1. LTNS Open House Weekend. The Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary (LTNS) comprises 655 acres of wilderness with trails and flowing creeks through quiet forests of huge magnolias, towering pines, holly, and dogwood. This weekend, November 20-21, LTNS will be having an open house and performing trail maintenance. The public is invited to use the day to plan or camp in The Cove (primitive camping). November 20th is Trail Maintenance Day, so bring gloves and loppers and adopt a trail. For more information, visit http://www.outdoornatureclub.org/.
2. Family Owl Prowl. Friday, Nov. 26 Looking for something to do with the family the day after Thanksgiving? Bring them for a guided moonlight hike in the Arboretum to look and listen for owls, flying squirrels and other nocturnal creatures. Wildlife Rehab & Education will give a short presentation with live owls. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. Ages 7 and up. http://www.houstonarboretum.org/family_owlprowl.asp.
3. Waste Accepted. We CAN Recycle Inc. is now able to accept e-waste at no charge up to December 15th through a STAR grant. Materials can be dropped off all day at 723 N. Drennan St. Materials accepted include PC’s, TV’s, CRT’s, and most other small electronics. For more information on We CAN Recycle Inc., visit http://wecanrecycle.org/.
4. HANC Whooping Cranes trip. Dec. 4 & 5. Once numbering only 15 individuals, the Whooping Crane population has grown to almost 300 due to joint efforts of the U.S. and Canadian governments. This majestic bird breeds in Canada and winters on the Texas coast at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Bill Eley, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s program development director, will lead this trip which includes transportation, hotel, breakfast and a boat tour of the marshes in Aransas. Space is limited; register before Nov. 23. http://www.houstonarboretum.org/whoopingcrane_fieldtrip.asp.
5. GBF Advocates for Stronger Freshwater Inflows to Galveston Bay. Freshwater flowing down the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers is the lifeblood of an estuary like Galveston Bay, providing for the proper salinity in the bay and bringing in vital nutrients and sediments.  For years, the Galveston Bay Foundation has been hard at work advocating for protective freshwater inflow standards. See GBF’s latest efforts in the Galveston County Daily News op-ed, GCDN editorial, and an editorial in the Houston Chronicle. You can learn more by visiting GBF’s environmental flows webpage.

The 2010 Synergy Awards Luncheon at the Houston Racquet Club was a big success!  Yolanda Green said it felt like a Green Reunion Tour, as she entertained us all as emcee and covered the event on her Going Green with Yolanda Green television show.  (See it here!  http://www.39online.com/videobeta/3b195caf-401f-4d0e-a96b-2ceed0b301ae/Environment/GG-Synergy-Awards-2010)

Celebrating 40 years since the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition was created, the entire CEC board of directors took the stage to present Ms. Terry Hershey with a special Vision Award for her foresight, as well as her recognition of the need for a communication hub for the various environmental concerns in our community.  From her vision, the CEC was born, and its mission is still vital today.  Through a communal website calendar which provides a one-stop-shopping place to find out what is going on throughout our green community, to the CEC e-news delivered to over 5,000 people weekly, to the Environmental Resource Guide directory of area green groups and important phone numbers, the CEC strives to keep us all in touch and informed, and thereby works to further empower the missions of all of our Coalition members.  We culminate the year by recognizing important efforts with the Synergy Awards.

We invite you to enjoy these photo collages of the Synergy luncheon event, and hope you will join us in again congratulating this year’s honorees:

 Army and Sarah Emmott Conservation Award

    Tom Solomon, Texas Master Naturalist

Government Award

    Steve Stelzer, City of Houston Green Building Resource Center

Business Awareness Award

    New Living Green Building + Home Store

    RecycleMatch

Community Activist Award

    Becky Edmondson, Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy

Sustainability Award

    Robert Adair, Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum

Environmental Education Award

    Renee Brawner, East Chambers ISD

President’s Award

    Port of Houston Authority

Media Award

    Gary and Kathy Adams Clark, Houston Chronicle

Founder’s Award

    Arthur L. Storey,  Jr.

 And MANY THANKS for the generosity of our event sponsors:

• Ms. Terry Hershey
• Jeffrey Shell
• Green Bank
• Fluid Power Equipment
• The Port of Houston Authority
• Kim Kaiser and Associates, LLC
• Bayou Preservation Association
• Terri Thomas/Houston Audubon Society

Please plan to join us for next year’s Synergy Awards, and remember to begin collecting notes now on the impressive environmental efforts around you, so you can add your own nominations next summer!

Title: TCEQ Public Comment: Lake Houston Watershed TMDL
Location: Lone Star College – Tomball Campus, Room South 163, 30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball 77375
Event Link: Click here
Description: On October 14, 2010, the TCEQ Commissioners voted to approve for public comment the draft TMDL documents for impaired waterways in the Lake Houston watershed. The draft TMDL report and more information has been posted on the TCEQ website. The Public Comment Period closes on December 20, 2010. Public comment meeting dates and locations have been finalized, as follows:

December 8, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland City Hall
907 East Houston Street
Cleveland, Texas 77327

December 9, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

Lone Star College-Tomball Campus
Room South-163
30555 Tomball Parkway
Tomball, Texas 77375

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-12-09

Title: TCEQ Public Comment: Lake Houston Watershed TMDL
Location: Cleveland City Hall, 907 East Houston Street, Cleveland, TX 77327
Event Link: Click here
Description: On October 14, 2010, the TCEQ Commissioners voted to approve for public comment the draft TMDL documents for impaired waterways in the Lake Houston watershed. The draft TMDL report and more information has been posted on the TCEQ website. The Public Comment Period closes on December 20, 2010. Public comment meeting dates and locations have been finalized, as follows:

December 8, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland City Hall
907 East Houston Street
Cleveland, Texas 77327

December 9, 2010, 6:30 p.m.

Lone Star College-Tomball Campus
Room South-163
30555 Tomball Parkway
Tomball, Texas 77375

Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2010-12-08

The Executive Director (ED) of The Mercer Society (TMS) is responsible for overseeing all routine aspects of TMS, under the guidance and direction of the TMS President of the Board and the Executive Committee,  including:

• Managing TMS staff
• Working with the Board of Directors to direct TMS fund-raising events and development
• Serving as the spokesperson for TMS at the direction of the president of the Board of Directors
• Responsible for implementing policies, annual goals and objectives, fiscal management, programming, and administration of TMS as set by the Board of Directors.
• Coordinate volunteers and serve as the TMS Board of Directors’ liaison to the staff of Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (MABG)

A college degree is preferred and at least 5-10 years of administrative experience.

To apply, Send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:

Betsy Hunter, President
The Mercer Society
Betsy@cebridge.net

Title: HANC Mutts & Moonlight Mixer
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Event Link: Click here
Description: Kick back for a casual happy hour alternative and support a good cause in the process.

Head to the Arboretum for a great evening under the moonlight with music from Houston cover band “The Slags” (5:30 – 7 p.m.) and Robert Ellis (7-8:30 p.m.) with food from Freebirds World Burritos, Modelo Especial, Berripop, and Fruit Palette.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-11-19
End Time: 21:00

Title: Seminar: Green is Mainstream – Building Codes, Energy Efficiency, and Best Practices in Green Building
Location: 3300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002
Event Link: Click here
Description: Speakers:
Jose Fernandez-Solis, Ph.D, Architect Assistant Professor
Fred Bastini, Ph.D NCCER, Trainer & PDS Trainer

Green buildings save owners and users money with greater energy
efficiency. They are better for our environment with more reuse of
material. Ultimately, they foster a happier and healthier workplace for
employees. The Green Building Resource Center has been certified to the Gold level of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Commercial Interiors and hosts periodic programs to outreach to the public about green building practices.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2010-12-03
End Time: 12:00

Title: Mushroom Walk – Mini Bioblitz
Location: Field Research Station (FRS) located in Saratoga, Texas
Event Link: Click here
Description: The group will foray into the nearby Lance Rosier Unit of
the

BTNP, and collect and record species. This activity is part of the BTNP
All Taxa

Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). The collections will be displayed,
identified, and

dried for deposit in an herbarium. The mushroom walk will be lead by the
GSMS president, David Lewis.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-11-20

Some 225 Sandhill Cranes were spotted on west Galveston Island during a mid-December tour last year. Reservations are now being taken for the annual Breakfast with Sandhill Cranes on Dec. 11. Photo by Barbara Rabek.

Title:

Breakfast with Sandhill Cranes
Location: Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road
Event Link: Click here
Description: Enjoy breakfast and meet Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation,
who will talk about the organization’s worldwide crane studies and
conservation efforts.

See the birds for yourself beginning at 9:15 a.m. during a convoy by car to
island crane hot spots. Some 225 cranes were sighted on a similar tour
mid-December last year.
Start Time: 08:00
Date: 2010-12-11

Title: Media Pontoon Boat Cruise aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s, Spirit of the Bayou
Location: Sabine Promenade (150 Sabine Street)
Event Link: Click here
Description: On the Spirit of the Bayou, you will visit downtown’s landmarks including the historic Allen’s Landing, Houston’s birthplace, ride past lushly landscaped Sabine Promenade and Sesquicentennial Park, and continue westward through the bayou’s wilderness.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2010-11-23
End Time: 13:00

Title: Texas Christmas Bird Counts
Location: Galveston
Event Link: Click here
Description: Although this count has very limited land area and a particularly small amount of wooded areas, it still typically is a top 20 or near top twenty US CBC. This count is open to anyone who would like to participate and all areas need more observers. This count undoubtedly produces the most species for the available land area (much of the count circle is water) of all US CBCs. The countdown dinner will be held at the Golden Corral Restaurant, a block west of 61st St on the Seawall. If you would like to participate, please contact Dwight Peake.
Date: 2010-12-14

Title: Save the date: 2011 Future of Leadership Luncheon
Location: Hyatt Regency Houston
Event Link: Click here
Description: Save the date!
Hosted by Center for Houston’s Future
Date: 2011-03-09

Title: Plug Into the Outdoors – Raising Environmental Awareness
Location: Berry Elementary
Event Link: Click here
Description: Berry Elementary will be hosting a large community event to raise
environmental awareness. This event is called Plug Into the Outdoors. Many
different environmental agencies from around the Houston area will be
setting up informational booths and doing different activities with our
community. The goal is to ensure that students and surrounding
community become environmental advocates.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-12-11
End Time: 13:00

Title: Fruit Trees for Your Backyard
Location: Discovery Green
Event Link: Click here
Description: Fruit Trees for Your Backyard

Do you want to be able to eat fruit from your backyard or patio? Find out about fruit that you can easily plant at your home this winter.

Class from 2:00-2:40 and 3:00-3:40

This class is free.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2010-11-05
End Time: 15:40

Title: Fruit Trees for Your Backyard
Location: Eastside Farmers Market
Event Link: Click here
Description: Do you want to be able to eat fruit from your backyard or patio? Find out about fruits that you can easily plant at your home this winter. We will cover maintenance, varieties and where to purchase your trees.

Also from 11-11:40am.
Date: 2010-11-13

Title: Curriculum for the Outdoor Classroom
Location: Urban Harvest Classroom
Event Link: Click here
Description: This two hour workshop is designed for educators who already have a garden on their campus or learning facility and would like to discover new ways to incorporate 2010 TEKS correlated lesson plans into their classroom visits to the outdoor classroom. Lessons will include fractions and measurement, decomposers and food chains, and plant and animal life cycles. In addition to covering learning objectives, these lessons introduce teachers and students to basic gardening activities and maintenance.
Start Time: 16:30
Date: 2011-01-12
End Time: 18:45

Title: Growing Organic Vegetables
Location: University of Houston, Central Campus
Event Link: Click here
Description: In a total of 25 hours of instruction, this series covers everything you want to know about growing vegetables. Topics include the advantages of an organic and ecological approaches over chemicals; vegetable garden design; irrigation and drainage; soil fertility, mulches and composts; organic pest control; seeds, transplants, where to get them and how to plant them. The last half is a detailed discussion of selecting, growing and using a variety of vegetables, annual herbs, and melons. Those who complete the class and 30 hours of volunteer service become certified Organic Vegetable Specialists.

Other classes: Jan 27, Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 24, Apr 7, Apr 21, May 5, May 19
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2011-01-20
End Time: 21:00