Coalition Notes 11-03-2011

1. Urban Harvest Farmers Market at Sugar Land Town Square Starts Nov. 3!  Thursdays 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at 2711 Town Center Boulevard. Urban Harvest kicked off its weekly HCC Southwest farmers market on Friday, October 28, 2011,from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at 5601 West Loop South. These two new markets join the Saturday morning market at Eastside, the Sunday mid-day market in Highland Village, and Wednesdays at Houston’s City Hall.More at www.urbanharvest.org.
2. Early Registration for Run in the Park ends Nov. 3. Online registration for Hermann Park Conservancy’s Run in the Park, scheduled Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, ends a midnight on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Run in the Park will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated trail and will support the ongoing revitalization of Hermann Park. The Run includes a 5 Mile Run, 2 Mile Family Walk, 1K Kids’ Run, and post-race party. The weather prediction couldn’t be better. It will be a gorgeous day to see Mayor Parker dedicate the trail, run or walk along the picturesque route, and enjoy the post-race party with your neighbors and friends in the heart of Hermann Park. More at www.hermannpark.org.
3. Citizens Transportation Coalition at our Thanks-for-Giving party. Thursday, Nov 3, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach St., Houston, 77092. Space is limited to 50 guests and is running out. If you wish to attend you must reply to Zakcq Lockrem at zlockrem@ctchouston.org. Find out more at CTC’s Facebook page.
   
4. 8th Annual Water Symposium. The Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) proudly presents its 8th Annual Water Symposium, “Water Quality Stewardship: The Past, Present and Future State of our Water Quality”. Friday, November 4, 2011, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at the United Way of Greater Houston. Register today at http://www.bayoupreservation.org/2011_Symposium.
5. Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy: Sunday Music in the Park. Free admission Free refreshments Westbury High School Jazz Band will play. The event honors Dr. Terry Grier, HISD Superintendent, and his role in choosing to purchase land to expand the H.S. Sunday, November 6, 2011, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the South Gazebo at Willow Waterhole Parking at Dryad behind Westbury HS Rain out at Westbury H.S. Bring your chair or blanket More at www.wwgc.org.
6. Environmental Recycling Roundtable. Have you ever wondered how a single-stream recycling facility really works? Then join H-GAC at the upcoming Regional Recycling Roundtable for a tour of Waste Management’s newest facility in Houston. Competitors will not be allowed to attend this event. In order to safely tour the facility, attendees must wear flat, close-toed shoes. Please RSVP by November 7, 2011 to Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525 or erin.livingston@h-gac.com.
7. Drought in Memorial Park. In the last month, anyone driving through the park or on Interstate 10 has noticed the sea of brown that has filled our forest. Houston Parks and Recreation has received $4.5 million from the City of Houston to hire a contractor to remove the dead trees and undergrowth. Crews are working to water the existing trees around Seymour Lieberman and in the gardens in the park. The Conservancy is currently working on a forestry plan that will address the loss of trees in the park. More at www.memorialparkconservancy.org.
8. GCBO Announces Land Acquisition Challenge Grant. The Malcolm C. Damuth Foundation has offered the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory a $60,000 Challenge Grant! The grant will be paid over two years at the rate of $30,000 a year beginning in December of 2011. In order to receive this generous donation, GCBO is required to raise matching funds of $15,000 a year for two years. Thanks to this Foundation challenge GCBO has an amazing opportunity to increase the value and earnings potential of its Endowment so that it can continue to protect vital migration stopover habitat around the Gulf. GCBO has until November 30th to meet its goal of $15,000. Read more and to make a donation on the GCBO website.
9. Film: EcoArk. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston requests the honor of your presence at the Houston Premiere of the internationally acclaimed film:EcoArk. Monday, November 7th 2011 at 6:00 pm at the Houston Arboretum. EcoArk is a “first of its kind” mobile structure designed to get people around the world to think outside the box, or more correctly, outside the plastic bottle. EcoArk was constructed using 1,500,000 recycled bottles. The revolutionary building material is only part of the story of what is happening in Taiwan. http://houstonarboretum.org/
10. Sundance Theatre Pre-Opening to Benfit Galveston Bay Foundation. Join GBF at an exciting pre-opening event on Tuesday, November 22 at Sundance Cinemas Houston@ Bayou Place, 510 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 77002 for a 5:30 PM reception and an 8 PM movie you can chose that evening from a broad range of currently running releases. $25 cover includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, signature cocktails, and the movie. Purchase your tickets at www.galvbay.org, or call Sharon Roark at (281) 332-3381 x204 for more information. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Redford Center’s upcoming water documentary, The River Red. The Galveston Bay Foundation is honored to be chosen by Sundance Cinemas to present, in partnership with the Redford Center, an evening that will focus on Celebrating WATER, Our Most Precious Natural Resource. James Redford, the film’s producer, will speak at the reception, along with Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski.
11. SCAs Houston Conservation Collaborative Internship Program. The Student Conservation Association is looking for environmental organizations in need of Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 interns! SCAs Houston Conservation Collaborative internship program partners with local organizations to provide full and/or part-time, paid conservation internships in the Houston area. SCA interns work on projects that range from trail construction and wildlife management to environmental education and marketing. For more information, email Christine Mansfield at houstonintern2@thesca.org or call 713-520-1835.