Amarillo, TX

You will definitely want to be in Amarillo this weekend. Every Friday, the Amarillo Activity Youth Center hosts a Teen Scene from 8am-Midnight. This is a great, safe place for Amarillo teens to hang out and have fun with a basketball court, dance floor, arcade and lots of other fun things to do. For more info on this great program, call 373-2292.

Also this weekend, from Friday through Sunday (October 24-26), the Amarillo Invitational Balloon Rally will be held at Tradewind Airport. It is completely free for visitors. All are welcome. On Friday, watch the Amarillo Glows at sundown. There will be a morning flight (7am) and afternoon flight (4pm) on Saturday, concluding with a Sunday morning flight at 7am. For more info, please call 806-367-8311.

For a splash of Native American culture, visit the Kwahadi Kiva Indian Museum on Friday and Saturday (October 24th & 25th) to watch the colorful dance styles of the world famous Kwahadi Dancers. This is a 2-hour performance (starting at 7:30pm) following an enchildad dinner (6:30pm). Dinner is $7.50 and tickets for the performance range from $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students and children sitting in laps are free. For more info, please email Charles Ritchie at charles.ritchie@amaisd.org.

On Saturday and Sunday, October 25th & 26th, the Amarillo College Fencing Association will host the 9th Annual Amarillo Open Fencing Tournament all day long at the Amarillo College East Campus Activity Center (1401 J Avenue, Building 3501). The Amarillo College Fencing Association is the largest fencing club in the Texas panhandle. This is a Plains Texas-New Mexico Cup tournament. For more info, please email Chuck Slaughter at chuck@acfencers.com or Richard Howard at richard@acfenders.com.

On Thursday, October 9th, the Potter Coalition on Aging will be conducting a seminar at the Amarillo Senior Citizen Center at 11am. Ken Rusler and Doug Burton (with the Panhandle Community Services) and Rex Coleman (with the Amarillo Fire Department) will be speaking about ways in which to get your home ready for winter in Amarillo. Make sure to stop by Room 115 at 1217 South Tyler Street this Thursday for this great, free and informative seminar.

The Maverick Club, a 74 year old youth club for both boys and girls in Amarillo, Texas may close by the end of this year if they are unable to get more donations. Many people are facing hard times, or are just plain scared about the economy, so they have stopped giving.

The Maverick Club is one of the oldest boys and girls clubs in the state. It currently operates on a $600,000 yearly budget. The club provides after-school care, and offers technology, sports, and arts programs to over four-hundred children in four locations. Students also get help with homework. To many children, the club is a safe haven.

The board is trying to do everything in their power to seek alternatives that will keep the school open. But, the club has not met its monthly budget this year. The clubs funding comes from different places. One-third comes from United Way, while two-thirds comes from personal donations. The club charges $20 a years per child to parents who have the money. Most of the budget goes to paying employees. The state requires the club to keep a certain number of staff per so many kids. The club has now exhausted all of its savings and is now asking for personal donations.

Amarillo residents are known for their big hearts. So, if you live in Amarillo, please help keep this wonderful youth club open for the hundreds of children who need it so desperately. If, the club can keep its doors open through these tough times, it will be around for many years to come.

It is easy to update your home's look and create added value without breaking the bank:

1. A fresh coat of paint on the inside of your home will brighten any room. Use nice soothing neutral tones. Don't forget to paint the trim in a bright color (bright white is great) to make the wall colors "pop".

2. For approximately $250, you can get a home inspection that will include suggestions of things that need to be fixed. Getting these things fixed before you place your home on the market can save you money in the long run. Typically, buyers tend to negotiate $2 for every $1 in repairs needed.

3. Replace older appliances with newer, energy-efficient appliances. They not only work better, most Energy-Star appliances offer a rebate and you will save money in operating costs while you are waiting for your home to sell.

4. Update your kitchen and bathroom fixtures. This can mean everything from a new faucet to new drawer pulls and cabinet knobs. You can replace one faucet and 10 pulls and knobs for under $100. This gives the room a nice facelift and shows a pride in ownership.

By making these small, inexpensive changes, you will not only make a good impression to potential buyers, but you will also create added value when it is time to sell your home.