Res Publica

For more details and events, see Community Listings.

Thursday23

GOING GREEN SUPPORT GROUP Learn simple ways to green your life from like-minded people. 7pm, second and fourth Thursdays. Trinity United Methodist Church, 600 E. 50th, 451-0580. $15.

ENERGY ACTION RALLY Join MoveOn.org today in encouraging the Senate to strengthen the Clean Air Act, which was weakened during the House's passage of the energy bill. 5:30pm. 211 W. Sixth. www.moveon.org.

ROGER THUROW discusses his book Enough, co-written with Scott Kilman, on why chronic hunger is the result of bad policy – not drought, war, and corruption. 7pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar, 472-5050.

Friday24

SUPPORT PEARCE MIDDLE SCHOOL: POSTPONED This event, in support of the proposal to repurpose the Pearce Middle School campus, has been postponed. If approved by the Texas Education Agency, the plan would allow Pearce to open this fall. Stay tuned for details on rescheduling. (For more on Pearce, see "Pearce Closing: Scorched Earth, Uncertain Future.") Pearce Middle School, 6401 N. Hampton.

Saturday25

DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH IRAN Austin joins this national rally with a march across the First Street bridge from City Hall to Auditorium Shores, followed by a community meeting and picnic celebrating Austin's Iranian community. 8-10pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second. www.austinforiran.org.

HERITAGE HILLS/WINDSOR HILLS NEIGH­BORHOOD PLAN OPEN HOUSE Review recommendations for the combined plan for these two Northeast Austin neighborhoods. 9:30-11:30am. Dobie Middle School cafeteria, 1200 E. Rundberg. www.cityofaustin.org/zoning/heritage_hills.htm.

HEALTH CARE ACTION DAY Join U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, state Sen. Kirk Watson, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, and others in showing your support for meaningful health-care reform. 1pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second.

ZILKER PARK VOLUNTEER DAYS Sign up online to help finish the Great Lawn restoration project. Mulch trees, weed the volleyball courts, and maybe win a pair of tickets to the Austin City Limits Music Festival. 9am-noon. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd., 974-6700. www.austinparks.org.

Sunday26

LADY BIRD JOHNSON TRIBUTE DAY Come celebrate the former first lady's role in environmental conservation with the authors of Lone Star Wildflowers and Hummingbirds of Texas. Free. 9am-5:30pm. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse, 232-0100. www.wildflower.org.

UNDER THE HOOD BENEFIT The Melancholy Ramblers entertain the crowd; proceeds go to the Killeen coffee shop that serves as a resource for GIs and their families to talk frankly about military life. 6pm. NeWorlDeli, 4101 Guada­lupe, 451-7170. $8 suggested donation. www.underthehoodcafe.org.

GIVE BLOOD FOR SUNDAES Every Sunday in July, you get an Amy's Ice Creams sundae for donating blood. Blood Center of Central Texas, 4300 N. Lamar, 206-1266. www.inyourhands.org.

Tuesday28

FRONT PORCH PROJECT meets regularly to discuss sustainability issues and develop a local network of creative thinkers. 6-9pm. Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande. www.frontporchproject.org.

Thursday30

JOHN LIPSCOMBE CAMPAIGN KICKOFF This isn't an endorsement – merely an assumption that the aspiring county court judge knows how to party. 6pm. Threadgill's World HQ, 301 W. Riverside. $25 suggested donation. www.johnforjudge.com.

PUBLIC INPUT MEETING: SOLID WASTE MASTER PLAN Today's your chance to provide feedback on the city's plans to include climate protection and zero-waste goals in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Master Plan. 6:30pm. Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd., Rm. 130. www.austinrecycles.com.

Ongoing

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES needs bottled water donations to keep Austin's homeless hydrated. Donate money at www.mlfnow.org/water; cases of water can be delivered to the St. John Neumann commissary, 903 Capital of TX Hwy. S.

ARCH SUMMER DONATIONS The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless needs all manner of toiletries (deodorant, etc.), handheld fans, lip balm, sunscreen, and water bottles. Check www.frontsteps.org or call to ask about specific items. ARCH, 500 E. Seventh, 305-4174.

YOUR HEALTH CARE SERMON Texas Impact wants to hear your 10-minute sermon presenting the values of health and health care from a faith perspective. $500 prizes go to the winning English and Spanish sermons. Details at www.texasimpact.org/sermoncontest. Deadline: Aug. 14.