Halloween’s around the corner (you know this), so I thought I’d write about ghost stories — believe ‘em or not — in and near Preston Hollow.

So far, library research yields a pile of information about sightings on Preston Road; the “White House” owned by Unity of Dallas that was razed a few years ago; and many a blurb about the former Olla Podrida craft mall.

What else should we get into? This is the rare sort of article where hearsay and hoopla actually count as legit information, so don’t be shy to share.

With new fall shows such as Pan Am, The Playboy Club, Charlie’s Angels, and The X-Factor, I am guilty of spending a little too much time in front of a screen and not enough time curling up with a good book. In the midst of the television cravings, can Preston Hollow keep reading alive? It’s certainly trying.

From October to August, the Jewish Community Center is hosting authors from around the country to talk about their new books. On Oct. 25, the J Book Fair is launching with Wendy Dubow Polins, former Preston Hollow resident and author of the newly released sci-fi novel, Fare Forward, at the Samuel Lynne Galleries. For a complete list of authors visiting, click here.

If the JCC is not your crowd, Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Park has author meet-and-greets stacked up through fall. On Saturday, Kaleta Doolin, the daughter of  the Frito-Lay founder, will share personal stories about her family business and recipes from her new book, Fritos Pie: Stories, Recipes, and More. For a high-wattage celebrity sighting, come to Barnes & Noble on Oct. 29 and talk to Glee star Jane Lynch about her new memoir, Happy Accidents.

Is all this reading make you itch to pick up a pen and paper? Students in any Dallas school can enter in the Dallas Public Library’s 16th annual Express Yourself! youth poetry competition. Send in your poems here.

Stopped by some of your favorite neighborhood restaurants and shops recently, such as R+D Kitchen, Taco Diner, Hillstone, and Sprinkles Cupcakes? If so, you must have noticed the large construction project smack in the middle of The Plaza at Preston Center. These blockades, bulldozers, and other building materials are courtesy of the ongoing construction of a five-story office and retail complex. The project, aimed to be completed by winter 2012, will also house the University Park Library and a multi-level parking garage.

How has your shopping been altered? Lucky Dog Bakery, Mel Crews, and Park Plaza Salon reconfigured their floor design to open from the rear entrance. Other shops — such as Corner Bakery Café, American Express Travel, Montana Salon, Occhliali Modern Optics, and Matthew Trent Jewelry Design Studio — have relocated within the Plaza.

Any perks to the mess? A complementary valet system is offered so you do not have to navigate the disarray. Also, a plexiglass viewing area will be added so everyone can see the action.

One of my earliest lessons at Preston Hollow People was just how seriously everyone takes their libraries in this community. So why not put in your two cents about the new site of the Preston Royal Library at tonight’s public meeting? If that’s not compelling enough, you can also congratulate your returning District 13 council member, Ann Margolin on her recent victory. Hope to see you there!

What: Community Meeting hosted by Ann Margolin

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Preston Royal Branch Library, 5626 Royal Lane

Jennifer Bryarly, organization president, and Book Marks manager Alexandra Burns.

A tip of the hat to the Preston Hollow Early Childhood PTA for its generous $6,000 donation to the Preston Royal Branch Library, Book Marks Library at NorthPark, and the Preston Hollow Park Project. The magnanimous moms contributed a bench and cold hard cash to the park and library, respectively. For the full press release, go to the jump Read More…

The future site of the Preston Royal Library has been cleared of its former occupant, the Korean Young Nak Church. The plot at Forest Lane and Nuestra Drive is now a finely manicured lot of dirt. But don’t get too excited, there’s still no time frame for when the relocation will take place.

Councilwoman Ann Margolin said the 2006 bond package used to purchase and clear the land for the library did not include funds to build a house for books. Margolin estimates it will take 3 to 5 years to get the rest of the funding secured through a future bond. In the meantime, she added, an architect will design the new library.

For copy of the neighbors Q&A with Director of Public Works Rick Galceran regarding the land, go to the jump. Read More…

The process that was approved in 2006 to relocate the Preston Royal Library has entered its next phase: land acquisition.

Councilwoman Ann Margolin said the city hopes to close on the property at Forest Lane and Nuestra Drive by the end of February. Then the city will begin demolishing the former home of Korean Young Nak Presbyterian Church. Margolin said the testing, abatement, air monitoring, state notifications, and demolition will begin 80 to 105 days after the sale is complete.

Despite those who have said otherwise at town hall meetings, Preston Hollow councilwomen Linda Koop (District 11) and Ann Margolin (District 13) have found evidence that most residents are not interested in raising the property tax rate.

Margolin conducted a telephone poll to 10,000 households with a member who voted in last year’s city council election. Of the 1,700 respondents, 88 percent did not wish to raise taxes.

Koop said she had no plans to poll her constituents, as she feels she can already gauge their opinion without one.

“90 percent of the calls my office receives are asking us not to raise taxes,” she said.

Koop and Margolin were part of a group of council members who proposed a plan yesterday with Mayor Tom Leppert that would restore many city services without raising taxes. The plan restores hours and services at recreation centers  and contributes an additional $700,000 in funding to city libraries, all without adding a cent to the property tax rate.

Of course, it does call for $1 million from the city’s emergency reserve fund, an increase in parking meter fees, and reduced mowing of city medians, among other cost-saving measures.

The money’s got to come from somewhere. How do you suggest the city handles the budget shortfall?

From time to time, my reportorial wanderings take me out near Bachman Lake. Not Preston Hollow per se, but part of our coverage area, which extends into Bluffview and its environs. Drawn like a moth to free Wi-Fi, I usually wind up at Bachman Lake Branch Library, which is shown in the picture above. Behind the beer truck. A desperate effort to appeal the the elusive 20-something male or a brilliant marketing ploy? I say both. But while I appreciate the thought, Dallas Public Library–and I do–I have to ask: Bud Light? Couldn’t we have gone for something with some flavor. I’m an IPA man, but I’m not picky. Plenty of good Texas microbrews out there. Rahr, St. Arnold’s, Real Ale. I’d even settle for a Shiner. But Bud Light?

*Note: The beer truck may or may not have been related to Village Liquor across the street.

Not long ago, I was trying to find out why, if Preston Royal Branch Library is slated to be replaced, the city wants to put a new roof on the existing building. Because, I was told, God only knows when the new library will be built. It could be months, years even, before a new site is even picked.

More like three weeks. While perusing next Wednesday’s City Council agenda, item #36 informed me that a site has been selected, and that site is the Korean Young Nak Presbyterian Church (which, if the Internet is to be believed, is a denomination with a pretty interesting history) in the 5900 block of Forest Lane at Nuestra Drive. Assuming the Council agrees, the city will shell out $2.7 million for the land which, considering DCAD’s $4.8 million appraisal, is a pretty nice deal for the city.

The question now is, what shall the library be named? Should it keep the “Preston Royal” moniker, following the example of Lovers Lane United Methodist, which is on Northwest Highway, but was founded on the eponymous street (what is now Providence Christian School). Or take the name of its new home, Nuestra Forest (though I don’t know if that rolls off the tongue quite as smoothly)? A geographically specific Melshire Library or a more geographically vague Preston Hollow Library? A famous Preston Hollowite? Time will tell.