Thursday 09
STATE OF STATE EMPLOYEES Texas State Employees Union (12,000 strong) meets to discuss the anti-government siege that could claim their pensions. 5:45-7:30pm. AFL-CIO Hall, 1106 Lavaca, 448-4225. Free. www.cwa-tseu.org.
Friday 10
WORLD ENDS BY OCEAN FISHING Bob Schroeder discusses 62 years of stripping the oceans of life and, you know, the fate of the world. Join him. 7-9pm. Brave New Books, 1904-B Guadalupe (downstairs), 320-0511. Free.
CAP METRO CUSTOMER CELEBRATION To celebrate a million more MetroRail trips in nine months, Cap Metro is telling its riders “You’re One in a Million,” serving donuts and coffee, and giving away passes and deals with local businesses. See website for details. Stations throughout Austin. www.capmetro.org.
Saturday 11
TANK DEPOT RAINWATER HARVESTING EXPO Thinking about harvesting rainwater? Talk to rainwater consultants or check out the class schedule to learn about irrigation water savings. Free pizza sweetens the deal. 9am-4pm. Tank Depot, 3303 RR 620 N., 512/922-3326. www.tank-depot.com.
Sunday 12
TEXAS OBSERVER SUNDAY: PUBLIC EDUCATION Hear about Texas school districts’ take on overtesting, No Child Left Behind, and more. 6-8pm. 5604 Manor Rd. rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu, www.texasobserver.org.
Thursday 16
ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: MYTHS AND REALITIES Glenn Frankel, a Pulitzer Prize winner and director of UT’s School of Journalism, hosts a discussion of the forces at work in this ongoing conflict. 7pm. 5604 Manor Rd. www.jstreet.org.
Ongoing
AUSTIN NEW YEAR Wait, it’s only August! That gives prospective participants (performing artists, musicians,
etc.) plenty of time to email a one-page proposal with project details and a budget. Deadline Sept. 4. kevin.shaw@austintexas.gov, www.austintexas.gov.
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE Mayor Lee Leffingwell challenges Austinites to develop creative solutions to challenges in city life. National winner gets a $5 million grant; the rest of the top 5 receive $1 million. Submissions due Aug. 15. mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org.
REFRIGERATOR RECYCLING Recycle your old, working fridge before Sept. 8 for a chance to win $500. Austin Energy provides free pickup and gives a $50 rebate for units of 14-27 cubic feet. Schedule online, then email a picture of the appliance and your contact info to enter the drawing. Winner announced in mid-September. Through Sept. 8. donylle.seals@austinenergy.com.
SIGN THE SAVE TEXAS SCHOOLS PETITION Tell state leaders it’s time to stop underfunding our schools and overtesting our kids. www.savetxschools.org.
This article appears in August 10 • 2012.