6th ANNUAL BOO AT THE ZOO

EL PASO ZOO CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN WITH

 6^th ANNUAL BOO AT THE ZOO ON OCT. 29 & 30

Trick-or-Treating, Pumpkin Squishin’, and Fun for the Whole Family

What:           El Paso’s wildest trick-or-treat in town will be at Robert Bonaventure Presents Boo at the Zoo. Kids will enjoy candy stations, music, a maze, Creepy Crawly Critter Corner (backlight room with bugs), costume parade at 1:45 p.m. daily, pumpkin bowling, over 20 animal enrichment activities each day and much more. Visitors will also get to watch as zoo animals get pumpkins to celebrate- they love to squish them before they eat them!  Boo at the Zoo provides a safe place for children to trick-or-treat and allows families to celebrate together in a fun environment.  Activities and candy stations are provided at no cost with paid admission. First 1,000 kids each day will receive a Halloween bag compliments of Sonic Drive-Ins.

                     Boo at the Zoo is presented by Robert Bonaventure and supported by other sponsors – Banes General Contractors Inc, Mini of El Paso and Quality Fruit & Vegetable Co.

When:          Saturday, October 29

                     10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

                     Schedule of activities will be provided at entrance.

Where:        El Paso Zoo, 4001 E. Paisano, El Paso, TX 79905

National Lights On Afterschool Program Celebration

The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will host a National Lights on Afterschool Program Celebration at 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2011 at Thomas Manor Elementary School, 7900 Jersey St. Guest speaker will be City Council Representative Steve Ortega.

          The Lights on Celebration is in the 12^th year of existence as a way to highlight the many business and civic partners and volunteers around the country that make this program a success. On the local level Afterschool programs keep children safe, help working families and also inspire learning.

          The Parks and Recreation Department administers afterschool programs at the following public schools in the city, Ascarate, Thomas Manor, Burleson, Coldwell, Cooley, Crosby, Dowell, Moreno, Roberts, Rusk, Stanton and Vilas.

          Recreation Centers offering the afterschool programs are Armijo, Carolina, Chihuahuita, Don Haskins, Galatzan, Gary del Palacio, Leona Ford Washington, Marty Robbins, Nolan Richardson, Pat O’Rourke, Pavo Real, Rae Gilmore, San Juan, Seville and Veterans Centers.                  

          The Braden Aboud Foundation has donated monies to many civic causes in the community including the Parks and Recreation After School Program. Braden Aboud a popular student at Lincoln Middle School passed away in January of 2007 and his family created the Braden Aboud Foundation shortly thereafter.

          El Paso Parks and Recreation Director Nanette Smejkal will be a guest speaker along with Rep. Ortega and Marcelino Franco, Principal, Thomas Manor Elementary School. 

Tom Lea and the Indian People of the Southwest

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology

in collaboration with the Tom Lea Institute

Presents

Tom Lea and the Indian People of the Southwest

 by Nick Houser, Anthropologist

A Tom Lea Month Program

Sunday, October 9, 2011, 2:00 p.m.

Throughout his life, Tom Lea studied the ways of Southwest Indians, producing in several paintings.  Nick Houser will explore for the audience what some of these paintings tell viewers about of the lives of Native Americans in the Southwest.           

Mr. Houser has conducted historical research for the Tigua Indians, created exhibits for museums and cultural centers, and has worked with over 36 Native American communities in the American Southwest and Latin America.