BEN - March 28, 2012 #390

Longleaf Tree at the Auburn University's Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve

Picks of the Week:

Mark your calendars - 

Today - March 28th - Lecture at the University of Alabama on the history of global warming periods 

http://uanews.ua.edu/2012/03/ua-allele-lecture-to-examine-emergence-of-life-in-global-warming-periods/

March 31st - Green Resource Center Holding Annual "Clover Crawl" Green Home & Garden Expo at Vulcan Park in Birmingham. Learn more about this special day long event at  http://www.greenalabama.org/?page_id=352&category=1

April 3rd - Become a member of the Alabama Coastal Foundation in Birmingham at the Fish Market! 

http://joinacf.org/blog/view/join-acf-in-birmingham

Nature Conservancy Seeking  "Picnic for the Planet" Volunteers

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/nature-conservancy-seeking-volunteers.html

News Across Alabama

University of West Alabama  Signs Green Agreement  with The Institute of Sustainability (TIOS)

http://www.al.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/west-alabama-partners-with-sustainability-group/731827591f5448dca5f46529e100648f

Press Release from UWA - http://www.uwa.edu/news/UWA_TIOS_green/

Alabama Rivers Alliance Names 2012 River Heroes

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/alabama-rivers-alliance-annual-river.html

National Geographic - Tar Balls still showing up on Gulf Coast beaches

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/03/120322-gulf-oil-spill-tar-balls-wash-up-on-beaches/

Researchers continue to find oil spill dangers

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/auburn_researcher_finds_danger.html

Alabama's waterways rank 3rd in the nation for the release of cancer causing toxics in waterways

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/report_finds_alabamas_waterway.html

City of Florence Landfill Cited for Contamination
http://timesdaily.com/stories/Waste-leaking-at-landfill,188578

http://timesdaily.com/stories/City-cited-for-contamination,188671

Tuskegee University Breaks ground on new Sustainability Center

http://www.southernsare.org/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/Tuskegee-University-Breaks-Ground-on-Sustainability-Center

JSU's Renee Morrison Named President of the Environmental Education Association of Alabama

http://www.jaxnews.com/view/full_story/18017402/article-JSU’s-Renee-Morrison-is-new-president-of--State-Environmental-Education-Association?instance=news_main2

Op-eds, Links, Audio and Videos

Mobile Reigster: Restore Act Editorial & Cartoon

http://blog.al.com/jdcrowe/2012/03/restore_act.html

Times Daily: Editorial calls on council to "rethink landfill stand"

http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Rethink-landfill-stand,188798

Defenders of Wildlife's Spring of Sustainability Lecture Series

http://springofsustainability.com/

New Alabama Gardener Blog

http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02_summary/

Events, Grants & Job Openings

Job Openings & Events (March 19th Update)

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/ben-job-openings-events-march-19th.html

Alabama Rivers Alliance Annual River Celebration Awards

 Shoal Creek in Lauderdale County

Earlier this month, the Alabama Rivers Alliance honored it's latest batch of 2012  "River Heroes" 

• Watershed Group of the Year – Save Our Saugahatchee and Friends of Chewacla and Uphapee Creeks from the Auburn area
• Best New Group of the Year – Coosa Riverkeeper, based in Riverside
• The James Lowery Volunteer Service Award – Jenn Patterson, Program Director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper, based in Birmingham and West AL
• Beyond Rivers Partner of the Year – The Nature Conservancy of Alabama, working statewide
• Business Partner of the Year – Good People Brewing Company

Receiving special recognition were the three individuals named River Heroes, a lifetime achievement award reserved for individuals who have spent the better part of their lives working to protect Alabama’s waterways.  They go above and beyond the average calling to ensure that all Alabamians can enjoy clean, heathy water and that government and industry are held accountable for enforcing water policies and polluting our waterways. The 2012 River Heroes were as follows:

• River Hero – Michael Mullen, the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper based in Troy
• River Hero – Bill Deutsch, Director of Alabama Water Watch, based in Auburn
• River Hero – Casi Callaway, Mobile Baykeeper, based in Mobile

The Nature Conservancy Seeking Volunteers for Earth Day "Picnic for the Planet"

Volunteers Needed for The Nature Conservancy's Picnic for the Planet 
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/alabama/p4p-2012-al-railroad-park.xml

Request for Volunteer Assistance
Earth Day 2012, Sunday, April 22
Railroad Park, Birmingham Alabama

8:00am – 10:30am                  20 volunteers                                    move picnic tables –    
                                                                                                            

9:00am-11:00am                    20 volunteers                                     set up - tables, tents, 

10:30am-1:00pm                  20 volunteers                                     welcome tables – 

12:30pm-3:00pm                  20 volunteers                                    welcome tables –

11:00am-12:00pm                  5 volunteers                                     kids zone – 

12:00pm-1:00pm                  5 volunteers                                    kids zone – 

1:00pm-2:00pm                  5 volunteers                                       kids zone – 

2:00pm-3:00pm                  5 volunteers                                      kids zone – 

1:00pm-3:00pm                   4 volunteers                                    zoo animals –

11:00am-1:00pm                  6 volunteers                                    parking – 

1:00pm-3:00pm                  6 volunteers                                      parking – 

3:00pm-5:00pm                  15 volunteers                                    break down -

3:00pm-5:00pm                   20 volunteers                                    remove picnic tables – 

Please contact Holly Hilton at (205) 251-1155 x 118 or hhilton@tnc.org to volunteer.  Volunteers will receive a free Picnic for the Planet t-shirt.  Water and snacks will be provided.

BEN - March 19th, 2012 #389

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Coastal Kids Quiz - April 27th

The 11h Annual Coastal Kids Quiz will be held on April 27th at Daphne United Methodist Church.  Teams of fifth graders from fifteen schools in Baldwin and Mobile Counties will participate in this environmental science competition.  The top three teams receive scholarship awards and their teachers receive funds for science activities at school.  Volunteers are needed and sponsorships are available. Contact the Alabama Coastal Foundation for more information at 251.990.6002 or by email at info@joinacf.org. 

News Across Alabama

Alabama legislature passes coal incentive legislation

http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2012/03/incentives_for_coal_industry_e.html

White-nosed syndrome of bats confirmed in Alabama

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/white-nose-syndrome-of-bats-confirmed.html

University of West Alabama Goes Green - Signs State's First Certification Agreement

http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/university-of-west-alabama-goes-green.html

ADEM fines city of Mobile over stormwater pollution program

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/news/adem_fines_mobile

Wise Metals inaugurates aluminum recycling plant in the Shoals

http://www.recyclingtoday.com/wise-metals-inaugurates-aluminum-plant.aspx

Op-eds, Links, Audio and Videos

Anniston Star Commends Sen. Shelby on RESTORE Act legislation

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/17912138/article-The-Gulf-gets-its-share--Sen--Shelby-should-be-thanked-for-work-on-RESTORE-Act?instance=home_opinion

Anniston Star's Bob Davis: Coldwater Mountain Bike Trail

http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/17919496/article-Bob-Davis--Cyclists-are-coming--and-it’s-good?instance=opinion_right

Whit Gibbons: How important is the environment to Americans?

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20120304/NEWS/120309947/1218/opinion01?p=2&tc=pg

Mobile Bay NEP Calls on citizens to "break" the plastic habit (video)

http://www.mobilebaynep.com/news/break_the_plastic_habit

WIAT CBS 42's Deadly Deception II at the Carver  Theater (video)

http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Black-Warrior-River-Keeper-Presents-Deadly/tqph-HzpqUuVPf66VreR9g.cspx

Weeks Bay Spring Calendar

http://www.weeksbay.org/calendar.htm

Events, Grants & Job Openings
http://bamanews2.blogspot.com/2012/03/ben-job-openings-events-march-19th.html

BEN - Job Openings & Events (March 19th Update)

Job Openings

New!! Nature Conservancy Conservation Information Manager (March 20th Deadline)

New!! Conservation Alabama Seeks Development Director

New!! Birmingham Zoo Seeks Education Administrative Coordinator

New!! Alabama Land Trust Seeking Watershed Coordinator (April 8th)

Wild South Conservation Fellows Program

 Weeks Bay Seeking Gulf Communities Coordinator

 Alabama Wildlife Center Internships

Tennessee Riverkeeper Seeking Administrative Assistant

Alabama Department of Environmental Management (application process)

EJobs. com - Alabama

Alabama State Parks - (application process)

University of Alabama Seeking Environmental Institute Director

University of Alabama Seeking American Environmental History Professor

Outdoor Industry Job Seekers

US Green Building Council Jobs

Grants

Birmingham Audubon Society Grants and Scholarships - Website

Legacy Partners in Environmental Education Grant Program

Longleaf Pine Restoration Grants

Alabama Outdoor Classroom Grants (Website)

Events

Spring Events

Mobile Baykeeper - Feb.8 to August 21 (2-3 Baykeeper 101 Events a month)

Shoals Fresh Air Family Nature Hikes/Event - Feb-Apr.

Alabama Wildlife Federation's Wild Game Cook-Off Schedule - February to August

Ruffner Mountain's February-August Events

March

Swine and Wine Benefit for the Druid City Garden Project - March 25
Green Resource Center for Alabama Clover Crawl in Birmingham - March 31st
Auburn University's Earth Fest - March 31st

Spring Hummingbird Banding at Fort Morgan - March 31-April 12

April

Alabama Coastal Foundation Birmingham Membership Event @ Fish Market - April 3rd

Every Drop - Cahaba River Society Benefit - April 5th

Colors of the Coosa Benefit - April 7th

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale - April 12-15

Ruffner Mountain Native Plant Sale - April 14th
Earth Day in Foley, Alabama - April 14th
Samford University Earth Day Schedule - April 16-19

Discovery Day at Dauphin Island Sea Lab - April 17th
Earth Day Safari @ Montgomery Zoo - April 18th
Auntie Litter's Earth Day Parade - April 19

Alabama Environmental Council 16th Annual Green Tie Affair - April 21
Earth Day in Huntsville, Alabama @ Hays Nature Preserve - April 21

5th Annual Shoals Earth Day Fest  -Tuscumbia - Colbert County Courthouse April 21st

Party for the Planet - Birmingham Zoo April 21st
Coosa Valley Earth Day in Gadsden, Alabama - April 21st

McWane Center Earth Day Celebration - April 21-22
Mentone Earth Day - April 21

Nature Conservancy's Earth Day Picnic for the Planet in Birmingham - April 22nd

Mobile Bay Earth Day - April 22nd

May

Cocktails with the Critters Supporting Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation - May 3rd

Earth Day at the Gardens - Birmingham Botanical Gardens (May 5)

2012 Audubon Mountain Workshop and Young Naturalist's Program - May 10-13

June

Weeks Bay Bald Eagle Bash - June 2nd

Summer

Fresh Air Family "Gross Out" Camps - July 11-15 &18-22 (Mobile area)

EPA's Pollution Prevention Week - September 16-22


November

Bays and Bayou Symposium - November 14-15

Organizational Calendar of Events

New! Alabama Water Watch Calendar

New! Anniston Museum of Natural History Calendar

Alabama State Parks - Calendar 

Conservation Alabama Calendar

JSU Field Schools Calendar

Canyon Center Calendar  (Little River Canyon Preserve)

Alabama Wildlife Federation Event Calendar

Fresh Air Family Calendar

Alabama Hiking Trail Society - Calendar

Alabama Wildlife Federation Calendar

5 Rivers- Alabama's Delta Resource Center Events

Ruffner Mountain Calendar

Land Trust of North Alabama Events Calendar

Landmark Park in Dothan Calendar

Hummer Bird Study Group Calendar

Weeks Bay Foundation Calendar

Alabama Wildlife Center Calendar

Steve Trash Events

Ducks Unlimited 75th Anniversary Banquet Calendar

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Calendar

Huntsville Botanical Gardens Calendar

Mobile Botanical Gardens Calendar

Sierra Club Outings and Event Calendar

Burritt Museum in Huntsville