President’s Report

President Report

The President’s Report

May 2022

​NEW LOCATION:
Pink House (Thomas C. Laughlin Building) located at 4518 Jefferson Hwy.

I have so enjoyed the Spring weather. The cool mornings and evenings have been great for working in the yard and spending time outdoors with the family. I was hoping our Spring weather would last longer, but it looks like high 80’s and 90’s next week. Hope everyone had a lovely Easter Celebration. The weekend weather was perfect for crawfish boils and barbecue. New Orleans also hosted the Crescent City Classic and festival season is upon us. I hope some of you will be able to attend the Jazz Festival to enjoy good food and music. It is good to see us returning to normal activities after the 2 year hiatus due to Covid. 

This time of the year be on the look-out for swarming termites in the neighborhood. It is recommended to have your homes treated with termite barrier every 5-10 years. It is time to walk around your homes making sure there are no soil tracks going up the foundation or piers for the raised homes. Keep the perimeter foundation around your home clean of debris and make sure there are no leaky faucets or a water source that is close to your home. Termites need soil and water to set up their cartons in your home and prevention is the best way to keep them out.

The heat is kicking in and it is time to prepare our bodies for a long, hot summer. Make sure to have your sun hats ready with lots of sunscreen applications, drink extra fluids to prevent heat related illnesses and try not to work outdoors during the middle of the day. Please check in on our senior residents. The heat can be very hard on them doing the simplest of tasks like taking out or picking up the garbage cans. Respect and kindness for our seniors is paramount to having a great neighborhood. Thank you all for your dedication to preserving our great neighborhood.

Neighborhood News:

We have continued working with Jefferson Parish on our neighborhood beautification projects. The Jefferson Parish Parkway Department has been busy on Dodge Ave at Jefferson Hwy planting a garden by our new “Welcome to Suburban Terrace” neighborhood sign. Chinese Fringe Flower, Drift Rose bushes, and two evergreens were planted by the sign. They are exploring options to “light-up” this area. They also replaced two Oak trees on Dodge Ave. that were destroyed by Hurricane Ida. When you get a chance, drive by and check out this project. I would like to thank the Beautification Committee for spearheading this project. This is just the beginning of upcoming projects that make our neighborhood welcoming and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Another area of focus is the park on Jefferson Park and Jefferson Hwy. This is very exciting for our neighborhood. Thank you Jefferson Parish and Councilman Deano Bonano for working with us on this project. 

March 2022 Meeting Recap:

Our March meeting hosted JPAWS Shannon Neil Chief Humane Officer. Information was dissemiated on how to report animal abuse and neglect. All participants found this information very useful. We also had a surprise guest speaker. Sheriff Joseph Lopinto shared with our members information on the proposed tax for the police department. I am so pleased to see that the tax passed. In addition, our JPSO representatives reviewed the neighborhood crime stats and answered questions from our members.

May 2022 Meeting:

The General Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at the Pink House (Thomas C. Laughlin Building) located at 4518 Jefferson Hwy. We are using this venue until further notice. The doors open at 6:30pm and we will start promptly at 7:00pm.  May is National Health Observance. In honor of this, we are holding a mini health fair for our members! We want everyone to remain healthy and most importantly stay on top of their health needs. We will have goodie bags full of health awareness information. Vice President Charles Jarreau and his wife Joan will be our presenters for this topic. Charles Jarreau is a Critical Care Nurse Practicioner and his wife Joan Jarreau is a Nurse Educator. Joan will demonstrate basic CPR and AED usage while Charles will cover health conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes and blood sugar monitoring, and techniques to assist with choking. Both are registered nurses and work at Ochsner. I would like to thank Charles for working with Ochsner on putting together our goodie bags and organizing this event.

JPSO will also be in attendance to present crime stats and answer questions. Our goal is to continue to keep our neighborhood safe and to have open communication with the Sheriff’s Department.  

Upcoming Events:

Our next meeting will be on July 12, 2022 at the Pink House (Thomas C. Laughlin Building) located at 4518 Jefferson Hwy. Our guest speaker will be Ron Camarota from the Louisiana Department of Insurance, Office of the Consumer. He will address hurricane preparedness and insurance. It will be good to have someone address the upcoming increase in homeowners insurance.

Wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day! “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” Matthew Jacobson

Happy Fourth of July! ” Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” Herbert Hoover

Stacey Spies, Ph.D.
Vice President  STCA

 

Suburban Terrace Civic Association

President’s Report

PRESIDENT REPORT March 2022

NEW MEETING LOCATION for March 8, 2022! 

Joe Yenni Building in Elmwood 

Second Floor Council Chambers

Mardi Gras has come and gone. Hopefully, this Lenten season of reflection will bring forth a surge of renewal for everyone.  It looks like the pandemic is on a decline which makes spring even more beautiful. As the wonders and beauty of spring approaches, your Civic Association is looking forward to springing into action to address new neighborhood initiatives.  I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming general membership meeting on March 8, 2022.  

As spring is approaching and the Shamrocks cover our front yards, and we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with revelry and eating corned beef and cabbage, let us not forget the upcoming celebration of Easter which also symbolizes spring and rebirth. Blessings to you in this Lenten Season, Have a Fabulous St Patrick Day and Happy Easter to All! 

Neighborhood News 

Due to sustained hurricane Ida damage, we are unable to use the Golden Age Center for our upcoming meetings. We are also unable to use the room on the second floor in the gym due to air conditioning repairs. The parish is working diligently to repair the buildings. Our meeting location may change as the year progresses. We will keep you updated. 

A “Welcome to our Neighborhood” sign has been installed at the foot of Dodge Ave and Jefferson Hwy.  Drive by and look at this gorgeous sign. This is just the beginning of this beautification project. The next step will be a garden and then we are hoping for lights. This project was funded by Councilman Deano Bonano, so we want to extend our gratitude to him at upcoming meetings.   

On February 22, 2022, the Suburban Terrace Civic Association Board toured the Big Easy Blend site located on St. George Ave.  This proposal met safety requirements and was approved by the planning board. 

Renewable Energy of Jefferson LLC has made fifteen $1,000 college scholarships available to Jefferson Parish high school graduating seniors, choosing to pursue an environmental-related degree at an accredited university or community college. Please contact TNicholson@riverbirchllc.com to request an application. The deadline for turning in an application is Monday May 2, 2022.

January 2022 Meeting 

This meeting was cancelled due to the surge in Covid cases. 

March 2022 Meeting 

Our March 8, 2022 meeting will take place at the Joe Yenni building in Elmwood in the Council Chambers on the second floor. The doors will open at 6:30 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7:00 pm. Our guest speaker will be Chief Humane Officer Shannon Neal from the Jefferson Protection & Animal Welfare Services. She will share information on animal abuse, bites, nuisances, abandonment as well as the start and end of the legal process regarding animals.  JPSO will be available with the crime Stats and Councilman Deano Bonano will be available to answer questions pertaining to our neighborhood. 

Upcoming Events 

The following dates have been approved for our General Membership Meetings. 

March 8, 2022 @ the Joe Yenni Building in Elmwood on the second floor 

 
May 10, 2022  

July 12, 2022  

September 13, 2022  

October-Night Out Against Crime TBD   

November 15, 2022  

 RENEW OR JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!!! BECOME A MEMBER TODAY- A SINGLE MEMBERSHIP IS JUST $10 AND A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $20. JOINING IS EASY ON OUR WEBSITE suburbanterrace.org OR YOU CAN MAIL YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT TO: STCA Membership Committee, c/o 304 Central Avenue, Jefferson, LA 70121. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND TO MEETING NEW MEMBERS. “ALONE, WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH”- Helen Keller  
 

If you have a recommendation for a topic of interest for our neighborhood meetings, please let us know because we are here to meet the needs of our association. There will be a comment box available when you walk into the meeting for suggestions and/or feedback. 

 
 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Stacey Spies PhD

Vice President STCA

President’s Report


MEETING CANCELED

JANUARY 2022

Due to the recent surge in omicron and so many of our board and guest speakers are either on quantine or have it. We decided for the safety of our members to cancel tonight’s meeting and see you in March. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND KNOW WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN JEFFERSON PARISH.

PLEASE JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION TODAY!! BECOME A MEMBER TODAY- A SINGLE MEMBERSHIP IS JUST $10 AND A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $20. JOINING IS EASY ON OUR WEBSITE suburbanterrace.org, AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, OR YOU CAN MAIL YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT TO: c/o 304 CENTRAL AVE. JEFFERSON, LA 70121

Stacey Spies, Ph.D.
Vice President ST

President’s Report

President’s Report November 2021  

Hoping everyone is moving toward some normalcy after Hurricane IDA. I know I’ve been working on getting repairs to my house and have been going through some challenging times. Contractor fraud is prevalent during disasters. Be leery if you are asked to pay the total cost of a repair upfront. It’s a best practice to get several quotes on a repair. Always check for licenses, insurance, and references. It’s easy to Google a contractor/repair person to get background information on their business practices. The Better Business Bureau is also a great source of information.  

I’ve seen first-hand neighbors helping neighbors during this difficult time. It’s a good feeling knowing that our neighbors care about each other and are willing to help strangers. I would like to recognize Representative Cameron Henry and Representative Laurie Schlegel for their supports during Hurricane Ida. Representative Cameron Henry donated tarps and Representative Laurie Schlegel donated gas. These supplies were distributed to our neighbors in need.  If a member of our association needs assistance, please leave this information at the membership registration desk. 

“Bad things do happen in the world, like war, natural disasters, and disease. But out of those situations always arise stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Daryn Kagan 

September Meeting 

Our September meeting was cancelled due to the hurricane and we were not able to have our annual Night Out Against Crime celebration due to sustained damage at the Jefferson Playground Golden Age Center and the gym due to Hurricane Ida. 

Neighborhood News  

We lost a beautiful Live Oak tree next to our newly planted one from our first beautification project on Dodge Ave. due to Hurricane Ida.  The neighborhood association will work with Councilman Deano Bonano and the Parkway Division to replace this tree.  A “Welcome to our Neighborhood” sign is in the development phase.  This project is being funded by Councilman Deano Bonano, so we want to extend our gratitude to him at upcoming meetings.  

November 9, 2021 Meeting  

The meeting will be held at Jefferson Playground Gym ROOM 2. 

Senator Cameron Henry and Representative Laurie Schlegel will attend the November 9, 2021 meeting to discuss the recovery efforts in Jefferson Parish and our state. They will also share infrastructure projects that will improve the quality of our lives. Representatives from Big Easy Blends is seeking a zonal change and will share all their safety information so we can vote on the changes. We will also have JPSO represented to report on crime stats and to answer questions. We are very grateful to all our members for wearing masks during the meetings.  We are asking members to continue to wear masks during the meeting except when eating and drinking to promote a safe environment for all members.   

Upcoming Events  

The following dates have been approved for our General Membership Meetings.  

January 11, 2022 

March 8, 2022 

May 10, 2022 

July 12, 2022 

September 13, 2022 

October-Night Out Against Crime TBD  

November 15, 2022 

If you have a recommendation for a topic of interest for our neighborhood meetings, please let us know because we are here to meet the needs of our association. There will be a comment box available when you walk into the meeting for suggestions and/or feedback.  

THERE IS STILL TIME TO RENEW OR JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!!! BECOME A MEMBER TODAY- A SINGLE MEMBERSHIP IS JUST $10 AND A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $20. JOINING IS EASY ON OUR WEBSITE suburbanterrace.org, AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, OR YOU CAN MAIL YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT TO: STCA Membership Committee, c/o 304 Central Avenue, Jefferson, LA 70121. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.   

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has…”  

Stacey Spies, Ph.D.
Vice President STCA

President’s Report

PRESIDENT REPORT JULY 2021

Hoping everyone had a happy Fourth of July celebration. We are very grateful for those that have fought for our freedom. Independence Day is one of the best holidays both for what we celebrate and how we celebrate it. “America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellent. It is valor. “– Paul Tsongas

The heat is upon us and my best advice in dealing with the heat is to take it slow when working outdoors. Drink plenty of fluids before you venture out and take multiple breaks to cool your body temperature down. Remember if you become dizzy, nauseous, lightheaded or your heart is pounding get out of the heat immediately and seek medical attention if needed. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and dehydration can be life-threatening. Please be safe and if you see a neighbor in need please get involved and offered to help. We have many fragile residence in our area and helping them to bring the garbage can to the curb and back or assisting with moving landscaping debris to the curb for pick up is a great help.

Neighborhood News

“To be a good neighbor is one of life’s richest joys.” The Daily Quibble

“It’s all about being good neighbors.” Ron Pistoresi

STCA is fortunate to have Chappy Eppling spearheading beautification projects in the neighborhood. Dodge Street at Jefferson Highway is the location of the first project. The neighborhood association is working with Councilman Deano Bonano and Jefferson Parish Parkway Division Director, Bryan Parks. Trees have been trimmed and a new Live Oak was planted. A “Welcome to our Neighborhood “ sign is in the development phase. This project is being funded by Councilman Deano Bonano, so we want to extend our gratitude to him at the upcoming meetings. We want all areas of our neighborhood to be appealing. These beautification projects are essential in attracting new families and businesses. If you have recommendations on beautification projects, please submit this information at the membership table.

STCA is also discussing the possibility of fencing in a small area at Jefferson Playground for a dog park. Jefferson Highway is being resurfaced so be mindful of road construction. There is a zoning change proposal for Big Easy Blends located on Saint George Avenue. There will be a representative at the July 13, 2021 General Membership Meeting.

May 2021 Meeting Recap

The General Membership Meeting was held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Jefferson Playground Golden Age Center (4100 South Dr.). This meeting address the “The State of the Parish.” Our guess speakers were Scott Walker Council at Large and Deano Bonano, our Council District 2 Representative. It was very interesting to hear about the progress Jeferson Parish is making and specifically projects that impact our neighborhood.

July 13, 2021 Meeting

The Meeting will be held at Jefferson Playground Golden Age Center, (4100 South Dr.). Doors will open at 6:30 PM and the meeting will begin promptly at 7 PM. Allen Dyess the Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness for Jefferson Parish government will be presenting on Hurricane Preparedness. There will also be a presentation by Mr. Sal LaMartina representing Big Easy Blends located on Saint George Avenue adjacent to Pecan Grove. The company is proposing a zoning change from M1 to M2. This shift would go from light manufacturing to Industrial. It is important that you come to the meeting to hear about the proposal, ask questions, and to voice your opinion because any zoning change impacts the neighborhood. We will also have JPSO represented to report on crime stats and to answer questions and propose ideas on how to help keep our neighborhood safe.

We are very grateful to all our members for wearing masks during the meetings. It is evident that we care for each other. We are asking members to continue to wear masks during the meeting except when eating and drinking to promote a safe environment for all members.

Upcoming Events

The following dates have been approved for our General Membership Meetings.

September 14, 2021.

Guest speakers: House of Representative Laurie Schlegel, and Senator Cameron Henry

October – Night Out Against Crime Party TBD

November 9, 2021

If you have a recommendation for a topic of interest for our neighborhood meetings, please let us know because we are here to meet the needs of our association. There will be a comment box available when you walk into the meeting for suggestions and/or feedback.

THERE IS STILL TIME TO RENEW OR JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!!!! BECOME A MEMBER TODAY – A SINGLE MEMBERSHIP IS JUST $10.00 AND A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $20.00. JOINING IS EASY ON OUR WEBSITE suburbanterrace.org, AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, OR YOU CAN MAIL YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS TO:

STCA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE,

304 CENTRAL AVENUE

JEFFERSON, LA 70121

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has…..”

Stacey Spies PhD

Vice President STCA

President’s Report

Presidents Report May 2021

There is still time to renew or join your neighborhood association!!! Become a member today – a single membership is just $10 and a family membership is only $20. Joining is easy on our website at suburbanterrace.org, at membership meetings, or you can mail your membership payments to: STCA Membership Committee,

C/O 304 Central Ave., Jefferson, Louisiana 70121. Thank you for your continued support.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has…”

STCA has been identified as the strongest civic association in the surrounding areas. It’s not because we are an affluent neighborhood; it’s because of hard work and dedication from our board members and from a membership participation. In order for us to continue our work, we need your participation. Please renew your membership even if you are unable to attend meetings.

We have experienced tumultuous storms over the past month and an increase in total rainfall this April compared to previous months. It’s been a perfect time for us to examine our yard drainage needs and to assess the status of our roof. If you are experiencing roof leaks, this would be a good time to make those repairs before hurricane season starts on June 1, 2021. If you are able, let’s support our local businesses for our needs. The STCA will be reaching out to our local businesses to update the business membership and will identify those businesses that are supporting our neighborhood association. If you know of any local businesses that may be interested in becoming a business member, please submit the names at the membership table.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Good neighbors make a huge difference in your quality of life. “I always thought I had good neighbors. It turns out I have the best neighbors in the world.” Jim Casey

We welcome a new business in our community on Jefferson Highway and Jefferson Park Avenue., Los Olanchanos, which is across the street from Subway. The restaurant serves hot Honduran food with some Mexican dishes. The owner is warm and friendly and the food has received good reviews on the Next-Door Neighbor app. We love diversity in the neighborhood and look forward to other new businesses.

STCA has begun beautification projects in the neighborhood. Dodge Street at Jefferson Highway is the location of the first project. The neighborhood association is working with Councilman Deano Bonano and the Parkway Division to trim trees, put new signage, and a garden bed with Lighting at the entrance. A 45 gallon Live Oak tree will be planted in the 2nd Median. This project is being funded by Councilman Deano Bonano, so we want to extend our gratitude to him at the May 11, 2021 meeting. Our second project involved purchasing mulch for a garden at Jefferson Playground. We thank those individuals that are tending to this garden. We want all areas of our neighborhood to be appealing. These beautification projects are essential in attracting new families and businesses. If you have recommendations on beautification projects,

please submit this information at the membership table.

MARCH 2021 MEETING RECAP

On March 9, 2021 General Membership Meeting was held at Jefferson Playground Golden age Center (4100 South Drive). Brooke Burmaster, Director of the Streets Department, was in attendance to provide an update and address concerns regarding drainage and street projects.

We were also very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the candidates that ran for the vacant State Representative position. This vacant position was filled by Laurie Schlegel. JPSO was also present with the neighborhood crime stats from 1st and 4th district for us and answered all concerning questions from our members.

MAY 2021 MEETING

The General Membership Meeting Will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at Jefferson PlaygroundGolden Age Center (4100 South Drive). The doors open at 6:30 PM and we will start promptly at 7 PM. Prepackaged refreshments will be provided. We are very grateful to all of our members for wearing masks during the meetings. It is evident that we care for each other. We are asking members to continue to wear masks during the meeting except when eating and drinking to promote a safe environment for all members. Further guidance will be provided as restrictions continue to be lifted.

This meeting will address the “State of the Parish”. Our guest speaker will be At Large Councilman, Scott Walker and Deano Bonano, our Council District 2 Representative. We especially want to address vacant buildings in our area. One in particular is Jefferson Elementary school and Ochsner’s plan for the building. It is a challenge to minimize vacant buildings on Jefferson Highway; however, we must continue to hold public officials and business owners responsible for maintaining vacant buildings.

We will also have JPSO represented with our finest men in blue to report on crime stats and to answer questions and propose ideas on how to help keep our neighborhood safe.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The following dates have been approved for our General Membership Meetings.

July 13, 2021

September 14, 2021

October – Night Out Against Crime Event TBD

November 9, 2021

If you have a recommendation for a topic of interest for our neighborhood meetings, please let us know because we are here to meet the needs of our association. There will be a comment box available when you walk into the meeting for suggestions and/or feedback.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Fourth of July!

Stacey Spies PhD

Vice President STCA

President’s Report

MARCH GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
March 9, 2021
7 pm – 9pm Jefferson Playground
Room 2
4100 South Dr, Jefferson, LA 70121

Presidents Report

March 2021

There is still time to renew or join your neighborhood association!!! Become a member today – a single membership is just $10 and a family membership is only $20. Joining is easy on our website at suburbanterrace.org or you can mail your membership payments to: STCA membership committee, c/o 304 Central Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121. We look forward to your continued support and to meeting new members. “alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller

Mardi Gras has come and gone. Hopefully this Lenten season of reflection will bring forth a surge of renewal for everyone. It looks like the pandemic is on the decline which makes spring even more beautiful. As the wonders and beauty of spring approaches, your civic association is looking forward to springing into action to address new neighborhood initiatives. I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming general membership meeting on March 9, 2021.

Interesting tidbits about the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day
* The Shamrock was considered a sacred plant -The Shamrock, a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries. It was called “sea Roy” by the Celts and was considered a sacred plant that symbolized the arrival of spring. According to the legend, Saint Patrick used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity.
* The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in America-while people of Ireland had celebrated Saint Patrick, record show that the tradition of a parade began on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida.
* Corn beef and cabbage was an American innovation – while Ham and Cabbage were eating in Ireland, corn beef was substituted for ham because it was a cheaper substitute for impoverished immigrants.

As spring is approaching and the shamrocks cover our front yards, and we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with ravelry and eating corn beef and cabbage, let us not forget the upcoming celebration of Easter which also symbolizes the spring and rebirth. Blessings to you in this Lenten season, have a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day and a Happy Easter to all!

Neighborhood News

Our community is growing and changing daily with new businesses, renovation of residential and new construction. In someways it is exciting and in other ways it can be scary. Change always comes at a cost and we have to decide who will pay. Our neighborhood tranquility thrives on the mature trees throughout our area. I have witnessed many healthy mature trees removed from my neighborhood in the name of progress. We as a community must realize the importance of mature trees and expressed our concern for their removal. We should encourage the protection of these mature trees and encourage neighbors to replant reforestation quality trees on their properties. It takes 30 to 50 years for these new trees to give us back what we have removed. Planting trees in the neighborhood is a big initiative for the association this year.

January 2021 Meeting

​Due to The increase in Covid – 19 cases in Jeferson Parish, this meeting was canceled to help promote the safety of our members. The STCA board continues to meet to plan for 2021. We are looking at a “Plant a Tree” campaign to beautify the neighborhood and to assist with drainage as the trees mature. We are also identifying other beautification projects that will add lighting and freshen up entrance points. If you have a recommendation for any area that needs a maintenance/beautification, please send me the information.

March 2021 Meeting

Our March 9, 2021 meeting will take place at Jefferson playground Golden Age Center, (4100 South Dr.). The doors will open at 6:30 PM and the meeting will start promptly at 7 PM.

Brooke Burmaster, Director of the streets department for Jeferson Parish, will provide an update and address concerns.

We are also very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the following candidates for the vacant state representative position.

Edwin (Eddie) Connick
Laurie Schlegel
Ramen Delaney Jr.

JPSO will also be available with the crime stats and to answer your questions.

Upcoming events

The following dates have been approved for a general membership meetings.

March 9, 2021
May 11, 2021
July 13, 2021
September 14, 2021
October – Night Out Against Crime TBA
November 9, 2021

If you have a recommendation for a topic of interest for a neighborhood meetings, please let us know because we are here to meet the needs of our association. There will be a comment box available when you walk into the meeting for suggestions and/or feedback.

MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED

Stacey Spies, Ph.D.
Vice President  STCA

 

President’s Report September 2020

September 2020

We have all had plenty of time to reflect during the shutdown. This year has given us all obstacles to overcome and the challenges have been many. The good news is our neighborhood is strong and determined to get through this together. I have seen more neighbors out exercising and wanting to have a better home life experience. There are more gardeners now than before which is exciting for our environment. We have had front porch musicians entertaining our evenings and neighbors gathering together outdoors to enjoy each other’s company. It is always comforting to me to know this is my neighborhood. It is filled with kindness and thoughtfulness for others.

We are at the height of hurricane season and should all monitor the weather closely. We are all sending our thoughts and prayers to those negatively affected by Hurricane Laura. We have been there and know the daunting days that lie ahead. There are many ways to volunteer and donate, which knowing our neighborhood we will shine. I look forward to seeing you all at the General Membership Meetings.

Neighborhood News

The road work on Central Ave at the railroad tracks has been completed and is open. Work is now starting on Karen Ave which will improve the street and curbing. The construction will affect the homes along Karen Ave, but we know this will eventually give us a well deserved makeover and we ask for everyones patiences for this much needed improvement.

Jefferson Parish schools have opened this week and I think most of our little ones are happy to see their friends and teachers. We are all hoping for the Best for our little ones in our community. We all want to feel as if we are headed in the direction of our normal lives again.

Education During a Pandemic ( written by Dr Stacey Spies)

School systems are currently being challenged to provide educational services to all students amidst a major health concern. It is very difficult to balance staff and student safety, delivering instruction and promoting a school climate that addresses the social and emotional well-being of staff and students. School systems have been provided with guidance from the Louisiana Department of Education on developing a “Strong Start Plan” for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. The Strong Start Plan for each school district may vary depending on the human and fiscal resources available to each district. Local school districts are continuously refining their plans and have faced tough critics from their employees, students’ families and community sources.

As an outsider looking in, it’s easy to say students need to be physically in school; however, as an insider looking out, the day to day operations of a school have completely changed. Schools are not only faced with some normal day to day operational concerns, but now are faced with an unsurmountable amount of uncertainty regarding what a typical day will look like. There is so much anxiety about what will happen when the bus driver, custodian, cafeteria worker, teachers, special education service providers, administrators and other faculty are absent due to the virus or quarantining. On a normal day, it’s very difficult to fill school vacancies to assist with the daily operations. At a time like this, school employees know that substitutes will be hard to secure for these vacancies. That’s why school staff are seeking clarifications on the type of PPE being provided and ensuring that procedures and processes have been established prior to students returning on campus.

The extra time that has been given to schools to help further plan has made a difference. Teachers being heard has made a difference in school and district preparations. Let’s continue to support our schools for providing for the health and safety and social and emotional well-being of students while also providing instruction during unprecedented times. Let’s practice patience and kindness toward our teachers.

I have continued questioning officials about the plight of the abandon Jefferson Elementary School. It has been brought to my attention that they are trying to find a charter school to take over this site. Nothing has been confirmed but I am hopeful this facility will not sit vacant for a long period of time. We are hoping for the best.

Construction of new homes in our neighborhood continues and we welcome all our new residence. We encourage them and all of our neighbors to plant a new tree to help reforest our neighborhood.

THERE IS STILL TIME TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS.

JPSO continues to give us encouraging news about our low crime rates in Old Jefferson. Please keep up the great work we do by reporting any suspicious activities and/or suspicious persons.

March 2020 Meeting Recap

We were pleased to welcome our Councilman Elect, Deano Bonano, and our Director of Code Enforcement, Aimee Vallot, to our March 10, 2020 meeting as our guest speakers. Councilman Bonano discussed his plans to improve our area. He will fight to clean up Jefferson Highway’s blighted properties and will continue to bring awareness to this problem. He is interested in bringing in new business opportunities along Jefferson Hwy. He also shared concerns with neighbors about abandoned homes left to rot in our neighborhood. Ms Vallot explained code enforcement policies and helped to answer questions and concerns about issues in our neighborhood. Many thanks to our officials for sharing their time and knowledge with us. Involvement is the only way to bring about the changes that will improve our community. Thanks to all for being there to make our neighborhood the best it can be.

JPSO was also available with the crime Stats and to answer questions. We love our men in BLUE!!!

September 2020 Meeting

Hurricane season’s peak is September 10 and we have asked our Councilman to speak to us about preparedness during the ongoing pandemic. Councilman Bonano was head of EOC (Emergency Operation Center) before becoming our Councilman and has a vast knowledge of preparedness training. I realize we are currently facing many uncertainties. Councilman Bonano will have the answers to give us a greater sense of awareness in preparing for a storm should one head our way. We have already had 2 scares and we are all hoping we will be spared.

JPSO WILL JOIN US WITH CRIME STATS.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS!

Our September 8, 2020 meeting will take place at Jefferson Playground Golden Age Center (4100 South Drive). The doors will open at 6:30 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7:00 pm.

We appreciate any and all desserts provided by members and thank you in advance for your contributions.

Upcoming Events

October is the month in which we host our Night Out Against Crime Party. Keeping my fingers crossed that this event will take place. Please keep checking the website for updates.

November 10, 2020 is the date of our following general membership meeting and we have Mitch Theriot, Jefferson Parish Drainage Department Director, coming to speak to us about updates and plans for Drainage projects in Jefferson Parish.

If you are interested in a topic please let us know because we are here to serve and it is important we get you the information you want to know.

Prayers for all affect by H. Laura

Blessings for a Safe Labor Day

Lisa G Loup

President STCA

President’s Report

President’s Report

March 2020

THERE IS STILL TIME TO RENEW OR JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION!!!

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL JOINING TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Mardi Gras has come and gone. Spring is upon us and the azaleas are in full bloom. Taking a deep breath after a rain can clear our heads. Enjoy the beauty that spring blooms give us and know the heat is fast approaching. Lent is a time for reflection about our own individual faith, but for all should be a time for kindness and understanding towards others in our community. I have found it takes for less energy to be kind and understanding than it takes to be angry and confrontational. Social media can be a great way to get the word out fast to everyone but it can also be detrimental to others voicing their opinions. Please be consider toward your neighbors and realize that silence gets more attention than the words of anger. Change begins with you. I look forward to seeing you all at the General Membership Meetings.

Neighborhood News

Our community is growing and changing daily with new businesses, renovation of residential and new construction. In some ways it is exciting and in other ways it can be scary. Change always comes at a cost and we have to decide who will pay. Our neighborhood’s tranquility thrives on the mature trees throughout our area. I have witnesses many health mature trees removed from our neighborhood in the name of progress. We as a community must realize the importance of mature trees and express our concern for their removal. We should encourage the protection of these mature trees and encourage neighbors to replant reforestation quality trees on their properties. It take 30 to 50 years for these new trees to give us back what we have removed. Please consider the negative impact you may make on our environment by removing health mature trees and consider all alternatives before removal.

We are all very concerned about Jefferson Elementary closing. We all have questions concerning our little ones and are very hopeful for their future education. We should also be concerned about another vacant building in our neighborhood. STCA will be reaching out to the school board about their plans and hope to gain information about this issue. We are hoping for the best.

Welcome our two new businesses Highway Fried Chicken and Southern Girls Cafe. Your support is always appreciated.

JPSO continues to give us encouraging news about our low crime rates in Old Jefferson. Please keep up the great work we do by reporting any suspicious activities and/or suspicious persons.

January 2020 Meeting Recap

The 2020 Census is rapidly approaching and we were fortunate to have Ms Adele London with the Federal Government as our guest speaker to answer all of our questions on January 14, 2020. The Federal census sets the stage for many funding opportunities for Louisiana and the parish in which we reside. The census takes many forms and a couple of examples are labor census and population census. Each census taken gives our elected officials the information needed to represent all of us. Thanks so much to Ms Adele London for an excellent presentation.

WE HAVE SEVERAL RESIDENT WANTING TO VOLUNTEER THERE TIME TO HELP ANY NEIGHBORS IN NEED WITH COMPLETING THE 2020 CENSUS.

Please attend our next general membership meeting March 10, 2020 and let us know if you need help.

Thanks to JPSO for being there in full force to answer all of our members questions and to report on the area crime Stats. We are Blessed to have them partner with us to keep our community safe.

Special thanks to Cristina with the Farmers Market for sharing the fruits of the market with us. We love the samples they bring. Yummy!!!!!

We had a surprise visit from Chrissy with JP Environmental Affairs. She answered questioned about recycling and projects available for us. Thanks Chrissy for the information you provided.

March 2020 Meeting

We are pleased to welcome our Councilman Elect, Deano Bonano, and our Director of Code Enforcement, Aimee Vallot, to our March 10, 2020 meeting as our guest speakers. We are all looking forward to our Parish’s future plans and Councilman Bonano holds the key to improving our area. We are still in the fight to clean up Jefferson Highway’s blighted properties and will continue to bring awareness to this problem. It is important for you all to attend to show support for our neighborhood’s fight to make our neighborhood the best it can be. If you have any issues to discuss please be prepared with the address of problem property and any photos of the problem to be discussed.

Our Farmers Market Authority, Cristina is bringing the mushroom man with samples for us to take home. I love mushrooms, Yummy.

JPSO will also be available with the crime Stats and to answer your questions.

Our March 10, 2020 meeting will take place at Jefferson Playground Golden Age Center (4100 South Drive). The doors will open at 6:30 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7:00 pm.

We appreciate any and all desserts provided by members and thank you in advance for your contributions.

Upcoming Events

May 12, 2020 is our membership dinner with our local neighborhood restaurants. I have invited lots of public officials to join us. Keeping my fingers crossed they can work it into their calendars. Yummy, yummy! Please mark your calendars.

July 14, 2020 is the date of our following general membership meeting and we are in contact with the new administration to find out if their are any changes to hurricane preparedness we need to know about.

If you are interested in a topic please let us know because we are here to serve and it is important we get you the information you want to know.

Blessings to you in this Lenten Season, Have a Fabulous St Patrick Day and Happy Easter to All!

Lisa G Loup

President STCA