Community Notes 09-03-2012

1. ParksByYou First Thursday Block Party. You are invited to Sip, Stroll and Shop to show your support for ParksByYou at the September First Thursday Block Party on the Mid Main Corridor from 5-10pm. Be sure to start your evening at the Parks By You office (3603 Main Street) for a wrist band and enjoy free refreshing drinks at all retail stores and a full line up of free live music along the corridor. Register at http://pbyblockparty.eventbrite.com/.
   
2. Monarch Migration. The Journey North fall monarch migration reporting season starts August 30. Monarchs will be making their annual migration to Mexico. You can report monarch sightings and view progress at http://www.learner.org/.
3. Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival. Commissioner Radack’s annual Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival at the Kleb Woods Nature Center, 20303 Draper Road at Mueschke Road in Tomball, will be Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information, call (281) 357-5324.
4. Environmental Education Grants. The EPA Office of Environmental Education has issued a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for grant-funded projects to increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues and provide the skills that participants in its funded projects need to make informed environmental decisions and take responsible actions toward the environment. The deadline for applications is November 21st. Read more at http://epa.gov/education/grants/.
5. Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bats. Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bats – rare bats make themselves at home in Liberty County. A fresh Video News Report is now available on our site called “Big-Eared Bats.” In the swamps of East Texas, lives a colony of rare bats called Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bats. Their numbers have dwindled with the overall disappearance of the old hardwood bottomland forests causing biologists to worry. Texas Parks and Wildlife has this report on one colony that has made themselves at home in Liberty County. See the Youtube link at http://youtu.be/nqTlpOjVbK4. For a high resolution download on the site, visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/files/video/. Look for “September VNR_ Big-Eared Bats ” There is an HD version without titles.
   
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:
   • A New North Deer*
   • Lone Star Land Steward: O2 Ranch
   • Cedar Hill State Park
   • Creatures of the Night
7. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
   Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.