A firm headed by Preston Hollow resident Jeremy Halbreich has purchased newspapers in Odessa, Harlingen, and McAllen. His name always catches my eye, because I indirectly owed one of my favorite jobs to Halbreich.

I was driving down Hillcrest Road the other day, approaching LBJ Freeway, and I could have sworn that I saw an electronic sign warning drivers that the road would be closed overnight on May 22, i.e. tomorrow. But when I fired up the Google machine for confirmation, I found the Lane Closures page on lbjexpress.com, which is confusing. That page says Hillcrest was closed nightly (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) from May 14 through Saturday, but it also says it will be closed “24 hours per day” for “nightly” overpass work from Sunday through June 20.

Last week, I profiled Kevin and Lynette Payne, a Preston Hollow couple who have been working with the Galaxy Counseling Center for more than a decade. Tonight, they will host their annual benefit to raise money for the center.

The event starts at  7 p.m. in a Della Vita custom home in the 6800 block of Waggoner Drive. Tickets are $75 each or $125 for two, but if you can’t attend, donations are accepted here.

FRIDAY: Marcus Luttrell discusses and signs his new book, Service: A Navy Seal at War, at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in Lincoln Park.

SATURDAY: Northaven United Methodist is holding a “Feast of Friendship” at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, click here.

SUNDAY: Piano recitals at St. Mark’s begin at 7 p.m. on campus.

To have your event promoted, email me at william.gerlich@peoplenewspapers.com

I just found out you won Major League Baseball’s “Breaking Barriers” essay contest. What was your essay about? The Jumobtron didn’t say.

One of many attractive views of this front yard on Royal Crest Drive. (Staff Photo: Alana Harrison)

This lavish lawn is featured in the Homes & Design section of our May 18 edition of Preston Hollow People. If looking at it makes you green with envy, then head to the Hillcrest High School plant sale. The fundraiser features around 20 different plants priced from $5 to $20 and proceeds will benefit the Class of 2013.

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday

Where: Hillcrest High School 9924 Hillcrest Road (sale is on the Aberdeen Avenue side of the building)

It’s time for the annual Lamplighter Young Alumni Car Wash 2012: Presented by Classic BMW! The car wash will be happening from noon to 3 p.m. at Lamplighter. The wash is free, but they will accept donations to the school. Go support Lamplighter, and get some FREE Pinkberry, cool shirts, and JD’s cookies!

I came across this ridiculous video, which is just a series of Google Maps images set to a loop of techno beats, and felt compelled to share. This is mainly because misery loves company, but there are a few cool views of Casa de Cuban, so it won’t be entirely a waste of time.

A woman hunted a man quite the distance to try and get her phone back. Photo Credit: northparkcenter.com, google.com

In the longest thief foot chase — although I have nothing to put this claim against — in NorthPark history,  a woman chased down a man who had stolen her phone at 5:55 p.m. last Monday while she was dining at La Madeleine.

The thief snatched her $500 iPhone from the table she was sitting at and took off towards Center Park. The victim immediately bolted after him as he weaved through the garden area and ran out the North doors by Kona Grill.

She did not let up as the suspect cut through the parking lot towards Park Lane, but eventually lost sight of this cross-country criminal as he crossed over North Central Expressway.

The map shows the potential path they may have taken and here is my unofficial distance ran by the two: Far.

This event took place a day before NorthPark announced their new curfew for 17-year-olds and younger. Which would have nothing to deter this ruffian who was believed to be in his late-20s or early-30s.

My only thought: Why does no one find a woman chasing a man through the mall suspicious?