Res Publica

For more details and events, see Community Listings.

Thursday24

HOLIDAY CLOSURES City facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 and 25, including: Austin public libraries, municipal facilities, City Hall, city administrative offices, recreation and senior centers, museums and cultural centers, and the Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Open Thursday: the Austin Public Library's bookstore, Recycled Reads, 5335 Burnet Rd., 323-5123 (they'll be closed Friday, however). Also, don't bother putting your trash out Thursday night: Garbage/recycling pickup scheduled for Dec. 25 will "slide" to Saturday. www.cityofaustin.org.

Friday25

CAP METRO HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Buses run on a Sunday schedule on Friday. Don't bother to call and complain, because the offices are closed as well. Everything will be back to normal Saturday, Dec. 26. 474-1200. www.capmetro.org.

PEOPLE UNITED features godless churchgoer Robert Jensen on his book All My Bones Shake: Seeking a Progressive Path to the Prophetic Voice. 1pm. KOOP Radio 91.7FM.

Saturday26

ROUND ROCK CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING Get all the tinsel off your tree and bring it to get pulverized into mulch. In return, get a free tree seedling. Saturdays, Dec. 26 & Jan. 2, 9am-6pm. Round Rock Brush Recycling Center, 310 Deepwood Dr., Round Rock, 512/218-5540.

Sunday27

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE Those of you who are not Pay-as-You-Throw customers can still recycle your Christmas trees: Just drop them off at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. (follow the signs to the polo fields); Sun., Dec. 27; Sat.-Sun., Jan. 2-3; and Sat., Jan. 9, 10am-4pm. All trees will be ground into mulch, which will be given away free in the new year. See details at www.cityofaustin.org/parks/christmastree.htm.

Ongoing

BACKUP DRIVERS NEEDED Usually volunteers can be trusted for their stalwart devotion to a cause, but come the holidays, suddenly they want to spend time with their families. Not cool. The good folks at Meals on Wheels and More are looking for a few good drivers to ensure that food gets to those who need it. Through Dec. 31. 476-6325. www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org.

AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN POLICE ACAD­EMY Learn what it's like to enforce the law. Next session starts March 2. For details or an application: 974-5941 or www.cityofaustin.org/police.

BARTON SPRINGS SURVEY The Parks and Rec­re­ation folks need your input on Barton Springs. The survey's at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ksgyrbw.

PBS PETITION With stalwart PBS shows Now and Bill Moyers Journal set to go off the air in April, media watch group FAIR is lobbying to "find worthy replacements." To participate, see www.fair.org.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SURVEY The city of Aus­tin wants to know what you love and hate about our fair town. www.imagineaustin.net/survey.htm.

COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING MARKET STUDY The city of Austin's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office is trying to set priorities and shape Austin's housing market into an equitable landscape. See the findings to date, and perhaps take a survey to help it in its goals: www.cityofaustin.org/housing/apr08chms.htm.

H1N1 FLU CLINICS Call 972-5520 with questions or to make an appointment. www.cityofaustin.org/health.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SURVEY The city's Neighborhood Housing and Community Develop­ment Office wants your input on how to prioritize funds made available through its Housing Financ­ing Programs. www.cityofaustin.org/housing.

NOMINATE A HERO Know someone who deserves recognition for their heroism? The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is looking for nominations of ordinary Americans who became extraordinary through their indomitable courage and selflessness. The foundation is accepting nominations through Feb. 12 at ww.citizenserviceaboveselfhonors.org.

WASTEWATER AVERAGING The Austin Water Util­ity has begun its annual wastewater averaging cycle, which means your billing rates for the year will depend on your usage over the next few months. Conserve now and save money all of next year. See www.cityofaustin.org/water for details.