Title: Texas Education Center Summit
Location: Houston Community College – West Loop Campus
Link out: Click here
Description: The members of the Texas Education Center (TEC) are proud to
present the Texas Education Center Summit: Advancing Quality,
Innovation, and Collaboration in Our Schools. This day-long summit
brings together outstanding leaders in the field of education,
including:

Dr. Wanda Bamberg, Superintendent, Aldine ISD
Dr. Terry Grier, Superintendent, Houston ISD
Rick Noriega, President and CEO, AVANCE

The TEC is a coalition of eleven high-performing local non-profit
organizations with an interest in education issues. The mission of the
TEC is to facilitate reform of the public education system by
encouraging greater collaboration and communication amongst
education-focused non-profits. TEC members are committed to improving
public education by advancing goals in line with the TEC’s core beliefs: quality,
innovation, and collaboration. This year’s summit seeks to engage parents, school
district employees, and community members in a discussion of each of these three
areas in order to promote reform and excellence in our public schools.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2011-11-10
End Time: 15:30

Title: Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s Holiday Sale
Location: 103 Hwy 332 West, Lake Jackson
Link out: Click here
Description: Enjoy holiday shopping at a leisurely pace this year at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s HOLIDAY SALE. GCBO’s Nature Store will offer our local friends and members a place to find a gift for everyone on their wish list while supporting bird conservation efforts and our local sanctuary. Can’t get by GCBO? Check out our offerings on-line at www.gcbo.org or call the office for that special book order or to Adopt-A-Hummer certificate.

On this one day, enjoy tax free shopping. As always members receive a 10% discount for a total savings 18.25%. For more information call 979-480-0999.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-12-02
End Time: 17:00

Title: Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Location: Harlingen, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: The Rio Grande Valley boasts the biggest concentration of eye-popping tropical species, birds not found anywhere else in the U.S. and the birding festival is long-famed for the quality of its field trip leaders. Bird with the big names, the authors and editors of your favorite books and publications. Check out their fresh offerings this year – butterfly trips, trips with less walking, and trips to lesser-known hotspots.
Start Date: 2011-11-09
End Date: 2011-11-13

Title: Backyard Biomimicry Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX
Link out: Click here
Description: Learning Objectives:

Defining the meme
Case studies
The seeds of biomimicry
The biomimicry network
How to become a biomimic through the professional pathway
The biomimicry “methodology”
Bringing biology into the creating, scoping, and evaluating stages
The fundamentals of Life’s Principles

Location:
Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX

Registration deadline:
November 5, 2011, Limited to 20 seats so register soon!

Cost:
$150 for Bioneers registrants, $200 for all others
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2011-11-13
End Time: 16:00

Title: Environmental Educators’ Exchange (EEE) Meeting
Location: Westside High School, HISD, 14201 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77077, Room V101, Mr. Spence’s Room
Link out: Click here
Description: Agenda:
4:15-4:45 PM Networking and Refreshments
4:45-5:30 Tour culinary/environmental garden and Wolf Prairie restoration projects
5:30-6:30 EEE business
Round-table discussion of current event in EEE
2012 Houston Environmental Education Summit planning

As usual, refreshments are provided, thanks to your dues. Remember to bring a check
to update your dues….$15 for two years membership…the best deal in town!

RSVP Edith Smith at smithedith@aol.com

Meeting Schedule: meetings traditionally take place on the first Wednesdays of
November, February, May and August.

Next Meetings:
February 1st, 2012
May 2nd, 2012
August 1st, 2012
November 7th, 2012

Parking: go to Google Maps, type Valedictorian Drive, 77077. This road borders the
high school’s west side. The meeting space is accessible from this side. There is
a service-entrance and loading dock on this side of the building with parking. It
is recommended that you enter and park here. Proceed east towards the loading dock
and look for signs to the EEE meeting on your left/north.
Start Time: 16:15
Date: 2011-11-02
End Time: 18:30

Title: Environmental Educators’ Exchange (EEE) Meeting
Location: Westside High School, HISD, 14201 Briar Forest Drive, Houston, TX 77077, Room V101, Mr. Spence’s Room
Link out: Click here
Description: Agenda:
4:15-4:45 PM Networking and Refreshments
4:45-5:30 Tour culinary/environmental garden and Wolf Prairie restoration projects
5:30-6:30 EEE business
Round-table discussion of current event in EEE
2012 Houston Environmental Education Summit planning

As usual, refreshments are provided, thanks to your dues. Remember to bring a check
to update your dues….$15 for two years membership…the best deal in town!

RSVP Edith Smith at smithedith@aol.com

Meeting Schedule: meetings traditionally take place on the first Wednesdays of
November, February, May and August.

Next Meetings:
February 1st, 2012
May 2nd, 2012
August 1st, 2012
November 7th, 2012

Parking: go to Google Maps, type Valedictorian Drive, 77077. This road borders the
high school’s west side. The meeting space is accessible from this side. There is
a service-entrance and loading dock on this side of the building with parking. It
is recommended that you enter and park here. Proceed east towards the loading dock
and look for signs to the EEE meeting on your left/north.
Start Time: 16:15
Date: 2011-11-02
End Time: 18:30

Title: Greenius Desk – New Living
Location: 6111 Kirby Drive, 77005 in the Rice Village
Link out: Click here
Description: Come to New Living Saturday, November 19, and ask an Expert how to have a Healthy Home! LaVerne will be there to help you with your questions pertaining to “Design for Living” (Design for Passive Sustainability, i.e., design for homes, property and community as if your life depends upon it). Come learn the ‘greenest’ and safest way to build a new home or simply freshen up a room safely, or add onto in your current home. On-hand, free advice and tips with any question you have about your home project. Find out what’s best for you, your family and the environment. Let’s all do the right thing, together!
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2011-11-09
End Time: 12:00

Title: Backyard Biomimicry Workshop
Location: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024
Link out: Click here
Description: Learn about biomimicry in the context of Houston’s local ecosystem with leaders in the field and connect with others in our regional BiomimicryTX network. In this Backyard Biomimicry Workshop offered by the Biomimicry Group, you’ll co-learn with students and professionals of various disciplines about the foundations of biomimicry and equip yourself to approach our region’s most pressing design challenges by drawing inspirations from the natural world- found right in our own backyard!
Biomimicry, the discipline of applying nature’s principles to solve human problems, provides the means to achieve both environmental and economic goals. Many of the mechanisms and systems found in nature are highly efficient, eschew waste, and are sustainable in a virtually closed system. Biomimicry could be a major economic game changer. Biomimicry could represent a revolutionary change in our economy by transforming many of the ways we think about designing, producing, transporting, and distributing goods and services.
Registration deadline: November 5, 2011, Saturday at midnight
Date: 2011-11-14

Title: 12 City North American Tour of Das Haus
Location: Houston Permitting Center
Link out: Click here
Description: “It’s about the future of sustainable building and the resources and integration needed to reach that future. Das Haus is a traveling pavilion, a North American tour and an ONGOING INTERNATINAL DIALOGUE about advanced technologies for home construction and solar energy use.”
Houston is the 2nd stop, and only Texas visit, on the “Das Haus” Exhibition. Visit the full scale pavilion at the Houston Permitting Center. This exhibition features German green building technology that was included in several of the solar homes exhibited each year on the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the annual Solar Decathlon.
Start Date: 2011-11-08
End Date: 2011-11-17

Title: Texas Renewables Conference 2011
Location: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: The 27th annual Texas renewable energy conference is a priority. No other Texas renewable energy conference provides the nexus between all of the industry sectors, crucial government agencies and public institutions this conference affords.

Come learn more about energy sources, including: wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal, hydro, biomass electric and more along with green building.
Start Date: 2011-11-06
Start Time: 11:30
End Date: 2011-11-09
End Time: 13:30

Title: 27th Annual Mayor’s Proud Partners Luncheon
Location: Hilton Houston Post Oak
Link out: Click here
Description: On October 31, 2011, Keep Houston Beautiful will honor Ned S. Holmes, Texas Transportation Commissioner, accepting on behalf of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), as the Outstanding Proud Partner at its 27th Annual Mayor’s Proud Partners Luncheon at the Houston Post Oak Hilton Hotel. For more than 90 years, TxDOT’s commitment and involvement in the community has been recognized as an important part of the way they do business.
Start Time: 11:30
Date: 2011-10-31

1. Wetland Field Day Planned for Sheldon Lake State Park. A wetland field day at Sheldon Lake State Park will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., October 27, 2011 to highlight various wetland restoration projects at the park, a 2,800-acre outdoor education and recreation facility at 14200 Garrett Rd. in Houston, 15 minutes from downtown. Participants will hear presentations about the ongoing efforts at the park and will have the opportunity for site visits to individual phases of restored wetlands. To make reservations or for more information, please contact Marissa Sipocz at (281) 450-9674 or m-sipocz@tamu.edu. More information about the project can also be found at the project website, http://www.urban-nature.org/urbanwet/sheldon.htm.
2. 5th Annual KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou. The 5th Annual KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou will be on October 29th from 11am-7pm. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and KBR are hosting a day filled with FREE family fun, hands-on educational activities, music, food, park performers, and boat rides on the bayou! Activity stations will include a showcase of bayou animals and insects, wildflower seed ball making, sun prints, crab marsh, numerous hands-on activities from over 25 Houston non-profit organizations partners. There will also be wetland hikes, pontoon boat rides kayaking demonstrations, and much more! More at http://www.buffalobayou.org/kidsday.html.
3. Halloween Family Night Hikes. Bring the kids in costume to the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, 440 Wilchester Blvd., Houston, on Saturday, October 29, 5 – 9 p.m. for family fun: candy, Halloween crafts, and nighttime nature activities (guided night hikes every half hour starting at 5:30 p.m., black lighting for insects, listening for echo-locating bats). The cost is $5 per person. Park at the Memorial Drive UM church parking lot at 12955 Memorial Drive. Enter the sanctuary through the marked gate. More at www.houstonaudubon.org.
4. Attack of the Bloodsuckers! Are mosquitoes eating you alive? Stinky feet can make you more attractive… to a hungry mosquito, that is! Bloodsuckers are lurking everywhere for a chance to take a bite of you. Explore the science of what’s eating you with Attack of the Bloodsuckers!, a new, skin-crawling exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Houston. You’re invited to discover the biological wonders of sanguinivores (creatures that eat blood) through encounters with live species and interactive exhibits, now through January 22, 2012. More details at www.cmhouston.org/bloodsuckers.
   
5. Transition Houston November Meeting and Guest Speaker Karen Marshall. On November 1, 2011, Karen Marshall, Metro’s Director of Community Outreach, will help us learn how we can take advantage of Metro’s transportation network to go car-free more often. Bring questions about upcoming projects, Metro’s long-term plans, and Metro discounts to lower your fares. Learn how to use the on-bus bike racks so we can hop, skip, ride, and roll to destinations all over Houston. A real transit bike rack will be at the meeting, bring your bike and try it out. As always, we will close out the meeting with refreshments, conversation, and community. www.transitionhouston.org.
   
6. Environmental Educators’ Exchange Quarterly Meeting. Visit HISD’s Westside High School on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, from 4:15 to 6:30 pm. Lawrence Spence, environmental educator extraordinaire, will lead a tour of the culinary/environmental garden and Wolf Prairie restoration projects. In addition, educators will have a chance to network, nosh, participate in a roundtable discussion of EEE current events, and help plan the 2012 Houston Environmental Education Summit–all in the rarified environment of a high school environmental science classroom (Room V101). RSVP to Edith Smith at smithedith@aol.com.
7. Fall Distinguished Speaker Luncheon: Frederick Steiner. Houston Tomorrow is hosting 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, 2011, at the JW Marriott Hotel, Houston. Frederick Steiner will discuss his ideas for a sustainable future based on new regionalism, a theory of design that suggests structure and landscape should be inspired by the surrounding ecosystems. Learn more and register at https://org2.democracyinaction.org/.
   
8. 8th Annual Water Symposium. The Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) proudly presents its 8th Annual Water Symposium, “Water Quality Stewardship: The Past, Present and Future State of our Water Quality”. Friday, November 4, 2011, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at the United Way of Greater Houston. This much-anticipated educational forum focuses on the current state of water quality in our bayous with policy-makers, stakeholders and government officials discussing how projects in our area incorporate features to address water quality now and in the future. Other key topics to be covered include a pictorial history of the bayou system; regulations and upcoming issues in water quality, water sustainability, a long range plan to address bacteria in our bayous, an update on Rebuild Houston, and local guidelines for Low Impact Development. The keynote speaker for the event is COL Christopher W. Sallese, District Engineer and Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District. Register today at http://www.bayoupreservation.org/2011_Symposium.
9. Film: EcoArk. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston requests the honor of your presence at the Houston Premiere of the internationally acclaimed film:EcoArk. Monday, November 7th 2011 at 6:00 pm at the Houston Arboretum. EcoArk is a “first of its kind” mobile structure designed to get people around the world to think outside the box, or more correctly, outside the plastic bottle. EcoArk was constructed using 1,500,000 recycled bottles. The revolutionary building material is only part of the story of what is happening in Taiwan. http://houstonarboretum.org/
10. SCAs Houston Conservation Collaborative Internship Program. The Student Conservation Association is looking for environmental organizations in need of Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 interns! SCAs Houston Conservation Collaborative internship program partners with local organizations to provide full and/or part-time, paid conservation internships in the Houston area. SCA interns work on projects that range from trail construction and wildlife management to environmental education and marketing. For more information, email Christine Mansfield at houstonintern2@thesca.org or call 713-520-1835.
11. Licks for Likes. The Houston Piano Company has selected three animal charities to benefit from the LICKS FOR LIKES promotion and Wildlife Rehab & Education is one of them. Your vote for WR&E gets them a $1 and you get a LICK! For every LIKE the Houston Piano Company gets from Oct. 1st through Nov. 1st a $1 will be donated to the charities. The charity with the most 1st place votes will receive $1000, 2nd place $750, and 3rd place $500. To vote, just visit the Licks for Likes Facebook page.

1. Texas Environmental Flows Science Advisory Committee (SAC). The next meeting of the Texas Environmental Flows SAC will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held in Building F, Room 2210 of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality headquarters, located at 12100 Park Thirty-Five Circle, Austin, TX 78753. The agenda for the meeting will be posted to the group’s website upon development.More info at  www.tceq.texas.gov.
   
2. FarmFest 2011. The Last Organic Outpost, a non-profit that focuses on creating an urban green belt in low income areas throughout the city of Houston will be hosting FarmFest 2011 at Emile Community Farm (711 N. Emile) from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, November 5th. This is a free festival. There will be many demonstrations; seed saving, bee keeping, composting, water harvesting, etc. There will also be a fitness walk beginning at 10 AM. The festival will have music, fresh nutritious food, and plenty of children’s activities. Please bring your pocket book for the many jewelry and art vendors and Wheel of Farming. See a Certified Picker to help you pick your very own Farm Fresh Food for purchase from the Farm! www.lastorganicoutpost.com
3. Personal Document Shredding Drive. The Johnson Space Center Contractors (JSC) Environmental Partnership is hosting an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling and document shredding event from 8am-2pm on November 5th in the Space Center Houston parking lot. This free event provides an opportunity for anyone in the community to dispose of all electronics in an environmentally friendly manner. Sims Recycling Solutions is sponsoring the event and will recycle the collected material as an EPA certified recycler. Learn more at http://www.ci.seabrook.tx.us/.
4. 8th Annual Texas Beaming Bioneers Conference. The Bioneers Conference is a two-day conference about Issues That Matter: Environment & Nature, Health & Spirit, Social Justice and the Arts. This event will take place November 11-12 at the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church. Attend the conference to experience a world-class line up of inspiring local speakers, each outstanding in their field, talk about innovative ideas and solutions to challenges that face all Houstonians’ access to fresh local food and water for all, supporting our youth, recycling and energy for the future, and how to nurture our spirit and mind through community. More at http://www.blackwoodland.org/bioneers/.
5. America Recycles Day. On America Recycles Day, November 15th, local event organizers host events that inform millions of people on what is recycled in their community. America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States. One day to educate and motivate. Registration is open for organizers to create a local event. If you cannot host an event, but would like to participate, visit http://americarecyclesday.org/ to find an event near you.
6. 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo. The 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo will take place on November 17th at the University of Houston College of Architecture (Atrium). Featured projects will include Sun Stop Solar, Gulf Coast Mod, Botanica Bio-regenerative Air Purifier, Z-Fab Housing, and Parametric Precast Concrete System. The event is free and open to the public. More information at http://www.uhgbc.org/.
7. Cullinan Park Nature Photo Contest. The Cullinan Park Conservancy is holding a Nature Photo Contest. People are encouraged to enter photographs of landscape, animals, birds, insects, fish, and reptiles who call Cullinan Park at Oyster Creek their home. To enter, send an email, one per image, to cullinanparkconservancy@gmail.com, giving the title of the piece, the name, address, and phone number of the entrant, and attaching the image file. Find out more at http://cullinanparkconservancy.ning.com/.
8. Sustainable Sites Survey. The Sustainable Sites Initiative is working with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), which manages the certification and credentialing programs for LEED Green Building Rating Systems(tm), to determine the feasibility and value of SITES professional credentialing and project certification. Please take the survey, and forward it on to colleagues who are interested in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of sustainable sites. Survey respondents will be entered to win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards. The survey is open through November 2, 2011. Take the survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/.
9. 2010 Economic, Census Data on Coastal Communities. Census 2010 county population data along with 2010 economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis has now been added to NOAA’s State of the Coast. You can find out if you are living in the fastest growing coastal county or if GDP has changed in the coastal portion of your state. Explore this data and more with interactive maps and updated summary statistics. NOAA’s State of the Coast can be found at http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/.
10. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
    • October 27: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds, heavy cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and low incoming backgrounds should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • October 28: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low incoming backgrounds should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • October 29: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low incoming backgrounds should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • On October 14, 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. A drought for the centuries: It hasn’t been this dry in Texas since 1789 (Texas Climate News, 10/23/2011)
   Scientists at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory analyzed tree-ring data to calculate how drought conditions dating back hundreds of years (to 1550 in Texas) ranked on the standard Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). According to their findings, 1789 was the only year that Texas’ PDSI number was as low as it was this summer. However, the current drought has brought new challenges included the record-low precipitation, the extreme summer heat, and the enormous wildfires.
   http://texasclimatenews.org/
2. Ideology trumped science at Texas agency, two lawmakers say (Erin Mulvaney – Yahoo! News, 10/19/2011)
   Two Democratic state senators have spoken out against TCEQ for deleting information about the implications of global warming from “The State of the Bay 2010″ report by John Anderson. TCEQ stated the organization did not want to include controversial implications about global warming in the report. The deletions were deemed “scientific censorship.”

   http://old.news.yahoo.com/

3. Get leaner and greener with homegrown food (Barbara Kessler – ABC13 News, 10/24/2011)
   Homegrown food can help you save money by cutting down your food bill as well as naturally broaden the amount of vegetables at your disposal. This could help many Americans get the amount and variety of vegetables needed for a healthy diet. It will also discourage wasting food as people will most likely be less willing to simply toss the food they have grown.
   http://www.greenrightnow.com/

EcoNotes

• 26 October
• Water Use Rising Faster Than World Population (Deborah Zabarenko – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Green Groups Sue U.S. Over Keystone Pipeline Project (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Demonstrators Rally Against The Controversial Keystone XL Oil Pipeline (Stephen Lam – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Highlands group gathers to discuss contaminated site (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• 25 October
• ConocoPhillips awards energy prize for floating turbines (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Crop Scientists Now Fret About Heat Not Just Water (Christine Stebbins – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Obama campaign angers enviros by hiring former lobbyist for Keystone pipeline (ABC13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• Western water crisis triggers 2012 summits (Western Farm Press)
  http://westernfarmpress.com/
• Drought-damaged trees removed (Mark Fleming – The Baytown Sun)
  http://baytownsun.com/
• 24 October
• BST researchers “genetically fingerprinting” E. coli from Lampasas and Leon watersheds (Texas Water Resources Institute)
  http://twri.tamu.edu/
• Get leaner and greener with homegrown food (Barbara Kessler – ABC13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• BPA exposure poses greater risk to girls, study shows (ABC13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• Propositions up for vote in November could affect Texas’ water future (Texas Water Resources Institute)
  http://twri.tamu.edu/
• U.S. Court Backs Rules Protecting National Forests (Jeremy Pelofsky – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Warming Could Exceed Safe Levels In This Lifetime (Nina Chestney – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• EPA Delays Pollution Rule For Coal Plants To December (Roberta Rampton – Planet Ark)
  http://planetark.org/
• 23 October
• A drought for the centuries: It hasn’t been this dry in Texas since 1789 (Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• Wind Power Transmission Lines Rise Across Texas (Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/
• 21 October
• Slideshow: Green redesigns featured on architect’s home tour (Greg Barr – Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Baytown looking at quality of life issues (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Could this be the dawn of American solar power? (Barbara Kessler – ABC13 News)
  http://www.greenrightnow.com/
• Houston area gets $1.9 million from EPA for clean-diesel projects (Houston Chronicle)
  http://blog.chron.com/
• Drought affecting aquatic behavior in Galveston Bay (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• Rain catchment systems not just for backyard gardens anymore (Bayan Raji – Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Houston taking more water from Lake Conroe (David Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
• U.S. EPA Developing Wastewater Rules For Shale Gas (Ayesha Rascoe – Planet Ark News)
  http://planetark.org/
• Grant provides ‘clean buses’ for Humble ISD (Anthony Stoeckert – Ultimate – Lake Houston)
  http://www.ultimatelakehouston.com/
• BP wins approval to drill in Gulf of Mexico (Houston Business Journal)
  http://www.bizjournals.com/
• Environmentalists: Offshore drilling still too risky, despite new rules (Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Matthew Tresaugue – Fuel Fix)
  http://fuelfix.com/
• Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• 20 October
• Water symposium has more bad news about Texas drought: End not in sight (Texas Climate News)
  http://texasclimatenews.org/
• Parched Western States Looking to Perry’s Water Record (Ben Philpott – The Texas Tribune)
  http://www.texastribune.org/
• EPA Announces Schedule to Develop Natural Gas Wastewater Standards/Announcement is part of administration’s priority to ensure natural gas development continues safely and responsibly (EPA News)
  http://yosemite.epa.gov/
• More concerns about drought as fall deepens (Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
  http://blog.chron.com/
• Rosenberg to begin recycling, trash program (Elizabeth Mroales – Fort Bend Herald)
  http://www.fbherald.com/
• EPA to regulate disposal of fracking wastewater (CBS News)
  http://www.cbsnews.com/
• 19 October
• Ideology trumped science at Texas agency, two lawmakers say (Erin Mulvaney – Yahoo! News)
  http://old.news.yahoo.com/
• Texas lawmakers fear effect of EPA’s change (Puneet Kollipara – Houston Chronicle)
  http://www.chron.com/
• Officials Look For Public Input On Flood-Prone Bayou (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• More Holes To Be Filled In the 2012 Draft Texas State Water Plan (Amy Hardberger – EDF News)
  http://blogs.edf.org/
• Drought to continue in Southern plains, officials say (Jim Barnett – CNN)
  http://edition.cnn.com/
• UT Poll: Most Not Happy With Energy Direction (KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• Rep. Green Pushes White House On Keystone XL (Andrew Schneider – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• Cool Weather Doesn’t Bring Drought Relief (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
  http://app1.kuhf.org/
• Galveston Bay Drought Conditions Prescribed by TCEQ (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/
• Green leads Keystone XL Pipeline support letter to President Obama (Guidry News)
  http://www.guidrynews.com/

Title: Transition Houston November 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).
This month, Karen Marshall, Metro’s Director of Community Outreach, will help everybody learn how we can take advantage of Metro’s transportation network to go car-free more often. Become informed–bring questions about upcoming projects, Metro’s long-term plans, and Metro discounts to lower your fares.
Attendees will also learn how to use the on-bus bike racks so we can hop, skip, ride, and roll to destinations all over Houston. There will be a real transit bike rack at the meeting so everybody can all try it out. Bring your bike, if you’d like, to see precisely how it fits in the rack–we’ll be pros in no time!

As always, the meeting will close with refreshments, conversation, and community.

*Cost:* Free
*Contact person for questions:* Mark at 832-655-5104
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-11-01
End Time: 21:00

Title: 2011 Christmas Cruise Along Buffalo Bayou
Location: downtown’s Allen’s Landing (Commerce and Main Street) on the other side of Main Street Bridge from the Spaghetti Warehouse
Link out: Click here
Description: Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership in celebrating the holiday season with 30-minute pontoon boat rides along Buffalo Bayou served up with plenty of decorations, brightly colored lights, song and cheer!
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2011-12-17
End Time: 20:00

Title: 2011 Christmas Cruise Along Buffalo Bayou
Location: downtown’s Allen’s Landing (Commerce and Main Street) on the other side of Main Street Bridge from the Spaghetti Warehouse
Link out: Click here
Description: Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership in celebrating the holiday season with 30-minute pontoon boat rides along Buffalo Bayou served up with plenty of decorations, brightly colored lights, song and cheer!
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2011-12-16
End Time: 20:00