BFHS status (new building)

9/18 Times Picayune confirms sad state of BFHS:

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_17.html#080701

At the University of New Orleans, floodwaters at some point covered
about a third of the Lakefront campus, mostly on its south and west
sides, invading the first floor of a dorm and the city's premier high
school, Ben Franklin, at the edge of the college campus.

Ted Frank '87
http://tedfrank.com

Hi All and good luck

Hi Ray,
Thanks for doing this. It is good to read the news of old friends.

Hi Denise,
I hope I will get to return to your classroom to talk about careers in
oceanography sometime SOON. Unfortunately I hear the new building is in
a bad - wet - place. But I am really glad to hear you and your family
are well.

Hi All,
My dad and sister Marie (class of '81) evacuated from NO to various
places and are now staying with me in Houma. Both plan to go back to
New Orleans ASAP, but will likely return until the city is in better
condition. Dad lives a few blocks from the old Franklin and I viewed
aerials taken Sept 3 - that area is high and dry, including the
courthouse. Marie was worried about money as she depends on her massage
clientele, but is doing really well here in Houma because so many relief
staff need massages. She is one of few in Houma trained in Thai
Massage.

I work at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium in Chauvin, LA in
Terrebonne Parish - it did not flood (thank goodness), but does need a
new roof.

I am close to New Orleans if anyone needs anything. Just hollar.

Jessie

********************************************************************
Jessica A. Kastler, Ph.D.
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
8124 Highway 56
Chauvin, LA 70344

985-851-2848 phone
985-851-2874 fax
jkastler@lumcon.edu
********************************************************************

Teacher in Austin

Hi Ray and Franklin Alums,
Denise Ekberg, current or was teacher of Bio and Chem at Ben Franklin. I
evacuated to Austin and am staying with a close friend. Diego Gonzalez can
be contacted at dgonzalez@aol.com and would love to hear from any and all. I
spoke with him yesterday and he is safe and sound and running a contact
system mostly for seniors to contact teachers for letters of rec.

Thanks,
Denise

_________________________________________________________________
On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to
get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

Ben Franklin

Dear Ray,

 

I taught English at Franklin from 81-87, and my first thoughts when I saw New Orleans inundated by water were of Diego (or Mr. Gonzalez to be formal).  He is the best example of an excellent teacher I've evern known, and I worried that he might be among those who were/are stranded--or worse.  If anyone knows how to reach him in Chicago, I would appreciate receiving that information. 

 

I am also eager to know the whereabouts of Madame Alford.

 

I hope all the students whom I knew are safe somewhere.  If anyone ended up in the Los Angeles area and needs help with anything, please let me know.

 

My university, CSULA, is waiving out-of-state  tuition for college students whose education has been interrupted because of Katrina.  If any of Franklin students' relatives decide to take advantage of that, please let me know.  I can help with paperwork and some temporary housing, food, etc.

 

Thank you so much for organizing this space.

Marilyn Elkins   

 

 

Marilyn Elkins

melkins1@earthlink.net

EarthLink Revolves Around You.

 

community.bfalumni.com

<a href="http://community.bfalumni.com">Community.BFAlumni.com</a> is up and running, with several dozen alums and over a dozen offers of help already.  Spread the word.

 

<a href="http://tedfrank.com">Ted Frank</a>, BFHS '87

Franklin (the new one) is underwater

This is kind of third hand, but Ted Frank reports here that the new Franklin is underwater.

(OK, OK, I realize "the new Franklin" is pretty old at this point, but if somebody told me "Franklin is underwater", my first thought would be the courthouse.)

ray

BFHS '89 in Shreveport

I am living in Shreveport, LA, now. If there are any alumni or
teachers in the area, I will help as much as I can.

I have been trying to locate Dr. Bany and her family this week. If you
have any news, please let me know.

-Erin Berry (was Flaherty) (we're in the phone book... Alan Berry,
318-222-3937)

All –

 

Bob Eitel and his family are safe in Destin for the moment.  His house in Slidell is reportedly (via conversation with Reed Branson) still standing with minimal damage.  Reed’s family evacuated and is safe.

 

Diego apparently is in Chicago.

 

Julie Bell (now Margules) reports that her family left before the storm and is safe as well.  Julie did tell me that she saw a post on nola.com by someone looking for “Henry Helms – age 82” who lived near the 17^th Street Canal.  Don’t know if this is our former principal; may want to keep an eye on the nola.com website.

 

And Ray, thanks for creating this forum for us.

 

Eric

 

 

The Law Offices of Eric H. Imperial

1920 N Street, NW

Suite 300

Washington, DC 20036

202.457.1280 (Main)

202.595.1986 (Fax)

eric@imperiallaw.com

www.imperiallaw.com

 

Shea and Beebe status

Ray Shea and his family reside in Austin and are safe.

Mark Beebe's family lives in Metairie, but evacuated to Houston before the storm.

Update: Got word from Mark's wife's family last night, they are all safe.

Ray and Mark's parents and other siblings no longer reside in the New Orleans area so are all safe and accounted for.

Katrina blog for Ben Franklin High School alumni

This blog is a place for alumni of Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans to exchange messages during this troubling time.

I am working on a way that everyone can post messages via email. In the meantime, feel free to post stuff in the comments section.

Ray Shea '82.