Louisiana Fashions
Want to model? Bayoubuzz is trying to jumpstart the fashion design industry and is co-sponsoring an event that hopes to ultimate provide fashion talent to New Orleans and Louisiana.
On Friday, March 7th 2008 from 6pm to 10 pm, New Orleans Fashion Week, LLC will be hosting, the first casting call for models to participate in New Orleans Fashion week. The casting will take place at The Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans. New Orleans Fashion Week is an event produced by New Orleans Fashion Week, LLC, with shows happening in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
New Orleans Fashion Week LLC is casting swimwear and promotional models. Everyone will have a place in our fashion week, and we will spot light the best talent that Louisiana has to offer.
Models will have the opportunity to be in newspapers, fashion shows and magazine ads. All the models have to do is, bring photo, measurements and be prepared to walk.
The goal is discovering new talent and launching your professional modeling careers. Any model trying to get into the fashion business should jump start their career by being a part of these big events!
Ultimately, Bayoubuzz and Fashion Week hopes to put New Orleans and much of Louisiana on the fashion map. Fashion Week will be one of Louisiana’s marquee events attracting thousands from celebrities, politicians, to social and cultural personalities, and the fashion industry elite. This fashion week will be held once a year. The goal is to be comparable to 7th on Sixth in NYC and help make Louisiana a fashion Mecca.
Plus, New Orleans Fashion Week, LLC and Bayoubuzz will be hosting a series of posh events in the months leading up to the first ever industry New Orleans Fashion Week. The first of these events will be "New Orleans En Vogue" a VIP only fashion-cocktail event that will debut the evening of March 8, 2008.
"New Orleans En Vogue” will present the models and staff of New Orleans Fashion week, and a sneak peek at the ‘look’ that will be showcased during fashion week through a photo exhibition.
New Orleans En Vogue will also be an evening of music, fashion and cocktails at Zoë Lounge & Whisky Blue; located in the posh, trend setting W Hotel: 333 Poydras St New Orleans, LA. The Zoë Lounge a place that brings the wow of W, to a fashionably dressed crowd for this official New Orleans Fashion Week VIP fashion event. Anyone interested in attending RSVP at vip@neworleansfashionweek.com
New Orleans Fashion Week is a fashion industry event, produced by New Orleans Fashion Week LLC. Fashion Week will premier in September 09, allowing domestic and international fashion designers, and corporate brands to display their latest collections. Anyone interested in attending, showcasing or modeling can request additional information at press@neworleansfashionweek.com.
To learn more about New Orleans Fashion Week and upcoming events, visit us at www.neworleansfw.com.
American Transportation
On Wednesday, March 12 the World Trade Center and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon program in the Plimsoll Club on “The Future of American Transportation” featuring James RePass, President of the National Corridors Initiative, and Gilbert Carmichael, Senior Chairman, Intermodal Transportation Institute, University of Denver, and former Administrator for the Federal Railway Administration. Dr. William D. Ankner, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development, will deliver special remarks at the luncheon.
The luncheon program will focus on a number of priority issues confronting the U.S. transportation industry. The speakers will summarize the results of The Carmichael Conference on the Future of American Transportation that was convened January 28-29, 2008, in St. Louis, by the National Corridors Initiative. NCI (www.nationalcorridors.org), a private non-profit, non-partisan organization, exists to support the development of infrastructure, including an integrated national transportation system that emphasizes rational transportation decisions, such as a network of intercity passenger and freight corridor rail corridors augmented by commuter rail, and served by feeder systems. NCI welcomes the participation and support of like-minded citizens, business persons, and others who share its commitment to rebuilding North America’s infrastructure.
To register for the March 12 luncheon, visit www.wtcno.org/programs or call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, x222.
PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON PAKISTAN’S OIL REFINERY MODERNIZATION
On Wednesday, March 12 the WTC will hold a meeting from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in its 18th floor Conference Rooms on “Oil Refinery Modernization in Pakistan” featuring seven representatives from Pakistan's refineries and the Government of Pakistan. Sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the visit is focused on supporting oil refinery modernization in Pakistan, which is needed to increase the supply of value-added products, improve efficiency, and meet new environmentally-friendly regulations for cleaner fuels. The visit will introduce the foreign delegates to U.S. companies with appropriate technologies and services for planned and future refinery upgrades. After the presentation attendees will have an opportunity to meet individually with the delegates. This program is free of charge but pre-registration is required. To register for the free program, visit www.wtcno.org/programs or call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, x222.
Landrieu-Dutch Conference
United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., will on Friday hold a press conference following a series of meetings with a delegation from the Netherlands, including Dutch Vice Minister Tineke Huizinga, who oversees the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.
Sen. Landrieu, the Dutch delegation and Port of New Orleans officials will discuss recovery issues, including levee construction, funding needs, the Category 5 plan and water management integration. In January of 2006, Sen. Landrieu led a delegation from Louisiana to the Netherlands to learn about Dutch water management.
The Dutch delegation will also be meeting with Louisiana state government officials and local Dutch businesses.
Attending the conference will be U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La.
Dutch Vice Minister Tineke Huizinga, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management Han Meyer, Professor of Urban Design, Theory and Methods at Delft University of Technology John Barry, author, Rising Tide; commissioner, Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and will occur Friday, March 7, 2008
12:45 p.m. CST at the Seven on Fulton Restaurant Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans Hotel 701 Convention Center Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.
Job Fair
Employers are encouraged to participate in the Baton Rouge Career Solutions Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at Holiday Inn Select at 4728 Constitution Ave.
The first two hours, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., are reserved for veterans only. Veterans must present their DD-214 discharge papers, VA card or military identification to participate. The final two hours, from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m., are open to everyone.
“We will once again offer our veterans first and exclusive access as the job fair begins, while including the general public during the second half of the event,” said Bob Hartman, local veterans employment representative with Baton Rouge Career Solutions. “We tried this approach at last year’s job fair and had great success. This will enable participating businesses the opportunity to help our veterans but also to interact with the most diverse group of job seekers from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels.”
Businesses of all types are encouraged to participate. Employers should reserve their free booth space early. More than 75 businesses are expected to attend. Refreshments will be provided.
For more information or to reserve free booth space, contact Bob Hartman with the Baton Rouge Career Solutions veterans unit at (225) 922-1320.
Katrina, Rita Debris
If you see debris in a Louisiana public waterway, "Report It!" That is the message of a coalition of federal and state agencies behind the Louisiana Marine Debris program, which was created to identify, document and remove marine debris caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that continues to litter the state's waterways.
"We are enlisting the help of government organizations, marinas, commercial charter companies, boat dealers and other private businesses to help get the word out by posting and distributing flyers and other information, " said Leo Richardson, State Marine Debris Coordinator, GOHSEP. "The message is simple - if you see, hit, snag or even hear about marine debris, tell us where it is."
To report debris visit the Louisiana Marine Debris Web site at www.LouisianaMarineDebris.com or call toll free at, 866.579.4DNR (866.579.4367). The call center will be manned from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers can leave messages 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
HUD Housing
According to HUD in a press release, “nearly a quarter of a million more families could be eligible this year to purchase or refinance their homes using affordable, FHA-insured mortgages, thanks to the economic growth package signed into law by President Bush last month. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will allow HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to temporarily increase its loan limits and insure larger mortgages at a more affordable price in high cost areas of the country.
"The stimulus is providing immediate relief to homeowners," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, who will be discussing the new loan limits later today at a Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors keynote speech. "It raises the Federal Housing Administration's loan limits, enabling more families to qualify for a safe, affordable FHA mortgage. This is important. Families in high-cost states have been priced out of FHA-backed loans. This has created a vacuum, filled by exotic subprime loans. Families with home loans up to $729,750 will now qualify for an FHA loan, depending on where they live."
Beginning today, HUD will offer temporary FHA loan limits that will range from $271,050 to $729,750. Overall, the change in loan limits will help provide economic stability to America's communities and give nearly 240,000 additional homeowners and homebuyers a safer, more affordable mortgage alternative. The maximum amount of $729,750 will only be applicable to extremely high-cost metropolitan areas such as: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.”
Hornet’s Shinn Foundation
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they will be hosting their annual Top Hats and High Tops black tie gala on Thursday, March 13 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room to benefit the Shinn Foundation.
This annual fund-raising gala will provide guests with live music by Dr. Michael White, live and silent auctions with Hornets and other sports memorabilia, fantastic food and the opportunity to interact with the entire team and coaching staff.
“This is such a unique fund-raising event because our players and coaches go out of their way to make the evening special for our guests,” said Hornets Owner George Shinn. “It’s such a fun atmosphere, and all proceeds will benefit local charities in the New Orleans area, especially our Hoops for Homes initiative.”
The Shinn Foundation was established to provide financial support for the Hornets’ numerous community initiatives, including Hoops for Homes and Read to Achieve. The focus of this year’s Hoops for Homes initiative is to provide “stop gap” funding to teachers residing in the New Orleans area who lack adequate funds to complete repairs on their homes. Through the Hoops for Homes partners, grants, low interest loans, materials and home repair services will be available to qualifying teachers.
“Gold” table packages are available for $4,000 and include seating for eight guests plus a player or coach and guest, and a lane in Peja Stojakovic’s “Charitabowl” bowling fundraiser. . “Teal” tables are $2,500 and include seating for eight guests plus a player or coach and guest. “Purple” tables may be purchased for $1,500 and include seating for eight guests. Individual tickets are also available for $150 each.
For more information on the Shinn Foundation or Top Hats and High Tops Gala, please visit Hornets.com. Any media interested in covering the event or conducting an interview with a Hornets executive on the gala, please contact Brittany Cranston at 504-593-4825.
Housing Elevations
To speed the payout funds to homeowners and in recognition of the cost of elevation, most homeowners will receive a flat $30,000 for elevation through the Road Home program, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and the Office of Community Development (OCD) announced today.
Rather than each homeowner having an individual elevation grant calculation, homeowners will receive standard elevation amounts through the Road Home program, based on the type of home they have, at the following levels:
Site built homes and modular homes: up to $30,000 elevation allowance;
Mobile homes: up to $20,000 elevation allowance.
"This across-the-board formula will give most homeowners a flat $30,000 for elevation, which will cut through the red tape of individual grant calculations, speed the pace of payouts to homeowners and bring elevation awards more in line with actual elevation costs," said Walter Leger, chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority's (LRA) Housing Task Force.
Homeowner compensation through the Road Home is still capped at $150,000 per applicant. Almost 2,000 applicants have already received their elevation awards and will be eligible for additional funding if they received less than they would under the new policy provided the new amount does not exceed the total Road Home program cap of $150,000.
For all homes, the policy change makes the program conform more closely to estimates by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the actual cost of elevation.
The state announced in late February that homeowners who qualified for elevation awards would be receiving information about the program over the next several weeks. The state anticipates that the first elevation awards will be paid this spring. The elevation program was originally put on hold in April 2007 after concerns over a potential shortfall in the Road Home budget.
Louisiana will also run a second elevation program using Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds beginning this summer. This program will help Road Home applicants cover the gap between their Road Home elevation awards and the actual cost of elevation.
In addition, the state announced Wednesday a change to the Road Home program regarding a full appraisal, called a 1004. This change will affect applicants who dispute their pre-storm value or submit a post-storm appraisal of their pre-storm value that exceeds the acceptable value based on existing Road Home policy.
Under the new appraisal policy, applicants will be given the option to request a 1004 appraisal or accept the highest valid pre-storm value currently in their file. If the applicant requests the 1004 appraisal, which is most similar to a full appraisal for real estate transactions, it will represent the final pre-storm value of their home. If the new appraised value is higher or lower than what is currently in the homeowner's file, it will result in an award calculation adjustment. This adjustment would result in either additional funding or a reduction in funding to the homeowner.
