Today’s issue of Preston Hollow People includes a look at how things have changed in the 12 months since voters approved permits for beer and wine sales in stores. The chart accompanying the story said six stores in the area have acquired such permits, while a seventh — the Walgreens on the southeast corner of Preston and Forest — has applied for one.

Make that eight. I just found this on the agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting:

A public hearing to receive comments regarding an application for and a resolution granting a variance to the alcohol spacing requirements from the St. Mark’s School of Texas required by Section 6-4 of the Dallas City Code to allow a wine and beer retailer’s off-premise permit for a general merchandise or food store greater than 30,000 square feet on property on the southeast corner of Preston Road and Royal Lane

I assume the store in question is the new Central Market.

Oladunni Ogundipe of Hockaday, Spencer E. Williams of St. Mark’s, and Monica Ohawke of Ursuline are among the more than 1,600 black high school seniors who have been designated semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. These students now have an opportunity to compete for approximately 800 Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $2.4 million.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. More than 31,100 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $98 million.

College. The one word that no doubt has crossed every high-school student’s mind. This one word raises anxiety and thousands of questions. Big campus or small campus? In state or out? And of course the ultimate question, which one is the best fit. Ready for some answers? So am I.

This Saturday, explore and learn about more than 200 colleges at the St. Mark’s College Preview. At the St. Mark’s School of Texas representatives from these colleges will provide information and answer questions about their school. Bring your parent or child from 1 to 3 p.m. and explore the showcase of colleges. Don’t forget to bring your open mind. Who knows what college you could stumble upon? 

We’re developing a story about graduates of Preston Hollow schools who come back from their prestigious colleges to tutor local kids during the summer. Names of two such students (Connor Watumull of St. Mark’s and Kimberly Gonzales of W.T. White) have already flown into this reporter’s inbox, but we’re looking for more.

Know of any high school graduates offering their sage advice by the hour?

Four Preston Hollow-area students were among the more than 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities announced today by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

• The University of Alabama awarded scholarships to Ursuline senior Haley Malin and homeschooler Sara Omador.
• Kenyon College awarded a scholarship to Greenhill’s Erin Ginsburg.
• The University of Chicago awarded a scholarship to St. Mark’s senior Shashank Mittal.

The 8.9 earthquake in Japan and the ensuing tsunami and nuclear disaster captivated the world’s attention in March. And while many of us texted our donation to the Red Cross in the initial months, the problems persist. To help the victims, a group of St. Mark’s and Hockaday musicians are starting off the summer with a free orchestra concert on May 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. in St. Mark’s Decherd Auditorium. Donations for Second Harvest Japan will be accepted at the door.

Performers include: St. Mark’s String Quartet, St. Mark’s and Hockaday Trio, harpist Naoko Nakamura Stromberg (a native of Yokohama, Japan and a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony), violinist Kaori Yoshida of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, world renown pianist Christina Long, and associate concertmaster at Dallas Symphony Orchestra Motoi Takeda.

Jesuit's Buck McClure tries to get away from St Mark's Bear Goldstein during a regular-season game. No, we did not make those names up. (Photo by Marco Antonio Medina)

Sports editor Chuck Cox and photo editor Chris McGathey are en route to Houston, where the Texas High School Lacrosse League will crown two champions Sunday. It’s entirely possible that both championship teams will represent Preston Hollow schools.

In Division I, ESD will take on Jesuit in one semifinal, and St. Mark’s will face Coppell in the other. In Division II, Hillcrest will take on some school called TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas. (TMI apparently stands for Texas Military Institute.) The winner of that game will then face either Stony Point or Clear Lake.

If you can find the Fox College Sports Atlantic channel on your satellite or cable lineup, you can watch the championship games from the comfort of your living room. If only I had known about that before signing off on Chuck and Chris’ road trip.

Students from five area private schools were awarded the prestigious title of National Merit Scholar, and the $2,500 that comes along with it, the organization announced today.

The local winners are:

Ryan Johnson and Connor Mighell, Cambridge School of Dallas

John Lo, Greenhill

Kristjana Gudmundsson and Victoria Tarpley, Hockaday

Justin Buskmiller, Jesuit

Landon Blair, Muhi Hani, and Willam Raskin, St. Mark’s

Nicholas Osborn, Hillcrest High School, was a finalist in the competition.

St. Mark’s graduate Sam Acho was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals this morning. The defensive end from the University of Texas was the sixth pick of the NFL Draft’s fourth round, or the 103rd pick overall.

Episcopal School of Dallas, Jesuit, and St. Mark’s will all be gunning for spots in the state lacrosse playoffs tonight when the schools play in the North District playoffs. All three will play at home.

ESD (11-6) will face Plano, while Jesuit (13-2) will play Plano West, and St. Mark’s (17-1) will take on Southlake Carroll. All three games are at 7 p.m.

The winners of tonight’s games will move on to the state playoffs, which begin next weekend.

The other North District playoff game is between Highland Park and Coppell.