Happy Holidays

Make a New Year's Resolution to get involved with your neighborhood in 2009.

For more information on joining the Highland Restoration Association please see the latest edition of the HRA newsletter. Now available online. Click on Fall 08.

Highland Restoration Association Newsletter

The Winter 2008 issue of the HRA newsletter is out. It's full of the good news of life in Highland. You'll find an update on the Haynesville Shale, photos from recent HRA events and a pictorial essay on the homeowners who've won the Highland Improvement Award.

To find an online copy check out the HRA website (and click on Fall 08 newsletter).

A Williamsburg Holiday Celebration

HRA and Meadows Museum want you to experience the scents, sounds and simplicity of a traditional "Williamsburg-style" Christmas this Sunday.

Enjoy live music, storytelling and old-fashioned ornament making. The free event starts at 2:30 p.m. For more information and to RSVP (so they know how many supplies to buy for the making of the Christmas ornaments) contact Diane Dufilho, Meadows Museum Director at 318 869-5169. For other fun activities happening in our area check out the December on the Red website.

Meadows Museum and HRA: Greening Up Your Christmas

It's an afternoon of FREE Christmas fun at the Meadows Museum Sunday, December 7, 2008. Starting at 2:30 there will be scads of holiday themed activities. In addition to greening the museum with items from nature, there will be auto harp music, orange pomander making, storytelling, and a performance by the Community Renewal International Highland Children's Choir.

Pictured is HooDoo Guy. He's hanging in the window of the Meadows Museum Gift Shop where he's available for purchase.

Highland Jazz and Blues Festival Columbia Park Saturday

This year's Highland Jazz and Blues festival is dedicated to Highland resident and blues artist Buddy Flett, who has been recovering from a serious illness and will perform.

Saturday's fest kicks off at noon with a 10-minute "Second Line" performance by the Zillionaires and members of the Red and Black Marching Brass Band. (This nifty brass band has also been a big part of the Mardi Gras parade in Highland. They work in tandem with the Blanc et Noir Marching Society).

Lewis House

675 Jordan is where you'll find one of Highland's large Victorian homes. At the rear of the property is the original carriage house. You can find out more about the Lewis House in the new HRA tour guide.

Click on the above picture if you want to see a larger version of the house. It'll also take you to more work by Shreveport photographer Mike Rosebery. He's got a great eye for all the beauty in Shreveport.

Jazz and Blues

We're just a days away from one of the most unique celebrations in Shreveport. Saturday, November 15, 2008 brings the annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival to the pine scented hills of Columbia Park.

New this year, the outdoor party has a MySpace page. If you're still not sure what to expect, mosey over to Trudeau's Shreveport Blog to look over his posts on the last couple of years of the festival.

Up-and-Coming Highland

April Reynolds does a great job of covering the BusinessWeek.com story about Highland in The Shreveport Times today.

In the article Highland Restoration Association President, Teresa Scott-Edgerton emphasized the great real estate buying opportunities in the neighborhood. Also quoted was Kathryn Usher, a Highland resident and artist. She reflected on the artistic appeal of the area.

Honaker House

Shreveport photographer Mike Rosebery has captured the grandeur of 615 Jordan. This Greek Revival home is over one hundred years old and is one of the highlights of the new HRA tour guide.

A fun family activity for fall would be a stroll around Highland to capture images of the historical structures. You'll be surprised at the dazzling pictures your kids will take. Take advantage of digital cameras and cell phone cameras for an outing that's practically free! Pick up a copy of the tour guide through the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Support Sustainability with Your Christmas Gifts

This Saturday Noel Memorial United Methodist Church offers Christmas gifts that are a part of the fair trade movement. The Greater Gift Market will be in the church's gym from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Last year the unique jewelry from Beads for Life sold out quickly. Two additional organizations will be on hand this year 10,000 Villages and Two Hands World Shop. For more information call Debbie Covington at 318-221-5207.

Energy and Economy Worries?

The man with the plan is coming to town. Businessman T. Boone Pickens will hold an energy town hall meeting at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 22, at the Shreveport Convention Center. Pickens will take questions from the audience so the meeting will be a great place to ask Haynesville Shale questions. Limited seating is available. R.S.V.P. to amykathleen@bellsouth.net.

P.S. Pictured above is the woodblock print Circumstances done by Clyde Connell in 1956. It eloquently illustrates the bobble we've been having with energy and economy woes. It's a part of the Connell show at artspace.

Heart of Shreveport

Don't miss Eric J. Brock's article on the Highland and Fairfield areas in the current issue of Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine. It starts on page 24. Photographer Neil Johnson supplied the gorgeous pictures.

Miss Kitty with this Rabies Reminder

Miss Kitty says "Go to ATM. Get $5 for every dog and cat you have. Bring them and the money to the Highland Center Saturday October 11 from 10:00 a.m. 'till 2:00 p.m. for their rabies vaccine."

Co-sponsored by the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana, Caddo Parish Animal Control Services and the Highland Restoration Association.

P.S. Dogs must be on leash and cats must be in a carrier. Bring plenty of plastic bags to pick up the poo-poo. City law says you gotta clean up after your critter!

Sometimes the wait is lengthy. Bring a chair or you can sit on the curb. Bring some water. Don't think you'll need snacks... Miss Kitty says you can bring her some tuna juice if you'd like... Miss Kitty is a real live ginger cat living the high life in Highland.

Still Time To Get Your Papers Signed

The ShreveCentre Coalition is giving neighborhoods some extra time to get their Non-Binding Letters of Intent turned in.

From Tuesday's article in The Shreveport Times "The Highland Restoration Group, which represents Shreveport's Highland neighborhood, has more than 5,000 properties. Only 40 percent of those properties have turned in letters of intent.

James Eakin, who represented the Highland Restoration Group at the ShreveCentre meeting last week, said it has been difficult collecting letters, mostly because many properties in Highland are rentals, and many of the owners live out of state."

Eakin went on to say he is still getting letters of intent every day. Have you mailed yours to HRA? Click for more information. On a related note, the price of gas is starting to bobble and that's causing lease prices to drop.

Business Week Says Invest in Highland

Shreveport's Highland neighborhood was just featured in an online Business Week article as being among the nation's top up and coming neighborhoods.

BusinessWeek.com selected 15 urban neighborhoods that artists have discovered and where homeowners could see returns in coming decades. Shreveport's Highland neighborhood was highlighted along with neighborhoods in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Brooklyn, Phildelphia, Portland, Raleigh/Durham, San Franscisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Got Letter?

Have you signed a Non-Binding Letter of Intent, which will allow the ShreveCentreCoalition to include your property in their Haynesville Shale lease negotiations?

If not, you can find a copy on the HRA website or you can pick one up at Lila's Cakes and Chocolates and City Printing on Line Ave at College.

Fire Station No. 5

Built in 1905 this historic structure is now a private residence on Stoner Avenue. It was one of the first fire stations built outside of Shreveport's central business district.

You can read more about this building in the new HRA tour guide.

The Water Issue

Imagine turning on your kitchen faucet and no water comes out. Water was one of the issues addressed at last night's Haynesville Shale in Highland meeting. The Shreveport Times has an article today about folks whose water supply is way down as a direct result of drilling.

By the way, the Kings Highway Christian Church was packed with folks. Thank you for coming out and thank you for supporting Highland and the efforts of HRA! And thank you, Ricky Edgerton, for sharing your great photo of the huge crowd that filled the church.

Tonight

6:30 p.m.
Kings Highway Christian Church
Kings Highway and Line Avenue

Find out about what's going on with the Haynesville Shale in Highland.

P.S. Look pretty. There are documentary filmmakers in town who just might capture your rags-to-riches mug!

Photo from the information wall at Columbia Cafe. That's one of the best things about the Highland, all the cool places to dine and shop!

If You Can't Make Wednesday's Meeting

HRA and the ShreveCentreCoalition are working together to get the best combination of up-front bonus, royalty percentage and favorable lease clauses to benefit all homeowners.

To participate, you must sign and return the Non-Binding Letter of Intent found on this page. It will allow the Coalition to include your property in the lease negotiations.

Wednesday's meeting at the Kings Highway Christian Church is a great place to get all your questions answered.

Shreveport Times Blog

HRA now has a blog on The Shreveport Times website.

Also, have you seen all the Haynesville Shale information on HRA's website?

Print and Hand Out To Your Neighbors!

Join us next Wednesday night and bring a neighbor!

Don't be afraid to bother your whole block. As Jack McLeod posted on his blog "Neighbors won’t mind your being nosey with their best interests at heart. Each neighborhood needs to achieve a 90% penetration rate for us to have the most successful package to present to the energy companies. That’s a realistic goal if everyone helps."

By clicking on the flyer and going to the flickr.com website you can access different sizes.

ShreveCentre Coalition Blog

The ShreveCentre Coalition has a blog on The Shreveport Times website. It's written by Jack McLeod and has some very informative posts on mineral rights and the Haynesville Shale.

More information about the ShreveCentre Coalition will be available at the August 13 meeting at Kings Highway Christian Church. In the meantime here's the link to McLeod's blog.

Don't Sign ANYTHING, Yet

Highland Restoration Association is now a part of the ShreveCentre Coalition. That new group now has 24 homeowner associations as members and will be a part of the August 13 meeting at Kings Highway Christian Church.

Jack McLeod is president of ShreveCentre Coalition. He also heads the Jackson Square Towne House Homes Association and the Southeast Shreveport Homeowners Alliance. McLeod says experts have convinced him it's best to not sign anything just yet and that includes any type of mineral lease deal or any other type of document presented by an oil and gas production company.

At the August 13 meeting you'll get information about HRA participation in ShreveCentreCoalition plus the opportunity to sign non-binding letters of intent to be part of negotiations.

Here's a heart stopping story on KTBS about what could happen if you sign something without reading the fine print. The Shreveport Times also has an on going special project about the Haynesville Shale.

Are You In the Money?

HRA is sponsoring an informational meeting on the Haynesville Shale on Wednesday, August 13 at the Kings Highway Christian Church. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

In the meantime, KTBS has an interesting special on the Haynesville Shale. If you don't want to wait for it to be on TV again you can catch it on their website. On that same web page there's tons of information on the Haynesville Shale and what you need to know as a Highland property owner.

Noel Memorial United Methodist Church

Built in 1913 in the Gothic Revival style, Noel Memorial United Methodist Church stands at the corner of Herndon and Highland. You can find out more about about this structure in the new HRA tour guide.

Get your free copy of the brochure through the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Click on pictures to see more detail.

Half way to Mardi Gras

Got your costume or float ready for the 2009 Krewe of Highland Mardi Gras Parade? It rolls through the streets on February 22. Parade founder Matthew Linn says the event is always the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.

We'll leave you with this cool bit of Mardi Gras 2008 on YouTube from Trudeau, creator of the Blanc et Noir Marching Society.

Party Pics

If you missed Saturday's reception at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum you have until July 31 to see the Highland's Historic Bungalows exhibit. The big food hit at the party? Tasty cookies from Lila's Cakes and Chocolates on Olive Street.

Can't make it to the show before it ends? You can see the photos on James Eakin's website.

Celebrating the Bungalow!

This Saturday, July 12, is the opening reception for the Highland's Historic Bungalows show at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 3201 Centenary Blvd. The photos are by Highland resident James Eakin.

Plan to mix and mingle from 1-3. It promises to be swell party since it was standing room only at the last HRA event.

Davidson-Bradbury House

Built in 1893, this Queen Anne house was the home of historian Max Bradbury and his wife Margaret. He was the founder of the North Louisiana Historical Association.

You can find out more about about this home on Wichita in the new HRA tour guide.

Get your free copy of the brochure through the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Click on pictures to see more detail.

Highland Curbs It

The blue recycling bins have been delivered in Highland. Not sure what can be recycled? A handy list of Yes and No is on the top of the cart. The Just Curb It website has even more information.

The first date the bins will be picked up is August 18.

Thornhill

Thornhill was built in 1856 and is possibly the oldest house in the Highland-Fairfield area. You can find out more about about this Gothic Revival style home in the new HRA tour guide.

Get your free copy of the brochure through the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

Click on pictures to see more detail.

We're in the Fun Guide!

History as fun? History as entertainment? The Highland Restoration Association thinks so.

We're throwing a party on Saturday, July 12, from 1:00--3:00 pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum for the photo exhibit Highland's Historic Bungalows. The show features the work of Shreveport photographer James Eakin. Special Guest Sue Ball will share stories of bungalow living and Highland's past. HRA's scrapbooks will be on display during the reception. Light refreshments will be served. For all the details see the Shreveport Bossier Fun Guide.

Explore the Heart of Shreveport

If you click on the little thumbnail pictures of the HRA tour guide it will take you to bigger pictures of this cyber version of the actual brochure.

Get your free copy of the brochure through the Shreveport Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.