Basin Bulletin

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In This Issue
Saving the New Canal Lighthouse ~ Purely Pontchartrain ~ LPBF Beach Sweep ~ Let's Make Waves ~
Duck Call ~ Poker Run ~ Volunteer at Fontainebleau State Park
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New Canal Lighthouse
Become a First Funder
Your Donation will be the Foundation for this Historic Restoration
Be a Beacon of Light for New Orleans’ Recovery

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation will be signing a lease with the U.S Coast Guard this month to allow us to restore the historic New Canal Lighthouse at West End. There is a lot of work to be done on the heavily damaged structure. WE NEED YOUR HELP!! Become a First Funder. For $25 and above, you will have the honor of being a First Funder, which gives you the bragging rights to say that you were one of the first to help save this historic beauty. You also will receive a free membership to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and acknowledgement on our web site and in our annual report. Send a check to LPBF, P.O. Box 6965, Metairie, La. 70009; or call in with your credit card to (504) 836-2215. Please put on the check, ATTN: Lighthouse. For more info on the Lighthouse go to www.saveourlake.org.

Have a great story about Lake Pontchartrain? Are you writing poetry about the Pontchartrain Basin? Want to share photos and memories of the Lake? LPBF is accepting submissions for our “Purely Pontchartrain” web page on www.saveourlake.org. This is great way to express your feelings about the Pontchartrain Basin, showcase your creative writing and share photos of the present and past with the world.

Please send photos, poetry and stories to Crystal Gross, Membership & Outreach Coordinator at crystal@saveourlake.org or LPBF, Attn: Crystal, P.O. Box 6965, Metairie, LA 70009. If enclosing photos, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that we may return your photos to you. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Unfortunately, registration is closed due to the overwhelming response, but please go outside and check your storm drains and curbs. We're all in this together!

Areas are designated for cleanup in St. Bernard, St. Charles, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes. This year's event will concentrate on "Makin' A Clean Sweep" by cleaning street curbs, storm drains and ditches that carry runoff to our lake.

Beach Sweep 2006 presented by Toyota is a wonderful opportunity to help in the rebuilding process of our metro New Orleans area. Groups volunteer and send a zone captain to a meeting on September 6th where he is given a zone the group will cover, trash bags, and data sheets to record trash that has been picked up. Our presenting sponsor, Toyota is also supplying free T-shirts for all those who register. The group brings rakes, gloves, etc and handles any refreshments they bring out to their zone. The clean up lasts from 9-12 noon and is followed by a picnic for all participants.

This year we want to get the word out to have a great turnout citywide. We will be just past the Katrina anniversary so it will be a good way for everyone to pull together to support New Orleans.

If you can form a group to cover an area in our Beach Sweep 2006 presented by Toyota cleanup please let us know. Contact JoAnn at 504-836-2238 or email at joann@saveourlake.org

Fundraiser on the Northshore

Join us on October 7, 2006 from 7-10 PM for the Save Our Lake “Let’s Make Waves” party at the Lake Pontchartrain Maritime Museum. We expect a fabulous night of great food, music by Benny Grunch & the Bunch and our famous silent auction. Please consider becoming a sponsor ($2,500 - $250) or donating an auction item to help make this night a successful event. Tickets for the party are $50 each. For more information, please call Sheila at (504) 836-2205. We hope to see you there!

Everyone knows the nations worst natural disaster took place August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina slammed into the gulf coast devastating New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Jefferson Parish Native David Haydel Jr. has commissioned nationally renowned call maker, Marv Meyer, to make 100 calls from a mantle piece that was recovered from the flood waters of Katrina. The mantle was Honduran Mahogany. Each call is laser engraved with N.O.LA(New Orleans, Louisiana) on the front and Katrina, 8/29/05, and the number of the call on the back. Each call comes in a box with Marv's Logo on one side and The N.O.LA label on the other. The box number matches the call's number. 30% of the proceeds will go to benefit the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. For more information and to order your call, contact Dave Haydel at 504 915-5484.

LPBF is excited to announce that Gulf Coast Offshore is holding its 3rd annual Patriot Poker Run on Saturday, September 23rd, 2006. Proceeds will benefit the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. Poker Run donation is $100 per hand with the run beginning at the Dock in Slidell at 10 AM. For more information, please call Craig at (504) 430-1368.

MANDEVILLE - The public is invited to Fontainebleau State Park for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 30. Volunteers will be working from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm, to rebuild the trails and to make them into a great
place to get back to nature. Cleanup will include removing debris that washed up during the hurricanes, removing tallow trees, cutting brush and briars from the trails, putting numbered posts where they belong and
smoothing out logging truck ruts along the trails. Organizations, companies, and individuals that would like to volunteer must register by September 16. All persons under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult volunteer.
"We want to give our visitors the opportunity to be a part of the rebuilding of their state park." said Rita McMurray, interpretive ranger.

Standard day-use admission of $1 per person will be waived for all pre-registered participants.

Fontainebleau State Park is located on 2,800 acres on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. In addition to bird watching, the park offers visitors camping, hiking and picnicking opportunities. The park entrance is located southeast of Mandeville on US 190. Day-use visitors can attend all park programs for the standard admission charge of $1 per person. For more information call
1-888-677-3668 toll free or 624-4443 in the Mandeville area, or email Rita
at fntbleau_int@crt.state.la.us