Happenings
August 16-22
Fri., Aug. 17, 2007
For more events this week, see Community Listings.
THURSDAY, AUG. 16
BACK-TO-SCHOOL TOWN HALL MEETING The African American Women & Girls Conference hosts this panel discussion with City Council Member Sheryl Cole, AISD trustee Cheryl Bradley, Mary Thomas (president of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators), Pam Wade (AISD parent-support coordinator), and others. 6-8pm. Carver Library, 1161 Angelina, 834-8552.
CITY COUNCIL CLEANS THE POOL DAY Join the Austin City Council at 9am for updates on the Barton Springs Master Plan, presentations on the pool's drought and flood needs, and a tour led by city biologist Laurie Dries. (E-mail info@friendsofbartonspringspool.org to RSVP.) Afterward, the pool-cleaning shifts begin at 10:15am and run all day; sign up by e-mailing service@friendsofbartonspringspool.org. Barton Springs, 476-9044. www.friendsofbartonspringspool.org.
FRIDAY, AUG. 17
THE WAR IS OVER! Declare it so, and perhaps it will be. Join all the others who are declaring it today at the Capitol at 5pm. March to City Hall at 6pm, enjoy music from Public Offenders, and meet on the Congress Bridge for an 8:30pm vigil. www.myspace.com/youthwarisover.
MONDAY, AUG. 20
THE IMMOKALEE & FRIED GREEN TOMATOES A screening of Fried Green Tomatoes accompanies this discussion on the struggle of the Immokalee tomato pickers. 8pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 963-9941. $4. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.
TUESDAY, AUG. 21
JOHN HENRY FAULK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Celebrate the life of a famed Austin radio host who won a 1962 libel suit against McCarthyists. The Lounging Philosophers (Lee Leffingwell, Jim Harrington, and Bill Bunch) do their best Bedichek/Dobie/Webb impressions (6:30pm), followed by new documentary John Henry Faulk: In His Own Words at the Hillside Theater (8pm). Zilker Park. Free.
MEET SEN. JOHN CORNYN For Austin Chamber of Commerce members; register online. 5:15pm. Hilton Garden Inn, 500 N. I-35, 322-5637. www.austinchamber.com.
ONGOING
SALES-TAX HOLIDAY No sales tax on clothing priced less than $100 this weekend; backpacks for students in elementary and secondary school now qualify for the exemption, as well. Some caveats apply; see www.window.state.tx.us for details. Friday-Sunday, Aug. 17-19.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: CITY BUDGET PROPOSAL Comment on various aspects of the city budget proposals for fiscal year 2007-2008. Each 6pm hearing follows daytime presentations on the topics to be covered. Public Safety Departments, Thursday, Aug. 23, 6pm. Infrastructure Departments, Thursday, Aug. 30, 6pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220. www.ci.austin.tx.us.
SAVE KENNETH FOSTER Under Texas' law of parties statute, Kenneth Foster is being held responsible for a murder committed in his presence by a friend, and he is scheduled for execution Aug. 30. Texas is the only state that applies law of parties to capital cases, and Foster's friends and family hope desperately to stop the execution. See www.savekenneth.blogspot.com, or sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/ee88911/petition.html. Read more about Foster's case below.
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