The Fountainhead
The
Fontainebleau
Improvement
The Fountainhead
Association of
New Orleans
Volume 15, Issue 2
April 2004
FIA General Membership Meeting set for Wednesday, May 5 at 6:45 PM;
Representative of Carrollton United to make Presentation to Fontainebleau Residents
The next General Membership Meeting shared vision and strategic directions
At Wednesday night’s meeting, Jean
of the Fontainebleau Improvement developed by the community. Formed
will share with us the details of other
Association has been scheduled for approximately four years ago with a small
projects that will impact our area. These
Wednesday, May 5 at 6:45 pm. As usual, grant from the New Orleans Public Health
projects are deserving of all our support,
the meeting will be held in the St. Rita Partnership, Carrollton United addresses
and I know Jean will have suggestions on
School Auditorium.
such quality of life issues as blighted
how you and the FIA can help out.
You do not have to be a member of
housing, safety and economic issues
As usual, we have also invited our
FIA to attend this meeting. Any and all
facing the poor.
District A Councilman, Jay Batt, and our
residents in the Fonta inebleau a rea are
Having lived for many years in the
State Representative, Alex Heaton, to
invited to attend.
Carrollton area before a recent move to
attend to provide updates from their
FIA is pleased to have Ms. Jean Fischer the University area, Jean Fischer is a loyal respective offices and to answer any
of Carrollton United speak to us on the and enthusiastic supporter of all efforts to questions you might have. (Although
many plans and initiatives sponsored by improve our Carrollton neighborhood. with the State legislature in session, Rep.
her organization. Carrollton United is a Recently, she has worked with your FIA Heaton is not likely to be able to make it.)
collaborative of nei g h b o r h o od leadership in its attempts to bring a So please join us Wednesday, May 5
organizations, churches, businesses, and grocery store to the now-infamous corner at 6:45 pm at the St. Rita School
individuals, all seeking a better quality of of South Claiborne and South Carrollton Auditorium. Your FIA needs you!
life for all Carrollton residents through a
Avenues.
City-Wide Care Program, Termites Highlight January FIA General Membership Meeting
Recently, at the January FIA General
As of the January meeting , the “Care termites! Brenda shared loads of
Membership Meeting, Fontainebleau area
Again” campaign boasted almost 60 amazing and useful information on the
residents learned all about a new initiative
agencies and 3000 individuals among its little critters, and the various products
to foster pride in the “City That Care
participants. The idea is to create a designed to protect our homes from
Forgot,” through a lively and informative
clearinghouse for citizen involvement,
them.
presentation on the City’s new “Care
aligning willing volunteers (and you know Most interesting fun-fact of the night:
Again” campaign by the City’s first-ever
that includes you) with groups whose termites can travel 300 feet underground
marketing director, Mark Konigsmark.
goals are related to improving the City. to find a new food source. Best tip of the
According to Konigsmark, the “Care
Interested? Call the “Care Again” night: buy inexpensive little pine stakes at
Again” campaign has three basic goals: to
campaign at 598-CARE, or visit its new a home improvement store, hammer them
show New Orleanians -- and the world --
website at NewNewOrleans.net.
into the soil around your house at 15-foot
that progress is being made in the City; to
Area residents also heard a most
intervals, then check periodically to see if
foster an increased sense of pride in our interesting and informative presentation termites have taken up residence in your
great City; and to encourage participation from Brenda Walkenhorst, Outreach yard. It’s a cheap and easy way to
by New Orleanians in programs designed
Coordinator for Audubon Zoo, on the
discover if you have a problem, or
to move the City forward.
City’s most feared and despised invaders,
monitor the effectiveness of treatments.
Volume 15, Issue 2
April 2004
FIA Board Elects New Officers for 2004
FIA 2004 Committee Chairs
The Board of Directors of the Fontainebleau Improvement Association
The following FIA members have volunteered to
met and elected new officers for 2004. Elected for one year terms are:
serve as Chairs of their respective Committees
for the upcoming year:
President - JD Demarest
Vice-President - John Broussard
Secretary - Rhonda Betbeze
Treasurer - John Conkerton
Beautification:
John Broussard
861-5959
Other members of the Board of Directors include:
Block Party:
Joy Monahan
861-7636
Sheva De Matteo Chris Chin
Lee Miller
Mary Kennedy
Infrastructure:
Sheva De Matteo
Lizette Coughlin Elsie Martinez Joy Monahan
866-9661
Membership:
Frank Leo/Joe Marrione
314-0133
Fontainebleau Arch Repaired
Newsletter:
Tim Betbeze
861-3083
As noted in the last issue of The Reportedly, the motori st’s
Program:
Steven Lane
Fountainhead, our beloved insurance covered the cost of the
866-9610
Fontainebleau Arch suffered a repairs, which were contracted out
Quality of Life:
Terry Walker
serious blow in late December when to a private contractor. Once
865-7100
a motorist lost control of his car underway, the repair project took
Security:
Peggy Demarest
and slammed into the lakeside little time to complete, and it
865-7651
support, knocking that portion of appears that the final touch-ups
Zoning:
Lee Miller
the Arch onto the ground.
were being completed this past
861-2350
We are pleased to report that week. And so at last, our Arch is
the Arch has now been repaired, looking as good as new.
Committee chairs are always looking for
thanks to the coordinated efforts of Now, if we can only get those
ideas and assistance from their neighbors.
the City Attorney’s Office and the pesky little lights on the Arch to
Give one of them a call today, and help FIA
City’s Property Management Office. cooperate!
work better for you and for all of us!
FIA Secu rity Patrol H elps Keep Residen ts Safe
FIA Spring
Beautification Award
In addition to the many other
an emergency, or to just escort them
services provided by Fontainebleau
into the house if arriving home late.
The FIA Spring Beautification
Improvement Association, your FIA
Enclosed in this edition of The
Award has been presented to
coordinates the Fontainebleau Police
Fountainhead is a signup sheet for
Mulry and Lisa Tetlow of
Patrol, which provides 30 to 36
the Police Patrol, offering reduced
16 Fontainebleau Drive. The
hours a week of off-duty police
rates if you sign up soon. Please
Tetlows have devoted considerable time and
patrolling of our neighborhood. Not
take a minute and review the signup
effort to transforming their yard into a beautiful
only does the Police Patrol give us
sheet, and consider joining the
multi-layered garden, and all of us have
an extra set of trained eyes watching
Patrol. The more members we have,
benefitted from their hard work and dedication.
over our families and property, but
the more hours we can add to the
Thanks Mulry and Lisa, for making our
also, members are provided with the
Patrol, and that can only make our
Fontainebleau neighborhood a more colorful
mobile telephone number of our
Fontainebleau neighborhood safer.
place to live.
patrol officers, to call in the event of
Please join the Patrol today!
2
Volume 15, Issue 2
April 2004
The Irrepressible Optimist
-----------------------
on Belfast Street, Gerrie Gough, Donald
Rita, and even the extensive street work
Longtime Fontainebleau Resident
and Richard. Today, Bernie’s family also
on Fontainebleau Drive a few years ago
Bernie Smith is an Inspiration For Us All
includes 18 grandchildren and 22 great-
did not deter her. The workmen often
_____________
grandchildren.
helped her over the difficult spots.
“Emmett and I were so happy when we
She was used to walking in the
By: Elsie Martinez
were able to buy this house.” she says
neighborhood with her neighbors, Betty
while reminiscing in her cheery breakfast
Jo Kron, Lydia Fonte, Jane Foley and Betty
If you’re ever feeling down, and your
room. “A lot of people wanted to buy it –
LeCroix. However, besides our
spirits need a lift, think of Bernie Smith. A
it was built in 1929 – and I think the
Fontainebleau neighborhood, Bernie
smile will rise to your lips and the day will
owners favored us because Emmett liked
knows neighborhoods all over the world.
suddenly seem not so bad after all.
the architectural features so much and he
She probably has been to more countries
Bernie has been a ray of sunshine in our
told them how finely the house was built.”
than many travel agents. One of her most
neighborhood ever since she moved to
Bernie and Emmett made the basement
memorable trips, she says, was to
50 Fontaibebleau Drive 60 years ago.
into a playroom for the children. That’s
Medjugorja, where she felt she was really
“I must like it around here to stay all
where Emmett Jr. took banjo lessons and
on holy ground. “I was surprised I could
that time,” she says with a smile and a
Richard guitar. Both still play, Emmett
get to the top of that mountain, though,”
twinkle in her eye.
with a group he originated called “Banjo
she says with a laugh. “It was wonderful
The neighborhood back then was a lot Plus Two,” which some readers have
to see the faith of all those people there.”
quieter, with less traffic and fewer
probably enjoyed at parties or church
A trip she makes regularly is much
children, she recalls. “It was very
functions.
closer to home, right on the Gulf Coast in
convenient for me because we had only
For a number of years, Bernie hosted
Pass Christian where she and her family
one car and I could walk to one of the
a prayer group in her home. One of the
have had a home for many years.
neighborhood groceries and to the
participants, Angela Kelly, recalls with a
Wherever she is, Bernie brightens the
drugstore and catch the bus to go
smile a memorable prayer of Bernie’s:
scene with her great humor, her
downtown. And all the children went to
“Lord, I’m willing to accept anything you
irrepressible optimism and love of life.
St. Rita school right across the street.”
send my way, but I’ll tell you what I
One of her neighbors sums it up this way:
Bernie and her late husband, Emmett,
prefer.”
“She’s an inspiration for all of us, that’s
had five children: Emmett, Jr., Bonnie
Neighbors were used to seeing Bernie
what.”
Talbot, our neighbor who lives right over
walk to the 7 o’clock weekday Mass at St.
FIA Hard at Work for You
Your FIA Officers and Directors have
* Privacy fence between commercial lot
* Second Police District’s Quality of Life
been hard at work for you over the past
on Claiborne Avenue and Fontainebleau
Officer contacted about several violations
several months. Here are just a few
residences to be repaired to meet zoning of City ordinances in the neighborhood;
things that have been accomplished
requirements
Quality of Life Officer takes up issues
thanks to their hard work and dedication:
* Property owners on Short Street and
directly with violators.
* National grocery store chain contacted
Belfast Street contacted about condition
As you can see, the Fontainebleau
by FIA President, and takes interest in
of properties and alleged zoning
Improvement Association is working hard
corner of Carrollton and Claiborne;
violations; follow-up action planned
to improve our neighborhood. Please
Councilman Batt offers to travel with FIA
* Thanks, in part, to regular monitoring
help support these efforts by joining FIA
President to meet store representatives
by FIA officers, dentist on Carrollton
today. Better yet, get even more involved
* Fontainebleau Arch repaired by City in
Avenue told by City to meet zoning and
by calling one of FIA’s committee chairs
short order, thanks to regular monitoring
building requirements or relocate; dentist
and offering to help. Together, there’s a
by FIA officers
elects to relocate
lot we can do to improve quality of life.
3
Volume 15, Issue 2
April 2004
FONTAINEBLEAU RESIDENTS SUPPORT FIA
Thanks to these FIA Members who have sent in their 2004 FIA Membership Dues. FIA works hard to improve the quality of our
neighborhood, and we need your support, both financial and otherwise, to continue this work. Please help us in our effort by joining
FIA and sending in your FIA Membership Dues today.
Lester Adelsberg & Linda Bauer
J. D. and Peggy Demarest
Nancy Marks
Sheila Reed
Tom and Margaret Baier
Christopher and Christine Bowie D ove
Joseph Marrione and Frank Leo
Charles and Suzanne Reveley
Stuart and Olivia Bamforth
Marcel and Dionne Ducote
John and Elsie Martinez
Olga and Philip Riegel
Philip an d Arwin Bascle
Robert J. Ellis, Jr.
Benjamin Maygarden
Mark Romig
Rhonda and Tim Betbeze
Esther Forst
Leon Miller & Kevin Williams
Jeffrey A. and Jeffrey C. Roux
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Blanchard
Frank and Jocelyn Fromherz
Michael and Joy Monahan
Julie Sanchez
John and Audrey Broussard
Dick and Carla Gannon
Mary Lou and Michael O'Keefe
Tom and Chi-Chi Short
Arlen Brunson
Chad and Charlotte Gilman
Geoffrey and Debra Parker
Lois Spengeman
Jose ph and Elizabe th Cali
Henry and Norma Haydel
Mary Jane Phelan
Effie Stockton
Chris a nd Ash ley Chin
Gordon Hyde
Vincent and Felicia Pigna
J. Walker Sullivan, Jr.
John and Laurie Conkerton
Jeff and Bonnie Jones
O.L. Pollinque
Robert and Bonnie Talbot
Lizette Cough lin
Krista Jurisich
Jeanette Pou
Ardyn Thriffiley
Alfred Cummings
Mary Kennedy
Alvin and Julie Puderer
Scott Umberger
Margaret Cumm ins
Dr. & Mrs. Wilbur A. Lazarus
Ray, Scott & Peck Diane
Elizabeth Verrett
Stephen and Pam De Fe rrari
Mary LeBlanc
Kathleen Redmann
Terry & Joan Walker
Jan Wootan
(Clip and send in with your 2004 dues)
FONTAINEBLEAU IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION DUES STATEMENT
It’s time to renew your FIA Membership.
The annual membership fee is only $20.00 per household.
2004 M embership Dues:
$20.00
Mail or deliver contribution to:
Additio nal donati on:
_____
Fontainebleau Improvement Association
Towa rds capital im provem ent,
c/o Joe Marrione and Frank Leo
beautification and other
7911 S. Claibo rne Avenue
FIA projec ts
New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
Total Contribution Enclosed
$_____
Member Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number(s): _______________________________________________________________________________
E-mail Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Number of family members and ages: ___________________________________________________________________
Please mark which com mittees you would like to join or hear more abou t:
___Beautification
___Infrastructu re ___Mem bership
____N ewsletter
_____Programming
___Zoning
____Secu rity
___Block Party
___ _Qu ality o f Life
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