Amarillo, TX

The Amarillo Family YMCA will launch a new campaign today to help get Amarillo's kids fit. They will be encouraging Amarillo, Texas families to get fit while raising awareness about child obesity. Child obesity is of growing importance in the community of Amarillo, Texas, and the Amarillo Family YMCA wants to get the local youth more active and educate them on how to eat healthier.

The event will kickoff on January 18, 2010 at 3:00pm at the Amarillo Family YMCA North Branch location (1330 N.W. 18^th Ave.) Amarillo's Mayor Debra McCartt will also be there to deliver an address to all families and participants. Healthy snacks and fitness activities will also be on the agenda for the evening.

Statistics show that there are 17.5% of children ages 6 to 11 who are overweight nationally. This is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Around 20% of Texas children are considered medically obese, according to the Texas Food Bank Network. Therefore, the YMCA feels it is very important to get this campaign out to the public as soon as possible.

The campaign will be financed by the United Healthcare Global Youth Services Grant, which is targeted at promoting healthier lifestyles. Participants will receive educational materials, including workbooks and DVDs with information on how to stop childhood obesity.

The program will end on April 24, 2010, which is Global Youth Service Day. The YMCA will also unveil the materials it has created on this day.

This campaign is open to the public. For more information, call (806) 373-1811.

There's a new health clinic in downtown Amarillo that recently opened up. The operators of the High Plains Clinic call it the only primary care office in Center City. However, there is another High Plains Clinic in Amarillo, Texas.

The clinic will be aiming to provide a medical home for patients who don't have a regular doctor or who can't find a physician who is taking new patients or who accepts Medicare.

The clinic will serve over 600 Park Central Retirement Community residents along with those who live and work around downtown Amarillo. The High Plains Clinic can be found on the campus of Park Central Retirement Community at 11400 S. Van Buren St. They will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

High Plains Clinic is staffed by a medical doctor, a former emergency room physician and physician's assistants. The clinic is complete with five exam rooms and an X-ray machine.

As the clinic begins seeing patients regularly, they may add after hours and weekend hours down the line or a separate clinic offering these extra hours.

This is another great service that is making Amarillo, Texas a better community with dedication and services close at hand.

Ponds can be a great addition for any backyard and many homeowners like the idea of the tranquil addition of a pond. But often, the idea of adding a pond to your yard can be slightly overwhelming. However, with these simple guidelines, your dream pond can be a reality in no time.

The hardest part may be deciding which style pond will work best for your lifestyle or personal taste. There are several popular choices such as fish ponds, plant ponds, waterfall ponds, combination ponds and much more. Each one will need its very own planning with specific features in mind.

Usually, there are five basic components to create a flourishing pond:

* A good pond liner is needed to begin your project. Liners are a great way to create custom ponds and water gardens. A liner of at least 45 millimeters thick is recommended.

* Purchase a pump for your pond, but make sure it is the proper size. The water in the pond needs to be turned over at a rate of one time per hour.

* Your pond will also need a filter. The correct size filter is important, too. It needs to be about 5% of the size of the pond.

* A skimmer will also be needed. The skimmer houses the pump and acts as a pre-filter, too. It will actively sort debris into the skimmer where you will clean out the basket regularly. Your pond will be cleaner and clearer on the bottom with a skimmer in use.

* The addition of a UV light clarifier will keep the pond crystal clear. This allows you and your filter to work much less.

For those who like less maintenance and upkeep, you may want to consider the pond-less water garden. It appears as though the water is disappearing into the ground and is ideal for today's fast paced world. With only a pond liner and a pump, you can create a beautiful focal point to your lawn that requires less maintenance and equipment.

For more homeowner tips and advice, visit the "home tips" page of my website.

Realtor® Tom Kile ~ Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

There are too many people each year that truly need the help of the Empty Stocking Fund in Amarillo, and this year is no exception. Each story is unique in its very own way. Therefore, when I came across one story in particular, I felt the need to mention it in my blog.

Two sisters from Amarillo, Texas are in need this holiday season. Health problems plague them both, and it is up to them to take care of one another. One sister is bound to her wheelchair while the other is no longer able to work due to circulatory problems and diabetes.

One sister's medication runs over $100 a month and the other sister's medication runs just over $50 a month. These two combined take a big chunk out of their Social Security. And, since they don't have any family in Amarillo, they are completely dependent on each other for everything. Once their monthly bills are paid, there is very little left over.

These sisters are known as Empty Stocking Fund Recipients #15 and for Christmas this year, these two sisters are only asking for winter clothes and food.

If you are interested in helping these sisters or any other needy families this holiday season, you can send your donations to the Empty Stocking Fund at PO Box 2091, Amarillo, TX 79166 or bring it in person to the Empty Stocking Fund coordinator herself, Susie Self, at the Globe-News building, 900 South Harrison Street. If you would like to donate your gently used items, you can drop them off at the Downtown Women's Center Thrift City, 600 S. W. 10^th Ave.

Happy Holidays - Realtor® Tom Kile

Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

Great stories like this just have to be shared.  There's a very happy man from Happy waking up in a brand new home worth $185,000 that he won in a raffle drawing at the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Sunday night. Farmer and rancher, Dudley McNeill is the new owner of a beautiful 1,775 square foot home in the City of Amarillo, Texas.  Mr. McNeill got the news over the phone since he was unable to attend the drawing, but never-the-less it was great news to him.  The home was raffled off as part of a fundraiser for the international Myelin Project, which does research for cures of demyelinating diseases along with promoting education about them.

The home is a brand new 1,775 square foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom dream for many who paid their $50 to get a chance to win.  The raffle sold $150,000 worth of tickets, which is $10,000 less than the $185,000 appraisal value.  The beautiful home sits at 3600 Springfield Ave. within the City View development near Hollywood Road in the City of Amarillo, Texas.

Although the fundraiser didn't make any money for its cause in the end, many are still optimistic and have future hopes.  Over 100 hopeful people turned out at the Big Texan in high hopes of winning the home.  And this was a very unusual raffle.  Unlike most raffles in which the first name drawn wins, this raffle was complete opposite.  The last name to be drawn was the big winner.

It's really great to hear stories like this about the communities in which I serve and to be able to share them with others.

Your Sound Choice In Amarillo Real Estate - Realtor® Tom Kile

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