Amarillo area Our Town briefs

TTUHSC to host Human Sex Trafficking symposium

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Amarillo and the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health will host, “They are Not for Sale: Human Sex Trafficking Symposium,” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Happy State Bank Auditorium at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. A virtual option will also be available via Zoom.

Ann Ream, founder of The Voices and Faces Project, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include:

• Teresa Baker, M.D., professor of OB/GYN at TTUHSC
• Rachel May Anderson, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at TTUHSC
• Grant Permenter, Supervisory Special Agent for Crimes Against Children Special Task Force for the FBI
• Traci Rogers, Amarillo director of No Boundaries International
• Pamela Kirby, Psy.D., clinical psychologist
• Louise Rice, DNP, RN, CA-CP SANE, assistant professor of nursing at TTUHSC
• The symposium will provide information to health care providers on the diversity of ways that those who experience trafficking may present; how to use human trafficking screens to assess risk of exploitation, how to apply trauma-informed, rights-based strategies when encountering challenging situations and how to work with trafficked patients to determine future safety and health needs.

Registration is $25; CME and CNE credits are available. Registration is available at https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/moreInfo. The deadline to register is Oct. 21.

For additional questions about the virtual event, contact the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health at (806) 414-9941.

AAMW offering free pet microchips in October

Technology has a way for pet owners to be reunited with a lost pet. Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare (AAMW) is providing this technology free of charge.

Throughout the month of October, AAMW is offering free pet microchips.

AAMW is providing the microchip service as part of the “Return to Home Challenge” with the Maddie's Fund organization. For more information on Maddie's Fund, go to maddiesfund.org

Pet microchips provide valuable information on a lost animal so it can be returned to its owner.

AAMW is offering free pet microchips through October. Appointments are not necessary and walk-ins are welcome. The microchip process takes less than five minutes.

For more information, contact City of Amarillo Communications Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at [email protected].

BSA Hospice of the Southwest to host 40th annual Rose Memorial on Sunday

BSA Hospice of the Southwest will host its 40th annual Rose Memorial on Sunday to provide area residents with an opportunity to honor the memory of those who have died in recent years. The event will consist of a nondenominational service, including prayers, songs, and meditation, with a reception afterward.

The ceremony will be held on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 3500 S. Bowie St.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died,” said Alyssa Jenkins, LMSW, BSA Hospice of the Southwest Bereavement Coordinator. “Attendees will observe a candle lighting and be presented roses from staff and volunteers in honor of their loved ones.”

The Rose Memorial was started in 1980 by Sister Olivia Prendergast. It became a tradition to place roses on the patients who die at the in-patient hospice unit, a tradition that continues today. For Sister Olivia, the rose was a unique symbol in hospice care, representing the beauty of life and reminding us of God's eternal love.

“We know how hard it can be to process the death of those who mean so much to us,” Jenkins added. “But, their memory doesn't die and that's why it's important to celebrate those lives and honor the memory of those we love.”

BSA Hospice of the Southwest cares for more than 1,000 patients and their families each year. The bereavement program continues to support survivors for at least 13 months after the death of a loved one or more if needed. For more information about the Rose Memorial Service, call (806) 356-0026 or visit hospicesouthwest.com.

Holy Smokes Barbecue raising funds for Dalhart firefighters' families

Holy Smokes Barbecue hosting a fundraiser for the families of Firefighter Brendan Torres and Fire Chief Curtis Brown on Monday, Oct. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Depot Liquor Parking Lot in Dalhart. Torres and Brown were killed earlier this week in a traffic accident.

Cash only will be accepted. The menu (plates come with two sides) includes the following: rib plate $16, 1-meat plate $14, 2-meat plate $17, 3-meat plate $20, 4-meat sampler $25, with sides ($2) of homemade potato salad, cheesy jalapeno corn and baked beans. Dessert will be $2.50, and drinks $1.

Hispanic Heritage Luncheon set for Wednesday

Los Barrios de Amarillo, Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee, Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are hosting the Hispanic Heritage Luncheon and Awards Celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza.

Lunch lines open at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration of the history and cultures that Hispanic and Latin Americans have made to American society and culture. It is celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

This year the national theme “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation,” exemplifies what local organizations dedicated to serving the Hispanic community are working to achieve. The Barrio was established in 1889 making it one of the oldest neighborhoods in Amarillo. A panel of speakers who were raised in the Barrio neighborhood will share memories of the past, changes in the present and hopes for the future.

Meals on Wheels needs volunteers

Meals on Wheels of Amarillo has been serving meals to homebound seniors since 1971, when it was first organized by 12 local churches. As a result of generous community support and many benefactors, it has grown into a large organization with its own volunteer board. Meals on Wheels has recently expanded to include AniMeals. In conjunction with the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, this program enables MOW volunteers – and in the near future – vet school students, to provide pet food and pet care to MOW homebound clients who have dogs and cats.

From the original 14 clients and 25 volunteers in 1971 to now, MOW has grown to serving over 370 daily meals with the help of over 450 volunteers.

However, the organization has a long waiting list of qualified needy homebound recipients that cannot be met with its current volunteer list.

MOW would like to respond to this need and is seeking additional volunteer drivers. Many volunteers tag team with a friend, and many businesses share a route among its employees. Most volunteers only deliver one day a week, which takes about 1-1½ hours. It isn't a huge time commitment, and it will be the most rewarding part of your week. Routes never have more than 10 meals, and they are in a concentrated area of Amarillo, so volunteers aren't driving all over town. MOW trains all volunteers and gives them bags to help carry the meals.

Most recipients relish the brief social interaction with their volunteer, and recipients are always grateful for the meal. MOW provides critical senior care through its meal deliveries, thus allowing seniors to stay in their own home under the watchful eye of caring volunteers.

If you would like more information about volunteering, contact MOW at (806) 374-1521 or fill out an application at Amarillomealsonwheels.org.

Ascension Academy recognized among 2023 Best Schools in America

Ascension Academy has been recognized as a 2023 Best School by Niche! This year, Ascension ranked #1 in “Best High Schools for STEM in Amarillo Area” for the 4th year in a row, and #1 in “Best Private High Schools in Amarillo Area”.

This ranking was earned by scoring highly in many factors that aim to capture what it's really like to attend Ascension Academy. In addition to it's first-place rankings, Ascension is also ranked in the top 12% of “Best College Prep Private Schools in America” and has an A+ overall grade on Niche.com. The school's grade is determined by a combination of reviews, self-reported information by the schools and statistical data obtained from the U.S. Department of Education.

Ascension Academy is an independent college preparatory school for students in grades 6 through 12. Ascension Academy serves students who seek a challenging curriculum in an inclusive but diverse environment as part of a small, safe school community to obtain an education that will prepare them for success in college and in life as Scholars, Artists, Athletes, and Leaders— the Four Pillars. The school's mission is to provide an exemplary college preparatory education in a challenging, faith-affirming environment to maximize the potential of every student.

While the team at Ascension Academy has always known that this school is a special place to learn and grow, they're so proud of their students and staff for earning this national distinction. You can check out Ascension Academy's profile and see the full list of 2023 rankings, methodologies, and data sources over at Niche.com. Ascension Academy thanks its school community for working hard every day to make Ascension Academy worthy of national attention. For more information, visit ascensionacademy.org.

Blankets of Love fundraiser to be held Oct. 23 at Spicy Mike's BBQ

Blankets of Love's sixth annual BBQ Lunch fundraiser will be held Sunday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Spicy Mike's BBQ, 6723 S. Western St. in Amarillo.

Tickets are $15, cash or check only, and include sausage, brisket, potato salad, coleslaw, beans, Texas Toast, dessert and a drink.

All proceeds will benefit Blankets of Love, a local non-profit organization founded in 2015 that provides warm hand sewn blankets to children and families of the Texas Panhandle at no cost. Blankets of Love operates on donations from the community in the form of fabric, fleece, sewing supplies and cash donations, “wrapping those in need with warmth, prayer and the love of Jesus Christ.”

Sisters in Fire introduces girls to firefighting careers

ABILENE – Texas A&M Forest Service hosted the second annual Sisters in Fire event at the city of Abilene Fire Department Training Facility on Oct. 1. Thirty-five girls ranging from 12 to 18 years old attended from 15 Texas counties.

Participants rotated to four stations throughout the day and learned how to suppress wildfires with engines and bulldozers, how chainsaws and hand tools are safely and important communication and practical skills of being a member of a wildland firefighting crew.

Sisters in Fire teaches young women about wildland firefighting and natural resources, while introducing the industry as a career path opportunity. Texas A&M Forest Service, the lead agency for wildfire response in the state, has 325 firefighters, 63 of those are female – less than 20%. Of those, a third are in leadership roles. One way to help increase the number of women in the field is to build a support network for female fire practitioners, where women mentor and train one another, from agencies and partners across the state – a major goal of the Sisters in Fire event.

The event was hosted in cooperation with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Fire Department, Abilene Fire Department and Texas Nature Conservancy.

Texas A&M System's TV show expands to more markets

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION — Chancellor John Sharp of The Texas A&M University System is coming to living rooms all around the state. Around Texas with Chancellor John Sharp will appear in 18 media markets across Texas (and one in Louisiana) when Season Four of the show premieres in the first full week in October. Last year, the show aired in eight Texas markets.

“The more we can share our stories about the cool people and interesting initiatives of the Texas A&M System, the better,” Chancellor Sharp said. “It is a real privilege to showcase how much the Texas A&M System contributes to our great state.”

The series airs at 4:30 p.m. Sundays on Panhandle PBS, cable channel 3 or over-the-air channel 2.1. Each episode in the 12-show season includes two segments and two in-studio interviews with the chancellor and a guest. For a weekly schedule, already-aired episodes and more, please visit https://www.sharparoundtexas.com.

CMSA World Championship to return to Amarillo

The AQHA Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Championship comes to Amarillo Oct. 11-15 at the Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds. The best mounted shooters in the world will be competing for the World Championship title in Amarillo. This event is open to the public.

CMSA is the fastest growing equine sport in the nation. Mounted contestants compete in the fast action, timed events using two .45 caliber single action revolvers. The goal for the contestants is to shoot as many balloon targets as possible while riding the course on horseback.

The top contestants will compete in the Friday night showcase on October 14 starting at 7:00 p.m. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is providing free tickets to the Friday night showcase for firefighters, county sheriffs and the Amarillo Police Department. CMSA is also providing free tours to local students throughout the week through a partnership with Window on a Wider World.

Education Foundation of Canyon ISD presents fundraising event

CANYON – The Education Foundation of Canyon ISD is holding a new event titled One District, One Mission to benefit the foundation's mission on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at House Divided, 7609 Hillside Road, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The One District, One Mission fundraising event features a friendly, but competitive, cornhole tournament between the Canyon ISD campuses, according to a news release: “This laid-back evening will be full of community spirit and will include visits from the high school cheerleaders and drum lines.” Tickets can be purchased for a gameday buffet by going to the Education Foundation website at educationfoundationcanyonisd.org or at the door the evening of the event. Cost is $20 for adults and $10 for students and children under 12.

All funds raised at this event will go directly to fund Canyon ISD educator classroom and professional development grants, student leadership grants, new teacher start-up grants, as well as student scholarships for Canyon ISD students.