Meetings, more events on tap for this week in Amarillo area

Meetings set for Tuesday, Thursday to discuss 2025-2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan

The Amarillo Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold public meetings for development of the 2025-2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a 25-year plan to identify the development of future transportation improvements for the Amarillo Metropolitan Area.

The meetings will be held Tuesday, May 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. Amarillo Public Library Central Branch, 413 S.E. 4th Ave., and Thursday, May 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. Cole Community Center, 300 16th St., Canyon.

Transportation projects planned within the Amarillo MPO study area will be advanced from the Metropolitan Transportation Plan to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as they become eligible. The TIP contains four years of federally funded and regionally significant non-federally funded projects with cost estimates and funding sources. The MTP will continue to be the subject of public meetings until consideration for adoption by the MPO Policy Advisory Committee in October 2024.

Interested citizens are invited to join in the development of the document. Comments can be submitted at the public meeting or by mail, fax, or email from May 21 through June 21. Copies of current documents are available at the following locations: The Simms Municipal Building, Room 237, 808 S. Buchanan St. or accessed from the MPO’s website: www.amarillompo@amarillo.gov

For more information call the AMPO at (806) 378-4219, The AMPO fax number is (806) 378-6062. The email address is amarillompo@amarillo.gov . For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov .

Canyon ISD to hold special meeting Thursday

The Canyon Independent School District board announced Tuesday it would be holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 at the Canyon ISD District Support Center, 3301 N. 23rd St. in Canyon.

The subjects to be discussed or considered include consideration and action to approve the Food Service Management Contract, an amendment to the contract with Corgan Architects for the Canyon High Indoor Turf Facility Project, a Utility Easement with Excel Energy and employing personnel.

For more information about public comment, guidelines can be found on the Canyon ISD website and Board Policy BED(Local).

Discovery Center kicks off summer break with End of School Bash on Friday

With $1 admission for everyone on Friday, May 24 from noon to 4:30 p.m., the Don Harrington Discovery Center is throwing the most epic kickoff to Summer Break in town. The End of School Bash is part of the DHDC’s Discover for a Dollar program.

The center will have exciting science demonstrations by Xcel Energy and DHDC, featuring electrifying experiments, a bounce house obstacle course to test your skills, exhibits on a variety of topics to explore, and an immersive space theater experience. Attendees can also enjoy the interactive wonders of the Outdoor Science Park.

The event is included in DHDC membership. No reservations are required; tickets will be sold at the door.

Wildcat Bluff will be hosting its Discover for a Dollar program on Saturday, May 25, allowing community members to visit their trails and explore nature for only $1 per person, WBNC members included. For more information, visit DHDC.org or follow them on Facebook.

Goodwill hosting free document Shred Day on Friday

Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas, announces a free Shred Day on Friday, May 24. Individuals are welcome to bring up to four boxes of personal documents to Goodwill’s Document Destruction truck, located at its Goodwill Retail Store and Career Resource Center at 1904 Bell St. in Amarillo, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You can bring personal documents, papers, and folders, with no need to remove staples or paperclips for this free service, according to a news release. With every box of paper sent to Goodwill for secure shredding services, you help keep waste out of landfills and create jobs for those with barriers to employment as a minimum of 75% of all hours worked in Goodwill’s Document Destruction department are worked by individuals with at least one disability.

“On behalf of the Goodwill Board of Directors, we are excited to offer a free shred day to the Amarillo community. When you donate or shop at Goodwill, you are helping Goodwill in assisting people overcome challenges, build skills, find jobs, and grow careers,” said Robin Raney, President & CEO.

For more information about Goodwill Document Destruction and its services, call (806) 744-8419, email msmith@ginwtx.org or visit goodwillnwtexas.org/document-destruction/ .

Travis 6th to host Reptile Expo fundraiser this weekend

More than a dozen vendors will have their scaly, colorful and exotic reptiles on display at the Travis 6th Reptile Expo. The event takes place Saturday and Sunday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and May 26, from noon to 4 p.m. at Travis 6th Grade Campus, 2801 NE 24th Ave.

The expo is open to the public, and admission is $1. Proceeds will support the school’s initiatives to increase attendance, including providing incentives and prizes for students.

American Legion, Canyon to hand out red poppies, play Taps on Saturday

The American Legion, Canyon will be handing out red poppies and playing Taps at the United Supermarket in Canyon on Saturday, May 25.

The poppy is a symbol of support for veterans. It remembers soldiers who have given their lives for their country, and honors their dedication and sacrifice. On Memorial Day, they are a popular way to show support and respect for fallen veterans, both by visibly representing the cause and by giving money to charities that serve veterans and sell the poppies every year as a fundraiser.

The poppy as a symbol of war casualties started with a poem, “In Flanders Fields,” written by Lt. Col. John McCrae after he saw bright-red poppies blooming on the war-torn fields where so many soldiers had lost their lives in 1915.

Taps will be performed during the hour in remembrance of fallen soldiers in the parking lot starting at 10 a.m. The event is sponsored by the American Legion, Darren Tate Post 425, Canyon.

Area’s largest business-to-business tradeshow is Thursday, May 23

The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce will host more than 200 businesses, organizations and exhibitors at its 31st Annual BusinessConnection Tradeshow — “Winning in Business,” Thursday, May 23 in the north end of the Amarillo Civic Center Complex.

Attending the show is free with a VIP ticket between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4pm, or you may give your business card for entry during those hours. The general public can attend the show from 1 to 4 p.m. for a $5 admission charge. Businesses will have the opportunity to promote their products and services to an estimated 4,000 visitors at the show and network with other business professionals and potential customers.

Food Court tickets are available in advance through Wednesday for $10 each, or they are $15 each the day of the event. These include a one-time entry for all you can eat lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Regency Room, featuring food from more than 20 different restaurants and caterers. VIP and general admission does not include entry to the food court.

The Food Court is sponsored by Affiliated Foods and Ben E Keith, with special thanks to these participants: Belmar Bakery, Calico County, Chick-fil-A, Chicken Salad Chick, Cocina on the Go, Crumbl Cookies, Desperado's Catering, Domino's Pizza (Vigil Pizza), Hoffbrau, Joe Taco, La Fiesta Grande, Macaroni Joe's, Mr Gatti's Pizza, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Outback Steakhouse, Sonic, Sweets and Meats, The Lost Cajun, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, Ye Olde Pancake Station, and Yolo's.

Gold sponsors for the event include the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation, Amarillo National Bank, AW Broadband, Double U Marketing, LifeGift, and Optimum. Silver Sponsors: 1-800-Plumber + Air & Electric, Amarillo CVB, Andrews & Associates, Bell, City of Amarillo, FirstBank Southwest, Happy State Bank, Jenny Edwards Portrait, KT Black, RedCap Staffing, Southwest Airlines, and Zip Print.

In addition, the Coffee Memorial Blood Center will be holding a blood drive in the East Hallway during the tradeshow. Call the Chamber at 806-373-7800 or visit www.amarillo-chamber.org/businessconnection.html for information and a list of exhibitors.

Peace run passes the peace torch in Amarillo as part of relay visiting states across the US

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, an international torch relay, is visiting Amarillo this week as part of its ongoing relay throughout the country.

An estimated 50,000 children in over 1,000 cities and towns along the route are expected to participate when the Peace Run (peacerun.org ) visits schools, youth organizations and local events, a news release states. Runners will offer educational presentations that promote self-esteem and the oneness of humanity.

For over 35 years, the Peace Run has traversed over 160 nations throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia as a symbol of humanity’s universal aspiration for a more peaceful world. A team of runners left New York City in April passing the Torch along the over 10,000-mile route. The continuous relay will also run through 3 provinces of Canada during the 4-month journey before arriving back in New York mid-August. The European Peace Run started in Portugal in March and concludes in Hungary in October. Since the inaugural Run in 1987, more than 7-million people have participated.

Commendations have come from many world figures including Pope Francis (who lit the Peace Torch in March at the Vatican), President Nelson Mandela, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Mother Teresa, Olympians, state governors, city mayors and celebrities across the world. The Peace Run was inspired by visionary Sri Chinmoy to give citizens a dynamic way to express their own hopes and dreams for a more harmonious world. An athlete, philosopher, artist, musician and poet, Sri Chinmoy dedicated his life to advancing the ideals of world harmony and said, "How can we have peace? Not by talking about peace, but by walking along the road of peace."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo community news in brief for week of May 21