By Ella Tyler

The very, very long campaign season is nearly over. By the time early voting ended Friday, more than 600,000 people had voted in Harris County. Tuesday, November 4 is the only day left to cast your vote in this historic election. (more…)

The EPA/TCEQ Unified Command has established a household hazardous waste drop-off station for residents of Nassau Bay, Webster, Seabrook, El Lago and Taylor Lake and surrounding areas for homes affected by flooding as a result of Hurricane Ike. (more…)

Many CEC supporters have the opportunity to support our work through payroll contribution plans through Earth Share of Texas. Go online for a current list of participating workplaces. (more…)

Our new address is 6420 Richmond, Suite 658, Houston, Texas, 77057. We have a great view of the Galleria and, depending on air quality, points east. (more…)

Fourth generation nuclear power plants and other solution to our energy and climate challenges”, a talk by Ron Hayden, will be Sunday, November 2, at 1:15 pm at First Unitarian Universalist Church at 5200 Fannin, in the Museum District. Ron will report on “Prescription for the Planet”, a new book by Tom Blees. (more…)

The fall Environmental Educators’ Exchange (EEE) meeting takes place on Wednesday, November 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center located at: 15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90) @ Park Road 138, Houston, TX 77049. If you need help finding it, call (281) 456-2800.

The White Oak Bayou Association’s annual meeting will be Wednesday, November 12 at 6 pm at the Historic Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th Street. Please RSVP to WhiteOakBayouAssociation@comcast.net so there will be plenty of food and drink. Guests are welcome.

The Park People’s call for award nominations is currently outstanding. The nominations are due November 14, and the winners will be recognized at an Earth Day luncheon on April 22. The speaker for that meeting will be Carter Smith, the Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. For a description of the award categories and a nomination form, contact dschenke@parkpeople.org.

CREDIT CRISIS SPURS CITY TO LOOK FOR PROJECTS TO HOLD
Houston Chronicle 10/29/08
The city has drawn up plans to roll back spending by around $100 million on parks, corroded water and sewer lines and other major infrastructure projects in what officials characterize as a cautious approach to the credit crisis.

TEXAS COAST’S RECOVERY FROM IKE TO TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL
Houston Chronicle 10/28/08
Hurricane Ike’s storm surge was so widespread, so high and so violent that it will take much longer than usual for the Texas coastline to recover, the director of coastal resources for the Texas General Land Office said Wednesday.

COUNTY OKS QUICK FIX FOR BLUEWATER

CANDIDATES WEIGH IN ON GRAND PARKWAY ISSUE
Fort Bend Herald And Texs Coaser 10/30/08
Sharp words were exchanged between the two candidates for Fort Bend County Precinct 1 at a forum Wednesday night.

BACK TO NATURE
Baytown Sun 10/30/08
Snowy Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills gather at the Baytown Nature Center. For the first time since Hurricane Ike devastated the facility, it is now ready to reopen Saturday.

U.S. ENVIRONMENTALISTS TRYING TO ATTRACT BLACKS TO THE CAUSE
Houston Chronicle 10/28/08
The growing movement to fight global warming includes entertainers and evangelical ministers, scientists and suburban moms. Even both presidential candidates have called for fewer emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses that contribute to climate change.

FESTIVITIES CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF KATY FREEWAY
Houston Chronicle 10/28/08
Amid a burst of confetti and a release of balloons, some 400 supporters and road-building professionals Tuesday applauded the consummation of Texas’ biggest freeway project — $2.8 billion, 23 miles long and the first to have a tollway down the middle.

STUDENTS CONNECT WITH NATURE AT ‘LEARNING GARDEN’
Houston Chronicle 10/30/08
For Xavier Johnson, the new garden at his west Houston campus serves as a quiet refuge — a place where the 15-year-old can clear his head and dream of becoming a music producer.

We are honored to recognize these firms for their generous sponsorship of the 2008 Synergy Awards Luncheon and their support of some of the most notable environmental efforts throughout our community this year.

FAMILY/KID YOGA AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM
Date: Wed, Oct 29
Time: 3:15 – 4 pm
Location: 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $10 for kids, $5 for adults
Contact: www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Classes for children and their families. Take part in this fun and imaginative class imitating plants and animals you will find right here in the Houston Arboretum. Bring yoga mats.

HOUSTON ZOO WORKDAY

Date: Wednesday October 29, 2008
Location: Houston Zoo
Contact: L. Yelenick lkayey@gmail.com

Complete Description:

Volunteers needed to plant native plants.

SABINE PROMENADE NETWORKING EVENT

Date: Tuesday October 28, 2008
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Contact: www.buffalobayou.org

HOUSTON RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP- QUARTERLY MEETING

Date: Sunday October 27th

Time: 2pm

Fee: None

Contact: www.txses.org/hreg
Location: Houston Library – Park Place Branch, located at 8145 Park Place, Houston, Texas 77017.

Complete Description: Our speaker for this meeting will be Dr. Chris Eugster talking about exciting solar plans that the City of Houston has.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ROUNDTABLE

Date: Tuesday October 28, 2008
Time: 10 am- noon
Location: H-GAC Conf. Room A 3555 Timmons Lane
Contact: RSVP to Kristi Tompkins at 832-681-2564 kristi.tompkins@h-gac.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON/UH-CLEAR LAKE REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP:

PEDAGOGY – SCIENCE FAIR AND RESEARCH
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Time: 5:30 – 8:30
Location: EIH/UHCL 2700 Bay Area Blvd.
Fee: FREE
Contact: Candy Allison at allisonc@uhcl.edu or by fax at 281/283-3953
Complete Description:

What are the two most dreaded words to most students – science fair! Through activities in this workshop, you will get ideas to help the students find a topic, do the research and collect data. Differences in types of observations, the correct types of data tables, and strategies to correctly analyze the data will be done. You will leave prepared to tackle any science fair head on. Bring your own snack or dinner.

LIVABLE HOUSTON INITIATIVE

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Time: noon – 1:30pm
Location: H-GAC building, 3555 Timmons, 2nd floor
Fee: FREE
Contact: wendy.natt@houstontomorrow.org For more information call 713-523-5757

Complete Details:
Professionals working together toward a sustainable Houston region. Dealing with major issues in a sustainable way will require professionals across disciplines to not only change the way things are done within their discipline, but to find new ways to inform each others’ work and find synergies that will help build a more efficient, cleaner society. Panel: a planner, an engineer, and an architect. Bring your own lunch.

Houston Tomorrow