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.

Ladies are walking and reading at the same time. Be careful not to step in anything.

A power walking UP resident just spotted this kind reminder not leave dog ick hanging around. Cute, but I bet it really only attracts the poop leaver behinders. Parkies don’t like being told what to do.

By the way, do you think this means to clean it up or to not even let your dog get in the featured position near that particular house?

A University Park resident who has grown tired of lazy dog owners allowing their pets to make yard deposits went on poop patrol this week. She sent a series of photos showing a woman walking her dogs while talking on the phone. It must have been a good conversation because she paused long enough for her pooch to scope out a good spot in this lawn and then totally forgot to pick up the funk.  

Word to the walkers, this poop policewoman is gettin’ serious about feces scattered around her community and she is armed with a camera phone.

Oct. 1 is the deadline for fiscal 2011 budgets, which means a flurry of meetings between now and then. Tomorrow, the Highland Park Independent School District will have its annual public hearing on the district’s proposed budget starting at 5 p.m. in the MIS 5/6 assembly room.

A breakdown of proposed budget amendments is on the district’s website here.

Several readers have sent various angles of this sign in front of University Park Elementary School. One points out the irony of the blue ribbon recognition in the background, another says they probably don’t start spelling lessons until week 2.

I mean, nevermind that it’s painted on the curb below.

The Belles in action, Saturday night.  Oh, I think there was a football game, too.

One of the most clever things about the new queue lane arrangement at the HPMS/MIS campus is the fifth-grade-only lane, which sidles up to Granada. Things went pretty smoothly this morning, with the exception of a few parents who didn’t pull all the way up in a vacant queue lane to let their children out.

I think, though, that the HPMS/MIS campus might be one of the only schools with a full-service queue lane, manned by none other than New Jersey native and lifelong Cowboys fan, Scott Scheffler.

Courtesy Photo: Steve Mace

Dilapidated fences like the one pictured will be targeted in upcoming code sweeps.

Just checked in with University Park Community Development Director Robbie Corder regarding the code sweeps planned for this fall. Corder said the fall sweep is planned to start on Sept. 13.

“We’re going to put up signs at major intersections,” Corder said, which could start in about a week.

Steve Mace said the city will keep residents apprised with an article regarding the sweeps in the September issue of the city’s newsletter, The Arbor.

“We’re going to look for more frequent violations,” during the sweeps Mace said, which include issues like high weeds, debris, watering ban violations, inadequate posting of house numbers, and dilapidated fences and structures.

At Tuesday’s University Park City Council meeting, public works director Bud Smallwood proposed changes to the intersection at Hillcrest and Daniel avenues that would include a dedicated left-hand turn lane from Daniel onto Hillcrest.

I know I’ve sat in a long line of cars backed up on Daniel  and into Snider Plaza as the one at the signal waits to turn left on Hillcrest, so the turn lane is great news. According to the memo, another justification for changes is the “number of pedestrian-vehicle accidents” at the intersection.

Smallwood said the signal work will cost $25,000. “The other ancillary work would be the work associated with curb and gutter, and some concrete work to basically move the curb and gutter south approximately six feet,” to accommodate the new turn lane, he said.

Adding in the removal of a Live Oak tree that impedes construction, the total cost of the project tops out at $48,000.

The City Council approved the concept, and the Public Works Department will bring in Dannie Cummings of C&P Engineering to draw up plans for construction.