By Ella Tyler

The EPA is holding public hearings on proposed changes to the 8-hour ozone standard on Wednesday, Sept 5 at the Houston Marriot West Loop, 1750 West Loop South, near the Galleria. (more…)

By Ella Tyler

The film, 11th Hour, produced and narrated by environmental activist and movie star Leonard DiCaprio, opens today at the Landmark River Oaks, 2009 West Gray. (more…)

Each year, the CEC honors individuals and groups in the greater Houston area with our Synergy Award. (more…)

Bart Drees, Ph. D., Texas A&M Professor and Entomologist will discuss managing pests in the urban landscape on Wednesday, September 5 from 7 – 9 pm at UH Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Road, Katy. (more…)

Leaders from Texas Interfaith Power and Light, an environmental project of Texas Impact, will make a presentation and lead a lively discussion on the evolving role of faith communities in the environmental movement at the Houston Sierra Club meeting on Thursday, September 6 pm. (more…)

Most of us don’t have room in our back yards for buffalo to roam, or even for deer and antelopes to play, but home gardeners can still provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. (more…)

The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is seeking a detail-oriented individual to maintain and coordinate all facets of center’s administrative environment, including communication and IT systems, reception desk relief and support to the executive and development directors. (more…)

Many of our environmental groups conduct training classes for volunteers in the fall. Here are several, but check with a group you are interested in working with. (more…)

RULING KEEPS HOUSTON’S SMOKING BAN ON TRACK
Houston Chronicle 8/28/07
A federal judge on Monday rejected bar owners’ complaints about Houston’s comprehensive smoking ban, allowing the new restrictions to take effect Saturday.

TXDOT PLANS TO CONVERT SOME INTERSTATES TO TOLL ROADS
Houston Chronicle 8/31/07
The Texas Department of Transportation is pushing Congress to pass a federal law allowing the state to “buy back” parts of existing interstate highways and turn them into toll roads.

NEW INTERIM CHIEF FOR TXDOT NAMED

CARGO GROWTH MEANS PORT MAY NEED TO PICK UP PACE
Houston Chronicle 8/27/07
The amount of cargo moving through the new Bayport container terminal is higher than expected and likely will speed construction of the massive project.

CITY HIRES LAWYER TO FIGHT BARGE TERMINAL
Baytown Sun 8/24/07
Councilman: ‘We all know how bad that would be for Baytown’

LOCAL WEATHER GURU TO HEAD HURRICANE CENTER
Galveston County Daily News 8/28/07
Bill Read, head of the Houston-Galveston National Weather Service, was named the acting deputy director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

HOUSTON FORECASTER GETS HURRICANE CENTER POST

GROUPS CALL FOR HIGHER EPA STANDARDS
Galveston County Daily News 8/26/07
Health experts say delaying the deadline to meet clean air standards will take a toll on the public’s health.

CAN BUFFALO BAYOU BE A DOWNTOWN PLAYGROUND?
Houston Chronicle 8/27/07
Some Houstonians shun it as polluted. Many see it as an eyesore. Or a big ditch that floods.

HOUSTON’S HISTORY: LOOK CLOSELY OR YOU’LL MISS IT

MAYOR, HISD CELEBRATE CITY’S FIRST PETRO ACADEMY Houston Business Journal 8/24/07
Houston Mayor Bill White will lead a team of officials in dedicating the Academy of Petroleum Exploration & Production Technology at Milby High School today, a joint venture between Houston Independent School District and the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

HIGH-END RETAIL PLANS: CAN ALL THE PROJECTS DELIVER?
Houston Chronicle 8/31/07
A variety of proposed mixed-use developments soon will be offering well-to-do Houstonians a different lifestyle.

ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE FIGHTS WIND FARM
Houston Chronicle 8/28/07
In a bid to block two large wind energy projects on the South Texas coast, an alliance of environmental groups and landowners is taking aim at the high-voltage transmission line required for the project.

WORLDWATCH PERSPECTIVE: NOTHING IS SIMPLE, NOT EVEN BIOFUELS
Environmental News Network 8/27/07
If you want to do something right, then it’s not going to be simple. Unfortunately, this is a general rule of life. It’s true not only for cooking, relationships, and work, but also for understanding what “sustainable”? biofuels really are.

GOT ARACHNOPHOBIA? HERE’S YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE
New York Times 8/31/07
The discovery of a vast web crawling with millions of spiders spreading across several acres of a North Texas park is causing a stir.

MAYOR: MOUNTAIN LION ON PROWL IN BEACH CITY

HOUSTON ZOO – ORIENTATION FOR CONSERVATION CREW (GRADES 9 – 12)
Date: Thu, Aug 30
Time: 6 – 7 pm (Orientation Only)
Location: Brown Education Center
Fee: Orientation free; otherwise $10 per program date
Contact: www.houstonzoo.org or (713) 533-6550

Complete Description:
For grades 9 – 12 only. Each month we have fun while we help the inhabitatants of the habitats in and around Houston, working as a group on projects such as marsh grass restoration, beach cleanups, or even assisting at area animal rescue organizations. To learn more about the Conservation Crew, join the Houston Zoo at a short orientation on Thursday, August 30 from 6 – 7 pm in the Brown Education Center. Program dates for the remainder of 2007 are: September 8, October 13, November 3, and December 8, 2007.

CHILDREN AT RISK – GALLERY NIGHT
Date: Thu, Aug 30
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Location: Mind Puddles
Fee: none
Contact: Megan Smith at (713) 869-7740; information at www.childrenatrisk.org

Complete Description:
Free wine and cheese reception for all. Please call for more information.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM AND GULF COAST BIRD OBSERVATORY – BIRDING 201: BEYOND THE BASICS
Date: Wed, Aug 29 and Sep 5; field trip on Sat, Sep 15
Time: 7 – 9 pm Weds evening classes; field trip during the day on Sat
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway; field trip at Bolivar Flats bird sanctuary
Fee: $75 for Houston Arboretum members, $85 for non-members; please register by Fri, Aug 24
Contact: Register at (713) 681-8433 or on-line at www.houstonarboretum.org

Complete Description:
This course will focus on more challenging bird identification, such as distinguishing species of shorebirds, gulls, terns, and hawks. Bill Eley, Conservation Science Director of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will be the instructor. This is a birding class for adults.

CLEAN AND RICE ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB FILM – KILOWATT HOURS
Date: Wed, Aug 29
Time: 7 pm Film begins
Location: Rice Media Center
Fee: none; but donations will be accepted
Contact: www.cleanhouston.org

Complete Description:
“Kilowatt Hours” is the story of Jeff Barrie’s 18-month journey across the southeast United States to document our energy-related problems and present practical solutions. The free event is hosted by CLEAN and Rice Environmental Club. After the film, a guest speaker will be available for a question and answer session.

URBAN HARVEST INTRODUCTORY CLASS – AN INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE
Date: Tue, Aug 28
Time: 7 – 9:30 pm
Location: Emerson Unitarian Church, 1900 Bering Drive
Fee: $5 for introductory class only; Please register with Urban Harvest at least three business days before the class
Contact: Register at (713) 880-5540; information at www.urbanharvest.org.

Complete Description:
Permaculture is being practiced all over the planet, and it is the most advanced design concept available for creating gardens, landscapes, and ecosytems. It also helps design sustainable buildings and societies that can prosper easily and efficiently for centuries while minimizing energy and materials use. In this orientation, learn about four courses over the next year that will help you turn your home and yard or farm into a vibrant, bird and butterfly filled energy efficient space resplendent with gourmet vegetables and fruits. Students who complete all four courses receive a Permaculture Designers’ Certification. The Permaculture 10-part class for the Fall begins on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.

HOUSTON SIERRA CLUB BUS TRIP – BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
Date: Wed, Oct 31 – Sun, Nov 4
Time: please call for time
Location: please call for location
Fee: usually $295 per person
Contact: For questions or to sign up, contact Arlene Diehl at (281) 252-4639 or arlenediehl@peoplepc.com; information at www.houston.sierraclub.org

Complete Description:
Leave at 6 pm on Wednesday evening, sleep at night in a sleeper bus, and have three days for hiking in the Chisos Mountains before returning early Sunday morning. Big Bend National Park is one of the most popular destinations for the Houston Sierra Club. Big Bend National Park marks the northernmost range of many plants and animals, such as the Mexican long-nosed bat. Ranges of typically eastern and typically western species are at the extreme limits of their ranges. Contrasting elevations create additional, varied micro-climates. We will have base camping and backpacking groups. All trails are rugged; most are strenuous. Base campers will camp in tents at an elevation of 5,110 feet in the Chisos Basin. They will take day hikes to The Lost Mine Trail, Emory Peak, and the South Rim. Backpackers start in the Chisos Basin, hike a steep trail, and camp near the South Rim, an elevation of over 7,000 feet.

TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION GREEN THUMB GARDENING SEMINAR – LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Date: Tue, Aug 28
Time: 6:30 – 9 pm
Location: Central Market, 3815 Westheimer@Weslayan
Fee: none
Contact: (281) 855-5600 or http://harris-tx.tamu.edu/hort/greenthumb

Complete Description:
Speaker: Carol Brouwer, Ph.D., County Extension Agent – Horticulture

TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE – TEXAS ADOPT-A-BEACH FALL CLEANUP
Date: Sat, Sep 22
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: several sites along the Texas coast; call or check website for details
Fee: none; but Pre-registration requested
Contact: 1 (877) TX COAST or www.texasadoptabeach.org or www.glo.state.tx.us