The African Pompano Reflected in Search for the Ghosts of the Gulf

 

A Studio in the Woods has been awarded one of the grants given by the National Endowment for the Arts to bring together art and culture in activities that will enlighten and strengthen communities economically, physically and socially. The program which is part of Tulane University's ByWater Institute is using the Our Town funding to support, Search for the Ghosts of the Gulf.

The $75,000 grant will back the project that is headed by A Studio in the Woods, resident artist biologist and environmental activist Brandon Ballengée. A Studio in the Woods is one of the top artistic and academic residency programs in the Gulf South. The studio is located close to Plaquemines Parish along the West Bank of the Mississippi.

With the help of Plaquemines Parish, Brandon Ballengée, will use his community-based residency to study and highlight the at-risk coastal communities in Plaquemines Parish. He will have assistance from local community members, youth and fishermen who will explore missing and endangered fish species in the Gulf of Mexico.

“It is always exciting when Plaquemines Parish can partner with outside organizations to bring grant money into our parish,” said Plaquemines Parish President Kirk M. Lepine. “This project in particular will help us to expand our coastal resilience, which as we know is one of the most
important and pressing issues we face.”

The African Pompano is just one of the many species that will be researched and included in the artwork. The species became endangered when the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened. Ballengée made the image and others by chemically clearing and staining species
collected in the Gulf of Mexico after the disaster.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Brandon Ballengée and the Plaquemines Parish government to bring dynamic, accessible and fun programming about environmental change to our neighbors in
Plaquemines Parish,” said Ama Rogan, managing director of A Studio in the Woods. “We hope this project sparks new understandings, conversations and bonds in our communities.”

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Steps To Follow When Buying A Home

 

Purchasing a home is a big life step and with any big life change, it is always best to be prepared and knowledgeable in order to make the right decision. Below are five simple steps to take when buying a home.

1. Organize your finances

The first major task in this step is to save for a downpayment. Most conventional loans require a 5% - 20% downpayment at closing. In fact, a conventional loan will require PMI(private mortgage insurance) if you put less than 20% down. A good incentive is the larger the down payment the better rates a lender will offer. Putting a larger downpayment on a home will allow you to save money over the life of the mortgage loan.

Another factor that will determine your interest rate and the type of loan you qualify for is your credit score. A credit check is required by lenders in order to offer you a mortgage. Remember lenders do perform hard inquiries on your credit report which will impact your credit score. If you are shopping around for mortgage lenders, ask them to do a soft inquiry on your credit check so it will not impact your score.

You will also want to save up for closing costs which will be about 3% of the total home price. These costs include the loan, underwriting, and other fees associated with the purchase.

2. Determine how much house you can afford

When sitting down to determine how much you are able to afford on a house, look at your debt-to-income ratio. A lender looks at your debt-to-income ratio. Basically, this is comparing your income to your debt and usually, it has to fall under 43% to qualify for a mortgage. An example would be if your monthly debt totaled $3,000 and your monthly income is $10,000 your DTI would be 30%.

Not only should you understand your DTI but also how a mortgage payment is calculated. A monthly mortgage payment includes the principal payment (goes toward the amount you borrowed), interest, escrow (property taxes/homeowner's insurance) and if applicable PMI. A mortgage calculator is a great way to become familiar with the cost associated with a mortgage.

3. Understand your mortgage

There are several pieces that lenders use to determine your interest rate. The better your credit score the better your interest rate. Someone with a lower credit score could have a 1% higher interest rate on the same mortgage as someone with a higher credit score. The length of the loan also plays a factor. In some instances choosing a 15-year loan over a 30-year loan will allow you to get a lower interest rate. The Federal fund rate also determines the interest rate. If the federal funds rate is low, it means it does not cost a bank as much to borrow money. Those savings are passed to you from the bank in form of a lower interest rate. Different lenders will offer different rates so shop around for the best rate. A primary residence will also be in favor when it comes to a lower rate. A secondary or vacation home will bump the interest rate up.

Conventional loans have stricter qualifications than an FHA loan. An FHA loan allows for a smaller down payment and less stringent qualifications. This is a great way to go if you are a first-time homebuyer. To compare, a conventional loan minimum credit score is around 620, where an FHA minimum credit score is 500 - 579.

As mentioned before, PMI can increase your monthly payments. If you want to avoid PMI you have to put at least 20% down. If you cannot put 20% down, PMI can be removed off a conventional loan once you have a built-up 20% equity. On an FHA you will either have to pay PMI for 11 years or the life of the loan. This depends on the loan amount, length of the loan and the loan-to-value ratio (LTV). If you do decide to go with an FHA, you will also be required to have Up Front Mortgage Insurance (UFMI). This will be 1.75% of the base loan amount and can be paid at closing or rolled into your monthly mortgage payments.

4. Get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage

There is a difference between getting pre-approved vs pre-qualified for a mortgage. Sellers like to see a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender. This means the buyer is serious and can afford the home.

• Pre-qualification is a quick process that tells you roughly how much you can afford to spend on a home, based on your self-reported income, debts and assets.
• To obtain pre-approval, you’ll have to provide verifiable financial documents to the lender. The lender will review your credit report, financial history, income statements and more to determine how much they would be willing to lend you.

5. Look for a property and make an offer

In today's market, there are more buyers than sellers making it hard for a buyer to sit and think on it overnight. If you like the home and it fits all your criteria, submit an offer.

A Realtor can help you with the process and help you navigate this hot market. They can negotiate your price and terms as well as recommend mortgage brokers, title companies and inspectors. A Realtor will be with you from your search to the closing.

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A $75,000 Our Town Grant Goes to A Studio in the Woods

 

A program of Tulane University’s ByWater Institute called A Studio in the Woods, is receiving a $75,000 Our Town Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant will be used towards Searching for the Ghosts of the Gulf, a collaborative project with artist and biologist Brandon Ballengée and the Plaquemines Parish Government.

A Studio in the Woods is a retreat for artists, scholars, and the public. It is a place in Lousiana's protected forest along the Mississippi River where patrons can go to relax and focus on their creativity. The organization has built a network of artists interested in works based on southern Louisiana's environment.

Searching for the Ghosts of the Gulf is a project that artist and biologist Brandon Ballengée and the Plaquemines Parish Government are coming together to create. Brandon Ballengée will be a community-based residency at A Studio in the Woods where he will study and explore endangered fish species from the Gulf of Mexico.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Brandon Ballengée and the Plaquemines Parish Government to bring dynamic, accessible, and fun programming about environmental change to our neighbors in Plaquemines Parish,” A Studio in the Woods Managing Director Ama Rogan remarked, “We hope this project sparks new understandings, conversations, and bonds in our communities.”

Ballengée states, “Together we will build resilience for coastal populations using citizen driven art/science research while taking collaborative actions towards a collective future survival.”

Our Town funding is the National Endowment for the Arts grant that will help fund projects such as this at A Studio in the Woods. There are 63 grants like this nationwide which supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes; ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change.

“It is always exciting when Plaquemines Parish can partner with outside organizations to bring grant money into our parish. This project in particular will help us to expand our coastal resilience, which as we know is one of the most important and pressing issues we face,” said Plaquemines Parish President Kirk M. Lepine.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Belle Chasse Medal of Honor Park Honors War Veterans Will Finally Be Completed

 

The Louisiana Medal of Honor Park is finally going to be finished after construction came to a halt about 18 years ago. Originally the park was created to display over 4,000 medal recipients from the Civil War to present-day conflicts.

The structure was built by Seabees from the neighboring Naval Air Station and Joint Reserve Base. The five large concrete structures that make up the monument have been funded by donors and volunteers throughout the years.

“It’s an ongoing process for sure and the upkeep of it and the maintenance and everything,” park designer and board member Jody Coyne said.

Over the years the park has been short in supply for funding to complete it. Coyne says the park site is a tribute to all those who have served in the military and is a labor of love. It is a special play for Plaquemines Parish’s military community.

The funding to complete the 34-acre tribute will come from a federal grant that is also paying for a new main gate to the Navy base across the street from the park.

“If everything goes right, we should finally have a nice pavilion building with restrooms and stuff for the public, a large playground area in the front and a museum building off to the left side," Coyne said. “We hope we can complete this and dedicate this, have another re-dedication ceremony to honor everyone’s that ever given the ultimate sacrifice.”

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