CenLamar | Est. 2006

  • Memorial Day

    For those who have passed: Lee Hamilton Deal, formerly of Alexandria and West Monroe, Louisiana. A comment left by “E. from New York” on Fallen Heroes Memorial: On the day of his death, Lee Deal saved a marine, a very close friend of mine for over 12 years. If it weren’t for him, my friend may not have survived the extensive injuries that he received. To his family, thank you so very much for sending this hero, this angel, to save my friend. I am so sorry for your loss. Lee Deal and your family will forever be in my…

  • NYT: Louisiana’s African-American Heritage Trail

    Louisiana Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, NY Times Today’s New York Times features a great article on Louisiana’s newly-minted African-American Heritage Trail, a brainchild of Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu. The trail includes a stop here in Alexandria at the Arna Bontemps Museum, as well as several other places in Central Louisiana. Landrieu invited the Times to the Whitney Plantation, believed to be “the most complete plantation in the American South.” Quoting: Yet Mr. Landrieu is far less interested in the Haydels than the legacy of the 254 slaves who once inhabited the nearly dozen shacks behind the big house during Whitney’s…

  • Alexandria’s “Walkability”

    Once upon a time: A diarist on DailyKos refers us to WalkScore.com, which offers a walkability index based on your address (which, in Alexandria’s case, doesn’t explain anything). I bring all of this up for a reason: Part of recapturing your City’s inner core requires the creation and development of walkable, scalable areas. It should be a natural side-effect; increased retail and commercial activity along an area like Bolton Avenue can serve several different neighborhoods in a walkable setting. The development of the Lakes District as a mixed-use community can increase opportunities for nearby residents of Claremont and Charles Park…