The Bayou Banner

Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting: Holiday Party 

The Bay Area December meeting is a Holiday Party! Please bring a vegetarian side dish: vegetables, fruit, salad, or dessert. The club will provide the main vegetarian dish and the beverages. Starts at 6:30 p.m. for social and meal set-up, 7 for buffet dinner.
Go here for more information.

The runoff election for Mayor of Houston and City Council positions is Saturday, December 14. Early voting dates are listed in the article.
Voter turnout in runoff elections is typically lower, and therefore VOTING is extremely important! YOUR VOTE MATTERS!
Go here for more information.

The METRONext transit plan referendum passed on Nov. 5 with an impressive 68% of the vote. Now the question will be - which elements of the plan will become the initial priorities for implementation?
Of the major METRONext projects, one declared priority will be the proposed Bus Rapid Transit line (BRT) that will connect downtown to the Northwest Transit Center and the proposed high speed rail terminal.
Go here for more information.

On October 24, 2019, the Houston Sierra Club Executive Committee (ExCom) voted unanimously to donate $1,000 for the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) East Fork of the San Jacinto River Bridge and Parking Lot/Trailhead Rehabilitation Projects.
Go here for more information.

At the General Meeting in November we had two great speakers present on the topic of alligator snapping turtles.
The first presenter was Eric Munscher of the Turtle Survival Alliance and SWCA. He started by telling us a bit about turtles and their rapid rate of extinction.
Go here for more information.

After over 20 years, Lorraine Gibson, the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club's (HSC) Treasurer, and so much more, has decided not to run for the Executive Committee (ExCom). The ExCom is the governing body of the HSC which makes decisions about conservation, fundraising, budget, political, policy, and administrative actions.
Go here for more information.

By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center
Is it a red-headed woodpecker or a red-bellied woodpecker? One would think that the names are self-explanatory, right? One has a red head and one has a red belly. Both birds have red feathers on their heads so you might hear people tell you they saw a red-headed woodpecker when in fact it was a red-bellied woodpecker that they saw.
Go here for more information.

The Houston Group of the Sierra Club is looking for help in the following areas:
Webmaster, Proofreading, 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.

By Brandt Mannchen
I arrived early in the Big Thicket for my hike. I decided I would pay a visit to the Big Thicket National Preserve's (BTNP) visitor center before going to the parking lot to meet my group. I stepped into the restroom and then went to the visitor center front door.
Go here for more information.

By Brandt Mannchen
When I arrived early at Hudson Woods, there were several cars at the trailhead parking lot. I noticed that the parking lot had been reduced in size, fenced, and the porta-potter was nowhere in sight. Good thing I stopped at Buc-ee's on the way!
Go here for more information.