THE
RIVER TOWN
Newsletter
PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA SPRING,
2001
Mayor's
CORNER
On The Web:
Within the next several weeks, the
City of Port Allen will have a web site that will help increase the efficiency
of city services. Please watch for more details. The web site will be www.portallen.org.
Your Opinion:
In an effort to improvecity services, we will be conducting a customer
survey soon. It is always important to knowwhat needs improvement; however,
it is equally important to know what works. Your opinion and input are
needed.
The Depot:
Exhibits are nearing completion at the Port Allen Railroad Depot on Highway
One. The Depot, staffed by volunteers, will soon be available for visitors
three days a week. The caboose and depot interior will be improved with
interactive displays for children. The West Baton Rouge Parish Library
will be hosting a series of family programs entitled Down by the Station
this summer.
Parks and Recreation:
Since the summer season is near, our recreational parks will soon be in
full swing. For reservations contact Parks Director, Coach Joe Saia at
387-4670.
Riverfront-Levee Top Improvements:
Plans have been completed on the First Phase of the Mississippi River Levee
Top Improvements. These include a promenade beginning at Court Street with
lights, benches and amenities to include a scenic over-look and handicap
access ramp. The Louisiana Department of Transportation is currently reviewing
the plans and will bid the project in July 2001.
|
 Collis
Temple, III, LSU basketball standout, recently spoke
to students at Port Allen Middle School as part of the City
Police Department's "Cops & Kids"Program.
The "Cops & Kids" Program is funded by the City of Port Allen
and the US Bureau of Justice and is administered by Corporal Frederick
Smith. |
Diggin' Ditches
City Will Improve Drainage During the next three months, the City of Port
Allen will be digging out all open drainage ditches that run east/west
in an effort to improve drainage. There will also be some work performed
on north/south drainage. As part of the public service servitude, it is
important to keep them on grade so that rainwater will drain to the west.
According to Terry Vincent, City Drainage Superintendent, "We will
make every effort to hold any inconvenience to effected residents to a
minimum." He continued by stating that all dirt removed from the drainage
ditches will be hauled away. Landowners are reminded that if they purchase
the drainage pipe, the City will install, back-fill, and build the catch
basins necessary to close the open ditches. To get more information about
closing an open drainage ditch, call Mr. Vincent at 346-5679.
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Port
Allen Fire Prevention Bureau:
Fire and Life Safety Classes Available
Port Allen Fire Subdistrict Number 3, through its Fire Prevention Bureau,
offers Fire and Life Safety Classes for schools, residents, businesses,
and health care providers. Participants learn about the proper installation,
placement and maintenance of smoke detectors.
The Bureau also conducts classes on fire extinguisher types, how to use
extinguishers, kitchen safety, and "Home Escape" planning.
Additionally, the Port Allen Fire Department can provide classes on CPR
and basic first aid.
The maximum number of participants for fire extinguisher and CPR classes
is eighteen. If you would like to schedule a class, home visit, or get
additional information, please contact Charles Stephens at (225) 346-5676
or e-mail
him at cstephens@portallen.org. |
Be
Guided By the STAR:
ENERGY STAR
What is ENERGY STAR?
Through the ENERGY STAR Program, the U.S. Department ofEnergy and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency are working with product manufacturers,
retailers, and other program sponsors to label and promote products that
use less energy. In order to qualify for the ENERGY STAR program, products
must meet strict energy performance criteria.
The ENERGY STAR label makes it easy for you to identify which products
are the most energy- efficient, so look for products with the label when
you're shopping.
What are the benefits of choosing ENERGY STAR labeled products?
ENERGY STAR products use less energy, save you money, and help theenvironment.
Because they use 15-75% less  energy
to operate than standard models, you'll save money on your utility bills
for as long as you use the products. All these savingscome without sacrificing
product features or performance. And because they use less energy, less
air pollution is created as fossil fuels are burned to generate the elec-
tricity used in your home.
For more information on ENERGY STAR programs or where to find qualified
products, call 888-STAR-YES. |
Southeast Regional Senior Olympic Games Coming to Baton
Rouge
After a three-year absence from Baton Rouge, Louisiana Senior Olympic Games
officials announced that the Southeast Regional Senior Olympic Games are
moving back to Baton Rouge. Until recently, the Southeast Games have been
held in Hammond but starting May 3rd, Greater Baton Rouge sen- ior competitors
will be able to participate locally. According to Butch Gipson, Executive
Director for Louisiana Senior Olympic Games, ËThe Southeast Regional Senior
Olympic Games cover the Florida Parishes Í Baton Rouge to Slidell. However,
the majority of the ath- letes come from the Greater Baton Rouge area.Ó He
continued by stating that West Baton Rouge Parish residents are included
in this region. Louisiana Senior Olympic Games is a nonprofit organization
that improves the wellness and quality of life for people age 50 and above
through sports and physical training. Registration deadline for competing
in the Greater Baton Rouge Senior Olympic Games is April 29th. Entry forms
can be picked up at the EBR Council on Aging office located at 5790 Florida
Boulevard or downloaded from the Councilãs web site which is www.seniorsurfers.org.
Any organization or individual interested in participating as a volunteer
or competitor should con tact Arden Soderberg at (225) 923-8000 ext. 304.
GREATER BATON ROUGE SENIOR OLYMPICS
2001 Game Schedule
Thursday, May 3
Billiards
,
Clicks Billiards
Monday, May 14
Golf
,
Santa Maria Golf Course
Saturday, May 19
Track & Field
Catholic High School
Tuesday, May 22
Bowling
on Carters
Wednesday, May 23
Dance Team
Argosy Atrium,
Ageless Expo
Wednesday, May 23
Throws
Argosy Atrium, Ageless Expo
Wednesday, May 23
Washer Pitch
Argosy Atrium,
Ageless Expo
Thursday, May 24
Horseshoes
,
BREC Center at
Independence Park
Thursday, May 24
Shuffleboard
,
BREC Center at at
Independence Park
Friday, May 25
Table Tennis
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The
City of Port Allen recently completed the renovation and relocation
of its historic railroad depot to the depot's original site
between Avenue A and Court Street. A caboose, donated by Union
Pacific Railroad, was moved to the site and will be outfitted
as an interactive museum to introduce preschoolers and elementary
school children to train crews work.
With funds the city received through a federal grant, the grounds surrounding
the depot have been landscaped and new decking connects the depot to the
caboose. A paved parking lot and a covered walkway have also been added.
The "new" depot was created not only to preserve an important
symbol of the cityãs historic past but also to provide Port Allen
with a visual focal point.
The original depot was a gathering place, a Mecca for the traveler and
those who dreamed of traveling and meeting people and experiencing places
different from their own. The "new" depot is a potential Mecca
for those whose interest might be drawn to local history, the arts, and
memories of the steel rail. With ample outdoor decks, the depot provides
an attractive area for staging outdoor programs and concerts with room
for comfortable seating. Inside, the depot offers space for small meetings,
lectures, and displays. Starting in May,
The Depot will begin hosting a series of free family events that celebrate
the railroad and its history through the literature, music, films, and
regalia that commemorate it. Classic films (rated PG) featuring trains
as central plot components. The films will run the first Friday of each
month at 8:30 p.m. from May through September. Lectures and a variety of
performances are scheduled for the third Saturday of each of these months.
Grants from the West Baton Rouge Tourism Commission, Entergy, City of Port
Allen, and the West Baton Rouge Parish Library are funding these programs.
Anyone planning to attend these events should bring their own lawn chairs
for seating. For further information, please contact Judy Boyce at (225)
342-7920.
|
A
free series of family programs and activities at the newly
restored train depot at 251 South Alexander Avenue in downtown
Port Allen. The events celebrate the railroad and its history
through the literature, music, arts, and regalia that commemorate
it.
Here's the schedule:
Friday, May 4, 8:30 pm
Film Night
The Great Train Robbery
(silent film, 1903)
The Great Train Robbery
(1978)
Saturday, May 19, 5:00 pm
Johnette Downing, a professional singer and songwriter, leads a sing-along
of train melodies, from Chattanooga Choo Choo to The City of New Orleans
.
Friday, June 1, 8:30 pm
Film Night
The Greatest Show on Earth
(1952)
Saturday, June 16, 10:00 am
Youth librarian Judy Boyce and storyteller Oneal Isaac lead babies, toddlers,
and their families in an All Aboard lapsit filled with chug-chugging, toot-tooting
nursery rhymes, songs, and books.
Friday, July 6, 8:30 pm
Film Night
The Train
(1965)
Saturday, July 21, 5:00 pm
LSU Professor Dr. Paul Paskoff, a recognized transportation historian,
provides an overview of train history and its impact on the development
of the United States and Louisiana.
Friday, August 3, 8:30 pm
Film Night
The General
(silent film classic, 1927)
Saturday, August 18, 5:00 pm
Professional storyteller Oneal Isaac spins tales of runaway trains and
courageous little engines and dramatizes the popular train legends of Kate
Shelly, Casey Jones, and John Henry.
Friday, Sept. 7, 8:30 pm
Film Night
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Saturday, Sept. 22, 5:00 pm
Orphan train expert Betty Obee tells how her grandmother and thousands
of other Italian immigrant children boarded trains for destinations, homes,
and families unknown in the 19 th and early 20th centuries
|
Call
Before You Dig
Louisiana One Call
IN 1988 LOUISIANA INSTALLED the Louisiana Damage Prevention Law in order
to protect excavators and buried utility lines from damage. This law requires
excavators and demolishers to call a regional notification center at least
48 hours before they begin their work. It also requires owner/operators
of underground facilities to mark locations or sup- ply information that
will enable excavators to locate underground utilities. The program is
called Louisiana One Call.The City of Port Allen is a member of this program.
For best results when using Louisiana One Call, it is recommended
that the excavators call 1-800-272-3020 or go on line at www.laonecall.com
at least 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in advance of
digging. When the call is made, the home- owner (or company doing
the work) needs to provide the name and telephone number of the
person doing the work. It is also necessary to provide the date
and time the digging is scheduled to begin, whether the work is
within city limits or not, and the address of the work. It is extremely
helpful to provide Louisiana One Call with the name and numbers
of the nearest intersecting roadway and the distance and direction
of the work site from that intersection. Once the operator has received
all pertinent information, Louisiana One Call will notify members
with buried lines in the area Í like the City of Port Allen. The
city will then go to the work site and mark all buried utility lines
in the area. Louisiana One Call hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday. So, by calling 1-800-272-3020, at least 48
hours before digging, the homeowner can protect their property,
the buried lines, and possibly their life. Besides being the law,
it's simple, easy, and FREE. Make the call or log on. |
| www.laonecall.com |
PORT ALLEN, LOUISIANA SPRING, 2001
BREC Center at
Independence Park
Assistant Fire Chief Charles Stephens instructs Holiday Inn Employee Michelle
Scott
on the proper use of a fire extinguisher.
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