Coalition Notes 01-25-2012

1. Houston Environmental Education Summit. Environmental Educators Exchange, National Wildlife Federation, and Houston ISD are proud to co-host the 5th Annual Houston Environmental Education Summit at the University of Houston – Downtown on January 28, 2012. The summit will energize teachers, principals, community leaders, and environmental experts to use the outdoors as a living laboratory by offering engaging, hands-on workshops on everything from teaching students about our world-class birdlife to building a rainwater-harvesting barrel from a trashcan. Nationally known environmentalist Jarid Manos, director of the Great Plains Restoration Council and author of Ghetto Plainsman, will deliver a stirring keynote address at 8:45am that will address the benefits of nature for children, particularly at risk youth. Learn more about the summit at http://houstoneesummit.wordpress.com/.
2. Houston Green Film Series: Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yumi. This event is put together by the Rice University Environmental Club, Houston Tomorrow, Emerging Professionals of the Houston USGBC, Houston Green Scene, and Transition Houston. There will be a screening of the movie, Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yumi, on January 25th from 6:30-9pm at 2030 University Blvd Houston, TX 77030. The movie focuses on Pacific islanders, who face great challenges to their way of life, their culture and their traditional cultivation methodologies. They have fallen into the trap of replacing resilient locally-adapted food crop varieties with modern hybrids that require pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They replace innumerable varieties of root staples with imported low quality starch such as white rice, biscuits and noodles. These are all issues that are extremely relevant to Houston-area farmers and gardeners. Following the 57-minute film a panel moderated by Brittany Goldsmith of Seed Swap Houston will answer questions and discuss the film. For more information, visit http://www.transitionhouston.org/.
3. HANC Annual Arbor Day Celebration. Houston area families are invited to celebrate Arbor Day at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on January 28th from 10am-4pm. “Nature Awaits!” is the theme for this year’s celebration. There will be many events and hands-on activities for everyone in the family to see and do, including making recycled paper and designer paper hats, seeing Johnny Appleseed who will hand out acorns, and finding new plants in the native tree and shrub sale. More at http://houstonarboretum.org/arborday.asp.
4. Community Outreach Dune Restoration. Artist Boat is hosting three Community Outreach Dune Restoration Events around Galveston that will include a 3 hour planting activities and lessons about the importance of dunes for the island. The events take place on February 3rd, February 18th, and March 4th from 8am-noon. These events are opportunities for the community to engage as coastal stewards through planting a variety of native dune plants which include seaoats, bitter panicum, railroad vine, sea purslane, and marsh-hay cordgrass. To register, call Artist Boat at 409-770-0722 or email info@artistboat.org.
5. Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update Public Hearing. The Houston‐Galveston Area Council (H‐GAC) is seeking input on the draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update, which covers Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery, Walker and Waller counties and the majority of cities therein. There will be a public hearing on January 31st from 2-4pm at the Houston‐Galveston Area Council, located at 3555 Timmons Lane, Room A. Both oral and written comments are encouraged. Written comments will be accepted until 4pm on February 8th, and can be sent via email to amy.boyers@h‐gac.com, mailed to H‐GAC Attn: Amy Boyers, Sr. Environmental Planner, Houston‐Galveston Area Council, P. O. Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227, or hand delivered to H‐GAC, 3555 Timmons Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027. The draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2011 Update will be posted on Wednesday, January 25th by 6pm at http://www.h‐gac.com/hazmap.
6. Northwest Harris County Habitat for Humanity Sale. Support Deconstruction and ReUse and get a great deal in the process! The Northwest Harris County Habitat for Humanity is moving and everything must go! Come treasure hunting to supply your next building or home-improvement project at our huge sale from Feb 15-18 at 13572 Texas 249, Houston, TX 77086. The NWHC Habitat for Humanity ReStore keeps items out of landfills through deconstruction of homes in the Houston area and through donations of new and gently used building materials and housewares. The sale items include doors, windows, trim, appliances, hardware, flooring, lighting fixtures, fans, furniture, sinks, toilets, cabinets, carpet, household items and SO MUCH MORE! For more information, call (281) 820-2307 or visit http://www.habitatnwhc.org/restore/restore.
7. Register for 2012 Buffalo Bayou Regatta. Registration is now available for the 2012 Buffalo Bayou Regatta, which will take place on March 10th from 7700 San Felipe to Sesquicentennial Park. This event, hosted by Buffalo Bayou Partnership, is Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race. Houstonians (ages 12 and up) are encouraged to participate in the 15-mile USCA-sanctioned race along scenic Buffalo Bayou. Register at https://app.etapestry.com/.
8. Save the Date: River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. This annual event is scheduled for March 31, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 17 sites around the greater Houston area. For more information, please visit www.trashbash.org.