'Those who can do business, do business'

Carson City contractor Tom Metcalf is walking amongst the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, beneath the twirling blades of military helicopters. He's there to do a job and witness the largest reconstruction effort in recent American history.

"I've talked to local contractors here and they say there is so much work that they're going to have to bring in workers from across the U.S.," said Metcalf, owner of Metcalf Builders Inc.

To enter Metairie, La., from the causeway he had to flash a pass. Only construction workers or those with a business in the city are allowed to enter.

Metcalf is working for Security National Properties of Baton Rouge. He remodeled the company's 15-story glass walled building a few years before. The Executive Office Tower survived with little damage, Metcalf said Friday, and that will make it easier for his team to clean it up and get people back to work. The roof must be replaced, and about 60 of 4,000 windows.

"By the quickness of our actions, the people will get back to work faster, which means they get back to a normal life quicker."

Holding a cell phone and walking around near the building, which is a breath away from Lake Pontchartrain, Metcalf described the scene.

"I'm looking at a 30-story high-rise on the lakeside and 200 or 300 windows are gone. There's a five-story steel-frame parking garage and a lot of its metal panels are gone."

The side of a mall is missing. A bakery doesn't have much of a roof anymore. Signs and billboards are gone, although the city of Metairie fared better than most.

The palm trees are still standing and the grass is green. This side of the causeway wasn't flooded when the levees broke about three weeks ago. Workers have pushed the debris into piles ready to get hauled away.

As he talked, helicopters could be heard in the background.

The building regained power Wednesday. The office workers will return Monday.

"Those who can do business, do business," he said. "But those who can't come and get their valuable things."

Many are banking on New Orlean's recovery. Some are so confident, they even plan to hold a conference there in a year.

The National Trust Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is accepting applications for the 2006 Great American Main Street Awards and the 2006 Main Street Leadership Awards. Winners will be nationally recognized during the 2006 National Main Streets Conference to be held in New Orleans from April 2-5, 2006.

Communities, individuals, businesses and organizations that have achieved outstanding success in commercial district revitalization efforts may apply for the 2006 Great American Main Street Awards, and nominate leaders for the 2006 Main Street Leadership Awards. To obtain an application or read about past winners, visit www.mainstreet.org/awards/ or contact the National Trust Main Street Center at (202) 588-6219 or mainstreet_awards@nthp.org. The deadline for applications is Oct. 15, 2005.

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants across the country are selling "Applebee's Supports the American Red Cross" paper fund-raiser fliers to guests for $1, with all proceeds going directly to the American Red Cross to aid hurricane victims.

Guests may purchase the paper fliers from any Applebee's associate at the restaurant, with the $1 being added to the guest's check. Additional donations from guests also will be accepted.

Habitat for Humanity International and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans unveiled an unprecedented financial, volunteer and advocacy alliance designed to increase habitat's capacity to build more affordable housing. The alliance, called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, represents a four-year, $100 million commitment by Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services organization. Additionally, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Thrivent Financial has earmarked another $5 million to Thrivent Builds to help rebuild homes in the Gulf Coast region.

Devon Isbell, of Gardnerville, is the new agent for COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services. She recently completed the organization's new agent School. The school is designed to help agents expand their knowledge about the products and financial solutions COUNTRY offers customers. The training also focuses on enhancing communication skills and guiding agents toward successfully setting and achieving goals.

COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services, in business since 1925, provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, disability income, home/renters, life, long term care and umbrella insurance. Isbell serves customers from her COUNTRY office at 5555 Kietzke Lane, Suite 100, in Reno. The office phone number is 829-1011.

Thunder Canyon Golf Academy in Washoe Valley is looking for golfers to participate in a comprehensive putting study.

The local study seeks to quantify the results of physical practice and drills verses the results of improving one's putting technique through visualization practice and mental exercises. Participants will be assigned a putting handicap and results will be tabulated by Shot By Shot golf.

The study participants will be divided into two groups of equal handicap ability. Participants should be able to spend one hour a week for four consecutive weeks practicing their assigned drills and tasks. Students will return to Thunder Canyon at the conclusion of the four-week study to be re-tested.

Individuals seeking to improve their putting skills and reduce their handicap are encouraged to participate in the study. Register before Sept. 30 by calling 882-0882. All participants will be invited to play the Thunder Canyon course when the study is complete.

The Carson Valley Inn in Minden's Inn the Spotlight recipients for August: Bill Paulson, of the casino division; Linda White, of the food division; and Arvelio Lopez, of the hotel division. Each month, three Carson Valley Inn employees are selected for the Inn the Spotlight award by peers.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.