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September 2019 Edition
September 12, 2019: METRONext, the Houston Region's Future Transit Plan
Join us on September 12 for a presentation by METRO Board Chair Carrin Patman about METRONext: A Plan for the Future.
The efficient movement of goods, services and people is critical to a strong economy. With the greater Houston area region expected to double its population to 10 million people by 2040, we all should be concerned about the transportation challenges in our region and work together to address them.
The event is free and open to the public at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama, Houston. Main program starts 7:30 PM. Doors open 7:00 PM.
Go here for more information.
Update on Harris County Precinct 2 Flood Control Projects was cancelled. The program for September 18 is Life in Outdoor Space with speaker Dr. Matthew Strausser.
Go here for more information.
Election time is near for Houston Sierra Club (HSC) members! In December, yearly elections for our Executive Committee (ExCom) will occur. The ExCom is the governing body for the HSC, sets conservation and other policy for our Group, operates and maintains the HSC, and consists of 9 members, who serve staggered, two-year terms.
Go here for more information.
CEER City of Houston Mayoral Candidate Forum
Saturday, September 21, 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm.
Baker Ripley Harbach Campus
6225 Northdale St., Houston, Texas
Go here for more information.
National Drive Electric Week is designed to showcase the speed, convenience, clean-air benefits, and fuel cost-savings of electric vehicles through ride-and-drives and other great activities. More than a dozen different electric vehicles will be represented.
Go here for more information.
By Ken Kramer
As previewed in the inaugural column last month, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the state water planning and development agency, held a series of interactive listening sessions around the state of Texas and online this past month to get public input on how best to implement new state flood funding and planning legislation enacted last spring by the Texas Legislature. Go here for more information.
By Evelyn L. Merz
It was standing room only in the meeting room at the Houston-Galveston Area Council on July 26. I was there to attend the meeting of the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council (TPC), at which the Council was to vote on committing $100 million to Segment #2 of the North Houston Highway Improvement Project.
Go here for more information.
When we talk about wildlife in Texas, we often think about game animals like White-tail Deer, Fox and Gray Squirrels, Wild Turkey, and myriads of ducks, geese, and doves. However, every animal that is not a game or exotic animal, is classified as non-game wildlife.
Go here for more information.
Describe the first time you felt a strong affinity for nature?
The first time I felt really amazed and connected to nature was my first trip to a national park. About 5 years ago, I visited Yosemite national park and fell in love with the beauty of nature and started understanding the need to protect these amazing treasures. Being surrounded by land that had gone nearly untouched by man was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
Go here for more information.
By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center
I'm deviating from my usual articles about local wildlife and addressing an issue that should be important to all of us. It's the plastic pollution of our oceans. Why should we be concerned? Plastic is killing our wildlife. Fish, seabirds, seals, sea turtles and marine mammals ingest plastics causing suffocation, drowning or starvation or they become entangled in it.
Go here for more information.
By Brandt Mannchen
On June 11, 2019, on behalf of the Lone Star Chapter and Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club, I attended a workshop on Lichen bio-monitoring that was presented by the U.S. Forest Service.
Go here for more information.
The Houston Group of the Sierra Club is looking for help in the following areas:
Webmaster, Lone Star Hiking Trail Volunteers, Outings Leaders, Volunteer Coordinator, Climate Justice Chair, Political Committee, Membership Chair, Audio / Video Coordinator, Forestry.
Help to make a difference for the Sierra Club!
Click the link to see new opportunities to help.
Go here for more information.
Get Outdoors!
For current information on upcoming outings in the Houston area, check out our MeetUp site.
By Brandt Mannchen
Boy did I overestimate my ETA! I was driving to the Geraldine Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve, just south of Warren, Texas, from Humble. I thought it would take 2.5 hours. But that, in my hazy memory, was the time it took when I lived in Houston. I was way early and as soon as I realized this, I switched to Plan B.
Go here for more information.