1. Gulf Restoration Network: Unnatural Histories, Unnatural Waters. Thursday, September 29, 2011, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Inman Gallery. Join GRN this Thursday evening for a reception at Inman Gallery with paintings by artist Kristin Musgnug and a short presentation by Gulf Restoration Network about its response work to the BP oil drilling disaster and campaign for clean water in the Gulf of Mexico region. The event is free and open to the public.  With questions, call (504) 525-1528 x210 or e-mailmembership@healthygulf.org.
2. Getting to Go: Sustainable Transportation Strategies. H-GAC is hosting Getting to Go: Sustainable Transportation Strategies luncheon and workshop Friday, September 30, 2011, from 10:30 to 3:30 at Embassy Suites in the Houston Energy Corridor. Participants will hear from prominent local and national experts who will share their successful strategies, including bicycle/pedestrian planning, livable centers projects and Commute Solutions. A networking expo will follow. For more information and to register ($25), visit www.h-gac.com/go/sustainabletransportation or contact Meredith Dang at 713-993-2443 or meredith.dang@h-gac.com.
3. Texas Stream Team: Meeting of the Monitors. Texas State University’s Texas Stream Team and Houston-Galveston Area Council have organized the Meeting of the Monitors from September 29th to October 1st at the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake. The three day event is designed to encourage communication and networking between regulatory agencies, community members, volunteer monitors, and other stakeholders; provide opportunities for citizen monitors to expand their skill-sets as citizen scientists by participating in many hands-on workshops; recognize and reward citizen water quality monitoring efforts; and, provide educational and professional development opportunities. To view a detailed schedule, and to register, visit http://www.rivernetwork.org/events/texas-stream-team-meeting-monitors.
4. Scenarios 2040. The Center for Houston’s Future will be hosting Scenarios 2040 on October 4th at 5pm at the Bell Tower on 34th. Scenarios 2040 stories are based on rigorous research, analysis and community interviews that help us understand how the powerful driving forces that affect our world – and the choices we make right now – could affect our region’s future decades from now. For more information, visit http://centerforhoustonsfuture.org/.
5. Transition Houston: Recycling in Texas.  Transition Houston has a great program lined up, as Shawn McFarland will be speaking about recycling in Texas, as well as her experiences campaigning to improve recycling laws.  Representatives from the City will provide information about the upcoming neighborhood organizing conference, and updates fromNeighborhood Initiatives and Action Groups will be provided.  As always, Transition Houston will close out the meeting with refreshments, conversation, and community! Tuesday, October 4, 7-9 PM, Christ the King Lutheran Church at the corner of Greenbriar and Rice Blvd. http://www.transitionhouston.org/content/transition-houston-october-meeting.
6. Central City Coop: Healthy Living Seminars. Natural Living will be presenting “Healthy Living” seminars at Central City Co-op on the First and Third Wednesdays of each month this fall. Pre-registration is required. Please Email to Register October 5 ~Eco cleaners for the home~11am-12:30pm Cost $30 Co-op members $25 come learn how to make sustainable cleaners for the home. Use natural ingredients for cleaning anything at the house in a low cost/ non-toxic way! Guests will make and take home samples as well as all the recipes. For more information or to register, e-mail.
7. HARC and Huntsman Congratulates Township on Bicycle Friendly Community Designation. The League of American Bicyclists announced Wednesday that The Woodlands has received a “Bicycle Friendly Community” designation at the Bronze Level. Currently only Austin and San Antonio are Texas cities rated as Bicycle Friendly. David Hitchcock, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) staff member, and Ronald Keichline, resident of The Woodlands and Huntsman Associate, helped organize a Woodlands Ad Hoc Bicycle Committee in early 2010 to seek this designation and to lend support to the Township in assembling the lengthy application. In addition to Township staff and HARC, other important partner organizations include The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., the Woodlands Cycling Club, and Lonestar Multisport. More at http://www.bikeleague.org.
8. STS-AIChE meeting: Living and Working in Space: Perspectives of a Chemical Engineer. The October STS-AIChE meeting will be held on October 6th, 2011 at the Moody Gardens Hotel, Seven Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX – 77554. This meeting is part of the 3rd Annual Regional Process Technology Conference. If you are on the North side of Houston, consider attending the satellite meeting at Stir Crazy,25 Waterway Ave, The Woodlands, TX 77380. The satellite meeting is a social, networking meeting. Our dinner speaker will be Al Sacco, Jr., Dean of Whitacre College of Engineering at TexasTechUniversity in Lubbock, TX. A visual tour of traveling into space will be given along with anecdotal stories of what training, flight and landing is like. Data will be shown on zeolite crystallization indicating that crystals grown in space are more uniform and may have different catalytic properties. http://sts.aiche.org.

1. Field Trip Grants. Target has a program that provides students with the opportunity to enhance their studies in the arts, math, science and social studies by providing grants to allow students to learn outside the classroom. As part of the program, each Target store will award three Target Field Trip Grants to K—12 schools nationwide—enabling one in 25 schools throughout the U.S. to send a classroom on a field trip. Each grant is valued up to $700. To apply for a field trip grant, visit http://sites.target.com/.
2. Education in Action’s 2011-2012 Call for Outstanding Student Nominations. 4th-8th graders will have the opportunity to join delegations of distinguished students at the Lone Star Leadership Academy, a week-long, TEKS-based, experiential leadership development program to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston during spring break or summer. The Lone Star Leadership Academy provides opportunities for students to experience grade level curriculum during visits to historically, politically, scientifically, and environmentally significant sites with a focus on leadership throughout. The fall nomination is November 18, 2011, and the final nomination deadline is February 10. To nominate a student, visit http://www.educationinaction.org/educators/nominations.php.
3. 14th Annual Texas Recycling & Sustainability Summit. 14th Annual Texas Recycling & Sustainability Summit will be taking place from October 2nd-4th in Austin at the Omni Downtown. The summit will cover topics such as “Concepts and Current Realities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR),” “How Far Can We Take Recycling/Sustainability,” and ” Organics and Composting.” To learn more about the summit, visit http://www.recyclingstar.org/summit/index.html.
4. Bird Watching in Woodland Park. Please join Friends of Woodland Park on Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 7 a.m. for a bird watching adventure in the park. Jason Bonilla will be leading the group. So far this year he has identified over 50 species of migratory and native birds within the Park. Bring your binoculars, scan the trees tops, and come see what you can find! For a complete survey of birds identified at the park, visit  www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org.
5. Free Behavior Change Workshop. October 12^th Pasadena Convention Center:  Come join over 2,500+ graduates nationwide who are saving over $2,700 and reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by 5 tons each year.  You will learn ways to save money, improve your resilience for the future, and help the environment through powerful behavior change methods.  To register email Susan@NurturedWorld.Org or call (512) 663-1496.  More information is available at http://www.nurturedworld.org/CalendarOfEvents.html.
6. National Public Lands Day results at Trinity River Refuge. Eleven Trinity River Refuge staff, Friends of Trinity River Refuge, and volunteers turned out for the Annual National Public Lands Day clean-up event. About 800 pounds of trash were picked up along the Trinity River at the Hwy 105 bridge for about 2 hours on 9-24-2011 as part of the nationwide event. It is always sad to see such a nice place trashed by folks who don’t care to take back what they bring. Ironically, only 3 pounds of aluminum cans were found in all that trash.
7. Berry Elementary plans for “Plug Into the Outdoors.” Berry Elementary Environmental Science Magnet School will be hosting a large community event to raise environmental awareness on December 10, 2011. 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. Berry Elementary invites environmental organizations to set up a table with a small activity for families to do and learn about your organization. Last year around 800 people came to the event and this year we are expecting double that because of our new LEED silver building that is finally finished! Please contact magnet coordinator Lori Kelleher at 713-696-2700 for more information.
8. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
   • September 29: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone–Ozone levels could also “Moderate” on the east and northeast side of the Houston area.
   • September 30: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone–Depending on wind speeds, incoming background levels should be high enough for ozone to possibly reach “Moderate” levels on the south and southwest side of the Houston, area in the afternoon and early evening.
   • October 1: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone–Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher levels on the west and southwest side of the Houston.
   • On September 24, TCEQ issued an Air Pollution Warning – Level Orange for unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Orange warning, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.

Featured

1. It’s Time to Set Uniform Algae Feedstock Standards (Algae Industry Magazine, 09/21/2011)
   Algae oil is gearing up to industrial scale production. Algae oil is a distinctive biofeedstock that generates abundant energy. Currently, multiple standards are being devised in order to enable blending, common refining, transportation and distribution. The trust and support of the public and regulators is important in the ability to achieve wide acceptance of industry standards for algae applications in just a few, critical years.
   http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com
   
2. MSUSA Announces Houston-Area Wetland Mitigation Credits Now Available (Market Watch, 09/21/2011)
   MSUSA Wetland credits are now available for a seven-county service area, which includes Harris and Montgomery counties. These credits will help to offset the impacts that businesses have on wetlands or streams. By offering these credits, MSUSA is furthering resource and urban development, which is tied to strengthening the Houston economy, while mitigating the environmental impact.
   http://www.marketwatch.com/
3. Piranhas, other dangerous exotic species found in Texas’ waterways (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle, 09/27/2011)
   A red-bellied piranha, a native of the Amazon basin, was found in the 23-acre lake in Tom Bass Park. The discovery of this piranha supports the suspicion that exotic species, which have the potential to do great harm to native fish and the ecosystems, are increasing in the area. The exotic species may outcompete, prey on or otherwise overwhelm native species.
   http://www.chron.com/

EcoNotes

• 28 September
• U.S. To Do More Research On Electric Vehicles (Roberta Rampton – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Keystone pipeline Hearing Draws Supporters, Few Critics (Kristen Hays – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 27 September
• Piranhas, other dangerous exotic species found in Texas’ waterways (Shannon Tompkins – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• UT opens Houston energy training center (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• City of Houston bike commuters increased 62% in 5 years (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Work begins on creating Cedar Bayou protection plan (Jane Howard Lee – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• Galvestonians seeking to rebuild a healthier city (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• 290 commuter rail study shows less ridership than park & rides (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Texas Petroleum Investment Company Fined for a Second Time for Violating the Clean Water Act (EPA News)
  http://yosemite.epa.gov/
• Can adversaries become partners to preserve Texas’ wild waterways? (Larry D. Hodge – Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine)
  http://www.tpwmagazine.com/
• Dangerous wildfire conditions expected through the fall (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• Adopt-A-Beach volunteers find the coast is pretty clear (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• 26 September
• Galveston discusses branding for new transit (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• House Passes Bill To Block EPA Clean Air Rules (Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• UT sustainability panel’s plan would cut campus energy use, boost renewables (Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• Texas’ record drought damaging HISD buildings (Gabe Gutierrez – KHOU 11 News)
  http://www.khou.com/
• EPA Settles Complaint Against Camterra Resources, Inc. for Violations of the Clean Water Act (EPA News)
  http://yosemite.epa.gov/
• HDHHS to use $3 million grant to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in homes (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• City of Houston and Compucycle add permanent recycling drop-off site (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• 25 September
• Drought & Water Today! (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• 23 September
• Houston adds electronics recycling centers (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• New garden designed to filter runoff (Christopher Smith Gonzalez – The Galveston County Daily News)
  http://galvestondailynews.com/
• Red Tide Confirmed along Upper, Lower Texas Coast (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• Big Government’s Endangering the State’s Economic Success Through Air, Water and Species Regulation (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• Texas slow to prepare for future water needs (Ramit Plushnick-Masti – Google News)
  http://www.google.com/
• EPA Goes With Bush-Era Smog Rule It Had Bashed (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Wind power companies lack strategies in place for disposal of aging turbines (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• FDA Bans CFCs In Some Inhalers From Next Year (Anna Yukhananov – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 22 September
• ‘Lost Pines’ Experience Lives on at Buescher State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
• Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Challenges EPA’s Flawed Cross-State Air Pollution Rules (Attorney General of Texas)
  https://www.oag.state.tx.us/
• Barton: Solyndra shouldn’t end solar loan guarantees (energyNOW)
  http://www.energynow.com/
• Sand Mining Emerges As Another Fracking Threat (Anna Driver – Planet Ark)
  http://planetark.org/
• Oil Mats After BP Spill Pose Long-Term Ecosystem Threat: Study (Kelli Dugan – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• 21 September
• It’s Time to Set Uniform Algae Feedstock Standards (Algae Industry Magazine)
  http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com
• MSUSA Announces Houston-Area Wetland Mitigation Credits Now Available (Market Watch)
  http://www.marketwatch.com/
• Texas job loss due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross State Air Pollution Rule (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• TCEQ approves fines totaling $302,602 (TCEQ News)
  http://www.tceq.texas.gov/
• Texas Water Supplier Approves Emergency Drought Plan (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
  http://www.texastribune.org/
• Texas sues EPA over cross-state pollution rules (Tom Fowler – Fuel Fix)
  http://fuelfix.com/
• Senator: Drought, water should finally wake up Texans (Houston Chronicle)
  http://blog.chron.com/
• Houston Parks and Recreation Department (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• Spectra Energy tops carbon disclosure index (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Drought could pose problems for Texas power plants, grid operator says (Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• 20 September
• Texas A&M-Galveston Prof Gets $240,000 Grant For Artificial Reef (Guidry News)
  http://guidrynews.com/

Title: Bird watching at Woodland Park
Location: Woodland Park
Link out: Click here
Description: Please join us on Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 7 a.m. for our next bird watching adventure in
the park. Once again, Jason Bonilla will be leading the group. So far this year he
has identified over 50 species of migratory and native birds within the Park and we
expect to continue to find even more! Bring your binoculars, scan the trees tops,
and come see what you can find!
Start Time: 07:00
Date: 2011-10-02

Title: Water Quality Stewardship: The Past, Present and Future State of our Water Quality
Location: United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77007
Link out: Click here
Description: Bayou Preservation Association

BPA Symposium 2011:
Water Quality Stewardship:
The Past, Present and Future State of our Water Quality

Welcome and Introduction:
Honorables Mayor Parker and Judge Emmett, introduced by BPA President, J. Tynan Kelly

Keynote Speaker:
Dov Weitman, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Start Time: 07:30
Date: 2011-11-04
End Time: 15:30

Title: Distinguished Speaker Series: Frederick Steiner
Location: JW Marriott Hotel, Houston
Link out: Click here
Description: Houston Tomorrow will present its Fall Distinguished Speaker luncheon featuring Frederick Steiner, dean of the School of Architecture and Henry M. Rockwell Chair in Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin, on November 3, 2011 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Houston.

Dean Steiner will discuss his latest book, Design for a Vulnerable Planet and his ideas for a sustainable future based on new regionalism, a theory of design which holds that structure and landscape should be inspired by the surrounding ecosystem. Steiner has been an important researcher in the evolution of the Megaregion concept, focusing on the Texas Triangle megaregion that includes Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2011-11-03

Title: Lessons in Neighborhood Organizing Conference
Location: United Way of Greater Houston (50 Waugh Drive)
Link out: Click here
Description: Houston’s Community U Conference is geared toward community-based organizations and individuals interested in improving their neighborhoods. It will provide Houstonians with training, resources and solutions through a combination of workshops, presentations and networking opportunities.

Take charge in your community. See how your area can benefit from what other communities have done and discover resources your neighborhood can take advantage of right now.

Topics will include deed restrictions, volunteers, developing community projects, how to lead meetings, conflict resolution, and networking tools just to name a few.

Early registration is required and payment MUST be received in order to be pre-registered by the September 30 deadline. For more information, please contact CommunityU@houstontx.gov or 713-837-7803.
Start Time: 08:30
Date: 2011-10-15
End Time: 13:00

Title: Transition Houston October Meeting and Guest Speaker
Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd., Houston 77005
Link out: Click here
Description: Transition Houston meets on the first Tuesday of each month, at Christ the
King Lutheran Church at the corner of Greenbriar and Rice Blvd. (near Rice Village).

There is a great program lined up, as Shawn McFarland will be talking to us about recycling in Texas, as well as her experiences campaigning to improve recycling laws. Representatives from the City will fill everyone in on the upcoming neighborhood organizing conference, and we will have updates from our Neighborhood Initiatives and Action Groups. As always, the meeting will close with refreshments, conversation, and community!
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-10-04
End Time: 21:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar:
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: Dec 7~ Let food be your medicine for Heart~ 11am-12pm cost $20 Co-op members $15

This lecture series will go through the individual body systems discussing the healing impact of foods. What foods should you avoid? What about the quality of foods? Does the time of day impact how the body responds to food? Are there spices or exotic foods that can help? These questions and more will be answered in these 1 hour lectures. Take home recipes and handouts with information to nourish and heal using mother nature!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-12-07
End Time: 12:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar:
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: Nov 30~ Let food be your medicine for Mood Elevation~ 11am-12pm cost $20 Co-op members $15

This lecture series will go through the individual body systems discussing the healing impact of foods. What foods should you avoid? What about the quality of foods? Does the time of day impact how the body responds to food? Are there spices or exotic foods that can help? These questions and more will be answered in these 1 hour lectures. Take home recipes and handouts with information to nourish and heal using mother nature!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-11-30
End Time: 12:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar:
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: Nov 16~ Let food be your medicine for the Liver~ 11am-12pm cost $20 Co-op members $15

This lecture series will go through the individual body systems discussing the healing impact of foods. What foods should you avoid? What about the quality of foods? Does the time of day impact how the body responds to food? Are there spices or exotic foods that can help? These questions and more will be answered in these 1 hour lectures. Take home recipes and handouts with information to nourish and heal using mother nature!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-11-16
End Time: 12:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar:
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: Nov 2~ Let food be your medicine for Tissue/Cartilage~ 11am-12pm cost $20 Co-op members $15

This lecture series will go through the individual body systems discussing the healing impact of foods. What foods should you avoid? What about the quality of foods? Does the time of day impact how the body responds to food? Are there spices or exotic foods that can help? These questions and more will be answered in these 1 hour lectures. Take home recipes and handouts with information to nourish and heal using mother nature!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-11-02
End Time: 12:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar:
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: Oct 19~ Let food be your medicine for Digestion~ 11am-12pm cost $20 Co-op members $15

This lecture series will go through the individual body systems discussing the healing impact of foods. What foods should you avoid? What about the quality of foods? Does the time of day impact how the body responds to food? Are there spices or exotic foods that can help? These questions and more will be answered in these 1 hour lectures. Take home recipes and handouts with information to nourish and heal using mother nature!
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-10-19
End Time: 12:00

Title: Natural Living’s Healthy Living Seminar: Eco Cleaners
Location: Central City Co-op 2515 Waugh, Houston, Tx 77006
Link out: Click here
Description: October 5 ~Eco cleaners for the home~11am-12:30pm
Cost: $30; Co-op members: $25
Come learn how to make sustainable cleaners for the home. Use natural ingredients for cleaning anything at the house in a low cost/ non-toxic way! Guests will make and take home samples as well as all the recipes.
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-10-05
End Time: 12:30

Title: Wetland Field Day at Sheldon Lake State Park
Location: 14200 Garrett Rd, Houston, TX 77049
Link out: Click here
Description: The Sheldon Lake Prairie Wetland restoration represents a new, unique approach to restoring critical freshwater wetland systems. Join the field day with:
Expert presentations
Site visit to individual wetlands
Lunch provided

RSVP to Marissa Sipocz, Wetland Program Manager:
281-450-9674 or m-sipocz@tamu.edu
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-10-27
End Time: 15:00

Title: Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club Meeting
Location: meeting room of the First Liberty National Bank located at 1900 Sam Houston in Liberty
Link out: Click here
Description: The October meeting of the LOWER TRINITY VALLEY BIRD CLUB will be held on,
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room of the First
Liberty National Bank located at 1900 Sam Houston in Liberty. From Hwy 90
turn on Travis Street, between Kentucky Fried Chicken and Whataburger,
cross over the railroad tracks and take a right into the bank parking lot.
Be sure to come early at 9:30 a.m. for our “Birder’s Chat” time. If you
have any questions call President Gary Holmes at 281-576-0574 or e-mail him
at geholmes@verizon.net.

The speaker for October will be Paul Gregg: the presentation will be
Iceland—Land of Fire and Ice!
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-10-08

Title: Candidate Forum
Location: Fondren Middle School, 6333 South Braeswood
Link out: Click here
Description: Join the Brays Oaks Management District and Southwest Houston 2000 for a
candidate forum including the Mayor, Comptroller, Council Districts C, J,
and K plus all At Large Positions.

Among other things, their position on a General Plan will be explored.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-10-06
End Time: 21:00