Civics 101

Friday30

FREE PET TAGS You can't blame them for running away from fireworks, so at least make sure your pets have collars, tags, and microchips in case they do. 11am-7pm. Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop.

Saturday31

FREE PET TAGS See Friday. 11am-5pm.

AUSTIN'S NEW YEAR It's (almost) everything Austinites love in one family-friendly event: art, movies, music, and fireworks. 5-10:30pm. Auditorium Shores, 920 W. Riverside.

Tuesday3

DEPUTIZING VOTER REGISTRARS Attend one of three short training sessions and become a deputized voter registrar for Travis County. If only the elections themselves were so simple. Call for more details. Travis County Tax Office, 5501 Airport. 854-9473.

Thursday5

CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE MEETING Double the fun with a discussion on single-member districts. 6:30pm. Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River.

Ongoing

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING Just place the tree at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection day; residents without the city's trash service can take their trees to Zilker Park for two weekends starting Jan. 7.

FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES is recruiting volunteers to help low-income residents with income-tax preparation, in partnership with the Austin Housing Finance Corporation and the city of Austin. Apply at www.foundcom.org.

TRAVIS COUNTY COMMIS­SION­ERS COURT is taking applications from individuals to serve on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, effective Feb. 2. Qualified applicants should have "exceptional vision, business and administrative skills, and a history of community involvement." The application deadline is Jan. 13. Call or email Max Jones at 854-4774 or [email protected].