Irish Channel Neighborhood Association

Hi Neighbors,

I was going to wait until Monday to send out a note but there are a few things happening this weekend that I don’t want you to miss.

Saturday:
* Hazardous Waste drop-off on Saturday from 8:00 – 1:00 at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue. Please see http://www.nola.gov/en/RESIDENTS/Department-Of-Sanitation for more information.
* Work day at Lyons Center for 10 AM – we got our dirt! I know its short notice but if you are free tomorrow please stop by and bring any shovels or wheel barrels you may have. Bring a swimsuit too and we can jump in and cool off when the work is done.
* Hello Hurricane Summit 2011, from 10 to 12 PM. Click here for more info and to register (not necessary but helps) http://evacuteer.org/hello-hurricane-season-summit

Tuesday, June 14th Neighborhood Partnership Network (NPN) meeting. The meeting will run from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at the Grace Episcopal Church, 3700 Canal St. This is the semi annual membership meeting which will include a vote on important bylaw changes AS WELL AS WELCOMING the City of NO’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement to discuss their role in helping neighborhoods. A very important and informative meeting!

Wednesday NONPAC meeting 6:30 PM at 2020 St Charles.

Thursday, June 16th: Business Information Session with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. Information, resources and opportunities helpful for business owners and entrepreneurs.  5:00 – 6:30 at City Church of New Orleans, 13123 I-10 Service Rd.  Free and open to the public.

Saturday June 18th Lyons Center Family Reunion 11 AM to 5 PM. We will have music, cabbage ball, the pool will be open, kids activities and food/beverages available for purchase. Stay tuned for more details.

General updates/reminders:
We learned last night that NOPD caught 3 suspects in the 7th street robbery on Monday night.. They also have good leads for the one in the 3300 block of Constance. Officers reminded people to avoid walking home alone after dark if possible.

As part of an increase in police patrol due to recent incidents, the NOPD is focusing on juveniles violating the city curfew. Note that the summer curfew hours are 8 PM to 6 AM Sun-Thurs and 11 PM to 6 AM Fri-Sat. Please make sure your friends, family and neighbors with kids 17 and younger are aware of the hours. Here is a link with more information: http://www.nola.gov/en/sitecore/content/Root/GOVERNMENT/NOPD/Juvenile-Division.aspx

We have also believe that the city has been focusing on illegal vehicles parked in the Channel so please check any vehicles you have parked on public streets.

Finally, if you are interesting in meeting with others about starting a neighborhood watch group in the Channel please email me and we will set up a meeting to discuss further.

Thank you,

Kara

Dear friends and neighbors,

We have a General Meeting tomorrow night, June 9th,  at 7 PM in the Irish Channel Christian Fellowship Church, 819 First Street. Please print and hand out to any neighbors you have who may not be on the internet.   Here is the detailed agenda:

• Honorable Ellen Hazeur, Clerk of First City Court: She will discuss the responsibilities of her office and answer any questions you may have. (10 mins)

• Carlos Muniz, Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness: Carlos will discuss the city’s hurricane plans including evacuation procedures and tips for personal perparedness. (15 mins)

• Commander Bardy, Yolanda Jenkins and Jay Favalaro from the NOPD’s 6th District. Officers from the 6th will join us in a conversation about their response to recent incidents in the Channel, tips for personal safety, opportunities for neighborhood anti-crime organizing and the upcoming redistricting of the NOPD. (30 mins)

Thank you and I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow evening,

Kara

Hello neighbors,

Opening Day, 2011

Here are our weekly announcements and reminders for the week.  I’d like to also mention that the Lyons Center Pool is OPEN!  Everyone is welcome to use the pool free of charge and the Red Cross is working with NORDC to provide free swimming lessons to anyone interested – children and adults. Please go to the pool and ask a lifeguard for more information.  I’m including I took yesterday so you can see how nice it looks.  Pool hours are 9 AM to 6 PM M-F, 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday and 2 PM to 6 PM on Sundays.  The pool is closed from 12 to 1 every day for lunch and 3:30 to 4 PM daily for cleaning.  Please also notice in the picture that there is no shade or seating provided so come prepared with lots of sun screen and a hat!
Thanks,

Kara

Today, Tuesday, June 7th:
SOCCER: Practice and scrimmage geared towards girls 8 to 12 years of age.  Ed McGinnis coaches girls through drills from 5 to 6:30 PM.  He is always looking for more kids and possibly another person to help coach.

BASEBALL:
Our 5 and 6 year old team has practice today (and Thursday) from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.  We could use some extra hands coaching today because several of our coaches will be at the 7 and 8s game.  We are also still registering kids to play tee-ball.  We have 8 kids regularly attending practice and need 9 to field a team (12-15 would be ideal roster size).

Tonight is Game 1 for the 7 and 8 year old Burke Park Fighting Irish team.  Game time is 6:15 PM at Norman Playground (located on Eton Street off of MacArthur on the West Bank).

Thursday, June 9th:
If you have not heard, there was an armed robbery near Constance and Toledano Sunday night around 9 PM.  The victim was walking alone when approached by several young men.  This is the 3rd such incident in our neighborhood since April 23rd.   The first was on 4/23 in the 700 block of Toledano and the second on 5/9 in the 900 block of Sixth St.  I’m sure you are aware that armed robberies are on the rise throughout the city this Spring.  Commander Bardy will attend our meeting this Thursday along with several other officers.  Please come with any issues and/or ideas you have for discussion as crime will be the main focus of the evening.  Some of you have approached me about starting a Neighborhood Watch type program, please try to come on Thursday and we can discuss more.  If you can not make on it Thursday but want to get involved please send me a note and we can set up a meeting with those who are interested.

In addition to officers from the 6th District we will have the Honorable Helen Hazeur, Clerk of the First City Court, coming to speak about the responsibilities of her office.  I am trying to line up someone for Hurricane Preparedness too.

Saturday/Sunday June 11th and 12th:
We are still looking for volunteers to help with the Saturday 3 PM to 6 PM shift and ALL Sunday shifts selling beer at the Creole Tomato Festival this weekend.  Proceeds will go to our Lyons-Burke Booster Club.

Wednesday, June 15th:
Reminder, next Wednesday is our monthly 6th District NONPAC meeting.

Hi Neighbors,

Saturday work day at Lyons is dependent on NORD delivering the dirt we need today. As soon as I get final word I will forward to the group. If we have dirt then we plan to meet at Lyons Center at 10 AM.

POOL OPENS MONDAY: The Lyons Center pool located at Delachaise and Tchoupitoulas opens this coming Monday. Pool hours are M-F 9 AM to 6 PM, SAT 9 AM to 4 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM on Sundays (closed from 12 to 1 for lunch each day). You can find more information on hours and activities (such as water aerobics) on this site. http://www.nola.gov/sitecore/content/Root/RESIDENTS/NORD/Aquatics-Program.aspx Scroll down to the Lyons Center PDF files and open.

We are still recruiting for our 5/6 and 9/10 baseball teams. The 5/6 team will play tee-ball at Norman and have practices at Burke on Tue/Th from 5:30 to 6:30. The 9/10 team practices at Lyons Center and will likely have their games at Evans (we are still pushing for Lyons Center to host games but it is unlikely). Please contact me for more information. Our 7/8 and 11/12 teams are now full!

Our General Membership meeting will be Thursday, June 9th at 7 PM at 819 1st Street. Details to come.

Save the date for June 18th from 11 to 5 for our big Lyons-Burke Booster Club fund-raising event at Lyons Center. We will have cabbage ball games between Lyons Center and Burke Park alumni and between the Original Prince of Wales versus the Young Men Olympians. We also have some special guests performing, including DJ Jubilee and Batiste Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak Marching Band! Food and drinks will be available for purchase (this is how we plan to raise the funds). And the pool will be open!

Updates from our Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement (ONE) representative:
There is still space in NORDC Kiddie Camps:
a. Anthony Bean Community Theater
b. Gert Town Development Center
c. Atkinson-Stern Tennis Center.

Free Summer Meals program for all children 18 and under. BCAA Live Oak and SciTech Laurel are participating through June 30th. Please see the attached flier or www.gno211.org for more info.

Fight the Blight Day tomorrow (Saturday) 10:00 – 1:00. The City of New Orleans is bringing supplies and equipment and staff. We need neighborhood volunteers to come out and fix up our neighborhoods! Sign up here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDFKekFHaWxYMU9DUm9oSEJBTHdHaVE6MQ#gid=0
a. District A: George Washington Carver Playground: 7424 Prytania St. (corner of Leak at the river bend).
b. District B: 1529 Oretha Castle Haley (meeting at Castle Rock Church)

Household Hazardous Waste Day – Sat. June 11th 8:00-1:00 at 2829 Elysian Fields Ave. You can bring hazardous waste for safe disposal.

You can still register for city recycling at follow this link to register: www.recycle.nola.gov.

Legislative Update:
The State historic tax credits program and Homeowners rehabilitation tax credit are up for debate. Here is a link for more information: http://blog.prcno.org/2011/05/10/topbonepilertc/. These credits benefit the Irish Channel by encouraging renovation of blighted homes in our neighborhood.

Thanks,

Kara

Here are some things going on this week in the Channel:

Girls Soccer practice and scrimmage tonight, May 17th, 5-6:30 at Burke Park (Second & Annunciation). This is geared towards girls ages 8 to 12. If you would like to help coach please look for Coach Ed McGinnis at the park and introduce yourself. This is not an official NORD activity so no formal background check is required.

Recycling pick up in our area is tomorrow. If you haven’t registered please do so here: http://www.nola.gov/en/RESIDENTS/Department-Of-Sanitation/Curbside-Recycling This link also list what items are accepted. If you are having difficulty getting your cart serviced please contact Richard’s Disposal customer support at (504) 241-2142.

NONPAC meeting tomorrow, May 18th at 6:30 in the New Orleans Convention and Visitor’s Bureau located at 2020 St Charles Avenue. Leader from the NOPD Sixth District will review recent crimes, provide updates as available and listen to community concerns.

Magazine Construction:
If you want to stay up to date on lane closures on Magazine you can go to ‘Magazine Street Repair’ on Facebook or this website for more info: http://www.magazinestreetrepair.com/

Lyons-Burke Booster (LBB) Club Updates:
- The June 11th Lyons Center Family Reunion event is being moved to Saturday, June 18th from 11 – 5. More details and volunteer opportunities to follow soon. If you would like to help with planning this event either contact me directly or come to Burke Park any Monday around 6:30 PM.
- We are looking for volunteers to work 2 hour shifts selling beer at the French Market Creole Tomato Festival on June 11th and June 12th. All proceeds will go to the LBB.
- It is not too late to sign up for baseball or softball (yes, we think we have enough girls for a neighborhood team). Please drop by Burke Park on M/W/F 5:30 – 7 to speak to a coach or send me a note for more info. Remember, there is no registration fee and uniforms/equipment are provided.

Thanks,

Kara

I know everyone is busy with work and kids and other volunteering, but if you have a few extra hours a week or just an hour or two on May 14th or June 11th then we could really use your help. Right now we are trying to field 4 baseball teams of different age ranges – 5 & 6, 7 & 8, 9 & 10 and 11& 12 – but we only have 2 coaches. If we have enough teams we can actually host games at Lyons Center this season! This is important because the main way most booster clubs fund raise is by selling concessions but we can only do that if we host games.

Many of you have asked how you can help deter crime and this is a great opportunity. It turns out that I know two of the kids involved in the shootings a few weeks back, including the 15 year old who was arrested. Both of them tried to sign up for the basketball league we had in 2009 but were too old. We offered them the option to be assistant coaches but they really just wanted to play. One of them wanted to play so badly that he grabbed a shirt and snuck into one of the games. I’m not naive enough to think that playing sports can solve all their problems and prevent all kids from shooting each other but it definitely helps. So this is one way you can directly impact the safety of our neighborhood as well as bring a little bit of happiness to kids.

In order to coach you will need to register with NORD and get a background check through NOPD for $5. Here is a link with more info http://www.nola.gov/GOVERNMENT/NOPD/NOPD-Records-and-Identification-Division/. Once you are approved you can coach any sport. You do not need any sports experience to volunteer, right now we really need bodies. You also don’t need kids – they are provided Below are our upcoming volunteer opportunities, please contact me if you can help with any:

Coaches: Track or baseball, all ages. Right now we have no one for 5 and 6 year olds baseball so you can set your own practice times. I think 11 and 12 is also open. Currently we have practice for all ages on M/W/F at Clay Square from 5:30 to 6:30 and only one coach there. Please email me for more info or drop by during practice. Games will start in June.

Baseball clinic/registration: This Saturday, May 14th we have registration from 10-12 at Lyons Center and then a clinic from 1 to 4 at Clay Square.

Lyons Center fund-raiser/celebration: We are having a cookout and fundraiser at Lyons Center on June 11th. We need help planning and working the event. We will sell food and beer (thanks to NOLA brewery for donating a keg!) to raise money for the Lyons-Burke Booster club. Please let me know if you are available to help plan and/or work the event.

Girls Soccer: Every Tuesday starting tomorrow from 5:00 to 6:30 we will host soccer practice and a scrimmage game for girls 8-12. We could use donated shin guards and balls as well as coaches.

If none of those times work with your schedule then you can still help. I have fliers for our upcoming baseball clinic and registration.  Send me an email and I’ll forward them to you so you can pass them around to any kids you think may be interested. We really, really, really want to have games at Lyons Center this baseball season and all it takes is lots of kids signing up!

Thanks so much,

Kara
kara_L_morgan@yahoo.com

Dear neighbors,

You may have heard that we had a series of shooting throughout the Channel yesterday all related to an argument between two groups of kids (yes, kids). My understanding is that there were 3 total shootings, one at Clay Square, one at 4th & Annunciation and one at Washington & Chippewa. In addition to yesterdays events we’ve seen a general increase in shootings over the past month or so, including a drive by down my street while I was laying on the couch with my 6 year old. This is incredibly disheartening and discouraging especially given how hard we are working to improve the Channel and make it a safe and happy place for all to live. I am sure many of you are wondering what you can do to help stop the violence. Here are my two suggestions.

1. Attend the NONPAC meetings. The next NONPAC meeting is Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30pm, at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2020 St. Charles Avenue. NOPD will have updates on this and any other incidents you want more info on. Several officers lead this meeting including Commander Bardy and our quality of life officers.

2. Volunteer with the Lyons-Burke Booster Club or an organization of your choice that works with kids in the hopes of stopping the kids from ever having a gun. The closing of the Rachel Sims Baptist mission left a huge gap in our community in engaging high-risk youth with positive alternatives. This means the ICNA and the Booster Club need to step up and do what they can to fill this gap.

Please send me a note if you want to get more involved and I will point you in the right direction.

Thanks,

Kara Morgan
President, ICNA

I think we have a interesting agenda this month that should also be very informative. If you have neighbors who aren’t on our list or members please be sure to invite them.

1. Victor Richard III, Director of NORD will join us to talk about their summer activities, the Lyons Center Pool and give general updates on NORD. We will also give a brief update on Lyons-Burke Booster Club activities in our neighborhood.

http://www.nola.gov/RESIDENTS/NORD

2. David Ozmore, CEO of the YMCA of Greater New Orleans will discuss the YMCA’s plans for expansion. The YMCA has begun a strategic planning effort in order to find opportunities to serve our community though programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body. Currently, the YMCA has two full-service fitness facilities serving 10,000 members, including 2,500 Senior Citizens, as well as five youth program centers serving 3,000. By 2015, the YMCA of Greater New Orleans aims to have ten facilities in our eight-parish service region serving 40,000 members. At least two of these facilities will be located in Orleans Parish. David would like to inform the public about the expansion possibilities, as well as get feedback about the type of youth, senior, and healthy lifestyles programming that would benefit those in our neighborhood.

http://www.ymcaneworleans.org/

3. Dana Reed a new Irish Channel resident and director of Kid’s Play NOLA which provides after-school learning opportunities and support services to at-risk children through quality arts education will give a brief overview of her program. The Kid’s Play NOLA program reaches out to children of all demographics who are living in the city of New Orleans in conjunction with existing after-school programs. Kid’s Play NOLA also offers a two week, tuition free summer camp.

http://www.hopestoneinc.org/?page_id=2572

4. Gary Robichaux, Executive Director of ReNew Schools will join us to give an update on how things are going at the Batiste Cultural Academy of the Arts (Live Oak) and SciTech Academy (Laurel).

http://www.renewschools.org/

The meeting is Thursday, April 14th at 7 PM at the Irish Channel Christian Fellowship, 819 First Street.

Irish Channel Neighborhood Association

Board Meeting

November 11, 2010

ICNA President Kara Morgan called the meeting order. Roll call established a quorum.

Board Members in attendance included:             Kara Morgan, Ed McGinnis, Karen, Adolph Lopez, Nora McGunnigle, Mario Zervigon, Mike Karam, Dana Kaplan, Tess Conrad and Wendy Waren.

Members and guests in attendance were: Glenn Bowen and Jason Riggs.

Board members absent were: Alba Bowen, Juanita Jackson and Michelle Kimball.                       

Land Use Issues were discussed:

605 Ninth Street Change of Use Request,

The Roubian Construction building is possibly being sold to Nat Grodin who wants to turn it into a recording studio. Discussion regarding hours of operation, etc. No objections to the change of use request moving forward. All in favor of no opposition by ICNA at this time.

548 Jackson – proposed sandwich take-out, Trans Family, (Tabled), former concerns with littering and loitering were briefly discussed.

Galilee Housing Letter

Second drive by shooting. Stacy wanted to write a letter. Stacy read draft letter into the record of the Blight Budget Committee without consent of ICNA. Letter addressed poor management of the property. Stacy’s next step is to request the city to do an audit. Letter read into record resulted in Karen Gadbois with Fox 8 Investigates and The Lens contacting Ed McGinnis for a statement. He declined to comment given that the ICNA didn’t formerly issue a letter. McGinnis spoke with Galilee House Executive Director following the shooting of the two year old. She was defensive and since has been unresponsive. 

ACTION ITEM:

Adolph to send Kara letter to put letter on letterhead and submit it To Whom It May Concern

Youth Outreach initiatives were discussed.     

Rachel Sims closing 12/31

2008 Baptist Ministry Group out of GA, maintain the park, work with kids, Kaboom! Local Baptist Association.

ICNA recognizes all the work that Rachel Sims Ministry …Kara makes motion to write a letter in support of continued services, Adolph Seconded. Motion passes. Larry and Linda, early retirement
Mario to reach out to Bob Brown’s son

ACTION ITEM: Kara to send letter of support for continued services at Rachel Sims, Mario Zervigon to reach out to Bob Brown’s son to find out more.

Coordinating with ReNew Schools—Robert Edgecombe has agreed to coordinate efforts between the two schools and the ICNA. Former attempts have been largely ineffective.

LBB Updates
Lee, fantastic football season, field four teams, three at Burke, one at Lyons

Parent participation is lacking. Registration is starting for BB, Track, Baseball, Football.

Interest in soccer not going well. Irish Channel team participate in Carrolton Boosters. Not easy

$3,000-$5,000 a year to maintain four sports we have.

Girls cheerleading squad.

Football Banquet on 11/19

Thursday Hoop Nights
Encourage pick up games until 10 p.m.

Monthly Meetings
place for LBB, first Thursday of the month.
Greening the Channel
10 tree requests through Parkway Partners, finish Jackson Ave.
Blight Committee met and updating the rolls. NORA and Head is going through change and budget. Jason Riggs to volunteer for Blight Committee

Next Meetings:
ACTION ITEM:

Holiday Party, Thursday, Dec. 9 at 6-8 at Tracy’s, get keg NOLA Brewing Irish Channel Stout

Kara makes motion all in favor. Motion passed. Check is unlimited to NOPD 6^th District.

Ed makes motion to donate $500 to Sixth District Toy Fund

Karen to obtain details for Toy Fund to share with members to complement the $500 ICNA donation.

New Business

T-shirts to be discussed in subcommittee meeting. Wendy returned the few t-shirts remaining to Ed.

 January Meeting to be education focus. People from schools in area. Prior to deadline.

  Adjourn