Danae Columbus: Nancy Marsiglia Institute promotes knowledge of U.S. Constitution, civil discourse

In a fiery speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Gold Star father Khizr Khan talked about falling in love with the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. A Pakistani immigrant whose son Army Captain Humayun Khan was killed in Iraq in 2004, Khan offered to lend Donald Trump his copy so Trump could look up the words “liberty” and “equal protection under the law.”

New Orleans civic activist Madalyn Schenk was inspired by Khan’s speech and decided to form a different kind of book club – one that exclusively studied the Constitution and accompanying documents. That “constitution club” has now grown into the Nancy Marsiglia Institute, a 12-week cooperative program between Loyola University Law School and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana. The late philanthropist Nancy Marsiglia was the first person Schenk approached to participate. Soon other women including Councilmember Helena Moreno, Patty Riddlebarger, Ruth Kullman and United Way COO Charmaine Caccioppi joined in. Constitution expert Martha Lemoine Palmer, a mentor teacher and national judge for the Center for Civic Education’s We the People project, agreed to lead the class. Loyola Law School Dean Madeleine Landrieu – then Appeals Court Judge – bestowed the first graduation certificates.

Advertiser: Benjamin Franklin High School Prepares to Host Open House

Students, faculty, staff, and parents at Ben Franklin High School will open the school’s gates on Thursday, Oct. 11, and greet prospective students and their families from across New Orleans for an up-close look at the Ben Franklin experience.

“Our students love to offer a one-on-one guided tour for each visitor, discovering where their interests are, what inspires them, and how they can find that at Ben Franklin,” says Admissions Director Lynn Jenkins. “I find ninth graders to be some of our very best ambassadors because they can really explain to prospective students what the transition was like from middle school to Franklin and what they can expect.”

Introducing Yo Joe! Real Estate Advice

I’m Joe Gerrity, local businessman, investor and Real Estate Broker. For my monthly “Yo Joe” column, I’ll be answering your real estate questions as well as providing market information and housing statistics.
I believe the main responsibilities of a Realtor are to add value and facilitate mutually beneficial transactions, and through this column I hope to help the New Orleans community make more informed decisions about their housing future.

Yo Joe! Do you think that new regulations on short term rentals will have an impact on the housing market? If so, in which way?
It will definitely impact the market to some extent. Anything that creates uncertainty in what has otherwise been a lucrative sector of the market will have some sort effect on the market as a whole.

Kristine Froeba: Deutsches Haus Returns to New Orleans

Three Weekends of das Oktoberfest!

Prost! Deutsches Haus and Oktoberfest are back in town.

Das Deutsches Haus, New Orleans’ German cultural and heritage center, aka the German house, is back in the city proper and celebrating Oktoberfest. This year marks the organizations 90th anniversary and its inaugural Oktoberfest at its new location in Mid-City.

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense that New Orleanians celebrate the most Bavarian of holidays down on dah bayou—Bayou St. John to be exact.

Danae Columbus: Online sports betting, unanimous juries, five other constitutional amendments on Nov. 6 ballot

The Nov. 6 election ballot doesn’t just include federal, state and local races. Citizens will also have the opportunity to vote yes or no on six statewide constitutional amendments and on legalizing fantasy sports betting in Orleans Parish. “New Orleans voters should get the information about the pros and cons of the constitutional amendments on the November ballot so they can make informed choices at the polls,” said New Orleans League of Women Voters President Rosalind Blanco Cook.

Sponsored: TONIGHT – 6th Annual Greenway Soirée

Join Us for The Party of the Season!

Thoughtfully located trailside, the 6th Annual Greenway Soirée will return to the Cellar on St. Louis—an adaptively repurposed warehouse venue overlooking the Lafitte Greenway. The Soirée for Friends of Lafitte Greenway is tonight, October 5, from 6 to 11 p.m. and is expected to bring together some of the best in food, drink, and entertainment for an evening of celebration.

The Soirée will feature musical entertainment by Mario Abney and the Abney Effect and DJ Slick Leo. Proceeds from the event will support Friends of Lafitte Greenway’s work to build, program and promote the Lafitte Greenway as a great public space.