V o lu me T h i rt y T wo , N umber 2
Februar y 2018
To spray for greener lawn or not? BRCI Board leans toward not, but lawn owners still have a choice By Ann Reed for the Green and Grounds committees
For decades there has been a consensus among the managers of retirement communities that competition for dense green lawns requires toxic chemicals. But as evidence has accumulated of the health and environmental dangers associated with these chemicals, there also has been growing unease about their use. Beaumont’s policies with respect to spraying are expected to evolve over the years. In a move expected to reduce the use of sprays (or at any rate those considered dangerous) in the immediate future, however, the board of directors has now made “no spray” the default position, except in the common areas. Up to now, residents who did not want the lawns around them sprayed have had to take steps to opt out of the spraying program. Now it will be up to residents who do want the lawns around them sprayed to take steps to bring on the sprayers. By decision of the BRCI Board, owners of villas
WINTER SNOWS brought out Jane Ruffin with her camera to catch this robin with a berry in its beak. More pictures on page 5.
and ground-floor apartments will receive a letter in April, before the first chemical spray of the season, advising them that the lawns around their residences will NOT be sprayed except as a result of specific request by the affected resident to the Grounds Department. Included in that mailing will be a separate flyer detailing the impact that SPRAY continued on page 7
IT to the rescue
Text and photos by Linda Madara When the longtime drummer in Beaumont’s Wynlyn Jazz Ensemble, Leonard Pavel, had sudden major surgery last month, there was (besides sympathy) a collective “Oh! Dear! What are they going to do?” The New Orleans Re-Opening Gala for the Beaumont Room was coming up January 17, and the Wynlyn Ensemble was scheduled to perform. Marvin Weisbord thought immediately of Allan Kobernick, a great friend and fine drummer who over the years had performed often with him. IT continued on page 8
THE RESCUERS: Information Technology Director Mary Huff and IT Tech Bradley Siegel lend a hand to save New Orleans gala.