Congratulations to the Tyler Street Christian Academy boys basketball team. With a 55-42 win Saturday over Spring Providence Classical, the Crusaders defended their TAPPS 1A state title.

Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner offers her take on 48 Nights in the Sunday paper. Here’s the first comment posted under the online version of her review:

Cool idea. But Oak Cliff? How about another location closer to Park Cities or north Dallas?

In the same week that North Oak Cliff was the subject of a cover story in the Dallas Observer, Channel 8 aired a report on the area being an emerging hot spot for small businesses.

Besides the previously mentioned receptions at Haley-Henman and La Reunion TX, openings are scheduled this evening at Daniel Padilla and Mighty Fine Arts.

Photo from oakcliff.com

Our story on the TIGER grant is in this week’s Oak Cliff People, but I got in touch with Dallas City Councilwoman Linda Koop, who had a few things to add to the story.

Koop said that U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson ” was crucial the most crucial part” of the grant application process. Other organizations that Koop mentioned included the Downtown Dallas organization, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Oak Cliff Transit Authority.

A specific concern from the Bob Stimson, president of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, was the $25 million funding deficit. Koop said that the city and its community partners are looking to several other funding options, which include federal provisions in the transportation bill, stimulus dollars, and perhaps even a TIF district.

One of the requirements of the TIGER grant is that the $23 million be spent in a timely manner, Koop said. That means the city will have to bump up efforts to bridge the funding gap and get the project moving.

But the big picture is that the feds see streetcars as the future of government initiatives focused on sustainability. The side effect is that it will be a boon for the local economy.

“I think it will be a great revitalization program in Oak Cliff,” Koop said. “It’s not going to be a stand-alone project. It’s one of the ways we’re all working together to make cities more livable.”

According to Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Toole Design will lead the Dallas Bicycle Master Plan. Peter Lagerway, Seattle’s former bike guru, will take the helm of the effort that will bring more and better bicycle infrastructure to Dallas.

Mmmmmm, I love Girl Scout Cookie season! Today through March 21, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas will be hosting cookie booth sales at stores such as Blockbuster, Kroger, Tom Thumb, and Albertsons. The sales are an integral part of the organization’s business and economic literacy initiative for girls in kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’ve found it’s helpful to repeat that last sentence over and over to myself after tearing into a box of thin mints. Go here to find the cookie booth closest to you. Get there before I do!

The Super Bowl XLV Host Committee is looking for photos of the Oct. 7, 1930, football game between Sunset and North Dallas. According to the committee’s Baron Cass, this was the first football game played at Fair Park. The committee needs the photos for its “Century in the Making” project celebrating the 100 best football moments in North Texas history. If you can help, send an e-mail to bcass@northtexassuperbowl.com.

Howdy, campers! Next week’s edition of Oak Cliff People will include our semi-regular Camps section. Do you have a fond memory or funny story related to your time at Camp Longhorn, Sky Ranch, Camp Fern, or some other remote wooded area? Would you like to share it with your fellow readers? Could you sum it up in 100 or so words, and e-mail it to dan.koller@peoplenewspapers.com? Sure you could.

The latest Dallas Observer cover story is about what a cool, happening place North Oak Cliff is. The story includes three photos of this month’s Mardi Gras parade taken by Sara Kerens. One of these photos prominently features the Oak Cliff People banner being held by the lovely and talented Lucy Neal.