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A pair of hearings pertaining to sites of neighborhood interest come up on municipal dockets in the next few weeks.

First up, at 1 p.m. Sept. 8, the Dallas Landmark Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider initiation of the historic designation process for 10 Nonesuch Road — that address would be the site of the home once owned by Stanley Marcus.

The City Council could designate the house a historic structure, saving it from threats of demolition like the one that brought a great hue and cry in recent months. If granted, the historic designation would be the fourth such structure to fall under that type of protection — the others being Crozier Tech High School; St. Ann's School; and the Knights of Pythias Temple.

Of more contemporary concern, City Council pushed back the public hearing on the 99-year specific use permit granted in 1995 to what was then Cowboys and now Far West dance hall. The 99-year term is one of two in the city, the other granted during the 1960s to a place near Mockingbird Lane and Harry Hines Boulevard.

A group of neighborhood associations — Lakewood, Gastonwood-Coronado Hills, and Hollywood-Santa Monica — on behalf of residents, wants Council to change the SUP to be more in line with similar permits, which typically carry a two- to five-year term.

A joint neighborhood association meeting took place last night at which representatives urged residents to turn out en mass to support the proposal.

The next hearing takes place starting at 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at City Hall.

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A few months ago, we mentioned a neighborhood fundraiser that was meant to raise money for area beautification projects. In the same breath, we suggested a target for said beautification efforts.

Well, sir, last weekend I noticed a work crew along the Lakewood Wall — "Mr. Gorbechev ..." never mind — wielding paintbrushes and such, so thanks LNA. That section of the east side of Abrams Road, from Sondra Drive to Bob O' Link Drive, looks a whole lot better.

Power of the press or happy coincidence? A boy can dream, can't he?

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I've heard more than one cop say that knowing one's neighbors makes for a safer neighborhood. The reasoning is that people become familiar with who "belongs" on a particular street, and who might look out of place.

Neighbors who know neighbors are likely to call said neighbors when they see a moving van pull up and start loading up next door, and they know the neighbors aren't moving. They're also likely to collect mail and newspapers when neighbors are out of town, therefore eliminating criminal welcome mats.

OK, did I say "neighbors" enough in those two grafs?

Some neighbors on McCommas Boulevard recently conducted a crime watch meeting and social hour so they'd have a chance to meet each other and make records of phone numbers, become familiar with schedules and who works at home, for example, so they can keep track of neighborhood happenings.

They passed out a handy form on which a person can record the names and phone numbers of the people who live in surrounding houses. It looked like a good idea, so we thought we'd share it with everyone.

The people from whom we bought our house, the Donica family, left us a hand-drawn map of surrounding houses with associated names and phone numbers, and it's come in handy more than a few times.

Besides, meeting neighbors might just lead to a new friendship or two.

Cue the sappy violin music.

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Kyle Rains, "Mr. Lakewood" and unabashed Woodrow supporter, sends word today about a television segment on the Woodrow musical tradition.

The folks from "School Zone," broadcast by WFAA-TV (Channel 8), were out to chronicle the lead-up, rehearsals, and performances of last school year's production of "The Sound of Music." The segment airs Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. on the station.

As an added Wildcat bonus, Woodrow's Bryce Romney serves as part of the on-air team.

Hello, TiVo.

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Forecast winds of greater than 10 mph have forced the city to reschedule the poison trucks until Sept. 4. everything else stands. 

We tried to warn you, but did you listen? No. Well, at least one guy didn't.

The city's first confirmed case of West Nile virus came from this area — wooo, whoo, we're No. 1 — and prompted health officials to send out the heavy infantry to defend us against further attack from disease-carrying, blood-sucking mosquitoes.

The spraying starts at 10 p.m. Sept. 4 (formerly tonight) — because, evidently, humans and mosquitoes have reached some sort of uneasy, temporary truce — and concludes at 3 a.m. Sept. 5 (formerly tomorrow).

The targeted area falls within Carroll Avenue, R.L. Thornton Freeway, Garland Avenue, Graham Avenue-Beacon Street, Abrams Road, Fulton Street, Junius Street, Beacon Street, Swiss Avenue, Fitzhugh Avenue, Gaston Avenue, and back to Carroll Avenue, according to a city press release.

Oh, and we would remind pet-people in the area to keep their dogs and cats inside during those hours, but we really don't need to do that, right? Right?

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