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Les Cockrell: Railroad history chugs into library

12:03 AM CDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Out & About

Area train buffs should find plenty to interest them Saturday when Denton’s Emily Fowler Central Library hosts presentations on the history and future of railroads in Denton County.

“We’ll have three different things going on that day,” said Laura Douglas, special collections librarian.

The Denton Area Model Railroad Club will set up a temporary train layout featuring models of railroads that ran through the area in the past, such as the Santa Fe, the Texas and Pacific, and the Katy (Missouri-Kansas-Texas), Douglas said. The display will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kristina Brevard of the Denton County Transportation Authority is scheduled to be at the library from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with information about the new A-train passenger rail line, Douglas said.

Next up will be a slide show presented at 11 a.m. by Steve Allen Goen, a Texas rail historian and author of Miss Katy in the Lone Star State and Texas & Pacific Color Pictorial, Douglas said. The slide show will feature photographs from the collection of railroad enthusiast Tom Hughes.

Goen “will present the photographs and talk about the history behind them,” Douglas said. “Just looking at a train picture is a lot of fun, and we’ve tried to bring in photographs of what actually ran through Denton.”

Library visitors should also check out the library’s special collections display case, Douglas said.

“We have an exhibit on historic Denton trains, depots and some of the trains that ran through the area,” she said.

The library is at 502 Oakland St. For more information,

contact Douglas at laura.douglas@cityofdenton.com or 940-349-8752 or visit the library’s website, www.dentonlibrary.com.

*

Anyone interested in learning the art of quilling may want to reserve a place at a workshop planned for 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the Bayless-Selby House Museum, 317 W. Mulberry St. in Denton.

Cost of the workshop, part of the museum’s Victorian Home Series, is $5 per person.

Robyn Lorraine Lee, manager of the Denton County Museums at the Denton County Historical Park, said quilling can be loosely defined as “paper mosaic and paper lace” — the art of rolling thin strips of paper into various shapes and using the shapes to form designs. The practice has been around since ancient times, she said, but it was especially popular during the Victorian era.

“It’s something that the Victorians were really charmed by,” she said.

Beginners are welcome, Lee said, and the museum will supply all necessary materials. Instruction will be provided by master quiller Susannah Lindsay McLaughlin, and participants take home what they make.

Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended, Lee said.

To reserve a spot, call 940-349-2865. Visit www.dentoncounty.com for more information about the museum.

*

Friends of Riding Unlimited in Ponder will be happy to learn that a longtime and beloved member of the staff was honored recently.

Mr. Big, Riding Unlimited’s Percheron, has been named the 2010 Equine of the Year for Region 8 by NARHA (formerly the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and is in the running for NARHA’s national Equine of the Year award to be announced in November.

“Big” has been a favored mount since he arrived at Riding Unlimited several years ago and is widely known because of his loyal service, said Anita Sepko, head instructor.

“We take him everywhere,” she said. “Everybody in the state knows the big horse. All the little riders want to ride him.”

Mr. Big formerly was a carriage horse in downtown Dallas, Sepko said.

“He was a street worker,” she said. “His owner was in the military, and she was deployed. We were fortunate enough to get offered the use of Big.”

Mr. Big definitely stands out, she said.

“He’s huge,” she said. “He’s absolutely huge, but he’s the gentlest horse I’ve been around in my life.”

Mr. Big always puts his best foot forward, Sepko said.

“He’s always our meet-and-greet horse,” she said. “He loves people. He’s like an angel in a horse suit.”

For more information, call 940-479-2016 or visit www.ridingunlimited.org.

*

Volunteers are needed for the Krum Athletic Booster Club’s “Midnight Madness” event planned for 9 p.m. to midnight Sunday at the high school football field.

Helpers are needed in several areas, including concessions, the bounce house, dunking booth and face painting booth.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Gina Miller, the club’s executive vice president, at events@krumboosters.com.

The evening’s entertainment will include football contests for all ages and other activities. Krum spirit items will be on sale, and concessions will include hot dogs, popcorn, pickles, cold drinks and snow cones.

Proceeds from the event will help support Krum athletic programs.

For more information, visit www.krumboosters.com or e-mail events@krumboosters.com.

*

Openings remain for area golfers who would like to play in the 21st annual Denton Fire Fighter Golf Classic benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association, said tournament coordinator Brian Glenn.

“We’re still looking for a few more players,” he said.

The tournament will be held Monday at Oakmont Country Club, 1200 Clubhouse Drive in Corinth.

Registration will be from 7 to 8:30 a.m., and a shotgun start is planned for 9 a.m.

Individual golfers and four-member teams are invited to sign up, and the fee of $125 per golfer includes the round of golf, greens fees, cart, a goody bag, food, beverages and door prizes.

Awards and prizes will be featured during a banquet that will immediately follow the close of play.

For more information, call Glenn at 940-391-1166.

*

The Pilot Point Bearcat Club has scheduled its annual fundraising dinner and auction, and donations for the live and silent auctions are being accepted.

This year’s fundraiser will be on Saturday, Aug. 7 at the high school.

A dinner featuring brisket, fried catfish and all the trimmings will be served beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the auctions. Cost for the meal, which includes dessert, is $5.

“The booster club has done this for many years,” said club officer Greg Ray. “This is our principal fundraiser to supplement the sports programs in Pilot Point.”

Longtime supporters will note that the event is being held earlier this year, Ray said.

“We normally do it after school starts, usually in October,” he said. “We thought we’d try it at the beginning of the [school] year, before everyone gets busy with their routines.

“We’re hoping for a big crowd.”

Those who attend the event will have an opportunity to meet Pilot Point coaches, Ray said.

Anyone interested in donating auction items can call 940-686-2130, Ray said.

“We appreciate any kind of support the community can give us,” he said. “We’ll take donations up to that day.”

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.

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