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Community Corner

🌱 Austin Arts+Culture Plan + Amazon One Palm-Scanning At Whole Foods

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Austin.

Gabriela Cantu Couvillion's profile picture
Gabriela Cantu Couvillion, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Good morning, Austin! It's Wednesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on around Austin today.

First, today's weather:

Breezy in the morning. High: 87 Low: 71.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

  1. "As part of the Trail's Arts + Culture Plan" in Austin, three artists were chosen "to create a floating wetland installation" on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake" and each will receive $5,000 for their participation. The project called the "'Common Waters' installation will explore themes of community, creativity, environment, and collaboration" and "will incorporate artistic components as well as serve an ecological function." The unveiling of the installation will take place during the Arts + Culture Celebration 3-part event on Saturday, May 14, at Lady Bird Lake. For more information visit: (AustinTexas.gov)
  2. Soon shoppers at a Whole Foods Market in Austin "won't need to pull out payment cards at the cash register," as Amazon "will roll out its Amazon One palm-scanning technology to let customers pay with a wave of their hands" at that location and will "add six more stores in the region soon after." The optional system will allow customers to "register one or both palms along with a debit or credit card at a store with the scanning tech. Next, people can choose their groceries and then scan a palm to pay at the register." Presently Amazon One is "available in Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations in California, Colorado, New York, Texas and Washington, D.C. and according to Amazon, "the rollout in Austin will make it the second region where every store has the option of Amazon One, after the Seattle area." For more details visit: (CNET)
  3. A women's prison program called the "Women's Storybook Project of Texas (WSP)" helps "children connect with their incarcerated mothers through the joy of literature." The goal of the program "is to reduce the rate of re-incarceration among incarcerated mothers by strengthening the mother-child connection through literature." As part of the program, project volunteers visit Texas female prisons and "record incarcerated mothers as they read stories to their children," and "those recordings provide a chance for children to hear their mother's voice while they are away." If you would like to help, a luncheon will take place on Thursday, April 28 at The Austin Country Club, located at 4408 Long Champ Drive and a virtual luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 5 via YouTube LIVE. After you register for the online event, you will receive a link to participate. For more information about the project, and to donate or volunteer, please visit storybookproject.org and read: (KHOU.com)

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Today in Austin:

From my notebook:

  • "The Kids Block Party at Austin Public Library is back! Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14 for family-friendly activities for kids 0-tweens! This year's event will feature musical artists, yoga, story walks, crafts, tech activities, multi-language story times, friends from Austin Spurs, goody bags, and more! Thanks to The Library Foundation ATX for sponsoring this event! Check out details on this amazing event at http://ow.ly/gcEX50ILVAA." (Facebook)
  • "Join the Austin Public Library for the story time event for all ages! Check out their events calendar for all upcoming story times hosted virtually and in person at all their branches. We hope you'll join them for some family friendly stories at https://library.austintexas.gov." (Facebook)
  • "On Friday, April 29, KVRX 91.7 will host their next show at Ballroom TX! Join them for live sets from three of their favorite up-and-coming DJs. Tickets available at http://kvrx.org/ballroom. Doors open at 8 p.m.; music starts at 9 p.m." (Facebook)
  • "April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate with the Austin Youth Poet Laureate and finalists on Saturday, April 30 at noon at Pleasant Hill Branch of Austin Public Library. The youth poets will each read original work. More details: http://ow.ly/oAzT50IMJQy." (Facebook)
  • "This Friday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. Pease Park is honored to present a free screening of 'BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM' at the Great Lawn. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and stay for the Q&A after the film. See you there!" (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Gabriela Couvillion

About me: I'm an active mom of two grown sons and lifelong San Antonio resident. I received a BA in Spanish from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and in my free time I immerse myself in creative writing. Thanks for reading Patch, and feel free to reach out if you have any news and happenings you think may appeal to our readers!

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