It is gorgeous! Wish I had $5.8M to buy a house!
More on Coach Payton's plans here.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Another Return from the storm
More than five years after being inundated with over than 5 feet of storm surge which compromised the exterior on five of its six floors, The Towers Building in Slidell is reopening this week.
The Towers Building post Katrina
The Towers Building - 2011
The parish bought the building, called The Towers, in December 1991 from Pelican Homestead and Savings for $250,000 to use as the state's public health unit, with eventual plans to make the building its main office space in eastern St. Tammany.
The long-vacant building, which the bank had repossessed, needed significant structural repairs, and the parish had to remove asbestos throughout, before it could occupy the first offices in March 1993.
The Towers Building is the parish's all-in-one location for residents who live in eastern St. Tammany. Returning to the renovated building are the following agencies:
- Registrar of Voters
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office
- St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits & Regulatory
- St.Tammany Parish Community Action Agency
- St.Tammany Parish Assessor and the parish's
- St.Tammany ParishArchive Management office
- St.Tammany Parish Clerk of Court
The Towers Building post Katrina
The Towers Building - 2011
The parish bought the building, called The Towers, in December 1991 from Pelican Homestead and Savings for $250,000 to use as the state's public health unit, with eventual plans to make the building its main office space in eastern St. Tammany.
The long-vacant building, which the bank had repossessed, needed significant structural repairs, and the parish had to remove asbestos throughout, before it could occupy the first offices in March 1993.
The Towers Building is the parish's all-in-one location for residents who live in eastern St. Tammany. Returning to the renovated building are the following agencies:
- Registrar of Voters
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office
- St. Tammany Parish Department of Permits & Regulatory
- St.Tammany Parish Community Action Agency
- St.Tammany Parish Assessor and the parish's
- St.Tammany ParishArchive Management office
- St.Tammany Parish Clerk of Court
Monday, February 07, 2011
We found some pelicans
It seems like every day in the last week of January was cold and/or rainy. So when we awoke Saturday to sunshine, we decided to head to New Orleans East to Dong Phuong bakery for some
Banh Mi.
Click on pictures for larger versions
For those of you who don't know what Bahn Mi is, it's basically a Vietnamese PoBoy and VERY delicious. At Dong Phuong they have a large variety of these sandwich for only $2.85/each! Click the link above for more info and a menu.
After getting the sandwiches, five loaves of pistollettes and 2 meatpies, we headed back down Highway 90 armed with our Nikons in search for whatever we could find (hubby and I are avid photographers if you haven't figured that out by now).
Our first stop: The Michoud Assembly Facility where I've worked for 29 years.
The next leg of our journey was down Highway 90 towards Lake Catherine to take a picture of all of the camp signs (the subject of another post).
Before we could get there, though, we had to stop for lunch at Bayou Bar & Grill in Venetian Isles (at the foot of the Chef Pass Bridge). The shrimp poboys were great and we were on our way again.
After getting thru Lake Catherine we headed towards Slidell on LA433. We saw some birds wading in the water and pulled over to try to get some pictures at Salt
View Larger Map
As we were photographing a young pelican coming in for a landing, a couple pulled up in a car to tell us that there were many more pelicans down the road a bit, so we headed into the heart of Salt Bayou. Sure enough there was a group of birds hiding from the strong north winds sunning themselves.
The wind was brutal, even in the sun. It got to a point where I couldn't see thru my viewfinder because my eyes were watering so badly.
We were also told that more pelicans could be found in the Carr Drive area of Slidell, and that's where we headed next.
View Larger Map
At the very end of Carr Drive was a large group of pelicans enjoying the late afternoon sun as well as other types of birds.
We took so many pictures! As soon as I sort thru them I will post additional pictures.
We had the bahn mi for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!
Banh Mi.
Click on pictures for larger versions
For those of you who don't know what Bahn Mi is, it's basically a Vietnamese PoBoy and VERY delicious. At Dong Phuong they have a large variety of these sandwich for only $2.85/each! Click the link above for more info and a menu.
After getting the sandwiches, five loaves of pistollettes and 2 meatpies, we headed back down Highway 90 armed with our Nikons in search for whatever we could find (hubby and I are avid photographers if you haven't figured that out by now).
Our first stop: The Michoud Assembly Facility where I've worked for 29 years.
The next leg of our journey was down Highway 90 towards Lake Catherine to take a picture of all of the camp signs (the subject of another post).
Before we could get there, though, we had to stop for lunch at Bayou Bar & Grill in Venetian Isles (at the foot of the Chef Pass Bridge). The shrimp poboys were great and we were on our way again.
After getting thru Lake Catherine we headed towards Slidell on LA433. We saw some birds wading in the water and pulled over to try to get some pictures at Salt
View Larger Map
As we were photographing a young pelican coming in for a landing, a couple pulled up in a car to tell us that there were many more pelicans down the road a bit, so we headed into the heart of Salt Bayou. Sure enough there was a group of birds hiding from the strong north winds sunning themselves.
The wind was brutal, even in the sun. It got to a point where I couldn't see thru my viewfinder because my eyes were watering so badly.
We were also told that more pelicans could be found in the Carr Drive area of Slidell, and that's where we headed next.
View Larger Map
At the very end of Carr Drive was a large group of pelicans enjoying the late afternoon sun as well as other types of birds.
We took so many pictures! As soon as I sort thru them I will post additional pictures.
We had the bahn mi for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Please help to bring justice
This is an appeal from Deborah Cotton regarding the upcoming sentencing of Ronald Sims, for the brutal murder of Brandon Franklin.
Ronald Sims
Brandon Franklin, 22 year old saxophonist for TBC Brass Band and a band teacher at O.Perry Walker High, was murdered Mother’s Day, 2010 by Ronald Sims, the boyfriend of Brandon’s child’s mother.
Brandon Franklin
After a heated exchange with his girlfriend, Sims left her house and returned with a loaded gun. He found Brandon at her home, changing the locks on the door at her request, and pumped 13 bullets into him taking away from us a bright young musician, beloved high school teacher and father of three year old Brandon Jr. Later that day, Simms turned himself in to the authorities. He requested a trial by judge, as was his right, and on November 23rd, Judge Darryl Derbigny convicted Sims of manslaughter which brings a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
Many of Brandon’s family and friends feel that Judge Derbigny’s judgement was not just. Derbigny, a former public defense attorney, has a tendency towards leniency with defendants. In one high profile case, he acquitted a man of murder who confessed to police and reporters that he did indeed murder his victim.
We must do everything in our power to make sure the person that murdered Brandon does not get off with the same light sentence. I am asking you to join me and ensuring that Brandon’s murderer gets the maximum sentence possible. That end can be helped in two ways:
1. Write a letter or call Judge Derbigny requesting that he give the maximum sentence allowable to Ronald Sims and why you feel that this is necessary. If you knew Brandon, please include in your letter how you knew him, what he brought into your life, and what his loss has meant to you. The more personal the appeal, the better.
2. Attend the trial on Friday February 18th (time TBA)
Putting a spotlight on the judge and ensuring that he knows a vast cross-section of our community is watching how he handles this case is paramount to getting the strongest sentence possible. We must send him and the city of New Orleans the message that our lives are NOT cheap. If you didn’t know Brandon, please right a letter anyway. Do it for all the times one of ours was murdered and you felt helpless to do anything about it. If you knew Brandon, please do it to honor what he brought into your life as well as his future which is now embodied in his son Brandon Jr., his O. Perry Walker students, and his bandmates in the TBC Brass Band.
Please send your letters to Justice4BrandonFranklin@yahoo.com NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11th. Thank you in advance for your effort.
Ronald Sims
Brandon Franklin, 22 year old saxophonist for TBC Brass Band and a band teacher at O.Perry Walker High, was murdered Mother’s Day, 2010 by Ronald Sims, the boyfriend of Brandon’s child’s mother.
Brandon Franklin
After a heated exchange with his girlfriend, Sims left her house and returned with a loaded gun. He found Brandon at her home, changing the locks on the door at her request, and pumped 13 bullets into him taking away from us a bright young musician, beloved high school teacher and father of three year old Brandon Jr. Later that day, Simms turned himself in to the authorities. He requested a trial by judge, as was his right, and on November 23rd, Judge Darryl Derbigny convicted Sims of manslaughter which brings a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.
Many of Brandon’s family and friends feel that Judge Derbigny’s judgement was not just. Derbigny, a former public defense attorney, has a tendency towards leniency with defendants. In one high profile case, he acquitted a man of murder who confessed to police and reporters that he did indeed murder his victim.
We must do everything in our power to make sure the person that murdered Brandon does not get off with the same light sentence. I am asking you to join me and ensuring that Brandon’s murderer gets the maximum sentence possible. That end can be helped in two ways:
1. Write a letter or call Judge Derbigny requesting that he give the maximum sentence allowable to Ronald Sims and why you feel that this is necessary. If you knew Brandon, please include in your letter how you knew him, what he brought into your life, and what his loss has meant to you. The more personal the appeal, the better.
2. Attend the trial on Friday February 18th (time TBA)
Putting a spotlight on the judge and ensuring that he knows a vast cross-section of our community is watching how he handles this case is paramount to getting the strongest sentence possible. We must send him and the city of New Orleans the message that our lives are NOT cheap. If you didn’t know Brandon, please right a letter anyway. Do it for all the times one of ours was murdered and you felt helpless to do anything about it. If you knew Brandon, please do it to honor what he brought into your life as well as his future which is now embodied in his son Brandon Jr., his O. Perry Walker students, and his bandmates in the TBC Brass Band.
Please send your letters to Justice4BrandonFranklin@yahoo.com NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11th. Thank you in advance for your effort.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Wall with Feeling
A fantastic, intelligent, big hearted photographer from Raceland, Louisiana reflects on
the Vietnam Veterans by visiting The Wall.
the Vietnam Veterans by visiting The Wall.
Scuzzbucket of the Week
Names are unknown at this time, but - besides the shooter, who later was treated for post traumatic stress syndrome - SOMEONE KNEW about the massacre of 100 sled dogs in Canada.
Outdoor Adventures Whistler acknowledges it had a financial stake in Howling Dogs at the time of the cull, but didn't take operational control of the company until May 2010.
The release says: "OAW was aware of the relocation and euthanization of dogs at Howling Dogs in April 2010, but it was our expectation that it was done in a proper, legal and humane manner."
The man who was compensated hasn't been identified. Outdoor Adventures Whistler said he is no longer managing Howling Dogs. A new manager has been hired.
His lawyer, Corey Steinberg, said the man made every effort to find adoptive homes for the dogs. Steinberg told CBC News that when he wasn't successful, a group, including executives and the man, agreed euthanasia was the only choice for the sickest and oldest dogs in the pack.
"He just wanted the greatest happiness for the greatest number of dogs. He had to choose — 'Do I keep 200 dogs and make their lives great, or do I stick here with the 300 that I have?' And I'm being told by my employer, 'You deal with it, you figure it out, there's not really much more we can do for you,'" Steinberg said.
The general manager of cruelty investigations for the provincial SPCA, Marcie Moriarty, wonders why the company had so many dogs when it couldn't keep them healthy. She said the dogs appear to have died a horrible death.
"I won't use the term euthanized, [which] implies a humane death, and I can say that based on his description, at least a number of dogs did not have a humane death. His descriptions of using a shotgun, blowing off half of the dog's head while it ran off, a dog crawling out of a mass grave, it just made me shudder," Moriarty said.
Moriarty said investigators would try to locate the burial site and perform necropsies.
Outdoors Adventures Whistler told CBC News the incident is tragic and regrettable, and a new policy has been put in place to ensure all dogs are euthanized at a veterinarian's office.
The company also said it has implemented a neutering program for all male dogs to mitigate unwanted pregnancies in the pack.
Outdoor Adventures Whistler acknowledges it had a financial stake in Howling Dogs at the time of the cull, but didn't take operational control of the company until May 2010.
The release says: "OAW was aware of the relocation and euthanization of dogs at Howling Dogs in April 2010, but it was our expectation that it was done in a proper, legal and humane manner."
The man who was compensated hasn't been identified. Outdoor Adventures Whistler said he is no longer managing Howling Dogs. A new manager has been hired.
His lawyer, Corey Steinberg, said the man made every effort to find adoptive homes for the dogs. Steinberg told CBC News that when he wasn't successful, a group, including executives and the man, agreed euthanasia was the only choice for the sickest and oldest dogs in the pack.
"He just wanted the greatest happiness for the greatest number of dogs. He had to choose — 'Do I keep 200 dogs and make their lives great, or do I stick here with the 300 that I have?' And I'm being told by my employer, 'You deal with it, you figure it out, there's not really much more we can do for you,'" Steinberg said.
The general manager of cruelty investigations for the provincial SPCA, Marcie Moriarty, wonders why the company had so many dogs when it couldn't keep them healthy. She said the dogs appear to have died a horrible death.
"I won't use the term euthanized, [which] implies a humane death, and I can say that based on his description, at least a number of dogs did not have a humane death. His descriptions of using a shotgun, blowing off half of the dog's head while it ran off, a dog crawling out of a mass grave, it just made me shudder," Moriarty said.
Moriarty said investigators would try to locate the burial site and perform necropsies.
Outdoors Adventures Whistler told CBC News the incident is tragic and regrettable, and a new policy has been put in place to ensure all dogs are euthanized at a veterinarian's office.
The company also said it has implemented a neutering program for all male dogs to mitigate unwanted pregnancies in the pack.
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