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Saturday 1st September.
 I was out with Tim on Friday getting pictures of the homes we have currently under construction - and I made him come to a squealing stop on a dirt road to get a picture of this mail box. It was just too picture perfect for words. I have seen this tree in yellow, but never this classic orange. Not even sure what the little tree is - but it is quite common down here. Or has been this year as all the trees return to bloom.
And speaking of houses we were taking pictures of - I got this far today. I am hoping to get some of the others tomorrow. Homes Under Construction. We got distracted from the task by WLOX who was hunting us down all over town as they wanted to do a sound bite on the falling volunteer numbers. So we met him quickly at one of the homes and then went onto Kiln where we were on task with something the County Board of Supervisors offered the operation. Tomorrow we are back on track taking current pics of the new homes project and, hopefully, we will get that task completed. This set of pictures does not include homes we are refurbishing - just new construction.
We found out today that we have another contractor coming this way for a few months to work as a volunteer. He and his wife should be here by October. We also have a young man coming down from Canada for six months. We are sure gearing up for fall construction in a big way.
And that was our Friday. How was yours?
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Friday August 31st
 Its Friday, and thank goodness for that. And its a long weekend - the last of the summer. Better than that, we have volunteers coming in this weekend. They will be working, for the most part, down in Middletown. And it is the last day of August - my goodness this month has flown by.
I had an interesting week this week - I spent almost all of it in class in Biloxi. An OSHA class on construction safety. Did you know that ALL residential construction comes under the guidelines of OSHA? That we are required to meet their standards? And that we can be fined if we do not comply with the OSHA standards of safety for residential construction? And, I wonder why over the past two years that this was not enforced? I have seen some very dangerous situations, been made privy to some very serious accidents involving volunteers, and never, in all those two years, did I see anyone proclaiming that we need to be adhearing to these standards.
And why was I at the class - because I had observed the umpteeth "Bubba" situation with a volunteer on a construction site. As the class instructor stated "Stupid is as stupid does". And most do not believe they are under any mandate for complying with "anything" as they are volunteers.
Its one thing for the volunteers to feel they do not have to abide by safety guidelines - there is no excuse for volunteer construction site coordinators to go along with that stance. OSHA is only a minumum expected standard. And when it came to hazardous materials - the comment was "put em in a FEMA truck and sendem down the road". And that is how it has been for two years. Is it right? No, we really all should have been paying more attention to detail. "Someone" should have been paying more attention? Not sure who that should have been? In the meantime some very good people got "hurt" and that should not have happened.
OSHA will be coming to do a 10 hour safety course before the end of September. I highly recommend the class. Myself - I completed a supervisors 30 hour class.
And here it is Friday. Yesterday the new construcition coordinator and his wife and I went on a tour of all the new houses we have under construction at this time - ten in all. He is of the opinion that there is enough work to keep him busy the six months he will be here. True, very true.
So, we are back on the ground here in the office. Many many plans, lots to do, lots of grants to get filed, lots of politicing to do, lots of recruitment going on for a full winter of "quality rather than quantity" volunteers. Yes, we are going to be busy.
I just got a call from a disabled client. Last time I saw her Tim was hauling her to ICU in Gulfport in an emergency run. Much agaist her will but we had her sisters support. She is home now and doing well. Needs some help with some sheetrock - but more importantly wants to know if we have "food", in particular "meat". After two years of living on "canned everything" that is a very common request anymore - they are ready for "real" meat to supplement their food supply. So many here on fixed incomes of $300 to $600 - there is no way that they can make it on that excepting living on the foods normally found in the distribution centers and rarely, if every, does that include real meat. I have a special chore for those volunteers coming in this weekend - go pick up this lady and take her out to a buffet and to drop off some packages for her freezer. Poverty is so real here.
So how was your week? Gets lot done? What is the plan for the weekend?
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Tuesday August 29th
 No more need be said other than the story that these pictures tell from the memorial service on the beach on the second anniversay of hurricane Katrina...........
Second Anniversary Memorial 2007
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Tuesday August 28
  Tomorrow is the anniversay of Hurricane Katrina. President Bush is supposed to be in town at the Gulfside ceremony. Maybe fact, maybe rumor. Myself, I am going to be at another service. It was a very heavy day last year, not quite sure why. Not because I lost anyone. Not because I lived here - because I didnt. Probably was because we have moved forward so slowly and we have so so far to go and so many people have not been helped. Very frustrating for me actually. Yes thats it - I feel guilty that we still have so many in limbo and no where really to go from here except one house at a time. I want to wave a magic wand and make it all better for all those elderly folks and I cant.
This week I have been in an OSHA class - and that has been interesting. Two of the students are pictured above in "Day 1" and "Day 2" outfits - I cant wait till they show up for Day 3. Yes, its all about those shirts down here. Its a culture I tell you.
Our new Construction Coordinator is settling in. I see he has almost got the entire base camp on Spanish trail all mowed and spruced up. I can tell this is an "A" type personality already. Ex military - he is going to fit in here well.
And my hats off to the gracious people who are members of the Bay St Louis Planning Commission and the Chairman who did an excellent job tonight managing a room full of people who had come to protest the concrete crushing plant proposed for Central Ave by Mr. Mallon. And the Chairman did a wonderful job of correcting Mr Mallon as he attempted to intimidate the speakers by waving his "papers of exagerated proof" at them when they were expressing a contrary position to Mr. Malon. The Chairman stood his ground as Mr. Mallon argued with him on this matter but had to finally back down and cease and desist his threatening posture and quietly listen to the residents talking to the Chairman and the Board. I was so proud of the citizens as they presented their eloquent presentations to the board. They had done their homework. They knew exactly what a concrete crushing plant would do for their neighborhood. Both black and white - they stood there and explained to the commission, carefully and quietly, what their concerns were. Yes they want their town back as it was - quiet and charming and not next to a large vibrating monster spitting out noise, dust and contaminants.
And Bay St Louis will be once more. Quiet and charming as the oak trees again will be as they continue to prosper in all these months after the storm. Weeds do not thrive under a spreading oak tree.
So, until tomorrow morning early - I wish you all well. See you at the beach.
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Sunday August 26th
Its Sunday. I have to admit to having done very little yesterday excpet doing what I promised myself I was going to do - take a day off. And I did. I did go to luch at Victor Seminos. Proof is in the pudding with the picture of his dog - Micky. Silly hound. Lunch was wonderful. Victor's daughter was there and it was good to see her.
The best news is that our Construction Coordinator and his wife have arrived. This is wonderful news. A week early - and on the ground.
And what else? Yes, an article: Article
And how is your weekend going? Want to come down and volunteer?
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Friday August 23rd Update
Joan Coleman and I were invited to attend the "Finish the Job" Fund kickoff in Gulfport today. Anyone who was "anyone" in recovery had been invited and were there - and who is who in recovery work in the Gulf region. Theren, our air force officer volunteer came along for the ride to keep us girls in tow. It was lights, camera, action and orchastrated blatant marketing. A very necessary outcome of the Federal Governments attempt to privetize the response to Hurricane Katrina. It's one thing to privetize the response - its another not to initially fund the marketing for such a program. Tough road to hoe for organizations battling to even pay the light and phone bill in order to keep the disaster response going.
The volunteers had a blast this week and really kicked. This was the kick off of our new construction model. Usually the homeowner spends his money down and does the best he can to build a home. When they run out of funds - we are called on board and use volunteer labor and grant funds to complete the home. There is no continuity in construction and most of the volunteer skilled labor have no clue as to the special requirements of building in a hurricane zone. Our new model will bring the contractor on board, with the homeowner paying the cost, and keep him there for the entire project and partnering him up with multiple volunteer groups along the way. The volunteer labor will keep down the construction costs. The contractor will provide continuity for the entire project and also provide quality control. To this end - this was a great week as the project is going well. Pictures up on the Home Page.
Quite a hub bub developing of the proposal to put in a concrete crushing plant out on Central Ave., in the middle of residential housing and right next to the beach. Someone came in today handing out flyers encouraging adjacent homeowners to go to the planning meeting next Tuesday in Bay St Louis. These homeowners are battling keeping their home value at par despite the neighborhood devastation. With all the construction needs there is some "over crowding" and adjacent commercial property is pushing the envelope with industrial expansion in paradise - threatening adjacent property values. Not a good combination. Yes, I will be at the meeting. The property owner handing out the flyer asked me to attend. This will be a very interesting meeting.
And me? Well, I am going to try and get some writing done this weekend.
What about you, what do you have planned?
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Friday August 24th
 What a great meeting. IDTF (Interfaith Disaster Task Force) orchastrated a lunch meeting Thursday with the National Council of Church's - a forty strong body of church organizations from all over America. They came from all over the United States to listen too our "needs" in the aftermath of Katrina. What a powerful two hours of listening to mission statements, goals, and success stories.
And the volunteers today plowed thru the two houses they were assigned too, the siding job, and a large insulation job. It was a blistering day with the heat index in the range of 114. You truly had to have your heart full of love to stay on task today. And two of those volunteers are not home yet. Long, long, long day.
And then there was the bank - yes the Hancock Bank opened today. Got the pictures up from that little jaunt to the beach today: Hancock Bank
The tire blew to pieces on the truck on 90 near Walmart. It just "blew up" and when they got out there was nothing on that rim. It happened in front of O'Rileys - God sure is kind! Thank goodness the volunteers were not driving down the highway doing their usual 70mph.
And that was our exciting day. How was yours?
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Thursday August 23rd
 What an absolutely fantastic day we had yesterday. The crew worked with a contractor all day on two houses - a model we are devoloping in order to be able to get all these houses up with "expertise" and "volunteer" help. It has to be a collaborative effort when there are not enough funds to assign the entire house to a contractor. Everyone was very happy with the end result yesterday: the home owner, the volunteers and the contractor.
Yesterday I got to go in front of the Hancock Board of Supervisors. What a pleasant experience: a meeting run down the line of Robert's Rule of Order; the supervisors were polite, kind, gracious, and very helpful; and it was very obvious that they are out to help this county move forward in a positive and constructive manner. I applaud them for yesterday!
Four meetings in all yesterday - very busy day. Another one today, and another tomorrow. We are about "Meetinged" out over this recovery process.
Here is what Kaboom wrote to the City of Waveland last week and outlined what they need for the Martin Luther King Park contract to get started:
Within 48 hours of the follow-up phone interview, your Client Services Coordinator will send you a draft version of the KaBOOM! Community Partner Letter of Agreement. KaBOOM! requires every potential Community Partner review the draft letter of agreement. Since KaBOOM! schedules a Design Day soon after a Community Partner is confirmed, any contract negotiations must take place before KaBOOM! recommends an organization to a Funding Partner. Client Services Coordinators are intimately acquainted with the details of the contract, and work closely with organizations to address any questions regarding the contract. KaBOOM! requires groups to affirm in writing that they are ready to sign the letter of agreement if chosen for the project. If your organization cannot review the letter of agreement within one week of receiving it, it is imperative you contact your Client Services Coordinator as soon as possible.
At this time, we have not received approval of our draft Letter of Agreement from the City of Waveland. Please note that the Letter of Agreement does NOT need to be signed until the screening process is complete and a Funding Partner is confirmed.
Last night Tammy Fayard relayed the City position to the Alderman stating that she had talked to Kaboom two hours earlier on the phone and that the City did not have to sign anything at all until a sponsor was found. Her comments are on the minutes for the Alderman meeting.
Again, what can you say. The Kaboom needs are quite clear - they need a letter from the City affirming that the contract contents will be acceptable once Kaboom moves forward with the process.
Alderman Piazza told Ms Fayard he would be bringing in his copy of the communication from Kaboom this morning to discuss with her the obvious disparity in what is needed.
What is it going to take to get the children in Middletown their playground equipment?
And thats how it is here down in the world of politics and "recovery".
The picture above was taken this week at sunset out on the swamp off of old 90 on the way to New Orleans. The end of a picture perfect day!
Thats how our week is going? What about yours?
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Wednesday August 22nd
 I found this cute little new pet in the bathroom today. Thats a dime he is sitting on. Cute "little" thing isnt he? We set Willie free though and he is roaming in the woods next to the home front here.
Great day today. Warehouse is cleaned up after delivering all John's tables to him. The crew tied them on his trailer - and away they went to Picayune to be put to good use once again. Then the crew set upon organizing the paint once again - and what a difference! The sheetrock was picked up from LongBeach and the crew is also working on finishing up the Park today.
Tomorrow is a day installing interior walls and putting up the truss system on Lemuel's home. He will be thrilled! Thursday is another day in the park - excepting its Martin Luther King Park this time and spreading the sand ready for the playground equipment that will be coming from Kaboom. Thats of course if the City ever gets along with the program and signs the contract draft that the Aldermen believed was being sent over to the City Attorney's office. How many more excuses could they have? Its been approved by the Alderman - the holdup appears to be in the Mayor's office. Summer has come and gone - the children are back at school and still no playground equipment.
I found a little hard kept secret in this crew - they have two electricians onboard. I rounded them in and they are off working electrical miracles all over town this week now. So if you have an "electrical" need - just holler!
Then Friday its an Elkview house down on Waveland Ave. Going to get the pilings ready to put into the ground. By that time we should have wore out the poor volunteer crew who are really feeling the heat and this wonderful hard working crew will be headed home.
So, that was our Tuesday. Another great day volunteering in Waveland.
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Tuesday August 21st
 And another fine day it is too! Great day yesterday. The Park in Waveland is ready for the Anniversary services according to Chris the Parks Director. The team we sent down there yesterday got most of the chores accomplished excepting a second coat of paint on the bathrooms and they are going to get that complete today. First they are delivering some sheetrock for an elderly client - but then they are back to Park duties.
Angie, La., was over yesterday (picture above) and picked up a load. Rev Lindell and his wife are busy getting a family back in their home. These were evacuees that had, orginally, evacuated to Texas. They came home to find little services in place for recovery and ended up homeless as their home was not livable, FEMA is not placing any more campers, and there was no where else for them to go. These supplies will assist getting them back in their home. In the meantime they are staying with the Reverand and his wife.
We also have another load to deliver to Picayune for the owner of the building here. We are starting on that this morning also.
Very busy week planned this week. Trusses and roof going up on one house, pilings going in on another.
And Dean is making landfall somewhere else this morning. What a way of life down here?
And how is your day going?
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Monday August 20th
 And it was a lazy day on Sunday excepting that we cleaned the entire housing complex here, straightened up the offices to compensate for the "office move", and brought in the new table we got at the yard sale on Saturday.
And then Russs showed up at 5.30pm, a week late, after being gone for three weeks. He "dragged" me out on his swamp tour along with Garrett. Yes, I am grinning. I was not being dragged very hard - I was skipping to the truck with camera in hand. And off to Louisianna we toddled - its not that far from here.
And I captured a "Gator"! Yes, all by myself I captured the little rascal. I have pictures to prove it. I dragged it out of the swamp reeds and grasses and wrestled it into the canoe. See below for pictures.
And here are the pictures
I see that Dean is headed for Texas. May God keep all those people in it's path safe.
And that was our great Sunday - how is your week starting?
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Sunday August 19th
 It appears as if Dean is headed off to Mexico and southern parts of Texas - but he could change his mind at anytime although unlikely at this point. Other metrological factors are causing him to vear south rather than north into the Gulf. And here, just a trickle of interest. Rather surprising that there was no dry run to test systems in place? Pearlington has no one registered for a bus ride out of town, Hancock County registerants are in double digits lows, and Harrison County had 300 registered at last report. Not a good start.
Else its a rainy day right now. A pleasant change from the oppressive hot weather of the last couple of weeks. It was just a sprinkle right now - but it was a rush to Saturday's yard sale stuff out of the truck just now. Hummpphhhhfff.
Been a nice two weeks off. Not that I got a lot of "off time". It did slow down the phone calls and traffic at the office. That was what I needed a break from the most. Our office hours are going to be strictly enforced from here on in.
I can tell you my laudry is caught up - a first in a long time. I will not know what to do - socks, socks and more socks.
We have volunteers coming in Monday again. One staying here at the house and full time volunteers coming in at the end of the month. That is really exciting as he is qualified contractor and we sure need that expertise here. Not to mention his wife comes with a very special skill set of her own - a financial whiz kid in the office arena. This is wonderful news.
Well, this is a lazy Sunday. We did clean the volunteer housing here at Tabor St this morning. Its all spring clean again. It sure gets away from us at times when we run at the pace we run at in here. Looks like a good day to go fishing to me - or crabbing. Its been a while.
So how is your Sunday going? Having a great day?
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Saturday August 18th
 Yes, thats lile ole Dean as it was earlier this morning. A little local idle chatter on this monster as it bears down to somewhere - not sure where at this point. Interesting how little chatter there is on "evacuation" or "plans" excepting on the local news channels. No emails to this operation from anyone enquiring as to the status of evactuation plans or whether we have any. No real banter anywhere to deal with the very low numbers registered for bus services in Harrison or Hancock Counties - and believe me they are low, low, low. I know many who feel so secure in their new "elevated" hurricane strapped structure that they will not leave for a hurricane because of the mistrust of the "shelter" systems of the last storm and the dangerous roads and gas shortages of prior storm experiences. I know one that is already on the road in panic. They are not sure where this storm is going to land. Mexico, Texas, or the Gulf - its all up in the air right now waiting on the movement to or away from the "Gap". But you would think there would be some elevated "dry run" at least to see if there is some interest in bettering the response from last time?
So, there you have it - another stormy season has started.
Myself, I went to breakfast this morning with the team who were working here this week. And what a great week it was. The highlight was the completed baseball diamond at Martin Luther King Park. They had a wonderful time working with Buddy yesterday and got a lot completed on the knee wall for his new home. He is such a sweet heart.
This weekend - not a lot planned short of getting this office is some sort of order by Monday. I did stop at a yard sale today and get a few items. That was a lot of fun - and a first for me. I have not been to a yard sale since I left Illinois. Used to be a form of entertainment for me. None here of course until this year - and now I see them popping up on the horizon as normalcy settles into some new homes and they have more possessions than they can fit from their evacuated status. Good way to spread the wealth too. The prices at the yard sale this morning were very competative and there were deals to be made on a lot of much needed items.
I did come across this morning where some of my older posts were just after the storm and I added it to the old blog link list. Click Here
All in all, a great week. How was yours?
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Thursday August 16th
 Sometimes you want your house torn down, and sometimes you dont. Thats the way it is in the aftermath of Katrina - an occasional "Oh Woops". And it happened in Waveland on Waveland Ave - right there on the curve. That neat solid brick home and down it came. The owner is still in shock of course. I didnt tell her, but it isnt the first time there has been on "Oh woops" in the home demo projects here. Not sure how they happen - but this will be an interesting saga of finger pointing to watch. And the two investment owners of the home - well, I expect they will be getting a brand new home courtesy of the contractors insurance or the City of Waveland depending on where the blame game lands.
Angie, La was here yesterday and left with a full load of supplies. This load went to the Hope Mission over there. Looking forward to assisting them some more.
Else, Martin Luther King Park made great progess yesterday. Five gallons of official City "blue" and a few more of white - and the place is even more spruced up. We are making progress.
Keith Burton from Gulf Cost News was over yesterday. Good to see him out travelling the highways and byways.
Else, its the hurricane in the Gulf everyone is watching. Will it go left, will it go thru the "gap", will it, will it, will it? Interesting to watch the locals watch the developing storm. I hear "some" evacuation plans, but not many. Just rumblings and this storm is moving quickly. I would have thought I would have "heard" more about evacuation plans for the elderly - but nary a very public rumbling yet?
And thats my day, how is yours?
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Thursday August 16th
 It was a fine day in Waveland yesterday. There is a completed baseball diamond at the Martin Luther King Park thanks to some very very hard working volunteers that are here this week. The picture, above, was taken at the park yesterday. And note the Mississippi Katrina cottage in the background beyond the fence.
When the boys completed the baseball diamond, they went on to play the first "game" there in the Park - oppressive heat and all. Good for you boys! What a team! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!
Else it was grant writing and a meeting at Mission on the Bay. Yes, still writing grants. We will be tied up doing that till Monday.
A load of donations will be going to Angie, La today. They are picking them up this morning. That is a town in desperate need.
So, how is your day going today?
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Wednesday August 15th [Updated]
Update: New article regarding the need for open and transparent platforms for non profits who are distributing funds. Click here for full story
A Mississippi cottage arrives and has landed on Herlihy St. Above is the cottage and the proud new owner. Here is one of those "stories". Her home is actually a family home owned by 13 family members. In order to build a home back on the property - we have to get all 13 family members to agree. And that is not happening any time soon. In the meantime the cottage can sit there for two years or until the City/County changes the rules regarding FEMA trailer housing.
I see this situation often in Middletown and the black community. It has been a major obstacle to overcome in recovery. Why is this ? It is cultural - its a "family" home left by the parents to all the siblings either by design with a Will or as a result of the lack of a Will. This can shadow over into several generations. The family determines who will use the home. It is not always amicable - but it is a way of life. The estate rarely goes into a formal probate process - and it sits there in limbo. Not an issue - until a hurricane blows away the home. Then all the legal issues arise and it becomes a major problem to solve as there is multiple people required to sign all the paperwork.
 And then there is Martin Luther King Park. Languishing while we wait for the City to sign the Kaboom contract. I talked to Kaboom today and neither the Public Works Director, the Mayor, nor the City Attorney has called them. I dropped off a letter requesting that they please call - all to no avail. No phone call. No signed contract that I have been advised of. The one thing that has happened is that the sand is sitting there. Thankyou Chris Johnson, Parks Director, for that!
Good day in the field today. The team is working on Lemuel Jones on Jeff Davis. They have two other work orders in hand. They have a lot of work to do this week.
Myself, I am just plain exhaustd. A few days off didnt fix all that ails me. But, I will be getting away to Washington in September. I need that break.
So, how was your day?
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Contact Kathleen
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Web designer: Kathleen Johnson
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