The U.S. Green Building Council’s Louisiana Chapter kicked off the 2014 Green Schools Challenge, a program that encourages students across the state to develop sustainability projects for their schools in the name of friendly competition. About 40 people gathered - USGBC Louisiana staff and volunteers, students and public - at a press conference Monday to officially launch this year’s program and honor last year’s second place winner, the New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School (Sci High).  

“We wrote letters to our principals saying that we were concerned about the school’s bad habits,” said senior Celeste Cuellar. “We didn’t like that we were using the Styrofoam in the cafeteria, and we needed to go on a greener path. They listened to us.”

PRESERVATION GROUPS, RESIDENTS STUNNED THAT VCC ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE GIVES CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO NEW HABANA PROPOSAL  
GROUPS CONTINUE TO URGE CITY TO SIDE WITH THE LAW

Preservation and resident groups said they are stunned that the Vieux Carre Commission’s Architectural Committee again granted conceptual approval to Sean Meenan’s controversial restaurant and bar proposal at the most prominent corner of the lower Quarter’s residential district.            

These preservation groups said the project still violates the VCC’s own rules as well as constitutional protections afforded a national historic landmark.

What: Press conference
Where: 1917 Wilton Drive, New Orleans (site of east London Avenue Canal breach)
When: Wednesday August 27, 2014 at 10 a.m.
Why: Unveil Plans for Proposed Open-air Levee Exhibit and Garden at London Avenue Canal Breach Site

Young Audiences Charter School at Kate Middleton (YACS) currently still has limited openings in grades K-1 for the 2014-15 school year at its 1407 Virgil St. campus in Gretna. Parents still looking for a school are strongly encouraged to register their children now.  

School Leader Folwell Dunbar stated that there were still a few spots available in kindergarten and 1st grade at the school, but stressed that parents should not delay in registering.

WHAT: Louisiana Green Schools Challenge Press Conference and 2014 Program Launch
WHEN: Monday, August 25th, 10:00 am
WHERE: New Orleans Charter Math and Science High School  

NEW ORLEANS, LA --- August 21, 2014 – The U.S. Green Building Council’s Louisiana Chapter announces the 2014 Green Schools Challenge, a program that encourages students across the state to develop sustainability focused projects for their schools in the name of friendly and FREE competition. A press conference to officially launch this year’s program will take place Monday, Aug. 25 at 10am at the New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School (Sci High).

She was first elected in 2004 and was a leading architect in the creation of a dedicated domestic court. She is running with the endorsement of dozens of attorneys, including Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Council President Stacy Head, State Senators J.P. Morrell and Greg Tarver.
 
Judge Irons received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Loyola University and her J.D. in Public Interest Law from Tulane University. She was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana Senate, where she served until her judicial election in 2004.  

Irons is married to Alvin Irons, has two adult children and five grandchildren.

Ben Franklin cheerleaders recently attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association Summer Camp where they took home the gold ribbon in Superior Standing in the Home and gold ribbon in Superior Standing Overall.  

Other individual awards were as follows:

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana are eagerly preparing to re-open the Clubs for the 2014-2015 program year.  As your children are preparing to return to school, we are conducting our annual maintenance process, and preparing our facilities in Covington, New Orleans, Slidell, and Gretna.

The NFL-YET Boys & Girls Club Unit in New Orleans willl open for the school year on Tuesday, September 2. The Club will operate from 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Former Assistant District Attorney Angel Varnado announced her candidacy today for Judge of the 24th Judicial District, Division G, Jefferson Parish, which is currently presided over by the Honorable Robert Pitrie, who is retiring.  

Ms. Varnado brings both civil and criminal experience to her candidacy, having worked in the law firm of Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker and Cary, and as an Assistant District Attorney in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, where she quickly earned a reputation as one of the most successful prosecutors in the metropolitan area.