N eighbors braved the summer heat to attend the monthly meeting of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association. These fun and informative meetings take place the first Monday of each month at the Hyde Park Methodist Church on Speedway. This month's meeting will be on September 8th to allow for the Labor Day holiday.

    Co-Presidents Bruce Nadig (shown here) and Gary Penn presided over a marathon meeting packed with content and contention. Bruce kicked off the meeting with a charming (some said alarming) story about Hyde Park icon Dorothy Richter. Apparently Dorothy's neighborista' tactics, now the stuff of legend, recently inspired Bruce to take a stand in front of a cement truck intent on pouring an unpermitted slab in Hyde Park North.

    Visitors from the nearby Austin State Hospital must have been listening to all this with interest. Fortunately for our local heroes, the visitors were only there to receive a donation from the Association along with our thanks. At last month's meeting Hyde Park Homes Tour ace Alan Marburger asked to explore a possible donation toward the Hospital's Children's Intensive Care Unit. A motion was made and passed this month donating a sum of money toward the landscaping of the Children's Unit. Wendy Biro-Pollard of ASH thanked the Association for its contribution. Click on Wendy's picture for an image of the architect's drawing.

    Next up was the Austin Police Department liaison Brent Dupre. Before beginning his quarterly presentation Brent also took time to praise the Austin State Hospital and the great work they are doing. He went on brief neighbors on the success of APD's "Summer Heat" program and on the new smaller "central" commands that are being created under APD's redistricting effort. Neighbors had many fascinating questions for Brent, but only those who attended will ever know what they were.

    Adam Wilson from the nearby Griffin School gave the evening's feature presentation. Adam shared the school's story with neighbors. Located on the grounds of the old Perry Mansion, the school now has fifty-five students and is becoming more of a presence in Hyde Park. Anyone wishing to learn more is encouraged to visit the school's web site at www.griffinschool.org.

    Co-President Gary Penn announced a meeting with Grande Communications. The broadband internet and cable company is moving into Hyde Park. While residents have expressed enthusiasm about having competition in the area, there are concerns about the placement of equipment in the alleys and City rights of way.

    Finally, Alan Marburger gave the Association an update about the formation of a Code Enforcement Committee to help enforce planning and zoning restrictions and keep neighbors and businesses educated about the laws and regulation