• Adults with disabilities enjoy volunteer work
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Adults with disabilities enjoy volunteer work
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Special needs adults enjoy volunteer work
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Event will help volunteer with medical bills
Thankfully, AmeriCorps volunteer Mark Smith is expected to make a full recovery. In New Orleans to help the Hollygrove neighborhood rebuild, he was shot twice while trying to stop a thief from taking the car of a fellow AmeriCorps member living at Trinity Christian Community on Joliet Street.

• BOOK CAPTURES CITY'S EARLY TV DAYS
New Orleans is a city steeped in tradition and small-town flavor, so when Dominic Massa released his book "New Orleans Television," locals lined up for an autographed copy, hoping for the chance to meet some of their small-screen favorites.

• Library can be key to success in school
The start of school is always exciting and sometimes very stressful. Fortunately, the library is here to help children and their parents or guardians.

• Library can be key to success in school
The start of school is always exciting and sometimes very stressful. Fortunately, the library is here to help children and their parents or guardians.

• Local singer has world of experiences
During the 29 years I've lived in New Orleans, I've met many different people with interesting backgrounds. By writing this column, I've had the opportunity to meet lots of people from Latin America who have made this city home while maintaining links to their native countries. One of those people is Rafael Gerardo Barrios, a resident of Metairie and a native of Guatemala.

• Locals kept it clean on Dirty Linen Night
Royal Street on Aug. 9 was as crowded as Bourbon Street on a normal Saturday night as gobs of people recently came out for Dirty Linen Night.

• Many different paths for training
People seeking advice about dog training quickly discover there are almost as many schools of thought as there are dog breeds.

• PET OF THE WEEK
People seeking advice about dog training quickly discover there are almost as many schools of thought as there are dog breeds.

• Rayne church steeple to glow once again
The historic 1876 steeple of Rayne United Methodist Church, 3900 St. Charles Ave., will glow for the first time since Katrina when it is lighted Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the end of a day of celebratory events.

• School's in session; it's time to slow down
Now that the school year has begun, I would like to remind motorists to be aware of school zones, especially since some of the yellow flashing lights are not up and running. Please slow down!

• Track club partners with blind, visually impaired
Offering blind and visually impaired people with the opportunity to participate in endurance sports is the mission of the Shared Vision Track Club (SVTC).

• Track club partners with blind, visually impaired
Offering blind and visually impaired people with the opportunity to participate in endurance sports is the mission of the Shared Vision Track Club (SVTC).

• Track club partners with blind, visually impaired
Offering blind and visually impaired people with the opportunity to participate in endurance sports is the mission of the Shared Vision Track Club (SVTC).

• Track club partners with blind, visually impaired
Offering blind and visually impaired people with the opportunity to participate in endurance sports is the mission of the Shared Vision Track Club (SVTC).

• Two schools embrace Mandarin program
St. Martin's Episcopal School on Airline Drive in Metairie will begin the yearlong Mandarin Enrichment Program.

• Two schools embrace Mandarin program
St. Martin's Episcopal School on Airline Drive in Metairie will begin the yearlong Mandarin Enrichment Program.

• Two schools embrace Mandarin program
St. Martin's Episcopal School on Airline Drive in Metairie will begin the yearlong Mandarin Enrichment Program.

• UNO puts elevated homes on the map
The University of New Orleans is buzzing with activity.

• Visitors get a tour of yin, yang of rebuilding
This past week I had the opportunity to spend time with two visitors from the state of Washington: the Revs. Jerry Shigaki and Jeff Sells. They are priests whose churches in the Diocese of Olympia partnered with St. Paul's Episcopal Church and School after Hurricane Katrina.

• Women's Opera Guild celebrates in style
Uptown residents Sarah Abrusley and Kathryn Barry opened the season of the Junior Committee of the Women's Opera Guild with a fun-filled party on a recent Sunday evening. "Summer cocktail" was the requested attire, willingly worn by more than 80 guests who attended the event at the Maison Dupuy Hotel in the French Quarter.

• BLESSING OF THE HERBS
The 12th annual blessing of the herb garden at Ursuline Academy began Friday with Mass in the chapel of Our Lady of Prompt Succor on State Street. Dressed in white and clutching handmade nosegays of herbs and flowers, second- and third-graders proceeded to the altar and took part in the blessing after Mass. The tradition of Ursuline nuns raising herbs began with Sister St. Francis Xavier Hebert, the first woman to be nationally recognized as a pharmacist and hospital director. She tended the garden at the original Ursuline convent in the French Quarter. The herb ceremony takes place on the day of the Feast of the Assumption, the traditional day for blessing herbs.

• COLLEGE NEWS
--- University of New Orleans ---

• COMMUNITY REPORT
--- Memorial ---

• Singer has world of experiences
During the 29 years I've lived in New Orleans, I've met many different people with interesting backgrounds. By writing this column, I've had the opportunity to meet lots of people from Latin America who have made this city home while maintaining links to their native countries. One of those people is Rafael Gerardo Barrios, a resident of Metairie and a native of Guatemala.

• Singer has world of experiences
During the 29 years I've lived in New Orleans, I've met many different people with interesting backgrounds. By writing this column, I've had the opportunity to meet lots of people from Latin America who have made this city home while maintaining links to their native countries. One of those people is Rafael Gerardo Barrios, a resident of Metairie and a native of Guatemala.

• Urge FEMA to start rebuilding Troop B
Last September, I wrote about the former site of Troop B and our Department of Motor Vehicles at the start of Veterans Boulevard. Well, I recently spoke with Jerry Jones. the facility manager for the state. He told me that FEMA is dragging its feet when it comes to paying its share for rebuilding, while the state is ready to submit bids.

• Volunteers helping out despite their disabilities
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Volunteers helping out despite their disabilities
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Volunteers helping out despite their disabilities
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Volunteers helping out despite their disabilities
Every Friday, a small group of volunteers from Uptown New Orleans arrives at Second Harvest Food Bank in Harahan and gets to work sorting food. At the end of the day, nearly 500 Lagniappe Packs are ready for distribution to schoolchildren to ensure they don't go hungry over the weekend.

• Welcome a new crop of gardeners
More than 30 people recently earned the title master gardener after completing the Louisiana Master Gardener Program, a service and educational activity offered each year by the LSU AgCenter at City Park's Botanical Garden.

• Welcome a new crop of gardeners
More than 30 people recently earned the title master gardener after completing the Louisiana Master Gardener Program, a service and educational activity offered each year by the LSU AgCenter at City Park's Botanical Garden.

• Anti-crime gathering all comes together
Our lakefront neighborhoods really know how to have a great Night Out Against Crime. This year, there were more than 19 gatherings throughout the area. Craig and I went to our Night Out in the 6100 block of Louisville St., where we saw neighbors Sharon and Stewart Schmidt, who did an awesome job grilling burgers and chicken as well as setting up lots of tables and tents.

• ARMED FORCES
GRADUATED

• Betsy stole thrill of first day of school
I remember how excited I was about going to school for the first time. I was 6 and living in Harahan. As the youngest child in the family, I had watched my siblings go off to school while I stayed at home. Now it was my turn.

• Black-and-white TV was colorful in N.O.
Images on the tiny early television screens may have been in black and white, but the characters were a colorful lot, including hosts Bob and Jan Carr, theater commentator Al Shea and children's favorite "Miss Linda" Barnett Mintz. These four special guests will help celebrate the publication of Dominic Massa's book "New Orleans Television" Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. The book features vintage photographs from the earliest days of television in New Orleans.

• Bookstore purchases to help libraries grow
I suspect that some of my Children's Room patrons enter bookstores now and then. When they refer to "buying" books in front of me, I blush and turn my head, imagining that if they catch me in a bookstore I'll say, "I'm just here with a friend."

• CHARITY LETS NIA'S SPIRIT LIVE ON
It's been almost a year since the life of young Nia Robertson was brutally taken by an unstable drifter in a random act of violence that shocked and saddened the city. Only 28 with a bright future ahead of her, Robertson is being honored and remembered by family and friends with a nonprofit foundation established in her name. Iggie's House was created with the primary mission of mentoring New Orleans youth and encouraging them to develop leadership skills, build confidence and engage in collective endeavors that better their community. A scholarship bearing Robertson's name will help to ensure that her spirit will live on.

• COLLEGES
--- University of New Orleans ---

• COMMUNITY REPORT
--- Audubon Zoo book club ---

• Companionship option for those needing help
When someone becomes unable to cope with living alone, the choices include leaving familiar surroundings and moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. These difficult choices often involve family members who are unable to have the person move into their home. Sometimes assisted living or a nursing home is chosen because the person has no family.

• Companionship option for those needing help
When someone becomes unable to cope with living alone, the choices include leaving familiar surroundings and moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. These difficult choices often involve family members who are unable to have the person move into their home. Sometimes assisted living or a nursing home is chosen because the person has no family.

• Companionship option for those needing help
When someone becomes unable to cope with living alone, the choices include leaving familiar surroundings and moving into an assisted living facility or nursing home. These difficult choices often involve family members who are unable to have the person move into their home. Sometimes assisted living or a nursing home is chosen because the person has no family.

• END OF SUMMER BASH
Three years ago today, the announcement that a youth development center was about to open in eastern New Orleans, offering after-school and summer programs, was welcome news. But Hurricane Katrina and flooding wrecked the center and everything around it.

• Fighting crime takes involvement of all
We've read about witnesses who get too scared to testify in court because of intimidation and fear. Here's a story about two brave Quarterites, Betty and Bill Norris, who were held up at gunpoint not once but twice. One of the gunmen was a skinny woman who waved a gun, then pointed it at Betty, then Bill, then Betty.

• Groups create disaster plans for Latino residents
With hurricane season in motion, several organizations are reaching out to the local Latino population. One Economy is an international nonprofit with an office in New Orleans to help people with emergency-preparedness plans.

• Groups help create disaster plans for Latino residents
With hurricane season in motion, several organizations are reaching out to the local Latino population. One Economy is an international nonprofit with an office in New Orleans to help people with emergency-preparedness plans.

• Groups help create local disaster plans
With hurricane season in motion, several organizations are reaching out to the local Latino population. One Economy is an international nonprofit with an office in New Orleans to help people with emergency-preparedness plans.

• Groups help create local disaster plans
With hurricane season in motion, several organizations are reaching out to the local Latino population. One Economy is an international nonprofit with an office in New Orleans to help people with emergency-preparedness plans.

• New crop of master gardeners welcomed
More than 30 people recently earned the title master gardener after completing the Louisiana Master Gardener Program, a service and educational activity offered each year by the LSU AgCenter at City Park's Botanical Garden.

• N.O. Head Start program accepting eligible students
As children head back to school this month, some 3- and 4-year-olds may be eligible for Head Start classes offered through a partnership between the Hume Child Development Center and Total Community Action. Classes will begin in September for 30 students whose families meet income and other guidelines determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

• Nontraditional pets need special care when at home
When we talk about pets, dogs and cats usually come to mind, but some of us choose other critters as companions of choice, such as rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. I heard from an Uptown couple who has both cats and a guinea pig. They find that their guinea pig is a great companion for their grandchildren, especially because it's "a very, very sweet animal and does not bite."

• PET OF THE WEEK
When we talk about pets, dogs and cats usually come to mind, but some of us choose other critters as companions of choice, such as rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. I heard from an Uptown couple who has both cats and a guinea pig. They find that their guinea pig is a great companion for their grandchildren, especially because it's "a very, very sweet animal and does not bite."

• Ridding area of code violations will take time
I took on the task of chairing the Code Enforcement committee at the recent monthly meeting of the East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission. I eagerly got online to begin reporting violations and was advised to contact the city's Code Enforcement office to get a tracking number. I did so, and was told that my violation reports had not been reviewed yet because there were at least 7,000 violations filed before mine.

• Teaching career had an early start
As the children of our community head back to school, let's remember that the classroom of life encompasses more than a school building.

• Uptown church opens doors to eastern N.O. congregation
A dispersed eastern New Orleans church is about to return to the city through a joint venture with a Broadmoor congregation.