Community Notes 06-18-2012

1. America Is Your Park. Coca-Cola is holding its 3rd annual America is your park campaign. Your vote can help your favorite park win the title of “America’s Favorite Park” and a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola. Many people have decided to vote to help Bastrop State Park, which is still recovering from the wildfires last fall. Visit https://apps.facebook.com/ to learn more and to vote. You can vote everyday until July 15th.
2. OHBA: Beneficial Insects and Establishing Eco Friendly Landscapes. OHBA is hosting a workshop called Beneficial Insects and Establishing Eco Friendly Landscapes on June 19th from 4-7pm at 50 Waugh Drive. This workshop explains how to prevent pest problems from getting started, how to attract beneficials, how to ID insects, and how to select spray products that are eco-friendly and effective. The featured speaker is Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, an Ornamental Entomologist specializing in integrated pest management. Suzanne has been involved in the Green Industry for more than 18 years with a primary focus on biological control and using pesticides properly. Ticket includes a delicious organic dinner and educational materials ($65 per OHBA member and $80 per non-OHBA member). Learn more at http://www.ohbaonline.org/.
3. Environmental Behavior Change Workshop: More in the Bank, Less from the Environment. A Nurtured World, in partnership with the City of Houston and the Houston Independent School District, will present “Environmental Behavior Change Workshop: More in the Bank, Less from the Environment” on from 8:30am-4:30pm Tuesday, June 19, at the Houston Permitting Center, 1002 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas. This workshop provides training on creating behavior change for a sustainable future. Participants can learn how spending and environmental impacts are connected. The workshop also gives attendees the opportunity to practice tools to create change in their communities, workplaces, or homes. More at http://nurturedworld.org/.
4. Banning Single-Use Plastic Bags. The Houston City Council has proposed drafting an ordinance by the end of the year that would phase in the elimination of plastic bags in the city. The Houston City Council will vote on a proposal to draft a plastic bag ban ordinance on June 20th.  Houston residents consume over 1.9 million plastic bags each day and 80% end up in the landfills or as litter in the community. Visit http://www.texasenvironment.org/ to learn more and voice your opinion on the ordinance.
   
5. America’s Great Outdoors: Landscape Stewardship Program. America’s Great Outdoors: Landscape Stewardship Program is a new initiative designed to develop community-based partnerships that further the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural resources in distinct landscapes. The program will provide competitive grants for efforts to create and increase capacity of new and fledgling community-based landscape conservation coalitions, including development of measurement goals for conservation success, mentoring and training sessions for new coalitions, and fostering coordination between local communities and federal natural resource agencies. The deadline for proposals is July 31st. Learn more at http://foundationcenter.org/.
6. Green Grove Group – Sustainability Consultants in Texas. Green Grove Group is a sustainability solutions company that offers resource efficiency, sustainability operations, and employee engagement consulting. This company recently announced that they are the first sustainability consultants in Texas to earn a Certified B Corporation designation. The designation means that the company meets higher standards of social and environmental performance. Read more at http://www.spiritualenthusiast.com/.
7. 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:
   • Where to Wade
   • Lone Star Land Steward: Halff Brothers Ranch
   • Big Spring State Park
   • Rehab at the Mall*
8. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
   • August 11: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
   • August 11: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
   • May 29: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Continental air with increasing ozone background levels should begin moving into to the eastern third of the state and could help ozone to reach “Moderate” levels on the west and northwest side of the Houston area.