Lubbock community news in brief
ARPA funding for arts professionals, businesses available
The city of Lubbock and Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation announce the availability of American Rescue Plan Act funding (ARPA) through a new grant program targeted to organizations and professionals in the arts, music and performance industry.
ARPA funding may be used to make up lost income due to COVID-19 closures.
The arts industry in Lubbock lost approximately $5.8 million in income due to canceled
performances, events and festivals. Through this program, made available through the city of Lubbock, $950,000 in funds will be awarded. This program will be administered by the Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation and may be used as financial assistance to move forward from the negative economic impact of the pandemic.
Funds will be open to full-time artists and part-time artists, as well as both non-profit and for-profit arts businesses. Priority will be given to those who have not previously received any aid from other relief programs.
Applications are currently open. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15, 2022. To apply, applicants may visit the Lubbock Cultural Arts Foundation’s website to register and apply for the funding.
The grant process will walk applicants through how to apply and how to receive funds if approved.
Lubbock pavement marker work starts
Work on a $451,442 Texas Department of Transportation safety project to install reflective pavement markers to various roads across the South Plains will continue with work in Lubbock.
Work to place RPMs along
• Loop 289
• I-27
• US 62/82 (Marsha Sharp Freeway)
• US 62/SH 114 (19th Street)
• FM 2255 (4th Street)
• Spur 327
• Spur 326
• Business US 84 (Avenue Q) and
• FM 1264 (north University Avenue) will take place overnight. Crews are scheduled to begin work nightly at 8 p.m. and conclude by 6 a.m. No work will take place on Friday or Saturday night. Weather permitting, work is expected to wrap-up on June 30.
No lane closures are planned during the mobile operation, but motorists can expect slow moving equipment and are urged to use caution when driving through the mobile work zone, since crews will be working in traffic.
Major project to start on 19th Street
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is set to begin work on a major rehabilitation project that will make improvements to 3.3 miles of US 62 (SH 114/19th Street) in the city of Lubbock.
The $25.69 million project will rebuild portions of the existing roadway, and make updates to the drainage system, sidewalks, traffic signals and illumination, from Memphis Avenue to just east of I-27.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin Thursday, June 23. Contractor Sacyr Construction USA. LLC, of Diboll has planned to begin setting traffic barriers next week.
Drivers should anticipate 19th Street traffic to be reduced to one-lane in each direction in the active work zones and need to be aware that the 19th Street speed limits will be reduced to 30 mph, between Avenue C and Canton Avenue, and lowered to 35 mph between Canton and Memphis avenues.
Motorists and pedestrians are urged to use caution when traveling through the work zone, since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic.
The project is anticipated to be completed in summer 2025.
Casas for CASA Raffle underway
Casas for CASA presented by Market Street will be hosted at 4205 98th St. through Thursday, June 30. Anyone and everyone can purchase raffle tickets for the opportunity to win a $3,500 MasterCard gift card, or a custom-built playhouse, doghouse, or storage building donated by local community members.
Raffle tickets can be purchased anytime online at www.casaofthesouthplains.org or at the Market Street location at 98th Street and Quaker Avenue, on Thursdays and Fridays from 4-7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 tickets for $20, 15 tickets for $50, or 40 tickets for $100. The drawing will be held Thursday, June 30 at 5 p.m. Attendance is not necessary to win.
The funds raised during Casas for CASA stay right here in Lubbock and the five surrounding counties they serve. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, helps a child in foster care navigate the child welfare system while working to ensure their needs are being met and advocating to find them a safe, permanent home.
For more information, contact Stacy Kelley, marketing and development director, at (806) 763-2272 or via email at stacyk@casaofthesouthplains.org.
Christian Women's Connection to meet
The next Lubbock Christian Women's Connection luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Drive.
The theme of the luncheon and program is “United We Stand” and men are welcome to attend.
The program and special music will be presented by Jane Thacker of Grapevine speaking on "If the Shoe Fits…Wear it."
Cost for the luncheon, program and door prizes is $20. Those interested are asked to RSVP no later than 10 a.m. on Friday, July 8 to lubbockCWC@gmail.com or Sharen at (806) 392-0264
Covenant hosting free summer program
Covenant Health will host a free summer program called Covenant Ready, which will include half-day programs for middle school students in grades 6-8 to explore health care.
With events from 8 a.m. to noon on June 23, July 12 and July 14, there are several opportunities for students to spend their morning getting a glimpse of health care and get a jump start on picking their STEM track.
The morning will begin at Maxey Park and include a tour of the hospital, including the emergency department, radiology department, pharmacy and simulation unit. Participants will get to watch a pig lung demonstration, look at slides under a microscope, see an x-ray, check out emergency vehicles and more.
Students will also get to learn about a wide variety of topics and have the opportunity to speak with health care professionals. This summer program can help middle school students begin to decide a STEM track they’re interested in.
There are still spots available for each date. Parents can sign up their middle school students through the form at the following link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hpAxLiaao0aGX2Fb7VdnhpULMVkekPJCvyxawJ86wb1UODZRNEtVMFE4NVU1ME8wWjFaMUtGUFVVSi4u&qrcode=true
For additional information or any questions, you can email brittnie.shock@covhs.org or call (806) 725-0696 to speak with Brittnie Shock or Terri Morris.
LISD Board seeking applicants for District 5 position
The Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees is seeking applicants to fill the District 5 Trustee position, vacated by Scot Mayfield upon the approval of his resignation at a recent board meeting.
The Board of Trustees will appoint a successor to fill the vacancy until the next school board election in May 2024. Voters will then fill the four-year term. The qualifications for appointment and a map of the District 5 boundaries are available for review at the Lubbock ISD website.
Interested applicants should send an email describing their interest in the position and a resume to trustee.district5@LubbockISD.org, or deliver a letter of interest and resume to the Superintendent’s Office at Lubbock ISD Central Office, 1629 19th St. Letters of interest and resumes must be received by 5 p.m. on July 15 to be considered.
Cumberland hosting Summer Party in the Patch
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lubbock, at 7702 Indiana Ave., is hosting its second annual Summer Party in the Patch from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.
It is an all-out water event, including a 19-foot double water slide, a double fancy Slip’n Slide, kiddy pools, a dunking tank and a sweet and savory food truck. Fire Station #17 will be sending a truck with team to support the event.
The new Matadors soccer team will have players onsite throughout the four-hour event.
Back-to-school back packs with school supplies — almost 200 of them — will be available on a first time, first served basis.
This is a free event for the community as a thank you for supporting the Navajo Indians and their education fund, as well as the church's ministries.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock community news in brief
