Lamar Advertising Company owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, is establishing a new, eco-friendly industry standard by initiating the use of 100-percent recyclable materials for outdoor advertising. By converting exclusively to the use of single-sheet posters, a 100-percent recyclable polyethylene (PE) printing substrate, on its more than 60,000 poster-paper advertising structures, Lamar becomes the first and only outdoor company to transition completely from the use of paper to recyclable materials.
The use by Lamar of this new, revolutionary product will begin immediately and will replace 1,400 tons of non-recyclable, glue-on poster paper. The potential for the use of single-sheet posters industry-wide is the replacement of an additional 1,600 tons of non-recyclable paper. A recycling program is also being initiated by Lamar to organize the collection, recycling and re-use of the new PE materials.
ERF Wireless
ERF Wireless a provider of wireless and broadband products and services, announced today that its ERF Enterprise Network Services subsidiary has entered into ten-year, multi-million dollar WiNet System contracts with Louisiana-based Fidelity Homestead Bank and Texas-based Classic Bank to bring wireless broadband to certain rural communities in both Texas and Louisiana. These new contracts will utilize each bank’s excess wireless bandwidth and wireless infrastructure to provide Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) products and services to the banks’ commercial and retail customers. The WiNet System Agreements are in addition to the previously announced BranchNet and US-BankNet contracts with each bank. ERF Wireless will operate and support its WiNet product offerings through its Wireless Bundled Services subsidiary and estimates its WiNet operations for both banks will be initiated in the fall of 2008. After a ramp-up period, the contracts are expected to generate more than $7 million in recurring revenues to ERF Wireless after the revenue share to the banks over the next ten years. The banks will receive a percentage of the gross subscriber revenues as part of the agreement.
R. Greg Smith, CEO of ERF Enterprise Network Services, commented, “Because ERF Wireless has a relationship with their financial institution, the bank’s customers have a compelling reason to purchase Internet services from us rather than from a local cable or DSL provider. We also have the advantage of offering them unique products and services they simply can’t obtain anywhere else.”
Covington Planning
Developers 285, LLC will host Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. (DPZ) for presentations and planning meetings beginning Monday, August 4 through Monday, August 11, 2008, in Covington, Louisiana.
The meeting, known as a charrette, will be led by Andres Duany and will introduce the concept for a new mixed-use neighborhood community in western St. Tammany Parish. All members of the community -- interested citizens, designers, real estate professionals, architects, public officials and stakeholders -- are invited to join together with planners and developers to offer input toward the final master plan for The Springs at Countryside.
The site, located at the intersection of LA 1077 and US Highway 190 is five minutes to I-12, five minutes to downtown Covington and attractively situated near key schools and transportation arteries from points north, south, east and west.
Duany will give the opening presentation of the charrette at 7 p.m. Monday, August 4, at the New Hampshire House, located at 522 North New Hampshire Street in Covington. A mid-term design review will take place for interested community members from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 8. The charrette will conclude with a presentation by Duany at 7 p.m. Monday, August 11, at the New Hampshire House. During the charrette, DPZ planners will conduct a series of roundtable discussions at the Marriott Courtyard in Covington with various interested groups. The design team will tour the property and formulate a comprehensive design plan that takes into account suggestions received during the weeklong charrette.
Members of the community are welcome to participate in the charrette process by taking part in the DPZ presentations at the New Hampshire House at 7 p.m. Monday, August 4, and at 7 p.m. Monday, August 11, or by calling Peggy Lord of Fromherz Consultants at (985) 246-3902 to be included in a planning session.
LWCC
As summer temperatures continue to soar into the mid- to upper 90s, Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) is reminding employers and employees--particularly those working outdoors-- to take every precaution to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the more life-threatening heatstroke.
It is during these extreme summer temperatures that employees, such as construction workers, roofers, delivery persons, farmers, landscapers and even those working indoors, are most at risk for heat-related illnesses. Construction workers are particularly susceptible to getting dizzy from the heat, since they are sometimes working 12 to 15 feet in the air or laying hot asphalt while wearing heavy protective gear.
Employers are strongly encouraged to learn the deadly effects of heat and humidity on workers and what steps need to be taken to protect them, such as drinking ample fluids, taking frequent breaks in a cool or shaded area, cutting down on caffeine and encouraging the wearing of light-colored clothes that reflect the heat instead of absorbing it. Employers should also be aware that heat-related injuries can occur in deceptively mild weather, due to high humidity, making working under these conditions particularly dangerous.
Additionally, preventive measures should be enforced by management and adhered to by all workers, not only those working outdoors. Heat-related injuries can also occur year-round for those working indoors in laundries, bakeries, restaurant kitchens and warehouses, despite efforts to keep these areas cool with air conditioners, fans and open windows.
"Credit Repair for Small Businesses & Individuals"
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Southern University at New Orleans-Small Business Development & Management Institute will hold a "Credit Repair for Small Businesses & Individuals" workshop for small businesses on Thursday, July 31, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the LakeCampus (formerly the North Campus) at 6801 Press Drive, Cafeteria, Trailer #5.
Has Your Credit Taken a Nose Dive Since Katrina?
Are You Thinking About Starting a Business?
Thinking About a Loan for That Business?
Thinking About Buying a Car or Home?
Need a Home Renovation Loan?
Come Out and Learn How to Repair Your Credit
Speaker: Ms. Phoebe Brown
Community Outreach Coordinator
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater New Orleans
LOAN APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED
SBA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER WILL ASSIST YOU IN PREPARING THE LOAN APPLICATION AT THE WORKSHOP.
Cost: Free of Charge
Preregistration is not required
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (504) 284-5512
Louisiana Education
State education officials learned this week that Louisiana has been selected as on one of eight states to participate in the national College and Career-Ready Policy Institute.
"It's an honor to be selected for this program, and we take pride in the fact that the Institute recognizes Louisiana's progress and commitment to readying high school students for life," State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said. "Our selection demonstrates our state is on the right track with its High School Redesign efforts as we seek to prepare students for life beyond high school graduation. Overall, the states selected to participate in this program have aligned their K-12 academic standards and high school requirements to meet the demands of college and careers and are ready to take their efforts to the next level."
Louisiana's selection will allow education leaders to join representatives from Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, and Tennessee to participate in a series of cross-state Leadership Sessions. The Institute will also provide custom-designed technical assistance to help each state achieve specific objectives, including:
Developing goals to improve high school ! graduati on, college and career-readiness, and postsecondary attainment;
Reviewing the state's comprehensive assessment system to ensure measurements align with college and career-ready standards and allow student progress to be evaluated over time;
Evaluating the state's current system of accountability to determine whether college and career-readiness is a central priority;
Designing a statewide system of supports and interventions to assist low-performing districts and schools; and
Creating educational opportunities to ensure high-risk students advance to become college-ready.
"We think some of the key benefits for us will result from the Institute's commitment to provide each state with tailor-made technical assistance as well as the opportunities we'll have to share ideas with peers from other states," Pastorek said. "This comes at a crucial time for us, considering the Department is largely focused on ensuring our students are prepared to enter the 21st century workplace."
In September, representatives from participating states will meet in Washington, D.C., to launch the program. Following the launch, Institute representatives will conduct in-state visits to gain a more thorough understanding of current policies and to identify potential issues the program can target. Following the state visits, the Institute will host the first cross-state Leadership Session in November.
The Institute is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is a collaborative effort of Achieve, Data Quality Campaign, EducationCounsel, Jobs for the Future and the NationalGovernorsAssociationCenter for Best Practices.
