By HERB BOOTH
Special correspondent
When Sandra Lancaster started 25 years ago heading up the Grand Prairie Board of Realtors, the gas stations in town were happy.
That’s because real estate agents drove to the board office on Southwest 14th Street to pick up keys, drop off keys, courier documents, exchange documents and a host of other reasons.
“Now, everything is done on computers or electronically,” said Ms. Lancaster, who will be retiring as the board’s association executive after serving 25 years in that spot. Realtors and real estate agents will be honoring her at a retirement party from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Ruthe Jackson Center on Carrier Parkway. “That’s been the biggest change in 25 years.”
She said computers came to the Grand Prairie board soon after she got there but “back then we had to load every listing. We didn’t have fax machines, either. I think Pat Watson had the first fax machine in the area.”
She said the Multiple Listing Books were like a big Yellow Pages, another item that’s changed drastically since then.
Ms. Lancaster said one other thing has changed in those 25 years she’s run the board – interest rates. “I remember some being as high as 17 to 18 percent, and buyers were happy to get them. That’s changed now, too.”
Ms. Lancaster said when she first started there were about 300 agents. Now, there are about 215, but that’s a sign of the poor economy more than anything else.
“We have a tight-knit bunch in Grand Prairie. Our board is very united,” said Ms. Lancaster, who is a 1968 Grand Prairie High grad but now has moved “to the country” in Waxahachie. “It’s like family here. I’ll miss the members. They’re like my children, friends and family.”
Call Michelle at 972-262-7747 or e-mail michelle@gprealtors.com to RSVP to Ms. Lancaster’s retirement party.
Halloween fun scheduled all over the city
Several sites around the city are having Halloween festivities Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31.
A free Trunk or Treat is from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Bowles Life Center, 2750 Graham. Call 972-237-7529 for more information. Owners of decorated calls in the parking lot will hand out candy from car trunks while kids inside enjoy a haunted house and games.
A free Halloween Carnival will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Charley Taylor Recreation Center, 701 E. Grand Prairie Road. Call 972-264-6890 for more information.
The free Great Pumpkin Festival will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Dalworth Recreation Center, 2012 Spikes. Call 972-264-7670 for more information.
Visit http://www.gptx.org/index.aspx?page=152 for other Halloween events or call 972-237-8100.
Santa Cop & Santa Spot start Nov. 1
Santa Cop & Santa Spot will begin collecting new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food for Grand Prairie families in need at fire stations, the police station, city hall and libraries around the city.
The Grand Prairie Police and Fire departments sponsor the programs.
E-mail Herb Booth at herbviv@sbcglobal.net for tips and items to include in this column.
