Community briefs

Chamber hosting Tech System luncheon

The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 29. The event, presented by FirstBank & Trust, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center, 2322 Mac Davis Lane.

Individual tickets are $40 for Chamber members and $50 for non-members. To make reservations go to www.LubbockChamber.com or call (806) 761-7000. The registration deadline is Sept. 22 at 5 p.m.

Sponsorships and tables are still available. Contact Kyle Jacobson at Kyle.Jacobson@lubbockbiz.org to learn more.

City facilities to close for Labor Day

City of Lubbock offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day. Certain city facilities and operations will also have adjusted hours over the holiday weekend. Normal operations will resume Tuesday, Sept. 6.

In addition to city offices, all Lubbock Public Library locations, The Buddy Holly Center, Silent Wings Museum and the Garden & Arts Center will be closed Monday. Community and senior centers will be closed Saturday, Sept. 3 and Monday, resuming normal hours of operation on Tuesday.

Solid waste collection for Monday and Tuesday will be shifted to Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 6-7. Both landfills and attended drop-offs will be closed on Monday and will resume normal operations on Tuesday.

Comfort Keepers event benefits Meals on Wheels

Throughout the month of September, Comfort Keepers of Lubbock will be hosting the 12th Annual Feed Seniors Now event, benefiting Lubbock Meals on Wheels’ Weekend Meal Program. This program provides weekend sacks to clients in Lubbock and Wolfforth who have no access to food or assistance on weekends.

Because of the growing need, Lubbock Meals on Wheels is now providing assistance to 500 seniors each weekend, 28% more than this time last year. Still, the waiting list continues to grow. They ask the community to join by:

• Organizing a food drive through your business, church, or organization.

• Ordering specific food items from your favorite online company and shipping them to Lubbock MOW, 2304 34th St., Lubbock, TX 79411

• Donating directly to this campaign at lubbockmealsonwheels.org.

The organization is seeking a variety of non-refrigerated items. For more information, call Lisa Carson at (806) 687-7800 or contact Mary Gerlach at mary@lubbockmow.org or (806) 792-7971.

New Neighbors to host luncheon

Lubbock New Neighbors Club will host its first monthly meeting/luncheon of the new year on Friday, Sept. 9, at the Lubbock Women's Club, 2020 Broadway.

Special speaker will be Steve London, cowboy poet and entertainer. The program will start at 10:30 a.m. and lunch is served afterward.

Cost for the meal is $20 and reservations are required at least three days before the event. For more information or reservations, please contact Norma Kincer at normakincer@sbcglobal.net or Roni Allen at 281-507-4083. All reservations must be paid, so please cancel at least three days before the meeting if unable to attend.

This year, dues are $30 and can be paid at this meeting. If paid within three days after this meeting, your personal listing will be in our handbook. Possible games after the meal, contact your game leaders if you are interested in playing.

Chamber accepting applications for Leadership Lubbock

The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2023 Leadership Lubbock class. This program provides leadership development and opportunities to learn about the many facets of Lubbock in an atmosphere that encourages team bonding resulting in professional and personal friendships that last a lifetime.

Participants attend one class day each month that highlights industries including health, agriculture, arts, sports & recreation, and government. Class days include tours, special speakers, leadership training, and interactive learning to help participants explore the industry highlighted.

To be considered applicants must meet the following criteria:

· Serve in community leadership roles

· Familiarity with Lubbock’s priorities

· Ability to make time commitment

· Employed by a Chamber member organization

The Chamber is accepting applications through Friday, Sept. 9. To apply visit www.LubbockChamber.com and click on the Leadership Lubbock banner or visit the Leadership Lubbock page.

For questions or more information, contact Cathy Potter at (806) 761-7000 or by email at Cathy.Potter@lubbockbiz.org.

SPC to host building dedication on Sept. 9

LEVELLAND – South Plains College will host the Grand Opening and Dedication of the Wilburn and Helen Wheeler Science Center at 10 a.m. on Sept. 9 in the Helen DeVitt Jones Student Learning Center. An open house and tours will follow.

Through their foundation, the William R. and Sandra L. Wheeler Charitable Foundation, the Wheelers pledged $7 million toward the expansion and renovation of the Science Building on the Levelland campus. In recognition of this support, the SPC Board of Regents approved renaming the building the Wilburn and Helen Wheeler Science Center in honor of Bill Wheeler’s parents.

A Levelland native and Distinguished Alumnus of SPC, Bill Wheeler fondly reflects on his childhood. Levelland was a friendly, safe place to grow up. Wilburn Wheeler and Helen Wheeler, his father, had moved to Levelland in 1946 after completing his service in World War II. The elder Wheeler became the band director for Levelland High School.

The creation of South Plains College in 1957 was a lifesaver for the Wheeler family. Wilburn Wheeler approached then SPC president Dr. Thomas Spencer about a job at the college. Wilburn Wheeler had graduated from Texas Tech University, where he had majored in mathematics and received his master’s degree in education.

While at SPC, Wilburn Wheeler served as the chairman of the college’s Math Department from 1964 to 1974 and was named the recipient of the Levelland First National Bank’s fourth annual Excellence in Teaching award. Helen Wheeler, after driving a school bus for the public schools, came to work at SPC as a librarian’s assistant.

For more information, contact Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Dane Dewbre at (806) 716-2210 or email ddewbre@southplainscollege.edu.

Lubbock libraries forgiving fines for 'Amnesty Days'

To kick off National Library Card Sign-Up Month, the Lubbock Public Libraries will host Amnesty Days Sept. 6-10.

During these Amnesty Days (formerly known as the Food for Fines event), any Lubbock Public Library cardholder can return overdue or lost library materials and have the fines and fees forgiven for those items. All material types will be accepted, including books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs.

To participate, patrons may simply bring their lost or overdue materials to any Lubbock Public Library location from Sept. 6 to 10. Items can be dropped off in the book drop or inside at the circulation desks. Cards suspended due to fines and fees will be reinstated with the return of overdue and lost materials and proof of ID. These Amnesty Days are taking place during Library Card Sign-Up Month to encourage library users with suspended accounts to return any lost or overdue items and get their library cards reinstated in order to take advantage of Lubbock Public Library services. More information about Amnesty Days is at www.lubbocklibrary.com.

Christian women's group to host luncheon

Lubbock Christian Women's Connection will host its season kickoff luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Drive.

Special speaker will be Doris Haney of Lubbock speaking on "O, the Places You Will Go!"

Music will be provided by Ruby Moultrie

Cost of the luncheon, program and door prizes is $20.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by noon on Friday, Sept. 9, to LubbockCWC@gmail.com or Sharen at (806) 392-0264.

Arboretum hosts Second Saturday program

The Lubbock Memorial Arboretum, 4111 University Ave., will host its next Second Saturday program at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the interpretive center.

This month's topic is: "My Neighbor's Tree is __. What Does the Law Say?" by presenter James Tuttle.

Tuttle came to West Texas while serving in the Air Force and stayed. He founded Tree Loving Care as Tuttle Landscape Co., a landscape installation and maintenance company in 1978. By the mid 1980s, the business had transitioned to only tree care and by the 1990s had transitioned to the name Tree Loving Care.

Tuttle has always been interested in the Arboretum and served on the Arboretum Board for nine years in the 1990s including as president.

For more information, call (806) 797-4520.

Sweet fundraiser supports Girl Scouting in Lubbock

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains welcomes the public to Desserts First, an intimate evening featuring local chefs' Girl Scout Cookie-inspired desserts, wine, and a silent auction. This event supports Girl Scouts in Lubbock and the Girl Scout mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

The event is scheduled for 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at The Texas Tech Club-Westside. Desserts First is sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors and chaired by Monica Delgado.

Individual tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online at gs-strong.org/DF2022.

This year's featured chefs are: Chef Andrew Seccareccio, The Willows Event Center; Ashley Smith, Ashley's Own Eats & Treats; Chef Tasha Teel, The Cakery; Marsha Johnson, Sweet Creations; Patricia Tuthill, Just Desserts; Chef Samantha Beach, Texas Sweet Box; Chef Angie Ragan, Salt by Angie; Chef Emily Russell, Top Tier; K'Leigh Fountain, Sugar Momma's Bakery; Breana Garcia, Bree's Cakes and Creations; Chef Xandria Burke, The Texas Tech Club; and Destiny Adams, Tumbleweeds & Sage

Lubbock Meals on Wheels seeks volunteers

Lubbock Meals on Wheels is in need of fall volunteer drivers, both regular and substitute, each weekday to deliver meals in Lubbock and Wolfforth. Individuals do not need to commit to a set schedule to volunteer for LMOW.

Some drivers prefer to take the same route on the same day each week whereas others prefer to just substitute when needed. For many of our recipients, the LMOW volunteer may be the only person they see during the day.

Each route takes approximately one hour to deliver. Most routes have 10-16 clients.

A background check and one hour orientation is required for all delivery volunteers.

If you would like to try us out first, we can pair you up with one of our volunteers for a ride-along. To schedule that, call at (806)792-7971.

Delivery volunteer opportunities are available from 10:45 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Non-delivery volunteer opportunities are available throughout the day Monday through Friday.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call (806) 792-7971.

Inaugural CASA Classic Golf Tournament set

CASA of the South Plains is hosting its Inaugural CASA Classic Golf Tournament to benefit local children in foster care. The entire community is invited to participate in the Oct. 10 event at the Texas Tech Rawls Course.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event go directly to providing support for children in the South Plains who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect and are now in foster care. There are more than 700 children in our community that need the gift of a CASA Volunteer, and the CASA Classic Golf Tournament will help ensure that CASA of the South Plains is able to serve more of these most vulnerable children.

Sponsorships and team registration are available through Sept. 23, at CASAoftheSouthPlains.org. Tee off will be at 8 a.m., with breakfast and lunch provided. Silent auction items will also be available to bid on throughout the tournament.

For more information about the CASA Classic, contact Stacy Kelley, Marketing and Development Director, at (806) 763-2272 or via email at stacyk@casaofthesouthplains.org.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Community briefs: Lubbock Chamber hosting Tech system luncheon; Labor Day closings