I know a contingent of Greiner supporters are planning to protest at DISD headquarters this afternoon. They plan to show their displeasure with Version 4.0 of the proposed DISD budget, which would have discontinued the campus’ exploratory arts academy by eliminating all nine academy teachers.

Well, trustees were briefed this afternoon on Version 5.0 of the budget, and this version calls for Greiner to lose half of its academy teachers. Of course, when you divide nine in two, you’re left with four-and-a-half. What does half of an academy teacher look like?

Loren Collins, son of Tom and Susan Collins of University Park, graduated cum laude in the top 10 percent of his graduating class from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. He received a Jurisprudence Doctorate during commencement exercises held there May 14.

A member of the Harlan Society, Collins will spend the summer studying for the bar exam and working at a criminal-defense firm in San Antonio.

Manuel Sarmiento and Delia Jasso admire Sarmiento's new sculptures in front of Uptown's Maple Terrace Apartments.

Last night, Oak Cliff’s City Councilwoman Delia Jasso unveiled a new work by native Oak Cliff artist Manuel Sarmiento in front of the historic Maple Terrace Apartments in Uptown.

The Uptown piece, which took Sarmiento three months to complete represents a group of unique, oblong human figures having a conversation “of sorts” and interacting with one another.

Sarmiento said it’s an unexplainable feeling to have his work displayed at this apartment manor in Uptown. “It’s incredible to know that this is a permanent piece and people will see it for a long time,” he said.

Councilwoman Jasso addressed the gathering prior to the unveiling and said this is a unique opportunity “to meld Oak Cliff and Uptown.” Following her speech, Jasso assisted in unveiling the seven figures forged out of textured metal.

Jasso and her husband were in attendance, along with Rick Garza and his wife. Uptown City Councilwoman Angela Hunt was there, but arrived after the unveiling due to a conflict.

Following the unveiling guests were welcome to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres along the Italian-style terrace and talk all things art.

Fortunately for all, the event missed the hail monsoons by an hour or so, but attendees almost dropped their Champaign glasses at a few claps of blood-curddling thunder.

Be sure to swing by the corner of Maple Avenue Wolf Street to pay homage to our Oak Cliff master artista!

For more coverage, check out this Friday’s paper.

Staff photo: Chris Mcgathey

I didn’t personally see any storm damage around Oak Cliff this morning — which seemed odd, considering how loud the si-reens* sounded last night from the Beckley Club area. We had strong winds, hail, and (before that) a passel of neighbors out watching the sky, some with cameras in hand.

So I called JD’s Tree Service owner JD Dobbs, who graced our pages in April for his side business: handmade furniture, crafted from local trees that are often naturally felled. And sure enough, he had some post-storm tips.

The elm at left is in the 800 block of Windomere Ave., where workers cleared big fallen branches from a rooftop.

And as of a couple hours ago, said JD, a downed tree was blocking Haines Avenue at Junior Drive, near Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

How did everyone else come through last night?

*Standard pronunciation of “sirens” in any Southern-U.S. TV/radio news interview regarding storm damage.

Jonathan Braddick holds his own Saturday in the Backyard Burger Throwdown. Staff photo: Chris McGathey.

Kessler Theater chef Lisa Martel may have won the Backyard Burger Throwdown, but Friday’s Oak Cliff People will have dirt on all five contenders — and the truly memorable slider varieties they were slingin’ last weekend during the third annual Brew Riot.

You may know Jonathan Braddick, for instance, as organizer of the N. Polk Street Beautification Project (read his neighborhood blog here). Seems he’s also gutsy enough to bring homegrown-beet patties to a grilling contest, and jump in at the last minute to share a booth with Martel.

So which burger was your favorite?

I have a wonderful babysitter who is looking to get more sitter jobs.  She is an elementary education major and is wonderful with children.

If interested, call Marvy at 469-441-4085.

If you would like a personal reference, call Karen at 214-673-0794.

Scott Griggs, District 3 Councilman-elect, has made natural gas drilling a big part of his agenda, especially a controversial technique called “fracking.” While Griggs has insisted that the city needs to address fracking inside the city and within District 3 in particular, many residents may not know what fracking actually involves.

Lucky for them, ProPublica, a public interest journalism nonprofit, has created this handy-dandy video. Caution: Be sure turn up the volume and put on your headphones. The tune will have you humming along!

Side Note: Five o’clock today is the deadline to sign up for the city’s gas drilling task force. You can sign up here.

Painted dancer made of scrap metal

Renowned Oak Cliff artist Manuel Sarmiento will have a group of sculptures installed on the front lawn of Uptown’s historic Maple Terrace Apartments.

Sarmiento primarily works with metals, but uses other materials such as fiberglass and concrete, on occasion. He has lived in Oak Cliff his entire life.

An unveiling ceremony will take place next Tuesday, May 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Maple Terrace where Councilwoman Angela Hunt and Oak Cliff’s own D1 Councilwoman Delia Jasso will officially unveil the work. Come check it out!

(Look for more coverage in next week’s paper.)

Who’s ready for Brew Riot this weekend? No doubt, you’ll find some of us there — on the clock and otherwise. I’m especially looking forward to the Backyard Burger Throwdown, a slider-grilling contest that event organizer Rob Shearer says was designed to appeal to anyone, not just chef/foodie-type contenders. Makes sense.

“We’ll see if it ends up sticking as a part of Brew Riot,” Shearer told me. “Hopefully it’ll be well received and the burgers will taste good – and it will help cut some of the beer consumption.”

The fun starts 4 p.m. Sunday outside Eno’s. If you want to earn your grill-meister chops,  RSVP here no later than noon Saturday.