This week's community news includes archeology of love, Presidents Day closures
Wildcat Bluff explores the history of love during Feb. 18 program
Wildcat Bluff’s program Echoes of the Past will explore the archaeology of love on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 pm. Hosted with their on-site archaeologist Erin Frigo, attendees will learn about ancient history in their Gilvin Education Center. The upcoming program’s theme is the archaeology of love.
“Anyone is welcome to come and learn,” Frigo said. “If you have kids who have an interest in history or archaeology or even just love to be outdoors, feel free to bring them along, and I will do my best to make sure that they understand the content! And of course, if YOU have an interest, please stop by! Archaeology is for everyone!”
WBNC’s on-site archaeologist Erin Frigo has a master's in anthropology with an emphasis in bio-archaeology and a minor in biology from Texas Tech University. Frigo has also done a few field schools, worked for the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum’s Archaeology Department and the Forest Service with Black Kettle National Grasslands in Oklahoma, and interned with the Bureau of Land Management at the Cross Bar Ranch.
Reservations are not required. This program is included in WBNC admission or WBNC membership. Admission fees can be found on their website at wildcatbluff.org. For more information on programs, follow Wildcat Bluff on Facebook.
City of Amarillo announces office closures, service schedule for Presidents Day
In recognition of Presidents Day, the following city of Amarillo offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19: City Hall, Amarillo Municipal Court and all Amarillo Public Library locations.
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 .
The schedule for Solid Waste services is as follows: For residential routes and polycart routes, Monday routes will be serviced Tuesday, Feb. 20. Tuesday routes will be serviced Wednesday, Feb. 21. For commercial routes, all routes will be serviced Saturday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Curbside service will not be available Monday. The city landfill and brush sites will also 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.
Spend your break at DHDC for annual Spring Break Spectacular
The Don Harrington Discovery Center will be hosting their annual Spring Break Spectacular March 9-17.
Included in general admission and DHDC membership, the public is invited to visit the DHDC during operating hours to enjoy their exhibits, watch mindblowing demos, and explore the five senses during the different days of the week.
Perfect for learners of all ages, your group of castaways will go through survival of the senses as you discover sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound with DHDC's explosive science experiments, immersive exhibits, amazing animals, and fun-filled activities. With, of course, extra special programming on Pi Day, 3.14.During the week, they will be offering special demos specific to each of the five senses on themed days. This year’s lineup is March 9 and 10: The five senses; March 11: Sight; March 12: Touch; March 13: Smell; March 14 (Pi Day): Taste; March 15: Sound; and March 16 and 17: The five senses.
DHDC's annual Spring Break Spectacular is included in regular admission or DHDC membership; no reservations or tickets are required.
This is not a camp or drop-off event. All children must be accompanied by an adult. If you are a caregiver needing a childcare option, please visit dhdc.org to look into their Spring Break Camp and other day camps they provide during school holidays.
What to know about new Massage Establishment Ordinance; inspections begin March 1
The City of Amarillo Massage Establishment Ordinance went into effect Jan. 1, and the next step begins March 1.
The city ordinance, which supplements a licensing requirement by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, includes an application process and inspections beginning March 1. Applications are mandatory for all massage establishments.
Applications must be completed annually. Establishments must provide employee records, including a copy of a state-issued picture ID for owners and employees. Applications are available at amarillo.gov/city-marshal , or they can be picked up at the City Marshal’s Office, 810 S. Buchanan. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Applications can be submitted online or in-person and must include payment. Payments are accepted at the City Marshal office, including the $250 application fee and annual fee.
Inspections will be conducted without prior notice.
For more information go to amarillo.gov/licensing-and-enforcement or call (806) 378-6517 or email citymarshaloffice@amarillo.gov . Also for more information, contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov.
58th season auditions underway for Texas musical, Shakespeare in the Canyon
CANYON TEXAS Outdoor Musical & Shakespeare in the Canyon are seeking talented actors, singers, dancers, instrumentalists, stage managers, technicians, and production crew for their 58th season. The company is hosting four in person audition opportunities along with a virtual submission option to attract talent worldwide. Those interested are asked to visit texas-show.com, sign up on the website and provide materials regarding their audition. Contracts will be for mid-May through Aug. 3, and performers and technicians must be 18 years or older to audition.
The auditions began with a callout Saturday, Feb. 17 in Canyon. They continue Sunday, Feb. 18 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, located at 1801 Flint Ave. – Theatre and Dance buildings. At 10 a.m., it will be Movers Call for Actors and Featured Singers, then 11 a.m. the Dance Call for Featured Dancers. After a brief lunch 12-12:30 p.m., the Acting / Singing / Instrumental auditions (accompanist provided) run until 2:30 p.m., followed by callbacks until 4 p.m. The next audition will be Saturday, March 2, at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma, in the Music Building located at 100 N University Dr. and then Sunday, March 3 at Collin College Spring Creek Campus in Plano, 2800 E Spring Creek Pkwy. The time schedules will be the same as the one in Lubbock.
Spring Professional Auditions will also be held at the Mobile Convention Center March 14-16 during the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Convention in Mobile, Alabama. Performers interested in auditioning at SETC must have screened and registered for the Spring Professional Auditions at the Annual Convention. Visit setc.org for more info.
While in-person auditions are encouraged, if someone is interested but are unable to audition in-person, they may submit a virtual audition at texas-show.com on the auditions page.
For our complete show information, volunteer opportunities and more information, visit their website, www.texas-show.com .
Join Panhandle PBS for a 'Taste of India'; annual passes on sale now
Join Panhandle PBS for a “Taste of India” during the first Savor the Goods dinner of the year at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29 at the Amarillo Area Foundation, located at 919 South Polk St.
Chef Daniel Bhaskaran Raju of Madras Kitchen, a food truck in Canyon, has curated a menu of assorted Indian breads and chutney, butter chicken, vegetable korma, mango lassies and more. Additionally, attendees can anticipate delectable cocktail pairings, and the rooftop terrace will be available before the event (weather permitting) for refreshments.
Tickets, on sale now, are $75 per person. Season passes are also available, which include two tickets to each Savor the Goods dinner of 2024 and are $500. Tickets can be purchased online at panhandlePBS.org/SavorTheGoods or by calling (806) 371-5479.
In addition, this year, food enthusiasts and culinary connoisseurs can plan ahead and buy passes to attend all four “Savor the Goods” dinners. Annual passes are $500 and include two tickets to each dinner. These passes will beavailable until the first event on Feb. 29. This year’s lineup also includes:
Savor the Goods: Italian Al Fresco: Thursday, May 2, 6-8 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.) at The Barn on Willow Creek, 4801 E Willow Creek Dr., Amarillo
Savor the Goods: Global Street Food: Thursday, Aug. 29, 6-8 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.) at Sad Monkey Hall, 9800 TX-217, Canyon
Savor the Goods: Home-Cooked Comfort Food from Chef Jessica Higgins of Girasol Cafe: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.), Location TBD
More information about each dinner will be released on our website and social media channels as it becomes available.
Ascension Academy hosting Middle School Preview Night
In addition to its Mardi Gras Gala Night on Feb. 24, Ascension Academy will be hosting a Middle School Preview Night for prospective students and their families on Thursday, Feb. 22, 6-8 p.m.
The Preview Night has a unique format: Prospective families will start out the evening by hearing from school leadership, then students will be split into groups to tour the school and classrooms with student ambassadors in each grade. They will get the opportunity to meet teachers and ask questions as well.
The evening also includes a spread of refreshments provided by their Parent Association (PAA) and a prize package to students who RSVP before-hand. Information about the Ascension admission process, customized tuition plans available to all families, academic and athletic offerings, and the RSVP link to this event are located on their website at www.ascensionacademy.org.
Ascension Academy will host its Annual Gala with a Mardi Gras theme on Feb. 24 at the Grand Plaza in Amarillo Civic Center. The event will recreate a Bourbon Street experience with a Cajun-inspired dinner, cocktails, live jazz music by Esquire Jazz, and a wine and whisky pull. Guests can also participate in live and silent auctions, featuring items such as diamond earrings from Barnes Jewelry, a hand-painted tequila set, and trips to Cancun, Barbados, Antigua, and Lake Tahoe. The funds raised at the Mardi Gras Gala will go toward the school's Annual Fund.
Digital transformation takes off at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport
The implementation of a new digital safety inspection program at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (RHAIA) began in August 2022. The program was the culmination of a year’s worth of research and preparation that has helped modernize and improve overall safety procedures at RHAIA.
RHAIA uses a unique geographic information system (GIS) from Esri, an international company headquartered in Redlands, Calif.
“The GIS technology from Esri has digitally streamlined the inspection and operational process at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport,” said RHAIA Assistant Director Thomas Oscarsson. “The improvements this system provides have been multifaceted and beneficial for the overall operation of the airport.”
To see how GIS technology is used at RHAIA, go to the Esri website at: bit.ly/49qnvta .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area Our Town briefs for Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024
