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December 10, 2012

Community Notes 12-10-2012

  1. Holiday Trees: Artistically Upcycled. Holiday trees decorated by local artists using recycled items will be on display during business hours until  December 28, 2012, at the City of Houston’s offices at 611. Free and open to the public. More at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/.
  2. Whooper Help. Citizens can help the whoopers by reporting sightings and by preventing disturbance of cranes when they remain overnight at roosting and feeding locations. Sightings can be reported to whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999). Observers are asked to note whether the cranes have colored leg bands. Volunteers interested in attending training sessions to become “Whooper Watchers” and helping to collect more detailed data should contact TPWD at whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999). More info at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/whoopingcranes.
  3. Film Screening: Eating Alabama. In search of a simpler life, a young couple returns home to Alabama where they set out to eat the way their grandparents did – locally and seasonally. But as they navigate the agro-industrial gastronomical complex, they soon realize that nearly everything about the food system has changed since farmers once populated their family histories. The film will be shown at 14 Pews (800 Aurora St) on December 14, 2012, from 7-9 pm. A panel discussion will follow. Beverages from St. Arnolds and snacks from Whole Foods will be provided. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased at http://14pews.org/.
  4. Sugar Land Community Meeting: City Park. On Dec. 13, 2012, at 6:00 pm, come discuss proposals for a citywide park located on 63 acres south of U.S. Highway 90A and west of State Highway 6 near Easton Avenue and Chatham Avenue. The meeting will be held at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North. The City is creating the concept plan for the community park in Telfair. The parkland also includes a two-acre historic cemetery. The project proposal includes passive and active elements such as cricket, lacrosse, tennis, adult soccer, water features, playgrounds and more. The information meeting on Dec. 13 builds on a public feedback period that resulted in suggestions from more than 1,200 people. More at http://guidrynews.com/.
  5. Master Naturalist Program. Twelve chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program, including three in the region, are conducting 2013 winter/spring training classes for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management. Training topics include interpretation and management of natural resources, ecological concepts, eco-regions in Texas and natural systems management. Volunteers are expected to give 40 hours of service a year in community education, demonstration and habitat enhancement projects. Local chapters with sessions this spring include the Galveston Bay Area, Houston, and The Woodlands chapters. Learn more at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
  6. The Outdoor Experience. Volunteers are needed for The Outdoor Experience. Sessions take place each day, May 6-10. The Outdoor Experience was created as a Community Outreach Annual Event for the youth in our area to get them “outdoors”. The education activities and hands on learning to provide the students a fun filled day that not only teaches them about “their outdoors” but also provides an opportunity to spark a personal interest in the environment. All conservation areas are covered from water, energy, animal, and environment, along with personal awareness, safety, citizenship and self confidence. Experts in the field are currently needed as well as volunteers to help out in a session. Contact: Dionicio (Dio) Gonzalez, Scout Reach Coordinator, (409) 392-3085 with any questions or to confirm attendance for the 2013 Outdoor Experience.
  7. Whooper Help. Citizens can help the whoopers by reporting sightings and by preventing disturbance of cranes when they remain overnight at roosting and feeding locations. Sightings can be reported to whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999). Observers are asked to note whether the cranes have colored leg bands. Volunteers interested in attending training sessions to become “Whooper Watchers” and helping to collect more detailed data should contact TPWD at whoopingcranes@tpwd.state.tx.us or 512-389-TXWW (8999).
  8. America’s Great Outdoors: Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation , in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation, has announced a Request for Proposals for America’s Great Outdoors: Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists, an initiative to connect youth to the outdoors by providing financial support for conservation job-training programs. The initiative brings together public and private partners to support organizations that are developing conservation job opportunities on public lands which expose young people, particularly urban and minority youth, to the natural world and career opportunities available in conservation. Proposals are due January 21, 2013. More at http://www.nfwf.org/.
  9. Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Project Funding. The NOAA’s Restoration Center is currently soliciting applications for restoration projects that use a habitat-based approach to foster species recovery and increase fish production. The funding opportunity will focus on projects that will aid in recovering listed species and rebuilding sustainable fish populations or their prey. These projects should recover or sustain threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act and their prey or fish stocks managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and their prey. Applications are due by February 19, 2012. More at http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/.
  10. Save the Date: 2013 Tree Planting Competition. The 2013 Tree Planting Competition will be held on February 9th, 2013. The planting competition once again will be held in partnership with Harris County Flood Control District, and will take place at the 11,500 blk of Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77067. As in years past there will be Professional, Amateur and Youth Divisions, and HCFCD will till the site beforehand. Register for the event by downloading the form at http://cechouston.org/.
  11. 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:
    • Garden of the Gulf
    • Parks & Wildlife People: Chris Holmes
    • Abilene State Park
    • Fishing With Your Piers
  12. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • December 11: Green–Good.  Moderate winds, cold temperatures, and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • December 12: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough for PM2.5 to reach “Moderate” levels in the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the morning and evening.
    • December 13: Green–Good. Moderate winds, cold temperatures, and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.