At last night’s University Park City Council meeting there were three different public hearings. Two of them were for rezoning requests for the area south of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and one was a public hearing for the fiscal 2011 budget.

Guess how many people addressed the Council?

Not a single one.

The two zoning proposals passed. They will allow the Bush Presidential Center to build a landscaped area that will include bio-retention areas, prairie grass, and a wildflower meadow. Further south will be a multi-purpose athletic field and where the Chase Bank at Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway now stands will be tennis courts.

You still have one more opportunity to say your piece about the fiscal 2011 budget, though, at the Sept. 14 hearing. It just so happens that the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a hearing regarding the Highland Park Presbyterian Church on that same day.

How about you make it a two-fer?

This just in from the Highland Park Crime Watch:

Water is rising RAPIDLY in several areas of Highland Park and it is creating extremely HAZARDOUS conditions.
HPDPS is urging ALL residents to stay home until the rain starts to subside.

Two areas of tremendous concern:
1.)  FITZHUGH-WYCLIFFE-LAKESIDE-ST JOHN’S Corner
Last year Officer Kilmer had to rescue two people who were trapped in their car.
A few years ago, a young seminary student DROWNED as she was pulled away from her car by rushing water.

2.)  BEVERLY BRIDGE at DCC
WE will keep you updated, but the water will only continue to rise as the rain continues to pour.
Please exercise CAUTION and sound judgment if you find it necessary to drive through Highland Park.
HPDPS is working all areas of concern and thank you in advance to your part in helping them keep the town safe. Please, stay home, if possible.

Here’s proof that, even though Merritt might have been annoyed by the vuvuzelas, she still attended the last Scots game and enjoyed it, along with her husband.

One question. Who thought these World Cup-ish vuvuzelas would be a good thing to sell at the Scots game last Friday night?  The person in charge of this should be written up at the very least.

Not sure where my brain was when I wrote in my football game story on the Highland Park-Everman contest for today’s Park Cities People that the Scots have not lost a non-district game since 2004. As a reader pointed out to me a minute ago, the Scots lost to Coppell in a non-district game last season.

Not real sure how I could have forgotten that game last season, seeing as how it wasn’t even quite a year ago, but I somehow managed. My bad.

Walter Kelly, the new Highland Park High School principal, sends word to students who will be attending tonight’s Howdy Dance.

The type of dancing acceptable for this event is to be kept in styles that are fun and non-offensive. Inappropriate and sexually suggestive movements will not be permitted. If a student does not respond to the faculty chaperone’s request to change his/her dancing style, he/she will be escorted off the floor.

The link was my addition but you know that’s what he was thinkin’.

Fifth-graders from the PC-TAG program were treated to an ice cream social before the start of school.

One of the best parts of my job is also one of the easiest and most rewarding: Publishing photos of kids having fun.

Kids love seeing their photos in the paper, parents love seeing their kids in the papers, and organizations like schools and Scouts love the free promotion — it’s win-win-win.

Now that school’s in full swing, don’t forget to send us your photos from events and meetings to editor (at) peoplenewspapers (dot) com.

Yet another incentive to keep your shades drawn. This was posted on the Highland Park Crime Watch site yesterday:

A “Peeping Tom” was spotted by a resident who was walking her dog.

He was looking in the window of an apartment on the first floor of 4700 Abbott – Jacob Apartments.

Description:
Male – Hispanic
5′8″ – 150 pounds
Extremely short hair (buzz cut)
White T-Shirt – Blue Jeans

If spotted or if you think it might be him, PLEASE call 911.

I’m expecting _______ this fall from the SMU Mustangs, who kick off their season Sunday against Texas Tech.

As your trusty sports editor, I feel like it’s my duty to keep you apprised of all of the sports happenings that have a Park Cities connection.

In case you can’t make it to the Highland Park-Monterrey (Mexico) Tec game at Highlander Stadium tomorrow night, where I will be, you could mosey out to the Cotton Bowl and check out the Lingerie League season opener between the Dallas Desire and the San Diego Seduction. After all, Dallas only has two home games in the brutally-long four-game season.

The Park Cities tie? Word is the Desire have been practicing at Germany Park and at Goar Park. Has anybody out there been fortunate enough to witness this?