The big day: Cannons will fire, F-15 fighter jets will fly overhead and Deacon John will sing “God Bless America” when Gov. Bobby Jindal is sworn into office at the Old State Capitol next week. Though events have been scaled back for Jindal’s entrance into his second term of office, the inauguration Monday will be filled with the pomp and circumstance of previous swearing-in ceremonies. The governor’s chief political strategist, Timmy Teepell, says 1,000 people received invitations to watch Jindal take the oath of office from the chief justice of Louisiana’s Supreme Court. The ceremony is open to the public. Jindal’s lost some of his audience to the BCS national championship, but the governor’s inaugural planners are wrapping up events early in the day to allow attendees to get to the LSU/Alabama game in New Orleans.
A healthy challenge: The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has set a Jan. 13 deadline for organizations and communities to submit letters of intent to apply for up to $10 million in matching grant funds to fight obesity. The foundation and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, its partner in the Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana grant program, also are offering potential grant applicants technical assistance workshops and a Web-based option to help them find each other and work together. The grant program will offer matching funds ranging from $250,000 to $1 million to nonprofit organizations for projects promoting healthy eating, active living and environmental change. The foundation’s website at OurHomeLouisiana.org offers resources for program applicants, including ways to reach out to potential partners locally.
The best of B.R. Does someone on Twitter or Facebook make you laugh out loud or inspire you to make a difference? The Baton Rouge Social Media Association is seeking nominations for the 2011 SMarties Awards. The awards comprise several categories, including best campaign, mobile app, marketing, local news, community involvement, holiday campaign, customer service, most entertaining, crisis management and do-gooder. BRSocMe will announce the winners at its awards ceremony, which will be held Jan. 26 from 7-10 p.m. at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s. Tickets are $35. To nominate someone or purchase tickets, click here.
