The University Writing Program will offer presentations given by nationally and internationally known writers as part of the Conversations With Writers Series. The series intends to bring together faculty, students and members of the Davis community to encourage and preserve the art of writing. “Students have been inspired by our speakers’ stories of how they got into serious writing and have succeeded,” said professor of writing and University of Writing Program director Chris Thaiss. “They also learn practical strategies for getting published and persevering in the craft.”

Davis has been long recognized as a bicycle friendly town, so the opening of an attraction all things bicycle is no surprise. After moving to Davis from Somerville, New Jersey in November 2009, the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame has since merged with the California Bicycle Museum and designed a new logo. On Saturday, Apr. 24 at 11:30 a.m. the museum will officially open its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Event: Woody Wilson Classic Where: Woody Wilson Track When: Saturday, all day Who to watch: Alex Wilright continues to have a great outdoor track season.

It is not your imagination – for much of spring quarter, there has literally been music in the air. Four times a week, to be exact. “Picnic Day season for us starts the first day of the quarter,” said Arbel Bedak, the student director of the California Marching Band-Uh!. “We have our usual Monday night rehearsal, but now we have marching practice three days a week.” Band-Uh! will be performing several times throughout Picnic Day, starting with the parade and ending with Battle of the Bands, a multi-school music competition held in the Arboretum.

A few rode or walked their bikes. Others held tennis rackets or slung oars over their shoulders. Many taped their mouths but all in the procession marched in silence. Almost two weeks after they marched into Hickey Gym, student athletes yesterday protested the possible closure of sports teams resulting from budget cuts to UC Davis Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) by staging a silent sit-in protest at Mrak Hall.

Teams: UC Davis vs. Long Beach State Records: Aggies, 3-2 (14-23); 49ers, 3-3 (19-18) Where: La Rue Field When: Saturday at noon, 2 p.m.; Sunday at noon

The Segundo high rises will be closed for the 2010-2011 academic school year due to a renovation plan titled Segundo Life Safety Project. The Segundo Services Center (SCC), which houses the Area Service Desk, Academic Advising Center, and The Junction will also be renovated and modernized. These projects all fall under a 10-year master plan that saw the renovation of the Segundo Dining Commons and the building of the Segundo North Dorms.

In between Picnic Day favorites like the Doxie Derby, parade and chemistry magic show, it can be easy to miss the action at the event’s six entertainment stages around campus. But Picnic Day wouldn’t be complete without taking in a free outdoor concert or two. Here’s a handy guide to each stage’s lineup, previewing a few of the acts that are definitely worth checking out. East Quad (Main Stage) The largest and most prominent stage on campus, the East Quad’s Main Stage, will host 13 acts. Vanessa Ng, Picnic Day entertainment director, said that her intent was to create a cultural and diverse atmosphere at the East Quad stage.

“If any athletics get cut it should be football. A lot of money is spent on that program.” Glenn Hoban junior comparitive literature major “I think the real problem is that we need more money to spend on everything we want. We already cut too much.” Katie Parkhill sophomore economics major

Proposition 17 – or the continuous coverage discount initiative – is giving California drivers a say on insurance companies’ discount logistics. Under Prop 17, drivers can be awarded a continuous coverage discount, even if they switch insurance providers – as long as they have some form of consistent auto insurance. If there is a lapse in coverage for more than 90 days, the discount will be taken away. Currently, drivers can be awarded continuous coverage discounts, but only within one insurance company. If drivers’ switch providers, they lose their continued coverage discount.

A majority of the UC Davis Police Department and several officers from the Davis Police Department will be on the MU Patio today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rather than reacting to a student protest, however, the officers will be trying to make friendly conversation. The police have partnered with the ASUCD Police Student Relations Committee to host the first Student Police Relations Event today. In addition to the officers on hand, the event will feature police cars, motorcycles, the diggler – a motorized scooter – and other police equipment.

Editor’s Note: The California Aggie sent reporter Vanna Le to take the Nugget Market Price Survey, which compares Nugget and competitors’ prices in Davis. Because grocery store prices vary by store and produce prices change rapidly, it’s always difficult to determine which grocery stores actually do maintain low prices. I recently visited the Nugget Market on East Covell Boulevard after hearing about the “Nugget Market Price Survey,” hoping to gain some insight into the world of competitive grocery store pricing.