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October 7, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update October 7, 2014

CEC NOTES

    1. Welcome new subscribers. Please welcome our new subscribers: Cindy, Leslie, Sylvana, Lisreina, Kristi, and Jennifer. We’re glad you joined out community!
    2. OKRA. We are happy to announce that CEC has been chosen as an OKRA Charity for the month of October!!! Okra Charity Saloon donates 100% of profits to the charity with the most votes at the end of each month. Help CEC win by picking Okra to host your parties, after-work mixers, or just to grab a few drinks and food to relax after a day of work. With each drink and food purchase, you can get a ticket to vote for CEC. To help CEC win, please be sure to stop by and vote for us! We’ll be there tonight from 6-8 for a committee meeting, so please consider stopping by to see us. We may even share our warm chocolate chip cookies (or waffle fries–haven’t decided yet). OKRA is located on Main St. and Congress, right next to the Metro rail. We will be hosting some CEC happy hours, dates TBA.
    3. Galas Galore & More!  The environmental community in Houston loves October for galas and other events. Pick one, and support your favorite environmental nonprofit!

 

COALITION NOTES

      1. HREG Solar Energy Workshop Series. The Houston Renewable Energy Group will be hosting a series of workshop during the month of October. Topics to be addressed by field experts include tax implications, costs, community solar, and sustainable design. Workshops will be available during the day and evening, and the Houston Community College’s renewable energy trailer will be on-site for demonstrations for all ages. All workshops are free, open to the public and will be held at IKEA Houston. http://houstonrenewableenergy.org
        • October 7, 2014 (6-8pm): Solar 101 – The Benefits of Solar
        • October 9, 2014 (9-11am): Solar 101 – The Benefits of Solar
        • October 16, 2014 (10-11am): Solar 102- Solar Basics
        • October 16, 2014 (6-7pm): Solar 102- Solar Basics
        • October 21, 2014 (6-9pm): Community Solar
        • October 23, 2014 (6-9pm): Disaster Recovery
        • October 30, 2014 (9am-12pm): Solar Demonstration and Tutorial
      2. Indoor Air Quality by Design Education Seminar. October 8, 2014, 6:00pm. Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Avenue, Free and open to the public.  Sustainability Series by UL Environment  sponsored by Global A+D Portfolio:  Paul Bates, MBA, LEED-AP, BD&C, serves as the National Program Manager of Education and Training for UL Environment and is responsible for developing and delivering sustainably oriented education and training programs to a range of audiences including building operations, design professionals and students as well as professional trade organizations and consumers.  UL Environment is a third party verification entity that certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, and advises and trains.  HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE CREDITS: AIA (1LU), IDCEC (0.1 CEU), GBCI (1 CE) For more information visit:http://www.greenhoustontx.gov/gbrceducation.pdf
      3. Collaborative Grant Organizing Roundtable Discussion. Under Houston Wilderness’ Collaborative Grant Organizing (CGO) program, please come for a roundtable discussion on a “sample” collaborative grant proposal under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant program. During the roundtable, participants will briefly review the NAWCA grant requirements and discuss HW’s CGO process and regional collaborative project opportunities. Following the roundtable discussion, there will be a webinar broadcast on collaborative grantseeking, hosted by GrantStation, for all interested participants (webinar begins at 1pm). The roundtable will be held on October 9, 2014, from 11:45am-1pm at the Houston Wilderness Conference Room. For more information, contact holly@houstonwlderness.org.
      4. STAR Master Composter Program. Complete a 20-hour training course taught by approved MC instructors, as well as 20 hours of volunteer community service in public compost educatoin and awareness (within 6 months of completing the course). The course will include: a field trip to three local composting sites; assigned reading in composting books provided in the course, with a follow-up presentation and/or discussion; meeting with local government officials to learn more about solid waste and composting services in the community; bring in soil samples and amend poor sandy or clay soil with compost and discuss how it changes the soil and pour equal amounts of water through each mix; compare penetration and drainage rates (and, if time allows, plant seeds in each to measure growth); 8 guest speakers familiar with composting at various levels and waste diversion in general will provide the majority of the instruction and insight to the attendees; and post-course volunteer time. The 4-day course will be held from October 9, 2014 to October 12, 2014. The program will cost $40. Please RSVP to Steve Stelzer by phone or email: 832-394-9050 or steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov. Learn more on the event facebook page.
      5. KPFT 90.1 Tennis Fun Fest. Come out to the Homer Ford Tennis Center on October 11, 2014, for a fun day of tennis! This event will be hosted by KPFT 90.1. The day begins at 8:30am with a 45-minute clinic led by tennis star Lori McNeil (formerly ranked #9 in the world) and her coach and mentor, John Wilkerson. There will be 3 levels of play: Youth to age 16; Adult: Novice; Adult Intermediate/Advanced. The matches will be twenty minutes. This day will be fun for the whole family! Come out for music, food, playground, and auction. Spectators are welcome! Find out more at http://kpft.org.
      6. Big Thicket Association’s 50th Anniversary and Book Signing. The 50th Anniversary Celebration of the BTA and the 40th of the Big Thicket National Preserve will be held October 11, 2014. The event will recognize the achievements of both organizations towards the conservation of the Big Thicket. The day will begin with the membership’s annual business meet­ing and recognition of guests and presentations of awards, followed by a performance by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Dancers. The afternoon will be filled with numerous presentations and conservation group exhibits. Learn more at www.bigthicket.org.
      7. Storm Drain Stewards Program Volunteers. Galveston Bay Foundation and the City of La Porte are launching a Clean Water Partnership to improve the water quality in Galveston Bay. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 11, 2014, from 10am-2pm to mark storm drains in the Brookglen Subdivision of La Porte, TX. During this event, volunteers will install storm drain markers to educate residents and tourists that rainwater “Flows to Galveston Bay” and picks up trash and pollution in the streets along the way. Participants will learn about water quality and pollution concerns, as well as things they can do at home to help keep our bay fishable and swimmable. This volunteer event is important because trash, sediment, bacteria, nutrients and chemicals that enter storm drains travel directly to Galveston Bay without being treated. Want to join in the fun? This volunteer program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Contact Neally Rhea at nrhea@galvbay.org for more details and sign up by Thursday, October 9th. Galveston Bay Foundation would like to thank the City of La Porte and Gulf Coast Renewable Resources for sponsoring this event. Learn more at http://galvbay.org.
      8. BioBlitz 2014: Coastal Heritage Preserve. Calling all citizen-scientists to join Artist Boat for the 2014 BioBlitz of Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve on west Galveston Island. BioBlitz is an all-day event in which scientist-led inventory teams work together to find, identify, and document as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible. Open to the General Public, Scientists, Naturalists, Birders, Students, Families, Educators, and Volunteers. This event will be held on October 11, 2014, from 9am-2pm. Lunch provided by sponsors Moody National Bank and the Galveston Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers! Space is limited to please pre-register by calling Artist Boat to reserve your spot (407-770-0722)! cechouston.org
      9. Unplugged Adventure: Katy Prairie Bioblitz. Be a part of Katy Prairie Conservancy’s annual Bioblitz and help count as many different species of plants, animals, and fungi on the prairie as possible in a 24-hour period. No experience necessary – each Bioblitz team will have a bird, reptile, amphibian, insect, and plant expert along to help identify what you see and hear. This fun and free event will be held on October 11, 2014, 7am-8pm. Register online at www.katyprairie.org.
      10. Going Green Sustainability Lecture: Bayou Land Conservancy & Spring Creek Greenway. Did you know that anywhere within The Woodlands, you are less than 5 minutes from the longest, urban, forested, contiguous corridor – in the United States? Come learn the details (maps!) about the Spring Creek Greenway on October 14, 2014, at 7pm at the South Regional Library. Jennifer Lorenz, Executive Director of the Bayou Land Conservancy will speak about Bayou Land Conservancy’s lead as the non-profit that worked to get Montgomery County (beyond The Woodlands) involved in this corridor and has raised millions of dollars for permanent protection of thousands of acres. Also, she will speak about the BLC ‘s new program called The Spring Creek Greenway Ambassadors – a series of free trainings that include: local flora/fauna identification, proper trail management, local history of the creek, and environmental education training. www.thewoodlandsgreen.org.
      11. Regional Flood Management Council Meeting. The next Regional Flood Management Council meeting will be held on October 15, 2014, at 1:30pm at the H-GAC offices, conference room A. The agenda includes: Our Great Region Presentation (Information), Overview of H-GAC Riparian Management Efforts (Information and Discussion), Floodplain Awareness Success in Texas (Information and Discussion), and Roundtable Discussion by Members (Discussion). Find a more detailed agenda at cechouston.org.
      12. Houston GREEN Film Series: Cape Spin. Come out to the Rice Media Center on October 15, 2014, for the next film in the Houston GREEN Film Series. The film, Cape Spin,  tells the surreal, fascinating, tragicomic story of the battle over America’s most controversial clean energy project. Doors open at 6:30pm for conversation, networking, and a light meal. The screening starts at 7:00pm. A light dinner will be served, courtesy of Dr. Pat Speck and Dry Bones Cafe. The film is free to the public, though donations are suggested and kindly appreciated. More at www.facebook.com.
      13. BPA’s 15th Annual Gala: Bayoutopia. Experience the perfection of Houston’s bayou system and take a voyage to utopia. Bayou Preservation Association hosts its 15th annual gala, Bayoutopia. This year’s gala will be held at the serene home of Michael and Natasha Bleyzer on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 7pm. This year’s celebration will be complete with al fresco cocktails, culinary concoctions by Tony’s and entertainment on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Enjoy the charming evening and flawlessness of the Bayou City’s waterways, while escaping the hustle and bustle of the big city. Individual tickets are available for $300. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.bayoupreservation.org.
      14. Prairie Restoration Roundup. Prairie restoration is hot! Prairie plants are drought resistant, don’t need large inputs of fertilizer, and can be a boon to both cattle and wildlife – both in rural communities and even in urban pocket prairies. Join the best restorationists in southeast Texas for a day of hands-on demonstrations and insightful discussions about prairie restoration, including when to conduct prescribed burns, invasive species control, see drilling, and more. The roundup will be held on October 16, 2014, from 9am-3pm at the Rosenberg Civic Center. The cost is $35 for general public and professionals and $25 for students and Texas Master Naturalists/Master Gardeners. Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
      15. Trails at Twilight: Woodland Park Celebration. For 100 years, Woodland Park has provided Houstonians a haven of natural beauty. Help preserve this precious resource for coming generations. Join Friends of Woodland Park on October 17, 2014, 7-10pm, for a wonderful evening celebrating Woodland Park’s rich history and its bright future! The evening will include food, drinks, a silent auction, and dancing to the music of Zenteno Spirit. Help them reach their fundraising goal of $50,000 which will be used for a variety of exciting new park improvements The wish list includes: park benches, playground equipment, trail signage, foot bridges, game tables and much more. Find out more at www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org.
      16. Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership and KBR for the 8th year anniversary of KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. A day filled with FREE family fun with this year’s theme all things and animals “Wild!” featuring hands-on nature-themed crafts, music, food, park performers, and kayak demonstrations on the bayou! Activity stations will include numerous hands-on activities from over 20 Houston non-profit organization partners, pontoon boat tours, local entertainment and performers, kayak and skateboarding demos, face painters and balloon artists and so much more! Additionally, there will be a Halloween Costume Parade, so come dressed as your favorite wild animal, reptile or insect! There will also be a birds of prey show—get ready for a WILD time on Buffalo Bayou! Come out on October 18, 2014, 11am-3pm to Sabine Promenade! More at www.buffalobayou.org.
      17. Texas Fresh: Beyond Organic Dinner. On October 18, 2014, support Central City Co-op and the Last Organic Outpost by celebrating with food in the finest way – fresh at the farm prepared by Chef Jeremy Goodwin of Texas Al Fresco. Come dine in an urban oasis and show your continued support for local food that goes beyond organic. The cost is $70. Get your ticket at www.centralcityco-op.com.
      18. 2014 Bike Around the Bay. Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported two-day, 180-mile bicycle ride around Galveston Bay that showcases the natural beauty of Galveston Bay and benefits the Galveston Bay Foundation. Now in its eighth year, Bike Around the Bay began with the goal of bringing people together from all over to see and experience Galveston Bay. Many people are unaware of the rich ecological diversity that is so close in proximity to Houston, and this event was designed to bring awareness of its importance. In the spirit of preserving this special place, all profits from the event the Galveston Bay Foundation. The ride will be held October 18-19, 2014. Find ride details at www.bikearoundthebay.org.
      19. BPA’s 11th Annual Symposium: “Get Out to the Bayou and… Swim?” Sink or swim? Houston is known as the Bayou City since it is home to 22 watersheds. Why don’t we see people swimming, splashing around, or sitting on the banks? If you’re wondering the same thing, then head out to Bayou Preservation Association’s 11th annual Symposium, “Get out to the Bayou and… Swim” on Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 7:30am – 4:00pm at United Way. For just $50 a person and $35 for students or teachers, this year’s event will dive into the topic of swimming in the bayous and will feature keynote speakers Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg, Gary Garrett, Robert Rayburn, Susan Darcy, Jeff Taebel, Charlie Jenkins, Barnaby Evans, Pat Walsh, Mike Talbott, John Blount and Scott McCready. Learn more and register at www.bayoupreservation.com.
      20. How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Our dynamic coastline is changing faster than ever before. Changes are visible over the last 50, 30 and even 10 years. The environmental, social and economic impacts of coastal change are readily measurable and are increasing. These impacts can make us less resilient, particularly when more intense conditions affect our coastal state. The effects result in even greater impact beyond our coast. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Are we in a “state of denial”? A workshop that presents the most recent scientific data modeled by a team of multidisciplinary researchers working together to measure what these effects will mean to us. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan  Hall, on the Rice University campus. More at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
      21. The Woods Project Fall Luncheon 2014. Enjoy lunch with The Woods Project and its students as they share how their outdoor experiences have made a positive change in their lives – building self-confidence and other critical skills for success in school and beyond. This is your chance to sit with a student and hear their summer trip story first hand. Chris Barbic, founder of YES Prep and current Superintendent of Achievement School District in Tennessee, will be our keynote speaker and will be sharing his thoughts on what low income students need in order to be successful in school and in life. Register for this event, which will be held on November 4, 2014, 11:30am-1pm at the Junior League of Houston. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.thewoodsproject.org.
      22. Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center. The Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center will be held on November 8, 2014, from 6-9:30pm at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel. Medea Benjamin, founder of Code Pink, will be accepting the Houston Peace and Justice Center’s annual National Peacemaker Award, and she will be the keynote speaker at HPJC’s annual awards dinner this year. Call Bill Crosier at 713-641-4941 or visit www.hpjc.org for more information.
      23. Prairie Month! October 6, 2014 to November 15, 2014 is Prairie Month! Join the conservation community for a series of fun and informative events in 
the Greater Houston region, celebrating and restoring 
our prairie heartland! Find an event near you by visiting http://prairiepartner.org.
      24. Gulf Coast Bioneers. Gulf Coast Bioneers, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, is a local Houston event that supports building resilience from the ground up by showcasing and participating in local breakthrough environmental and social justice solutions while strengthening community bonds. The Bioneers is a national, non-profit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and the planet. Bioneers has two goals:
        Connect people with solutions by popularizing breakthrough ideas and practices. Grow social capital by catalyzing, connecting and strengthening strategic networks, and community-based alliances. The conference will be held on November 2, 2014, at the Blackwood Land Institute. EXPLORE practical solutions and innovative social strategies to restore our ecosystems and revitalize our community. LEARN how experienced, passionate, and pragmatic professionals here in Houston are developing cutting-edge solutions that work. CONNECT with others like you: on-the-ground innovators, change agents, and thought leaders from business, education, government, and the community. BE INSPIRED by Gulf Coast area speakers and speakers from the national Bioneers conference held in California. Learn more and register at http://gulfcoastbioneers.org.
      25. Save the Date! Energy Corridor Recycles Day. Energy Corridor Recycles Day will be held on November 15, 2014, 9am-2pm. You know you’ve got them. Motorola flip phones, stereos with blown amps, computers struggling to run Windows 95, rear projection televisions with the red color malfunctioning, and VCRs with “The Breakfast Club” tape stuck inside. They are everywhere, taking up space, sitting unused with potentially toxic metals that have no business discarded into landfills, left along roadsides or stashed in garages. Get ready to properly dispose of all those outdated electronics cluttering up your home and office. This is your chance to help remove the potential environmental threat of improperly disposed televisions, computers, telecommunications equipment, hard drives, game consoles and other electronics that can be laced with heavy metals. www.energycorridor.org
      26. Save the Date! 20th Annual Twilight Gala: Turning a New Leaf. Join Nature Discovery Center for the 20th Annual Twilight Gala, helping the greater Houston community discover, enjoy and value nature. For nearly three decades, the Nature Discovery Center has been sparking interest in science and nature, developing critical thinking tools, enriching educational opportunities for children, improving the teaching of science for teachers, and nourishing the inquiring minds of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children. This year’s Twilight Gala fetes all that is new and renewed at the Center. From the fresh renovation of the 89-year-old Henshaw House to the renewal of the grounds for all of those that spend time in the four-acre outdoor classroom, Russ Pitman Park. The gala will be held on November 21, 2014, at the Houstonian Hotel. Learn more and purchase tickets online at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
      27. Save the Date! H-GAC Fall Planning Workshop: Low Impact Development. Mark your calendars and plan to join the Houston-Galveston Area Council annual Fall Planning Workshop, to explore the world of Low Impact Development (LID). The workshop will be held on December 5, 2014, at the H-GAC offices.
      28. Our Great Region Implementation Network Surveys. H-GAC is working on a follow-up report to the Implementation Network event (August 27) that provides an assessment of the region’s capacity and momentum to implement the strategies in the Our Great Region 2040 plan. They are asking those who were unable to attend the Kickoff event in August to help out by providing information about your organization’s current initiatives and challenges in implementing the strategies presented in Our Great Region 2040. The questions in the surveys mirror the exercise that attendees of the event completed. Each survey represents one of the plan’s Big Idea focus areas. You may take as many or as few as you like. Each survey will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. To be included in the asessement, please complete the surveys no later than October 16, 2014.
      29. Earth Day Art Contest. Earth Day celebrates our planet’s wonders. Show what you see when you think of clean air, water, and land. Show your vision of how we can honor, celebrate, and protect our environment. Students in grades 3 through 12 in the Houston area should enter their artwork by January 31, 2015. Find the rules at www.earthdayhouston.org.
      30. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

      1. International Low Impact Development Conference 2015. The countdown to the LID Conference 2015 has begun. Don’t miss this incredible three-day event to learn the latest advances, tools, trends, and network with industry leaders and Stormwater resource practitioners from about the world. Advance Registration ends on October 8, 2014. The International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 will be held January 19-21, 2015. This conference will highlight new and continuing work including research developments and community adoption of LID throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, this conference will focus on the application of LID technology in the Southwest region of the US and will also include a mini-symposium on arid region LID. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CNN’s 2013 Hero of the Year, Chad Pregracke, whose presentation will be “Helping to Clean America’s Rivers: From the Bottom Up.” Learn more at http://content.asce.org.
      2. PUMP – Documentary Showing. PUMP is an eye-opening documentary film, narrated by Jason Bateman, that looks at the future of fuel and shares ways to create cheaper, cleaner, American-made fuel options. PUMP will be showing in Houston at AMC Theaters until October 9, 2014. Learn more about the film at www.pumpthemovie.com.
      3. Coastal Resiliency Conference: Living on the Edge. Galveston Historical Foundation’s Center for Coastal Heritage, in partnership with University of Texas Medical Branch’s Center in Environmental Toxicology, is organizing a three day conference on coastal resilience scheduled for October 8-10, 2014. This conference will provide a platform to discuss the challenges and strategies for building and preserving a resilient Gulf Coast. Attendees will explore the connections between the natural environment and the cultural heritage of coastal populations. The cost is $120, and $25 for students. Register at www.galvestonhistory.org.
      4. Peckerwood Garden Conservati​on Foundation Luncheon. Peckerwood Garden Conservation Foundation (PGCF) presents its inaugural Taking Root fund raising luncheon on October 9, 2014, featuring nationally renowned landscape architect Thomas Woltz, principal of Nelson Byrd Woltz, who developed the long-range master plan for Memorial Park. Proceeds from the event will go toward the long-term management and preservation of Peckerwood Garden as a unique botanical treasure. Peckerwood Garden is the culmination of John Gaston Fairey’s vision and passion for a majestic, living palette of artistic textures and colors, showcased in a garden that shows its respect for the environment through the use of natural terrains and conservation. It is also a place that maintains a habitat for biodiversity and a tranquil space for humans to enjoy nature. Tickets for the luncheon are $125 per person. Contact Jennifer Cate with questions. More at http://aggregator.time.ly.
      5. Take a Second Energy Video Contest. Enter the Instagram Take a Second video contest to win prizes from Samsung, Home Depot, and Honeywell! How are you taking a few seconds to help the environment? Share an Instagram video showing how you take a few seconds to help the environment by saving energy. The deadline for entries is October 9, 2014. Learn more about how you can save energy and find out how to enter at http://takeasec.org/#share.
      6. Earth Science Week. Since October 1998, the American Geosciences Institute has organized this national and international event to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth Sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. This year’s Earth Science Week will be held from October 12-18 and will celebrate the theme “Earth’s Connected Systems.” Local Earth Science Week events include the following:
        • NASA’s #SkyScience . Citizen scientists can participate in this global Earth science data collection event by observing, photographing and reporting on clouds over their location as a NASA satellite passes over. Reports and photos will be compared to data collected by NASA Earth-observing instruments as a way to assess the satellite measurements. Use the hashtag #SkyScience, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+ and Flickr. Learn more at www.nasa.gov.
        • Houston Geological Society at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, October 11, 2014, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Hands-on activities and demonstrations in the Morian Hall of Paleontology and Wiess Energy Hall. www.hgs.org.
        • Energy Day: Free Downtown Houston Festival by Consumer Energy Alliance. Saturday, October 18, 11am-5pm. Three city blocks of exhibits will focus on innovative and interactive technology demonstrating energy production, processes, and efficiencies. Students can see and touch state-of-the-art technology, interact with experts, and ask questions. energydayfestival.org
        • Geology Field Trip to Whiskey Bridge by the Houston Geological Society. Sunday, October 19, 12pm-3pm. HGS sponsors this student-friendly field trip to Whiskey Bridge in Bryan, Texas. Participants meet on the south side of Whiskey Bridge, where Highway 21 crosses the Brazos River, to discuss geology and collect fossils. For directions, locality information, collecting guides, and scientific papers, see the Houston Gem and Mineral Society.
      7. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue is the culminating public event of the Religious Understandings of Science (RUS) study. This day-long conference will include breakout sessions on Religious and Scientific Dialogue on Human Genetic Reproductive Technologies and Religious Responses to Environmental Concern. Keynote panelists include Alejandro Chaoul (University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), John Evans (University of California San Diego), Katharine Hayhoe (Texas Tech University), Ronald Numbers (University of Wisconsin-Madison), John Mark Reynolds (Houston Baptist University), and Norbert Samuelson (Arizona State University). The event will be held on October 24, 2014, at 8:30am at Rice University. More at http://events.rice.edu.
      8. Grand Opening: Houston Community Toolbank. The Houston Community Toolbank invites you to their grand opening! Come out for FREE food and drinks and of course, the debut of the massive new tool warehouse, now serving the Houston nonprofit community. Learn about the variety of tools available and the lending program. Win great door prizes while you mingle with volunteers, sponsors, donors and the media! The grand opening will be held on October 28, 2014, 4-7pm at the Houston Community Toolbank (1215 Gazin Street). RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
      9. Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update. There will be a public meeting regarding the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update on October 29, 2014, at 6:30pm at the Bear Creek Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to update area residents and business owners about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program as part of a continued communication initiative by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. The Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program’s primary objective is to maintain public safety by ensuring the dams we own and operate are safe and that risks to the public are minimized. The update will begin at 6:30 p.m. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives will be available to answer questions immediately following. Learn more at www.swg.usace.army.mil.
      10. Creatively Green Family Arts Festival. NRG Energy, Inc. and Young Audiences of Houston are pleased to announce the NRG Creatively Green Awards Program. This program will award two schools in Houston with an engaging and dynamic family festival that offers parents and children the chance to participate in hands-on art-making to better understand the importance of environmental sustainability. Winning schools receive the unique opportunity to host a family festival worth up to $7,000 – featuring Young Audiences artists – that will celebrate imagination and creativity while promoting a better understanding of individual and community responsibility to protect our planet. Learn more about the program at http://media.wix.com. Applications are due by November 3, 2014. Apply at http://survey.constantcontact.com.
      11. Financing Sustainable Water. Developing rate structures that successfully balance revenue management, resource efficiency and fiscal sustainability is becoming more challenging than ever in a world of scarce supply, volatile weather and declining demand. Learn from experts about the newest resources and strategies that can help water managers to navigate these challenges at the workshop on November 12, 2014, 9:30am-2:30pm at United Way. Registration is $30, and lunch and meeting materials are provided. Participants will receive in-depth training on the new Alliance for Water Efficiency Sales Forecasting and Rate Model, an innovative, free and user-friendly tool that can help managers explicitly model rate structures and effects on revenue and water use. Learn more and register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
      12. Biennial Scientific Symposium. Register now for the Children’s Environmental Health Institute’s Eight Biennial Scientific Symposium: Prenatal Environmental Exposures as a Determinant of Early Childhood Disease. Hear global experts challenge us to elevate critical  thinking on ways to address the prevention of environmental health risks to children. Keynote speakers Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, and Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, among other distinguished speakers will provide prevention-oriented research on how toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous health problems and chronic disease. The symposium will be held November 13-14, 2014, at McKinney Roughs Education Center, close to Austin Texas. Learn more and register at http://cehi.org.
      13. Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin. The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction to complete the Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin, a project that will reduce flooding risks and damages in the Little Cypress Creek and Cypress Creek watersheds of northwest Harris County. The project includes final grading of the basin slopes; construction of backslope interceptor swales, weir spillway structures and pilot channels; and rehabilitation of the Little Cypress Creek tributary formally identified as HCFCD Unit L103-00-00, which crosses the basin site. As part of this project, the Flood Control District will carefully consider opportunities to save or relocate existing trees on its right of way. When complete, the basin will hold more than 325 million gallons, or 1,000 acre-feet, of excess stormwater during periods of heavy rain. Construction began in late September and is expected to be completed in Spring 2015. Read the full update at HCFCD Begins Project to Complete Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin — PRESS RELEASE
      14. Save the Date! 2015 HAUFC Tree Planting Competition. The Houston Area Urban Forestry Council is in the process of planning the 2015 Tree Planting Competition. The date is already set for Saturday, February 7, 2015. The planting competition once again will be held in partnership with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and sponsored by the Texas A&M Forest Service and CenterPoint Energy. Start forming your team for this competition in which you will be working against the clock to plant trees according to established guidelines for correct hole (depth and width), proper mulching, and spacing. Each team, made up of 10 planting members and one non-working captain, will plant 100 five-gallon trees as quickly as possible. Details should be available soon at http://haufc.org.
      15. Additional Community Announcements  
      16. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
        • Natural Wasteland
        • Parks & Wildlife People: Greg Creacy
        • Texas Eagles on the Move
        • Outdoor Info: Tree Stand Safety
      17. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
        • October 7, 2014: Green–Good.Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
        • October 8, 2014: Green–Good.Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
        • October 9, 2014: Green–Good.Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
        • October 10, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
        • October 1, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

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