Thursday 01/01
No Phone use while driving Use of electronic handheld devices while operating a vehicle, including bicycles, is now a class C misdemeanor, with fines up to $500. The City of Austin.
Resource Recovery Slide Day Your collection
day slides to one day later if it falls on the next two days: Thursday pickup will be on Friday, and Friday pickup will be on Saturday. www.austintexas.gov.
Monday 01/05
Texas Inmate Families Association Meeting Get your questions about the Texas Department of Criminal Justice answered on the first Monday of each month. Sunrise Community Church, 4430 Manchaca Rd. Free. www.tifa.org.
Tuesday 01/06
City Council Inauguration and Drawing of Lots The newly elected City Council and mayor will be sworn in, and council members will draw lots to see who gets four-year and who gets two-year terms. 6pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second.
www.austintexas.gov.
AISD Special Board Meeting AISD board will meet to hear public comment, recognize outgoing trustees, and swear in newly elected trustees. 7pm. AISD Carruth Administration Center, 1111 W. Sixth. www.austinisd.org.
Wednesday 01/07
Texas NORML Open Monthly Meeting 8pm. Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. Sixth. Free. www.texasnorml.org.
StoryCorps MobileBooth – an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio – will be taking appointments starting at 10am. Hurry; they’ll go fast. 800/850-4406 or www.storycorps.org.
Ongoing
“Home for the Holidays” pet adoption special continues through Jan. 4: just $25 for all dogs and cats (free for animals over the age of 7), including spay or neuter surgery, a microchip, and vaccinations. Open daily.
Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop. www.austinanimalcenter.org.
Homeless Count Volunteers Needed ECHO needs volunteers to help count the homeless population in the early morning of Jan. 24; register at www.austinecho.org.
This article appears in 2014.