Happenings

---

For more events, see Community Listings.

Thursday, September 6

BUS RIDERS UNION – ATX Discuss Capital Metro's proposal to raise the bus fare from 50 cents to $1. 7:30pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free.www.busridersunionatx.org.

EXECUTION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD Join Ruth Massingill, co-author of Prison City: Life With the Death Penalty in Huntsville, Texas, for a discussion on capital punishment. 7pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, 472-5050. Free. www.bookpeople.com.

TEXAS BIODIESEL CONFERENCE & EXPO features two days of presentations on the latest regulatory, agricultural, and technical developments in the biodiesel industry. 7:30am-5:30pm. Renaissance Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Blvd. $500 ($175, students/government employees). www.biodieselevents.com.

Friday, September 7

ANN W. RICHARDS CONGRESS AVENUE BRIDGE DEDICATION Celebrate the life of the late Ann Richards with the dedication of the bridge. The ceremony begins with a procession ending at the north side of the bridge, where the mayor, council mem­bers, and members of Richards' family will speak in her honor. 11am; procession begins at Riverside & Congress. Free. www.ci.austin.tx.us.

Saturday, September 8

STATE/CHURCH SEPARATION RALLY Join the American Atheists, the Rational Response Squad, the Freethinkers Association, and others in speaking for the rights of the nonreligious. Noon-3pm. Texas Capitol. Free. www.atheists.org/tx.

Sunday, September 9

ATHEIST COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN LECTURE SERIES Mark Loewe presents today's talk: Low-Cost Textbooks, Progressive Vouchers, and Incorrect TAKS Scores. 12:15pm. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe, 371-2911. Free. www.atheist-community.org.

LAKE TRAVIS UNDERWATER CLEANUP brings 1,000 divers together to clear the lake of the debris and trash that has gathered over the last year. If you'd like to dive, preregister with the Colorado River Foundation at 458-8844 or www.coloradoriver.org. To help with the shoreline cleanup, contact Keep Austin Beautiful at 391-0622 or www.keepaustinbeautiful.org. Cleanup: 8-11:30am; volunteer party: 11:30am-1pm. Lake Travis. Free.

MUSLIM PEACE MARCH Austin's Muslim community and friends unite to take a stand against violence. The march begins at the Capitol at 9:30am, followed by speeches from Imam Mohammed Umer and Sister Sarwat Hussain. 9-11am. Texas Capitol. www.muslimpeacemarch.org.

Monday, September 10

ELIZABETH EDWARDS Presidential candidate John Edwards' wife speaks and signs copies of her book, Saving Graces, a memoir of her experiences with cancer. 8-10pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar. Free.

TXDOT/CAMPO HEARING Discuss toll roads and other Texas transportation plans. 6pm. Texas Capitol Extension Auditorium, E-1.004. www.campotexas.org.

Tuesday, September 11

IRAQNOPHOBIA A commemoration of 9/11 and meditation on justice, brought to you by the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, Brian Allen, and Herman Hecht, with photography from Alan Pogue. (See "Music Listings.") 8pm. Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor, 786-2015. $10. www.salvagevanguard.org.

PEOPLE THROUGH PEOPLE Join Austin Sister Cities International on its 50th anniversary for a free concert in memory of 9/11. Sara Hickman and Sparks & Friends perform, and the APD Pipe & Drum Corps will lead a salute to the victims and survivors of 9/11. 6-9pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/siscity.

Wednesday, September 12

SOS ALLIANCE BENEFIT SCREENING Join director Laura Dunn for a special screening of her documentary The Unforeseen, about Austin development and the campaign to save Barton Springs. A Q&A follows. (See "Special Screenings.") 7pm. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress. $10-20. www.sosalliance.org.

TRANSFORMING THE CHILD WELFARE LAND­SCAPE Texans Care for Children kicks off this ongoing speaker series with Federal Child Welfare Financing and Policy: Opportunities for Reform, a talk from David Laird of Voices for American's Children. 1-2:30pm. Texas Capitol Auditorium, E-1.004. Free. www.texanscareforchildren.org.

Ongoing

ACCESSIBILITY INTERNET RALLY invites volunteer teams of Web professionals to compete in building accessible, standards-compliant websites for area nonprofits. Winners will compete in a tri-city tournament. Registration deadline: Sept. 15. www.knowbility.org/air-austin.

POLITICAL ASYLUM PROJECT OF AUSTIN seeks bilingual English/Spanish volunteers to help during a fall series of Salvadoran Temporary Protected Status clinics. Training available. Call for details. Through Oct. 13. Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays. 478-0546 x214. www.main.org/papa.