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Community Corner

🌱 EDIMS Upgrade + Musicians' HAAM + Police Cadet Class Diversity

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)

Get on up, Austin! Let's get you started this Thursday with everything you need to know going on today in Austin.

First, today's weather:

Sunny, windy and less humid. High: 70 Low: 35.

Here are the top stories in Austin today:

  1. This upcoming weekend, Austin's Enterprise Document & Imaging Management System (EDIMS) is going to be upgraded to "increase security and technical functionality of the program" and during that time, the system and stored documents will not be available. "EDIMS is the City's official document storage tool... used for document creation, retrieval and secure storage" and it "has been in use since 2006." The upgrade will start on Friday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and should be completed by 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20. The community's patience is appreciated during this time. For a list of AustinTexas.gov document portals that will be unavailable during the upgrade, please visit: (Press Release Desk)
  2. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate its newly purchased office space at 3036 South 1st St. The purchase was made possible through "a 'generous legacy gift' of $2.7 million from Robin and Bud Shivers, who founded HAAM in 2005." HAAM CEO Paul Scott said, "This building will be so much more than just an office. Our new home will be a welcoming and collaborative environment for clients to receive HAAM's care and services, featuring a Musician's Resource Lounge and dedicated stage for intimate performances by Austin's amazing musicians!" For more information visit: (KEYE TV CBS Austin)
  3. After last month's "successful pilot of a new curriculum and the graduation of 66 new officers" from the 144th Austin Police Cadet class, the new class starting in March "could be the most diverse" in the Austin Police Department's history. "The race/ethnicity of applicants are 38 percent Hispanic, 36 percent white, 18 percent Black and 4 percent Asian/Pacific Islander. It means that Black and Hispanic applicants in the current pool exceed the proportions who live in Austin as reported in the 2020 Census." APD Chief Joseph Chacon said, "The 144th academy class was the most diverse class we have ever had in our history, and I'm pleased to announce that the 145th is on track to be even more diverse." He added, "With almost a thousand applicants for the 145th, we would hope to field a class of between 60 and 80 cadets." For more details on the report, please visit: (AustinTexas.gov)

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Today in Austin:

  • Virtual Cardio & Strength Free Online Class by Stronger Austin. (6:30 a.m.)
  • Receive a Free Box of Girl Scout Cookies When You Donate Blood at We Are Blood. (9 a.m.)
  • Banned Bookmobile Event at The Painted Porch Bookshop. (2 p.m.)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Blazier Intermediate School. (4 p.m.)
  • Austin Shakespeare: The Glass Menagerie at The Long Center for the Performing Arts. (7:30 p.m.)
  • D-Smoke War and Wonders Tour at Empire Control Room. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • "Texas Softball Home Opener @TexasSoftball | Linktree. Hook Em!" (Facebook)
  • "Celebrating our Texas Women's Basketball history makers at linktr.ee/TexasWBB. Hook Em!" (Facebook)
  • "Find out how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other key leaders worked with Lyndon Johnson to get things done in CNN's latest Original Series 'LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy,' premiering on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. CT." (Facebook)
  • "Don't miss out on all the fun! Register your 5 to 11-year-old child for Austin Parks and Recreation Department's Kids' Night Out from Friday, Feb. 18 and Friday, April 8! Enjoy an evening out while we hang out at Hancock, playing games like Glow in the Dark Dodgeball! Cost is $20 for residents and $30 for non-Austin residents. Register at: https://www.austintexas.gov/parksonline." (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next 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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