Our Town briefs: Time capsule exhibit, book discussion, health podcast

Amarillo Globe-News
·8 min read

Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund established

The Amarillo Area Foundation has created the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will be used to help and aid victims of the recent flooding in the Amarillo area. For more information and to donate, contact the Amarillo Area Foundation at: https://amarilloareafoundation.org/disaster/

Gifts by mail may be designated to the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund, Amarillo Area Foundation, 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 700, Amarillo, Texas, 79101.

DHDC opens new limited-time exhibit for month of June

Step back in time as the Don Harrington Discovery Center presents the captivating "Past to Present & Beyond" exhibit. Opened on June 1, this limited-time showcase features artifacts from the 1968 time capsule of the Helium Monument. Visitors can explore eight displays of donated items and view a slideshow documenting the monument's original unveiling and its 2018 opening.

“The Don Harrington Discovery Center has been honored to steward the rich history of Amarillo through the Helium Monument time capsules,” Don Harrington Discovery Center CEO Wendy Taylor said. “We are thrilled to offer this free exhibit for the community to enjoy and reflect on our community's past, while looking toward the future.”

The exhibit will be available from now to June 30 in the Discovery Center's front lobby, with free admission. Regular admission is required to explore the rest of the center. For more information, visit DHDC.org or follow the Don Harrington Discovery Center on Facebook.

Amos Magliocco of the University of North Texas will lead WT's Great Books Series discussion of James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" on June 13. Magliocco is seen here in Paris, where Baldwin lived for many years.
Amos Magliocco of the University of North Texas will lead WT's Great Books Series discussion of James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" on June 13. Magliocco is seen here in Paris, where Baldwin lived for many years.

WT’s June Great Books Series to feature classic James Baldwin tale

CANYON — Family, faith, racial divides and the power of music are in the spotlight in the next installment of West Texas A&M University’s Great Books Series.

Amos Magliocco, principal lecturer in English at the University of North Texas in Denton, will lead the discussion of James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” at 7 p.m. June 13 via Zoom.

The discussion series — sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities — is open to those who either have or haven’t read the book. “Sonny’s Blues” was originally published in 1957, then later appeared in Baldwin’s 1965 shortstory collection, “Going to Meet the Man.”

To register for the June discussion, email Bloom at dbloom@wtamu.edu.

Amarillo historian to recount fabled Texas treasure hunt in CSAW event at WT

CANYON — An Amarillo historian will dig into his family’s history of treasure hunting in an upcoming lecture for West Texas A&M University’s Center for the Study of the American West.

David Lewis, a contract engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy and member of the West Texas Historical Society, will speak at 7 p.m. June 15 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus. Admission is free. A reception with light refreshments will begin at 6 p.m.

Lewis’ presentation, “The San Saba Treasure: The History Behind the Folklore,” is based on his 2018 book “The San Saba Treasure: Legends of Silver Creek.” His book recounts a fabled 1868 search for a lost mine on the San Saba River, near modern-day Menard. The story was popularized in J. Frank Dobie’s “Coronado’s Children,” but Lewis —whose great-great-great-grandfather Sam Flemming was one of the four members of the hunt — finds the truth behind the legend.

CSAW was formed in the fall of 2016 with a mission of fostering the study of the American West at WT and building bridges between the University, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and the regional populace. For information about CSAW and upcoming events, visit wtamu.edu/csaw.

Texas Tech Health Check podcast celebrates 100th Episode

Texas Tech Health Check, a podcast produced by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, will celebrate its 100th episode with a special hosted by TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman, Ph.D. The podcast features interviews with TTUHSC experts on a variety of health topics, including mental health, chronic diseases and wellness. The 100th episode is available as of June 6 at ttuhsc.edu/podcast.

The first Texas Tech Health Check episode was released in 2019 with the goal of providing access to accurate and up-to-date health information to the Lubbock community and beyond. Since then, it has become a popular resource for listeners throughout the U.S. and as far away as Australia.

The 100th episode features guests Ron Cook, D.O., MBA, TTUHSC chief health officer and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine; Sherry Sancibrian, Grover E. Murray Professor and associate dean for accreditation for the School of Health Professions; Brandt Schneider, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Charles Seifert, Pharm.D., regional dean for the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy; and Amanda Veesart, Ph.D., R.N., associate dean for the School of Nursing. The guests will reflect on challenges the university faced in the past two years, looking ahead at the future of health care and education while making mental health a priority.

Some of the most popular episodes were: “Vaccines: A Primer,” “Weight Management,” “Día de los Muertos and How We Grieve,” “Checking in With Your Child Now That School is in Session” and “Why We Like or Hate Being Scared.” Other topics covered in the past include: aphasia, brain injuries, hiking, cystic fibrosis, managing PTSD, human trafficking, healthy aging, gambling addiction, domestic abuse, family medical history and directives and hearing loss.

Sarah Beckham-Turner, right, and recent graduate Chloe Ridolfo pick out props and costumes for possible use with Manhattan Opera Studio's upcoming staging of "The Magic Flute." Beckham-Turner, director of WT Opera, will direct the MOS production, and five of her current and former students will attend the workshop and perform in it.
Sarah Beckham-Turner, right, and recent graduate Chloe Ridolfo pick out props and costumes for possible use with Manhattan Opera Studio's upcoming staging of "The Magic Flute." Beckham-Turner, director of WT Opera, will direct the MOS production, and five of her current and former students will attend the workshop and perform in it.

WT Opera director, students to perform and study at Manhattan Opera Studio

CANYON — West Texas A&M University Opera is heading to the Big Apple. The program’s director, Sarah Beckham Turner, will helm Manhattan Opera Studio’s production of “The Magic Flute,” and four recent graduates and one returning student will make their New York City debuts as part of MOS’s Summer Festival.

The intensive runs June 19 to July 19. The five WT students are among 23 young performers from around the world who auditioned for and were accepted into the program. While in New York, the students also will sing arias in a July 5 concert at Carnegie Hall and in a July 18 concert at the National Opera Center. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Magic Flute” will be staged July 15 and 16, also in the National Opera Center.

“This says that WT Opera is doing its part in preparing students for the real world, which is my whole goal,” said Beckham-Turner, an assistant professor of voice and opera in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Participating students include Taylor Lindley, a graduate student in vocal performance from Pampa; and May 2023 graduates Francesco DiLello from Highland Mills, New York, who earned a master’s in vocal performance; R.J. Flud from Midland, who earned a bachelor’s in musical theatre; Chloe Ridolfo from Los Angeles, who earned a master’s in vocal performance; and Zachary Todd from Flower Mound, who earned a bachelor’s in musical theatre.

Beckham-Turner, an Amarillo native and soprano, has earned praise from the New York Times, Opera News, Wall Street Journal, and The Observer for her performances. Recently, Beckham-Turner sang in the world premiere of “Letters That You Will Not Get” with the American Opera Projects in New York City and as Hänsel in Amarillo Opera’s production of “Hänsel und Gretel.” She also tours with the Opera Cowgirls. As a director, she has directed and produced productions such as “The Magic Flute,” “Postcard from Morocco” and “Our Town.”

Alex O’Brien Tennis Foundation offering free tennis clinics at Memorial Park

Free drop-in tennis clinics are being offered by the Alex O’Brien Tennis Foundation (AOBTF) this summer at Memorial Park, located at 2501 South Washington in Amarillo.

Kids in kindergarten through high school can attend the tennis clinics Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Weekday instruction is scheduled through July 14, excluding July 4. All levels of tennis players are welcome; equipment is available to borrow. Beginners learn proper racquet techniques, groundstroke and serve form, scoring and court etiquette.

Alex O’Brien was a student and star tennis player at Tascosa High School who went on to be a four-time All American at Stanford University and had an accomplished professional career. The foundation uses tennis as a platform to inspire, educate, and give hope to youth and has proudly served the Amarillo community since 1998, introducing thousands of children to the sport of tennis. Through partnerships with Kids, Inc, Amarillo ISD, Window on a Wider World and Amarillo Parks and Recreation, hundreds of kids receive free or lowcost tennis instruction each year. For more information, visit www.aobtf.org.

WT President’s, Dean’s Lists announced; official spring graduate list available

CANYON — A total 1,110 graduates are in West Texas A&M University’s Class of May 2023. Overall, the University awarded 828 baccalaureate degrees and 289 master’s degrees to spring graduates at the May 13 commencement ceremonies. View graduate names listed by hometown online at https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/lists/2023sp-grad.html.

WT said the oldest graduate was 66, and the youngest were 18. The graduating class includes 108 with a perfect 4.0 GPA and 81 veterans; 45 percent of the undergraduates are the first in their family to earn a college degree. Students from 37 states in the nation and 26 different countries graduated.

Additionally, 193 potential August graduates walked the stage at the May commencement ceremonies.

Graduates include those on the Dean's List (overall grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99) and on the President’s List (a 4.0). The three levels of honor recognition are Summa Cum Laude (3.90-4.00), Magna Cum Laude (3.75-3.89) and Cum Laude (3.50-3.74).

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for June 11