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Tom Kile

This Week in Amarillo, TX

02-13-12
Tom Kile
Amarillo, TX is the place to be this week for entertainment and sports. Come out and enjoy Adam Faucet & The Tall Grass at The 806 located on 2812 SW Sixth Avenue. There will be no cover charge, and for more information call 806-322-1806. Or, you can join the Old Tascosa Cycling Club Ride which begins at 6:30pm in Gander Amarillo, TX EventsMountain at 10300 W Interstate 40. For more information call 806-223-8328.

Amarillo is also a community where your voice can be heard loud and clear by city leaders. There will be many important public meetings this week where you can voice your opinions on what’s going on around Amarillo and its surrounding communities.

Monday’s Public Meetings

Potter County Commissioners Court at 9am in the commissioners Courtroom of the Santa Fe Building at 900 Polk St. There will be a report on the restoration of the historic courthouse located at 500 South Filmore Street.

The Amarillo Library Advisory Board will meet at 4pm in the Southwest Branch Library at 6801 SW 45th Avenue. The discussion topic will be the Texas State Library Strategic Plan and new Amarillo library programs.

The Canyon City Commission meeting will begin at 5:30pm in the Commission Chambers of Canyon City Hall at 301 16th Street. Commissioners will take action on whether to accept a federal emergency management agency assistance grant to Firefighters for the purchase of a ladder truck.

Highland Park Independent School District will meet at 5:30pm in the High School Library building at 15300 E Amarillo Blvd. The district will host a parent meeting for middle school and 9th grade parents to discuss the new Texas State Assessment of Academic Readiness.

River Road LSD is having a meeting at 6pm at Willow Vista Intermediate School on Pavillard Drive. There will be an open consideration for contract renewals for administrators to approve a maximum class size waiver request.

The Canyon LSD will meet at 7pm in the central administration office at 3301 North 23rd Street. The board will present up update on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and considering approving a resolution to appoint a records management officer. Consideration of contract renewals for administrators will also be on the table at this meeting.

The Amarillo City Commission meets at 3pm in the Commission Chamber of Amarillo City Hall at 509 SE Seventh Avenue. Commissioners will consider the 1st reading of an ordinance that would set restrictions for sex offenders residing within the city. There will be a public work session at 1:30pm in room 303. Topics will include a proposal for a drainage utility for the city.

Tuesday’s Public Meetings

Randall County Commissioners Court starts at 9am in the Commissioners’ Courtroom of the Randall County Finance Building at 501 16th St. Commissioners will take action on a resolution to support a proposed community to be built in Randall County, Texas.

Amarillo Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a meeting at 1:30pm in room 306 of Amarillo City Hall at 509 SE Seventh Ave. There will be an update on the project of the Amarillo Zoo Education Center.

Thursday’s Public Meetings

Amarillo Construction Advisory and Appeals Board will meet at 3pm on the third floor of Amarillo City Hall at 509 SE Seventh Ave. There will be a continued discussion of significant changes to the 2009 and 2012 international building codes.

Bushland ISD is having a meeting at 6:30pm in the Middle School Cafeteria at 2300 Wells St. The district will present a summary of a demographic study outlining expected growth within the district. There will also be an open discussion about critical needs for the district.

Holiday Events in Amarillo

12-19-11
Tom Kile
There will be plenty of holiday events in Amarillo, TX this Christmas season. So, clear your calendars, gather your family & friends, and come out to enjoy some of these holiday traditions in Amarillo.

Amarillo, TX Christmas EventsHoliday Harrington House Tours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, every half hour from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free tours are limited to four people, ages 14 and up. The Harrington House is located at 1600 South Polk Street. For more information you can contact them directly at 806-374-5490 or visit them online at http://www.harringtonhousehistorichome.org/tours/

Tour Information

Tours must be arranged in advance and there is no charge for admission. The tour includes three floors of the home and lasts around 50 minutes. Trained volunteers will be conducting the tours. Visitors may also stroll at leisure in the gardens.

Tour Exhibit Changes:

Table settings are designed by Mrs. Harrington and are changed seasonally. Only the finest porcelain, crystal, silver and linens are on displayed for the tour.

Vintage gowns and other dresses of Mrs. Harrington from the 1930’s through the 1970’s are displayed as well. These exhibits change four times per year. And, this is a real treat since Mrs. Harrington was voted a member of the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1988-1989.

Tour Notes:

Tour administrators ask that you please arrive five minutes before your scheduled tour time. Visitors must wear low, broad-heeled shoes and all items must be checked into available lockers. This includes cameras too. Food, drinks, and smoking are prohibited on the premises as well. The Harrington House is not handicapped accessible. Therefore, canes, walkers, and crutches are not allowed.

Horse-drawn carriage rides through Wolflin: Rides start at the Carpets Unlimited Warehouse, Interstate 27 and Moss Road. You can enjoy rides each evening at 6 p.m. from now through Dec. 23. Price is $10 per person.

Holiday light display: Bishop Hills, off Farm-to-Market Road 1061, just west of Loop 335. The holiday light display begins at 6:30 p.m. each evening from now through December 25th. For more information you can contact the directly at 806-418-4192. Donations for this event are accepted and appreciated.

Changes to Amarillo’s Popular Venues Coming Soon

12-05-11
Tom Kile
Amarillo VenuesMany changes are coming to some of Amarillo's most popular venues. The biggest change to come is an addtion. Oscar Soto will be opening a new restaurant called Oscar's Mexican Grill and Cantina. The Soto family closed a longtime Amarillo establishment once known as Mi Familia Mexican Restaurant to open the popular Oscar's Burritos, which is located at Southwest 45th Avenue and Western Street.
The menu for Oscar's new restaurant will include a little bit of everything, and there will be a full bar. A new part of the operation to Oscar's Mexican Grill and Cantina will include a Mexican Bakery, which will turn out the freshest pastries and empanadas of squash, pineapple and other delicious flavors. You can order at the counter between 6am and 3pm Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. Table service will be offered from 3pm to 9pm each weekday and all day Saturday's. Another big change coming soon is to Barnaby's Beanry. This establishment has been a fixture on Route 66 for the last 40 years, but will close in May. The regulars have plenty of lead time to get in at least one more Big Dan, cornbread cheeseburger or homemade cobbler. A sign has been posted stating the establishment will close at the end of their lease in May. The business like so many other across our Nation has struggled to pull itself out of the economic downturn.
Some changes on Sixth Street include the change that Leftwood’s will now be serving draft and craft beer along with mixed drinks, and live entertainment.
And, if you're making a new years resolution to be more artsy try out Canyon Rim Pottery located in the restored historic Palace on the square. They will begin offering parties where guest can paint pottery for firing and much more. They have gatherings where participants either hand build pieces or throw pots on the wheel. Every piece has it’s own individual uniqueness with no two alike. You can purchase pieces Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When you want more information about the Texas Panhandle call us or visit us online at www.allamarillohomes.com. We are your relocation experts for Potter County and Randall County, TX.

Visiting Amarillo for the Holidays

11-28-11
Tom Kile
Visiting Amarillo, TX for the Holidays

To get a big taste of Texas, the perfect place is Amarillo, even for a short stay around the holidays.From canyons to giant steaks, the city is an Old Western enthusiast’s dream. And best of all, you can enjoy the splendor in the scenery here for your holiday getaway.

There is so much to see and do in Amarillo. You can go to the Livestock Auction and mingle with real cowboys as they buy and sell cattle, or visit the city museum and beautiful gardens to see how they are decked out with holiday flare. The whole family will be in awe over the rock formations at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is a great place to see any time of year.

Amarillo can be visited most any month of the year. However, there are times that are more comfortable weather-wise than others and the holiday season has the perfect weather.

From TripAdvisor.com we have some suggestions for your stay:

Top-rated Hotels

* Courtyard Amarillo Downtown
* Holiday Inn Amarillo West Medical
* Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
* Sleep Inn & Suites
* Drury Inn & Suites Amarillo

Top-rated B&Bs

* Parkview House Bed and Breakfast
* La Casita Del Sol
* 3B Bed & Breakfast

Top-rated things to do

* Don Harrington Discovery Center
* Cadillac Ranch
* American Quarter Horse Heritage Center

Top-rated restaurants

* Blue Sky
* Macaroni Joes
* 575 Pizzeria

Enjoy your Holiday’s and most of all have a safe and happy trip to Amarillo.

Helping Texas Panhandle Families this Holiday Season

11-21-11
Tom Kile
Amarillo, TX Empty Stocking FundIf you’re thinking about helping out the local Texas Panhandle families this holiday season, you should know that the Amarillo Globe News’ Empty Stocking Fund is now in its 39th year of helping families fulfill their needs during the holiday season. Over the past years in this endeavor, there have been more than $2.6 million donated. Last year’s total reached $107,842.58 in donations to give 250 individuals and families as well as 950 nursing home residents to have a wonderful holiday season. The Salvation Army even helped receive funds to help provide shoes and socks for homeless children. Funds also went to several agencies that provide for teenagers and seniors.

Recipients can apply for assistance through social service agencies and nursing homes. Each recipient is then reviewed by the Empty Stocking Fund Screening Committee which is made up of volunteer social workers. Applications are evaluated and those who qualify receive a voucher which can be redeemed at area Walmart’s and United Supermarket Stores.

So, where do find the donation list? At the end of November, donations will be listed in the newspaper and these donations can be made in memory of an individual or to honor individuals. Donations are tax deductible because the Empty Stocking Fund is an organization. Profiles of the agencies that work with the Empty Stocking Fund will be in Monday’s paper. The Globe News will publish stories on each Empty Stocking Fund recipient and will complete a wrap up article on Christmas Day. Donations will be listed until after the beginning of the New Year.

If you’d like to donate to the Empty Stocking Fund you can mail donations to P.O. Box 2091, Amarillo, TX 79166. The Empty Stocking will not be accepting in-kind donations this year due to staffing limitations. If you have items to donate to a specific recipient you can drop those items off at the Downtown Women’s Center Thrift City at 600 S.W. 10th Avenue where they can be picked up by the recipient after they have received their voucher.

And more great news to add here is that the Center City Electric Light Parade is teaming up with the Empty Stocking Fund to present this year’s Christmas Concert. The concert will be held December 2nd at 8:30 p.m. at the Globe News Performing Arts Center following the Electric Light Parade’s lighting of the Christmas tree. Donations for the Empty Stocking Fund will also be accepted at the concert. Free tickets are available at the Globe News offices at 900 S. Harrison Street Offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information call the Amarillo Globe at 806-345-3363 or the Downtown Women’s Center at 806-372-3625.


Originally posted at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/tomkile/2011/1/helping_texas_panhandle_families_this_holiday_season_1