Join the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles – TCLA for a special performance of Wickedly Trans—Voices from the Rainbow, on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. at ESMoA, 208 Main St., El Segundo. Enjoy a selection of songs inspired by the music of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. The shows are appropriate for all ages.

Admission to the performances are free and donations to TCLA are appreciated.

ABOUT TCLA:
Founded in 2015, Trans Chorus of Los Angeles-TCLA is making an impact in the choral world by using our unique voices to be visible, bold and proud. TCLA is the first all trans-identified chorus in America. We are a Chorus of transgender, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary, gender fluid, and intersex individuals. We celebrate diversity and acceptance in appearance and vocal presentation so that others can see and feel the joy we share. Through our music we bring to everyone, awareness, understanding, power and victory for the trans community.

A group of nationally renowned urban planning experts representing the Urban Land Institute will make recommendations next week to The Trail Foundation and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department on the feasibility of transferring operation of the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake to The Trail Foundation. The Austin American-Statesman ran an exclusive front-page story on the topic. https://www.austin360.com/news/20190819/exclusive-trail-foundation-could-take-over-hike-amp-bike-trail-parkland-operations

In partnership with PARD, TTF applied and was selected in a competitive process to be part of the Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Program to have their experts’ opinions to help launch the exploration of TTF taking over operations of the Butler Trail.

“We are honored and excited to have been selected for this opportunity and grateful for the valuable input as we consider this option,” says Heidi Anderson, executive director of The Trail Foundation. “Taking this potential step would be a big commitment for TTF in terms of funding and organizational growth, and the ULI Advisory Service Program is one of the ways we will explore the feasibility of the potential transition.”

In recent years, the Foundation has doubled its amount of ecological restoration work on the Trail. In 2018, TTF invested more than $2.5 million into the Butler Trail, and in its 16-year history has invested more than $11,300,000 into the Trail. TTF is currently working on three major projects, with 15 more in the queue, and is committed to increasing the pace and breadth of its work to meet the needs of the Trail as its popularity and usage continue to grow along with Austin.

The ULI representatives will be visiting sites and neighborhoods in the city, and conducting interviews with key leaders and stakeholders arranged by TTF and PARD August 25-30. The Advisory Services panelists will consider:

• How to determine the liability and authority over the space;
• When to transfer operations over the trail, including prioritizing the transfer and phasing;
• Funding recommendations, brand development and philanthropic growth and cultivation; and
• How to prioritize the various projects involved with maintaining the trail.

In any scenario, the City would continue to own the public parkland that is the Trail.

According to Julie Underhal, chair of the Austin Advisory Service panel: “Our goal is to help the city and The Trail Foundation achieve their mutual goals of achieving the best possible operating relationship between the two entities so that the Trail can continue to be improved and maintained as an iconic place and economic, social, and natural resource for generations to come.”

About The Trail Foundation

The Trail Foundation’s mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Butler Hike-and-Bike-Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. The Butler Trail is the 10-mile lush, urban path in the heart of Austin that gets more than 2.6 million visits every year. Since it was founded in 2003, The Trail Foundation has achieved restoration and beautification projects to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment, while honoring the original vision of the Trail’s founders and ensuring its vibrancy for generations to come. For more information, please visit www.thetrailfoundation.org.

AUSTIN — Emancipet recently returned from its most successful trip yet to care for pets and the people who love them in Puerto Rico. Emancipet is one of six organizations leading the surgical work in a historic initiative to spay/neuter and vaccinate more than 20,000 dogs and cats in Puerto Rico, which is still struggling to recover more than six months after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

During Round 4 Emancipet safely spayed, neutered and vaccinated 1,562 pets in 7 days, the highest number. The combined total is 4,866 by the Emancipet team for all four rounds. The for the entire coalition across Puerto Rico is now more than 34,000 pets cared for. Read more

Thirteen veterans of WWII and other historic wars will be presented with their portraits taken as part of the American Heroes: Portraits of Service project for Belmont Village Senior Living in West Lake Hills. Nationally recognized photographer and author Tom Sanders  took the portraits and collected the stories of these veteran residents last month, and will be on hand as the portraits are added to the permanent gallery at Belmont.

Dignitaries and community leaders will join veterans and their families on Thursday, January 24, from 4-6 p.m. at Belmont Village Senior Living, 4310 Bee Cave Road. Sanders will speak at the event, and veterans will also be available for interviews. A local high school color guard will help honor the vets. Read more