Public Notice

HeArt From the Streets Our holidays brim with excess. In our culture of gluttons, we sure know how to party down. The fact that these celebrations fall at the end of the year, gushing sentiments of "Peace on Earth" and "Goodwill to All" makes reflection all the more loaded and poignant. How far have we come toward healing our societal discomforts in these 12 months? How are we better humans?

Well, our elected representatives sure did something about that pesky welfare state, now didn't they? The past year, politically, leaves much room for finger pointing and wagging. But what did each of us do as individuals?

Do you ever wonder why there's more news about our homeless population during this time of year? Is it a concerted media conspiracy designed to yank your heartstrings when your pursestrings are likely to open wider than usual? Is it a writer's or reporter's or editor's guilt which places the story at the top of the column?

There is a Community Meeting Thu, Nov 7, (tonight) 7pm at Highland Park Baptist, 5206 Balcones. Karen Olson, founder of Interfaith Hospitality Network, will invite Austin to do more for the homeless and will outline the many opportunities to do so. Over 30 congregations participate in this non-denominational effort to help. 448-2911 or 452-4663.

This weekend, Sat & Sun, Nov 9 & 10, noon-5pm, clients of Helping Our Brothers Out (H.O.B.O.) will present a public showing of art for sale at the H.O.B.O. Art Sale at H.O.B.O., Second & San Antonio. Most of the approximately 800 pieces for sale are in the $10-25 range with proceeds going to the artist. Last year, the event raised over $9,000 for the artists. 306-9700. Homeful Results, a citizen lobby which focuses on issues relating to poverty and hunger, presents the Austin Microcredit Forum, Sun, Nov 10, 2pm at Parque Zaragosa Rec Center. Supporters promote microcredit as a "self-help" credit program, geared toward women and designed to encourage self-reliance and private enterprise. Representative Lloyd Doggett will join activists from Accion, an international non-profit microcredit organization. mcoats@io.com Homeward Bound, Too The orientation sessions are free, but registration is required for Homeward Bound, a program which offers assistance to folks wanting to develop a realistic plan for becoming a homeowner. Presented by the Central Texas Mutual Housing Authority, sessions are Thu, Nov 14, 6pm and Sat, Nov 23, 10am at the Capital Plaza Bank One. For those who meet the program guidelines, downpayment assistance is available. The six-part Homebuyer Class series is $50 and begins in January. Interested participants must attend one of the orientation sessions. 707-7553. Coming Home On Sun, Nov 17, 6:45am, they will gather on the south shore of Town Lake just west of the South First Street bridge. In the streaming light of the new day, they will honor those homeless people who have died on the streets of Austin. The Memorial Service for the Homeless will convene at the Memorial Marker for Homeless People erected by the activists at House the Homeless, Inc., back in 1993. The marker is close to the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue. Perhaps you'd care to join them? 476-4383. Back to the Nerd-en Oh, the stardust and golden, pocket-protector set will be half-a-million strong at Nerdstock III, Wed, Nov 13 at La Zona Rosa. We're not sure if they'll be offering a wallowing pond or encouraging nudity, but the annual gathering of computer geeks... er... we mean professionals... has in the past raised impressive chunks of dough for area charities. This year, the nerds will gather to raise cash for a charity which hits close to the laptop, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the non-profit civil liberties organization which fights to protect online freedom. 301-2400. n Email: pnotice@auschron.com Mail to: "Public Notice," The Austin Chronicle, P0 Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765. Deadline: Wednesday, 6pm, eight days prior to publication. Phone calls have a .001% chance of being returned.