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Houston Environmental News Update February 22, 2017
February 22, 2017

Houston Environmental News Update February 22, 2017

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter.

The CEC office is in a school building* built about 100 year ago in the old Sixth Ward. Our office–a classroom–has a wall of north facing windows. We have natural light and almost never have to turn on the lights. Even better than the lighting, though, is our view. We look out over a playground designed for gatherings and growing–built while Urban Harvest was a tenant. Right now, the fig trees are leafing, the mockingbirds are singing their hearts out, and the bees are going crazy pollinating the citrus and apple trees, which smell divine.

An even more sure sign of the imminent arrival of spring is the proliferation of environmental events. This Saturday alone, CEC has 28 events listed on our event calendar–and we are adding more all the time.

* MECA, who owns and manages the building, provides music, art, tutoring, and counseling, so the halls are often filled with ballet folklorico dancers, art exhibits, mariachi music, and children. Other tenants of the building include nonprofits such as United We Dream (the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation), and studios for Forest Photography, the Film Acting Academy, an opera instructor, a tango school, a yoga school, a percussionist, a language school, and more we haven’t met yet. A giant burr oak frames our view of downtown, which is with walking distance. Buffalo Bayou Park, bike trails, restaurants, and several bus routes are also within a few blocks. Occasionally, we catch sight of caravans of trail riders and wagons on their way to the rodeo. As you might imagine, it is a dynamic place to work.

CEC NOTES

Earth Day Houston 2017

Dozens of Earth Day festivals will be held throughout the Houston area in 2017. We have begun compiling a list of Earth Month events on our calendar.

If you are hosting an Earth Month event (or any environment-related event), please be sure to let us know so we can share it! Information can be sent to news@cechouston.org.

Don’t miss our Environmental Trivia Contest at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, to be hosted by the CEC as part of Earth Month Houston, on April 30, 2017. Tickets will be available soon.

The CEC is also gearing up for the following year’s Earth Day, and is recruiting members for our Earth Day Houston 2018 Planning Committee. To become a part of this exciting event, contact Rachel Powers, Executive Director, at 713-524-4232 or rachel@cechouston.org.

CEC Welcomes One New Team Member: Christie Tran
Read more about our new part-time program coordination intern, Christie Tran. Keep an eye out for more announcements about people joining our team.

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston Climate Reality
    On Wed., Feb. 22 , 2017, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the Green Building Resource Center is partnering with US Green Building Council to discuss climate change. Where are we with Climate Change—is Houston threatened? It’s been a decade since An Inconvenient Truth.  What is the current truth?  Is anything less convenient here, other than massive flooding?John Nielsen-Gammon, the State Climatologist of Texas, will update us for the first hour on the climate data in the past ten years and how that is impacting Houston.  Then three speakers will present current slides from the Climate Reality Project, an organization dedicated to catalyzing a global solution to the climate crisis. For more information visit greenhoustontx.gov.
  2. Plans for the new Houston Botanic Garden
    On Feb. 22, 2017, starting at 6:30 pm, Claudia Gee Vassar, interim executive director of the Houston Botanic Garden will speak about plans for the garden, which will be developed on a 120-acre site located on Sims Bayou in the Glenbrook area of Houston. Learn more about this event, organized by the Houston Native Prairies Association of Texas, on facebook.
  3. Native Plant Propagation Day at the Greenhouse with Houston Parks and Recreation Department
    Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 9am to 12pm, join Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s Natural Resources Management Program and other volunteers including Texas Master Naturalists at the City’s greenhouse in Memorial Park to learn and participate in the native plant propagation program.  Learning opportunities abound as we seed, transplant and learn other propagation techniques for Houston’s native plants.  All the plants that are propagated to towards restoration projects throughout the city to help encourage wildlife habitat and education about Houston’s native plants and ecosystems as you volunteer.  Garden gloves are recommended, but not required.  Close toe shoes are required while volunteering.  Please contact Jed Aplaca at jed.aplaca@houstontx.gov or call 832-395-7113 for more information. Upcoming dates include Feb. 23, March 9 & 23, and April 13 & 27, 2017.
  4. H-GAC Glass Recycling Roundtable
    The next Regional Recycling Roundtable will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at H-GAC. Presenters will examine the state of glass recycling from a variety of perspectives. H-GAC hosts quarterly Regional RecyclingRoundtables to promote recycling and waste reduction and provide a forum for discussion about recycling issues within the region. Register for this roundtable online.
  5. American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb
    On Sat., Feb 25, 2017, join a team from CEC, hosted by CEC board member Katie Donovan, to climb to the top of First City Tower. By joining the Fight for Air Climb, you are helping to make a positive impact in the lives of those affected by lung disease. You can learn more about the climb at lung.org.
  6. Firefly Field at Woodland Park
    Please join the Friends of Woodland Park (FWP) as they celebrate past successes, tremendous future plans, and the10th anniversary. FWP will be hosting a free, rain or shine, family fun day in the community center building at the park: 212 Parkview St. FWP will unveil the plans for “Firefly Field”, a truly inspiring sculpture designed by a fourth-generation Woodland Heights resident and metal sculptor extraordinaire, Dylan Conner. Feb. 25, 2017, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Learn more at friendsofwoodlandpark.org.
  7. Levy Park Grand Opening
    On Saturday, Feb, 25, 2017, starting at 10:00 am, celebrate the grand (re) opening celebration of Levy Park. Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston cuts our ribbon at 11am. We will have live music, food trucks and great programming for the whole family all day long. A premium public green space in the heart of inner-city Houston, Levy Park is currently undergoing a complete renovation that will create an active and vibrant gathering place for the immediate community and an entertainment and recreation destination for the City of Houston. New park features include a performance pavilion, activity lawn, dog park, playground, community garden and more. Learn more at levypark.org.
  8. Houston Audubon Spring Volunteer Orientation
    Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, from 1 PM – 4 PM. Volunteer opportunities include habitat restoration at Houston Audubon Sanctuaries, leading children’s programs as an Audubon docent, High Island Spring Migration, festivals and outreach booths, Annual Gala and fundraising. Visit houstonaudubon.org for more information and to register.
  9. Screening of “The Witness” at Central Market
    On Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at 7 p.m., Vegan for Life is showing the year 2000 classic “The Witness.” In this award-winning documentary, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals and bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. The movie is being shown at VFL’s usual meeting place, the community room on the second floor of Central Market, which is on Westheimer at Weslayan. After the movie, many of us will spend time on the Central Market patio (or indoors if needed) for some casual socializing. Central Market has recently been reconfigured. If you have trouble finding the community room, please ask Central Market staff for assistance. For more information about the event, please contact Michael Batty, president, Vegan for Life, at
    michael@vegan-for-life.org.
  10. Houston Bike Summit
    You are invited to Bike Houston’s first ever Houston Bike Summit, Feb. 27, 2017, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Saint Arnold Brewery. The Houston Bike Summit serves as a celebration of cycling in Houston. The summit will showcase people and organizations invested in making Houston a gold-level cycling city as well as celebrate 2016 accomplishments.  Mayor Turner will be providing remarks and the keynote address will be delivered by new Chief of Police, Art Acevedo. Tickets are available for $20 and $10 for BikeHouston members.Learn more at bikehouston.org.
  11. Gulf Coast Green Symposium Early Bird Deadline
    AIA Houston’s annual Gulf Coast Green conference is the leading green building conference in the region. This year’s conference focuses on The Science of Sustainability and will take place at the Health Museum on Monday, March 27, 2017. Early registration expires on Feb 17, 2017.  Learn more at Gulf Coast Green.
  12. Full World: Houston’s Economic and Ecologic Future
    Former CEC Board Member, notable environmental attorney, and poet Jim Blackburn is teaching a short course through Rice Continuing Studies on the ecological and economic future of the City of Houston. The course will be held on eight Wednesdays between March 1 and April 19, 2017. Learn more about this not-to-be-missed class by downloading the flyer.
  13. Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Training
    Volunteers needed year round to maintain the trails. You will receive wetland education, access points of Greenway, recognition of invasive species, and much more! Training is 5 weeks starting on March 30, 2017. Visit bayoulandconservancy.org for more information and to register.
  14. Free Fourth Grade Field Trips!
    Every Kid in a Park in the Houston area is offering FREE transportation for nature-based learning opportunities. Learn more at www.hereinhouston.org.
  15. Additional Upcoming Events

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Journey of the Universe Kickoff
    Christ the King Lutheran Church invites you to go on the Journey of the Universe. This Emmy-award winning documentarynarrates the 14 billion year story of the universe’s development in a way that is accessible to everyone. This Educational Conversation Series will start on Feb. 27, 2017, and will continue most Mondays & Fridays thru Apr. 17, 2017. Learn more and register for individual events at Journey of the Universe.
  2. Trash Free Waters Webinar
    On Feb. 28, 2017, at 12:00 pm, the EPA will be hosting its next Trash Free Waters webinar. Dr. Kara Lavender Law of the Sea Education Association will discuss the distribution of microplastics in the environment. The webinar can be accessed at http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/trashfreewaterswebinar/. Webinars, including the Jan. 31, 2017, webinar on plastics and microplastics by Dr. Chelsea Rochman, are recorded and made available after the webinar. One messages from the Jan. presentation is that while microplastics in and of themselves may have toxic constituents, they also absorb persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic compounds that can cause problems for the animals that ingest them.
  3. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
    Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
    • Kangaroo Rats: Trap and track the seldom seen Texas Kangaroo Rat with some eager researchers.
    • Student Host: Meet a college student who also volunteers as a park host at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
    • LBJ’s Legacy: President Lyndon Johnson’s legacy lives on at the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm.
  4. Additional Upcoming Events