LET’S HALLOWEEN SAFELY

Claire Pittman October 21, 2020

Halloween is on with warnings to take precautions and be safe. Trick-or-treat hours for the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish are set for 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2020.

MAYOR BROOME ON CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN 2020 IN EBR

BATON ROUGE, La. — October 14, 2020 — East Baton Rouge Parish is on the right path to slowing the spread of the coronavirus, and we must work together to ensure we continue on this path. With that said, I encourage our residents to use good judgement when it comes to celebrating holidays like Halloween.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) considers traditional trick-or-treating or costume parties to be “high-risk” activities during this pandemic. We recommend participating in modified, open-air events, where everyone can keep their distance and wear face coverings.

If you do choose to participate in traditional events, please remember to wear a face covering, practice social-distancing, and wash your hands when you get home.

CDC’s Recommendations for Safe Alternatives to Holiday Festivities

Lower risk activities

These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:

Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbors or friends
Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house

Moderate risk activities

Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
- If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart
Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
- Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart
- If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
- Lower your risk by following CDC’s recommendations on hosting gatherings or cook-outs.

Higher risk activities

Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:

Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors
Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19

News

Hurricane Delta: Be Prepared!

Claire Pittman October 8, 2020

From the City of Baton Rouge

HURRICANE DELTA PREPARATIONS

Neighbors,

We are monitoring local weather conditions and the path of Hurricane Delta as the storm continues to develop, with landfall expected later this week.

While we have been through this exercise many times already this hurricane season, it is still critical to remain vigilant for this and every major storm that comes our way. Please take a look at your household emergency plan, update it as necessary, make sure everyone in your household knows and understands it, and include planning for your children, pets, and other vulnerable populations. Keep enough supplies on-hand for at least three days, secure loose items in your yard, fuel your vehicles and generators, and monitor our local radio and TV stations for the latest forecasts.

We have also updated our City-Parish emergency page with links to sand and sandbag locations, closure information, weather and stream gauge maps, energy outage maps, and more. Visit this page here and check back regularly for updates at brla.gov/emergency.

Remember to follow @RedStickReady on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for official, real-time updates from our Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, or text “RedStickReady” to 225-243-9991 to opt in for informational text message updates.

We are still in the middle of a pandemic, so be sure to practice social distancing and wear a face covering while making any final preparations. Attached is a checklist of some additional tips to be prepared for the storm. For more information and planning resources, visit brla.gov/hurricaneprep.

Stay safe, everyone…

GATHER SUPPLIES FOR YOUR DISASTER KIT!

Have a 3 day supply for each person in your household.
Include medication, disinfectant supplies, cloth face coverings, personal hygiene items, personal identification, and pet supplies in your kit.

PREPARE YOUR HOME!

Trim or remove damaged trees and limbs.
secure loose items and clear gutters.
Fuel your vehicles, generators, and gas cans. Consider purchasing a portable generator and additional gas cans.
Check your insurance coverage. Keep a copy with you – paper or electronic.

News

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Claire Pittman September 24, 2020

Did you know that the Garden District has a Welcome Committee? New residents are greeted at their homes by a Garden District board member and presented with a welcome canvas bag featuring our neighborhood logo designed by a former Garden District resident containing a bottle of bubbly and a welcome letter from the GDCA president that welcomes new residents and encourages them to get involved with our civic association. Joining the Garden District Civic Association is so easy and benefits the new resident as well as our neighborhood.

Anne Trapp, Welcome Committee Chair, says, “Being on the Board and greeting new neighbors has been enjoyable and fulfilling. I am constantly reminded of the positive and unique neighborhood where we live.”

If you’re new to the Garden District, we hope you look forward to many enjoyable years here, and we would love if you consider becoming a Garden District Civic Association member.

News

Summer Security Update

Claire Pittman September 24, 2020

June Calls

On 6/2/20 at 2131 hours, Officers responded to the area of Broussard St. and Perkins Rd. relative to an anonymous complaint of a male walking in the roadway. Upon Officers’ arrival, there was no one walking in the roadway.
On 6/3/20 at 0557 hours, Officers responded to the 2100 block of Terrace Ave. relative to a sexual assault. This case is under investigation and no further details can be released due to the nature of the case.
On 6/8/20 at 1000 hours, the resident at in the 1100 block of Drehr St. called the telephone reporting unit to report that an unknown male suspect stole packages from their front porch on 6/7/20. The resident advised they were unable to get a good description of the suspect from their surveillance cameras, but they could tell that he left riding a bicycle.
On 6/11/20 at 1359 hours, a resident went to 3^rd District to report that an unknown caller repeatedly calls their phone regarding their child. The resident advised the person calls from an unknown number and tells them about their children.
On 6/19/20 at 2048 hours, Officers responded to a home in the 900 block of Park Blvd. relative to a fallen tree in the roadway. The tree damaged a home.
On 6/24/20 at 2156 hours, Officers responded to a call from the 2100 block of Tulip Street relative to an anonymous complaint of shots fired in the area. Officers patrolled the area and did not hear gunfire or find any evidence of gunfire in the area. Individuals in the area reported they had not heard any gunshots.
On 6/27/20 at 2328 hours, Officers responded to a call from the 2300 block of Tulip Street relative to an anonymous complaint of shots fired in the area. Officers patrolled the area and did not hear gunfire or find any evidence of gunfire in the area.

July Calls

On 7/2/20 at 2259 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Tulip Street relative to an anonymous shots-fired complaint. Officers advised there were fireworks in the area and the sound was likely mistaken as gun shots. Officers did not locate anyone in the area needing Police assistance.
On 7/3/20 at 0447 hours, Officers responded to the 800 block of Camellia Ave. relative to an unresponsive subject. The subject was deceased and homicide detectives were contacted. The report has been blocked from viewing so no further information is available.
On 7/3/20 at 0905 hours, Officers responded to 1800 Camellia Ave. relative to a traffic complaint. Residents in the area advised a large trash dumpster was in the middle of the road in the alley. Officers contacted the company listed on the dumpster and they later arrived to move it.
On 7/6/20 at 1032 hours, Officers responded to the area of Drehr Ave. and Cherokee Ave. relative to a stranded motorist. There was flash flooding in the area at the time and the vehicle was immobilized due to flooding. Officers pushed the vehicle out of the road to a safer area.
On 7/6/20 at 1108 hours, Officers responded to the area of Cherokee Ave. and Park Bl. relative to complaints of flooding in the area caused a wake to damage homes when motorists drove through the high waters. Officers notified DPW to put barricades in the area to stop traffic until the water receded.
On 7/7/20 at 1939 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Olive St. relative to a disturbance. The resident’s mother called Police to check on the resident due to the resident arguing with their spouse. The resident was transported to their mother’s home per their request until things between them and their spouse calmed down.
On 7/7/20 at 2200 hours, Officers responded to an anonymous complaint of a suspicious person near the 2000 block of Kleinert Ave. The complainant stated a white female was walking barefoot in the road and appeared to be having trouble maintaining her balance. Officers patrolled the area for the female but were unable to locate her.
On 7/8/20 at 0738 hours, the resident called the telephone reporting unit to report a vehicle burglary in the 3000 block of Kleinert Ave. The resident reported their vehicle was burglarized overnight. The vehicle was left unlocked and money was stolen from it.
On 7/8/20 at 1023 hours, a resident in the 2100 block of Olive St. reported two of their garbage cans were missing to the telephone reporting unit.
On 7/10/20 at 0721 hours, Officers responded to a disturbance in the 900 block of Park Bl. The resident advised a subject was in the area panhandling but left prior to Police arrival.
On 7/12/20 at 1138 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Myrtle Ave. relative to a disturbance. Two family members were having an argument.
On 7/15/20 at 1736 hours, the complainant called the telephone reporting unit to report a disturbance that had already occurred in the 800 block of Camellia Ave. The complainant stated they went to feed the cats for a family member, and got into an argument with another family member. The complainant only wanted to report this incident for documentation purposes.
On 7/21/20 at 0750 hours, the resident of the 2200 block of Myrtle Ave. reported to the telephone reporting unit that someone had stolen all of their patio furniture. A black male, tall, skinny, and bald, who was wearing a white t shirt and mask was seen committing the crime via video surveillance at 0500 hours on this date. This case is pending investigation.
On 7/23/20 at 1016 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Cherokee Ave. relative to a burglary. The resident reported someone pried the lock off the shed and stole several tools from within the shed. This case is pending investigation.
On 7/27/20 at 1525 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Olive St. relative to a vehicle burglary that occurred between 0100-0900 hours on this date. The resident left the doors unlocked and the suspect took their wallet, passport, and a set of keys that went to the home. The resident stated the suspect may have tried to enter the home, but they were unsure. The keys were left in the yard of the home. This case is pending investigation.
On 7/28/20 at 1131 hours, Officers responded to the 800 block of Drehr Ave. relative to black male wearing all black and a white mask was walking through the neighborhood taking pictures of houses. Officers patrolled the area and were unable to locate the male.
On 7/28/20 at 1209 hours, Officers responded to 500 block of Camelia St. relative to an anonymous complaint of a black male wearing a light colored jacket walking through the neighborhood making threats and gestures as if he wanted to fight people. Officers arrived on scene and were unable to locate the male.
On 7/28/20 at 1220 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Olive St. relative to a welfare check. The complainant wanted Officers to check for someone at this location to see if they were okay. The person did not answer the door and there was no indication that anyone was at home.
On 7/29/20 at 0855 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Olive St. relative to a disturbance. A couple were arguing at their home in another city so the male brought the female to this home per her request. While there, an altercation occurred that led neighbors to call Police. Officers contacted the male and female, and then went to contact witnesses of the altercation. As Officers were contacting witnesses, the male pulled off in his vehicle at a high rate of speed, nearly hitting other vehicles parked on the side of the street. The male wrecked his vehicle into a fence separating two properties at the corner of McGrath St. and S. Eugene St. The male fled from the vehicle and was unable to be located. The female advised the male fled because he had punched her during the altercation. The vehicle was officially stored and the male cannot retrieve it from the wrecker company without turning himself in for applicable pending charges.
On 7/29/20 at 1832 hours, Officers responded to the 2000 block of Cherokee Ave. relative to a suspicious incident. The complainant stated a black male wearing all black with a mask is walking up the street taking pictures of license plates and houses. The complainant was advised by Officers that the subject was not breaking any laws and for them to contact Officers if the subject came onto their property.

August Calls

On 8/1/20 at 0037 hours, Officers responded to a call in the 2100 block of Oleander Street relative to a vehicle burglary. The complainant was a neighborhood resident who reported they observed a white male burglarizing a vehicle at this home while walking their dog. The complainant stated they observed the suspect flee into the alley way and then called Police. The suspect was described to be approximately 5’8, with a slim build, blonde hair. The suspect was in his late 20s to mid-30s, and was wearing a tight black t-shirt with loose khaki pants. The resident advised nothing was missing from their vehicle.
On 8/1/20 at 0854 hours, Officers responded to the 2500 block of Olive St. relative to a disturbance. The complainant advised their landlord was trying to lock them out of their apartment without properly evicting them. Officers contacted the Landlord and explained to them that they needed to go through an eviction process in order to remove the tenant from the home.
On 8/2/20 at 2142 hours, Officers responded to the 2100 block of Cherokee Ave. relative to a disturbance. The complainant advised their former dating partner had come to their home in another part of town uninvited. The complainant advised the suspect had made copies of their keys and entered the home uninvited. The complainant left their home and came to their parent’s home on Cherokee Ave. to call Police. Police were unable to locate the suspect at this time. The complainant left Cherokee Ave. and called back at 0121 hours advising that the suspect returned to the complainant’s home and was peeking through the windows. Police arrived to the home in the other part of town and located the suspect hiding in the bushes. The suspect ran from the area but was apprehended and arrested for Stalking and Resisting an Officer.
On 8/3/20 at 1725 hours, Officers responded to the 2300 block of Tulip Street relative to a suspicious incident. The complainant advised that an unknown person in a maroon vehicle was photographing their neighbor’s home. Police arrived and the complainant would not come to the door. Police contacted the homeowner of the home that was being photographed and learned they had food delivered and the driver was driving a maroon vehicle.
On 8/7/20 at 0833 hours, Officers responded to the 2300 block of Tulip Street relative to a burglary. The resident advised someone broke into their shed overnight and stole tools. This case is pending investigation.
On 8/9/20 at 1456 hours, the resident of the 2000 block of Wisteria Dr. called 2^nd District to report someone dumping trash in the alley. The resident advised they located hypodermic needles in the trash. The resident later brought the needles to 2^nd District to safely dispose of them.
On 8/9/20 at 1614 hours, an anonymous complainant reported a male subject overdosing in a camper in the 2600 block of Oleander St. BRFD and EMS rendered aid to the male and transported him to the hospital.
On 8/10/20 at 0658 hours, Officers responded to an anonymous complaint of a vehicle traveling on Oleander Street near Park Street. Officers patrolled the area and were unable to locate the vehicle or any loud music.
On 8/10/20 at 2100 hours, Officers responded to the 3100 block of Kleinert Ave. relative to an anonymous complaint of a loud party at the residence. Officers advised they observed no signs of a party or loud noises coming from this location.
On 8/12/20 at 0245 hours, Officers responded to an anonymous complaint of shots fired near Oleander and Camellia Ave. Officers advised they patrolled the area and did not observe anyone needing assistance or any signs of a shooting in the area.
On 8/12/20 at 1620 hours, the complainant called the telephone reporting unit to report their parent’s identity had been stolen. The complainant stated their elderly parent’s SSN was used to open a Cox cable account, and the account now has an outstanding balance of $734. Another account for Charter Communications was opened in Texas and that account balance is now $261. This case is pending investigation by Detectives.
On 8/14/20 at 2010 hours, the resident in the 2300 block of Myrtle Ave. reported their vehicle had just been stolen. The resident advised they had been having an issue with their key fob, but the vehicle was supposed to be locked. Moments later, the vehicle was located on W. Johnson St. Two arrests were made, and the vehicle was returned to the resident.
On 8/25/20 at 0922 hours, the resident of the 1900 block of Tulip Street called the telephone reporting unit to report a burglary. The resident advised their vehicle was burglarized overnight and their wallet was taken.
On 8/26/20 at 2252 hours, Officers responded to the 2500 block of Olive Street relative to a burglary in progress. Officers responded and contacted the complainant/resident inside of the home. Officers observed a shotgun next to a glass bong used to smoke methamphetamine while speaking with the complainant. The complainant was apparently under the influence of narcotics when making the complaint of the burglary. Officers located a large amount of crystal methamphetamine and three other different legend drugs that the complainant did not have a prescription for. The complainant was arrested for several drug charges as well as for possessing the firearm as a convicted felon and for possessing the firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substances.
On 8/31/20 at 1320 hours, Officers responded to the 600 block of Camellia St. relative to the theft of a 4-wheeler. The resident advised a juvenile black male, wearing a gray and blue hoodie, broke the lock on their alley gate, entered their fenced in yard and pushed their 4-wheeler. The resident advised the 4-wheeler was taken at approximately 1240 hours. The resident spotted it on Government St. shortly after it was taken. At that time, the 4-wheeler was being operated by a black male with a flat-top haircut, who was wearing a tank-top and shorts. The male fled the area at a high rate of speed when the resident followed him on Government St. The resident continued driving around the area and later saw it at North St. and N. 30^th but lost sight of it again. The resident then reported it to Police, who helped the resident continue to look for it. However, the resident and Police were unable to locate it. The resident believes the suspect lives in the area of Spain St. or 18^th St. This case is pending further investigation.

News, Security

October is Alley Month

Claire Pittman September 24, 2020

The Baton Rouge Department of Maintenance would like to put the Garden District alleys on a regular maintenance schedule. This first involves the residents along the alleys first removing any trash and debris from the alley as well as cutting back vegetation. The City will cut overhead tree limbs that hinder the passage of garbage trucks and emergency vehicles. Residents should move junk, trash and debris to the right-of-way, next to the street for Republic trucks to pick up. Remember not to put the pile under low hanging branches or too close to tree trunks. The Grabber won’t be able to get to it safely. Also, on Tuesday, don’t have a car parked in front of your pile. The truck won’t be able to reach it.

During inspections of the alley, Mike Schexnayder, chair of the GDCA Alley Committee, and Mary Fontenot, GDCA Secretary, found that many alleys were overgrown. Some were wildly overgrown with invasive bamboo, while others had beautiful plants, but they narrowed the alley too much, making it difficult for trucks to maneuver. If we want Republic to use our alleys, we are going to have to make them wide enough and clear enough, so they can be traversed. We certainly want them cleared enough for fire engines. Hopefully one will not be needed.

The Department of Maintenance is also planning to address drainage and surfaces, but that is a subject for another newsletter.

Please plan on cleaning your alley some Saturday in October. Many blocks have Block Captains who will be contacting residents. Please help your block this October and keep your alley in good shape all year.

News

September 2020 Drainage Update

Claire Pittman September 23, 2020

Drainage Problems in the Garden District

Tom Douthat, who moved here in 2017, noticed the drainage problems in his first few months in the Garden District. He is an Environmental Law professor at LSU. His house was swamped in the June 6^th deluge in 2019, so he had incentive to look into the matter. Other neighbors and a meeting with the Mayor and Fred Raiford, Director of Drainage, supplied Tom with background information and updates. Tom explained to the GDCA Board what is happening.

Much of the Garden District drains to Dawson’s Creek near Catholic High School, but there is more water entering EBR’s drainage system than there used to be. When the water level gets high enough in Dawson’s Creek it submerges the outfall from our neighborhood and acts as a dam effectively preventing our neighborhood from draining. This is called a hydraulic dam, and it may be exacerbated by culverts on Broussard St. and Hundred Oaks Ave., which EBR is seeking federal funds to replace with bridges that would allow more outflow. Culverts have been working as dams and need to be fixed. Our water can’t get to Dawson’s Creek. The pipes aren’t large enough. This a principle theory why the water backs up in our neighborhood but then drains quickly once the water levels in Dawson’s Creek decline. Another possibility is that some localized drainage pipes in the neighborhood are too small, but the city does not currently have an inventory and map of its drains. Nobody knows the diameter of all of the pipes taking water out of the Garden District. A map and model is being developed under the Stormwater Masterplan.

Part of the solution is more storage throughout Baton Rouge to slow the entry of stormwater into the larger drainage system and thus prevent our stormwater outfall into Dawson’s Creek from becoming dammed. There is no quick fix to this issue. Strategies to address are more difficult and more expensive in older areas like ours. The Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office are aware of the problem and the issue has been flagged for the consultants developing the EBR Stormwater Master Plan, and a commitment was made to hire an engineer to review this issue over the next months. There are additional federal funds that the city is pursuing that would be used to address this issue is awarded.

News

Garden-District-Civic-Association-of-Baton-Roue-Louisiana-GDCABR-ldowntown-baton-rouge-state-capitol-love-my-city.png

2020 U.S.. Census

jcwproductions February 9, 2020

2020 U.S. Census

The U.S. Government conducts a census every ten years as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. A new census will be conducted this year beginning April 1, 2020. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will be asked to respond to a questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. Households will be able to respond to the census online for the first time this year.

In a New Year’s Day commentary, the Baton Rouge Advocate editorial staff state succinctly the reasons for the census and the importance of each household’s participation. We have include a link to the editorial piece for your reading pleasure.

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_60b15618-21f4-11ea-b1bc-c79e72c7ccc2.html

Your Garden District Civic Association will be providing additional information regarding the census and the need for census takers in upcoming newsletters.

News

Powderpost Beetles

Claire Pittman November 19, 2019

The word “termites” can strike fear in a homeowner and for good reason. The damage their voracious appetite can cause to wooden structures can be devastating. But did you know that the powderpost beetle can cause as much damage as those dreaded termites. A Garden District resident recently discovered their subfloors had been infested with powderpost beetles and had to undertake an extensive repair job to floors and subfloors to eradicate the damage inflicted on their home.

We are providing information on this menace to give homeowners something to reference when discussing possible infestation with your exterminator and an idea of what to look for to spot the potential presence of the beetle.

The following information regarding powderpost beetles is taken from the Terminix website.

Powderpost” is the descriptive name given to several different species of wood-boring beetles that can infest homes. These insects lay their eggs in the pores of wood. Their larvae then hatch from the eggs, feeding on the wood and creating a series of tunnels as they go.

Eventually, the larvae will mature into pupae and then adult beetles. Once the insects reach adulthood, they tunnel their way out of the wood, leaving behind a tiny exit hole. This life cycle can take two to five years to complete, meaning the larvae are literally eating the wood in your home for years.

Like termites, some powderpost beetles will feed on hardwoods — such as oak, ash, walnut, bamboo and hickory — and softwoods like pine. As the frames from most homes are built from softwoods, certain species of powderpost beetles can cause structural damage to houses.

Other species of powderpost beetles will only eat hardwood, but that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. While you may not see structural damage from these species, it is possible to discover infestations in wood paneling, crown molding, window and door frames, plywood, hardwood floors or furniture.

How Do I Know If I Have an Infestation?

Short of actually laying eyes on a powderpost beetle, one of the only ways to know that you have a problem is to see the frass they leave behind. Frass is a mixture of powderpost beetle larvae excrement and miniscule wood particles that falls out of the exit holes the adult insects make as they emerge.

Depending on the species of beetle, the frass can either be extremely fine — like flour or baby powder — or slightly gritty like cornmeal. The best way to determine whether the residue you find in your home is a result of powderpost beetle damage or the work of another insect is to arrange for an inspection by a trained pest control professional who will better be able to identify the culprit.

How to Treat Powderpost Beetles

There are DIY treatment methods that you can find online, but the effectiveness of these is hard to gauge, making them risky solutions. Because of this, it’s best to consider a professional pest control service provider.

What Does Powderpost Beetle Treatment Cost?

Fortunately, because treatments are customized to your situation, there’s not an exact number for how much treatment will cost. The final figure will depend on factors such as where in the country you live, the size of your home, location and extent of the activity. Additionally, it’s possible that repairs will be needed to address powderpost beetle damage, which can further increase the final price tag.

News, Newsletters

2019 Champagne Stroll

Claire Pittman November 19, 2019

The Garden District Civic Association’s annual fall Champagne Stroll was held Sunday, October 27, under a perfect autumn sky. The stroll offered chilled champagne and scrumptious eats at each host home, and live entertainment at our final stop. Four Chambongs, donated by GDCA board member and owner of Red Cake Events, Mrs. Heather Day, were raffled off at each stop of the stroll . GDCA members as well as neighbors and friends from within and outside the neighborhood participated in the stroll. We were elated to meet new residents of the Garden District who have recently relocated here from as far away as Boise, Idaho and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Welcome to the neighborhood!!

The homes featured by this year’s stroll highlighted various styles of architecture that make our Garden District neighborhood such a unique and sought after place to live. Our first stop, a Greek revival-style home was hosted by owners Catherine and Jeff Russell who greeted strollers on their lovely front porch. Sweet and savory hors d’oeuvres were generously provided by Robert Johnson and Rick Vallet. At our second stop, a mid-century modern ranch, homeowners Mindy and Luke Piontek, greeted strollers with champagne, appetizers and mini muffulettas provided by Cannetella’s Italian Grocery. The third stop was the quintessential, craftsman bungalow-style home of Beth Floyd and Steven Barker. Is there anything more inviting than a bungalow’s front porch? Beth and Steven welcomed strollers onto their comfortable front porch and offered tasty appetizers provided by Bet R Supermarket and Trader Joe’s. We are very fortunate to have such generous local businesses here in Baton Rouge! The final stop of the stroll was hosted by Flo and Bill Rodman at their Dutch Colonial-style home. Participants gathered in the huge backyard for some of Bill’s scrumptious jambalaya, more champagne and world class entertainment provided by the duet of Carly Vicknair and partner.

Once again, the annual champagne stroll was a huge success. The GDCA would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our hosts Catherine and Jeff Russell, Mindy and Luke Piontek, Beth Floyd and Steven Barker and Flo and Bill Rodman. Also a huge thank you to our local businesses who donated all the delicious foods including Robert Johnson and Rick Vallet, Cannetella’s Italian Grocery, Bet R Supermarket and Trader Joe’s. And finally a huge thank you to Anne Trapp, our GDCA board member and organizer of this year’s stroll. We appreciate all of your hard work to make this activity a success.

Social Media and marketing were provided by Eolas LLC.

News, Newsletters

Sponsor Spotlight: The Child Development Cooperative

Claire Pittman November 19, 2019

The Garden District Civic Association is happy to introduce our neighbors to this month’s spotlighted business: The Child Development Cooperative.

The Child Development Cooperative is owned and operated by Jennifer Crowell, a southern California native who opened the cooperative ten years ago in Mid-City. Prior to opening The Child Development Cooperative, Jennifer opened and ran the child care center at the A.C. Lewis YMCA. When the YMCA decided to close this center, Jennifer was able to find a new and larger location to open The Child Development Cooperative. She chose the mid-city area of Baton Rouge because of the people and businesses in the area.

The facility is currently located at 3954 Florida Blvd. The entrance of the building faces Convention St. and is located between Live Oak & Jasmine Streets. The physical indoor space is quite large at approximately 10,000 square feet and the the outdoor campus is 2.5 acres.

Jennifer tells us that she is from southern California where she earned her degree. She worked in several early childhood programs while in school and found a home in a nationally accredited program where she worked with all age groups and was eventually promoted to lead teacher, then curriculum coordinator followed closely by assistant-director and finally director before moving to Baton Rouge. After moving here, Jennifer worked in banking while searching for employment in a preschool that would fit her education and experience. She spotted an advertisement for an organization looking to open a child care center. She applied for the job and was hired and given the reins to build a program that she knew was best for children. She opened, built, and ran the program successfully for the A.C. Lewis YMCA for ten years before taking it over herself. This led to the creation of The Child Development Cooperative which remained at the YMCA location for ten years before moving to its’ current Florida Blvd. location.

Jennifer describes her business model as follows: “I know from scientifically based research that a play-based, child-led program is what is best for children. That is what I strive to provide. As new research is conducted, we change our model to incorporate that information. Our program looked different 10 years ago and it will look different 10 years from now as we grow and know more about brain development and best practices.”

“I think what sets us apart from other child care centers is the amount of time we spend outside and that we protect children’s right to be children and don’t subscribe to the academic push-down that is happening in our society. We have put into practice the adage “it takes a village to raise a child” and provide many opportunities for families to participate and volunteer.”

In addition to operating The Cooperative, Jennifer has become a trainer for the State of Louisiana in early childhood programming. She offers training classes for early childhood professionals and consults with other programs on various aspects of early childhood programming.

The Child Development Cooperative provides full-time child care services for children from ages six weeks to five years. There are nine full-time employees and Jennifer states that they will be growing to ten employees in 2020 as they add another classroom. An infant room was added this fall and she is ready to add a toddler room in January 2020.

Word of mouth and personal recommendations from current or past Co-op families are the main form of advertisement and openings are announced on Facebook and Instagram. Typical enrollment is in the spring for reserving a space in the fall. Jennifer states,“The waiting list for enrollment is typically long so now is the perfect time to join our program”.

The Cooperative’s website address is: http://thechilddevelopmentcooperative.com

The Instagram profile: @thechilddevelopmentcooperative

The Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/TheChildDevelopmentCooperative/

Operating hours are 7 a.m to 5:30 p.m, Monday through Friday.

The Garden District Civic Association wishes to congratulate Jennifer Crowell on the tenth anniversary of the opening of The Child Development Cooperative and as always, we encourage our Garden District neighbors to consider patronizing this locally-owned business.

Newsletters, Sponsor Spotlight