The city will be meeting next week with residents of areas west of Keesler Air Force Base and north of Pass Road to brief them on infrastructure work coming to the neighborhood this month.
Postcards will be arriving in mailboxes of many residents in Rodenberg Place Subdivision, Hollywood Hills Subdivision, Wilkinson Snowden & McGehee Subdivision, and Saint Giles Addition, explaining that a major sewer, water and storm drainage
improvements project is coming to their neighborhoods.
The postcards show a map of the work area, provide contact numbers of those who will performing the work, and also alert residents of a neighborhood meeting – on Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. at Jeff Davis Elementary School – where staff will be on hand to answer any questions about this project.
The work, which begins in late April, is part of the city’s $355 million Restore Biloxi Infrastructure Repair Program, which has already seen construction in the Sunkist and Ancient Oaks areas north of the Bay and has work pending off Old Bay Road.
The latest project — called Rodenberg Road North Phase 4, or RDN4 — will see construction on John Adams, William Harrison, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Rodenberg, Hollywood, Vine, Sunset, Wiltshire, Rodeo and along St. Ann.
The year-long project will include replacing water mains, sanitary sewer lines and storm drains as well as replacing the streets, curbs and sidewalks affected by the construction work. A sewer pump station on Rodeo Drive will be removed from service.
To see a copy of the postcard that should be arriving Monday or Tuesday in homes near the construction zone, click here.
Excel by 5 to host ‘Countdown to Kindergarten’
Parents can get a glimpse of what to expect the first day of kindergarten when Biloxi Excel by 5 presents “Countdown to Kindergarten Readiness Fair” on Thursday, April 19 from 4:30 to 6:30 at Lopez School on St. John Avenue.
Those with children 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2012 should plan to attend the free session. Spanish and Vietnamese translators also will be available.
Participating schools will be Cedar Lake Christian Academy, Gorenflo, Jeff Davis, Nativity BVM, North Bay, Our Lady of Fatima, and Popp’s Ferry.
The event is sponsored by the City of Biloxi, Biloxi Public Schools, and Biloxi Excel by 5.
Details: Susan Hunt at (228) 297-6808 or susan.hunt@biloxischools.net or Dr. Janice Wilson, 374-1810 (extension 1129) or janice.wilson@biloxischools.net
Hoosier buddy? Biloxi Police to aid Indiana officers
Several Indiana State troopers who helped Biloxi in the aftermath of Katrina have now lost their homes in the batch of deadly tornadoes that struck the Hoosier State, and Biloxi police officers are looking to return the favor.
The Biloxi officers, assisted by area businesses, will host an event with music by God Speed 3, children’s activities, food and soft drinks on the Town Green on Sunday, April 22, from 11 a.m. until. In the event of rain, the event will be held at the Frank G. Gruich Community Center on Howard Avenue.
Then on Tuesday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the police will team with Rena’s Deli to serve red beans and rice plates for $5 each.
Fliers: To print fliers about both events, click here.
Heroes: Incidentally, to see a photo gallery that shows the many agencies who assisted in Biloxi in the aftermath of Katrina, click here.
Staehling reviews post-Katrina recovery for visiting group
Biloxi’s Director of Administration, David Staehling, had a chance to review the city’s plans for dealing with storms and how the city bounced back in the days afer Hurricane Katrina during a convention this week in Biloxi.
The Stennis Institute of Government asked Staehling to speak to leaders of its sister agencies in the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations, and he used to the opportunity to unveil a new city report, “Katrina & Biloxi: The Takeaway.”
The four-page compilation is actually a caspule version of testimony that Staehling provided to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which five months after Katrina investigated local responses to the August 2005 storm.
To read the report, click here.
News and notes
Webcasting: Among the issues this week: borrowing money for electronic water meters; Restore Biloxi progress; and Sgt. Jackie Rhodes on spring break, Police Explorers headed across the pond, and fund-raising events for Indiana State police. To listen to the program, click here.
City holiday: Non-emergency city offices are closed today in observance of Good Friday. The Biloxi Visitors Center, however, is open today and Saturday, but will be closed on Easter Sunday. Regular schedules resume Monday.
