Naked City

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Happenings

A pedestrian safety workshop takes place Saturday, July 13, focusing on East Fifth Street in East Austin between Comal and Chicon. The half-day session starts at 9am at the Nuevo Leon restaurant, 1501 E. Sixth, with a PowerPoint presentation by Trans Texas Alliance and Lance Armstrong Bikeway "Bike Planner" Charles Gandy. At 11am, participants will proceed to East Fifth to discuss safety problems on the recently paved city street. A discussion of the problem areas and possible solutions will take place at 12:30pm at Cafe Mundi, 1704 E. Fifth. The workshop is sponsored by the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Planning Team and Cafe Mundi. The session is one of 50 that Trans Texas Alliance is conducting in communities across Texas as part of a traffic safety grant from TxDOT, according to sponsors.

Also on July 13, the Austin chapter of the consumer group Texans for Midwifery will hold a picnic and rally at Waterloo Park (Twelfth & Trinity) to draw attention to the likely end of midwifery services in Austin hospitals. In addition to speakers from local organizations concerned about Austin's midwife situation, there will be testimonials from mothers who have used midwives, petitions to sign and send to City Council, local hospitals, and others, face painting and music, and more. 10am to noon.

The Austin-based Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition will host the premiere of the documentary Fenceline: A Company Town Divided on July 16 at the Alamo Drafthouse in advance of its national release July 23 on PBS. Set in Norco, a small South Louisiana community named after a refinery now owned by Shell Oil, the film depicts minority locals' struggle for fair treatment in light of the petrochemical industry's neglect of their health concerns. S.E.E.D. helped spearhead the negotiations and community action work that led to the ultimate relocation and/or buyouts of hundreds of property owners. 7pm, 409 Colorado.

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Dept. is offering free pet services to East Austinites. Get your pet spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and registered with the city for free. For more information, call Town Lake Animal Center at 972-4PET.