This week's community news includes aircraft, parks events, more

Amarillo Parks and Recreation hosts events in September

The Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department will be bringing an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. Join Alice in the whimsical world of Wonderland for an enchanting afternoon filled with tea, treats, and themed activities. Cost is $10 per person. The event will be held at the Civic Center in the Hospitality Room. Sign up at bit.ly/amarilloevents .

Then 9-11 a.m. Sept. 21, Amarillo Parks Recreation will take part in National Clean-Up Day at the 9th Street Trails.Every piece of trash left behind can end up in open spaces, parks, creeks, and neighborhoods, affecting the quality of life. For a checklist and to register, visit amarilloparks.org/cleanup .

DPS highlights critical aircraft operations on National Aviation Day

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in honor of National Aviation Day Monday, Aug. 19, recognizes the significant, decades-long contributions of the department’s Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) to citizens of the state.

“For 75 years, the Aircraft Operations Division has played a vital role in DPS’ mission to protect and serve Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “From airplanes transporting special investigative teams and helicopters performing rescue missions, to unmanned drones tracking down criminals on the run, aircraft has enhanced our ability to provide unparalleled protection to people across the many miles that make up Texas.”

In Oct. 1949, DPS officially formed AOD, commissioned its first aircraft – a single-engine Navion – and pilot to enhance the department’s ability to meet growing transportation needs for specialized investigative teams, equipment and other key personnel. Today, the division performs statewide air patrol, criminal surveillance and advanced rescue operations.

Through air patrol, DPS leverages technology to locate and apprehend fugitives, deter criminal activity and support Texas’ ongoing Operation Lone Star border security mission. Additionally, AOD supports search and rescue efforts by local, state and federal first responders during disaster-related events. AOD is one of the largest airborne law enforcement units in the country, consisting of 12 duty stations, 26 aircraft with state-of-the-art technology and more than 100 personnel. DPS’ AOD is composed of 50 police pilots and 35 Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs). The division currently operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A-Stars (including nine with hoist capabilities), one Airbus EC145 C2, one Bell 412, two Pilatus PC-12NGs, four Cessna Caravans, two Cessna 206s and one Beechcraft King Air 350.

Texas Air & Space Museum to welcome historic aircraft in September

The Texas Air and Space Museum welcomes the Commemorative Air Force AirPower History Tour of historic aircraft Tuesday, Sept. 3. Featured will be the B-29 Superfortress FIFI, accompanied by a T-6 Texan and an RC-45J Expeditor.

The event will be open to the public Sept. 3-4, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Access to the aircraft area is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. The T-6 and RC-45J will be offering rides each day on demand. The B-29 will fly on Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Cockpit tours of the B-29 will be on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m., and on Wednesday beginning at noon. Rides may be booked in advance at AirPowerTour.org.

The museum is located at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport at 10001 American Drive. For more information, call 806-335-9159.

Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration: A beautiful butterfly release to remember

The Hope & Healing Place (HHP) invites the community to a symbolic family-friendly event, the Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration. Join them at the open field behind Bonham Middle School on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon for a beautiful butterfly release that commemorates the journey through grief.

They will be releasing 500 butterflies, so bring your family and friends and join us with your lawn chair or blanket. During the event, they'll have other activities as well including face painting and butterfly crafts. The butterfly release is a tangible way to remember your loved one, an acknowledgment of a life lived, and a celebration of the love you shared. Grief is a path marked by continuous transitions, sometimes dark and sometimes filled with celebration. The butterfly release symbolizes these similarities between the grief journey and the butterfly's life cycle.

This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Butterflies can be reserved in memory of a loved one for $25. Visit their website at https://www.hopeandhealingplace.org/wings-of-hope to make your reservation.

HHP is a sole grief center offering services in the Texas Panhandle that offers its services at no charge, so fundraisers like the Wings of Hope Memorial Celebration are vital to their continued support of the community. To learn more about HHP and the event, visit their Facebook event page or contact Cakki Wall at 806-371-8998 Ext. 3.

Camp Kiwanis holding 'Bring a Friend' Pool Party on Aug. 31

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains invites all Girl Scouts to celebrate the end of summer at a pool party at Camp Kiwanis on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. They are also encouraged to bring a non-Girl Scout friend to the pool party to learn what Girl Scouts is all about. The event will include archery, free food, and free entry for all Girl Scouts and prospective Girl Scouts. Check-in begins at 4 p.m.

Register online at gs-strong.org/poolparty . Registration closes Friday, Aug. 30. Directions to Camp Kiwanis will be shared after registration is complete.

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world.  Through programs throughout north and west Texas and the Oklahoma panhandle, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges — whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gs-top.org.

Amarillo League of Women Voters to offer free presentation, Civics 101, in advance of November election

In advance of the forthcoming election in November, the Amarillo League of Women Voters is offering local civic organizations, social clubs, and other interested groups a presentation outlining the basics regarding voting and elections. It's called Civics 101: Voting & Elections, and requests can be submitted starting this week.

"We are thrilled to offer this information to Amarillo-area citizens who are concerned about the security of our elections," said Claudia Stravato, the League's First Vice President. "We have found there remains great concern about the legitimacy of the voting process in the US and in Texas, so this presentation was designed for those who want to learn more about county voting procedures, which are dictated by the Texas Secretary of State, the elections process, and other related topics that will help clear up any questions voters have before they go to the polls on November 5th."

The League created this adapted presentation from their comprehensive Civics 101 course. The original, three-hour seminar was developed by League members Katie Paul, Judy Tolk and Claudia Stravato in response to a growing need for local citizens to reconnect with how our city, county and state, impact our lives in Amarillo; various components of the course are also available for presentation upon request.

The deadline to register to vote in the November election is Oct. 7; if you book an event in advance of this deadline, League members will also be able to register voters at your event, upon request. If your business, organization, or social/civic club is interested in booking this free presentation, please contact the Amarillo League of Women Voters by phone at 806-337-2148, or send an email to amarillolwv@gmail.com. For more about the Amarillo League, visit the organization's website. New members are always welcome.

AAMW joins Clear the Shelters campaign

The Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare Department (AAMW) is again joining the national campaign to help pet adoption – NBC’s Clear the Shelters initiative. It runs from Aug. 10 through Sept. 30.

This will be the 10th year for the campaign nationally – with more than 1 million animals adopted across the country during Clear the Shelters in 2023.

“Clear the Shelters is a wonderful program that really helps increase public awareness of pet adoption,” said AAMW Outreach Coordinator Samantha Bennett. “We look forward to participating in this event every year. It really helps highlight the need in the Amarillo community for pet adoption, in addition to the many services provided here at AAMW.”

In 2023, AMW took in 8,818 cats and dogs, according to a social media post. AAMW is providing a Clear the Shelters special throughout August. Adoption fees for dogs are $25 and cats are $5. Fees include spaying/neutering, vaccinations and micro-chipping. Specific information regarding animals available for adoption at AAMW (including photos, breed, age, etc.) is available online at: amw.amarillo.gov/adoption-and-resources/adoption-list .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: This week's community news includes aircraft, parks events, more