The town of Double Oak has scheduled its 2010 Patriot Day Celebration and Ceremony for 6 p.m. Friday, according to Charlotte Allen, town secretary.

The program will feature a welcome from Mayor Pro Tem Tom Pidcock, a vocal performance by Barry Forrest of Crossroads Bible Church, readings of the Police Officer’s Prayer by Police Chief Derrick Watson and the Fireman’s Prayer by a representative of the Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department, and a presentation titled “Remembrance, Reflections and Recommitment” by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tracy Miller.

Boy Scouts from Troop 262 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The event is conducted to honor those who have fallen and those who continue to serve as police officers and firefighters and in the armed forces,

Allen said.

“We do this every year,” she said. “It’s an informal ceremony here at our pavilion. It’s brief but very nice.”

The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 940-539-9464.

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Dogwood Estates retirement community in Denton will honor the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001, and local heroes who serve their community as police officers and firefighters during a firefighter and police appreciation event scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Those who plan to attend are asked to make reservations by calling 940-383-8600.

A balloon release is planned in commemoration of Sept. 11.

Dogwood Estates is located at 2820 Wind River Lane.

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Hickory Creek is scheduled to have its second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair and Expo on Saturday in the parking lot at Walmart, said Brenda Gormley, Denton County Community Emergency Response Team coordinator.

Visitors to the event — slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — will be offered practical information they can use to protect themselves, their families and their community in the event of an emergency or disaster, Gormley said.

“The goal is to get people prepared so they will know what to do,” she said. “We can take care of you, your family and your pet, but we need your help to do it.”

Several area public safety departments will be on hand with representatives and equipment, and agencies including Denton County Emergency Services, the American Red Cross, CareFlite, Denco 911 and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are scheduled to participate.

Also featured will be fingerprinting for children, and a Boy Scout troop will help with children’s games and face painting, Gormley said.

“Walmart is going to have a booth and sell emergency preparedness items,” she said. “This is the second time that Walmart has partnered with us. We are real excited that Walmart has chosen to do this.”

The date of the event is significant, Gormley said, and will allow residents to remember victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their families.

The safety fair also coincides with Emergency Preparedness Month, which is observed in September.

Also featured will be free vehicle identification number etching on vehicles, and door prizes including a gas-powered generator, Gormley said.

“We would like to invite everyone to come by, whether they live in Hickory Creek or not,” she said. “Our event is open to the general public.”

For more information, contact Gormley at 940-349-2855 or brenda.gormley@dentoncounty.com.

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Lake Dallas is planning WaterFest for Saturday and Sunday, featuring the Regional Jet Ski Finals, live musical entertainment, food from a variety of vendors, and exhibitors, said Julie Chapman, the city’s special events coordinator.

Visitors to Willow Grove Park will find a family-friendly atmosphere with a children’s play area featuring a rock climbing wall and inflatable play structures, Chapman said.

Admission is free, and parking costs $5.

Competitors will converge for two days of racing organized by R5WaterXRacing. The event will feature ski (stand-up) and runabout (sit-down) watercraft reaching speeds in excess of 85 mph on a technical, closed-course track that pits racer versus machine and water conditions, Chapman said.

“They really enjoy setting a course out here on Lewisville Lake,” she said.

Live musical entertainment will be featured along the shoreline at the park.

The Texas Gypsies will perform Saturday afternoon, and Eleven Hundred Springs is scheduled to take the stage Sunday afternoon.

For more information about the festival or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, call Chapman at 940-497-2226, ext. 132, or e-mail jchapman@lakedallas.com.

“We always welcome volunteers, especially young people who need community service hours,” she said.

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A community garage sale will be conducted in Lantana from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and shoppers should find plenty of items to interest them, said Ashley Edwards, staff member of the Lantana Community Association, which sponsors the sale.

Plenty of directional signs and a banner at the Lantana entrance will help visitors find their way, Edwards said, and about 200 homeowners are expected to participate.

“The sale is communitywide, not centralized,” she said. “It features individual garage sales. We usually have a pretty good turnout.”

Information will be available Saturday at the Lantana Visitor Center, which is about a mile inside the community’s main entrance, Edwards said.

LES COCKRELL is interested in your input for Out & About. Help share information about Denton County events and people by calling him at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com.