Community Notes 09-17-2012

1. National Plug In Day. Houston will be celebrating National Plug In Day on September 22nd at EVgo Freedom Station, Memorial City Mall (950 N Gessner Rd.) from 9am-noon. There will be invites to ride-and-drives at local dealers; a chance for folks to visit with companies selling EV’s or EV infrastructure; the City of Houston and what they are doing to promote EV’s; charging infrastructure spotlights, press conferences; community and business leader presentations; informational tables; and more. For more information, visit http://events.pluginday.org/.
2. Free rides on METRORail. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and KHOU 11, Houston’s CBS affiliate, have teamed up to offer four days of free rides on the Houston area’s METRORail. The effort hopes to encourage riders to take advantage of public transit as a fast, convenient and environmentally friendly transportation option. The free rides will take place on September 23rd, October 7, and October 28, from 5:30am to 11:40pm each day. Read more at http://www.khou.com/.
3. Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge. Discover hidden items while revealing exciting facts and stories about Texas State Parks! Geocaches are hidden in many state parks, historic sites, and natural areas. The Texas Geocache Challenge will begin on October 1st at 8am when the coordinates will be released. Learn more at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
4. Vote with Your Lips Campaign – Sea Turtle Restoration Project. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project has been nominated to participate in the “Vote With Your Lips” campaign by the Body Shop. The charitable organization that receives the most votes will receive the largest grant. Voting continues through October 28th. Visit http://action.seaturtles.org/ for more information.
5. Clean Air Grants. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today that applications are being accepted for Texas Emissions Reduction Incentive grants – to help reduce emissions by replacing older vehicles and equipment. The grants, offered under the agency’s Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, provide incentives to eligible individuals, businesses, and governments in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area; the Dallas-Fort Worth area; the Beaumont-Port Arthur area; the Tyler-Longview area; the Austin area; the San Antonio area; the Corpus Christi area; and the Victoria area. Applications will be accepted until November 30th, at 5pm. More at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/.
6. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
   • Fishing for Cats
   • Garner State Park
   • Lone Star Land Steward: North American Coal Corporation
   • The Desert Oasis
7. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
   • September 18: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds should be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
   • September 19: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the south and southwest side of the Houston.
   • September 20: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the west and northwest side of the Houston.