Amarillo Parks and Recreation hosts events in September

The Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department will have an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party at 14.00 on Saturday 14 September. Join Alice in Wonderland’s whimsical world for an enchanting afternoon filled with tea, treats and themed activities. Cost is $10 per person. The event will be held at the Civic Center in the Hospitality Room. Register at bit.ly/amarilloevents .

Then at From 9-11 on September 21, Amarillo Parks Recreation will participate in National Clean-Up Day on the 9th Street Trails. Any litter left behind can end up in open spaces, parks, streams and neighborhoods, affecting the quality of life. Visit amarilloparks.org/cleanup for a checklist and to register.

DPS highlights critical aircraft operations on National Aviation Day

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in honor of National Aviation Day on Monday, August 19, is recognizing the significant, decades-long contributions of the department’s Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) to citizens of the state.

“For 75 years, the Aircraft Operations Division has played a vital role in DPS’ mission to protect and serve Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “From airplanes that transport special investigation teams and helicopters that carry out rescue missions, to unmanned drones that track fugitive criminals, aircraft have enhanced our ability to provide unprecedented protection to people across the many miles that make up Texas.”

In October 1949, DPS officially formed the AOD, ordered its first aircraft—a single-engine Navion—and pilot to improve the department’s ability to meet growing transportation needs for specialized investigative teams, equipment, and other key personnel. Today, the division performs state air patrol, crime control and advanced rescue operations.

Through aerial patrols, DPS utilizes technology to locate and apprehend fugitives, deter criminal activity and support Texas’ ongoing Operation Lone Star border security mission. In addition, AOD supports search and rescue efforts by local, state, and federal emergency responders during disaster-related events. AOD is one of the largest airborne law enforcement units in the country, consisting of 12 duty stations, 26 state-of-the-art aircraft and more than 100 personnel. DPS’s AOD consists of 50 police pilots and 35 Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs). The division currently operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A-Stars (including nine with lift capability), one Airbus EC145 C2, one Bell 412, two Pilatus PC-12NGs, four Cessna Caravans, two Cessna 206s and one Beechcraft King Air 350.

The Texas Air & Space Museum welcomes historic aircraft in September

The Texas Air and Space Museum welcomes the Anniversary Flight AirPower History Tour of historic aircraft on Tuesday, September 3rd. B-29 Superfortress FIFI, along with a T-6 Texan and an RC-45J Expeditor.

The event will be open to the public September 3-4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the aircraft area is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. The T-6 and RC-45J will offer tours daily upon request. The B-29 will fly on Wednesday at 9.00 and 10.30. Cockpit tours of the B-29 will be on Tuesday beginning at 9.00 and on Wednesday starting at Rides can be booked in advance at AirPowerTour.org.

The museum is located at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport at 10001 American Drive. For more information, call 806-335-9159.

Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration: A beautiful butterfly release to remember

Hope & Healing Place (HHP) invites the community to a symbolic family-friendly event, the Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration. Join them in the open field behind Bonham Middle School on Saturday, September 14th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for a beautiful butterfly release commemorating the journey through grief.

They will be releasing 500 butterflies, so bring your family and friends and join us with your lawn chair or blanket. During the event they will have other activities including face painting and butterfly crafts. The butterfly release is a tangible way to remember your loved one, an acknowledgment of a life lived and a celebration of the love you shared. Grief is a path marked by continuous transitions, sometimes dark and sometimes filled with celebration. The butterfly release symbolizes these similarities between the grief journey and the butterfly’s life cycle.

This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Butterflies can be reserved in memory of a loved one for $25. Visit their website at https://www.hopeandhealingplace.org/wings-of-hope to make your reservation.

HHP is the only bereavement center offering services in the Texas Panhandle that offers its services free of charge, so fundraisers like the Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration are vital to their continued support of the community. To learn more about HHP and the event, visit their Facebook event page or contact Cakki Wall at 806-371-8998 Ext. 3.

Camp Kiwanis is holding a “Bring a Friend” Pool Party on August 31st

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains invites all Girl Scouts to celebrate the end of summer at a pool party at Camp Kiwanis on Saturday, August 31 at 17.00 to 21.00. They are also encouraged to bring a non-Girl Scout friend to the pool party to learn what Girl Scouts is all about. The event will include archery, free food and free admission for all Girl Scouts and aspiring Girl Scouts. Check-in starts at 4 p.m

Register online at gs-strong.org/poolparty . Registration closes Friday, August 30. Directions to Camp Kiwanis will be shared after registration is complete.

Girl Scouts make their dreams come true and work together to build a better world. Through programs throughout North and West Texas and the Oklahoma panhandle, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unaware of themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Supported by trusted adult volunteers, mentors and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues that matter most to them. Visit gs-top.org to join us, volunteer, reconnect or donate.

The Amarillo League of Women Voters is offering a free presentation, Civics 101, before the November election

Ahead of the upcoming November election, the Amarillo League of Women Voters is offering local civic organizations, social clubs and other interested groups a presentation explaining the basics of voting and elections. It’s called Civics 101: Voting & Elections, and requests can be submitted starting this week.

“We are pleased to offer this information to Amarillo-area citizens who are concerned about the security of our elections,” said Claudia Stravato, the union’s first vice president. “We have found that there is still great concern about the legitimacy of the voting process in the United States and in Texas, so this presentation was designed for those who want to learn more about county voting procedures, as dictated by the Texas Secretary of State, the election process and others related topics that will help clear up any questions voters have before they head to the polls on November 5.”

League created this custom presentation from their comprehensive Civics 101 course. The original three-hour seminar was developed by league members Katie Paul, Judy Tolk and Claudia Stravato in response to a growing need for local citizens to reconnect with how our city, county and state impact our lives in Amarillo; various parts of the course are also available for presentation upon request.

The deadline to register to vote in the November election is October 7; if you book an event before this deadline, league members will also be able to register voters at your event, upon request. If your business, organization or social/civic club is interested in scheduling this free presentation, please contact the Amarillo League of Women Voters by phone at 806-337-2148, or send an email to [email protected]. For more on the Amarillo League, visit the organization’s website. New members are always welcome.

AAMW joins the Clear the Shelters campaign

The Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare Department (AAMW) is once again joining the national campaign to help adopt pets – NBC’s Clear the Shelters initiative. It runs from August 10 to September 30.

This will be the tenth year of the campaign nationally – with more than 1 million animals adopted across the country during Clear the Shelters 2023.

“Clear the Shelters is a wonderful program that really helps raise public awareness of pet adoption,” said AAMW Outreach Coordinator Samantha Bennett. “We look forward to participating in this event every year. It really helps highlight the need in the Amarillo community for pet adoption, in addition to the many services provided here at AAMW.”

In 2023, AMW took in 8,818 cats and dogs, according to a social media post. AAMW is running a Clear the Shelters special throughout August. Adoption fees for dogs are $25 and cats $5. Fees include spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. Specific information about animals available for adoption at AAMW (including photos, breed, age, etc.) is available online at: amw.amarillo.gov/adoption-and-resources/adoption-list .

This article was originally published on the Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for August 25, 2024