One Saturday a month Cinergy will present a family friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory sensitivities. These showings will feature brightened light levels, reduced sound volume, and room for guest interaction and movement. These events are FREE to attend and open to the public.
What is Labor Day?
In a country where we celebrate and honor many cultural and religious holidays, Labor Day is unique in that it celebrates American workers. Labor Day is a holiday dedicated to honoring the contributions US workers have made to the strength and prosperity of our country. Ahead, learn how this holiday came to be and get some ideas for how to celebrate Labor Day Weekend.
History Of The Holiday
The first Labor Day was held on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. The originator of this celebration was the Central Labor Union (CLU).
The creation of the holiday has been credited to two different people. Some historians believe Peter J. McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, first suggested a holiday to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”
Others credit Matthew Maguire, a machinist and, later, secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Patterson, New Jersey, as the creator. Many say he proposed the idea of a holiday to honor the working class when he was serving as secretary of the CLU in New York in 1882. What is agreed upon is that the CLU adopted a proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and a picnic.
NATIONAL FORGIVENESS DAY
Today is September 1 and National Forgiveness Day on the National Day Calendar. We are dedicating September 1 as a day to embrace healing, understanding, and unity by encouraging forgiveness and fostering empathy. Join us as we begin September with a new mindset by celebrating National Forgiveness Day today. #NATIONALFORGIVENESSDAY
NATIONAL PASTOR’S SPOUSES DAY
The first Sunday in September celebrates National Pastor’s Spouses Day to honor the spouses who commit to supporting the pastor they married. #NationalPastorsSpousesDay
CONTACT: Honnah Taylor
806-651-2235
Proximity: Rarely Seen Paintings from PPHM Come to WTAMU’s Dord Fitz Formal Gallery
Canyon, Texas — Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and West Texas A&M University Art Program proudly present Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, a compelling new exhibition that invites viewers to consider how art brings us closer to one another, to the past, and to place. Exhibition opens August 25.
Featuring rarely seen works from the PPHM collection, Proximity showcases landscapes, portraits, and still life paintings by celebrated Texas artists including Isabel Robinson, Maurice Bernson, Olin Travis, Fred Darge, and Harold Bugbee. These paintings offer more than aesthetic beauty, they become vessels of identity, memory, and regional connection.
“In curating this exhibition, I wanted to highlight not only the individual artists but also the relationships their work creates,” says Deana Craighead, Curator of Art at PPHM. “These paintings reflect a shared geography, a shared history. In many ways, they help define who we are – then and now.”
In a region shaped by wide-open spaces and close-knit communities, Proximity explores how art narrows distance: between artist and viewer, between history and the present, and between the collective and the personal. It’s an opportunity to engage with the cultural richness of the Panhandle-Plains through works that have long been part of our story, yet rarely on public display.
Graduate students Kenedy Wheeler and Madilyn Ballew, serving as curatorial apprentices, have played an active role in developing Proximity as part of their coursework. Their hands-on experience includes selecting artworks, contributing to curatorial discussions, conducting research, drafting extended labels, and assisting with artwork preparation and
installation. Their contributions not only enhance the exhibition but also highlight the museum’s vital role in educating and mentoring the next generation of arts professionals in our region.
This exhibition also marks a continued partnership between PPHM and WTAMU’s Art Program, deepening the commitment to preserving, studying, and celebrating the art of our region. Visitors are encouraged to explore the gallery and reflect on ways art connects us across time and space.
Proximity: Paintings from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
August 25 – October 24, 2025
Dord Fitz Formal Gallery | Mary Moody Northen Hall | West Texas A&M University.
Admission is free and open to the public during regular gallery hours.
For more information, visit www.panhandleplains.org or call 806.651.2244.
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Thank you!
Honnah Taylor
Director of Marketing & Communications
Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum | TEXAS Outdoor Musical
D: 806.651.2235 | T: 806.651.2244
cultural foundation | panhandleplains.org | texas-show.com
Tracy Sommers (she,her,hers)
West Texas Area Director
www.afsp.org/westtexas
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
tsommers@afsp.org
T: 806.670.1227
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| SHOOT AND GALA REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! |
| Thank you for being a part of our team and mission.
It’s now time to reserve your spot for our 7th Annual Sister-Bear Shoot!
Your support is what allows us to continue “Providing Neurological Hope for the High Plains” and fulfilling the mission to serve those in our community.
This year’s event hosts a Friday night steak dinner and concert, September 26th from 6-11pm to be hosted at The 4th Warehouse at 314 S. Jefferson. Enjoy a steak dinner, open bar, opportunity for great prizes, live music by Tennessee Tuckness & Band, special access to our live auction, and end the night dancing away at the Scotty Alexander concert! Seating is limited, so make sure you act fast!
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TICKETS FOR ‘SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS’ AT HODGETOWN ON SALE NOW
Amarillo Symphony Returns for a Magical Night of Music, Food, and Fireworks on September 6
AMARILLO, TX (June 17, 2025) – The Amarillo Symphony and the Amarillo Sod Poodles are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for the sixth annual “Symphony Under the Stars” at HODGETOWN. This year’s highly anticipated outdoor concert will take place on Saturday, September 6, with gates opening at 6:00 p.m.
The Panhandle’s only professional symphony orchestra will be conducted by George Jackson as they kick off the 2025–26 season with an unforgettable program featuring the iconic music of John Williams. Audiences can expect beloved selections from legendary films such as Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, and more.
An evening of timeless classics under the West Texas sky will be capped off with a spectacular Fireworks Finale presented by FirstBank Southwest making for a night the entire family can enjoy. Food and drink will be available throughout the event, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the full experience.
Tickets start at just $14 and can be purchased online HERE. A limited number of on-field VIP Tables are also available, each including seating for eight and a prime steak dinner, offering a front-row view of the performance.
The Amarillo Symphony gives special thanks to Street Toyota, Amarillo National Bank, CVB Film Commission, Physicians Surgical, and Sprouse, Shrader, Smith for helping bring this event to life.
Join us for a magical night of music, community, and celebration at the heart of downtown Amarillo. For premium hospitality options—including Dugout Suites, Concourse Suites, Luxury Suites, the Pepsi Party Deck, or the new City Federal Credit Union Fiesta Deck—please contact the Sod Poodles Front Office at (806) 803-9547 or email groups@sodpoodles.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the HODGETOWN Box Office, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hello!
It is once again time for our annual VA Welcome Home celebration, and we are so excited that we will have a new venue in the Amarillo Civic Center for the event this year . If you are receiving this email, you have either joined us in the past, have requested the information, or have been referred to be a part. The event focuses on thanking our Veterans for their service, offering resources and information that may be beneficial to them, and it generates a great crowd.
If you have participated in the past, THANK YOU, and we hope you come back this year! If you have not, we would love for you to join us as we come together as a community to thank our Veterans and their families. We have hosted up to 2000 people at this event in prior years, so you will have the opportunity to share your program/business information with a huge audience at NO COST. All vendor space is FREE and is first come, first serve. Anyone is welcome to have a booth and we welcome you to come and enjoy the celebration and mingle with some of our nation’s greatest. This year space is somewhat limited, and we only have room for 60 vendors, so please get your forms in early!
If you would like to participate, we ask that you return the attached vendor form ASAP to the contact below so we can save a space for you. Lunch is also provided free of charge to everyone in attendance, including Vendors.
If you would like to be in the CHILDREN’s AREA specifically, please notate it on your vendor form. If you have any questions about the children’s area, please contact Reagan Maldonado at the numbers listed below.
See attached for the official flyer for your reference and to share at your place of business if you wish. We hope you will join us and look forward to hearing from you!
EVENT INFORMATION
Date: Saturday November 1st, 2025
When: 11am-1pm
Where: Amarillo Civic Center, North Exhibit Hall—401 S. Buchanan *** Please note change in venue if you have participated in years prior***
Contact:
Reagan Maldonado @ 806-223-9773, 806-681-5763 or reagan.maldonado@va.gov
Many Thanks!
Reagan Maldonado, LCSW
CRT SW/CC&ICM Program Coordinator
Office of the Chief of Staff
Amarillo VAMC
US Department of Veterans Affairs
6010 Amarillo Blvd West
Amarillo , TX 79109
(806)355-9703 x 4508
(806)681-5763 cell