Community Notes 02-13-2012

1. The Progressive Forum: Alice Waters. Alice Waters, a restauranteur, author, and activist, will be speaking at the Cullen Theater in the Wortham Center on February 27th at 7:30pm. Alice Waters is a pioneer of the sustainable-local food movement, encouraging others to use the freshest, local organic products. She also created a national program called the Edible Schoolyard that teaches students about the food cycle by integrating a nutritious lunch and a gardening experience with the curriculum. To learn more about the event and to purchase tickets, visit http://theprogressiveforum.com/.
2. Organic Landscape & Gardening Fair. The Organic Landscape & Gardening Fair will be on February 25th from 8:30am-4:30pm at United Way (50 Waugh). Fourteen speakers will present and lead discussions on important organic topics. Topics include growing food organically, organic landscape programs, organic pest control, water conservation, drought tolerant plants, soils and mulch, creating wildlife habitat, and permaculture. More at http://ohbaonline.org/.
   
3. Monofilament Mania Clean-Up. On February 18, come out and help support the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program. This program, initiated in 2004, works to keep monofilament fishing line out of the marine environment. Monofilament line is another name for single-strand, high-density nylon fishing line that is used on fishing reels. Used line can be harmful to boat motors and marine wildlife. Birds and animals cannot see discarded monofilament fishing line, so it is easy for them to become tangled in it and starve, drown or lose a limb. South Jetty East End Lagoon, Boddecker Rd., Galveston. 8:00 am to noon. Refreshments will be provided. More at  http://mrrp.tamu.edu/.
4. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop is a FREE one-day event to help residents in the watershed improve and protect water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities. Workshop will be held at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension offices in Carbide Park, La Marque at 4102 B Main St. (FM 519) on February 22nd from 8am to 4pm. More information at http://mokabayousalliance.org/ or Facebook.com/MoKaBayousAlliance. Agenda and pre-registration is available at http://tws.tamu.edu/workshops/online-registration or call 979-862-8070.
5. The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) is a program put on by the National Park Service to help connect communities to parks and natural areas. The program assists local leaders in protecting special places and creating close-to-home opportunities for the public to enjoy the outdoors. If you have an idea for how RTCA could help you take action in your community, visit http://www.nps.gov/ and talk to the RTCA contact in your area. The program is already working with two local partners: Fort Bend Green and Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition, on projects on the Brazos River and Greens Bayou, respectively.
   
6. 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(* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
   • The Last Dance – Attwater’s Prairie-chickens*
   • Hill Country State Natural Area
   • TPWD People: Amie Treuer-Kuehn
7. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
   • February 14: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range
   • February 15: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
   • February 16: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.