Eco-notes

[pineda]

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

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NEWS

(1) TEXANS FOR STATE PARKS MEETS JAN 27-29

by Ella Tyler

Members of Texans for State Parks will meet at Bastrop State Park next weekend. The focus of the meeting will be the funding crisis confronting state parks. The meeting is open to any interested individual.

On Friday evening, groups from parks throughout the state will share success stories, and Joseph Fitzsimons, chair of the TPW board, will speak.

John Parker of the Texas Parks and Wildlife board, Robert Cook, executive director of TPW, and Walt Dabney, parks director, will speak Saturday morning. The Saturday afternoon open forum will focus on "CPR" - Come to the Parks' Rescue. The forum will be led by Thomas Linton of Galveston, a retired Texas A&M professor and president of The Friends of Galveston Island State Park; environmental attorney Myron Hess; Mitchell Davenport, county judge for Jack County; and Kevin Good, assistant to the Texas Parks director. Saturday night will be a mix and mingle with music by Bill McDonald.

For further information, contact Beth McDonald, president of Texans for State Parks, at (512) 721-3321 or Linda Evans, administration/registration, at (512) 444-8079.

(2) CHURCHES JOIN FIGHT FOR CLEAN AIR

by Ella Tyler

Texas Impact, established in 1973 to be a voice of religious social concern to the Texas legislature, has added fighting air pollution to its list of concerns. However, in this case, instead of asking the legislature for action, the group has created Breath of Life, a program to help congregations take concrete steps to reduce polluting air emissions.

The program's publicity materials ask, "Have you ever thought of flipping a light switch as an act of charity? The electricity we use affects our health and our communities. Churches, temples, mosques, family life centers, religious schools, and outreach ministry facilities use electricity just like any other building."

There will be a Breath of Life training at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 600 Pecore Street, Woodland Heights area, on Sat, Jan 21, from 10:30 am to 2 pm. A light lunch will be served. The training will cover information about signing up for Breath of Life, as well as the basics of air pollution and energy in Texas. Participants in the training will receive a training kit and can choose to be certified as Breath of Life trainers.

For more information or to RSVP, email <justice@texasimpact.com> or call (512) 472-3903 or see <http://www.breathoflifetx.org>.

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COALITION NOTES

(3) CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY THIS SATURDAY

In Texas, Arbor Day is celebrated on Jan 21, when the weather is more suitable for planting trees than April, when most of the rest of the US observes the day. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens will give away tree seedlings, beginning at 8 am and continuing while supplies last. There will be a tree planting demonstration at 8 am, and experts will give advice on tree selection and care at 10 am. Mercer Arboretum is at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road.

The Park People are celebrating at Tony Marron Park from 9 am to noon by planting some trees. This newly developed park, bordering Buffalo Bayou, is at 808 North York Street.

On Saturday, Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center celebrates with a tree give-away, a tree tour at 9 am, a discussion of how paper is made at 10 am; on Sunday, an origami workshop is planned at 2 pm. For reservations, call (281) 446-8588. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center is at 20634 Kenswick Drive in Humble.

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway, will celebrate with the theme "The Many Lives of Trees" from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be crafts, activities, and music to celebrate the vital importance of trees. Activities include visits by Johnny Appleseed, Smokey the Bear, and other costumed characters; talks by local tree experts; tours and paper making.

(4) GOOD BRICK WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance's Good Brick awards will be presented at the group's Cornerstone Dinner, Fri, Jan 27. Major and Beverly Stevenson will be honored for their successful 17-year effort to preserve their family's historic 26-acre homestead on Reed Road as a nature park. The Stevensons convinced their extended family to donate the land, now E.R. and Ann Taylor Park, to the City of Houston. The park includes the family cemetery and antebellum home site. Houston mayor Bill White will receive the group's President's Award for preservation leadership. Some of the other 2006 Good Brick recipients are: Story Sloane III for his work in preserving historic photographs, Ken and Peggy Lindow for rescue of their 1910 home at 3317 Morrison; Avenue CDC and Artspace Projects, Inc., for renovation of the 1924 Jefferson Davis Hospital as Elder Street Artists Lofts; and Harris County, Jerry Patchen, and Avi Ron for preservation of the Palace Hotel, built in 1903, at 14

17 Congress. Carol Eckels Adams will be honored for her work to revitalize the Katy Heritage Society and her commitment to preservation in western Harris County. Good Bricks have been given since 1979 to honor excellence in historic preservation projects, programs, and leadership. For a list of the additional winners and a description of the projects, go to <http://www.ghpa.org>. For dinner information, call 713-216-5000.

(5) HARC STAFFER NAMED TO NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING GROUP

Richard C. Haut, PhD, director of the sustainable technologies group at the Houston Advanced Research Center has been named a founding member of the US Green Building Council's research committee. The USGBC is a coalition of leaders from across the building industry that promotes environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.

The research committee will challenge the entire research community, including technology developers, to create new building systems, materials, and methodologies that will result in better use of our limited natural resources, Haut said. There are four other committee members. Haut represents the non-profit sector.