Kids Say the Darndest Goodbyes

Just left Cathy Bryce’s goodbye reception. I learned that she’ll be living in Argyle and hopes to do some consulting work, after she rests for awhile.

Every campus had made a scrapbook with goodbye wishes from kids and staff. Some schools needed more than one book to fit them all.

Jump for a couple of my favorites: (more…)

Speaking of Preston Hollow …

What exactly are its borders?  The new Equinox gym (excuse me, “fitness club”) in Preston Center claims it is located in Preston Hollow.   Is this like Park Cites Ford in Dallas?

Snubbed by George W. Bush

So the Ws are heading to Preston Hollow after the White House gig is up.  What, the PC isn’t good enough?

Two Cats in the Yard

Talk about things to like about the Park Cities: this morning, as I dropped off my carpool run on the back side of Hyer, there were two cats in the side yard, stretching and yawning and greeting the children, who waved back their hellos.  I just don’t recall such scenes at my more-severe, institutional elementary school.

Tree Lighting Info

For University Park, the Snider Plaza tree lighting is set to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Activities continuing until 9 p.m. include food from JD’s Chippery, Dunkin’Donuts, Candy Corn’s, Austin Nuts, Peggy Sue’s BBQ, Zoe’s, and Banditos. There will be face painting sponsored by A Little Artsy and chances to get a photo taken with Santa Claus.

For Highland Park, the Million Dollar Monarch has overcome its recent damage and will be lit on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Armstrong Avenue and Preston Road. The ceremony features caroling and also an appearance by Santa Claus.

Thrown Under the Police Cruiser

Um, thanks, Merritt.

From today’s live chat with Chief Adams of the UPPD.

12:17
Merritt Patterson: Charles Geilich can be kind of difficult and we get the sense that you’re not too fond of his blogging, is that true?
12:18
Gary Adams: Not true…..I am an old hand at this…going on now 34 years. I have tough skin. It is always challenging

Armstrong Has Saturday Night Fever

Thanks to Julie Conklin for submitting photos from the Armstrong Elementary “Saturday Night Eagle Fever” auction that took place on Saturday. In the shot at left Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin are getting their groove on. I’ll put another classic shot after the jump. Look for more in the print edition of Overheard soon.

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Of Small Women, Large Sunglasses, and Tiny Dogs

This morning, at the Inwood Village Starbucks (Motto: “Still in business!  For now”), a young woman with sunglasses larger than the absurd little dog she carried in her arms, sat outside smoking while letting the little dog-rat run free.

A man entered the store and asked, “Who owns the little dog out there?  It’s about to get stepped on.” Showing that I wasn’t the only one who noticed her, several people pointed through the window to the bug-shaded woman.

Why the Blog Was Down This Weekend

Tim Rogers on Frontburner has the explanation.

Park Cities People remains as strong as any weekly community newspaper in this country. Our circulation has grown by leaps above what it was five years ago, when our company was purchased by the ownership of D Magazine. How, when newspapers all over this country are hemorrhaging subscribers, have we been able to increase our paid circulation by 28 percent?

The answer is quality. We know that quality matters. The staff of writers, editors, photographers and — yes, Merritt — page 2 columnist that I’ve had the privilege of working with these past few years has been tremendous. They’ve helped us put together a newspaper of which the people of the Park Cities can be proud. Our company is dealing with some difficult changes during these few days, but I assure our loyal readers, of our paper,and this blog, that Park Cities People won’t miss a beat. We’ll continue to bring you the coverage relevant to your everyday lives. It’s our honor to be able to do so.

Update on Cross at Your Own Risk

Principal Gilbert himself worked the Caruth/Tulane intersection today at Hyer.

Couture Kaput?

Just wondering if any Overheardians are concerned about whether this economy will kill some of the high-end retailers and restaurants to which they have become accustomed.  I have nothing but rank speculation to go on, but, really, how well can Neiman Marcus (particularly its iconic downtown location), Tiffany’s (its stock is sitting at about 37% of its highest value in the past year), Nobu, and others do in this environment?  After all, if Starbucks (currently trading for about 35% of its one-year high) is hurting, who can be safe?

Say Goodbye to Dr. Bryce

Highland Park ISD has announced there will be a farewell reception for outgoing superintendent Cathy Bryce at 3-6 p.m. Dec. 4 in the cafeteria of Highland Park High School, 4220 Emerson. All are welcome.

Read about her replacement here.

The Best Place to Raise Your Kids

According to Business Week, this is the best place to raise your kids.

Looks pretty desolate to me.

HPMS Raider Season Ends

 The final football games of the season were played last night.  The 8th grade teams were in McKinney facing the Cockrill Cowboys for the second time this season.  The Red team settled for a 6-to-6 tie.  Outstanding performances by Hank Howard and Tucker Davison on defense saved the Raiders a few times.  Anthony Vallera shined on offense. McCormick Carlson had a field goal attempt in the last three seconds of the game. He missed by inches but it was a fantastic effort.

The 8th grade Gold team lost 17 to 6. 

The 8th grade football players hung up the red and gold jerseys and now look ahead to becoming Scots, a goal that a lot of these boys have had since they were little fellas.  Thanks to Coach Gibbs, Coach Clarke and their staff for the leadership, strength and sportmanship they’ve taught our boys. Thanks to Lyn Thomas and the many parent volunteers who make sure the boys are clothed, fed and signed out on game day.

Sick, Skating Witch

What do you do if you’ve been sick all Halloween day with a stomachache and don’t feel like walking around the neighborhood in your witch costume?  You wear skates!

New Carpool Lane Baffles

The new traffic pattern at UP Elementary seems like a good idea. But I have some questions about the carpool lane procedure. I know I don’t have the whole scoop behind the changes bla bla bla, I’m just thinking it’s odd that two entire grades come out of one door. And isn’t this new exit location, the north east door, about to be overcome with construction?

And I hear that the cones, the ones that require the entire lane to jet out and around into traffic, are there to leave room for a firetruck? How is the firetruck going to get to the reserved spot? Kind of like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Ijs.

HGTV Is Coming to Town

And they’re looking for homeowners to feature. We know everyone wants their very own reality TV show. Check the jump to see if you’re worthy. (more…)

Tuesday Night Lights

Here’s the MIS/HPMS football recap for this week. Sorry for the delay, sportsfans.

The 7th grade teams played McKinney Evans at McKinney High School. The Red team pulled out a 14-8 win in a closely fought game.  The Red defense came through with some big plays with Blake Alhadef and John Kelly coming through with a QB sack each. David Cole got in the way of two Evans touchdowns by bringing down their running backs.  Stuart McAtee was a crowd favorite when he picked off a McKinney pass which completely fired up the Raiders and gave them the momentum to bring home a victory. Kudos to Will Sanders and Pierce Weiss who each bagged six and to Casey Evans whose field goal added two.

The 7th grade Gold team played hard but wasn’t able to bring home a win.

The 8th grade teams played McKinney Evans at home.  The Red team lost in the last two minutes of the game.  The Gold team won.  Sorry I don’t have more details on that.

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Park Cities YMCA Football Game Turns Riot-ish

A local dad shares a story of disturbing behavior by parents at a recent 4th grade Park Cities YMCA football game.

In our game this past Saturday, we played a team that (from the reactions of the Fathers/Coaches and players) should have beaten us but didn’t.  My son’s team was in the lead the entire game though it was close.  As the game clock wound down, the coaches/dads were becoming more and more vocal to both their own players and the referees.  They were verbally assualting the refs on pretty much every play in the last quarter and even chased them down after the game was over to complain about penalties they did or didn’t call, thus costing their team the victory.  The opposing players even began calling our players A**holes and freakin idiots.  Is this the norm in this league?  I understand the very competitive nature of most of the dads (and moms) in our neighborhood but this seems over the top.  Maybe its me, but these actions seem to come more from the parents and kids that attend one particular elementary school in our neighborhood.

Secret Meeting of the Beverlians

This Overheardian thought it would be cool to get me all paranoid on a rainy fall day.

Just drove by a home on Beverly and and saw quite a few ladies congregating out front with notebooks tucked in their arms. Didn’t know if they were Volamoms plotting your downfall so thought I would warn you just in case.

Thanks for having my back.

Armstrong Bikes Too

Charles gave us a little taste of the fun at Hyer Elementary last Friday. Now Armstrong Elementary sent us a whole slew of great photos from their event. (One of which is featured at left. Look for others in print soon). Thanks to Julie Conklin for the great shots.

Fun at Hyer Bike Rodeo

The crowd was in a festive mood for Hyer’s Bike Rodeo last Friday.  I did hear a report that a rider cracked open his chin, but I haven’t received confirmation of that.

Scary

Wow, you have to admire the work that went into this Halloween diorama at the corner of Marquette and Airline. That fence and “stone” gate, by the way, are part of the decoration scheme.

It seems to me, though, that the scariest yard art this year would be a recreation of the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Brrr…

Thanks, Principal Gilbert

Please allow me to give kudos to Hyer Principal Jeremy Gilbert.  Among the great work Principal Gilbert has already done in his first year at Hyer, there is one little gesture he makes every day that really has an impact on the kids.  Each morning, as parents pull up to the curb in the carpool line, Mr. Gilbert is there to open car doors and greet the children, and the parents.  Sometimes he’s in front, sometimes at the back entrances, and always with a smile, and, on a rainy day like yesterday, with an umbrella.

I know my carpool kids look forward to seeing him, and it’s a great way to get to know the students.  My recollection of my own elementary school principal was of an unsmiling man secreted in a mysterious place called “the office.”  Brrr. 

Re: Those Crazy Kids

The Snider Plaza fountain was bubbling too. Can’t they step it up a notch? Bubbles? Copy. Cat. Come on kids, is that all you have?