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July 13, 2017

Houston Environmental News Update July 12, 2017

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter, which includes a green job listing.

Are you ever curious about what the environmental community was thinking about and working on decades ago? If so, we have a little throwback Thursday for you: a CEC newsletter from thirty years ago. This newsletter from 1987 included articles about the following items, which still have relevance today:

  • The proposed Wallisville Reservoir Project (the dam was not built as proposed, and the site now has park facilities and great birding)
  • An expansion of retail recycling (expanded recycling is still desirable; the City of Houston will likely consider a new, 15-year recycling contract next week)
  • The Houston Sign Ordinance (in litigation at the time, and not for the last time), and
  • The Texas Rivers Conservation Act (proposed in the 70th Regular Texas Legislative Session, but “died for lack of action as the session ended”)

Why bring this up now? Because CEC is about to celebrate 46 years since its incorporation! Read on to learn more about upcoming events, including our annual birthday party!

CEC NOTES

Registration is now open! Greater Houston Environmental Summit & Environmental Education Expo
Annually, CEC hosts a networking and learning event for the extraordinary people who work at or are interested in the work of environmental organizations in the greater Houston region. In 2017, CEC will be hosting the Greater Houston Environmental Summit on Friday, August 4, 2017, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the Community Resource Center at the United Way of Greater Houston. In addition to excellent keynote presentations and panels, we will again offer small-format table talks. We will feature a panel–on the hot topic of Climate Change–in conjunction with EarthShare of Texas, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. We are partnering with a variety of environmental education collaboratives to offer an Environmental Education Expo for teachers and informal educators. Learn more and register at greaterhoustonenvironmentalsummit2018.eventbrite.com.

Earth Day Houston 2018
Thank you to everyone who joined us to discuss Earth Day Houston 2018. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Community Resource Center of the United Way of Greater Houston. Among other things, we will be discussing how to limit waste generation at the event and how to encourage action. To learn more or be added to the mailing list, please contact rachel@cechouston.org.

LoadingHouston Green Film Series: Racing to Zero
The Houston Green Film Series was launched in 2010 to bring awareness to the environmental crisis through the visual arts by presenting films with an environmental focus to the Houston community. On Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Rice Media Center, we will screen the film “Racing to Zero: In pursuit of zero waste.” The film examines our society’s garbage practices in terms of consumption, preparation, use and production, and discovers some amazing solutions is cities all over the United States. Panelists after the film include Sarah Mason, from the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department and a former CEC board member, and Rosanne Barone, the new program director for the Texas Campaign for the Environment’s Houston office. Conversation, networking, and a light meal at 6:30; screening at 7:00 pm. Donations gratefully accepted.  Learn more on the HGFS Facebook page.

CEC 46th Birthday Party & Film Selection Committee

Join CEC at its office on Thursday, July 20, 2017, starting at 5 PM to celebrate 46 years since our incorporation. We’ll have great friends, cake, popcorn, beverages, and films! This event is doing double duty, as we will also be viewing some of the films we will be selecting for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour (which we bill hosting in January 2018). Please RSVP to cesar@cechouston.org, or on facebook. We’ll be having additional viewing parties on July 28 and August 4, 6, and 18.

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Related imagePlant Propagation Committee at Memorial Park Greenhouse
    Anyone interested in native plants is invited to join Gulf Coast Master Naturalists on the propagation workdays on second and fourth Thursdays of the month from 9:00 AM to noon. This month, you can join in on the planting on Thursday, July 13 and July 27, 2017. Please note this is the new site in Memorial Park. The Greenhouse is on the south side of Memorial Drive between the traffic light at E. Memorial Loop Drive and Crestwood Dr. There is a bus stop at the driveway to the greenhouse. After driving inside the fence, park in front of the first building on the right side. RSVP to Lan Shen at Lan.Shen@TXgcmn.org 713-771-1415 or Celeste Mead at Celeste.Mead@txgcmn.org 832-680-7263 or just come on out.
  2. Related imageHouston Sierra Club: General Monthly Meeting
    The Houston Sierra Club is proud to host their general monthly meeting with great guest lecturers. The mission of Texas Health and Environment Alliance (THEA) is to protect water resources, public health, and Galveston Bay’s precious estuary from the harmful effects of toxic waste. They endeavor is to establish an informed and engaged public movement to restore and protect the lower portion of the San Jacinto River watershed and Galveston Bay from toxic pollution. They envision a watershed with pristine water, a healthy fishery, and surrounding communities free from toxic contamination. Join Jackie Young and THEA on Thursday, July 13, 2017, from 7:30 to 10:30 PM at St. Stephen’s Pecore Hall on 1805 W. Alabama for their monthly meeting to join in on the discussion for preserving our waterways. RSVP or get more information on the Houston Sierra Club on their Meetup page.
  3. Camp Zoofari For Adults: All About Rhinos
    Are you jealous of all the fun kids get to have at camp? Well now it’s your turn to join in the fun- if you’ve ever wondered what a rhino’s horn is really made of or have always wanted to spend some time with Mumbles and the rest of the crash that call the Houston Zoo home, this is the event for you. Join the Houston Zoo to learn some wild fun facts, take part in enriching their day, and meet a keeper that has the joy of working with these larger than life animals. On Friday, July 14, 2017, from 9:00 AM to noon, come out and see the rhinos for a wild morning! Register for your spot at www.houstonzoo.org.
  4. Beach Clean-Up

    The Houston Zoo and Whole Foods Market are hosting a beach clean-up in Galveston on July 15, and they want your help! Plastic and trash on any coastline makes its way to the ocean where it’s harmful to marine life because they can ingest it or become entangled in it. Be part of the solution and remove trash from Galveston Island. Email lstpierre@houstonzoo.org to get all the details on where to meet and what to bring. To learn more about plastic pollution and how you can help keep trash out of our oceans, visit the Take Action page. Learn more about the event at houstonzoo.org.

  5. Image result for armand bayou nature centerA Free Day in Nature at Armand Bayou Nature Center 
    On Sunday, July 16, 2017, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, enjoy a free visit to the Armand Bayou Nature Center. Dress for the weather, hike the trails with or without guides, visit the 1895 farmhouse and view the prairie, forest and marshes. We have reptiles on display in the interpretive building. For further information, call 281-474-2551 ext. 10 or visit www.abnc.org. If you can’t make it out this Sunday, the nature center is free on the first and third Sundays of each month, so make the most of your summer and get outdoors.
  6. Sketch City Water Quality Hack Night
    On Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at 6:00 pm, hear from Sachin Shah of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) about his Gulf Coast hydrologic research on flooding and water pollution. Sketch City is a community group that focuses on civic tech, open data, and public-sector innovation. They host weekly hack nights and the annual City of Houston Hackathon. Learn more about this event–and their upcoming Air Quality Hack Night on Aug. 15, 2017–on the Sketch City meetup page.
  7. Brews for Big Bend
    Please join Big Bend Conservancy on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Saint Arnold Brewing Company for a celebration of Big Bend National Park. Your ticket includes appetizers and beer. Please feel free to share this event with friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you think would be interested in an evening celebrating one of our great parks! You can also post the image on your social media with the hashtag #brewsforbigbend. To get your tickets, please register here.
  8. Image result for hermann park conservancy logoOrientation for McGovern Centennial Gardens Volunteers Interested in joining the McGovern Centennial Gardens volunteer team? Anyone who loves to be outdoors and is interested in becoming a regular volunteer in McGovern Centennial Gardens should attend an upcoming orientation. Come out on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. from 9:30 to 10:30 AM to learn about volunteer opportunities and the history of Hermann Park Conservancy. Following the orientation, there will be a short tour of the Gardens. For more information and to sign up for orientation, click here. For more information, you can email Gabriel Durham at gdurham@hermannpark.org.
  9. Houston Community ToolBank Warehouse Tour 
    This organization should seem quite familiar now to those of you who have been on our newsletter for a while, since the Houston Community ToolBank offers a great service to organizations and individuals alike! Every third Thursday of the month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, they host an open warehouse tour. The ToolBank lends tools (hammers, shovels, saws, etc.) and items (tents, tables, chairs, safety gear, etc.) to nonprofits, community groups and corporate volunteers for charitable projects. Access to ToolBank tools eliminates the need for agencies and groups to incur the expense of purchasing, renting, repairing, insuring and storing tools, therefore reducing the costs associated with service projects and allowing these organizations to focus more of their resources on their mission. Volunteer to paint ToolBank tools blue and/or fill tool orders. The tour is free to all, so bring a friend and learn more about the ToolBank at www.houstontoolbank.org.
  10. Blanket Bingo with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
    This popular event is back at Market Square Park on 301 Milam St. Join BBP and the Downtown District for the first Blanket Bingo event of the year. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs or snag one of the tables at the park for a night of fun, music and great prizes! $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx. 9 games). Additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 each. Proceeds benefit BBP and Historic Market Square Park. Get there early on Thursday, July 20, 2017, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM before cards completely sell out! To see other events coming up in the summer or to learn more about BBP and Blanket Bingo, check out www.buffalobayou.org.
  11. On-Site Sewage Systems: Homeowner Education Course
    Repair and replacement of a failing on-site sewage system can cost homeowners thousands of dollars. A failing system can also pollute area waterways and increase the likelihood of waterborne illness for swimmers, boaters, and people using area waterways for recreation. But regular maintenance and inspection of a system can protect public and environmental health, increase system longevity, and protect private property use and value. The goal of this course is to reduce the number of failing on-site sewage systems in the Houston-Galveston region and improve overall water quality. During this free three-hour course, participants will receive:

    • An overview of the two types of systems.
    • Information on system maintenance and inspection.
    • Details on available resources to maintain, repair and replace aging systems.

    To request a copy of course materials, see additional resource materials, or for more information, please e-mail Will Merrell at will.merrell@h-gac.com. Visit their website and register here for this workshop on Friday, July 21, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

  12. Related imageHistoric Preservation Volunteer Opportunity
    Volunteers are needed at Memorial Park Conservancy to put up a fence around the WWI Camp Logan foundations on Friday, July 21, 2017, from 8:00 AM to noon. This is a rare opportunity to see these historic pieces. Volunteers should be comfortable carrying 30 lbs and able to work in the heat of summer, but will be in the shade for the entire project and will have water and gloves available. Please RSVP here or email volunteer@memorialparkconservancy.org.
  13. Urban Harvest’s Fall Vegetable Gardening 
    After the dog days of summer comes the perfect time to toss together iron rich salad greens, sauté veggie shish kabobs or simmer hardy vegetable soups that your whole family will enjoy. One advantage of living in Houston is how easy it is to grow vegetables in the fall and winter seasons. Think you have no space for a garden? Not to worry, as many of these vegetables can be grown in containers on a sunny patio. You will learn when and where to plant, soil preparation, seed germination and transplanting a long list of vegetables, including lettuce, endive, radicchio, cress, kale, chard, cabbage, collards, bok choy, mustard, and more. You can take advantage of this class hosted by Urban Harvest for just $30 on Saturday, July 22, 2017 from 9:30 AM to noon at Houston Museum of Natural Science inside the Moran Conference Hall. For more info, please visit their website at http://urbanharvest.org/classes-calendar.
  14. Image may contain: plant, flower, sky, nature and outdoorSummer Garden Club Fun at Mercer Botanic Gardens 
    On Saturday, July 22, 2017, from 10:00 AM to noon, join experienced artisans and professional gardeners who will lead these hands-on workshops at the Mercer Society on 22306 Aldine Westfield Rd. Enrollment fees cover all materials expenses- for nonmembers, it is $40 per class or $140 for a Four Workshop Special, and for members, it is $35 per class or $125 for Four. If you have any other questions you can contact the Mercer Society at 713-274-4166 or check the event page here.
  15. Join the Keep It Cool Campaign: Simple Action to Reduce Energy Waste
    Keep It Cool is a national campaign mobilizing consumers to help convince retailers to close their doors and stop wasting energy. All you have to do is spot front doors on shops, and use Facebook Messenger to drop a pin on a national map that tracks all of the stores identified with doors open or closed. Retailers that run the air conditioning during hot summer months and open their doors to attract customers drive up costs, waste energy and increase pollution. Just the simple act of closing doors can reduce pollution significantly. On average, each store with a door open wastes about 4,200 kWh of electricity over the summer. Generating this much electricity releases about 2.2 tons of carbon dioxide – the same amount of pollution emitted by a diesel semi-truck driving from New York to Miami. The success of Keep It Cool depends on you participating and sharing activities with your friends and social networks. Everyone who cares about the environment can join in the effort this summer to help make your community cleaner and smarter. To learn more visit keepitcool.org and join the conversation by following @Gen_180 and #KeepItCool. 
  16. EHSAC HomeSave the Date: South Central Regional IIA EHSAC Meeting
    Please save the date and plan on joining the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas, at the summer meeting of the South Central Regional IIA Environmental, Health and Safety Auditors (EHSAC). Connect with regulators, and colleagues in industry, consulting, and the legal community as we examine environmental and safety regulatory updates; discuss hot topics in environmental, health, and safety (EHS) compliance and auditing; consider best practices for government-industry relations in effective EHS compliance; review contemporary issues in EPA Region 6; and take a sneak peek at the Texas State Bar Association Environmental Section’s Environmental Superconference. Steven Gilrein, Deputy Director, Compliance Assurance and Enforcement, EPA Region 6 will speak on “Federal Enforcement: Transitioning to a More Collaborative State-industry Approach to Improve Compliance,” and, Tim Wilkins, Bracewell LLC, will host his ever popular “EHS Fireside Chat,” providing the latest EHS updates from a legal perspective. Their full agenda and registration link is coming soon, so please stay tuned.
  17. TCEQ 2018 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards – Applications 
    The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is now accepting applications for the 2018 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA), the highest environmental honor in the State of Texas. What’s new this year: The revised application makes it easier to apply, and the new application instructions provides writing ideas and helpful directions for completing the application. Visit TEEA’s new website at www.teea.org for more information. If selected as a winner, you’ll be the guest of honor at the May 16, 2018 banquet which will feature videos of each winner’s environmental achievements. See the winner videos for 2017. Applications will be accepted through September 29, 2017. Don’t wait or miss out on a chance to recognize some of the great work your organization and colleagues are doing for the environment! Send in your applications today.
  18. EarthShare of Texas 25th Anniversary Round Table Discussion Series
    Happy Anniversary to EarthShare of Texas!
    To celebrate 25 years, EST is hosting a Round-Table Discussion Series to introduce the public to all of the great work its members have accomplished.  From air quality to zebra populations, they have it covered. Learn more at earthshare-texas.org/events. Buying a ticket to the entire series will gain you entry into the following events:

    • Bats, Birds, and Barbecue- A dinner discussion of wildlife and habitat conservation with a viewing of  the awesome bat emergence at Bracken Bat Cave. July 29, 2017 – Bracken Cave, San Antonio.
    • On the Ground Floor of Ground Water: A breakfast discussion divining the future of our most precious resource.   July date tbd Redbud Center.
    • The Hot Topic of Climate Change- Greater Houston Environmental Summit Aug 4, 2017 – United Way of Greater Houston–In conjunction with the CEC!
    • This Land is your Land: Exploring the terrain of land conservation; Red Bud Center, October 17, 2017.
    • And the grand finale picnic with food, games music and more!  The whole family is welcome!
  19. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
    Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 p.m. each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.

    • Moving Bees: Moving day can be tough. Especially if your family numbers in the thousands. Watch a bee specialist relocate a hive of European honey bees, giving them a safe new home where they can keep on buzzing.
    • Razing Cane: Texas Rivers and stream are under attack. The invasive Giant Reed threatens pretty much every river system in the state, but biologists are fighting back. We focus on the pristine Pedernales River and see what it takes to knock back this towering cane invader.
    • Big Wind, Big Questions: Texas leads in the country in wind energy production, and with this new energy source there are new questions. What will wind farms do to the already fragmented habitat here in Texas, and how will they affect the birds that live and migrate through our state. We look at the Panhandle wind farms and their effects on the threatened lesser prairie chicken.
  20. Additional Upcoming Events

http://cechouston.org/category/green-jobs/ 

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