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Area Agency on Aging Launches Podcast
H-GAC's Area Agency on Aging announces the launch of Caring Conversations, a new podcast series.
Each episode brings helpful information, real conversations, and valuable resources to support older adults, caregivers, families, and our community.
The first two episodes are available on a dedicated playlist, with additional episodes planned every other month.
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Appointments Available for Medicare Open Enrollment Counseling
Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs each year from October 15 through December 7, giving Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to review their current health and prescription drug coverage and make changes for the upcoming plan year.
The Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging's Benefits Counseling Team, serving as the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), provides free, unbiased counseling to help Medicare beneficiaries compare plans, review coverage and costs, evaluate prescription drug options, and make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage for 2027. Whether you're considering a new plan or simply want to ensure your current coverage continues to meet your needs, SHIP counselors can provide personalized assistance and education.
For appointments or more information, call 1-800-437-7396 Monday-Friday. Appointments must be requested two days in advance.
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H-GAC Projects Earn American Planning Association Honors
Four H-GAC projects were selected to receive recognition in the American Planning Association Texas Chapter Houston Section 2026 Awards program.
The Community and Environmental Planning department's (C&E) Annual Planning Webinar received gold recognition in the public outreach category. This award honors an individual, project, or program that uses information and education about the value of planning to create greater awareness among citizens or specific segments of the public. The award celebrates how planning improves a community’s quality of life.
The C&E monthly update e-newsletter received silver recognition in the journalism category. This award recognizes outstanding media or storytelling efforts that highlight planning achievements, community engagement, or the impact of planning on communities.
H-GAC's Transportation department's Washington Avenue Corridor Study and City of Friendswood Active Transportation Plan received bronze and silver recognition, respectively, in the transportation category. This award honors efforts to increase transportation choices for all populations, reducing dependence on private automobiles and helping to ease congestion and reducing climate change impacts.
Thank you to everyone who has supported H-GAC's plans and programs.
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H-GAC Accepting Reservations for Fall and Winter Legal Clinics
H-GAC’s Elder Justice Program is taking reservations through March 2027 from senior programs, community centers, churches, and non-profits interested in hosting free Advance Planning Legal Clinics for seniors aged 65+.
The four-session clinic helps educate attendees on the legal documents needed to safeguard assets and preserve independence in the face of physical and/or mental decline.
Legal documents covered are:
- Statutory Durable (Financial) Power of Attorney
- Medical Power of Attorney
- Mental Health Power of Attorney
- Advance Directive to Physicians and Family (aka Living Will)
- Do Not Resuscitate Orders (advice only; requires physician to issue)
- Advance Declaration of Guardian
- Disposition of Remains
Sessions are scheduled for four consecutive weeks, with two mandatory if attorney-drafted documents are desired. Seniors who attend the two mandatory educational sessions, timely submit information and return for the scheduled notary signing will receive attorney-drafted, fully executed legal documents ($1,5000 value) free-of-charge.
Note: Requires a minimum of 10 participants.
Interested in booking a presentation or hosting an Advance Planning Legal Clinic? Contact Helen Malveaux, Senior Program Attorney, at 346-500-4594.
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H-GAC Offers Customizable Storm Debris Response, Preparation Templates
H-GAC provides a set of customizable debris-related public information messages and templates. These outreach templates and tools are designed for local governments and other partners to customize and use to provide information to communities and residents before, during, and after debris-generating events, such as floods, wildfires, or hurricanes.
The graphics and messages are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese and can be downloaded from H-GAC's Disaster Debris Cleanup and Management Resources web page.
Additional tools are available, such as debris separation flyers and videos, public information / news release templates; tips for setting up a call center; and resources from other agencies.
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Area Agency on Aging Offers Free Benefits Counseling
H-GAC's Area Agency on Aging program offers Benefits Counseling Days each month across the region. During these free, in-person events, attendees can meet with a Certified Benefits Counselor to discuss Medicare, Medicaid, and Advance Directives and receive personalized guidance.
Assistance is available to anyone eligible for Medicare, regardless of age, and their caregivers. The H-GAC Area Agency on Aging serves Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.
Dates and locations are listed online.
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Area Agency on Aging Roadshow – November 4 (In Person)
H-GAC’s Area Agency on Aging is hosting our final Roadshow of the year. Through these roadshows, staff visit communities across the region to connect older adults and caregivers with local resources and services.
Waller County - 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, November 4
Brookshire First United Methodist Church
707 Cooper St.
Brookshire
Learn more about the H-GAC Area Agency on Aging programs online.
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Natural Resources Advisory Committee Meeting – November 5 (Hybrid)
H-GAC's next Natural Resources Advisory Committee meeting will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, November 5, in person at H-GAC and on Zoom.
Registration is requested to attend in person and required to attend online.
For more information, contact Rachel Windham.
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Houston Area GIS Day – November 18-20 (In Person)
See how location can turn data into insight at the 2026 Houston Area GIS Day November 18-20 at the Houston City College West Loop Campus, 5601 W Loop S., Houston. Houston Area GIS Day is a three-day celebration of Geographic Information Systems for local GIS professionals, universities, high school students, and teachers.
This year’s activities include:
- Cutting-edge GIS tools demos
- Hands-on workshops
- College and University GIS Program Exhibitors
- Geospatial Exhibitors and Vendors
- Student GIS Activities and Games and More!
Tickets for the expo and workshops are available online. University student discount tickets are available. For more information, contact Molly Eskelson.
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Clean Waters Initiative Workshop – December 10 (Hybrid)
Save the date for the next Clean Waters Initiative Workshop - Greens Bayou Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) Implementation Thursday, December 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshop will be at East Aldine Management District, 2909 East Aldine Amphitheatre Drive, Houston, and on Zoom.
The topic for this CWI Workshop is on implementation strategies for H-GAC's Greens Bayou WPP. To coincide with the draft WPP currently under development, H-GAC staff will present information on implementation efforts that have been completed in the watershed and any efforts to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
In addition to planned speakers, attendees can participate in roundtable discussions on how to push implementation efforts forward for the WPP, determine what needs still exist, and collaborate on funding opportunities.
More information, including registration details, will be posted on H-GAC's CWI web page.
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Annual Planning Workshop – December 8 (Online)
Save the date for the Annual Planning Workshop: Rising Heat, Resilient Communities: Protecting People and Public Spaces from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, December 8, on Zoom.
Registration is required.
The workshop will include a discussion about how communities can respond to rising temperatures while protecting public health, strengthening ecological resilience, and creating safer, more accessible public spaces. Speakers will highlight current research, examine the disproportionate effects of climate hazards on vulnerable populations, and consider how extreme heat affects mobility and access to shared spaces. Participants will also learn about practical, nature-based, and design-focused strategies for building healthier and more resilient communities.
For 20 years, H-GAC has hosted this free annual workshop to deliver timely, relevant topics that equip attendees with practical, real-world planning ideas, community planning best practices, and solutions. The workshop is designed for local governments, community members, neighborhood leaders, planners, city staff, nonprofit partners, and students.
For more information, contact Amanda Ashcroft. Additional details will be posted online as they become available.
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Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable Changes Name, Next Event – January 21, 2027 (In Person)
H-GAC is changing the name of the Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable to the Bringing Back Main Street Community Showcase and Information Exchange to better reflect how the event has evolved over the years. It will still be a program offering local communities a forum to share best practices and engage in networking conversations about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. Each quarter, community leaders will gather in a community in the region for informational presentations on a variety of topics ranging from small business support to sidewalk infrastructure and to highlight and celebrate the successes of the host community.
Save the date for the Bringing Back Main Street Community Showcase and Information Exchange for Wednesday, January 21, 2027, in La Porte. We will be begin with networking 9:30 a.m., followed by the program at 10 a.m. The event is tentatively scheduled to end at 1 pm.
Additional program information, including the specific location and registration, will be posted online.
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Parks and Natural Areas Awards Celebration – February 25, 2027 (In Person)
Mark your calendar for H-GAC's annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards Celebration from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, February 25, 2027, at H-GAC.
Additional program information and registration will be posted online at h-gac.com/parks-and-natural-areas/meeting-materials.
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Take Care of Texas Art Contest
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Take Care of Texas 2026 Art Contest is open for application – and new this year, the competition has expanded to grades K-12.
This year’s contest theme is “Ways to Reduce Waste.” Students are asked to illustrate how they, along with their friends and family, can help reduce harmful impacts on the environment. The contest is open to public, private, or home-schooled students throughout Texas. Prizes for the winning entries in each category include gift cards and scholarships made possible by the contest sponsor, Texas Chemistry Council.
TCEQ staff will narrow down the entries by selecting the finalists for each category. From there, grand prize winners and runners-up will be selected by TCEQ commissioners and executive staff, as well as representatives from the Texas Chemistry Council. Each grand prize winner for grades K-10 will receive a $250 gift card, and each runner-up will receive a $100 gift card. For grades 11-12, the grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship, and the runner-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
All entries must be postmarked by Friday, December 18.
For more information and official rules, visit the Take Care of Texas website or send an email to [email protected].
Winners will be announced in April 2027
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Green Infrastructure for Texas Offers Free Class
Green Infrastructure for Texas provides a free online course, Introduction to Green Infrastructure, designed for professionals involved in community development, infrastructure planning, and environmental management. This self-paced course is available for users to take a closer look at tools and skills for local communities' green infrastructure needs.
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America Recycles Day – November 15
For more than two decades, communities have come together on November 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day.
Find tools for organizing or attending special events.
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Green Infrastructure Workshop – November 18
The Texas AgriLife Green Infrastructure for Texas (GIFT) program will host a Green Infrastructure workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, November 18, at the A.J. "Jack" Hartel Building, 318 San Jacinto St., Liberty.
This free, half-day workshop will cover green infrastructure at every scale — from site-level practices like rain gardens, pervious pavement, and rainwater harvesting, to mid-scale solutions such as vegetated swales, stormwater wetlands, and retrofitted basins that manage flooding while creating habitat and community recreation opportunities. At the largest scale, sessions will explore preserving and restoring prairies, wetlands, and natural corridors that deliver ecosystem services no smaller project can replicate.
The workshop is designed for local elected officials, municipal and county staff, institutional landowners, facilities managers, and anyone involved in community planning, development, or environmental management.
Seating is limited, and registration is required.
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Birds Houston Christmas Bird Count – December 14-January 5
The Christmas Bird Count is December 14 through January 5 each year.
Organized by the National Audubon Society, this global, all-volunteer effort collects data on local bird populations. Individual counts are open to birders of all levels, and there is no fee to participate. Several events are scheduled across the area.
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City of Santa Fe Seeks Partners to Develop "Cattleman's District"
The City of Santa Fe has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified, experienced, financially capable developers or development teams interested in partnering with the City for the development of approximately six acres of City-owned
property located along FM 1764 in Santa Fe, Texas.
The City is seeking a development partner capable of creating a high-quality, financially viable, cohesive mixed-use destination that reflects the character and identity of Santa Fe while increasing the City’s tax base, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, creating employment opportunities, and establishing a recognizable commercial destination.
The proposal due date is Thursday, November 19, at 3 p.m.
More information, including the full RFP, is available online.
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Funding Sources
H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department maintains a list of ongoing funding opportunities for parks improvements, conservation projects, active transportation projects, and downtown revitalization projects. H-GAC also provides a Funding Resources Hub with the Funding Development Program and a listing of many funding opportunities for individuals, local governments, organizations, and others.
If you know of a funding opportunity, forward it to Andrea Tantillo.
All content, including links to websites on these funding lists, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
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Unless otherwise noted, all meetings scheduled at H-GAC are at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities attending H-GAC functions. Requests should be received 72 business hours prior to the function. Contact the meeting organizer to make arrangements.
Banner Photo: Hugo Point Park in Cove.
Would you like us to consider featuring your municipality, program, or regional photo on the C&E Planning Update banner? Just forward your picture to Andrea Tantillo, along with some information about the subject and the photographer, and you might see it in a future month's newsletter.
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