell to Six Flags
A very interesting take on the abandoned Six Flags Theme Park in New Orleans East:
Update 11/10/10: The park may NOT be demolished in 2011 as stated in the video.
For perhaps the fourth time, the park may be redeveloped.
Update 11/10/10: The park may NOT be demolished in 2011 as stated in the video.
For perhaps the fourth time, the park may be redeveloped.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Scuzzbucket of the Week
None other than ego maniac who should've listened to his Mama when she was teaching him manners.
Prima Donna Randy Moss
Released by the Vikings today, Moss is said to have had a very loud verbal tirade against the man catering a lunch in the Vikings locker room on Friday
and the following Sunday, Moss ranted and raved about the Minnesota coach Childress, questioning his decisions.
He talked about how much he missed his former teammates and Bill Belichick, who he called “the best coach in football history.”
The wideout then suggested his efforts to provide his current coaches and teammates with inside information about the Pats’ offense had been largely ignored, saying, “I tried to prepare, tried to talk to the coaches and players about how this game was going to be played – a couple tendencies here and a couple tendencies there. But the bad part about it, you have six days to prepare for a team and on the seventh day … I guess they come over to me and say, ‘Dang Moss, you were right about a couple plays and a couple schemes that they were going to run.’ It hurts as a player that you put a lot of hard work in all week and … when you get on the field, that is when they acknowledge all the hard work.”
I'm so glad that New Orleans is a class act.
Prima Donna Randy Moss
Released by the Vikings today, Moss is said to have had a very loud verbal tirade against the man catering a lunch in the Vikings locker room on Friday
and the following Sunday, Moss ranted and raved about the Minnesota coach Childress, questioning his decisions.
He talked about how much he missed his former teammates and Bill Belichick, who he called “the best coach in football history.”
The wideout then suggested his efforts to provide his current coaches and teammates with inside information about the Pats’ offense had been largely ignored, saying, “I tried to prepare, tried to talk to the coaches and players about how this game was going to be played – a couple tendencies here and a couple tendencies there. But the bad part about it, you have six days to prepare for a team and on the seventh day … I guess they come over to me and say, ‘Dang Moss, you were right about a couple plays and a couple schemes that they were going to run.’ It hurts as a player that you put a lot of hard work in all week and … when you get on the field, that is when they acknowledge all the hard work.”
I'm so glad that New Orleans is a class act.
Monday, November 01, 2010
A Rich Tradition
I'm not a big Halloween freak, guess I don't have the imagination for it. Besides that, horror movies/costumes give me the heebee jeebees.
I do love the history that comes with All Saints Day, though. Living in the Bayou Liberty/Lacombe section of southeast Louisiana with its large population of creoles, All Saints Day is celebrated in quiet beauty.
DuBuisson Cemetery (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/cemeteries/dubuiss.txt)is a very old graveyard that dates back to the 1800's.
Every All Saints Day, the graves are cleaned and small candles are lit right around dusk. Seeing this creates a most ethereal feeling. I haven't been there for several years and the last time I went I had to keep an eye on two young children who wanted to climb all over the graves. My daughter is now away at college and I’m thinking that perhaps hubby and I may visit Dubuisson Cemetary tonight.
Bonfouca has many different pronounciations: "BON FOO KA" "BON FUCK A" "BONNA FOOKA". Take your choice. :)
I do love the history that comes with All Saints Day, though. Living in the Bayou Liberty/Lacombe section of southeast Louisiana with its large population of creoles, All Saints Day is celebrated in quiet beauty.
DuBuisson Cemetery (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/cemeteries/dubuiss.txt)is a very old graveyard that dates back to the 1800's.
Every All Saints Day, the graves are cleaned and small candles are lit right around dusk. Seeing this creates a most ethereal feeling. I haven't been there for several years and the last time I went I had to keep an eye on two young children who wanted to climb all over the graves. My daughter is now away at college and I’m thinking that perhaps hubby and I may visit Dubuisson Cemetary tonight.
Bonfouca has many different pronounciations: "BON FOO KA" "BON FUCK A" "BONNA FOOKA". Take your choice. :)
Saints' 44th Birthday
A repeat from a year ago. http://thanks-katrina.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-bday-saints.html
The Saints are celebrating their 44th Birthday AND a win last night against the Steelers.
WHO DAT
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A use for some of that BP Oil
found at Gizmodo.com
From something so horrible comes something pretty eye-catching—and beneficial for the charity the profits support.
From scooping up the oil, to the gunk being used as paint in the screen-printer, the photos paint a story of the BP oil disaster six months later. Burrill said of his posters "here is a perception among many people that the oil in the Gulf of Mexico is just going to somehow disappear…For people in the Gulf, including Louisiana, the effects of this disaster will be around for a long time."
Profits for the sale of the 200 posters will be donated to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, a voluntary organization that protects and restores the coastline. They cost $210 each (after converting from 150 Euros), which isn't cheap, but considering they're limited edition screen-prints signed by the artist and for a worthy cause, I'm sure they'll be snapped up in no time.
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