Did you know that there is a program that helps households pay for broadband service and internet-connected devices? The Affordable Connectivity Program could help temper the cost of living for households that make below 200 percent of the federal poverty line or receive other government benefits. Eligible households can get up to $30 per month off of internet service, among other things. The program comes out of the Emergency Broadband Benefit, and most households that were enrolled in that program will be transferred to the new program automatically. You can find more information on the program and eligibility online.

If you love to talk about design and transportation, this one’s for you: The Project Connect design team is hosting two Zoom meetings this week to present design updates and options for the Orange Line, the 20-mile light rail route that will run from Tech Ridge Park & Ride to Slaughter Lane. A meeting on Tuesday, April 12 (register here), “will involve the South Line Working Group and focus on the area that includes the William Cannon Station and Slaughter Transit Center. The second meeting, held Monday, April 18 (register here), will focus on the stretch from Hemphill Park near the University of Texas to the North Lamar Transit Center.” Both meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. The team encourages public feedback, so don’t hold back.

Thanks to the largesse of the Austin Parks Foundation, Highland Neighborhood Park is getting a $150,000 Community Impact Grant to fund “specific amenities as part of the park’s overall vision plan implementation, including a pedestrian bridge, connection path, water fountain and more.” In a news release, the foundation also announces some updates to its ACL Music Festival Grants Program that “will allow for more funds to be requested, offering greater opportunities for a larger impact. The program will now consist of two grant options. Community Impact Grants are designed for large-scale, community-initiated park improvement projects from $5,000 and up. Neighborhood Grants are designed for smaller-scale projects and range from $500 to $5,000.” Grant applications for the first cycle of 2022 are being accepted until April 30. The second cycle opens in July. Find more information about APF’s grant program here.

Golf enthusiasts may know that golf course greens need renovating every 25-30 years “due to mutations in the grass, general contaminants in the soil and often unlevel surfaces,” according to the Parks and Recreation Department. The greens at Roy Kizer Golf Course, which was built in 1994, are due for a makeover “in order to return the surfaces to the proper United States Golf Association greens specifications.” The course closes today, April 11, with an expected (though weather-dependent) reopening on Aug. 1. The parks department explains that the project will done in two phases. In phase one, contaminants are removed and new grass sprigs are planted, while phase two consists of “the grow-in process and turf grooming for reopening.” During the closure, golfers may still get their tee time in at the Golf Division‘s other courses – Jimmy Clay, Morris Williams, Lions Municipal, Hancock, and Grey Rock golf courses and Butler Pitch and Putt.

Spring has sprung, and humans aren’t the only ones enjoying the season. Spring is baby season for wildlife: birds, deer, skunks and many other species are raising their young, and you may encounter some of these offspring while you’re out and about. Unfortunately, people often assume a wild baby animal by itself is abandoned or orphaned and take them away from their homes. But the best thing to do when encountering a wild animal of any age is to leave it alone unless it is visibly injured or crying in distress. Mother deer leave their babies hidden for hours at a time and the fawns know to stay still and wait until their mothers return. If you find a hidden fawn, do not touch it. Wildlife rescue and rehab organizations report that most of the fawns that are brought to them by well-meaning citizens are actually healthy animals who were kidnapped from their homes. Once separated, it can be impossible to reunite a fawn with its mother. The same goes for birds: baby birds leaving the nest may wind up on the ground for a few days, but that’s a natural part of the fledging process. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, “If the bird’s eyes are open, it has feathers and is hopping around, mom and dad are likely nearby. Grounded fledglings will usually be up and flying within a few days.” TPW continues, “Leave all young animals alone unless it is obviously injured. To be sure, spend time observing the wild animal from a distance to make that determination. Staying too close may deter the mother from returning. Interfering too soon may do more harm than good.” Here’s what to do if you see a fawn in your yard or find a baby bird on the ground.

Drivers might as well go ahead and anticipate delays on West Fifth Street this weekend. Construction between West Lynn and Baylor streets will continue through Saturday as the city installs new asphalt (among other things). Though the street will remain accessible during the work, “Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians traveling along West Fifth Street should be mindful of all work zone traffic signs, cones and flaggers. Drivers should travel slowly and be cautious of construction workers,” according to a statement to the press from the city. Work is expected to take place between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and should be completed by Saturday.

After a brief stint at the city’s new Permitting and Development Center, the Historic Landmark Commission is headed back to City Hall. The return is the result of a successful protest by the city’s land use commissions, which loudly objected to a proposed move to the new building, which is located near the old Highland Mall. However, the shuffling of schedules means that the landmark commission will be giving up its spot on the fourth Monday of each month. The commission will now meet on the first Wednesday of each month. “I think that there’s a real … symbolic component of the Historic Landmark Commission meeting at City Hall along with the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission,” Chair Terri Myers said. “This gives equal access to residents from all of Austin and I think it lends a certain level of authority to the landmark commission, to be heard in City Hall … I’m sorry to lose Monday, but I think this is what we need to do.” The change means the Historic Landmark Commission will not have an April meeting and will instead meet next on May 4, its first Wednesday.

The Parks and Recreation Department has been conducting an extensive search to find the perfect candidate to fill an assistant director vacancy. With the search finally winnowed down to three finalists, the community is invited to meet the candidates and offer feedback at a virtual meet-and-greet that will also cover PARD’s hiring process and information about the candidates’ backgrounds. According to the announcement, the new assistant director “will serve on PARD’s executive team and plan, direct and manage the functions and programs of a multi-disciplinary parks and recreation system. This position is responsible for service operations, budgets, personnel, and management for museums and cultural programs, community recreation, centralized programs, and natural resources and programs.” Wednesday, April 20, 5:30-7 p.m. Register for the Zoom meeting.

The weather may feel like summer, but the calendar says spring, and that means it’s time for Deep Eddy Pool to close for its annual deep-clean. The pool closes Sunday, April 10, and reopens Monday, April 25. In the meantime, Austin has many other fine swimming pools where you can get relief from the heat; check AustinTexas.gov/Pools to find locations and hours of operation. Speaking of pools, the parks department’s Aquatic Division is working hard to fill all of its lifeguard vacancies in order to keep Austin’s treasured swimming pools open. Applicants starting at age 15 are now accepted and will receive training and certifications in CPR, first aid and water rescue. And that’s not all: According to PARD’s news release, “In addition to an hourly wage of $15 an hour and above, paid sick leave, a free bus pass, and flexible scheduling, the city is offering a $500 summer completion bonus for staff members that work from June through August.” Apply to be a lifeguard at LifeguardAustin.com.

This month’s installment of the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series has birds and spring on the brain. As spring is peak migration season in Central Texas, Travis Audubon Executive Director Nicole Netherton will reveal “the magic and perils of spring migration, including the many ways humans can help migratory birds survive their amazing journeys.” She will also “highlight some of the species you might be seeing and what you can expect to see in the coming weeks.” The webinar is open to advanced birders and beginning birding enthusiasts alike. Friday, April 22, noon-1 p.m. Register for the webinar here. Past episodes of the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series are archived on YouTube.

A new Capital Metro pilot program allows passengers to request a drop-off between regular bus stops after 9 p.m. According to the transit agency, the “Courtesy Stop pilot lets you select safe, well-lit spots to exit the bus closer to your destination. So, if you want to be dropped off directly at your apartment complex or at a MetroBus stop in between MetroRapid stations, we can make that happen.” Courtesy Stops “are left to the discretion of bus operators, who may decline a stop if they determine the requested location is unsafe for someone to exit the bus.” Read more about the pilot including when and how to request a stop here.

By this summer, Project Connect is expected to attain the milestone of 30 percent design. Two community meetings held last week revealed more details on the design of the Orange and Blue lines. Those who missed the meeting may review the materials on a virtual open house through April 29 that is split into four themes: connectivity; traffic and transportation; environmental review and anti-displacement strategies; and investments. A virtual working group meeting on Wednesday, April 6, will focus on the Orange Line and South Congress Avenue, and a workshop on Monday, April 11, hosted by Council members Leslie Pool and Chito Vela, will focus on Crestview Station.