photos by Charlie London
My Fathers Day started with brunch at Pagoda, then some work in the yard, then shooting cans with my daughter and ended up with an adventure in City Park.
We began our journey on Scout Island and ended up at the stables where the horses for the New Orleans Police Department’s Mounted Patrol are housed.
Click on any photo for a larger view.
For the past 6 years, AUCTIONS IN AUGUST has raised over $500,000 for more than 350 local, state-wide and national non-profits and schools.
“Auctions in August” is a silent auction Gulf Coast Bank hosts & facilitates for the entire month of August. Items are available for bidding at each of the 17 branches of Gulf Coast Bank; as well as, online. The auction is open to everyone, bank employees, customers and the general public.
Please consider donating a gift certificate, unique gift, or priceless item that will attract bidders and help us raise funds for your favorite non-profit organization. Donors are able to choose which non-profit they would like all of the proceeds from the sale of their items to benefit.
Thank you for your interest in helping us to make “Auctions in August” a success! For more information, or to donate, please email auction@gulfbank.com.
To get started, please download the below forms.
The New Orleans Police Department is participating in “Auctions in August”
Individuals, businesses, schools and non-profits are encouraged and welcomed to make a donation in Gulf Coast Bank’s “Auctions in August” Fundraising Event. “Auctions in August” is held the entire month of August and all proceeds benefit designated non-profits.
To donate an item, or several items, simply fill out the Auction Item Donation Form for each item and drop off the form and the item(s) at any Gulf Coast Bank Branch. The item(s) must meet a minimum and/or combined value of $50.00. For intangible items (i.e. vacation rentals, business services, etc.) please provide a certificate or letter stating how items/services can be collected/redeemed.
All items will be posted to the auction website (www.auctionsinaugust.com) for public viewing just prior to August 1st through the end of the auction, August 31st. Generally, all gift cards, trips, and items valued above $150 will be auctioned online and items valued between $50-$149 will be auctioned in the branches.
Donors may choose the non-profit to receive the proceeds from the sale of each of their donated specific item(s). The designated non-profit’s information must be filled out in full on the item donor form to insure the timely disbursement of the funds.
Unsold items will be returned to the donor upon the conclusion of “Auctions in August”.
Minimum bids are not recommended, but may be placed on items at the request of the donor. This information must be specified on the donor form prior to the start of the auction. Any items that do not receive the minimum bid must be collected immediately by the donor.
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust cannot issue statements regarding tax deductible donations. Tax refundable donation statements must be requested through the non-profit the item is supporting. We can issue a letter for the non-profit as needed stating that an item was donated on their behalf. Requests for these letters must be done so at the beginning of the auction and will be supplied to the donor no later than the end of the auction, by email or mail.
If you have any questions regarding donating an item for the auction, or how the process works, please send an email to auction@gulfbank.com or call Sheila Englert at (504) 412.2018.
It is time again to kick off “Auctions In August“. For those who may not be familiar with “Auctions in August”, it is a silent auction hosted by Gulf Coast Bank. Nancy Lytel an employee at Gulf Coast Bank has devoted her time for the past few years with this event to help raise money for the police, SPCA, United Way, and many other organizations.
To donate an item for the auction, simply complete the attached paper work. Once completed, it may be faxed/scanned or dropped off at any Gulf Coast Bank. To make the donation easier, I will even pick it up from a requested location. My office number is 658-6370. To bid on an item please go to Gulf Coast Bank’s website and click on Auctions In August. Be sure to check the site often as the items posted change daily.
Once again, thank you in advance for any support,
Melody Young
First District
New Orleans Police Department
photos from Henry Artigue
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. ~John Quincy Adams
May 25, 2013
Dear Bobby:
For the past six years, you have brought the First District out of its Katrina depression into one of the safest communities in New Orleans. There has never been a problem too small or too large that you could not personally respond. Even though you worked all day, you went to all of our crime walks and whatever other little thing we did.
Every police officer in the First District is professional in appearance and demeanor. It’s no accident that the First District has lower crime statistics than many areas in New Orleans: this condition is the result of a cohesive, professional unit of law enforcement officers. You have been a beacon of hope, kindness, and effective law enforcement for the First District.
Although we can be a fussy, picky group of people, you have always dispatched exactly the right Quality of Life Officer for Faubourg St. John. I know of no one who would hesitate to ask or tell Robert Norton anything. You have always responded to our email complaints and questions, phone calls and conversations graciously and attempted to understand our points of view.
Not long ago, you mobilized this entire community to find an armed robber. As vigilant as we were–and we were extremely observant and communicative with each other– we didn’t find him. But we ceased to be targets of opportunity, were able to relate information in a timely fashion that led to the arrest of others, and never heard from the armed robber again.
When Commander Norton asked for tips, everyone looked everywhere and came up with some tips! Actually, you probably got way too many tips. Still, this incident stands out for me as emblematic of our respect and trust in Robert Norton.
Bobby, you have been a unifying presence in a district that likes to be divided into little neighborhoods! You have taught us that we’re all in this together and have illustrated how far a little teamwork can go. Whenever I talk to neighbors in Esplanade Ridge, Treme, and Fairgrounds Triangle, everyone knows you and speaks fondly of working with you and your department to solve real problems.
Although you are leaving, you have made permanent changes in the police-community relationship in the First District. You will bring the same professional and caring spirit to your new post as you continue to be a change agent wherever you go. I will miss you terribly and want you to know if there’s every anything I can do for you, I would be so happy to do so.
Kindest Regards,
Mona McMahon
update – June 8, 2013 (from the New Orleans Police Department) – The black, two-door Honda Accord registered to missing Harvey school teacher Terrilynn Monnette, was pulled from the floor of Bayou St. John this afternoon. Human remains were found inside the vehicle.
A recovery diver, Slidell Police Officer Mark Michoud, who was one of many diving experts to volunteer his services in the search for Ms. Monnette’s car, located the vehicle in the bayou shortly after 12 noon. He returned to the surface and told others that the car’s description and license plate were a match.
The car was then carefully lifted out of the water shortly before 3pm. When they arrived at the scene, Coroner’s investigators decided to load the vehicle on a truck and relocate it to their office, where they removed the remains later today. The actual autopsy will be performed Monday morning.
26-year-old Terrilynn Monnette was reported missing on Saturday, March 2nd . She was last seen at about 5am that day with friends at Parlay’s Bar in the 800-block of Harrison Avenue. One should know that Steven Feakes fraud investigations are conducted and one can get help here.
“I’m sure these last few months for Ms. Monnette’s family have been the hardest in their lives. I cannot begin to imagine what this family has been through, and I commend them for keeping Terrilynn’s photos in the news and in the public’s memory”, said Superintendent Ronal Serpas.
“Now that Ms. Monnette’s car has been found, we begin the second phase of this investigation. Both homicide detectives and our fatality unit were on the scene today, so that they can pick up where our 3rd District officers have left off, and start finding out exactly how and why the car ended up where it did”.
Serpas continued, “I want to commend the 3rd District for their tireless efforts in this case, as well as our partners in the FBI and the US Secret Service. And I also want to thank the tremendous efforts of State Representative Austin Badon and the many volunteers who worked with him and the NOPD in this case. All involved with this team effort deserve recognition.”
State Representative Austin Badon said, “The discovery of Ms. Monnette’s car today was upsetting- not only to Terrilynn’s family members, but to many members of the New Orleans community. It was touching that many residents drove to the bayou when they heard the news that the vehicle had been located. Ms. Monnette’s story very obviously touched many of us.”
“I am aware that this investigation continues, but at this time, I’d like to thank local, state and federal law enforcement for the concentrated work they’ve put into Ms. Monnette’s case”, Badon said.
*********************************************************************************
Equusearch, the Texas crew that New Orleans police have brought in to help search for missing teacher Terrilyn Monette, has found at least eight cars in Bayou St. John. But none of them is the teacher’s 2012 black Acura, last seen on March 2, Equusearch founder and director Tim Miller said Thursday.
“Waterways are good dumping grounds when somebody wants to get rid of a car for insurance reasons,” Miller said in trying to explain the fact that eight cars were found in the bayou.
The Equusearch crew, using 24-foot sonar boats that analyze sound waves to determine an underwater object’s size and shape, plans to send divers to check out a ninth car. That car has relatively few barnacles on it, indicating it may have landed in the bayou fairly recently, Miller said.
“We certainly don’t get too excited or get our hopes up until the divers come up and say there’s a chance,” Miller said.
Searchers have not found any signs of tire tracks in the land or mud surrounding various bodies of water between Parlay’s, the Lakeview bar in the 800 block of Harrison Avenue where Monette was last seen, and her apartment, Miller said.
U.S. Customs officials and State Police are using helicopters to conduct aerial searches of Lake Pontchartrain, said officer Hilal Williams, spokeswoman for the New Orleans Police Department.
Investigators have very few leads in the case, Miller said. “So far we’re at square one,” he said. “We’re no closer to finding her now than the first day, the day she disappeared.” But, he stressed, the search’s success could change in an instant. If authorities get a tip, he said, the crew will “drop everything and go to that spot.”
Police ask anyone with information on this missing person case, including the location of Monette’s 2012 black two-door Honda Accord, Louisiana license plate WUN494, to contact NOPD at 504.821.2222.
Article courtesy NOLA.com
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/03/equusearch_has_found_8_cars_in.html
***
11 or 12 cars believed to be in the bayou
Updated: Mar 15, 2013 6:01 PM CDT
Written by: Nancy Parker | Fox 8 News
New Orleans, La. –
The owner of a Texas search company says he’s bringing in bigger sonar units on Sunday. EquuSearch is combing area waterways for a missing teacher.
Tim Miller of EquuSearch says the same equipment used in the Natalee Holloway investigation in Aruba will be brought here.
Now the company is moving its efforts to find Terrilynn Monette to the bridge by Robert E. Lee, looking for any sign of Monette’s black Honda.
So many cars are under the waters of the bayou, though, it’s making their job trickier.
“We have seen many cars under the water. They are not all in clusters. Some of them are older than others and actually on the sonar machine you can see barnacles growing off of them,” said Caitlyn Garey of EquuSearch.
Crews face challenges as they look for any sign of Terrilynn Monette or her car beneath miles of bayou. There are so many other vehicles under the water.
“I think we got 11 or 12 in there, all along the bayou,” said Tim Miller.
The search crew says the cars may have been stolen, left over from Katrina, or dumped for some other reason.
Technology called side scan sonar bounces sound waves off objects to create images. Miller says the sonar reacts differently to new cars that are freshly buried under water. T
Finding so many cars in the water can definitely slow a search. Every car must be tagged with a heavy magnet attached to a buoy. Divers follow the line to the magnet to find the car.
It is meticulous work for a crew that specializes in finding the lost loved ones of others. But beneath Bayou St. John, there are cars whose stories remain untold.
On Sunday, February 10th, a 52-year-old man lost $16.50 that he had in his pockets after an armed robber approached him from behind about 8:10 p.m. at the corner of North Lopez and St. Philip streets, police said. The robber pushed the victim against the victim’s car, took the money and fled.” NOPD’s 1st District caught the suspect as he was fleeing down Ursulines Avenue .
An armed robbery of a neighbor on Maurepas @ Crete happened just after 9pm on Monday, February 11, 2013. The perpetrators then attempted to rob another neighbor on Grand Route. The 1st District NOPD then set up a perimeter and all three were apprehended successfully. No citizens injured. One Officer sustained a minor injury during the chase. Really excellent work by 1st Police District!
Please join him and your neighbors at 6:00 pm at 1368 Moss Street. The neighborhood association board meeting will follow.
Thanks to Bill Coskrey for the photo to the left and for organizing the Neighborhood Watch effort.
encourages participation in Neighborhood Watch.
We will discuss what we can do to protect ourselves and make our community a safer place to live and work.
The meeting will be held at Holy Rosary Cafeteria at 1368 Moss Street.
Why Your Participation Is Needed
= To Voice & Address Your Concerns
= To Reduce Crime In Our Community
= To Provide a Safer Neighborhood For You And Your Family
This time we started at Pal’s Lounge.
The weather was rainy that day but nothing could dampen his spirit or diminish his smile.
Bless his heart. He will be remembered.
Charlotte Pipes
The New Orleans Police Department is mourning the untimely death of First District Lieutenant Christopher Cambiotti. Lieutenant Cambiotti was a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident yesterday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He died on the scene. He was 42-years-old.
Chris joined the NOPD in 1997. During his time with the department, he served the people of New Orleans by working in the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Districts. He also worked briefly in the department’s Special Operations Division. Finally, during the last five years of his career, Chris served as the Second in Command to First District Commander Bobby Norton.
Commander Norton said, “This is a great loss for me, both professionally and personally. This is also a true loss for our community. Chris was a dedicated officer who cared for and respected this community very much.”
Superintendent Ronal Serpas said, “Chris Cambiotti was a great person, as well as an exemplary police officer. He’d always make a point of coming over to say ‘hello’ during breaks at weekly COMSTAT meetings. He always had something positive to say, and he always had a smile on his face.”
“Chris was very popular with the officers and made tremendous contributions to this police department, as well as to the people of New Orleans. He will be sorely missed.”
The New Orleans Police Department sends sincere condolences to the Cambiotti family as well as to NOPD Homicide Detective Maggie Darling.
A memorial service for Lieutenant Cambiotti will be held at Saint Louis Cathedral. Details of that service will be released when confirmed.
What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?
By Fred M. Rogers
© 1968
What do you do with the mad that you feel
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong…
And nothing you do seems very right?
What do you do? Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?
It’s great to be able to stop
When you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,
And be able to do something else instead
And think this song:
I can stop when I want to
Can stop when I wish.
I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Your New Orleans Police Department urges you to become involved in the fight against crime by becoming part of a Neighborhood Watch Group.
These are some of the benefits with being involved with a Neighborhood Watch Group in New Orleans:
Becoming a close partner with the Police Department.
Fighting crime.
Addressing quality of life issues (overgrown lots, abandoned houses, street light outages, etc.)
Participating in community and neighborhood events (block parties, outreach programs, etc.).
Receiving regular safety tips.
Meeting your neighbors, city officials and social service professionals.
Developing a partnership with local churches, schools and other public service agencies.
If you would like to get involved or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are already a member of a Neighborhood Watch Group, we would very much like to receive your input so that we may improve the program.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Andres Gonzalez, Sr.
New Orleans Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit
Telephone: (504) 658-5590
e-mail: agonzalez@nola.gov
Salary after training – $43,070