New Orleans Recovery   

The City of New Orleans, Department of Public Works is proud to announce the completion of  the rehabilitation of 23 unpaved gravel alleys throughout the Lakeview Neighborhood.
 
"This project is another step towards the rehabilitation of Lakeview's damaged infrastructure," said Robert Mendoza, Director of Public Works. "The rehabilitation of these gravel alleys has been a priority since the 2005 hurricane season as zoning regulations require Lakeview to have off-street parking and a utility access in the rear of each property."
 
The $630,000 project, which was funded by the Federal Management Emergency Agency (FEMA), included the reshaping of approximately 18 and a half miles of nine feet wide gravel alleys to improve drainage. In addition, soft or weak areas were removed and replaced. The project began in December 2008 and was completed on June 10, 2009.
 
"During the course of the project, we received multiple requests to add additional alleys to the program. After working with FEMA, we were able to add nine other smaller alleys," said Mendoza.
 
In September 2008, Kass Brothers, Inc. was awarded the construction contract through the City's public bid process. Beta Testing provided independent testing of materials and compaction compliance. MWH, the City's project management firm, provided construction management services.
 
In addition to the rehabilitation of the alleys, FEMA is also reimbursing the City for the repair of roadways and sidewalks damaged by Hurricane Katrina and Rita and the debris removal process that followed. In total, 17,000 individual patching repair sites were identified citywide. The repairs in the Lakeview neighborhood began last month and are expected to cost approximately $2.9 million. A total of 824 individual repairs will take place on roadways and sidewalks throughout the neighborhood.

World Trade

On Tuesday, June 23, the World Trade Center and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon program at the WTC's Plimsoll Club on "The Canada-United States Partnership and its Impact on Louisiana."   The featured speaker will be Hon. Norris Pettis, Consul General of Canada, Dallas, Texas.

Norris Pettis was appointed Canada's Consul General in the summer of 2006. A former military officer, Mr. Pettis  leads a group of seasoned professionals in representing Canada's interests in a dynamic region of the United States that includes Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Mr. Pettis graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Athabasca University. As an Infantry officer, he was commissioned into Canada's Royal Canadian Regiment and served in two of its three battalions as platoon commander, company commander and eventually commanding officer of the 1st Battalion. Committed largely to field work and training, Mr. Pettis also taught at the Canadian Army Staff College, where he was appointed dean.

Mr. Pettis' international experience includes an exchange tour with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany and two operational tours of duty in Cyprus including command of his battalion in the central sector of the island. He also completed a year-long tour during the Balkan war as chief of staff for the Croatian theatre of operations and as deputy commander of the Canadian contingent deployed to the region. Mr. Pettis spent five years as Canada's defence attaché covering seven countries in the Arabian Gulf region. Notable among his staff appointments were his tour as chief of operations and plans for the Canadian Army, director of training for the Canadian Army and director of protocol and foreign liaison for the Department of National Defence. Mr. Pettis also had the unique experience of commanding Canada's Northern military region.

Mr. Pettis will be available for individual consultations after the program.  To register for the June 23 luncheon program, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 220, or register on-line at www.wtcno.org/programs.

Lakefront Arena

This May the Lakefront Arena celebrated its first year since its grand reopening post-Katrina. On May 2, 2008, after being closed more than two and half years, the Lakefront Arena reopened its doors to the UNO and New Orleans community and concert and family promoters.

Over the last year, the Lakefront Arena has provided a venue for concerts and family shows, a stage for UNO’s graduates to grace and a court for the UNO Privateers! Since its reopening, shows and concerts such as Disney On Ice, Carrie Underwood, Robin Williams, Fall Out Boy, Disney Live, The Wiggles, Ne-Yo, Widespread Panic, Jeff Dunham, and Maya Angelou, to name a few, have performed at the Arena.

Last month and throughout the summer, the Lakefront Arena was and will be home to local high school, UNO and other university graduations, dance revues, basketball games, special events such as the WYES 26^th Annual International Beer Tasting, Dane Cook, R. Kelly, and family shows such as Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes to Town and the return of Playhouse Disney Live in December.

According to Marco Perez, general manager, Lakefront Arena, “We are excited to be back in action. It’s been a rewarding experience as we have been able to bring back the mid-size venue that has been missing from the New Orleans area since Katrina. The entertainment industry has truly embraced us.”

With upgrades to the exterior lighting, a new state of the art sound system, upgraded Box Office, a new basketball floor and a new marquee on the way, there have been several milestones for the Arena.

A much-anticipated return of the Aquatic Center is also on its way this summer (end of July) with an updated sound system that will be used for public swim time and swim meets, a new automated chemical treatment for the pool, an updated timing system, as well as a new, modern scoreboard.

The Lakefront Arena has returned quality of life and entertainment to the New Orleans area, along with their contribution of more than $2 million annually to The University of New Orleans. As an economic engine for the University and the New Orleans entertainment industry, it has been able to regain steam with more surprises ahead.

For a complete listing of events visit www.arena.uno.edu or call 504.280.7222. 

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