Home > Jane Too > Archives > 2006 > July > 28 > Entry
Beggar’s banquet
Q: Hello. I am sure you have covered this question at some point, but, if so, perhaps it’s time for some consideration of it again.
Are city permits required for organizations who collect money at Austin intersections like Brodie Lane and William Cannon Drive? The groups seem to range from religious to city firefighters, but with a few moments of contact, there is no way to verify their legitimacy. Does the city verify the nature of their business?
In some cases it feels like a scam, and in all cases I would think there are traffic safety issues.
Thanks.
K. W.
A: No permit. No verification. Unless they interfere with traffic, there is nothing to prevent these folks from asking for money.
Q: I am a mom of a left-handed fifth-grader. I need some help in finding reasonably priced school supplies for lefties. I find them online but they are so expensive, and then I would have to pay a shipping/handling fee. Is there any place here in Austin or the surrounding area that sells left-handed products?
My daughter comes home from school with pencil smears from writing on her paper. And she has a difficult time writing in spirals with the metal binding. I know other lefties have some of these problems. My daughter has many left-handed friends who have the same problems that she does. Any help you can give, I can share with my daughter’s left-handed friends’ Moms.
I just think that it is almost criminal what people can charge for left-handed products. It shouldn’t be a specialty item. Right-handed people can walk into any store and pay a few bucks for pens and pencils but lefties would have to pay twice or three times just to get a item to help them in school. I know that many right-handed people don’t even think about this. I know I didn’t until my daughter got in school. She makes it work using the items you can buy at any store but it would be easier for her in school if she had items for lefties.
Help me help my daughter and other lefties find reasonable prices items for school.
Thanks,
K. N. (mom of a leftie)
A: This was all in stock last year but the prices may have changed since I printed this.
Pick up a spiral notebook for lefties and ambidextrous scissors at the University CO-OP, 2246 Guadalupe St. Left-handed scissors in various sizes, including one pair with a grip for a child’s and parent’s hands, as well as spirals are in stock at Teacher’s Alley, 8213 Brodie Lane and on their Web site, teachersalley.com. Check out the array of supplies (notebooks, pruners, pocket knives, scissors) for left-handed folks at The Left Hand. Orders accepted by fax, (239) 985-9553, or online only.
Q: Sometime back you had mentioned a record player repair at Ray’s Electronics. I can’t seem to find the telephone number in the phone book.
Is he still available?
C. S
A: It is Ray’s Electronics, 450-0071 or 213 W. North Loop Blvd., and yes, they still work on record players.
File under ‘Egads! Get that plate number and call 311!’
Q: Hi, I hate having to even report something as heinous as this but I’ve seen five or six kittens dead on the various highways in Austin. (Left or placed there deliberatly?) This morning I saw a little grey kitten hit on Interstate 35 heading north between Ben White Boulevard and Oltorf Street. This is the third one I’ve seen in that area. Another was on MoPac Boulevard heading south around the William Cannon Drive exit.
This horrifies, sickens, saddens me beyond words. I’ve called 311, which put me in touch with the animal cruelty detective. He informs me that he cannot do anything until someone gives him a license plate or description or catches the person in the act. I know the chances of that happening are as good as me winning the lottery.
This fiend won’t stop doing this until he/she feels like there is a chance he’ll get caught. I want people to be aware this is happening. I’d like to catch this person myself.
How can public awareness be raised regarding this? I’d like you list how someone can report animal cruelty when they see it.
Maybe you could mention making sure pets have lots of fresh water and shade if they are kept outdoors and work the kitten story in somehow.
Thank you, I’m not sure this is something you would handle but I’m desperate to stop this and the more people who know the better the chances are of catching someone.
M. P.
Comments
By Debbie Berliner
July 29, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
Animal Trustees of Austin is offering a reward of $3000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the monsters who are throwing kittens out of cars. To help raise public awareness, you can go to this page on their website and print flyers: http://www.animaltrustees.org/ata-whatsnew.htm (Note that you need to scroll through some other items on this page to get to this article.) Thank you for caring about this and wanting to spread the word.