Amarillo area Our Town briefs
Panhandle Mental Health Guide announces new pet mascot
In January, pet lovers in the Texas Panhandle submitted photos showcasing their pets and shared how their beloved companions have helped their mental health journey for a chance to become the mascot of the Panhandle Mental Health Guide. The new pet mascot for the Panhandle Mental Health Guide is “Rosie the Resilient,” whose dog parents are Adrian and Tanya Castillo of Amarillo.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five Americans experience mental illness in a given year. Pets make a significant impact on mental health through reducing stress and anxiety; supporting social skills and building relationships; and providing emotional support, companionship and unconditional love.
“Rosie epitomizes the belief that healing can come through the availability of resources to those most in need,” said Castillo. “Rosie’s experience is an excellent example that people and animals can overcome early hurdles through the availability of resources. Likewise, I believe that the Panhandle Mental Health Guide is an essential tool for assisting the Panhandle to help those most in need of behavioral health care.”
As the new pet mascot, “Rosie the Resilient” will be featured on the Panhandle Mental Health Guide website and future efforts to promote mental well-being in the Texas Panhandle.
The Panhandle Mental Health Guide, a service of the Panhandle Behavioral Health Alliance, is made possible by the current generous funders and sponsors, Amarillo Area Foundation, Texas Panhandle Centers and Panhandle Area Health Education Center. The Amarillo Area Foundation is also the promotions sponsor for the pet mascot contest. In addition to being named the pet mascot of the Panhandle Mental Health Guide, the Castillos and Rosie will receive a pet photo session with Kait Bradford of Three Feather Photo Co. and an illustrated pet portrait by Valerie Wieners.
For more information about the Panhandle Mental Health Guide, visit www.PanhandleMentalHealthGuide.org.
City of Amarillo recognizes Presidents Day; offices closed, services adjusted
In recognition of Presidents Day, City of Amarillo offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20. City services will be adjusted accordingly:
Amarillo City Transit will operate a Saturday schedule on Monday. For more information call (806) 378-3095 or see amarillo.gov/departments/community-services/transit
City Hall and all Amarillo Public Library locations will be closed Monday.
The schedule for Solid Waste services: For residential routes and polycart routes, Monday routes will be serviced Tuesday. Tuesday routes will be serviced Wednesday. There will be no curbside collection on Monday. All Monday commercial routes will be serviced Tuesday.
The city landfill and brush sites will be closed Monday.
Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes will have normal hours of operation.
For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov .
City hosting Community Health Fair on Feb. 25
As part of the community’s celebration of Black History month, the City of Amarillo Department of Public Health is hosting a health & resource fair at Carver Elementary School. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The purpose of the event is to bring the community together, as well as provide healthcare needs and resources from local organizations to the residents of North Heights, but everyone from the community is welcome to join. An on-site vaccination clinic will be provided by Amarillo Public Health.
Borger library celebrating 83rd anniversary at event Feb. 23
The current site became home for the Borger Branch of the Hutchinson County Library on Feb. 23, 1940 — that is 83 years of serving the community. The library is hosting a celebration on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Borger Branch of the Library, 625 Weatherly.
According to a news release, 625 Weatherly has been home to the Borger Branch of the Hutchinson County Library since Feb. 23, 1940 after having been in two previous locations, The Crusoe Building located at 512 N. Main St. in Borger and later, Borger City Hall. Hutchinson County Library has developed into a modern provider of literature and public services since the doors first opened over 83 years ago. The legacy that the Twentieth Century Club members started many years ago continues well into the twenty first century.
"Though many people have played a part in the successful growth of the library, from a small subscription library to the present day location in the heart of downtown Borger, the formation of the library was really sponsored by the Twentieth Century Club. The history of the library dates back to August 1928 when members of the club opened a subscription library in the Crusoe Building. You could pay $1.00 per year or $.25 for three months to use the library. One month later the Borger City Commissioners offered three rooms, located in City Hall, to the Twentieth Century Club for the library. The ladies opened the library on September 8, 1928 with 300 volumes. The little library was located at City Hall for almost 10 years. April 12, 1937 members of the Twentieth Century Club presented the matter of a county library to the Hutchinson County Commissioners Court. In July 1937, the County Commissioners provided funds within the budget for a county library! Texas State law requires that the county library must be located in the county seat town. March 1, 1938 the Hutchinson County Library was established in the courthouse in Stinnett, Texas," the release says.
You can visit the Borger Branch of the Library, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Fritch Branch is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. Hours for the Stinnett Branch are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can always get the latest information on their, websitewww.hutchinson.harringtonlc.org or their Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/HutchCoLibrary .
"While technology has pushed the library of today’s world into a direction that is so very different than that of the 1940s there are a few things that has remained the same, the dedication of the library to serve the community and the drive to serve them with the best. And to quote Augustine Birrell, Libraries are not made… they grow!"
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs
