Public Notice

The Dark Past Has Taught Us

Dispersed from homelands like seeds to the wind since the origin of humanity, the African peoples and their presence in the Americas, marked by years of struggle and survival, have influenced not only the culture of their direct descendants but also of mainstream America and global pop culture. With one week remaining of African American History Month, area campuses and parishes are stocked with events. The African Diaspora & the Modern World is the theme of the conference put on by UT and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through Sun, Feb 25, Bass Lecture Hall, UT. In addition to panels with over 50 scholars and cultural leaders, highlights include: photo exhibits at the PAC, free films at Hogg and Texas Union, and an Afropop Dance Party, Fri, Feb 23, 8pm, Comm. Bldg., hosted by NPR's Georges Collinet.http://www.utexas.edu/depts/caaas/ut-unesco.html or 471-1784.

[[perthousand]]Huston-Tillotson presents a Soul-ful Celebration of African culture at the union, Thu, Feb 29, 11am-1pm. 505-3075.

[[perthousand]]Oak Hill Methodist hosts a Conference on Interracial Relations, Sat, Feb 24, 8:30am-4pm, focusing on interracial families. 288-3836.

What's the Buzz? They'll tell you what's a-happenin' with our little bee friends at the Spring Sting Bee Fling, Beekeepers Workshop, Sat, Feb 24, 9am-1pm at the Hornsby Bend Wastewater Facility. Keep the spirit of the beehive alive with sessions in "hive maintenance" (we assume this means hive: where they live; not, hive: what happens after they sting you...), "enemies of the hive," and "swarm control." 707-0113 or 303-2075.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum We ran into the president of the Chamber of Commerce, also on route to the forum... the environmental forum. Strange? The times they are a-changin', no? But, seeing as the new prez is Kerry Tate, the merger of commerce and nature seems, er... natural. Tate speaks at the next meeting of the Austin Environmental Forum at La Zona Rosa, Fri, Feb 23, 6:30pm. 440-7087.

Penny for a Gumball, Mickey Thanks for the penny! Don't scoff; they add up. Make-A-Wish invites you to send all your bad pennies, lucky pennies, wheat pennies, and even loafer pennies to their Penny-A-Thon, at Capital Plaza, N. I-35, Fri-Sat, Feb 23-24. 329-WISH.

Tweety Gets Stinky Some of you and your drinking habits are already "for the birds," but here's a chance for you to tip back a few for our feathered friends and pals of the sea. The Great Guinness Toast at a "pub near you," Fri, Feb 23, 10pm, is a damn good excuse to arrange for a designated driver, slog down some frothy brew, and help the National Audubon Society's Living Oceans Program. Guinness will donate a nickel for every pint of their draught sold that night. 800/2-WILDLIFE.

[[perthousand]]While you're good and hung over, grab a chainsaw and join the Nature Preserve Volunteer Outing to restore the vireo's habitat, Sat, Feb 24, 9:30am. Meet at the Nature Center, in Zilker Park. 327-5437 or 5478.

Beads, Beers, & Bikes Enjoy the following clarifications/corrections:

* The Mardi Gras Fundraiser benefiting the Children's Program of the Austin Rape Crisis Center (ARCC) is at the Austin Music Hall, Sat, Feb 24, 7:30pm. 440-7273.

* Women, Beer, & Cigars benefiting ARCC & Center for Battered Women (CBW) has been rescheduled for (tonight) Thu, Feb 22 at Maggie Mae's. 385-5181 or 728-4984.

* Speaking of CBW: Those pedal-pumping cuties from Bike Against Domestic Violence, are having another bucks-for-beer benefit at Ruta Maya, 4th & Lavaca, Fri, Feb 23, 6pm. Bring lots of $2 bills and enjoy the music of Landis Armstrong & Andrew Naftzinger, poetry by Tammy Gomez & Marie Fleischmann, and the flippy fire-sipping of our dear Lesbian Avengers. 480-0039. n