Coalition Notes 02-13-2012

1. Sustainable Communities Regional Plan Community Meetings. Around 4 million additional residents are expected to move to the Houston Galveston region in the next 30 years. Therefore, the Houston Galveston Regional Plan is important for ensuring sustainability. The 13- county plan explores opportunities to improve the region’s most important resources, including clean air and water, good jobs, safe and attractive neighborhoods, affordable housing, transportation choices, and open spaces and parks. In February and March of 2012, meetings will take place in different parts of the region to discuss the plan and allow residents to provide input. To find a meeting near you, visit  http://www.ourregion.org/events.html.
2. John Neilsen-Gammon: The Climate Abyss. A Houston Tomorrow Distinguished Speaker event with John Nielsen-Gammon, State Climatologist and Regents Professor in Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University. Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:30 pm. Upper Kirby Building. Register with Houston Tomorrow.
3. Artist Boat Kayak Adventure Trips. Artist Boat will be leading many kayak adventure trips in the next few months. Most of the trips are 2 hours long and are classified as easy paddling skill level. For a full list of trips, visit http://www.artistboat.org/. Registration is available on the website, starting February 15th.
4. Select Local Grow Together. The Select Local Grow Together lecture series allows professionals to teach the community about local green building practices. This month, the topic is green roofs. Green roofs are roofs that are completely or partially covered in vegetation, which helps to absorb rainwater, provide insulation, and more. This lecture is on February 15th from 6:30-8:30pm at Green Building Resource Center (1002 Washington Ave). For more information, visit http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/.
5. Bayou Adventure Race. Bayou Preservation Association is sponsoring its first-ever Bayou Adventure Race. It’s a triathlon with running, cycling and paddling! It will be challenging but really fun. It’s on February 18th at Terry Hershey Park in West Houston, rain or shine. All Houstonians (and Texans in general!) with a sense of adventure should sign up! Go to www.bayouadventurerace.com to learn more.
   
6. Music in the Park. Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is one of the hosts of Music in the Park, a free event featuring the Parker Elementary School Band and Parker students in Suzuki Strings. The performance will take place on February 19th from 4-5pm at the South Gazebo at Willow Waterhole. Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/willowwaterhole.
   
7. 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 the 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.
8. It’s Great Backyard Bird Count Time! The 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be conducted February 17th through 20th, 2012. You can count birds wherever you are, including your backyard, off your balcony, at a local park, or even at GCBO. People of all ages and bird-watching experience are welcome. For details, see the GBBC website.
9. Crab Trap Removal Event. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be holding a crab trap removal event from February 17th to the 26th. During this period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing with crab traps, and any traps left in the bay will be presumed to be abandoned and considered litter under state law, thus allowing volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find. Abandoned crab traps are hazardous to wildlife and plants and problematic for fishers and boaters. Volunteers are needed for this event. If interested, contact Julie Mintzer at jmintzer@galvbay.org to volunteer or visit http://galvbay.org/events_trap.html for more information
10. Regatta Sponsorships Still Available. The Buffalo Bayou Regatta celebrates 40 years on March 10, 2012. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership invites you participate: as a sponsor, competitor, or spectator. More information is available on the BBP website.
11. Save the Date: 
•  Friends of Mandell Park Sixth Annual Plant Sale.March 24, 2012, 9 am to 1 pm. at Mandell Park at the corner of Richmond Ave. and Mandell Street Quality plants, El Pueblito breakfast tacos, Le Creperie crepes, The Black Hole coffee, raffle of great items and Tradition Bank’s Children’s Corner with dirt and plants and face painting. More info at www.friendsofmandellpark.org.
• 4 the Park Fun Run. Mark your calendars for April 7, 2012, for the fourth running of 4 the Park, a fun run and kids K to support Memorial Park. More information and registration are on the Memorial Park Conservancy web page
• Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo, Saturday March 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Lone Star College-Montgomery, College Park Drive (SH 242), The Woodlands/Conroe. Visit http://expo.tamu.edu.  Advance training hours, volunteer opportunities and best of all – FREE to public.
12. Senate Interim Charge: Study Deposit Program for Beverage Containers. Texas Bottle Bill reports that the Texas Senate Business and Commerce Committee has been given the interim charge to Study the costs and benefits of implementing a redeemable deposit program for beverage containers. Read more in the February Texas Bottle Bill Newsletter.