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Sunday, November 22, 2009
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ASK THE ADVOCATE
| Every Monday through Friday, The Advocate will answer questions from its readers. One question will be answered per day. Send questions to asktheadvocate@theadvocate.com. |
| Friday, November 20, 2009 |
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Q: I was under the impression that parking in the yard of a residence was illegal in East Baton Rouge Parish. If this is correct, are police officers exempt from this? I often see a police car parked in the front yard directly in front of the house.
A: Cynthia Childress Bohrer, senior special assistant parish attorney, in a written response, said, “Parking on the grass in the front yard in A zones (residential) and recognized subdivisions of the rural district is prohibited under Sec. 11:415(a)(22) of the Code of Ordinances.” Bohrer cited these pertinent parts of the code: Sec. 11:415. Stopping, standing or parking prohibited; general rules. (a) No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, or permit a vehicle registered in his name to be stopped, standing or parked, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a law enforcement officer or traffic-control device, or parking-control device in any of the following places: (22) On the grass in the front yard between the front of the residence and the street of any lot in the A1, A2, A2.5, A3 or A4 districts and in recognized subdivisions in the rural district. (b) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful. (Ord. No. 7504, § 22, 4-25-84; Ord. No. 12725, § 1, 8-25-03; Ord. No. 13688, § 1, 7-26-06) |
| Thursday, November 19, 2009 |
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Q: More and more, I see TV commercials promoting political positions from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a separate organization from the local chambers of commerce that are in most cities? Are the local organizations members of, or affiliated with, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?
A: Adam Knapp, CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, responds: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a separate organization from local chambers of commerce. Local chambers may affiliate with the U.S. Chamber by becoming members, in much the same way as business members participate in it as well. BRAC is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as it is in the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents a business position in national politics, and determines its positions through its national board of directors. Because its business membership comes from all 50 states, it is an active organization representing businesses in Washington, D.C.” |
| Wednesday, November 18, 2009 |
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Q: Professor Rebecca “Becky” White of the LSU Agriculture Center’s Cooperative Extension Service was honored Monday with the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund’s Judge Richard Ware Award.
A: Electronics are no longer collected at Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day in Baton Rouge because the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council accepts the electronics five days a week, said Susan Hamilton, director of the East Baton Rouge Parish recycling office. Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council, 800 St. Philip St., accepts computers and other electronics for recycling year-round Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., Hamilton said. A complete list of items accepted can be found at http://www.cacrc.com. |
| Tuesday, November 17, 2009 |
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Q: How many full-time classroom teachers in Baton Rouge public schools are working with a temporary teacher certificate? A: Chris Trahan, director of the Department for Communications & Community Engagement for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, said this information was provided by staff in the Human Resources Department: “There are about 3,625 teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish school system. There are currently 3 who are using a form of temporary teacher certificate. Two are working as teachers under a Temporary Authority to Teach and one under a Teaching Emergency Permit.” |
| Friday, November 13, 2009 |
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Q: I would like to know when I buy Lotto tickets and when I buy Easy Five tickets, are these numbers eliminated from anybody else in the state of Louisiana? What about my Powerball numbers that I play? Are they eliminated from anyone else in the other 29 states?
A: “When players purchase Lotto, Easy 5 or Powerball tickets, the numbers on their tickets are not taken ‘out of play,’” replied Kimberly Chopin, communications manager for the Louisiana Lottery Corporation. “It is possible for the same numbers to appear on another ticket should they be generated as a ‘Quick Pick’ or self-selected by another player. “When more than one ticket matches a winning combination on a pari-mutuel prize, the prize pool for that prize level is split evenly among all winning tickets,” Chopin wrote in an e-mail response. “For example, if two tickets match all six winning Lotto numbers, the jackpot for that drawing would be split between the holders of those winning tickets, because the Lotto jackpot is a pari-mutuel prize. When more than one ticket matches a winning combination for a set prize, each winning ticket holder is paid the set prize amount, regardless of the number of winning tickets sold. “For Lotto, the jackpot, match-5 and match-4 prizes are pari-mutuel; the match-3 prize is set. For Easy 5, the jackpot is pari-mutuel; the match-4, match-3 and match-2 prizes are set. For Powerball, the jackpot is pari-mutuel, but all other prize levels — including Power Play prizes — may become pari-mutuel if claims exceed the available prize funds for that prize level,” Chopin said. |
| Thursday, November 12, 2009 |
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Q: Can residents (homeowners) within the Baton Rouge city limits bury pets — dogs and cats — on their property? If not, what are pet owners’ options for burial?
A: Pete Newkirk, director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Department of Public Works, said there are no laws or ordinances prohibiting the burial of pets on homeowners’ properties. |
| Wednesday, November 11, 2009 |
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Q: East Baton Rouge Parish public schools currently employ more than 3,000 teachers. How many are Hispanic? A: Chris Trahan, director of the Department for Communications & Community Engagement for the East Baton Rouge Parish school system, replies, “There are about 6,400 employees in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. Of these, more than 3,625 are teachers. There are 37 teachers who identify themselves as Hispanic.” |
| Tuesday, November 10, 2009 |
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Q: I decided to take my backpack to the LSU-Tulane game instead of my purse but I was not allowed to take it in the stadium. Some of the other ladies had very large purses/tote bags and I was wondering why you can’t use a backpack. A: Herb Vincent, associate vice chancellor for communications and senior associate athletic director at LSU, replies: “Backpacks have been identified as a security issue and they are not allowed at LSU sporting events. We follow the advice of security personnel on matters such as this.” |
| Monday, November 9, 2009 |
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Q: Is there any provision in Mayor Holden’s big bond proposal for hiring local or Louisiana workers? Will the jobs go to out-of-state workers?
A: Mike Futrell, chief administrative officer for Mayor Kip Holden, was on Naval Reserve duty, but forwarded this response through administration spokesman Scott Dyer. Futrell said the permanent jobs created by the bond issue, such as those associated with the proposed Alive riverfront attraction, would go to local workers. He said the bond issue would also create numerous temporary construction jobs. By law, construction projects must be awarded to the low bidder, regardless of whether they are from Louisiana or out of state, he said, but added that the City-Parish plans to encourage the companies that win the construction contracts to make a good-faith effort to hire local workers when possible. |
| Friday, November 6, 2009 |
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Q: A program that kicks in this fall will offer consumers cash to help them buy new appliances. The federal government has set aside $300 million for the program as part of the economic stimulus plan. Each state will write its own rules for doling out the rebates. The state plans will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Energy starting in late October. Which department is in charge of this money in Louisiana, what are the details and when should the money become available? A: The program will be handled by the energy office in the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. The state has made its initial application for about $4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The federal deadline for the state Energy Star Rebate program plan is Oct. 15. Money is expected to start flowing to consumers by November. The state will be initiating a statewide marketing and promotion campaign once the program is approved and guidelines are finalized. Unlike the “cash for clunkers” car replacement program, consumers will not have to turn in their old appliances. The rebate checks will be issued to cover everything from more energy efficient refrigerators and dishwashers to furnaces and air conditioners. Those interested in the program can contact the energy office of the Department of Natural Resources at (225) 342-1399 or visit the department’s Web site at http://www.dnr.louisiana.gov and click on the 2009 Economic Stimulus Act Review section on the right hand side. |
| Thursday, November 5, 2009 |
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Q: What are the minimum requirements to qualify for the free school lunch program? What are the penalties for falsifying an application for this program? A: Free meals are based on the number of people in the household plus the combined gross income of all family members, according to information provided by Nadine L. Mann, Child Nutrition Program, Director of Operations East Baton Rouge Parish School System. For example: A child in a family with a total of two people living in the household where there is a total gross monthly income of $1,579 or less is eligible for free meals. On the other end of the spectrum, children in a family of eight where there is a total gross monthly income of $ 4,010 or less, are also eligible for free meals. Foster children who are a ward of the state are considered a household of one and any money they receive from the state is the only income counted for that child’s meal benefits determination. The eligibility scale is a sliding scale and benefits are determined based on household size and total gross income of all household members. School breakfast meals are available to all children attending EBR schools, free of charge, she said. All application forms for meal benefits must be signed by an adult who certifies the following: “I certify (promise) that all information on this application is true and that all income is reported. I understand that the school will get Federal funds based on the information I give. I understand that school officials may verify (check) the information. I understand that if I purposely give false information, my children may lose meal benefits, and I may be prosecuted.” Each Oct. 1, The East Baton Rouge Parish School System verifies a percentage of applications processed. Parents are required to submit proof of income and household member’s Social Security number for each person listed on the application form that was submitted. Applications are then re-evaluated based on the hard copies of check stubs, tax forms or other income statements to prove the gross family income. Failure to provide the documentation requested will result in benefits being terminated, Mann said. A public release statement explaining the federally funded meal program was published in The Advocate’s classified section of the newspaper Aug. 8. It is also available for viewing in the Child Nutrition Program office at 3000 N. Sherwood Forest Drive. |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2009 |
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Q: How does DEQ dispose of mercury after it is collected at the Household Hazardous Materials Collection event? Isn’t this material burned in the incinerator at Dow Chemical? Wouldn’t this release the mercury to the atmosphere? A: Rodney Mallett, press secretary for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, said Dow Chemical isn’t handling the mercury at the Baton Rouge Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day. Instead, the mercury and mercury-containing devices are collected at a separate stop at the event and handled by Lamp Environmental Industries Inc. of Hammond, he said. Dow Chemical closed its incinerator, Mallett said. Larry Fannaly, vice president of sales and operations with Lamp Environmental Industries Inc. said the company collects mercury and sends it on to distillers for recycling. “Nothing goes into a landfill or incinerator,” he said. In addition to participating in household hazardous waste collection events, residents can also drop off mercury-containing light bulbs at the facility in Hammond at no charge, Fannaly said. The facility at 46257 Morris Road is generally open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fannaly said, but it’s best for people to call (800) 309-9908 first to make sure. The next Baton Rouge Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at Memorial Stadium. For more information, visit http://www.brgov.com/recycle. |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2009 |
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Q: I’ve got a big screen projection television that no longer works. Is there somewhere, other than a garbage dump, to dispose of this? My garbage company will not pick it up. I would donate it to charity if it was in working condition. A: Nancy Jo Craig, executive director of the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council, said the only place she knew of locally is Best Buy. Scott Morris, senior manager of public relations with Best Buy, said there are some televisions that can be recycled at Best Buy stores under these conditions: |
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The Advocate keeps Ask The Advocate content online for one month. |
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Send questions to Ask The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588; or fax to Ask The Advocate, 225-388-0297; or e-mail to asktheadvocate@theadvocate.com. |
