Community Notes 01-11-2012

1. Adopt-A-Beach Marine Debris Summit. The Adopt-A-Beach Marine Debris Summit brings together the best ideas on preventing litter from entering our coastal waterways. The conference takes place on January 13th from 10am-3:30pm at Moody Gardens Convention Center on Galveston Island. The conference is free and open to the public. More at http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/.
2. ROGC Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar: J. David Bamberger. J. David Bamberger is the founder of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, also known as “Selah,” a term form the Book of Psalms meaning “pause and reflect.” Selah is located in the Hill Country near Johnson City, Texas. In 1969 Mr. Bamberger bought what the locals called “the worst piece of real estate in Blanco County” – 5,500 acres of badly degraded ranch land. He has spent the last 42 years restoring the ranch to health and productivity. Selah is one of the largest private habitat restoration projects in the State of Texas. Over 88 species of grasses, most of them native, now thrive on the hillsides and valleys of Selah. Mr. Bamberger has demonstrated that restoration of a damaged environment is possible with commitment and patience. Thursday Jan 19, 2012 9:30 a.m. – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Brown Auditorium. More information on the River Oaks Garden Club website.
3. Progressive Forum: Upcoming Speakers. Progressive Forum will be presenting Alice Waters, Sir Ken Robinson, William McDonough, and Leonard Pitts in the next few months. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.progressiveforumhouston.org.
4. New Radio Show – Tickell Talks. A new radio show with documentary film producer and green tech consultant Josh Tickell will be airing on Sundays at 2pm CST by phone, Skype, and Google+Meetup. “Tickell Talks” is a 90 minute show that covers green topics. Over the course of a year, Tickell will interview a number of green energy experts in the fields of advanced fuels, solar energy, wind, new energy technologies, biotech, eco-agriculture and green chemistry as well as automotive experts, finance experts and the people who are building a new generation of green industrial processes for everything from making drinking spirits greener to greening our schools and hospitals. Listen live at http://www.joshtickell.com/tickell-talks.php.
   
5. Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who apply innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for exploratory and integrated learning. Applications must be submitted by January 31st. For more information on the award and how to apply, visit http://www.epa.gov/education/.
6. Texas Public Input Meeting – Deepwater Horizon Trustees. There is a Texas public input meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26 in Galveston. The meeting will take place in the Texas A&M University Ocean and Coastal Studies Building, 1001 Texas Clipper Road. The meeting will provide an opportunity for people to gain knowledge of the restoration process. The attendees are encouraged to comment on the Draft Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan. More at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/.
7. Opportunity to Advise Land Management Planning. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced an opportunity to serve on a newly-formed advisory committee that will guide better management of national forests and grasslands. The nomination period ends on February 21st. More information is available at http://content.govdelivery.com/.
   
8. Jones Forest Plants Prescribed Burn. Texas Forest Service soon will be conducting prescribed burning operations at the Jones State Forest in Conroe. Wildfires can destroy homes, natural resources and wildlife habitats. Controlled fire – also known as prescribed burning – reduces brush and debris in the forest, which in turn lessens the threat of wildfires and promotes healthier forests. Considered a standard forest management tool, the prescribed burning will take place as weather permits on about 400 acres of predominately pine forests. Operations could begin as early as Jan. 25, 2012, and run through Feb. 16, 2012. Agency firefighters will be staged at the forest as a precautionary measure. For more information, contact Urban District Forester John Warner or Resource Specialist and Burn Boss Raymond Uballe at 936-273-2261.
9. Correction: CompuCycle Electronics Recycling. Last week, the newsletter mentioned that the City of Houston opened a new CompuCycle. In fact, the City of Houston is partnering with an existing Compucycle to provide additional electronics recycling opportunities for residents. The center offers computer refurbishing, reusing, and recycling and is located at 7700 Kempwood Drive, in the Spring Branch area. Read more about the partnership at http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/press-20110926.html.
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. This week’s broadcast will include:

• The Real Bears of East Texas
• Kickapoo Cavern State Park
• TPWD People: Andee Chamberlain
• Lavaca Bay, the $130,000,000 Lesson