UP Residents Don’t Recycle Much

I asked Steve Mace, the official spokesman for the city of UP, to address some questions that came up in our discussion about the new recycling program. His arguments make sense. I hadn’t thought about how much an open-top bin can contain:

Based on collection figures from 2000-2007 (tonnage and cubic yard figures), the average U.P. household recycles about 1.98 gallons per week, per home.

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Does Lakewood Hate the Park Cities?

In light of our discussion about our love of the Park Cities, a forum-browsing Overheardian shares a link to a online discussion forum in which a fellow going by the name of “Lakewooder” says:

 I have more than enough money to live in HP - but I don’t want to be around those types. The way they treat others is despicable and by criticizing them I am not revealing my own shortcomings (IMO) - I am calling them out and asking them to be ashamed.

Re:Mustangs Must Cross Hillcrest to Slurp Beer

SMU couldn’t have done this even if Turner wanted to. With UP being dry, it would be very difficult to get the proper permits to allow this sort of thing on campus. I don’t realistically see this as a viable option anyway, since most upperclassmen don’t live on campus anyway.

University officials need to ease up on the pressure on the fraternity bus parties, however. Groups, including, but not limited to fraternities, are going to have functions at bars regardless of the rules, and busing students to parties from campus is a much safer alternative to the literally hundreds of students that attend these functions.

Even for students that don’t live on campus, that extra time waiting for the bus and then the bus ride back to campus is invaluable to helping students stay safe.

Buy Our Photos

I’m thrilled to announce to you, our loyal readers, that photos taken by People Newspapers staff can now be purchased through our website, here. (From our main news page, just click “photo galleries.”)

Not only can you receive photos of various sizes, you have the option of placing the photo on puzzles, coasters, mugs, T-shirts, basketballs, or even a ceramic tile mural.

Check it out.

Mustangs Must Cross Hillcrest to Slurp Beer

SMU President Gerald Turner gets all nutty about partying. He’s making it tough to drink on campus or cut loose on Thursday nights.

Gerald, are you really Baptist? Just checking.

To the Mustangs, Kuby’s (a really short walk from campus) serves a HUGE cold beer.

The Skit

We had one of our three weekly rehearsals last night (yep, I said 3) and it’s not looking so good for me. I mean this is a complex production. I have to memorize two dances (one is rap) and make sure that I don’t stab the mom next to me with the 44 inch pencil we use as a prop. I’m really frightened.

I hope that video is prohibited.

Relocation Advice Needed, Help This Overheardian

An out of state, soon to be Dallasite Overheardian needs help with her relocation.

I am been reading everything I can about Dallas for the past few months as my husband has taken a great new position with a company there. 

We have had our kids in wonderful private schools here (equivalent of an Episcopal or Greenhill School) — which is something many people [here] do with the not-so-great condition of our county’s public school system.  The kids will be starting 10th and 5th grades when we finally get to Dallas.

My big dilemma is private or public.  From a couple very short trips to Dallas, I know that I prefer the “in town” areas.  I love the ambiance of the Park Cities and the idea of a nice public school is great. 

Should we try the private school route in Dallas and have a broader area in which to house hunt — Preston Hollow, etc.?

As an avid reader, I know you have four kids and, I believe, your oldest is soon to enter 5th grade.  From your experience, which route would you recommend? 

Any insights would be appreciated.

Palm Trees Cause a Stir

Since the original post about the palm trees I’ve received a great deal of feedback. As it turns out, I’m not the only one puzzled by the creative landscaping. The trees seem to be causing quite a buzz around the neighborhood. Not that there’s anything wrong with palm trees in the yard of a country-ish cottage in Dallas- it’s just unexpected.

An Overheardian tells me that the new owner responsible for the palm tree operation is a local realtor. No. Way. Can such odd landscaping hurt resale?

By the way, there are more in the back yard!

Justice Delayed

These are the best of times and the worst of times for the Dallas County justice system.

On the one hand, a man by the name of James Lee Woodard, who was held in prison for 27 years, was exonerated today based on DNA testing that shows he was wrongly convicted.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that a man was held in prison for 27 years for a crime he didn’t commit, and he was the 17th man in Dallas County to be released after DNA testing proved his innocence.  That’s 17 people unjustly imprisoned, and the Dallas County District Attorney’s office itself, in this case, suggests that evidence that would have helped Mr. Woodard’s case was improperly withheld from the defense.

Don’t think for a second that these 17 were the only ones wrongly convicted.  These are just the first 17 to be exonerated.

Dallas County citizens should be glad that some of these injustices are being examined, but we should also shudder to think how many mistakes have been made.  Prosecutors have an awesome responsibility.

Happy Dale Earnhardt Day!

If you haven’t already guessed it, I’m a pretty big NASCAR fan, and for us race fans, today is a pretty special one.

By declaration of Governor Rick Perry, today, April 29, is Dale Earnhardt Day in the great state of Texas. (more…)

Eulogy Practice for the Mavericks

Dear friends,

We gather tonight to commemorate the passing of what was so recently a vibrant and energized sports franchise, the Dallas Mavericks.  Let us take this opportunity to remember that adulation, for a coach, for a team, for its players, is a fleeting and transient phenonemon, one that, like life itself, must be enjoyed in the moment and not expected to last.

Unless the Mavs win, in which case they can finish out the series by crushing the Hornets!

Recycling Bins Inspire Overheardian’s Graphic

The latest addition of the city of University Park newsletter announces a new recycling program to launch in June. All single-family residences will receive an 18-gallon bin for recycling. This news inspired one Overheardian to create the picture you see at left. Here’s what else she had to say:

What the heck are they thinking? 18-gallon bins???!!! That size won’t hold didly squit. A big REALITY CHECK is very much needed. I mean like you guys writing up something in your paper. And with pictures, since our concerned city is unable to visualize their own solution. Especially since they are having trouble dealing with ordinance/code revisions for trash can placement in our alleys.

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