This-N-That
Introducing Cobalt Hybrid St. Augustinegrass
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research program and turfgrass breeder Dr. Ambika Chandra have officially released Cobalt Hybrid St. Augustinegrass (experimental designation DALSA 1618). After nearly 20 years of research and development, Cobalt was selected over other experimental turfgrass lines for its commercial potential.
Cobalt features excellent drought resistance, very good shade tolerance, is tolerant of disease, has a good establishment rate and is winter hardy (USDA cold hardiness zone of 8a). This selection has an excellent visual quality with a dark green genetic color and a wide leaf blade and stolons.
For more information on Cobalt, watch a video of Chandra speaking about its traits at Kubicek Turf Farms at https://youtu.be/WFREixLCMB4.
Acquisition Finalized—George Furrer Named President of Valley Green
Holyoke, Mass.—The transaction between Advanced Turf Solutions, Inc., George Furrer, and Charles Dooley to form a new company and acquire substantially all of the assets of Valley Green, Inc. is now complete. George Furrer has been named president of the new company, and the New England-based distributor will operate under the name Valley Green.
Furrer’s background spans more than 30 years in the green industry, including previous roles as CEO of United Turf Alliance and Vice President of Specialty Business at Sipcam Agro USA. He holds an Associate of Arts and Sciences in Turfgrass Management from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Franklin University.
The Valley Green team of sales and support staff will continue serving New England, and with the support of Advanced Turf Solutions, the company will be able to offer more resources to employees and customers. Valley Green plans to grow its presence in existing and new segments. Learn more at valleygreenusa.com.
KABOOM! Launches 25 In 5 Initiative
Washington D.C.—KABOOM! announced the launch of the KABOOM! 25 in 5 Initiative, their five-year, $250-million plan to accelerate efforts towards achieving playspace equity across the United States. A $14-million gift from MacKenzie Scott allows KABOOM! to immediately begin work in several places, to be announced over the next few months. KABOOM! plans to raise $250 million for the initiative to end playspace inequity, bringing together diverse partners to drive resources to local places with limited access to quality playspaces.
Project EverGreen Announces Officers And Board Of Directors
Cleveland, Ohio—Project EverGreen announces the appointment of its 2022-23 officers and board of directors.
Kevin Laycock of SiteOne Landscape Supply takes overs the reigns as president of the national non-profit. Joining him are Scott A. Bills, CSFM of Sports Field Solutions as vice president/president-elect, and Fred Haskett of TrueWinds Consulting returns as secretary/treasurer.
The 2022-2023 Board of Directors includes Beth Berry, Advanced Turf Solutions; Cayla Chamberlin, Rocket Community Fund; Tim Demerath, PBI-Gordon; George Furrer, Valley Green Inc.; Boyd Montgomery, The Toro Company; Blaine Pinkerton, Nufarm; Linda Satter, Sipcam-Agro; Takisha Truss, Glaxo Smith Kline; Alan White, Turf Systems; Ashley Williams, TKXS; Andrew Bray, National Association of Landscape Professionals; Russ Mitchell, Albaugh.
Every Child A Swimmer Initiative Gains Momentum
The USA Swimming Foundation announced that it has awarded $898,184 to learn-to-swim programs across the country through its 2022 grant program—the largest ever dollar amount awarded through its grant program for swim lesson providers. Step Into Swim, an initiative of the Pool & Hot Tub Foundation (PHTF) committed to safer swim education and drowning prevention, contributed $200,000 to the total awarded, helping bring the learn-to-swim grant award to the largest amount in USA Swimming foundation history. Step Into Swim’s donation helps the foundation continue to save lives and build champions, by offering low to no-cost swim lesson scholarships for qualified children. For more information, visit https://everychildaswimmer.org.
Field Notes
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy welcomed urban transportation and environmental planning expert Daniel A. Rodríguez to its board of directors. Rodríguez is a chancellor’s professor of city and regional planning and the interim director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. His research is focused on the relationship between transportation, land development, and health and environmental consequences, with a goal to find solutions to practical problems for planners and policymakers.
Indianapolis-based Schmidt Associates, a regional architecture, engineering, and interior design firm, has hired Patrick Grap as an engineering project manager and Benjamin Martin as a senior electrical engineer.
Ecore Unveils Optimized Website With Enhanced Features
Lancaster, Penn.—Ecore, a company known for transforming reclaimed materials into performance products that make people’s lives better, has transformed its own website (www.ecoreintl.com) to deliver an optimized user experience. Featuring additional resources and a sleek, easy-to-navigate design, the redesigned site enables visitors to easily browse Ecore’s performance-focused flooring surfaces by product, market or application. Visitors also will find an elevated focus on the company’s commitment to sustainability and circularity.
To learn more, visit www.ecoreintl.com.
Indoor pool technology innovators improve IAQ, protecting the health of swimmers and facilities
Dehumidified Air Solutions, part of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) division of Madison Industries and a manufacturer of indoor pool dehumidifier brands (Dectron, PoolPak and Seresco), has teamed up with Paddock Pool Equipment Co., a manufacturer of pool equipment, to offer a solution that will protect the health of swimmers and the integrity of swimming facilities from harmful chloramines.
Chlorine, added to indoor pool water to keep it clean, attacks organics in the water, such as hair, skin, urine and saliva. Chloramines, the chemical byproducts of chlorine doing its job, off-gas from the pool water and build up over time. Trichloramines, the most volatile of chloramines, are a health hazard to swimmers and can cause corrosion to the indoor pool facility.
Dectron, PoolPak and Seresco equipment can be built to accommodate Paddock Evacuator Technology, a source-capture system that pulls trichloramines from the water’s surface and, with the help of HVAC equipment, exhausts them outside the facility to significantly improve IAQ.
For more information, visit https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220125005141/en/Indoor-Pool-Technology-Innovators-Improve-IAQ-Protecting-the-Health-of-Swimmers-and-Facilities.
DLF Brings Seed-Enhancement Investment To North America
Halsey, Ore.—DLF announces plans for investment in its seed-enhancement capabilities including a new facility and equipment.
Brian Jaasko and Robert Keeter have been hired to lead and support this development. Jaasko is an expert in seed-enhancement technology and its strategic applications, while Keeter has excelled alongside Jaasko in operations for much of his career. Their experience will help ensure a successful build and startup of DLF’s first seed-enhancement facility to be located near Corvallis, Ore.