Community Notes 04-23-2012

1. Sunday Music in the Park. Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is co-hosting Sunday Music in the Park on April 29th from 4-5pm at the South Gazebo at Willow Waterhole. Come out to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with the Westbury High School & Parker Elementary Jazz Bands. Enjoy both the music and the park. More at https://www.facebook.com/.
   
2. National Mayor’s Conservation Challenge. From March 31 –April 30, the City of Houston is joining cities from across the country to compete in the National Mayor’s Challenge. Mayors nationwide will challenge their residents to conserve water, energy, and other precious natural resources through simple, easy-to-use online pledge. Cities will compete to see who can gain the most participation. Visit http://www.mywaterpledge.com to take the pledge and support your city. The challenge will conclude during the City of Houston’s Water Week Event. Information about participating and exhibiting can be found at www.houstonwaterweek.org.
3. Lights Out Houston – Join the effort! The “Energy Capital of the World” will continue its sustained commitment to become the “Energy Conservation Capital” by turning off the lights on April 26, 2012. LightsOut Houston started in 2008 as a city-wide commitment to energy efficiency by commercial building owners and their tenants. The goal of the program has expanded to establish a sustained reduction in the use of non-essential electricity by all buildings throughout the Greater Houston area. Participants are asked to sign a pledge of their commitment to energy conservation. Visit http://www.lightsouthouston.com/ to pledge.
4. Marsha Hill Classic Golf Tournament . The 2nd Annual Marsha Hill Classic Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, April 27 at the Gus Wortham Golf Course. This tournament is held to raise money for the Marsha Hill memorial Scholarship program, which is administered through the Air and Waste Management Association-Gulf Coast Chapter. The link to the event website is www.marshahillclassic.org.
5. The Way of the Water: International Reading Project Marking 2 Year Anniversary of BP Oil Spill. Main Street Theater is hosting a showing of Caridad Svich’s new play, The Way of the Water, which marks the two-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill. The Way of the Water focuses on the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill and its effects on human health and the environment in the US Gulf region. The showing takes place on April 30th at 7:30pm. Learn more at http://www.artshound.com/.
   
6. Another Successful Earth Day at TRNWR. The Trinity River Refuge Earth Day event held on April 21st at the Champion Lake Public Use Area was again a big success. The weather was cool and brisk winds kept the mosquitoes at bay. The kids had a great time participating in the “Wildlife Tracking Experience” by learning animal tracks, wearing an animal mask, and walking like a raccoon, deer, or alligator. A local hardware store, Potetz Hardware, donated numerous plants for the habitat display area where kids could follow the animal tracks. They also got hands-on experience in handling frogs, an alligator, and turtles. Nearly 100 folks were given a boat tour of the lake while fishing, dip netting, and kayaking were also very popular. Over 180 folks, a new record, participated during the 3 hour event.
7. Trinity River National Wildlife seeks Input. The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is seeking public comment on a draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA). The final plan will guide management decisions and set forth goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and establish the Service’s best estimate of future needs for the next 15 years. The CCP/EA is available at:http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/trinityriver. Comments will be accepted up to 4:30pm (Mountain Standard Time), Friday, May 4, 2012.
8. Sea Turtle Monitor Training. The Sea Turtle Monitor Training Program consists of 2-day workshops conducted from Sabine Pass to Padre Island, Texas that involve 16 hours of in-class lectures and on-beach, practical training to equip monitors with:
   • sea turtle species identification
   • on-beach signs of nesting activity
   • foot- and ATV-facilitated patrol techniques & patroller safety
   • nesting response & reporting requirements
   • marking a nest
   • prevention of project-related impact to nesters, nests & eggs/hatchlings
   • signage requirements of on-going monitoring within a project site
   • stranded sea turtle & marine mammal response & reporting requirements
   • daily monitoring log requirements.

   Attendees will receive a certificate acknowledging successful completion of the training program. Galveston training dates include April 18-19 , April 25-26, May 8-9, May 30-31, June 13-14, July 18-19, July 25-26, Sept TBA, and Nov TBA. Additional dates and locations TBA. More at www.seaturtlemtp.com.

9. First Turtle Nester of the Year in Galveston. The sea turtle nesting season has begun on the Texas coast! Last week, Dr. Joe examined his first “nester” of the year in Galveston, a kemp’s ridley sea turtle. After receiving an ultrasound and a satellite transmitter, the healthy female turtle was re-released on the beach where she was found by the team at the Sea Turtle Barn in Galveston. The Houston Zoo assists in many aspects of sea turtle conservation. More at www.houstonzoo.org/seaturtles/.
10. Native Plant Conservation Initiative. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is seeking proposals for 2012 Native Plant Conservation Initiative grants. The 2012 Native Plant Conservation Initiative funds multi-stakeholder projects that focus on the conservation of native plants and pollinators under any of the following six focal areas: conservation, education, restoration, research, sustainability, and data linkages. Pre-proposals are due May 25th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/.
11. UTMB Earth Day Celebration. The UTMB Conservation Initiatives has a rich history of celebrating its accomplishments during the annual Earth Day event on campus. Marking its 20th year, the 2012 event will focus on the conservation efforts applied during daily operations. The event will take place on April 26th from 10am-2pm and is open to the public. Come out to Earth Day Celebration at the Moody Medical Library Plaza (914 Market St. Galveston, TX) to learn how to support UTMB’s extensive conservation efforts. 2000 hard wood tree seedlings will be given out. More at http://www.utmb.edu/conservation/.
12. Texas Bottle Bill Event. Texas Bottle Bill is partnering up with Westbrook Intermediate (Friendswood) to demonstrate the fund raising opportunities schools would have with a Nickel Back Refund on all beverage containers. Mike Garver will be donating to the school, a nickel for every alum, glass, and plastic beverage container, counted and separated by materials, that is brought to the school that evening. Mark Austin, of We Can Recycle will be picking up all of the materials. This event will take place on May 4th from 5:30-9pm.
13. Get to Know Your Wild Neighbors Contest. The Get to Know Your Wild Neighbors Contest launched April 7, 2012 in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and partners. The contest invites American youth (19 and younger) to develop a deeper appreciation for their neighbors of other species by getting outdoors and creating art, writing, digital photography, videos, and music. The goal is to engage the power of art to help youth feel more connected with nature. Check out the launch events in select cities across the country. More at http://www.get-to-know.org/.
14. Win a Wireless Lab. The 2012 Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes will award three classroom technology packages. Public and private school employees are eligible to enter the sweepstakes once a day through May 3, 2012. Learn more at http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/.
15. 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 Burden of Bounty – The Gulf of Mexico
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary
    • Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    • Chester’s Island*
16. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • April 24: Yellow–Moderate–Winds may be light enough, afternoon temperatures warm enough, and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the north and northeast side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
    • April 25: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and decreasing background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • April 26: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • On April 20, TCEQ issued an Air Pollution Warning – Level Orange for unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Orange warning, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.