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October 14, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update October 14, 2014

CEC NOTES

  1. Welcome new subscribers. Please welcome our new subscribers who signed up at the Rice Volunteer Fair, the Houston Canoe Club’s 50th Anniversary party, and online: Stephanie, Ayush, Preeya, Linda, Brenda, Ansley, Ann, Raven, Klara, Laura, Katie, Rebecca, Pamela, Mary, MB, Valerie, Terry, Natalie, Erin, Kent, and Becky. We’re glad you joined out community!
  2. CEC at OKRA Charity Saloon and Kung Fu Saloon.  We are happy to announce that CEC has been chosen as an OKRA Charity for the month of October!!! OKRA Charity Saloondonates 100% of profits to the charity with the most votes at the end of each month.

    Help CEC win by picking OKRA to host your parties, after-work mixers, or just to grab a few drinks and food to relax after a day of work. With each drink and food purchase, you can get a ticket to vote for CEC. To help CEC win, please be sure to stop by and vote for us! 
    OKRA is located on Main St. and Congress, right next to the Metro rail. We will be hosting some CEC happy hours, dates TBA.

  3. Kung Fu Saloon Drink for A Cause. CEC has been chosen as the benefiting charity for Kung Fu’s monthly charity happy hour. OnOctober 30, join CEC from 4 pm-7 pm. 15% of happy hour drink sales will come to CEC! Be sure to come by and have a drink with us. Kung Fu is located on Washington Avenue, between Dettering and Reinerman streets.

 

COALITION NOTES

  1. HREG Solar Energy Workshop Series. The Houston Renewable Energy Group will be hosting a series of workshop during the month of October. Topics to be addressed by field experts include tax implications, costs, community solar, and sustainable design. Workshops will be available during the day and evening, and the Houston Community College’s renewable energy trailer will be on-site for demonstrations for all ages. All workshops are free, open to the public and will be held at IKEA Houston. http://houstonrenewableenergy.org
    • October 16, 2014 (10-11am): Solar 102- Solar Basics
    • October 16, 2014 (6-7pm): Solar 102- Solar Basics
    • October 21, 2014 (6-9pm): Community Solar
    • October 23, 2014 (6-9pm): Disaster Recovery
    • October 30, 2014 (9am-12pm): Solar Demonstration and Tutorial
  2. Going Green Sustainability Lecture: Bayou Land Conservancy & Spring Creek Greenway. Did you know that anywhere within The Woodlands, you are less than 5 minutes from the longest, urban, forested, contiguous corridor – in the United States? Come learn the details (maps!) about the Spring Creek Greenway on October 14, 2014, at 7pm at the South Regional Library. Jennifer Lorenz, Executive Director of the Bayou Land Conservancy will speak about Bayou Land Conservancy’s lead as the non-profit that worked to get Montgomery County (beyond The Woodlands) involved in this corridor and has raised millions of dollars for permanent protection of thousands of acres. Also, she will speak about the BLC ‘s new program called The Spring Creek Greenway Ambassadors – a series of free trainings that include: local flora/fauna identification, proper trail management, local history of the creek, and environmental education training. www.thewoodlandsgreen.org.
  3. Regional Flood Management Council Meeting. The next Regional Flood Management Council meeting will be held on October 15, 2014, at 1:30pm at the H-GAC offices, conference room A. The agenda includes: Our Great Region Presentation (Information), Overview of H-GAC Riparian Management Efforts (Information and Discussion), Floodplain Awareness Success in Texas (Information and Discussion), and Roundtable Discussion by Members (Discussion). Find a more detailed agenda at cechouston.org.
  4. Houston GREEN Film Series: Cape Spin. Come out to the Rice Media Center on October 15, 2014, for the next film in the Houston GREEN Film Series. The film, Cape Spin,  tells the surreal, fascinating, tragicomic story of the battle over America’s most controversial clean energy project. Doors open at 6:30pm for conversation, networking, and a light meal. The screening starts at 7:00pm. A light dinner will be served, courtesy of Dr. Pat Speck and Dry Bones Cafe. The film is free to the public, though donations are suggested and kindly appreciated. More at www.facebook.com.
  5. BPA’s 15th Annual Gala: Bayoutopia. Experience the perfection of Houston’s bayou system and take a voyage to utopia. Bayou Preservation Association hosts its 15th annual gala, Bayoutopia. This year’s gala will be held at the serene home of Michael and Natasha Bleyzer on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 7pm. This year’s celebration will be complete with al fresco cocktails, culinary concoctions by Tony’s and entertainment on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Enjoy the charming evening and flawlessness of the Bayou City’s waterways, while escaping the hustle and bustle of the big city. Individual tickets are available for $300. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.bayoupreservation.org.
  6. Prairie Restoration Roundup. Prairie restoration is hot! Prairie plants are drought resistant, don’t need large inputs of fertilizer, and can be a boon to both cattle and wildlife – both in rural communities and even in urban pocket prairies. Join the best restorationists in southeast Texas for a day of hands-on demonstrations and insightful discussions about prairie restoration, including when to conduct prescribed burns, invasive species control, see drilling, and more. The roundup will be held on October 16, 2014, from 9am-3pm at the Rosenberg Civic Center. The cost is $35 for general public and professionals and $25 for students and Texas Master Naturalists/Master Gardeners. Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  7. Green Building Tour: Drummond House. Come to the Drummond House on October 17, 2014, 11am-2pm, for a green building tour! The Drummond House is USGBC Certified – Platinum level. The house is located at 3703 Drummond Street. Learn more at www.houstontx.gov.
  8. Trails at Twilight: Woodland Park Celebration. For 100 years, Woodland Park has provided Houstonians a haven of natural beauty. Help preserve this precious resource for coming generations. Join Friends of Woodland Park on October 17, 2014, 7-10pm, for a wonderful evening celebrating Woodland Park’s rich history and its bright future! The evening will include food, drinks, a silent auction, and dancing to the music of Zenteno Spirit. Help them reach their fundraising goal of $50,000 which will be used for a variety of exciting new park improvements The wish list includes: park benches, playground equipment, trail signage, foot bridges, game tables and much more. Find out more at www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org.
  9. Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership and KBR for the 8th year anniversary of KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. A day filled with FREE family fun with this year’s theme all things and animals “Wild!” featuring hands-on nature-themed crafts, music, food, park performers, and kayak demonstrations on the bayou! Activity stations will include numerous hands-on activities from over 20 Houston non-profit organization partners, pontoon boat tours, local entertainment and performers, kayak and skateboarding demos, face painters and balloon artists and so much more! Additionally, there will be a Halloween Costume Parade, so come dressed as your favorite wild animal, reptile or insect! There will also be a birds of prey show—get ready for a WILD time on Buffalo Bayou! Come out on October 18, 2014, 11am-3pm to Sabine Promenade! More at www.buffalobayou.org.
  10. Prairie Pandemonium at Armand Bayou Nature Center. Prairie Pandemonium at Armand Bayou Nature Center will be held on October 18, 2014, 8am–noon. Join other enthusiastic volunteer groups and individuals to take part in a mass planting experience. One of our 700 acres of prairie is mowed in readiness for planting prairie grasses such as Eastern Gamma Grass and Swich Grass. Prior registration is required . See the website www.abnc.org or contact Zach atzach@abnc.org for more information.
  11. Grand Opening of the McGovern Centennial Gardens and Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion. The McGovern Centennial Gardens, designed by Hoerr Schaudt with White Oak Studio consulting, is the Conservancy’s largest improvement project ever undertaken and will completely transform the existing 15-acre Garden Center site into a spectacular new attraction for Park visitors. The Gardens will feature a Family Garden, Great Lawn, 30′ Garden Mount, Celebration Garden, Rose Garden, and the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, designed by architect Peter Bohlin of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. This family-friendly opening day celebration will include art projects sponsored by Macy’s, Inc., music, food, performances and more. Free and open to the public. Come out for the grand opening on October 18, 2014, 9:30am-5pm. More at www.hermannpark.org.
  12. Texas Fresh: Beyond Organic Dinner. On October 18, 2014, support Central City Co-op and the Last Organic Outpost by celebrating with food in the finest way – fresh at the farm prepared by Chef Jeremy Goodwin of Texas Al Fresco. Come dine in an urban oasis and show your continued support for local food that goes beyond organic. The cost is $70. Get your ticket at www.centralcityco-op.com.
  13. Yard Sign Campaign – Water Conservation. As the seasons change, it’s important to be mindful of outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation. Lawn and landscape irrigation is one of the largest discretionary uses of municipal water in our region. An easy way to protect our water supply for both people and the environment is to reduce outdoor watering. To help raise awareness of water conservation, a coalition of Gulf Coast and Montgomery County water providers, municipalities, and water conservation groups urge residents to use water wisely by reducing or stopping outdoor irrigation during the fall and winter months. The campaign encourages residents to take a voluntary pledge to reduce outdoor lawn irrigation. By signing the pledge, residents receive a yard sign with the message of “This yard is helping to conserve our water supply.”  The signs are free and available for pickup at Galveston Bay Foundation in Webster, TX or at the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District in Conroe, TX. For more information on the water conservation pledge and pickup locations visit galvbay.org/flows.
  14. 2014 Bike Around the Bay. Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported two-day, 180-mile bicycle ride around Galveston Bay that showcases the natural beauty of Galveston Bay and benefits the Galveston Bay Foundation. Now in its eighth year, Bike Around the Bay began with the goal of bringing people together from all over to see and experience Galveston Bay. Many people are unaware of the rich ecological diversity that is so close in proximity to Houston, and this event was designed to bring awareness of its importance. In the spirit of preserving this special place, all profits from the event the Galveston Bay Foundation. The ride will be held October 18-19, 2014. Find ride details at www.bikearoundthebay.org.
  15. BPA’s 11th Annual Symposium: “Get Out to the Bayou and… Swim?” Sink or swim? Houston is known as the Bayou City since it is home to 22 watersheds. Why don’t we see people swimming, splashing around, or sitting on the banks? If you’re wondering the same thing, then head out to Bayou Preservation Association’s 11th annual Symposium, “Get out to the Bayou and… Swim” on Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 7:30am – 4:00pm at United Way. For just $50 a person and $35 for students or teachers, this year’s event will dive into the topic of swimming in the bayous and will feature keynote speakers Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg, Gary Garrett, Robert Rayburn, Susan Darcy, Jeff Taebel, Charlie Jenkins, Barnaby Evans, Pat Walsh, Mike Talbott, John Blount and Scott McCready. Learn more and register at www.bayoupreservation.com.
    • Five Scholarships Available. BPA is offering five scholarships to attend the symposium, which will cover the registration fee (including lunch and a mug). To be considered for the scholarship, you must be current a science teacher in a Houston-Galveston area school district with a strong interest in aquatic and/or environmental science and complete an application packet to be submitted via email by October 16, 2014. Email Amanda Brown for an application packet: abrown@bayoupreservation.org.
  16. Wings Over Water Gala. Join the Houston Audubon for a night of dining, dancing and honoring conservation heroes in Texas at their Wings Over Water Gala on October 24, 2014, at pm. There will be a cocktail reception, followed by a full buffet meal and silent and big board auctions. Live entertainment will be provided by Jazz Avenue. Cocktail attire, coat and tie required. General Admission begins at $150. Purchase tickets at www.houstonaudubon.org.
  17. Self -Watering Container Gardening. If you have limited or no garden space, want to garden with kids and seniors, or while sitting down in a chair, DIY self-watering containers are the answer. Learn to create a container for your vegetables and small fruits that will virtually water itself. Plants will always get the proper amount of water, and will use up to 60% less water than regular containers. Learn how to make them with Urban Harvest on October 25, 2014, 9-11:30am at the University of Houston. Registration is $50. More at http://urbanharvest.org.
  18. West Reach Tree Planting and Clean-Up Event. The Greens Bayou corridor Coalition is hosting their annual West Reach Tree Planting and Clean-Up Event on October 25, 2014. They will be planting more than 80 trees and need all hands on deck! There are volunteer opportunities for people of all abilities, including helping with check-in and runners to provide supplies to those planting trees. Volunteers can sign up on the Eventbrite page: https://westreach2014.eventbrite.com. Volunteers can also help recruit people and get updates on the event (i.e. weather alerts and potential cancellations) at www.facebook.com.
  19. AIA Houston Home Tour. Open to the public, the AIA Houston Home Tour showcases the finest residential architecture in the Houston area, as designed by licensed architects. Houses are chosen to showcase a variety of design styles demonstrating that excellence in design is not limited by size or dollars. The AIA Houston Home Tour attracts 3000+ people each year and many more read about it in publications such as the Houston Chronicle, CultureMap, and Houston House & Home Magazine. The tour will be held October 25-26, 2014, noon to 6pm each day. Tickets are $25 per person, $20 for bike riders, $10 Single House. Find more details at https://aiahouston.org.
  20. 42nd Annual BikeHouston Moonlight Bicycle Ramble. Come out and ride the night with BikeHouston on October 25, 2014, for the 42nd Annual Moonlight Bicycle Ramble! Since 1973, thousands of riders have lit up the streets of Houston for this amazing fully-supported bicycle ride. Starting from the George R Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston at 11:59 pm, the Ramble will have an 8-mile and 20-mile route. Prizes awarded for best costume and best lighted bike. All riders are required to wear a bicycle helmet and have lights on their bikes. The cost is $25 until the day of the ride. Same day registration is $35. Your paid registration helps to support BikeHouston and includes a commemorative t-shirt, route map, coupons from area vendors and entitles you to SAG support in case you need it. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
  21. How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Our dynamic coastline is changing faster than ever before. Changes are visible over the last 50, 30 and even 10 years. The environmental, social and economic impacts of coastal change are readily measurable and are increasing. These impacts can make us less resilient, particularly when more intense conditions affect our coastal state. The effects result in even greater impact beyond our coast. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Are we in a “state of denial”? A workshop that presents the most recent scientific data modeled by a team of multidisciplinary researchers working together to measure what these effects will mean to us. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan  Hall, on the Rice University campus. More at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
  22. The Woods Project Fall Luncheon 2014. Enjoy lunch with The Woods Project and its students as they share how their outdoor experiences have made a positive change in their lives – building self-confidence and other critical skills for success in school and beyond. This is your chance to sit with a student and hear their summer trip story first hand. Chris Barbic, founder of YES Prep and current Superintendent of Achievement School District in Tennessee, will be our keynote speaker and will be sharing his thoughts on what low income students need in order to be successful in school and in life. Register for this event, which will be held on November 4, 2014, 11:30am-1pm at the Junior League of Houston. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.thewoodsproject.org.
  23. Native Prairie Plant-a-thon. Volunteers are needed to plant 2,500 native coastal prairie grasses and forbs. This event will help the Sheldon Lake State Park continue the restoration of 400 acres from farmland to native prairie habitat and reestablish the diverse wildlife that it once had. Located in northeast Harris County, Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is visited by thousands of children and adults each year who take guided nature walks, study ecosystems, go fishing, experience pond ecology, and see alternative energy in action. Restoring this prairie will enhance the educational programs at the Learning Center. You are invited to be a part of the ongoing restoration work on the Sheldon Prairie. More at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
  24. Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center. The Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center will be held on November 8, 2014, from 6-9:30pm at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel. Medea Benjamin, founder of Code Pink, will be accepting the Houston Peace and Justice Center’s annual National Peacemaker Award, and she will be the keynote speaker at HPJC’s annual awards dinner this year. Call Bill Crosier at 713-641-4941 or visit www.hpjc.org for more information.
  25. Prairie Month! October 6, 2014 to November 15, 2014 is Prairie Month! Join the conservation community for a series of fun and informative events in 
the Greater Houston region, celebrating and restoring 
our prairie heartland! Find an event near you by visiting http://prairiepartner.org.
  26. Gulf Coast Bioneers. Gulf Coast Bioneers, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, is a local Houston event that supports building resilience from the ground up by showcasing and participating in local breakthrough environmental and social justice solutions while strengthening community bonds. The Bioneers is a national, non-profit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and the planet. Bioneers has two goals:
    Connect people with solutions by popularizing breakthrough ideas and practices. Grow social capital by catalyzing, connecting and strengthening strategic networks, and community-based alliances. The conference will be held on November 2, 2014, at the Blackwood Land Institute. EXPLORE practical solutions and innovative social strategies to restore our ecosystems and revitalize our community. LEARN how experienced, passionate, and pragmatic professionals here in Houston are developing cutting-edge solutions that work. CONNECT with others like you: on-the-ground innovators, change agents, and thought leaders from business, education, government, and the community. BE INSPIRED by Gulf Coast area speakers and speakers from the national Bioneers conference held in California. Learn more and register at http://gulfcoastbioneers.org.
  27. 34th Annual Martyn Farm Harvest Festival. November is quickly approaching and that means time for one of the most anticipated festivals in the Greater Houston area. Each fall since 1981 the Martyn Farm at Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Boulevard, has given visitors the opportunity to turn back the clock to circa 1900 to a simpler time on the Texas Gulf Coast. This annual harvest festival will be held on November 8-9, 2014, 10am-4pm. The community is invited to join the festivities, which include a pie-eating contest, wood carving, wagon rides, food, musical performances, and a General Store with home-made food and handmade toys and gifts! There is a $7 entry fee for adults; $3 for children (4-12) and seniors (60+). www.abnc.org
  28. Save the Date! Energy Corridor Recycles Day. Energy Corridor Recycles Day will be held on November 15, 2014, 9am-2pm. You know you’ve got them. Motorola flip phones, stereos with blown amps, computers struggling to run Windows 95, rear projection televisions with the red color malfunctioning, and VCRs with “The Breakfast Club” tape stuck inside. They are everywhere, taking up space, sitting unused with potentially toxic metals that have no business discarded into landfills, left along roadsides or stashed in garages. Get ready to properly dispose of all those outdated electronics cluttering up your home and office. This is your chance to help remove the potential environmental threat of improperly disposed televisions, computers, telecommunications equipment, hard drives, game consoles and other electronics that can be laced with heavy metals. www.energycorridor.org
  29. Save the Date! 20th Annual Twilight Gala: Turning a New Leaf. Join Nature Discovery Center for the 20th Annual Twilight Gala, helping the greater Houston community discover, enjoy and value nature. For nearly three decades, the Nature Discovery Center has been sparking interest in science and nature, developing critical thinking tools, enriching educational opportunities for children, improving the teaching of science for teachers, and nourishing the inquiring minds of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children. This year’s Twilight Gala fetes all that is new and renewed at the Center. From the fresh renovation of the 89-year-old Henshaw House to the renewal of the grounds for all of those that spend time in the four-acre outdoor classroom, Russ Pitman Park. The gala will be held on November 21, 2014, at the Houstonian Hotel. Learn more and purchase tickets online at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
  30. Save the Date! H-GAC Fall Planning Workshop: Low Impact Development. Mark your calendars and plan to join the Houston-Galveston Area Council annual Fall Planning Workshop, to explore the world of Low Impact Development (LID). The workshop will be held on December 5, 2014, at the H-GAC offices.
  31. Our Great Region Implementation Network Surveys. H-GAC is working on a follow-up report to the Implementation Network event (August 27) that provides an assessment of the region’s capacity and momentum to implement the strategies in the Our Great Region 2040 plan. They are asking those who were unable to attend the Kickoff event in August to help out by providing information about your organization’s current initiatives and challenges in implementing the strategies presented in Our Great Region 2040. The questions in the surveys mirror the exercise that attendees of the event completed. Each survey represents one of the plan’s Big Idea focus areas. You may take as many or as few as you like. Each survey will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. To be included in the asessement, please complete the surveys no later than October 16, 2014.
  32. Earth Day Art Contest. Earth Day celebrates our planet’s wonders. Show what you see when you think of clean air, water, and land. Show your vision of how we can honor, celebrate, and protect our environment. Students in grades 3 through 12 in the Houston area should enter their artwork by January 31, 2015. Find the rules at www.earthdayhouston.org.
  33. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Earth Science Week. Since October 1998, the American Geosciences Institute has organized this national and international event to help the public gain a better understanding and appreciation for the Earth Sciences and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. This year’s Earth Science Week will be held from October 12-18 and will celebrate the theme “Earth’s Connected Systems.” Local Earth Science Week events include the following:
    • NASA’s #SkyScience . Citizen scientists can participate in this global Earth science data collection event by observing, photographing and reporting on clouds over their location as a NASA satellite passes over. Reports and photos will be compared to data collected by NASA Earth-observing instruments as a way to assess the satellite measurements. Use the hashtag #SkyScience, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+ and Flickr. Learn more at www.nasa.gov.
    • Energy Day: Free Downtown Houston Festival by Consumer Energy Alliance. Saturday, October 18, 11am-5pm. Three city blocks of exhibits will focus on innovative and interactive technology demonstrating energy production, processes, and efficiencies. Students can see and touch state-of-the-art technology, interact with experts, and ask questions. energydayfestival.org
    • Geology Field Trip to Whiskey Bridge by the Houston Geological Society. Sunday, October 19, 12pm-3pm. HGS sponsors this student-friendly field trip to Whiskey Bridge in Bryan, Texas. Participants meet on the south side of Whiskey Bridge, where Highway 21 crosses the Brazos River, to discuss geology and collect fossils. For directions, locality information, collecting guides, and scientific papers, see the Houston Gem and Mineral Society.
  2. Urban Forestry Micro Grant Program. The Urban Forestry Micro Grant Program was created by the Texas Urban Forestry Council (TUFC) to promote the benefits and the value of Texas urban and community forest resources, recognizing the contributions to public infrastructure and human health. The goal is to engage citizens and their communities, and to expand support for sustainable urban and community forest management throughout Texas. The amount of each TUFC micro grant will be $500 with a 1:1 match requirement. The projects must be urban forestry or tree related projects, programs, or initiatives, and the applicants are limited to organizations or non-profit groups. Applications are due on the 15th of each month. The deadline for the next round of applications is Wednesday, October 15, 2014.  Learn more at www.texasurbantrees.org.
  3. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue is the culminating public event of the Religious Understandings of Science (RUS) study. This day-long conference will include breakout sessions on Religious and Scientific Dialogue on Human Genetic Reproductive Technologies and Religious Responses to Environmental Concern. Keynote panelists include Alejandro Chaoul (University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), John Evans (University of California San Diego), Katharine Hayhoe (Texas Tech University), Ronald Numbers (University of Wisconsin-Madison), John Mark Reynolds (Houston Baptist University), and Norbert Samuelson (Arizona State University). The event will be held on October 24, 2014, at 8:30am at Rice University. More at http://events.rice.edu.
  4. OktOHBAfest. Come out for music, bites, and beer at the 3rd annual OctOHBA fest! Performers include Paul Ramirez Band and Annika Chambers. Halloween costumes are highly recommended! Get ready for a night of fun on October 25, 2014. It’s $40 for all you can eat and drink! www.ohbaonline.org.
  5. Opening of “Reflectio​ns on Nature.” The French Consular Residence will open the new art exhibit titled Reflections on Nature with a day-long open house featuring artist talks, musical performances and other animations on October 26, 2014, from 10am-4pm. The exhibit, Reflections on Nature, will offer a unique look at nature through the eyes and styles of several artists. The exhibition inside the residence will be complemented by a new selection of door sculptures from TFAA’s Open the Door plus a sampling of words derived from their recent poetry contest. www.consulfrance-houston.org.
  6. Grand Opening: Houston Community Toolbank. The Houston Community Toolbank invites you to their grand opening! Come out for FREE food and drinks and of course, the debut of the massive new tool warehouse, now serving the Houston nonprofit community. Learn about the variety of tools available and the lending program. Win great door prizes while you mingle with volunteers, sponsors, donors and the media! The grand opening will be held on October 28, 2014, 4-7pm at the Houston Community Toolbank (1215 Gazin Street). RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  7. Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update. There will be a public meeting regarding the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update on October 29, 2014, at 6:30pm at the Bear Creek Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to update area residents and business owners about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program as part of a continued communication initiative by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. The Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program’s primary objective is to maintain public safety by ensuring the dams we own and operate are safe and that risks to the public are minimized. The update will begin at 6:30 p.m. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives will be available to answer questions immediately following. Learn more at www.swg.usace.army.mil.
  8. Creatively Green Family Arts Festival. NRG Energy, Inc. and Young Audiences of Houston are pleased to announce the NRG Creatively Green Awards Program. This program will award two schools in Houston with an engaging and dynamic family festival that offers parents and children the chance to participate in hands-on art-making to better understand the importance of environmental sustainability. Winning schools receive the unique opportunity to host a family festival worth up to $7,000 – featuring Young Audiences artists – that will celebrate imagination and creativity while promoting a better understanding of individual and community responsibility to protect our planet. Learn more about the program at http://media.wix.com. Applications are due by November 3, 2014. Apply at http://survey.constantcontact.com.
  9. Texas Stormwater Innovation Conference. The new green infrastructure paradigm offers opportunities for environmental improvement and cost savings but if the critical issues of performance, reliability and maintenance are not addressed this paradigm shift will not achieve the goals that inspired it. The Texas Stormwater Innovation Conference is a multi city tour that seeks to provide insight on Low Impact Development and explores Next Generation solutions that address these key issues in stormwater management. The conference will be in Houston at the Norris Meetings & Events Center on November 7, 2014, 8am-3:15pm. The cost is $35. Attend to be a part of the discussion of various solutions and opportunities in green infrastructure to promote greater implementation of Low Impact Development. www.constructionecoservices.com
  10. Financing Sustainable Water. Developing rate structures that successfully balance revenue management, resource efficiency and fiscal sustainability is becoming more challenging than ever in a world of scarce supply, volatile weather and declining demand. Learn from experts about the newest resources and strategies that can help water managers to navigate these challenges at the workshop on November 12, 2014, 9:30am-2:30pm at United Way. Registration is $30, and lunch and meeting materials are provided. Participants will receive in-depth training on the new Alliance for Water Efficiency Sales Forecasting and Rate Model, an innovative, free and user-friendly tool that can help managers explicitly model rate structures and effects on revenue and water use. Learn more and register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  11. Biennial Scientific Symposium. Register now for the Children’s Environmental Health Institute’s Eight Biennial Scientific Symposium: Prenatal Environmental Exposures as a Determinant of Early Childhood Disease. Hear global experts challenge us to elevate critical  thinking on ways to address the prevention of environmental health risks to children. Keynote speakers Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, and Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, among other distinguished speakers will provide prevention-oriented research on how toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous health problems and chronic disease. The symposium will be held November 13-14, 2014, at McKinney Roughs Education Center, close to Austin Texas. Learn more and register at http://cehi.org.
  12. 2015 School Garden Grant. Created in partnership with FoodCorps, the School Garden Grant program provides a $2,000 monetary grant to a K-12 school, or a non-profit working in partnership with a K-12 school, to support a new or existing edible garden on school grounds. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2014. Learn more at www.wholekidsfoundation.org.
  13. Progress in Preparing for Climate Change. The Georgetown Climate Center has a new online tool that shows the progress states are making in preparing for climate change. The planning process typically results in a document called an adaptation plan. Learn more and find the map at www.georgetownclimate.org. Texas currently has no state-led adaptation plan, but has one regional plan developed by H-GAC in 2008. Read about it at www.georgetownclimate.org.
  14. Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin. The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction to complete the Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin, a project that will reduce flooding risks and damages in the Little Cypress Creek and Cypress Creek watersheds of northwest Harris County. The project includes final grading of the basin slopes; construction of backslope interceptor swales, weir spillway structures and pilot channels; and rehabilitation of the Little Cypress Creek tributary formally identified as HCFCD Unit L103-00-00, which crosses the basin site. As part of this project, the Flood Control District will carefully consider opportunities to save or relocate existing trees on its right of way. When complete, the basin will hold more than 325 million gallons, or 1,000 acre-feet, of excess stormwater during periods of heavy rain. Construction began in late September and is expected to be completed in Spring 2015. Read the full update at HCFCD Begins Project to Complete Kluge Stormwater Detention Basin — PRESS RELEASE
  15. International Low Impact Development Conference 2015. The countdown to the LID Conference 2015 has begun. Don’t miss this incredible three-day event to learn the latest advances, tools, trends, and network with industry leaders and Stormwater resource practitioners from about the world. The International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 will be held January 19-21, 2015. This conference will highlight new and continuing work including research developments and community adoption of LID throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, this conference will focus on the application of LID technology in the Southwest region of the US and will also include a mini-symposium on arid region LID. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CNN’s 2013 Hero of the Year, Chad Pregracke, whose presentation will be “Helping to Clean America’s Rivers: From the Bottom Up.” Learn more at http://content.asce.org.
  16. Save the Date! 2015 HAUFC Tree Planting Competition. The Houston Area Urban Forestry Council is in the process of planning the 2015 Tree Planting Competition. The date is already set for Saturday, February 7, 2015. The planting competition once again will be held in partnership with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and sponsored by the Texas A&M Forest Service and CenterPoint Energy. Start forming your team for this competition in which you will be working against the clock to plant trees according to established guidelines for correct hole (depth and width), proper mulching, and spacing. Each team, made up of 10 planting members and one non-working captain, will plant 100 five-gallon trees as quickly as possible. Details should be available soon at http://haufc.org.
  17. Additional Community Announcements  
  18. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
    • A Man in Paradise
    • Stone Skipping
    • A Long Way to Seadrift
  19. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.

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