trymahjong

Children learning about local compost at Nature's Way Resource   The Power of Environmental Education: Fostering Awareness, Empowerment, and Action In a world grappling with pressing environmental challenges, the role of education in nurturing ecological awareness and action has never been more crucial. Environmental education, encompassing a wide range of learning experiences that aim to deepen understanding of environmental issues and inspire sustainable behaviors, holds the key to creating a more environmentally literate and empowered society. At its core, environmental education seeks to foster a sense of connection to the natural world. By immersing learners in hands-on experiences, whether in outdoor settings or through experiential activities, it cultivates an appreciation for the beauty, complexity, and intrinsic value of nature. From observing the intricate interplay of ecosystems to marveling at the wonders of biodiversity, environmental education opens eyes to the wonders that surround us. Houston has a vibrant, eclectic group of eco heroes living and working all throughout the city and its boarders. One wouldn't have to look far when seeking out environmental education. The Houston Environmental Resources for Educators (HERE) is an organization that brings all of the varies types of educators together who want to teach about Texas's local ecosystems. Quarterly meetings of the Environmental Educators Exchange are held every other Friday with the goal to provide a unique space to rejuvenate, network and learn about trends in environmental education in the Gulf Coast region. Other organizations that are noteworthy are Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation, Texas Association for Environmental Education and Texas Children in Nature. In an era of unprecedented environmental change, the importance of environmental education cannot be overstated. By fostering awareness, empowerment, and action, it equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. From nurturing a sense of wonder and connection to inspiring advocacy and activism, environmental education holds the power to shape a more sustainable and resilient future for all. Let us seize the opportunity to invest in environmental education and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.

Is this the only update?

I thought there would be more push back ( maybe even street protests) to the 4000 Rape cases HPD shelved. Was the number of Murder cases shelved ever mentioned? What was public's reaction to that?

Hmmmmm I watched all the planning with the first lower Westheimer renovation.......so many years passed.....so much complaining. It seems COH has a hard time with doing things the correct way first.........

I get the feeling there is a big question just hovering........why is COH using @#$% asphalt now and not completely renovating Westheimer road in a manner that might last decades instead of a couple of years?

That brand new asphalt used on Waugh and. commonwealth looks like crapolla after 2 years- guess this will be more of the same.

There is an article in Chronicle today: Rape Case in Middle of Inquiry This article will give an important bit of background to HPD giving out crime statistics.

When the word "repave" is used I'm always curious as to COH mea ns? Concrete or black top?

Surely that tree should have been made into a tree sculpture of Baba Yega!

Heard anything concerning ""old " city council members? Will any of those segue into other jobs with Whitmire administration?

Uh huh I wish that would extend to public swimming pools. I've written a few council members about opening up the pool at multiservice center one day a week to the neighborhood for a slight fee. All-- really all, of Montrose is a public pool desert.

Wow I heard at Neartown from COH guy about this in ground pool😁

Reflecting on Earth Day 2023: A Celebration of Sustainability at Discovery Green by Samantha Page CEC Newsletter Editor Earth Day festivities at Discovery Green last year kicked off with a lively lineup of activities designed to engage visitors of all ages. From educational talks on renewable energy and composting to eco-friendly art installations and interactive exhibits, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The highlight of the event is the exhibitors where close to 80 local organizations, businesses and non-profits showcased their sustainable initiatives and products. Visitors had the opportunity to explore a variety of eco-friendly options that Houston has to offer while learning about the importance of supporting businesses committed to environmental sustainability. Another amazing addition to last year's event was the Houston Public Works' popular Water Works Festival. The festival has interactive exhibits that help educate the public on the importance of this natural resource. The Water Works Festival will be a part of this year's event as well. The Wyland Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation is an annual competition that encourages cities across the United States to commit to conserving water and promoting sustainability. In 2023, it was promoted through the Earth Day partnership, a social media campaign, blast emails messaging to water customers, and a the assistance of the City of Houston Department of Education to engage schools to participate. 2023 was Houston’s second year in a row to win the challenge. As part of the challenge the Wyland foundation gifted 100 blue light glasses to the Houston school that completed the most pledges (Baylor College of Medicine Academy at James D Ryan Middle School). Throughout the day, live music performances and cultural presentations added to the festive atmosphere, bringing together the community in celebration of our planet's natural beauty and diversity. From traditional dances to modern interpretations of environmental themes, the performances reflected the interconnectedness of nature and human culture. All of that, and more, is to be expected at this year's event. Make sure to mark you calendars for April 20th!

4000+- sexual assault cases suspended- I am so alarmed about this https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/police/2024/02/22/478328/houston-police-confirm-4000-plus-suspended-sexual-assault-cases-finner-vows-to-clear-backlog/

Is the Art Car Museum closing?

I've lived in Montrose almost 20 years- attended the local Montrose HPD/PIP even before it was combined with the Heights for 16 years-- never saw the sexual assault numbers go up like that in just one month. Uhmmmmm I mean really, not even in early years of living in a transitioning Avondale, where the street corners still had plenty of drug deals and sex workers....... I constantly, stepped up to defend Montrose as being characterized as "crime ridden" when actually the crime (all crime stats ) were low-- the biggest crime was BMV! sigh....... a small note => In the condensed crime page the label is sexual assault; but in the list of actual locations the crime is listed as rape...........why? Would a 400% increase in rape within Montrose get a bigger reaction and therefore lead to a call for more accountability of HPD- in the midst of all the PR of crime actually decreasing in Houston? I have a lot of questions.

Of course this stuff was covered by chronicle............"160 year old trees....predating the cemetery "......according to their arborist....... Montrose TIRZ is another one of those civic meetings I try to attend-- for years and years now. Five years or so ago, antidotes about that cemetery were talked about when this project first got started. ......not exactly sure why this tree was so close to entrance by that wall --after it was built and tree got big, cemetery asked COH to cut it down-- roots began to cause wall to lean..... TIRZwanted to just leave west side of that part of Montrose untouched when the plan first was planned-- COH said No! years of public meeting held by TIRZ to get plan finished and presented to COH and yup- COH approved plan. But from the very beginning the protesters trashed on TIRZ as the bad guy in all this- but COH is the real power. Why didn't protested start with COH when they had all yelling to do? I just don't understand.

World Wetlands Day and Why You Should Care About It by Samantha Page CEC Newsletter Editor World Wetlands Day, observed on February 2nd every year, is an occasion to raise awareness about the significance of wetlands worldwide. In Texas, a state known for its diverse ecosystems, wetlands play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential ecosystem services. What is a wetland? Most people probably don't find themselves thinking about them often. Wetlands are transitional ecosystems where the land is saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently. They are characterized by a variety of water-tolerant plants and are found in diverse landscapes, including marshes, swamps, bogs, and estuaries. Why should we care about wetlands? Wetlands play vital roles in the environment, serving as natural filters for water, habitats for diverse wildlife, buffers against flooding, and sources of recreation and tourism. They are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth and provide numerous ecological services essential for human well-being and the health of the planet. Furthermore, wetlands in Texas contribute significantly to the state's economy through activities such as fishing, recreation, and tourism. The unique biodiversity found in these habitats attracts nature enthusiasts, photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts, generating revenue for local communities and supporting livelihoods. During hurricane season, wetlands help out by absorbing excess water which helps reduce damage caused by flooding. Sadly, wetlands are one of the Earth's most threatened ecosystems. To put that into perspective for you, they disappear faster than forests. Pollution, damming, and clearing for agriculture and construction are among the top reasons these vital ecosystems are vanishing. World Wetlands Day was established to raise awareness about conservations. If you are wondering how you can learn more about our precious wetlands and how to help protect them, volunteer your time at organizations like Galveston Bay Foundation, Artist Boat and Houston Audubon. In Texas, where wetlands are abundant and diverse, it is essential to recognize the significance of these habitats and take action to conserve and protect them.

Crime stats given &or Central 1 Division- huge area mostly Montrose

Well.....that pedestrian island does need to be pitied. No improvements in sight-- never got chosen for a CIP project. Of course its mowed to keep scraggly grass short but mega heat island of concrete during hot summers - huge water puddles retainer when it rains. It lies outside both the Midtown and Montrose TIRZ. Don't think it's on the radar of Avondale Civic nor District C Abbie Kamin nor the close by businesses.........I miss the big "M" statue. sigh

I was driving by and noticed the lights were on.........maybe something new is happening sooner than later?

I was driving by

I was driving by.....wondering why so many?

I drove by

Reduce GHGs and Waste: Compost by Leonardo Brito, owner Zero Waste Houston (a food waste pick-up and composting service) and Susie Hairston Houston, we’ve got two big problems — climate change and our ever-increasing waste footprint. The good news is, there is something each and every one of us can do to meaningfully address both of those issues right in our own kitchens and at our curbsides: we can prevent food waste and compost what we can’t prevent. The bad news: Houstonians produce "about 10 pounds of trash, per person, per day —more than twice the national average"(Metzger Luke. “How to fix Houston’s Trash Problem.” Houston Chronicle January 13, 2024). Landfills are rapidly filling up, they are wasteful and toxic, and it is increasingly difficult to permit new ones. For obvious reasons, no one wants them in their backyards. All landfills eventually leak toxic materials, poisoning ground and surface water. The water in food waste is, in large, partially responsible for the toxic leachate, providing transportation for the toxins in the landfills to escape. Landfills are the third largest emitters of methane in the US, and food waste in landfills is responsible for 58% of those landfill methane emissions (EPA). The good news: Food waste is the largest single source of landfilled Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) — coming in at 24% of all the MSW that goes to the landfill (EPA). Because of that, preventing food waste and composting what can’t be prevented are two of the most impactful things an individual can do to reduce waste sent to the landfill and reduce GHGs. Preventing food waste is your first step: Food production and distribution use land, water, and labor, all while producing GHG emissions. When we throw food away, we are wasting all of those things that went into making it. Preventing food waste is the best means of helping minimize waste and GHGs. Buy only what you need, store your food in a way that will make it last, eat your leftovers, and give any food you cannot use, that is edible, to organizations such as the Houston Food Bank, Second Servings, Target Hunger, and your local food pantries. Composting the food scraps/waste you can’t prevent is the next step.Lucky for you, the composting movement has been growing in our area over the last few years. It used to be that if you wanted to compost your food waste, you had to do it yourself in your own backyard, but now there are many options. We still encourage you to compost your food waste at home if that works for you, but if it doesn’t, there are a variety of food waste drop-off (commercial and community garden) and curbside pick-up options in the Houston area. What you can do: Support local food waste composting initiatives, participate in food waste drop-offs or sign-up for a curbside service. Previous area drop-off programs have diverted tons of waste from the landfill. In December 2020, Zero Waste Houston, a food waste pick-up and composting business, started partnering with communities in the area to divert food waste. West U’s 8-week food waste drop-off pilot program diverted 12+ tons of food scraps and compostables from the landfill. The Houston Heights Association’s 60+ week drop-off, which began in April 2021 diverted 60+ tons of food scraps. The City of Bellaire 7-week Pumpkin Drop-Off at the end of 2023 diverted 40+ tons of pumpkins from the landfill. But even more impactful than the immediate diversion is the continued diversion in the communities who participated in these drop-off programs after the pilots were over. West U now has over 400 households using curbside composting services and has integrated composting food waste into city and community events. West U also has a preferred vendor program for food waste pick-up services and a page on the city website encouraging residents to compost. 250 of the participants in the Houston Heights drop-off program are now using curbside composting services. The Bellaire Sustainability Board is exploring holding a food waste drop-off pilot. Participate, for free, in the City of Houston’s current food waste drop-off pilot in partnership with Zero Waste Houston. Drop off your food waste until February 29th at four convenient locations: Kashmere Multi-Service Center (Mondays 2-5pm), Acres Homes Multi-Service Center (Tuesdays 2-5pm), Alief Neighborhood Center (Wednesdays 4-7pm), and Sunnyside Multi-service Center (Thursdays 3-6pm). Bring items such as meats, bones, egg shells, fruit, vegetables, dairy, moldy food, coffee grounds, newspapers, greasy cardboard, and any other compostables. Participating in the pilot won’t just divert your few pounds of food waste, it will help us continue to accumulate empirical evidence that composting is a successful and effective way for Houstonians to divert organics from the landfill. Reach out to Houston City Council members: Let them know you want the city to compost food waste. Remind them that other cities in Texas have city-wide food waste composting programs. Austin started a curbside food waste pickup pilot in 2010 for 14,000 homes, which was expanded over the years until they had city-wide curbside food waste pick-up as of 2021 (asutintexas.gov “The City Strives to Compost More.” September 8, 2021; 5:05 p.m.) Since San Antonio started a curbside pick-up pilot program in 2011, it has expanded the program to 368,000 residences and diverted 335,000 tons of waste from the landfill for composting as of 2021 (Pool, Julie, “The Dirt on Curbside Composting in Texas.” Texas Monthly. April 20, 2022.) Fort Worth has been running a food waste drop-off pilot since 2019. Advocate for a SMART (Save Money and Reduce Trash) waste fee, adjusted based on income levels, where residents are charged a fee for the size of the trash can they put out, and that fee pays for recycling and composting programs. Advocate for the development of more certified composting sites within and around the city. One of the limits for composting in our area is the lack of accessible composting facilities that are certified for post-consumer food waste. Currently there is only one— Nature’s Way Resources in Conroe.