Public Notice
Today's Menu: Road Kill, Street Pizza, Dillo Stew
By Kate X Messer, Fri., Oct. 24, 1997
Walking Tall
As well you should if you participated in this last weekend's AIDS Walk of Austin to benefit AIDS Services of Austin (75% of the proceeds) and 13 other (25%) public service organizations. The estimated 6,000 walkers raised over $275,000 in the annual fundraiser, which apparently benefited from some structural changes from previous years. The 1996 grand total of $235,000 included receipts from ASA's Dining for Life fundraiser, so this year's total is significantly higher since it does not include those totals. The results from this year's Dining for Life have not yet been released. ASA lengthened the annual walk from 5K to 10K and re-routed it through neighborhoods in East Austin. Their strategy to preregister walkers and market to group and business teams seems to have paid off as well. There were over 450 registered teams this year as opposed to around 140 last year. 452-WALK.
Spooky
Okay, we usually don't run notices for church fundraisers, but since it is the holiday season (no, not that one... we're thinking Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, All Saints, etc.) our hearts are dripping with charity. There will be a Yard Sale to benefit the First Spiritualist Church, at the church proper, 4200 Ave D, Sat, Oct 25, 10am-3pm. Aside from the regular used pots, pans, and baby socks, two Mediums will be present to offer readings for a small Donation. Or a large donation. Perhaps that will affect the reading. Who knows? They assure that the lights stay on and that the atmosphere is relaxed and casual -- just your average afternoon visitation from the dead. 916-0800.
Let's Kick Violence's Ass!!!
Oooohhhh... Phew! We've almost survived another Week Without Violence (WWV) (Oct 19-25) without clocking somebody. Don't think there haven't been close calls. Like with that jerk who yelled, "FaaaaaaayGOT!" out his monster truck. (Yes, dude, the last time we looked, breasts came with that epithet.) Or with that check-out clerk at the Yuk-Mart who became indignant when we pointed out that, no, the gentleman with whom she was speeeeeeeaking slowly and LOUDLY was actually quite fluent in English, thank you very much, and in fact, despite his "lookin' ethnic" was born in New York state, and what did she mean by "Your People"? And we don't care that she dated a "Pakistan-man" once... Grrrrr Growl Grimace. We hope that enlightening events like the ones hosted by YWCA and Out Youth preach to more than just the choir and that a few of these curious specimens crawl out from under their rock before the week is over and we get back to ass-kicking. (Right.)
So if you tend to be a bit indelicate and inconsiderate (or perhaps you prefer that dismissive and scapegoaty phrase of mean schmucks everywhere -- "politically incorrect"), with regard to folks different from yourself, then do us all a favor and venture out to one of these events on Fri, Oct 24:
* At 5pm, the crew from Out Youth will Plant & Dedicate a Memorial Tree in Waterloo Park at the northwest corner of 12th & Red River. Travis County Sheriff Margo Fraiser, Austin Chief of Police Stan Knee, and State House Rep. Glen Maxey will be among the dignitaries honoring this call to end racism, hatred and violence in Austin. A reception will be held at 5:30pm at Cornerstone.
* Also at 5:30pm, Austin Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization (ALLGO) will host a Reception for Texas Artists at Las Manitas, 211 Congress, presenting works addressing issues of violence, AIDS, and substance abuse.
* At 7pm the glorious Root Wy'mn Theatre Company will present Selections from Sharon Bridgforth's Works at Public Domain, 807 Congress. If you've never seen their work, now's the time to get out from under that rock.
* Also at 7pm, filmmaker K. Bradford will screen her Documentary White-Out at St. Edward's University's Chapel. The film explores white identity from the perspective of both whites and blacks in Namibia and the U.S.
All of the WWV events are free and open to the public, courtesy of the above organizations and the YWCA. 326-1222 or 708-1234.
Whut's the Aqua Fer?
Well, it's the main source of water for well over 1.5 million people and source for Texas' largest springs. We speak of the Edwards Aquifer, of course, and this weekend, Save Our Springs (S.O.S., duh) hosts a conference all about it. The conference, Protecting the Edwards Aquifer: Science, Economics, and Citizenship, Sat, Oct 25, 1pm at the LBJ Auditorium on UT campus, brings together scientists, watershed authorities, local and national politicians, and our own S.O.S. for a day of education about the critical state of our precious fount. The conference culminates in a 7:30pm presentation by featured speaker Stewart Udall, author, environmental attorney, former member of Congress and former Secretary of the Interior under presidents JFK and LBJ. [email protected] or 477-2320.
One More Time, Naturally...
And speaking of preserving something before they build another Yuk-Mart on it... Don't forget: REI Wants You! ...to Volunteer to help at the Bull Creek Greenbelt Trail Work Day, Sat, Oct 25, 9am-3pm. They need 130 trail blazers for this annual service project to rebuild trails. Pre-register at REI, 9901 Capital of Texas Hwy N. There will be an appreciation party to feed all the hearty workers after the day is done. 343-5550.
Pump for Nature
All right, all you pedal pushers, pump it up for Pedal for the Planet, Sat, Oct 25, 7:30am, at the Leander High School parking lot. The 20 or 50 or 62 mile route (you pick) is a ride, not a race, and will benefit the environmental and nature activities of the Austin Sierra Club. It's only natural. http://www.moontower.com/sierra or 280-3255.
A Natural Segue...
Natch'rul? Ain't nuthin' more natch'rul in Texxess than BiiiiiiiiiiG Hayyyer! We mean: BiiiiiiiiiGGGGGggg-g-g-g Hair! And thar ain't no one who holds it high like ex-guv Ann Richards. Despite what this week's covergirl may be up to up yonder up north (Who cares bout them durned Yankees, anyhooooo? Doh!... Sorry... We do care about the wetlands, actually... Annie, what are ye thinkin'?), she's still a good ol' gal to local causes. Her Guv-ness, The Hairdo herself, will appear at the Austin Writers' League fundraiser, the hairlarious Big Hair Follies. There will be follicles a'plenty Sun, Oct 26, 7pm, when said ex-dippity-do guv joins pals Liz Carpenter (who sports a mean 'do herself), Shannon Sedwick (a wiglet queen in her own right) and Cactus Pryor (now, ol' Cactus may need a hand...) at Esther's Follies in a show which promises dancing hairspray cans and a visit from the ex-first Bush family (in the more digestible form of Liz & Cactus). There will be tons of food, and frivolity, and mirth... Oh, just go. 499-8914.
Hyper Hyper Texters Needed
Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN) is hosting a Web Raising, Sat, Nov 1, 1-5pm at the Flawn Academic Center, UT campus. They need Volunteers to construct Web pages for local nonprofits. MAIN will then host the pages at no cost. [email protected] or http://www.main.org.
