Community Events
Arts & Crafts at the Community Center
Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Information Available on Thursdays
Beginning June 25, 2009, representatives from the American Red Cross St Bernard Chapter will be at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi, from 10 AM until 12 PM every Thursday to help residents prepare for this year's hurricane season.
With hurricane season running from June 1 through November 30, now is the perfect time for residents to get Red Cross Ready. Much of the worry during hurricane season can be reduced by being prepared, and Red Cross staff at the Community Center will help families understand the three easy steps that will help them be ready if disaster strikes. These key steps include (1) Make a Plan (2) Build a Kit and (3) Stay Informed. Residents will also learn what to do if an evacuation is ordered. The disaster preparedness services provided by the Red Cross St Bernard Chapter are free to the public and no appointment is needed.
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross provides emergency assistance to residents whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by fires or other disasters. The St. Bernard Chapter also links members of the U.S. Armed Forces with their families during a crisis twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
The local Red Cross chapter trains St. Bernard Parish residents annually in First Aid, CPR, Babysitter's Training, HIV/AIDS Education, Water Safety and Pet First Aid, in addition to disaster preparedness and response. For more information about Red Cross St Bernard Chapter programs and services, please phone 504.620.2855 or visit www.arcno.org . For more information about resources available at the Community Center of St Bernard, please phone 504.281-2512 or visit www.ccstb.org.
Road Home Assistance Now Available on Tuesdays!
A representative from the Louisiana Office of Community Development – Disaster Recovery Unit will be available to assist Road Home applicants at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi on Tuesdays from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm beginning on May 19, 2009. Anyone whose Road Home application has not yet been closed is encouraged to attend so that they can receive personalized help to resolve their case. Homeowners are asked to bring copies of all their previous Road Home documents with them to the meeting. No appointment is necessary to receive Road Home assistance at the Community Center. For more information, please phone the Office of Community Development directly at 225.219.9600.
Free Rebuilding Tips for Homeowners on July 7
On Tuesday, July 7, 2009, the Rebuilding Information Station (RIS) will partner with the Community Center of St Bernard to offer a free storm-preparedness seminar, “Battening Down the Hatches: Protecting Your Windows and Doors.” The seminar will begin at 5:30 PM at the Community Center, located at 1107 LeBeau St in Arabi.
The guest speaker for this event will be LSU AgCenter Associate Bill Robinson. The workshop will help residents understand how to keep the storm winds out of their house to prevent the roof from blowing off. Mr Robinson will discuss storm shutters, which come in several varieties and are fitted to windows as a permanent installation, and storm panels, which are temporarily mounted for the duration of the storm or storm season. This presentation will also provide an overview of pros and cons of different materials available for window protection such as plastic, aluminum, wood, and steel.
The Rebuilding Information Station (RIS) is a collaborative effort of the University of New Orleans Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology, the LSU AgCenter, Tulane University 's City Center and The Road Home. The Home Rebuilding seminar on July 7 is free to the public, but attendees are requested to phone the Community Center at 504.281.2512 or visit the Community Center office in order to register for this session. For more information, please contact RIS at 504.280.5577.
Free On-Site/Chair Massage Summer Schedule!
Licensed massage therapist John L. Dominio III (LIC# LA 1878) is at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St in Arabi, Louisiana to offer free On-Site/Chair Massage to local residents. This form of therapeutic massage is performed fully clothed using a chair specially designed for the client's comfort.
Each On-Site massage session lasts 10-15 minutes and is intended to promote a general feeling of relaxation. During the massage, pressure is placed on key areas of the head, neck, back, arms and hands. This allows the tension of everyday life to melt away and leaves the client feeling calm and refreshed. No appointment is needed for the massage, and all clients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
A lifelong resident of St. Bernard Parish, Mr. Dominio is a 1999 graduate of the Blue Cliff School of Therapeutic Massage. Since receiving his license, he has taken advanced studies in Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) and Sports Massage, as well as completing intermediate studies in Reflexology, Medical Massage and Shiatsu. He also uses Swedish and Deep Tissue in his practice, and is continually taking classes to further his skills as a therapist and learn more about the Art of Touch.
For more information about On-Site massage or other types of massage therapy available from Mr. Dominio, please phone 504-228-1142.
Current Schedule
JULY
Wednesday, July 8 from 1 PM – 3 PM
Tuesday, July 14, 21, 28 from 1 PM – 3 PM
AUGUST
Tuesday, August 11, 18, 24 from 1 PM – 3 PM
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday, September 1, 8, 15, 22 from 1 PM – 3 PM
Free Yoga Classes Wednesday Nights and also Saturday Mornings!
Swan River Yoga and the Community Center of St Bernard are pleased to announce that the popular Yoga For The People! free yoga classes currently held every Wednesday evening will now be expanded to include Saturday sessions as well. Led by instructors Kim Martin, Cassie Segal, Jackie Sumell, and D.D. Sargent from Swan River Yoga, the Saturday classes will be offered every week from 11AM – 12 PM at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi, beginning on July 11. The Wednesday evening classes, led by Lauren Shepley and Amanda Minogue, will also continue to meet weekly at 6 PM at the Community Center.
The Yoga For The People! program, established in 2008, is the first New Orleans-based yoga community outreach program. Inspired by a group of yogis from NYC led by Katie McDonald, Yoga For The People! currently offers classes at a variety of locations throughout the greater New Orleans area including Catholic Charities, Trinity Episcopal Church, and the Red Cross.
“Yoga is thought to release stress, and facilitate an accelerated rate of healing of the physical body and psyche, so that we can all more fully enjoy our lives with a sense of ease, support, and delight in our community,” notes Michele Baker, who is the founder, co-owner, and director of Swan River Yoga Teacher Training School. “Health and happiness is our birthright. This is what the Yoga For The People! program hopes to provide. The classes are an opportunity for our teachers to experience Seva - compassion in action and selfless service. A supportive community is the foundation of a yoga practice. We thank the Yoga For The People! outreach partner agencies for giving us the opportunity to experience such diverse depth of relationship within our great city and region by allowing us to teach.”
Yoga class participants will learn simple breathing techniques, meditation tools, and basic poses for releasing discomfort and increasing health, benefiting the neighborhood, community, and beyond. The Community Center has 20 yoga mats on hand, but participants are welcome to bring their own. The classes are open to the public and beginners are welcome to attend. No registration is needed and there is no charge for the sessions. For more information about Swan River Yoga's many programs and services, please visit www.swanriveryoga.com.
Help Wanted - Office Assistants!
The Community Center has 2 part-time openings (20 hours/week) for Office Assistants. These positions are available through the Senior Community Service Employment Program, so you must be at least 55 years old. Basic computer and data-entry skills are needed, and you must be well-organized with a friendly, helpful attitude. For more information about these jobs, please phone Executive Director Iray Nabatoff at 504-281-2512 during normal business hours.
