Community Notes 02-25-2013

1. Refundable Deposits Bill – Filed! The Refundable Deposits Bill has now been filed in Austin. Texans are now one step closer to cleaner waters, parks, highways and public lands! Senator Rodney Ellis filed SB 645 and Representative Eddie Rodriguez filed HB 1473 – both bills “relating to water quality improvement and pollution reduction through beverage container recycling incentives.” Now Texas Bottle Bill is asking the public to show their support for these bills by contacting local legislators and asking them to join on as a co-sponsor of SB 645 and HB 1473 to support refundable deposits for beverage containers. Learn more at http://texasbottlebill.com/.
2. Mayors Challenge: One Bin for All. Houston now has the opportunity to win $50,000 in the Mayors Challenge Fan Favorite. This could mean a significant change in the way the city handles trash. What if everything you put in a waste bin could be recycled? What if “trash” became extinct? And what if you no longer had to sort your plastic cups from your glass jar from your banana peel? One Bin for All is a revolutionary idea for residents to discard all materials in one bin, treating “trash” as valuable assets, dramatically increasing recycling using game changing technologies. Houston is one of the 20 national finalists chosen by Bloomberg Philanthropies to receive a generous grant to help implement One Bin for All. You can help the City of Houston’s idea become a reality! Vote now for One Bin for All in the fan favorite contest at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/. Vote today and then tell your friends, family and colleagues to vote until the contest ends on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.
3. ReLEAF – Reserve Your FREE Texas Native Tree. Keep Montgomery County Beautiful is supporting the Texas A&M Forest Service and Anheuser-Busch in a program to restore native trees and forests while beautifying areas of south east Texas impacted by last year’s drought and destructive fires. Initially the program will focus on selected areas of Grimes, Montgomery and Waller counties affected by the recent fires. Visit http://www.kmcbtexas.org/releaf to learn more and reserve your tree.
4. Green Chamber Business After Hours. Join the Houston Green Chamber of Commerce’s February Business After Hours to celebrate: For the LOVE of FOOD. Offering healthy food and beverage choices in the workplace can make a huge impact on the health, productivity and overall well-being of employees. Get a first-hand hand tasting as local local chefs, caterers, and others provide a sampling of some wonderful options that encourage healthier choices whether it be for power meetings, company events or both onsite and offsite snacking. Plus, engage in real-time collaboration and pay-it-forward networking with Houston sustainable business leaders. This event will take place on February 26th, 5:30-8pm, at Haven’s Restaurant. $10 for Members; $15 for non-members. More at http://febbizafterhrs.eventbrite.com/#
5. Alliance for Clean Texas (ACT) Lobby Day. With the 83rd Texas Legislative Session underway, people are signing up for the Alliance for Clean Texas (ACT) Lobby Day. ACT Lobby Day is Wednesday, March 20th at the Capitol. Join environmental, consumer, and public health activists from around the state for a day of united legislative action in 83rd Legislative Session. On Lobby Day, everyone work together to make Texas legislators aware of the important environmental issues facing our state and the legislation that addresses these problems. It is a day of advocacy, a day of community, and a day of action. Learn more and register at http://www.acttexas.org/.
6. VegOut Houston! For the entire month of March 2013, Recipe for Success Foundation (RFS) invites every Houstonian to take part in the citywide challenge to VegOut! Armed with the support of the Mayor and her Healthy Houston Task Force, VegOut! is an official GoHealthyHouston initiative that serves as a call to action for all of us to step up to the plate – and pile it with veggies! Anyone can visit the site to register, take the pledge and prepare to get started. Participants who complete the VegOut! 30 Ways in 30 Days Challenge by eating 30 different vegetables within 30 days by April 15 are automatically entered into a drawing for fabulous prizes that range from Dinner for Two at one of Houston’s finest restaurants to a year of fresh produce delivered to your door. http://www.vegoutwithrfs.org/
7. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to Meet on Red Snapper Issue. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will hold a special meeting in Austin on Feb. 26 to discuss recent events and options involving the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
8. White House to Host 100 Community Revitalization Events. The Obama Administration has announced a “Connecting Your Community” initiative that will convene revitalization workshops in 100 cities across America. The events will gather government, private sector, non-profit, and neighborhood leaders to focus attention on specific community priorities. The goals of these events are to build partnerships and identify resources and other assistance that can help communities overcome their revitalization challenges. Submit your letter of interest no later than February 27, 2013 to andrew.seth@strategiesdc.com.
9. Lawrence Foundation Accepting Proposals for Environmental, Education, Human Services Projects. The Lawrence Foundation awards grants in support of the environment, education, human services, disaster relief, and other causes. The foundation awards both program and operating grants with no geographic restrictions to nonprofit organizations that qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as public schools and libraries. For more information, visit http://foundationcenter.org/.
10. Proposals for Conservation and Community Partnerships Program. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is accepting proposals for the 2013 SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships program, which aims to foster partnerships between organizations working to improve forest management in the United States and Canada and responsible procurement globally. The program addresses such topics as improving wildlife habitat management and biodiversity conservation, avoiding controversial sources of fiber such as those resulting from illegal logging, and assisting local communities through forest education programs and green-building projects for low-income families. Qualified organizations may apply for conversation grants or community grants. Conservation grants of up to $5,000. The deadline is March 18th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/.
11. U.S. in Waste & Recycling News’ 2nd Annual Mascot Madness Competition. The Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) mascots are competing against 16 other mascots across the U.S. in Waste & Recycling News’ 2nd Annual Mascot Madness Competition for title of “Best Mascot in the Waste and Recycling Industry”. Houston’s mascots are ReUseIt/Capt. Cleanup. These two mascots, who promote recycling and fight litter, are superheroes for the environment. Check out all of the mascots at http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/ and vote for your favorite! Vote now and vote often!
12. 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:
    • Office in the Ocean
    • Tommy Martin, Fishing Hall of Famer
    • Resaca de le Palma State Park
    • Texas Jellies
13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • February 26: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • February 27: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • February 28: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.