Flooding In Houston Metropolitan Area free seminar

A free seminar, “Flooding in Houston Metropolitan Area, Past-Present-Future,” will be offered as part of the “Houston in the 21st Century” program recently created to educate the public concerning technical issues that affect the Houston metropolitan community. The seminar comprises five sessions covering the many flooding issues facing Houston. Sessions will tackle the connections between Houston’s flooding history and present flooding experiences, as well as flood insurance programs, regulations, technical challenges, and more. A variety of qualified flood control experts will conduct the sessions, including representatives from the Harris County Flood Control District, the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition, and Dodson and Associates Hydrologists and Civil Engineers. The seminar is sponsored by the Engineering, Science & Technology Council of Houston and the Harris County Flood Control District and will be held Saturday, September 11, at Cy-Fair College, Building 5 (College Center Auditorium), 9191 Barker Cypress Road. The seminar will run from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, call Dick Smith at (281) 469-5161.

Urban Harvest announces opening of Bayou City Farmers’ Market

After months of planning and anticipation, Urban Harvest is pleased to announce the opening of The Bayou City Farmers’ Market. The market will be open September 18 from 8 am until noon in the back parking lot of 3000 Richmond Ave. The market will be open year round each Saturday, providing a variety of wonderful locally grown, farm fresh produce. Urban Harvest is encouraging everyone to come out and enjoy the many benefits that a farmers’ market can provide. They are emphasizing the health benefits of farmers’ markets for the consumers of the produce, and the financial benefits to local growers and the local community, saying that locally grown fruits and vegetables taste better because they are fresher and need not be squash-proof or rot-proof shipping varieties. Also, the group points out that the unusual varieties offered for eating in season can excite restaurant chefs and home cooks. The site for the market is capable of handling significant numbers of vendors and customers. For more updates and volunteer or vendor information, visit the Urban Harvest Web site at www.urbanharvest.org, or call (713) 880-5540.

Native Plant Society of Texas Wildscapes workshop

The Houston chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is holding their seventh annual Wildscapes Workshop and Plant Sale: “Landscaping with native plants to attract wildlife.” The event will be held Saturday, September 11, from 9 am to 3 pm and will include a book sale, a plant sale (with hard to find plants), exhibits, door prizes, and more. There will also be several lectures including discussions the botanical heritage of Texas, native plants in your landscape, wildflowers, and question and answer sessions. The sale will be held at the University of Houston, main campus. For more information or to register, contact Glenn Olson at houston@npsot.org or, (281) 345-4151.

East Texas Herpetological Society annual conference and expo

The East Texas Herpetological Society’s big event is fast approaching. The annual conference, breeder expo, and educational exhibit will be held from Friday, September 10, to Sunday, September 12, and will feature a keynote presentation, banquet, auction, and breeder expo and sale. This year’s event will be at the Crowne Plaza and will feature several guest speakers covering a range of topics from updates on the Timber Rattlesnakes in the Northeast, to herpetological discoveries in the Mosquito Coast, to caring for fresh water turtles, and much more. For more information, contact Buzz Jehle at (713) 464-6023, or dxer@oxr.com or visit www.eths.org.

2004 Bay Day Festival

The Galveston Bay Foundation will hold the 2004 Bay Day Festival on Saturday, September 18, from 9 am to 4 pm, at Sylvan Beach in La Porte, Texas. This event will feature a variety of bay activities including hands-on exhibits, activities, and demonstrations, as well as live music, food courts, and arts and crafts. Some activities and demonstrations include water, canoe, scull, and kayak demonstrations, wetlands exhibits, and a fishing tournament. Bay Day is focused on developing public awareness of the diverse resources and multiple uses of the Galveston Bay system and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.galvbay.org, or call (281) 332-3381. Ext. 207.