Below are upcoming events of interest to Southern Heights.
Healthy Foods Market Opens in Scotlandville!
Located at 1300 Fairchild St (near Scenic Hwy), First Foods & Wellness is a local bodega and healthy food market selling fresh produce, fresh meats, and nutritious grab-and-go options! Parking is available at the lot on Scenic Hwy and at the Tire Shop across the street.
Shada Development Updates @ Community Town Hall – Mon., Jun 29th
Hear how community inputs are integrated into the project plans & provide feedback!
Click here to RSVP and Join the Conversation!
Election Day is June 27th!
Early voting for the June 27th Closed Party Runoff & Municipal General Election begins June 12 and runs through June 20 (excluding June 14 and June 19). Scroll down for election information including a discussion of proposed millages on the June ballot.
Geaux Vote! Your vote is your voice!
Learn about the Millages on the Ballot!
At the Special Federation Member meeting on Thursday, June 11th, the leadership of the EBR Library, Council on Aging and BREC discussed the parish-wide millages proposed on the upcoming ballot.
The video of the June 11th Zoom meeting is available here. The Library discussion begins at 4:40; Council on Aging at 34:35 and BREC at 48:02.
The slide presentation from the three agencies can be found here
- EBR Parish Library – Click here for Library Millage Proposal.
- EBR Council on Aging – Click here for Council on Aging Renewal Proposal details.
- BREC – See below for current BREC millages and the 2026 millage proposal
sample ballots
Millages in order of ballot appearance: EBR Parish Library, Council on Aging, BREC
ELECTION Calendar Dates
| ACTIVITIES | DATES |
| Registrar to Receive Voted Mail Ballot Deadline (other than military & overseas) | June 26, 2026 4:30 pm |
| ELECTION DAY | June 27, 2026 7 am – 8 pm |
Support your neighborhood – Join our HOA!
*Use this link to access our automated Member System to create your member account and pay dues. The system allows you to:
- Create your member account
- Make HOA payments
- Provide emergency contact information
- Update member & household information
- Access the SHPOA member directory
- Create announcements to SHPOA members (future)
- Create & access our SHPOA vendor listing (future)
Dues are $40 per year and payable by Zelle or Check.
June is . . .
Use the info and links below for history, music to appreciate and ways to celebrate!
National Today: https://nationaltoday.com/black-music-month
HBCUGo.TV (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY93FjQxha-/
Black Enterprise lists Black Music Month Festivals (Scotland Saturdays is mentioned!): https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-music-month-festivals/
Scotland Saturdays (May – Oct 2026) @ Scotland Plaza
Free festival with music, food trucks, and vendors in a family-oriented environment @ Scenic Highway & Swan Avenue. Bring your chair and join the FUN! Follow ScotlandSaturdays on Instagram or search Levitt Amp Baton Rouge 2026 on Eventbrite for more details.
Interested in being a Scotland Saturdays sponsor, vendor, opening act or volunteer?
Below are notices that you may find of interest. Check regularly for updates.
Avoid Sewer Rate Overcharges
EBR recalibrates sewer rates annually in July by averaging your 6-month water usage from October- December (prior year) and February – April (current year). Inserts in your January & July water bills explain the annual rate review/adjustment process. However, off-cycle rate adjustments are needed after a water leak is fixed or for new customers.
Please call Baton Rouge Water Company at 225-389-5378 (extension 3 for service fees) to request a rate adjustment three months (3 bills) after a leak fix to get your rates reassessed.
New Customers at an address are automatically flagged for rate adjustment after their 4th water bill. You can call Baton Rouge Water Company at 225-389-5378 (extension 3 for service fees) to request a rate adjustment four months (4 bills) after new service is established.
How to report littering and illegal dumping.
If you see someone littering or illegal dumping, report them to 855-LA-LITTER or USE THE LINK BELOW. For a citation to be issued, the caller must be willing to sign an affidavit. The following information is needed when reporting:
- Vehicle make and license plate information
- Location of offense
- Photos and/or video, if available
To report hazardous chemical releases, air/water pollution, leaks and runoff as well as toxic environmental accidents and complaints, call the Hazardous Materials Hotline at 225-925-6595 or 1-877-925-6595.
If you come across chemical spills, releases or odors from things like paints, pesticides, oil, antifreeze, etc. as well as mass fish kills and burning tires, call the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Single Point of Contact (SPOC) at 225-219-3640 or Toll Free 1-888-763-5424.
The U.S. EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division also investigates negligent, knowing or willful violations of federal environmental laws that damage our water, land, and air. If you witness illegal discharge in the air, hazardous waste or signs of asbestos, you can reach the EPA-CID at 225-925-8490.
More details at the Keep Louisiana Beautiful.
Yard Maintenance Checklist
Energy Bills got you DOWN?
Key Strategies for Energy Usage Reduction
| Heating and Cooling (Highest Impact): Thermostat Management: Set to 78o or higher in summer and 68o or lower in winter. Maintenance: Change HVAC filters regularly. Alternative Cooling: Use ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. Insulation: Seal air leaks around doors and windows to retain heat/cool air. |
| Lighting and Appliances: LED Bulbs: Replace old bulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting. Unplug “Vampires”: Use power strips to turn off electronics (TVs, chargers, computers) that consume power even when off. Efficient Usage: Run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads and use cold water. Cooking: Use smaller appliances like toaster ovens or microwaves instead of the main oven. |
| Water Heating: Lower Temperature: Turn down the water heater to 120o F. Usage: Take shorter showers and use low-flow showerheads. |
| Behavioral Change: Natural Light: Utilize daylight instead of lamps. Laundry: Hang dry clothes instead of using a dryer. Shading: Close curtains/blinds during the day to keep homes cool. |
Energy Programs
Natural Gas Bill Payment Assistance
Delta Utilities and United Way of SE Louisiana have partnered to provide short‑term financial relief to households experiencing difficulty paying their natural gas bills. The program prioritizes households that may be especially vulnerable, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and families living within ALICE income thresholds.
| Eligibility | How to Apply |
| Must have: Active Delta Util. natural gas account Residence within the Delta Utilities service area | Must provide: Current Delta Utilities bill Matching ID |
Free Weatherization Services from Quad Area CAA
Entergy’s FREE Energy Efficiency Services for Homes and Multifamily Properties
Entergy is providing free services to help reduce your energy bill.
Call 844-829-1300 or click here for more information on free thermostats, air conditioning maintenance services, duct cleaning, air leak inspections, and more for single-family homes and multi-family properties. Scroll down the webpage for full information (pictured below).
Reduce Vehicle Break-ins
| Leave NOTHING visible inside your car. |
| At 9 pm – Use your car’s key fob to lock your car. Check your doors & windows to make certain they are locked. |
Make these habits a part of your daily routine:
In the event of a break-in, call the police at 225-389-2000. Call 911 in life-threatening situations, such as a crime in progress.
Thanks for keeping your property & our neighborhood SAFER!
US Postal Service Scam Alert
If you get a text or email claiming to be from USPS about a package awaiting action or a delivery failure,
Don’t click it: Take the actions outlined below for text & email scams.
This is an attempt to steal your personal information. Find out how to protect yourself by following the steps below.
Text Scams – USPS will not send customers text messages or e-mails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link. So, if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link: don’t click the link!
Email Scams – Some postal customers are receiving bogus emails featuring the subject line, “Delivery Failure Notification.” These emails appear to be from the U.S. Postal Service® and include language regarding an unsuccessful attempt to deliver a package asking you to confirm your personal delivery information by clicking a button or downloading an attachment, that, when opened, can activate a virus and steal information—such as your usernames, passwords, and financial account information. The Postal Inspection Service is working hard to stop these emails and protect your information. Forward USPS-related spam emails to spam@uspis.gov, then delete the email.
Too Much Air Flight Noise Overhead?
Yes, there seems to be a change in air flight patterns over Southern Heights. This impacts SH overall and especially areas that were not retrofitted to reduce overhead flight impacts in the 1970s & 1980s.
Why Should YOU Care?
Some homes in Southern Heights received new windows, HVAC systems, insulation and roofing to address aviation flight impacts. The number of Southern Heights homes in the airport flight pattern has increased and we may qualify for improvements to address flight pattern impacts.
What YOU Can Do?
We need volunteers to track the daily frequency of flight noise and report the occurrences using the FAA’s Aviation Noise Complaint Process. Call 225-205-7566 to be a SHPOA volunteer.
Instructions:
- Click the I AGREE button on the pop-up window
- Identify yourself (My Information)
- Provide noise occurrence information (your location when you heard the noise; date and time the noise started and stopped; description of noise; noise source (jet, drone, helicopter, propeller, multiple); airline name & aircraft description; airport (BTR)
- Indicate other requested information. NOTE: BTR indicates that the noise complaint should be reported directly to the FAA.
- Mark that you are not a Robot (bottom of page) and go to the upper right top of the webpage to submit the complaint.