[StBernard] Florida Village Helps St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Florida Village Helps St. Bernard 

December 14 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Florida village helps St. Bernard; Exxon Mobil Foundation donates money to
Citizens Recovery Committee; Christmas fun for kids on Sunday

Officials in the Village of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., know what it's like to 
be struck by a hurricane. They had to deal with two last year, Frances and 
Jeanne.

When they heard about St. Bernard Parish's devastation in Hurricane Katrina,

they decided to try to help.

On Wednesday, Mayor David Lodwick and Village Manager David Farber - who 
worked 11 years for St. Bernard Paris government from 1977-88 - came to St. 
Bernard to announce a donation of $90,000 toward hurricane relief efforts 
and said other fund-raising projects are underway that could bring in more 
than that.

St. Bernard Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said the parish is 
grateful for the help.

"We were hit twice in 2004, by Frances and Jeanne,'' Lodwick said. "Just 
watching what happened (to St. Bernard) and knowing Dave Farber's background

there, we said, 'let's try to make a difference.'''

Employees got together and raised money and the village government matched 
that money, resulting in the $90,000 donation, Lodwick said. Other nearby 
governments in Florida raised money for the Red Cross to be used in St. 
Bernard, he said.

And there are still fund-raising efforts underway that should raise money 
for a specific project in St. Bernard, such as possibly going toward a 
hospital, Lodwick said.

Farber, who was chief administrative officer for St. Bernard government and,

prior to that, secretary-treasurer of the old Police Jury which was the 
forerunner to the Paris Council, said he is still attached to St. Bernard. 
"Some of my best friends are still here.''


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The Exxon Mobil Foundation has donated $100,000 to the St. Bernard Citizens 
Recovery
Committee and the money will be used to hire planners to make an assessment 
of the parish, according to committee member V.J. Dauterive, a Chalmette 
lawyer. He said the parish's Economic Development Commission will also be 
involved.

The Citizens Recovery Committee, made up of about 40 residents of St. 
Bernard, was chosen to make recommendations to the Parish Council for the 
future redevelopment of the parish.

The group held a meeting last week in which parish residents were asked to 
come forward with ideas they have about what should be done in St. Bernard.

State Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge David Gorbaty and lawyer Walter 
Leger are co-chairmen of the citizens committee.


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It's called Christmas Hope, an afternoon of fun for children and parents on 
Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Super Wal-Mart parking lot in Chalmette, featuring a

Space Walk and snacks for kids in one area, while parents can go to a 
Santa's Shop and choose presents for them.

The event begins at noon and is sponsored by the Pastors Resource Council.

The Magical Kids Kingdom will have popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones and 
prizes for children, as well as the Space Walk.