Les Cockrell

The annual Sanger Special Olympics Track Meet is coming up, and coordinator Vikki Reasor said it’s difficult to say who enjoys the event most — the competitors or the folks who support them.

Reasor is organizing volunteers for the event on Saturday, March 27, and anyone interested is invited to sign up and lend a hand.

About 125 volunteers are needed to handle various duties at the track meet, she said, but supporters also are needed for another important job — cheering on the participants.

“We need people to fill the stands,” Reasor said. “We need people to come out and cheer for them.”

This year’s meet will feature competitors from a wide area, including residents of Denton, Sanger, Pilot Point, Ponder, Krum, Little Elm and Gainesville, Reasor said. The athletes will be taking part in several events that begin at 9 a.m. and run throughout the morning.

“We’re usually done by noon,” she said. “It’s not a real long meet.”

Awards are handed out to the competitors, but Reasor said volunteers and spectators also wind up feeling like winners.

“You think you’re doing something for others, but we receive a lot more blessings than they do,” she said, adding that many first-time volunteers quickly decide they want to help out again.

“It’s incredible,” she said. “They’ll be hooked.”

Reasor should know. This is her 10th year to be involved in the track meet and the seventh year she has been in charge of the event.

Attendance has grown from year to year, but Reasor wants to share the rewards of Special Olympics with more people than ever before.

“If we could just fill the stands,” she said. “If we could just get a fourth of the interest that we have for football and other events.”

Volunteers are welcome to show up on the day of the meet, but Reasor said those who contact her in advance at vreasor@sangerisd.net  or at 940-300-4257 can be assigned specific tasks.

“If volunteers get in touch with me first, I’ll assign them an actual duty,” she said. “I’ll plug them into a spot.”

The track meet will be held at the stadium at 100 Indian Drive in Sanger, Reasor said, and volunteers are asked to show up at 8 a.m.

“It’s the most blessed four hours you’ll spend,” she said.

Side trips

Many of us may not have attended a sock hop in a good many years, but an opportunity to rock out for a good cause is on the horizon.

The Lantana Ladies League is sponsoring a Firehouse Sock Hop at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the new Argyle Volunteer Fire District station, located at 865 Copper Canyon Road in Argyle, said Joni Carlton, league president.

The public is invited to attend, but be advised that reservations are due by Tuesday. To reserve a spot, e-mail princessjoni@email.com .

“All we ask is that they let us know they’re coming,” Carlton said.

Music from several eras will be featured at the event.

“Dance music from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s will be intermingled all night long,” she said. “There’s a lot to pick from in those years. It covers all ages; that’s what we’re geared for.”

Admission will be a minimum donation of $10, and organizers are hoping that those who attend will be generous because all proceeds benefit the firehouse.

In addition to music, the event will feature fire safety information and food prepared by the firefighters.

“The firefighters will be cooking dinner for us that night,” Carlton said. “They have their big smoker out.”

Carlton said guests are invited to come in costume, adding that organizers are expecting everything from poodle skirts to Studio 54 styles.

An added feature of the event will be a prize that all youngsters should appreciate.

“We will raffle off a ride home from school in a fire engine,” she said.

For more information, visit www.lantanaladies.org.

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All early risers out there may want to reserve a spot for a guided bird walk at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area.

Keith Lockhart will serve as guide for the event, which will cover some birding spots that are not normally available to the public, said Lisa Cole, education coordinator for the learning area.

Birders who are age 10 and older can participate in Saturday’s walk, and all skill levels are welcome, Cole said. Cost is a $2 program fee in addition to regular gate admission of $5 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 972-219-3930.

Dedicated birders will understand the need to start early, Cole said.

“Shortly after sunrise is the peak of bird activity,” she said.

Birds are just starting their annual migration north, and should be in good song, Cole added.

“Spring is when the birds are the most vocal,” she said. “As birds move north in the spring, the summer birds come back to us. It’s the best time of year for bird walks.”

The learning area offers 2,000 acres of prairies, forests and wetlands managed as a wildlife preserve by a group of agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the University of North Texas, the city of Lewisville, the Lewisville school district and Texas A&M University.

The learning area is open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for fishing, hiking, camping, bird watching, kayaking and canoeing, picnicking and other activities. For more information, visit www.ias.unt.edu/llela.

Coming up on Saturday, March 20, the learning area will have an open house at the Minor-Porter Log House, which has been completely restored and furnished to reflect everyday life in Denton County circa 1870.

“We’re fortunate to have a log house,” Cole said. “You get a chance to take a look at how settlers were living at that time.”

The open house will be from noon to 3 p.m., and guests are welcome to tour at their own pace. The learning area is located at Jones Street and North Kealy Avenue, north of Old Town Lewisville. Visit the Web site for driving directions.

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Last week’s column on 42 domino games at the Pilot Point Senior Center failed to mention that two of the regular players were recently honored as Valentine’s Day royalty.

Ella Davis and Jesse Rayzor were named Valentine Queen and Valentine King, respectively, at the center’s Valentine’s Day party.

We also should mention that the center is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party next Wednesday, so if the column whetted your appetite for some good 42, you might want to visit.

It’s just the occasion to retrieve that set of green dominoes that you have tucked away in a closet somewhere.

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 .