Coalition Notes 03-11-2013

1.  Buffalo Bayou Partnership at the OKRA Charity Saloon. BBP been chosen as 1 of 4 charities that you can support in March by voting at the OKRA Charity Saloon. All of the proceeds for March will be donated to the charity that receives the most votes this month. Learn more at http://www.friedokra.org/charity-bar.html.
2. Mixers on the Map. Step into Spring with culturemap Mixers on the Map on March 12, 2013, 6-9pm, at The Grove (1611 Lamar St). Sip a cocktail, mingle with your peers, and support the causes of local organizations. The organizations that will be featured at this next event include Bayou HEROns, Houston Zoo’s Flock, Urban Green, and RedBuds. Please RSVP to rsvp@culturemap.com. http://cechouston.org/
3. Birdathon Brouhaha: Celebrate the Kickoff! Join Houston Audubon at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary from 4-6pm on March 16, 2013, for the free kickoff party for this year’s Birdathon. See the sanctuary, enjoy local brews, eye up the competition, and promote conservation. For more information, visit http://birdathon.houstonaudubon.org/. Birdathon 2013 runs from March 1st to May 23rd.
4. 2013 Buffalo Bayou Regatta. 40 YEARS OF RACING ON HOUSTON’S BUFFALO BAYOU! Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race: The Buffalo Bayou Regatta. Houstonians (ages 12 and up) are encouraged to participate in the 15-mile USCA-sanctioned race along the scenic Buffalo Bayou. You can enter the competition or paddle for pleasure! The 2013 Buffalo Bayou Regatta will take place on March 16, 2013, 7:30am-3pm at 7700 San Felipe Street. Entry fee per person is $45; $25 per person with student or military i.d. Cheering is free–and fun. More at http://www.buffalobayou.org/regattabayou.html.
5. Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. Mayor Annise Parker and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis will ride along with participants in the 2013 Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. March 17, 2013. The bike ride benefits the city’s reforestation efforts, which are managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). For more details on the bike ride, including registration and packet pick-up locations, visit http://www.tourdehouston.org/. For more information about HPARD, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/.
6. Public Comment – Transportation Improvement Program Projects. The region’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) is soliciting public comment on candidate 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects. Approximately $600 million of funding requests remain eligible for consideration from applications submitted last summer by local governments, METRO, TxDOT and other regional partners. A list of candidate projects is available on the H-GAC website at http://www.h-gac.com/taq/tip. Projects range from pedestrian and bicycle projects in Houston’s uptown area and over a dozen other locations, road striping, highway improvements, land acquisition, bus service, park and ride facilities, and planning projects. Two public comment meetings will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at noon and at 6:00 pm at H-GAC offices. Comments are due by April 6, 2013, and may be to publiccomments@h-gac.com. Following the public comment period, a program of projects will be submitted to the TPC for its consideration at its April 26 meeting.
7. Going Green Sustainability Lecture: Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your House. Going Green Sustainability Lecture Presented by The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. on March 19, 2013, 7-8pm, at the South Regional County Library. The speaker, Ronald Keichline, Global Sustainability Coordinator, will be presenting “Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Your House.” Much of the attention for “green” homes is focused on new construction – from innovative building materials and advanced architectural designs to high-tech gad­gets and next-generation Energy Star appliances, these shiny new homes get all the attention. But what about the rest of us, living in homes that were built long before these practices became more common? What can we do to improve them? There is hope! Studies suggest that improving energy effi­ciency of existing buildings can have a better overall life cycle impact than starting over. And it’s much less expensive! But there are also challenges and trade-offs to be considered. More at http://www.thewoodlandsgreen.org/. This is a free event.
8. 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, March 20, 2013, at the Capitol. CEC member organizations that participate in ACT include Air Alliance Houston, Environment Texas, Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club–Lonestar Chapter, Texas Campaign for the Environment, and The Nature Conservancy. Learn more and register at http://www.acttexas.org/.
9. Texas Stream Team Certified Water Monitoring Training. Come to the first training session of the year and become a Texas Stream Team Certified member of Galveston Bay Foundation’s Volunteer Water Monitoring Team. At this training session, participants will learn about the history and importance of citizen monitoring and complete the first two of three phases of the certification. All three phases are very hands-on. Phase I is held in a classroom group setting, Phase II provides the group an opportunity to conduct the monitoring procedures in the field, and Phase III is conducted as a one-on-one session with the trainer and volunteer at the volunteer’s monitoring site. This training will take place at the Starfleet Marina in Kemah, TX on March 22, 2013, from 9am-4pm. The training is FREE! You must register by March 19th; space is limited. To register or for more information contact the Water Quality Team at waterquality@galvbay.org or (281) 332-3381 Ext. 215.
10. March Mart. March Mart is brought to you by volunteers at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens and The Mercer Society; this is the place to find all your year-round garden plants. Visit Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens on March 22, 2013, 8am-4pm for this sale! Special treats also entice the discerning plant collector! Whether you are new to gardening, new to the Houston area, or very experienced there is a new treasure awaiting the perfect spot in your heart and garden. Knowledgeable volunteers will inspire you with their amazing plant options. The Members Only Plant Sale is Thursday, March 21; please call 281-443-8731 for details. http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/
11. Fresh Air Friday. H-GAC is helping commuters get more out of their day at Fresh Air Friday, an annual event that explores the variety of commute alternatives available to help save time and money. H-GAC and other local organizations will share tips on commute alternatives, showcase hybrid vehicles and share information on how to improve air quality. Local food vendors will provide free food and drinks to attendees throughout the Plaza. Fresh Air Friday will also feature giveaways throughout the afternoon and the official healthcare sponsor, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, will provide free health screenings for attendees. Come to Jones Plaza on March 22, 2013, 11am-1pm for Fresh Air Friday! http://cechouston.org/
12. River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. Once a year thousands of volunteers gather along the Texas waterways to do their part in cleaning up the environment and participate in the largest statewide event to educate the public about the importance of our water resources. Trash Bash occurs rain or shine, on March 23, 2013, at various locations around the state. Trash Bash is a half day event and begins between 8:00/8:30 am in the morning and ends at 1:30 in the afternoon. Pick a cleanup site near you. To learn more and to register, visit http://www.trashbash.org/index.htm.
13. Earth Day GreenUp. Earth Day 2013 marks the third annual community-wide stewardship project for The Woodlands Township. Connect with neighbors and the outdoors by joining or leading a cleanup crew bagging trash from streets, pathways and streams. You gather your friends, and they provide the bags! Earth Day GreenUp will take place on March 23, 2013 from 8am-2pm in The Woodlands. More at http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ and http://www.thewoodlandsgreen.org/.
14. 9th Annual Wildlife Center of Texas Golf Tournament. Join the Wildlife Center of Texas for the 9th Annual Wildlife Center of Texas Golf Tournament at the Wildcat Golf Club on March 20, 2013 and help save the lives of injured, ill or orphaned native wildlife! More at http://www.wildlifecenteroftexas.org/.
15. Birdies for the Birds – GCBO Golf Tournament. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will hold a golf tournament “Birdies for the Birds” on Friday, March 22, 2013, at the Wilderness Golf Course in Lake Jackson. Individuals and teams encouraged. For details, go to website www.gcbo.org.
16. Public Comment – Transportation Improvement Program Projects. A motion was passed by the region’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) to solicit public comment on candidate 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects. Approximately $600 million of funding requests remain eligible for consideration from applications submitted last summer by local governments, METRO, TxDOT and other regional partners. A list of candidate projects is available on the H-GAC website at http://www.h-gac.com/taq/tip. Comments are due by April 6, 2013. Following the public comment period, a program of projects will be submitted to the TPC for its consideration at its April 26 meeting.