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Author and gardening expert Randy Lemmon -
the Bud Leonard Athletic Fund, founded by alumni William "Bud" Leonard -
Tristen Balsano from Port Neches was named winner of the 2022 Concerto Competition
Go green thumb
The McFaddin-Ward House is inviting the community to hear author and gardening expert Randy Lemmon discuss regional gardening practices at a lecture scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center Lecture Hall, 1906 Calder Ave. in Beaumont.
Lemmon is well known in Southeast Texas through his Garden Line program on KTRH radio in Houston. For over 25 years and with 1.4 million listeners, he has guided Southeast Texans on the best gardening practices for our area. Author of popular gardening books such as Gulf Coast Gardening, Golfer’s Guide to Gardening, and New Decade Gardening: A Gulf Coast Guide, Lemmon offers help to those with and without green thumbs.
Lectures are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. Note that the date of this lecture has moved from Jan. 13 to Jan. 27.
For more information, visit mcfaddin-ward.org or call (409) 832-2134.
Sponsoring student
success
As 2021 concluded, Lamar University Director of Athletics Marco Born took the opportunity to highlight the mission of the Bud Leonard Athletic Fund (BLAF), founded by alumni William “Bud” Leonard, who passed away at he age of 90 in 2020, still a fervent supporter of LU athletics.
The BLAF’s mission is to help provide the resources necessary to enrich the lives of LU student-athletes as they prepare them to be champions in the classroom, champions in competition, and champions in life. These BLAF resources include critical funding for academic services, equipment, health care and housing support.
LU estimates are that $108 funds one month of academic support, $248 funds one month of athletic equipment, $540 funds one month of travel and meals, and $1,090 funds one month of room and board.
Donate now at https://caringcent.org/lu/blaf.
Beaumont launches new Communications Division
According to an update sent out by the city of Beaumont, a new City Communications Division “has been quietly taking over the various social media accounts and websites and ramping up for a full rollout in 2022.”
The city correspondence credits the initiative to a request of the City Council representatives to “be more transparent with citizens.”
Among the public news dissemination attributed to the control of the new department: city happenings, departmental awareness, city services promotion and building trust “through more positive interactions and proactive messaging.”
“We’re slowly making our way through meeting the 38 departments and divisions to uncover those lesser-known services and programs. There’s tons of things the average person would have no clue the city does, and it has truly been eye-opening and rewarding to share some of these untold stories, see what goes on behind the scenes, and to meet so many employees so passionate about their jobs,” said Lauren Monitz, Communications Director.
Monitz said her new department will write articles and blogs, and enlist a new in-house videographer, posting through “social media, PR, email, TV and the web.” She said that misinformation on the internet is just one of the problems the department hopes to address.
“Beyond just negativity, people share things that simply aren’t true, which too many people take at face value,” Monitz said. “Our goal is to become the No. 1 source of trusted information about the city of Beaumont and to encourage the public to come to us if they have a question or concern.”
Beaumont City Manager Kyle Hayes said the added department is overdue.
“Improved communication with residents has been a longstanding need,” Hayes said, “and we’re glad to have a division solely focused on telling our story.”
Top honors given to
Concerto winner
Symphony of Southeast Texas (SOST) officials announced the results of the 2022 Concerto Competition, naming the first-place winner as flutist Tristen Balsano from Port Neches. Balsano won the $750 cash prize, as well as the honor of playing his competition piece, Borne’s Carmen Fantasie, at the Youth Education Concert to be led by Maestro Chelsea Tipton II when the SOST orchestra performs Through the Telescope on April 5.
The second-place winner was Cindy Yang of Beaumont. She won the prize of $500 playing the piano to Mozart’s Piano Concerto.
The third-place winner is Beau Michaels of Nederland. She won the prize of $250 playing the flute to Perilhou’s Ballade.
All winners will be presented with their cash prize before the SOST Classic Series IV concert, Glory and Grandeur, on April 2, at the Julie Rogers Theatre.
“The jury was very impressed with all the students participating in the competition this year. Every student was prepared and eager to participate. Congratulations to Tristen, Cindy and Beau on placing in the competition. I look forward to having Tristen perform with the orchestra in April,” remarked Maestro Tipton. “We couldn’t be happier for these young musicians as they embark on their musical journeys.”