In celebration of famed 19th century artist Elisabet Ney as well as today’s women enriching Austin’s arts, sciences and diverse communities, the 10th annual Ney Day is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, on the grounds of the Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E. 44th St. The free afternoon celebration presented by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department will feature artist-led activities, interactive demonstrations, games and attractions, plus music by Gina Chavez, the Latin Grammy-nominated artist and 12-time Austin Music Award winner. There will be booths presented by KUTX, ATX Gals, the Refugee Collective, Lady Cans, Girls Empowerment Network and the Austin History Center, and Ney Day is free and open to all ages. RSVP to the Ney Day celebration.

The city has embarked upon a historic resource survey of Downtown Austin and is looking for help to complete the “comprehensive snapshot” of the area, which will document the history and heritage of the neighborhood through documentation, research and oral histories. On Monday, May 13, the city’s Historic Preservation Office will host a virtual meeting to share information about the survey. Those wanting to participate can also take part in an online questionnaire that will close on Sunday, June 16. Those wanting to attend Monday’s meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m., can register here.

The city has released its budget survey tool to help prepare for the upcoming budget season. The tool is pretty simple, asking residents to pick their top three priorities out of a list of departments like Austin Public Library, Forensic Science and Housing. “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and their input is invaluable in shaping the priorities of our city,” new Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement to the press. “We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to share their perspectives and help shape the future of Austin.” The survey will be online and available through May. Those who would like to participate on a more robust level can check out the upcoming timeline, which has the proposed budget presentation on July 12, with opportunities for public comment on July 24 and Aug. 1 prior to a budget adoption process that begins on Aug. 5. More information on the budget process can be found here.

This Saturday, May 11, a new bilingual exhibition called “Carros y Cultura: Lowriding Legacies in Texas” opens at the Bullock Museum in celebration of lowriding culture in Texas. In Spanish and in English, it highlights lowriding communities through artifacts, interactive experiences and lowrider cars and bicycles from San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Laredo, Pecos and more. The exhibit, which will be on view through Sept. 2, includes a pristine, gold-plated ’63 Chevy Impala and a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme customized with an image of famed Mexican ranchera singer Vicente Fernández, plus a 1972 Schwinn Fastback customized as an homage to Whataburger. It will trace the origins and elaborate artistry of lowriding, beginning with the Mexican American community in California after World War II, and follow its ties to the Chicano civil rights movement. Today, lowriding competitions and car clubs are found all over the world. Programs and events celebrating lowriding culture in Texas will be offered throughout the run of the exhibition, including talks with experts, children’s activities and teen workshops. On July 7, H-E-B Free First Sunday will be a day for free exhibit admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lowrider-themed activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit TheStoryofTexas.com/lowriders.

The city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office will be hosting a training on emergency preparedness in partnership with Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division, Ascension Seton and Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA). The two-hour class, which is free and open to the public, will teach emergency preparedness with a focus on wildfire. Participants who complete the course will receive a free weather radio and emergency preparedness kit (in addition to pizza and beverages). To attend the training at the Spicewood Springs Branch Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, RSVP here.

Travis County voters have not shown much enthusiasm for the May 4 election. As of Sunday, only 21,742 registered voters had cast ballots early – just 2.43 percent of the county’s registered voters. Today is the last day to cast a ballot early in the Saturday election to choose members of the Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. You can find a list of early voting locations throughout the county here.

Outside of Austin, there are six areas that will be considering disannexation from the city on the May 4 ballot. That includes Lost Creek, which would owe Austin more than $7.7 million for amenities the city has provided. Voters in five other areas will also have a chance to vote on disannexation, outlined here.

The city of Lakeway’s ballot has a $22 million bond proposition as well as races for mayor and City Council. Voters in Leander will consider whether to allow collective bargaining rights for firefighters if a majority of employees favor representation by an employee association. Voters who live in the Eanes and Elgin school districts also have the opportunity to consider new school board members. Voters in Webberville will choose a mayor and two commissioners for their council.

Unsurprisingly, Lakeway voters have been among the most likely to vote, along with those in West Lake Hills and Bee Cave. Find more voter information at VoteTexas.gov.

To celebrate May Day, the Austin Democratic Socialists of America is hosting a union-focused labor fair and concert. The job fair, which will feature opportunities from local unions like IBEW, TSEU and AFSCME, will take place on Saturday, May 4, from noon to 7 p.m. at Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches. According to a press release from Austin DSA, “There are an array of opportunities for everyone, from recent high school graduates to experienced professionals. Job hunters can enjoy live music by local bands Pony Soprano, Medieval Snails, Ama, Gummy Fang, and Provoked Emotions.” This event is free and open to the public. Anyone interested can RSVP here.

This Saturday, May 4, the Black Leaders Collective will be holding a summit “dedicated to fostering positive change in the educational landscape for school-aged children in Travis and Williamson counties.” The “State of Black Education” summit is the result of a collaborative effort between parents, guardians, students and educators and is free and open to all. Those under the age of 18 require parental or guardian permission to attend. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center on West Anderson Lane. For more information and to register, visit blackleaderscollectiveatx.com/sobe.

As part of the “Journey with AUS” expansion program, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will hold an open house at the Montopolis Recreation Center this Saturday. The open house, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will have information about the airport, its expansion and employment opportunities, among other things. The event is free and open to the public and will feature food, live music, vaccines and family-friendly activities. Spanish interpretation will be on-site. “This will be our second annual community Open House. We’re carrying on a commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with airport neighbors,” Ghizlane Badawi, chief executive officer for AUS, said in a statement to the press. “On the heels of our busiest year on record and with years of improvement and expansion projects ahead, it is an exciting time for the airport. We want to continue to share our plans with the community, provide updates as we reach major milestones, answer their questions, and bring them along as we shape the future of AUS.”

In an attempt to make crossing the street safer, a new safety and mobility pilot project is underway on Shoal Creek Boulevard at Treadwell Boulevard. The crosswalk, which also has enhanced markings, is illuminated when a pedestrian is crossing. According to a press release from the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department, “About 75 percent of all pedestrian traffic fatalities in the United States occur at night, according to the Federal Highway Administration, and adding or increasing lighting can reduce nighttime pedestrian crashes by 42 percent.” Those who have experience the lit-crosswalk pilot project themselves are invited to complete this survey about the experience.

Credit: Transportation and Public Works

The Watershed Protection Department will recognize winners of its flood safety video contest with a ceremony, spotlighting their contributions to flood safety awareness. It will be held at 6 p.m. today at the Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road, Austin, TX, 78754. Jorge Morales, director of the Watershed Protection Department, and Paul Yura, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, will speak at the event before the winning videos are screened. Additional parking will be available at 1520 Rutherford Lane. Those who plan to attend can RSVP to becca.villarreal@austintexas.gov. For more information on the contest, visit austintexas.gov/flood-safety-contest.

The recent renovation of Brush Square Park includes a new permanent stage constructed specifically for the annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships, and this year’s contestants will be the first to compete on this “New Stage of Word Domination.” For 47 years, punsters have gathered in Austin for a battle of wit and wordplay in honor of famous wordsmith and short story writer William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry. The internationally renowned spoken word competition focuses on the art of the pun – and is considered one of Austin’s oldest “weird” events. This year’s event is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 11 at Brush Square Park, 409 E. Fifth St., behind the O. Henry Museum. It’s free to the public, and no ticket is required for admission. Additional details about the event can be found on the official Facebook event page.