Les Cockrell
Brenda Gormley, Denton County Emergency Services' Community Emergency Response Team volunteer coordinator, will be one of 17 people honored today at the White House as "Champions of Change."
The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Barack Obama's Winning the Future initiative, according to a press release. Each week, a different issue is highlighted, and groups of honorees, ranging from educators and entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.
Brenda Gormley
Those to be honored today were selected in recognition of their efforts to help prepare their communities for disaster and build a more resilient nation, the press release stated.
"This past year we've been reminded that disasters can strike at any time and that preparedness is critical," Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano stated in the press release. "We commend the innovative practices and achievements that these individuals bring to the field of emergency management in order to make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared."
Gormley, a Lewisville resident, has been volunteering as the county's Community Emergency Response Team coordinator for more than six years, and she is credited with helping the program grow from 11 participants to more than 500 active members. In 2009, under her leadership, Denton County's Citizen Corps Council received the National Award for Outstanding Citizen Corps Council, according to the press release.
Gormley travels outside the area to help establish new Citizen Corps programs. In 2010, she helped write the first master instructor curriculum, and last year, she helped write the curriculum for refresher classes in Texas.
Gormley was recognized in July as the first recipient of the Jack Colley Citizen Corps Leadership Award at the 2011 Texas Unites Conference.
That award was presented by Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. It will be given annually to recognize the outstanding leadership and service of a Citizen Corps volunteer.
The ceremony will be shown online at 12:30 p.m. at www.whitehouse.gov/live, the press release stated.
For more information about the Community Emergency Response Team, call 940-349-2840 or visit http://dentoncountycert.org.
Historical commission presents award to Watkins
The Denton County Historical Commission presented the Mildred and Taylor Hawk Award for Historic Preservation to Shady Shores resident Nita Watkins on Dec. 9. The award recognizes exemplary stewardship in preserving or promoting the heritage of Denton County.
Watkins has been a member of the Denton County Historical Commission for more than 20 years and has worked extensively with the Denton County Museums.
The award was named for Mildred Hawk and her husband, who were advocates for preservation of Denton County history, including working to save historic bridges and donating the structure that has become the Bayless-Selby House Museum.
For more information about the historical commission, visit www.dentoncounty.com.
Fair to match volunteers with library opportunities
If you're looking for a new challenge or an opportunity to share knowledge with others, you may want to check out a library volunteer fair planned for 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Denton's North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St.
You can learn what volunteer jobs are available and share your interests with the librarians to find out whether an available volunteer position is right for you.
Volunteer positions covering a wide variety of interests, including computer instruction, outreach to child care centers, assisting with adult and children's programs and adult literacy, are available.
For more information, call 940-349-8752.
Pinewood Derby event dubbed 'Race for Hunger'
Members of Cub Scout Pack 1202 will have their annual Pinewood Derby at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Hexagon court near Dillard's on the lower level of Vista Ridge Mall.
For more information, visit www.vistaridgemall.com.
The Scouts have dubbed the derby the "Race for Hunger" and are asking guests to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Lewisville Christian Community Action's food pantry.
For more information about Christian Community Action, visit www.ccahelps.org.
Free series on nutrition set for Sanger Public Library
Meilana Charles, extension assistant with the Texas Agrilife Extension Service's Denton County office, will present the first in a series of "MyPlate" food classes at 7 p.m. Monday at the Sanger Public Library, 501 Bolivar St.
The series, which will continue on the following four Mondays, is part of Better Living for Texans, a free nutrition and healthy living program for adults and kids who want to learn how to eat nutritious meals while keeping a budget. It is a cooperative endeavor of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Reservations are not required but will help ensure that sufficient literature and food samples are available, according to a press release.
To sign up or for more information, call 940-458-3257, e-mail library@sangertexas.org or visit the library.
Elks announce winners of 38th annual Hoop Shoot
Denton Elks Lodge 2446 had its 38th annual Hoop Shoot recently at Ken Bahnsen Gymnasium at the University of North Texas. The free throw contest drew 39 contestants from 22 area schools who competed in three age divisions for both boys and girls.
The winners were:
- Boys 8-9: Jaden Gonzalez, first; Justo Olguin, second; and Ashton McGary, third
- Girls 8-9: Riley Craig, first; and Megan Fleitman, second
- Boys 10-11: Calvin Phillips, first; Josue Jimenez, second; and Samuel Collins, third
- Girls 10-11: Bailey Lewis, first; Jada Gonzalez, second; and Kylie Pitts, third
- Boys 12-13: Chase Harris, first; Joseph Frisby, second; and Benjamin Collins, third
- Girls 12-13: Paton Cox, first; and Dakota Bailey, second
The winner in each category earned the right to advance to the district competition, which will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Vines High School in Plano.
For more information, visit www.elks.org.
LES COCKRELL is interested in your input for Out & About. Call 940-566-6887 or e-mail lcockrell@dentonrc.com.
