Community Notes 11-05-2012

1. Request for Pipeline Easement – Brazoria County: Two Hydrocarbon Pipelines at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area. In a meeting on November 8th, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will consider the granting of an easement to Enterprise Crude Pipeline Company LLC for installation of two (2) hydrocarbon pipelines of 30” and 36” diameter to be directional drilled under a portion of the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Brazoria County. At this meeting, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed transaction before the Commission takes action. The meeting will start at 9am at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. Prior to the meeting, public comment may be submitted to Ted Hollingsworth, Land Conservation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 or by email at ted.hollingsworth@tpwd.state.tx.us or through the TPWD web site at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
2. Input for Brazos River Recreation Master Plan. Fort Bend Green, along with public and private partners on an initial steering committee, is developing a Recreation Master Plan for the Brazos River Corridor. The Committee is seeking broad community input into a plan for the river. A short on-line survey has been created to collect the wishes of County residents and folks from outside the county that might enjoy using the Brazos River for recreation, or that have feelings about conserving this special river resource. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Brazos_River_Recreation_Plan. The survey should only take 15 minutes to complete.
3. 2012 Beaming Bioneers Conference. Join Houston Bioneers for a two-day forum exploring the practical solutions and innovative social strategies that are revitalizing our community. Be inspired by local leaders sharing serious concerns and exciting solutions, including Dan Phillips of Phoenix Commotion on sustainability in the 21st century, Rick Bost of Georgia’s Market on healthy food for everyone, Linda Geffin on human trafficking in Houston, Jane Weiner of Hope Stone on unlocking creativity in kids, and Crystal Montanez on empowering women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. KPFT’s own Leo Gold will moderate a panel on Houston’s future in renewable energy. Connect with other on-the-ground innovators, change agents, and thought leaders from business, education, government, and the community. Houston Bioneers will take place November 9th-10th at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church (1900 Bering Drive). Learn more and register at http://www.beamingbioneershouston.org/.
4. UH Megatrend Future Day. November 9th is UH Megatrend Future Day, presented by UH (main campus) in partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation, a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to drive social change. One of the Foundation’s major projects has been to examine and provide an overview of the current state and potential future interactions of six “Megatrends” that will shape our future. The outcome of this project has been published this year in a book titled Megatrends in Global Interaction. The six Megatrends are: 1. Demographics and Migration 2. Global Security 3. Biodiversity and Climate Change 4.Energy and Natural Resources 5.Economic Globalization 6. Global Governance. The UH Future Day itinerary includes a Megatrends report overview by Jonathan Stevens-Garcia, followed by panel discussions about the interaction of the Megatrends with an emphasis on what the future energy might look like. The event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (7:30–8:30 a.m. breakfast and registration) includes lunch, and will be held in the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom, UH Hilton. There is no charge to attend but registration is required online at: http://www.egr.uh.edu/.
5. Great Galveston Tree Giveaway. Two thousand shade trees will be given away to Galveston Island residents on Saturday, November 10th from 8 AM until noon behind City Hall. The event, best known as the “Great Galveston Tree Giveaway” is organized by the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy as part of its program to replant 40,000 destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Most of the species being offered are from the Texas A&M Forest Service’s recommended list for Galveston Island. They include Overcup Oak, Bur Oak, Bald Cypress, American Sycamore, Cedar Elm, Sweet Bay Magnolia, Yaupon, Wax Myrtle, Blackgum, and Sweetgum. Live Oak Trees, the number-one survivor of Ike’s poisonous storm surge, will also be available. Quantities are limited, however, and will be made available on a first-come-first-served basis. The event will be held in the parking lot behind City Hall at 26th and Ball. To qualify, residents should bring a utility or water bill to identify the island address where the trees will be planted. More at http://www.guidrynews.com/.
6. Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding Event. The Johnson Space Center Contractors Environmental Partnership will host an electronic recycling and document shredding event on November 10th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Space Center Houston parking lot. This event is open and free to the public and allows anyone in the community to dispose of all electronics in an environmentally friendly manner. There is no limit to the amount of items people can bring. Examples of accepted material, both working and non-working, include: Personal computers (includes desktop, PCs, laptops and workstations), Monitors and flat panel displays, Printers (ink and laser), All-in-Ones and scanners, Digital cameras, Handheld computers and portable music devices, Cords, and Digital entertainment and telecommunications equipment (VCRs and cell phones). More http://www.guidrynews.com/.
7. Sugar Land’s Revised Drought Plan. The City of Sugar Land has implemented new neighborhood irrigation schedules as part of its recently revised drought plan. The plan simplifies drought plan implementation to achieve water use reductions during drought or emergency conditions. Water management strategies in the plan address water supply and production capacity increases from the City’s new surface water treatment plant as well as regulatory mandates that restrict groundwater pumping. More at http://www.guidrynews.com/.
8. Webinar – The Path to Healthier, Happier, Smarter Kids: The Schoolyard Classroom. Texas Children in Nature is partnering with REAL Schools Gardens in Dallas/Ft. Worth and National Wildlife Federation to host a state-wide webinar on December 6th for Texas educators. The webinar, The Path to Healthier, Happier, Smarter Kids: The Schoolyard Classroom, will include the research supporting outdoor education, the importance of a team approach, outdoor classroom possibilities, instruction, professional development considerations and the components for long term success. Featured speakers include Irene Pickhardt of Texas Education Agency, Lisa Webber of STEMscopes at Rice University as well as educators from successful ISD programs across the state. The webinar is on December 6th, 4:00 p.m – 5:15 p.m. Central. Free! RSVP. More at http://txcinc.wordpress.com/.
9. Project Orange Thumb. The Fiskars Corporation, a global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden, and outdoors, has announced the opening of the application process for 2013 Project Orange Thumb garden grants and makeovers in the United States and Canada. The program is open to 501(c)(3) organizations in the United States and registered charities in Canada. Deadline: December 15, 2012. More at http://www2.fiskars.com/.
10. 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:
    • Final Port of Call – The Queens
    • Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bats
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Wexford Ranches
    • Tracing a Texas River
11. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • November 6: Green–Good. Moderate winds, cool morning temperatures, and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • November 7: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough in the Houston area for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels in central, northern, and northwestern portions of the area with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
    • November 8: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.