The St. Bernard Chamber is planning our annual Shop St. Bernard program - a holiday shopping event with your business in mind!

on

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

from 3pm until 7pm

We help you get the holiday season off to a great start, complete with advertising, shopping sales, an after-party, and more!

Gulf Coast animal shelters are being stretched beyond capacity by the increase of surrendered animals due to the oil spill. St. Bernard Parish has been inundated by surrendered animals and is full of wonderful animals that are ready to be adopted into new, loving homes.

"St. Bernard Parish Animal Services and other Gulf Coast animal shelters have persevered in a time of crisis to help save these animals," said Dori Villalon, vice president of Animal Protection for American Humane. "We are glad that we are able to provide some assistance to help the Gulf Coast sheltering community and hope that people will continue to support Gulf Coast shelters in this time of need."

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2010 AT 3:30 P.M.
Feinberg announces fund to take over claims process next Monday, Aug. 23

Kenneth Feinberg announced today is the last day that BP will process claims from people and businesses impacted by the Gulf oil spill as it prepares to transfer that role to the federally administered $20 billion fund. Feinberg is the government-appointed administrator of the fund, and he will take over the process starting August 23rd.

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. signed preliminary paperwork today because the Federal Emergency Management Agency has decided to forgive the parish's $18 million Community Disaster Loan from Hurricane Katrina.

Craig Fenton, who is a Community Disaster Loan analyst working with FEMA, told President Taffaro the process should be completed by the end of the month with no unexpected delays. Fenton said the loan is being forgiven because the parish government experienced a $24 million operating loss for three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the parish. Such an operating loss under the program's rules means the federal government can automatically forgive the community's loan.

"This is yet another reflection of the successful federal/local partnership that is needed for the community to recover from a devastating event such as Katrina. The true credit goes to the team managing our Finance Department who worked diligently with the auditors to satisfy the requirements to have the loan forgiven," President Taffaro said. "Any time a community has a net loss of $24 million in three years, it shows an incredible challenge that we as a community continue to overcome. Even in the most difficult circumstances, St. Bernard continues to survive and thrive."

St. Bernard Parish Firefighters Association I.A.F.F. Local 1468 announces the annual sale of "Katrina Memorial Bells"

The St. Bernard Parish Fire Fighters Association Local 1468 is pleased to announce the continuation of the annual sale of "Katrina Memorial Bells." One hundred percent of the proceeds are utilized to provide scholarships annually to graduating High School Seniors.
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The Reverend John Arnone, Canonical Pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in eastern St. Bernard Parish, presided over the 63rd annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet on Saturday, July 31, 2010. Father Arnone and a delegation of parish elected officials including Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr., Councilman at Large Wayne J. Landry, and United States Senator David Vitter rode in skiffs blessing fishing boats in Delacroix, Alluvial City, Yscloskey, Shell Beach and Hopedale. Cecile J. Robin, a parishioner of St. Bernard Catholic Church, served as chairman of the arrangements committee for the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet.

Father Clemens Schneider initiated the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet in this parish in 1947 during his pastorate at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet. This tradition traces its origin to Saint Peter the Fisherman, the acknowledged founder of the Catholic Faith. The traditional boat parade, luncheon and festivities sponsored by St. Bernard Catholic Church were dispensed with this year because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. and Parish Council members held two Ground Breakings to mark the beginning of construction of the Public Works Main Yard in Chalmette and Area 4 Yard in St. Bernard on July 30, two projects that represent more than $2,140,000 in construction once the facilities are completed.

"It's good to know we are on the back side of ground breakings," President Taffaro said. "Soon, we'll have no more ground breakings." Since he took office in January 2008, St. Bernard Parish has led the region in recovery related activities for two years in a row. Taffaro has said that said that St. Bernard Parish Government is entering its final leg of Recovery and remains in the midst of its Growth with almost $1 billion in federal funding paying for the repairs and improvements to public facilities and infrastructure throughout the parish.

Taffaro said Friday's events are important developments for the Public Works Department.

St. Bernard Parish residents are welcome to choose from one of six playground designs Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church at the corner of Colonial Boulevard and East Judge Perez Drive in Violet.

The two on-air personalities presented President Taffaro the check from a live remote on the Big Abe and the Power Posse Show with Big Abe and D.J. Chicken. The Power Posse came to the Breton Sound Command Center for St. Bernard Oil Spill Operations on Tuesday to present the donation.

KKND Program Director LeBron Joseph has said that the hip hop community and Citadel Broadcasting's radio station KKND-FM (Power 102.9) wanted to help do something for the youth of St. Bernard Parish as a result of the BP Gulf Oil Spill.

Power teamed with the House of Blues New Orleans and the office of President Taffaro to produce the Power to the Parish Concert on June 18. This incredible event showcased national hip hop superstars J Cole (Columbia/ Roc Nation), the California Swag District (Capitol Records), Juvenile (E1 Entertainment), and rising local star Kourtney Heart. In addition, the Power 102.9 DJ's served as host and mixers for the event, and a St. Bernard hip hop band, Cross Parish Connection, was the opening act.