New Orleans Musicians
On Sunday, August 26, 2007, from 12:00 until 2:00 pm, New Orleans musicians will join forces for a “Musicians Solidarity Second Line”. The procession will start at Armstrong Park and proceed to Jackson Square where leaders of the music industry will speak in protest of the current fragile state of the local music industry. Although no music will be performed during the second line, musicians are asked to bring their instruments as a symbolic gesture of their importance to New Orleans culture and how they are being ‘silenced’ by an apathetic business community. By creating a Second Line, which is a New Orleans musical cornerstone, without music, the march seeks to capture the public imagination to consider what New Orleans would be without its musicians.
For decades, the rich culture of New Orleans has provided musicians with the creative inspiration that has nurtured their craft. In turn, musicians have paved the way for a profitable tourist market; yet there are few tangible mechanisms in place to reciprocate their contribution. Additionally, there are few viable employment opportunities for musicians, often forcing them to leave New Orleans for more lucrative employment opportunities, particularly since the levees broke following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While there are indeed non-profit organizations, businesses and citizens that have supported musicians, New Orleans musicians are living and working in a precarious and vulnerable state. This march hopes to generate a sense of urgency and moral responsibility for people and businesses to actively support their local music industry.
Core messages of the event:
CITIZENS: Put your money where your ear is.
Tip jars and CD sales are often the only source of income for musicians. Take responsibility of our rich musical heritage – it identifies us as a community. Support local musicians by attending live music performances.
POLITICAL LEADERS: Don’t bite the hands that feed you.
Musicians laid the foundation for the profitable tourist market that is the backbone of our local and state economy. Hire more local musicians for public events.
HOTELS, BARS & TOURIST VENUES: Live music is not a right…it is a privilege.
Pay musicians their asking rate. Include music in your annual budget and treat it with the same importance as other expenses that directly affect your bottom line.
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS: Respect starts with you.
If gigs are your only source of income, demand top dollar or don’t accept the gig.
MUSIC LOVERS OUTSIDE NEW ORLEANS: We need your help.
Attend live performances when you visit the city, purchase CD’s featuring New Orleans musicians, and support non-profit organizations that provide assistance to musicians and preserve New Orleans culture.
The event is being organized by the American Federation of Musicians (Local 174-496).
French Quarter Brass Band Series 2007
On Friday August 17th, 2007 the streets of the French Quarter will be alive with the sound of New Orleans’ Brass Bands. This is the kick-off of the French Quarter Brass Band Series 2007 featuring the Soul Rebel Brass Band. On every Friday through September 21st , a free Brass Band parade will start at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, parade over 20 blocks of the French Quarter, pick up second liners and end at the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court Building to play a Brass Band concert. This new cultural experience is spearheaded by the French Quarter Business Association. Mark Wilson summed up its significance, “As President of the French Quarter Business Association and Marketing Director of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, it is obvious that our second Post-Katrina summer is a tough challenge for the French Quarter. We reached out to a core group of French Quarter stakeholders and asked them to help us celebrate the stately historic ambience of the Vieux Carre with the exuberant excitement of Brass Band music. We thought that locals and visitors alike would enjoy a parade on Friday and an invitation to spend some time in the Quarter during the weekend shopping, eating and drinking.” We are proud to announce our musical lineup: August 17th Soul Rebels Brass Band; August 24th Storyville Stompers; August 31st Pin Stripe Brass Band; September 7th Treme Brass Band; September 14th Bone Tone Brass Band; September 21st Algiers Brass Band.
The second line marching band parade is one of the great New Orleans cultural traditions. For centuries, it has celebrated life and death, jazz funerals and Mardi Gras parades. New Orleanians never tire of seeing and hearing the Bands and visitors are amazed and surprised exuberance of a second line parade. Sandra Shilstone, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, loves a parade, "We know that our leisure visitors come for the music, the history, the architecture of the French Quarter and the food. As we rebuild our City, The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation will keep reminding everyone that our spirit is strong and our deepest cultural assets are here to enjoy right now."
The parade, complete with carriages and Kern Sculpture’s special creations, starts at 5: 30 at the 700 block of Orleans Street and strolls through more than 20 blocks of the French Quarter. All second line dancers, marchers and handkerchief wavers are invited to join all along the route. At 6:15 the Brass Band will play on the steps of the Louisiana Supreme Court Building. Beer, wine and light refreshment will be available to purchase.
The French Quarter Brass Band Series 2007 is made possible through the generous support of its main sponsors: The Berger Companies, The Bourbon Orleans Hotel, the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, MCC Inc., New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, and Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana, and SDT Waste and Debris. Co-sponsor include: Kern Sculpture, The Royal Sonesta Hotel, and Faux Pas Prints. The French Quarter Brass Band Series 2007 was created and produced by the French Quarter Business Association. All locals and visitors are invited to come to the French Quarter now and make this free Brass Band experience a new Friday night tradition.
Shaw Group
The Shaw Group Inc. announced today that its Energy & Chemicals Group has been awarded contracts to provide its proprietary technology, engineering and procurement services for two 800,000 metric tons per year grassroots ethylene plants in China. The value of Shaw’s contracts, which will be reflected in its fourth quarter fiscal year 2007 backlog, was not disclosed.
The first plant, for PetroChina Fushun Petrochemical Company, will be located in Fushun, Liaoning Province. The second plant, for PetroChina Sichuan Petrochemical Company, will be located in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province. The contracts cover basic engineering, technology licensing, procurement of key equipment and materials, technical training, commissioning and start-up services.
“Shaw has worked closely with China’s olefins producers to license its technology and help source more than three million tons of ethylene production capacity in China during the past 30 years,” said J.M. Bernhard Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Shaw. “Today, we are pleased to be selected by our long-time client, PetroChina, for these significant new projects.”
Foster Care
While the number of children living in foster care in Louisiana has increased by more than 20 percent in the last three years, the number of certified foster homes has actually declined by nearly 38 percent during the same period. The dramatic gap between needs and available resources serves as the impetus for a new, statewide public awareness campaign designed to recruit and retain foster parents in Louisiana. Launched in August 2007, the campaign, “Today’s Foster Care: Your Love Will Make All The Difference In Their World” is also intended to bolster support for recruitment initiatives.
“Substantial commitment by the State of Louisiana, the federal government and private funding sources have improved children’s services,” said Marketa Garner Gautreau, assistant secretary for the Office of Community Services (OCS) at The Department of Social Services for the State of Louisiana. “As a result, we are now working to streamline the training and certification process for new foster parents, as well as improve community based services to support the 5,173 children currently living in foster care and their foster parents. However, much work remains to provide the services for our most vulnerable children and families. Trained, qualified and dedicated foster parents are at the core of a well functioning child welfare system.
“Louisiana’s foster parents have continually demonstrated their dedication to Louisiana’s children, most recently during our time of greatest need. Their commitment and courage was exemplified during and after the evacuation of some 2,500 foster children as a result of the 2005 hurricanes. Not only were no foster children lost in an unprecedented evacuation of Louisiana citizens to practically every state in the union, but placements were maintained, services continued to be secured, and contacts with birth families were preserved. Unfortunately, recovery is slower than expected, which has increased the stress and hardship for many communities and foster parents,” Gautreau explained.
In fact, the decline in foster homes is actually understated because a substantial number of homes within the greater New Orleans area are considered uninhabitable due to storm damage even though they previously were classified in the state’s information system as open or active. “But the need for services and foster homes is everywhere in the state,” she noted.
Specifically, in July 2004, there were 4,284 children living in foster care in Louisiana. In July 2007, there were 5,152 children living in foster care. This is in direct contrast to the 3,894 foster homes certified statewide as of July 2004 and the mere 2,428 such homes as of July 2007. In addition, the greater New Orleans area lost more than 50 percent of its approved foster homes between June 2003 and January 2007.
The “Today’s Foster Care” campaign will feature TV, radio and print advertising, direct mail and public relations initiatives. A central figure in the campaign is Darryl McDaniel or “DMC” of Run: DMC, who learned at the age of 35 that he was adopted. Since that time, he has devoted himself to helping children in foster care and adopted children though THE FELIX ORGANIZATION/ Adoptees For Children, which he co-founded in 2006 with Sheila Jaffe, the casting director of "The Sopranos" and "Entourage." THE FELIX ORGANIZATION/Adoptees for Children provides opportunities and new experiences that enrich the lives of children growing up without parents.
The state’s foster parent recruitment and retention campaign is part of the Department of Social Services’ LIFTS initiatives. LIFTS -- Louisiana Leading Innovations for Family Transformation and Safety -- is a series of initiatives to strengthen families and to ensure children with safe, permanent solutions. Louisiana LIFTS reflects OCS’ unyielding goal of reaching higher to ensure a family-focused and community-based system of care for Louisiana’s most vulnerable children. Too many of Louisiana’s children are still coming into foster care because their communities do not have the programs and services needed to achieve more permanent outcomes.
Zydeco Music Festival
The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise hosts its 12th Annual Cajun Zydeco Music Festival Saturday, September 8, followed by its 1st Annual Country Music Festival Sunday, September 9, at the same Laguna Park location on 390 Morris Street, two blocks from Highway 12. Both events run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $17 per person for each festival if purchased in advance online or at Pacific Market, and $20 at the gate.
ZYDECO MUSIC FESTIVAL, Saturday, September 8: The live Zydeco music lineup features Andre Theirry and Zydeco Magic, followed by Gator Beat; Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, and Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. The Cajun menu includes Creole Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee, Alligator Sausage and Red Beans and Louisiana Rice along with Cajun dogs, hot dogs, garlic fries and watermelon. Beer, wine, Hurricanes, coffee, soft drinks, shaved ice and bottled water will be on sale. This year’s Cajun festival sponsors include: American Ag Credit, Balletto Vineyards, Budweiser, Langunitas Brewing Company, Coldwell Banker, Pacific Market, The Rental Place and KRSH Wine Country Radio 95.9 FM.
COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, Sunday, September 9: Country Music headliners include The Shannon Rider Band followed by The Dave Russell Band; Pete Stringfellow, and The California Cowboys. Chuck wagon vittles include barbecued tri-tip, chicken and pork with all the fixings along with chili, hot dogs, garlic fries and watermelon. Beer, wine, Hurricanes, Margaritas, coffee, soft drinks, shaved ice and bottled water will be sold.
Louisiana Jobs
LEESVILLE – Job seekers in rural areas of Vernon, Beauregard and Allen Parishes no longer have to travel to area Career Solutions Centers to receive employment services.
The Career Labs program, organized by the Career Solutions Centers in Leesville, DeRidder and Oberlin, is now providing employment services to residents in rural communities in the tri-parish area.
Services offered at each remote location include: career planning, job searching, job referrals, résumé writing, individual career counseling, registering for work and information on occupational skills training and employer-based training.
Career Labs services are currently available in the following locations:
Vernon Parish
Hornbeck Town Hall – Mondays 10 a.m. to noon Pitkin Library – Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Beauregard Parish
Fields Library – Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Singer Library – Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
East Beauregard/Wye Library – Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
South Beauregard/Ragley Library – Wednesdays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Merryville Library – Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Allen Parish
Reeves City Hall – Mondays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Kinder Library – Mondays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oakdale Library – Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Elizabeth City Hall – Fridays 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Service is scheduled to begin Aug. 22 from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays at Hicks High School computer lab. Service is scheduled to begin soon at Evans High School computer lab, Simpson Town Hall and Anacoco Town Hall.
For more information contact Vernon Career Solutions Center (337) 238-4179, Beauregard Career Solutions Center (337) 462-2482 or Allen Career Solutions Center, (337) 639-2175.
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