Amarillo area Our Town briefs for Feb. 26, 2023

Amarillo Globe-News
·6 min read

DHDC offering Spring Break Camp: 'Round the World in March

The Don Harrington Discovery Center is continuing to offer childcare during local school holidays with their Spring Break Camp: ‘Round the World, Monday, March 13 through Friday, March 17. Caregivers have the option to book as many days as they need and can save $25 with the purchase of five or more Camp Discovery Day Camp sessions.

For ages 3 years old through 4th grade, Spring Break Camp: ‘Round the World will offer campers the opportunity to explore the world. Camp days will be filled with adventurous fun including large demonstrations, cool experiments, and explorer-approved creations to take home.

Spots are limited and registration is now open at DHDC.org. Costs include the following:

Kindergarten through 4th grade

  • $40/day for members

  • $50/day for non-members

PreK (Half-Day only)

  • $20/day for members

  • $25/day for non-members

Pre-care and after-care options are available for $10.

Follow The Discovery Center on Facebook and Instagram for more information on their community programs and upcoming day camps. Information can be found on their website as well.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System hosts Better Breathers Club

Northwest Texas Healthcare System is facilitating the Better Breathers Club on March 15th in the Community Lecture Room at Northwest hospital located at 1501 S. Coulter from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Guest speaker for the event will be Pat Gray, RN who will be presenting “Chair Yoga.” Chair yoga it is a great way to exercise if you are limited in your ability to move. Low impact chair yoga is great for those with breathing issues, Parkinson's, Arthritis, and other debilitating issues.

This is a great addition to any exercise program that helps with strength, flexibility, and balance. The Better Breathers Club is an initiative from the American Lung Association to provide education, support, and a sense of connection to others living with chronic lung disease. The general public is invited to attend at no cost.

For more information, contact Lisa Solomon at 806-351-5864.

DHDC continues monthly science program for young women

National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Prater is speaking at the Don Harrington Discovery Center’s newest monthly program Girls Who Science, set for March.

Currently based in Fort Worth, Prater is an Amarillo native and started her STEM career as a Science Guide at the Discovery Center before starting to work for the National Weather Service in 2019. Girls Who Science was created so girls aged 10-18 could learn from women in the STEM industry, conduct interactive experiments, and explore career-focused STEM activities AT NO COST to participants. Last month’s speaker was Chantal Jones, an architectural engineer at Pantex. “When you see that door open, don’t let it close on you,” Jones said during February’s presentation. “Run through it.”

This program is the first Monday of every month from 4:45 pm to 6:15 pm.

Esteemed women professionals in the STEM industry are brought in for conversations, a presentation, and Q&A's with young women aspiring to go into STEM. After the presentation from the guest speaker, the Discovery Center will also provide an activity related to their field of study and a snack for participants during a break in the program.

“Our mission is to provide a fun environment where our female youth can understand what they can achieve and the steps it takes to meet these goals,” Jen Noble, Community Engagement Manager.

Medicine, engineering, coding, biology, and animal science are just the start of what DHDC plans to cover in this program. Young women in upper elementary school through high school are encouraged to attend. Follow The Discovery Center on Facebook and Instagram for more information on their community programs. Information can be found on their website as well.

APL offers vaccination clinics, messenger training

The Amarillo Public Library is partnering with the City of Amarillo Department of Public Health to offer free COVID-19 vaccination clinics over the next few months. The vaccine will no longer be free sometime after May 11, so now is the perfect time to get a vaccination or booster. Clinics include the following dates:

  • Monday, Feb. 27, 1-4 p.m.: Northwest Branch Library – 6100 W 9th

  • Tuesday, Feb. 28, 12:30-3:30 p.m.: North Branch Library - 1500 NE 24th

  • Wednesday, March 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: East Branch Library – 2232 E 27th

  • Wednesday, March 8, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: East Branch Library – 2232 E 27th

  • Monday, March 13, 2-5 p.m.: Northwest Branch Library – 6100 W 9th

  • Tuesday, March 21, 12:30-3:30 p.m.: North Branch Library - 1500 NE 24th

  • Thursday, March 23, 3-5 p.m.: Southwest Branch Library – 6801 W 45th

Trusted Messenger training equips participants with the knowledge to talk confidently about COVID-19 and other health issues with friends, family, and neighbors. Join them for refreshments and a lot of information at the following times:

  • Thursday, March 9, 2 p.m.: Southwest Branch Library – 6801 W 45th

  • Wednesday, March 22, 6 p.m.: Downtown Library – 413 SE 4th

  • Monday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.: Northwest Branch Library – 6100 W 9th

  • Tuesday, April 4, 6:30 p.m.: North Branch Library - 1500 NE 24th

  • Wednesday, April 5, 11:30 a.m.: East Branch Library – 2232 E 27th

New Ag Communications Minor available for WT students beginning fall 2023

CANYON — A new minor at West Texas A&M University will help train students to be the voice behind the industry that feeds the world. Beginning in Fall 2023, the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences will offer a new minor in agricultural media and communication. This minor will be available to all students regardless of College and major.

The minor includes 18 hours of course work in video production, digital media, professional growth, photography, ag technology and more. The agricultural media and communication degree is a bridged program between the Department of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. This program is based on hands-on learning and gives students the unique opportunity to practice tangible skills that they will use in their future careers. There are currently 60 students in the program.

For information, contact Advising Services at 806-651-5300 or advisingservices@wtamu.edu; Tarpley at ttarpley@wtamu.edu; or Dr. Tanner Robertson, associate professor of agricultural media and communication, at trobertson@wtamu.edu.

Texas Department of Public Safety Memorial construction to start

AUSTIN — The memorial recognizes the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) officers and Texas Rangers who gave their lives to protect their fellow Texans. The memorial is a 77-foot circle of granite with an 11-foot-tall DPS trooper paying respects to a tombstone honoring the first fallen peace officer in Texas, a Ranger. The memorial will also feature three separate granite and bronze panels depicting the history of the DPS and will be engraved with a core value: Protection, Courtesy, and Service.

"This new memorial will serve as an incredible reminder of the service, sacrifice and unmatched courage of our DPS troopers," Abbott said at the groundbreaking in April 2022. "To be a law enforcement officer is to answer a higher calling, which is why I am proud to recognize the dedication and bravery of our DPS troopers across the state and throughout history."

The memorial will be located at the DPS Headquarters at 5805 North Lamar Blvd. in Austin. The construction start ceremony will be held Thursday March 2, 2023 (Texas Independence Day) at 10 a.m.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for Feb. 26, 2023