How to find and build the next Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport

Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Creating a follow-up nature path in Shreveport to the beautiful Coates Bluff Trail is an important quest for many members of ABS.

And there's help available: Angie White sent us a flag on a grant possibility via the National Trails Fund.

The meeting Mon, Nov 14, 6 pm, is dedicated to explorations of those possibilities. We'll meet at our new meeting place Centenary's Wright Math Building, which is down the street from Centenary Square at the corner of E. Columbia, and right across from Magale Library.

Re-opening of the Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport

Coates Bluff Nature Trail, Shreveport , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Jon Soul drew together people from Montessori School for Shreveport, Caddo Magnet High, Stoner neighborhood and A Better Shreveport to celebrate a new season of hiking on the Coates Bluff Nature and Historic Trail.

Lydia Jackson v Greg Tarver? Population decline? Glover and a city audit? : political and demographic analyst Elliott Stonecipher chats at 5 pm Mon, Nov 14, KSCL

Lydia Jackson Reception, a photo by moonbotstudios on Flickr.

Elliott Stonecipher is a native and resident of Shreveport, Louisiana, says his bio. He received his B. A. Degree from Louisiana Tech University and his Master's Degree from LSU. He is President and owner of Evets Management Services, Inc.

Mr. Stonecipher began his career in public education, and began work in the Department of Education at age 25. Three years later he left government to begin work in public opinion polling and campaign consulting. His firm later shifted to a concentration of work in various forms of geo-demographic analyses for clients in the financial services industry, as featured in such publications as The American Banker.

For over 20 years, Mr. Stonecipher and his company have also provided opinion research in change-of-venue studies in criminal court cases, particularly those involving capital murder charges.

In 2002, Elliott Stonecipher was a consultant for, and co-authored the final report of, a post- 9/11 U. S. Government study into possible bio-terrorism attacks in the U. S., under the sponsorship of the U. S. military and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The study results were published in the CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases magazine.

Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Elliott Stonecipher has committed to pro bono work on a range of local, state and national issues, including reform of governmental and political ethics, and reform of national policies governing the U. S. Census Bureau.

Mr. Stonecipher frequently serves as guest lecturer in colleges and other public venues, and has taught Demographics on the part-time faculty at Centenary College. His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, and he has appeared on CNN and Fox News Channel.

Stream the Time for A Better Shreveport interview at http://kscl.fm. Remarks: 869 5297. - Robert Trudeau

Highland Area Partnership needs volunteers to work a 2-hour shift.  This is a great time to enjoy the company of friends, family, and neighbors, and be a neighborhood steward!

Nature Trails to be Focus of Monday's Meeting; Opening of Coates Bluff Trail Saturday

This Monday night from 6:00 to 7:00, ABS will have a themed meeting on nature trails in Shreveport. On the heels of Saturday's opening of the Coates Bluff trail (8:30-11:30), the group will discuss the possibility of additional trails, both in that area, and others around the city.

This past Monday ABS hosted a discussion of the powerpoint and "teach-in" by moveon.org on the Occupy Wall St. movement and the "99%". In attendance were Loren Demerath, Steph Pedro, Cynthia Keith, Susan Keith, Adrienne Critcher, Brain Salvatore, Keith Hardwick, Kimberly Powell, David Young, Maurice Loridans, Alan Dyson, Carolyn Manning, Katherine Brandl, Robert Trudeau, and Elizabeth Roselli. The meeting was not a typical one for ABS; the group watched the powerpoint slide show, listened to Loren and Steph reading the narration for it, with discussion interspersed throughout. It was a stimulating meeting!

Because that was the first Monday of the month, that meeting was to be our monthly social meeting, to take place at some alternative forum. It has since been agreed that this month's social meeting will now take Monday the 21st, 6 to 7, at the Lake Street Dance Hall at the corner of Marshall and Lake St., downtown.

The fourth Monday of every month is to be an advocacy event. This month, depending on what the group decides at the next meeting, that event might occur on Sunday instead, if the event happens to be an outdoor project, such as trail making.

To summarize:
Monday the 14th: themed meeting on city nature trails
Monday the 21st: social meeting at Lake St. Dance Hall
Sunday or Monday the 27th or 28th: advocacy event

Poll watchers: $125 for a long day on Nov 19, says Melissa Flournoy

Guerin Tai Chi Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Says Louisiana Progress director Melissa Flournoy, "I need help identifying some college students or others that might want to be poll watchers on Nov. 19th from 10 to 8 pm. They will be paid $125 for the day.

I need to track down some poll watchers by tomorrow morning."

Apply to m1flournoy@gmail.com.

Coates Bluff Nature Trail re-opening get-together Sat, Nov 12, 8:30 -11:30 am, Montessori School for Shreveport

Sat, Nov. 12, is the official trail opening.

8:30 - 11:30AM -- parking, bathrooms, and info tables available at Montessori School for Shreveport (MSS).

Meet trail-loving people from
- MSS
- Stoner Hill Elementary
- Valencia Rec Center
- Stoner Hill Neighborhood Association
- Caddo Magnet High
- Centenary College
- A Better Shreveport
- Walter B. Jacobs Nature Park

Info: jonksoul@gmail.com

Magnet Shreveport: geography class Coates Bluff Trail hike , a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

Maintenance has been completed on the Coates Bluff Nature Trail, says Jon Soul.

Cyclist Fatality in West Shreveport

Last Friday, 11/4/11, a cyclist was killed by a pick up truck driver on Wesport Av. West of Pines Road in Shreveport. The victim was Eastbound and was struck by an Eastbound Pick up estimated to be traveling at 50 MPH.

The accident happened in pre-dawn dark and the rider was wearing dark clothing and had been traveling on the wrong (Westbound) side of the road. According to the driver of the pick up, the cyclist swerved into the Eastbound lane just prior to the collision and he tried, unsuccessfully to swerve to avoid the rider.

The rider was on his way to work at a Waffle House Restaurant and his wife was following on another bike but was lagging a half mile back due to leg pain. She arrived at the tragic scene and lay beside the decedent begging him not to leave her.

The police were able to corroborate the driver's account that the cyclist made a practice of traveling in the wrong lane and moving right when oncoming traffic approached by the wife's statement. Another witness backed the driver's story that he swerved to avoid something and then saw the cyclist "flying off the bike."

As a bicycling advocate and safety guy, I was concerned that the driver could have just made up the "suicide swerve" account which has been widely used to clear drivers nationwide who may really have just hit a legally riding cyclist from behind due to being inattentive. Here, however, I am satisfied that the very poor and illegal practices of the cyclist in traveling in the wrong lane, failing to check over his shoulder before merging right, and not having required lighting were the main reason for this tragic accident.

Unfortunately, I believe riders in this victim's situation are just trying to get to work to make a living and do not have the time or interest or resources to learn how to be safe with bicycle transportation. I wish they would at least learn that the rules are essentially the same as for drivers of cars. My heart goes out to those he leaves behind. He was a veteran and was well regarded by those who served in his unit.

My information is based on news accounts and the accident report.

How the 1% Crashed the Economy Teach-in

Wright Math Building, Centenary College, Rm 103
07 Nov , 06:00 PM

Our teach-in will tell the story of how the 1% changed the rules, crashed the economy and what we can do to take the country back. It gives everyone a chance to share their own experiences, talk about problems and solutions together, and learn from one other.

Sign Up Here!

On-air chat with Michael Butterman and new Shreveport Symphony Orchestra manager Lois Robinson on KSCL Mon, 5 pm

Cirque de la Symphonie, Shreveport, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

With the Cirque de la Symphonie concert being performed on Sat, Nov 12, 7:30 pm, and Sun, Nov 13, 2:30 pm, an interview with the directors of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra is apropos.

On-air chat from 5 to 5:30 pm on KSCL, fm 91.3.

Stream at http://kscl.fm. Questions and remarks, 869 5297.

ABetterShreveport.org will then meet at 6 pm at the Wright Math Building, across from Magale Library on Woodlawn Ave., room 103.