Res Publica

Hey, candidates! If you'd like your campaign events listed, send details to calendar@austinchronicle.com.

Friday08

PEOPLE UNITED hosts members of the Workers Defense Project to address immigration, labor, and workplace safety. 1pm. KOOP Radio 91.7FM.

Saturday09

KELLY FERO MEMORIAL SERVICE honors the life of longtime consultant and Austinite Kelly Fero. The public is welcome to attend, though seating is limited. (For more, see "Fero Helped Make, Break Political Careers.") 11am. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover.

MARC KATZ CAMPAIGN KICKOFF Meet and greet one of the lieutenant governor candidates before a short talk on same-sex rights, job creation, and more. Bring your questions for the Q&A. 8pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth. www.marckatzforltgov.com.

MONTHLY BIRD COUNT Help keep tabs on Hornsby Bend's bird population. 7am & 4pm. Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory, 2210 FM 973 S., 300-2473. Free. www.travisaudubon.org/fieldtrips.html.

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE: LAST DAY Those of you who are not Pay-as-You-Throw customers can still recycle your Christmas trees. Just be sure to drop them off today! 10am-4pm. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. (follow the signs to the polo fields). Your tree will be ground into mulch to be given away for free; see www.cityofaustin.org/parks/christmastree.htm for details.

Sunday10

AUSTIN AMERICANS UNITED MEETING The newly recognized Austin chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State gathers to keep God out of government. 5pm. Genuine Joe Coffeehouse, 2001 W. Anderson. Free. www.au.org.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM LBJ Library Director Mark Updegrove shares insight into the tradition of the presidency and the future of our local prez library. 11:30am. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover, 452-6168. Free. www.austinuu.org.

PICKIN' PARTY FOR PEACE Instruments for Peace and the Austin Center for Peace and Jus­tice invite the public to gather, enjoy music, brainstorm about spreading peace through Austin and the world, and plan for the Million Musicians March for Peace. 2pm. Cafe Caffeine, 909 W. Mary, 447-9473. www.instrumentsforpeace.org.

Monday11

CENTRAL TEXAS DEMOCRATIC FORUM Hear Hank Gilbert, one of the Democratic candidates for Texas agriculture commissioner. 11:45am. Aus­tin Bar Assoc., 816 Congress #700, 320-0665. $20 ($15 members). www.centraltxdemocraticforum.com.

Tuesday12

COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM Experts tackle the digital divide in this all-day conference addressing the needs of Austin's technologically underserved. David Keyes, the community technology manager for the city of Seattle, delivers the keynote. 9:30am-5pm. Microsoft Building, 9606 N. Mopac, #200. $25. www.austinconnects.net.

SOUTH AUSTIN DEMOCRATS CANDIDATE FORUM An evening of pizza and politics with Travis County officials, with a Q&A with those candidates facing opponents in the elections this spring. 5:30pm-8:30pm. Garner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, 2515 S. Con­gress. sruiz@austin.rr.com.

Wednesday13

NUECES BICYCLE BOULEVARD OPEN HOUSE Learn about the bikeway and share your two cents at this public discussion and design charrette. 6-8pm. Pease Elementary, 1106 Rio Grande. www.cityofaustin.org/publicworks/bicycle-public-input.htm.

Thursday14

ANARCHISM IN AMERICA A documentary screen­ing open to anyone interested in the history of anarchism in the U.S. 7:30pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

HILL COUNTRY RIDE FOR AIDS KICKOFF Get pumped for the April 24 ride with an evening of free food, free booze, the Elastic Fantastics, and live music by the Psychic Cowboys. 7pm. La Zona Rosa, 612 W. Fourth. Free. www.hillcountryride.org.

Ongoing

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING IN A BOX The city of Austin wants to know what you love and hate about our town, and it's created a kit with all the tools you need to host a get-together to collect the input of your neighbors and friends, too. Download from www.imagineaustin.net, or contact Kathleen Fox (974-7877, kathleen.fox@ci.austin.tx.us) to collect one at One Texas Center, 505 Bar­ton Springs Rd. #500. Or just fill out the survey at www.imagineaustin.net/survey.htm. Deadline: Jan. 29.

BARTON SPRINGS INTERPRETIVE PLAN SUR­VEY Parks and Recreation needs input on Bar­ton Springs Pool: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ksgyrbw.

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