City to Break Ground on Boardwalk
Today the City of Austin and The Trail Foundation will officially launch the Boardwalk Trail Completion Project for the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake.
The project will close a 1.1-mile gap in the trail. The boardwalk will be over land and over the lake. Construction could be done by early 2014.
Mayor Lee Leffingwell, city officials and Trail Foundation officials will take part in today's groundbreaking. The ceremony will take place at International Shores Park near the trail. The Austin Fire Department will shoot off celebratory water cannons at the park to commemorate the project’s launch.
State Budget Leaders to Receive Financial Review
The Texas comptroller’s office will give state budget leaders a lecture on the state’s finances preceding what many predict will be a frugal legislative session.
According to the Associated Press:
Associate Deputy Comptroller Mike Reissig was scheduled Friday to testify before the Legislative Budget Board. He's expected to give House Speaker Joe Straus and others on the 10-member board an economic update and revenue estimates for the current fiscal year. Earlier this year, Legislative Budget Board director Jim O'Brien told lawmakers the state had raised $1.6 billion more in revenues because of an improving economy.
The Texas Legislature goes back into session in January.
You Scream, I Scream for the the Austin Ice Cream Festival
The 6th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival will take place Saturday in Fiesta Gardens.
The festival includes frozen dessert-centered games, entertainment and contests. Participants can choose to compete in a homemade ice cream making contest, popsicle-stick sculpture contest or an ice cream eating contest.
Organizers say proceeds from the event will help sponsor the Austin Children’s Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Habibi’s Hutch.
Free ice cream is included with a $10 admission fee. Children 8-years-old or younger get in free.
The scoop on the festival is available on the event website or blog.
