1. Progressive Forum presents Eric Shlosser & Richard Dawkins. On September 30, Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, will speak at the Progressive Forum.  Mr. Schlosser is presented in association with Urban Harvest. On October 5, Richard Dawkins will be speak. The author of ten books, Dawkins catapulted to fame with The Selfish Gene (1976). He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Society. At Oxford University, he’s a Fellow of New College.  For more information, visit progressiveforum.org.
2. City Hall Victory Garden. 10:00 am, Tranquility Park, 400 Rusk.   On Thursday, September 30, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for Houston’s new City Hall Victory Garden, created by local businesses, community partners and citizens. The ceremony will be hosted by Mayor Annise Parker, City of Houston Sustainability Director Laura Spanjian, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Director Joe Turner, and author of FastFood Nation and co-producer of “Food, Inc.,” Eric Schlosser, in town for a speaking engagement that evening. Mayor Parker will “break ground” by planting the official victory veggies in the garden. www.urbanharvest.org.
3. We Can Recycle, Inc. We Can Recycle, Inc. has expanded its hours. It is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Recycling here is free form businesses and residential recycling. It is located at 723 N Drennan St. in Houston. It accepts aluminum, cardboard, glass, paper, plastic & tin cans. More at http://wecanrecycle.org/.
4. Transition Houston presents Richard Johnson. Richard Johnson, Sustainability Director at Rice University, will be a special guest speaker at Transition Houston’s October meeting. Richard will be discussing climate and resource depletion threats, the current status of Houston sustainability, and opportunities to build our community’s resiliency. For more information, visit http://transitionhouston.wordpress.com/.

Featured

1. Bay City Turns Against Coal Plant (Forrest Wilder – Texas Observer, 9/28, 2010)
   TCEQ issues and air quality permit for the White Stallion coal plant despite recent opposition from Bay City and Matagorda County residents.
   https://www.texasobserver.org/forrestforthetrees/bay-city-turns-against-coal-plant?tmpl=component&print=1
2. Habitat for Humanity Unveils Solar House (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News, 9/27/2010)
   Habitat for Humanity built a solar house for one family. The panels on the roof connect to an energy inverter so that the family will be able to use the energy that is fed into a grid. Habitat for Humanity is also recycling waste from the homes as well as stripping chemicals and putting them in the right places.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1285369568
3. More Fencing and Warning Signs for Contaminated Area of San Jacinto River (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News, 9/23/2010)
   The EPA has given preliminary approval to a request for more fencing and warning signs around the contaminated area of the San Jacinto River. Although this is a helpful step in protecting public health, there is hope that more will be done, such as finding a way to clean the area.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1285277286

EcoNotes

• 29 September
  • Bay City Turns Against Coal Plant, but TCEQ issues a permit this morning anyway (Forrest Wilder – Texas Observer)
    https://www.texasobserver.org/forrestforthetrees/bay-city-turns-against-coal-plant?tmpl=component&print=1
• 28 September
  • Campaign 2010: Two groups opposing anti-flood measure (Bradley Olson – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7222625.html
  • Grassroots Event to Shine on Area Solar-Powered Homes (Chicago Tribune)
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/kiah-gg-solar-tour-22010-story,0,2260561.story
• 27 September
  • UH Professor Hopes To Predict Flooding (Bill Stamps – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1285627123
  • Habitat for Humanity Unveils Solar House (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1285369568
  • St. Catherine’s Montessori Head to Austin to Speak Against Hazardous Power Plant (KIAH News)
    http://www.39online.com/students-austin-story,0,766710.story
  • Trinity River Refuge National Public Lands Day Cleanup Results (Trinity River Refuge News)
    http://www.i-dineout.com/pages2010/Marcus.9.27.2010.html
• 26 September
  • DEA effort draws 1½ tons of meds (Cindy George – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7218203.html
• 25 September
  • Planned coal plant meets resistance (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7217341.html
• 24 September
  • Enjoying a pre-journey aviary reunion (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/7216950.html
  • Re-Opening of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Recreational Red Snapper Season (Department of Commerce)
    http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-23992.htm
• 23 September
  • Waste Management to build single-stream recycling facility (Christine Hall – Houston Business Journal)
    http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/09/20/daily36.html
  • Pearland residents have numerous recycling options (The Journal of Pearland)
    http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/09/24/pearland_journal/lifestyles/9-23_pj_new_recycling.txt
  • Letters: Carbon tax idea panned (Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7215385.html
  • More Fencing and Warning Signs for Contaminated Area of San Jacinto River (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1285277286
• 22 September
  • EPA Responds to Concerns on Fishing in San Jacinto Waste Pits (Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000029600
  • Grant to pay for Freeport bird habitat (John Lowman – The Facts of Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_3c88e0d0-c600-11df-954d-001cc4c002e0.html
  • EPA Awards $360,000 to the Texas Department of State Health Services (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/e8f4ff7f7970934e8525735900400c2e/49403bbe5c061fc3852577a6005b846e!OpenDocument
• 21 September
  • Pattern Energy Plans Texas Wind-Power Export Path (Eileen O’Grady)
    http://planetark.org/wen/59595
  • Hogg Bird Sanctuary Reaps $400K Plus Benefit From New MFAH Bayou Bend Kilroy Visitor Center (Houston Parks & Recreation Department News)
    http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2155/895727/
  • EPA Awards Over $50,000 to the Railroad Commission of Texas (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/e8a66a896730515f852577a5005ed0f9!OpenDocument
• 20 September
  • Bullet train to Dallas? (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/bullet-trains-to-dallas/
  • EPA Announces Voluntary Program for Flexible Permit Holders (EPA News)
    http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/5433D124FD51288C852577A400660916
• 16 September
  • Drilling ban not a job killer, government report says (Jennifer A. Dlouhy – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7204820.html

1. Take Me Outdoors Houston. TPWD’s Take Me Outdoors Houston is set for Saturday, October 2, 2010, at Discovery Green. This is a family-oriented festival of the outdoors that will provide hands-on activities, booths, and opportunities to engage audiences who haven’t ever or don’t often get exposure to the great outdoors. For more information, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.
2. Forest Service 101 – An Introduction to Forest Service Planning Processes. The Sam Houston Trails Coalition (SHTC) will be holding a workshop to introduce the basics of how the Forest Service operates. The event will happen on Saturday, October 2, 2010,  from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Double Lake Shelter. More information on the CEC website.
3. SCS Land Use Conference. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents its annual sustainability conference on Tuesday, October 5, 2010. The focus this year is on land use in the Houston region. The conference presents twenty speakers in one day. There is no cost to attend. Registration is available online at http://shellcenter.rice.edu/Content.aspx?id=446.
4. “Texas Legacy Project: Stories of Courage and Conservation.” The Conservation History Association of Texas is delighted to announce the publication of a book, The Texas Legacy Project:  Stories of Courage and Conservation, edited by David Todd and David Weisman, featuring excerpts from more than 60 narrators, and by Texas A&M Press. There will be a book-signing on October 7, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Brazos Bookstore. More at http://www.texaslegacy.org/bb/book.html.
5. Pepsi Refresh Project. The Green Ribbon Schools program of Texas Children in Nature Coalition has entered the Pepsi Refresh Project. On October 1st, they will be looking for online votes to win a  $250,000 grant to further develop the Green Schools program. Become a fan on Facebook to keep up with the project.
6. Students Against Bay City Coal Plant. St. Catherine’s Montessori students head to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in Austin this week to speak out against the proposed White Stallion Energy Center in Bay City, TX. Students have recently expressed their opposition to the proposed “clean coal” plant.
7. Final Public Hearing on Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan. Over the past 8 months the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been developing a new Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan. The results have been compiled for the public to review and provide feedback. The final hearing will be held in Austin. If unable to attend, visit the website to review the draft and provide comments at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/public_involvement/transportation_plan/default.htm.
8. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html or http://www.ghasp.org/air-quality-aqi/.
   • September 31: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Winds may be light enough and background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the south side of the Houston metro area and well downwind along the coast into the Coastal Bend area.
   • October 1: Yellow–Moderate. Winds may be light enough and background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels.
   • October 2: Yellow–Moderate. Winds may be light enough and background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels.
   • On September 29, TCEQ issued issued an Air Pollution Warning – Level Orange for ozone levels unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area.

Keep Texas Beautiful is seeking several communication interns for a variety of writing, design and social media projects. Applicants should have a background or relevant experience in writing, communications, public relations and/or graphic design, as well as a unique outlook, strong writing skills and knowledge of social media. Please visit the KTB site for more details, or email communications@ktb.org with the phrase ’2010 Communication Intern’ in the subject line.

Student Conservation Association is hiring part-time crew leaders for our School Year Program. Supervise, motivate and co-lead a team of 12 urban youth, aged 15-19, in an environmental service and leadership development program including outdoor recreation, environmental education and camping! Leaders must commit to one weekend a month from December – April, plus training and prep time.

Qualifications: Experience working with urban youth; ability to maintain a safe, productive and enjoyable work environment; strong interest in working with and mentoring youth; outdoor skills; 21 yrs or older; valid driver’s license for 3+ years and clean driving record.

Compensation: expected to be $103/day. Please send a resume and cover letter (or contact for more information) to Andy Janes at ajanes@thesca.org or call at 713.520.1835.

Title: Final Public Hearing on Statewide Long-Range
Location: Building 200, Room 1A-2 at 200 East Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas
Event Link: Click here
Description: Over the past 8 months the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been developing a new Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan.
The results have been compiled for the public to review and provide feedback. The final hearing will be held in Austin. If unable to attend, visit the website to review the draft and provide comments.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-10-01

Title: Richard Johnson at Transition Houston October Meeting
Location: Urban Harvest, 2311 Canal St., Houston, 77003
Event Link: Click here
Description: Richard Johnson, Sustainability Director at Rice University,
will be a special guest speaker at Transition Houston’s October meeting.
Richard will be discussing climate and resource depletion threats, the
current status of Houston sustainability, and opportunities to build
our community’s resiliency. We will also be discussing plans for our
10/10/10 Permablitz (our project for the 350.org Global Work Party:
http://www.350.org/en/transition-houston-permablitz), No Impact
Project workshops, reports from Transition neighborhoods, and plans for
Transition training in early 2011. As always, we will close out the meeting
with refreshments and conversation.

Cost: Free
Contact person for registration: Marybeth at 713-202-0525
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2010-10-04
End Time: 21:00

Title: What is a “Houston”?
Location: 229 C. N. Hilton Hotel & College
Event Link: Click here
Description: The East End Forum will feature special guest speaker Dr. John Lienhard, a professor at the University of Houston world-renowned for his “The Engines of Our Inequity” radio show.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2010-10-07
End Time: 13:00

Title: RDA Fall Lecture Series: We Are Living in a Material World
Location: Houston Museum of Fine Arts
Event Link: Click here
Description: The series, called “A Material World,” will focus on innovative and cutting-edge uses and practices of materials in the built environment. The speakers will address various topics, ranging from what “green” buildings and materials really consist of and how they fare throughout their lifecycle to how different materials are chosen for a particular project and how materials function both aesthetically and practically.

The tactile and aesthetic qualities of materials have always been integral to construction and architectural experience, but emergent materials and their associated technologies are rapidly altering the way designers work and the way end-users engage buildings. This series, as well as Cite Magazine’s November issue, seeks to address the ever-expanding world of materials and their incorporation into our built environment.

October 13 – Gail Peter Borden
Architect, Borden Partnership LLC, Los Angeles

http://www.bordenpartnership.com/

Reception Sponsor: D. E. Harvey Builders

All lectures will be held at 7:00 p.m. in Brown Auditorium in the Caroline Wiess Law Building, with a pre-lecture reception, graciously sponsored by Harvey Builders, Brochsteins, SpawMaxwell, WHR Architects with E&C Engineers and Consultants, Inc., at 6:00 p. m. in the museum lobby. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located at 1001 Bissonnet (enter via the Main Street door.) No guaranteed seating for ticket holders after 7:00 p.m.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-10-13

Title: RDA Fall Lecture Series: We Are Living in a Material World
Location: Houston Museum of Fine Arts
Event Link: Click here
Description: The series, called “A Material World,” will focus on innovative and cutting-edge uses and practices of materials in the built environment. The speakers will address various topics, ranging from what “green” buildings and materials really consist of and how they fare throughout their lifecycle to how different materials are chosen for a particular project and how materials function both aesthetically and practically.

The tactile and aesthetic qualities of materials have always been integral to construction and architectural experience, but emergent materials and their associated technologies are rapidly altering the way designers work and the way end-users engage buildings. This series, as well as Cite Magazine’s November issue, seeks to address the ever-expanding world of materials and their incorporation into our built environment.

October 20 – David Gresham
Material ConneXion, New York

http://www.materialconnexion.com/

Reception Sponsor: Brochsteins Inc.

All lectures will be held at 7:00 p.m. in Brown Auditorium in the Caroline Wiess Law Building, with a pre-lecture reception, graciously sponsored by Harvey Builders, Brochsteins, SpawMaxwell, WHR Architects with E&C Engineers and Consultants, Inc., at 6:00 p. m. in the museum lobby. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located at 1001 Bissonnet (enter via the Main Street door.) No guaranteed seating for ticket holders after 7:00 p.m.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-10-20

Title: Morning in the Country
Location: Blackwood Educational Land Institute
Event Link: Click here
Description: Attend Morning in the Country for self-guided garden tours and to walk the Labyrinth and learn About Straw-Bale Construction.

Organic Vegetarian Lunch Served at 12:30pm • $26
Children under 12 • $8

Reservations Required
Start Time: 12:30
Date: 2010-10-30

Title: Take Me Outdoors Houston
Location: Discovery Green
Event Link: Click here
Description: This is Houston’s 2nd annual free, family-oriented festival of the outdoors. Exhibitors will provide hands-on activities, booths and opportunities to engage audiences who haven’t ever or don’t often get exposure to the great outdoors – especially the resources located right in Houston’s big backyard.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-10-02
End Time: 15:00

Title: Texas Young Birders at Jones Park
Location: Jones Park
Event Link: Click here
Description: A birding enthusiast brings her love of birding to area youth, ages 11 to 18, who want to gain knowledge and confidence in identifying birds by sight and sound. Participants need to bring a pair of binoculars with magnification of 7 x 35 or 8 x 42.
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-10-12

Title: Second Sunday Pickers at Jones Park
Location: Jones Park
Event Link: Click here
Description: Second Sunday Pickers take center stage for an afternoon of folk music played on a variety of old-fashioned instruments. Visitors of all ages are invited to listen, sing along, or bring an instrument to join in the fun.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2010-10-10
End Time: 16:00

Title: Second Saturdays at Jones Park
Location: Jones Park
Event Link: Click here
Description: During this Second Saturday at Jones Park, visitors can witness how natural materials were used to dye fabric and fibers.
Date: 2010-10-09

Title: FOCUS: Forests, Ocean, Climate and US!
Location: 2415 Avenue K Galveston, Texas
Event Link: Click here
Description: FOCUS is a nationwide environmental education campaign improving children’s understanding of the intimate connection between
the health and sustainability of our water resources and the health of
our planet. The FOCUS program, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Wyland Foundation, and Texas partners, combines classroom, community, and art activities to encourage youth to explore their connection to the environment in creative and conscientious ways. This FOCUS event will highlight student artwork spanning the watershed, showing connections between forests, the ocean, climate and communities.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-10-23
End Time: 16:00

Title: University of Houston Green Building Components Expo
Location: Atrium of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston
Event Link: Click here
Description: The University of Houston will be hosting the 2nd Annual Green Building Components Expo. There will be a showcase of faculty-led research teams to design, develop, and commercialize Green Building Components, systems, and assemblies.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-10-21
End Time: 19:00