Dru sent us this photo of a great traffic circle at 68th & Fremont yesterday.

The chalkboard says: “Round-a-bout Reclaimation. Love wins. Please write.”

Anyone know who put this up?

The community is invited to give input into Fred Meyer’s redevelopment plans for its Greenwood store from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at the  Phinney Neighborhood Association, in the brick building’s Community Hall.

At the meeting, Fred Meyer and its design firm, GGLO, and housing developer Lorig & Associates, will present their proposal, answer questions and gather feedback from community groups, business leaders and residents.

The $77 million project will demolish the current Fred Meyer and Greenwood Market, and build a 170,000-square-foot super store, which would include groceries. About 20,00 square feet will be available to other tenants, and the project includes 200-300 apartments.

The first hour will be an open house where people can see design renderings up close and speak one-on-one with members of the project team. A presentation and question-and-answer session from 7-9 p.m. will be moderated by Greenwood Chamber President Steve Giliberto. Light refreshments will be provided.

A member of the Greenwood neighborhood since 1975, Fred Meyer has met more than 50 times over the last six years with various community members and organizations to discuss the future of the Greenwood store. The company’s current proposal includes redeveloping the site with a strong focus on sustainable design and building, 200 to 300 apartments, and additional retail space to be occupied by small, boutique retailers and restaurants. Plans also include a public plaza for community gatherings and events, and a continuation of Piper Village’s Woonerf-inspired Morrow Lane—which is a European-influenced street emphasizing walkability and bicycle access.

“We look forward to hearing the suggestions and the ideas of the people who live in the neighborhood so we can be sure we create a place that people enjoy, appreciate, and use,” said Tom Gibbons, Director of Real Estate Development for Fred Meyer Stores. “Thanks to the involvement of the Greenwood community, this store will be unlike anything Fred Meyer has ever done.”

For more information, contact Melinda Merrill, Fred Meyer Public Affairs, 503-797-3830; or Kathleen Warren, Parsons Public Relations, 206-789-5668, Kathleen@parsonspr.com.

As we have previously reported, the proposed project is bringing out strong feelings on both sides of the issue, so this is a good opportunity to make your voice heard.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is still accepting registrations for the Green Lake Open Water Swim, a half-mile or mile swim on Sunday, June 28.

Open water swimming is a unique activity in which swimmers can truly enjoy their surroundings, stretch out their strokes, and get into a rhythm over a long distance that’s impossible in a pool. Open water swimmers can face low visibility, few or no markings to follow, fellow swimmers close by, and choppy water, so it pays to train and be prepared for an open water swim.

There will be prizes for top male and female finishers in youth, adult, and senior age groups. Registration is $35 per youth, senior, or special needs swimmer, and $40 per adult.

The half-mile race begins at 9 a.m. from the West Green Lake Beach; the mile swim begins at approximately 9:30 a.m. at the East Green Lake Beach. Swimmers may begin check-in at 7:45 a.m.

Registration is available online or by mail at Green Lake Open Water Swim, Evans Pool, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N, Seattle, WA 98115. For more information, call 206-684-0780.

Rachel emailed us about a possible scam involving an aggressive solicitor who came to her door on June 13:

We live on 84th street near 6th Ave NW. A man just stopped by claiming to be a representative of GE. He said that GE made our alarm system (not true) that it was old (not unless 1 year is old!) and that they were changing systems from analog to digital for free. He said this was in exchange for putting a sign on the lawn.

He looked quasi “official” – navy GE baseball cap, and showed some sort of license. He was young (under 30), Caucasian, and wore a red jacket.

Our alarm company has not notified us of any changes, and we were highly skeptical of his claims. When we stated that we would check with our alarm company and we didn’t need any change, he grew increasingly argumentative and hostile. He kept saying that he wasn’t selling anything. He also stated that our own alarm company will be making the same change, but will charge us for it.

We asked him to leave and I told him that I was calling 911 to report him. I believe he is going door to door in the neighborhood. I looked online and found evidence of other similar scams across the country.

Several people have posted in the forum about this person and other aggressive solicitors, and we had a recent post about aggressive sales people for a glass company, which drew a number of comments. Anyone else encountered the supposed GE representative?

Whittier Heights Preschool, at Dibble Ave. NW and NW 73rd St., has a few openings left in its summer camp schedule. (Disclosure: The PhinneyWood kid attends WHP.)

Preschool camps for ages 3-6 run 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday and cost $135. School-age camps for ages 7-12 run 1:30-5:30 p.m. (including some field trips) Monday-Friday and cost $150.

Owner Heike Burr says she has a few openings for preschool kids in Artapalooza, which runs this week; Creepy Crawly, June 29-July 2 (meets Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.); Under the Sea, July 27-31; Treasure Trove, Aug. 3-7; Jurassic Park, Aug. 17-21; and More Artapalooza, Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

She also has openings in the school-age camps: Garden Path, July 20-24; Under the Sea, July 27-31; Treasure Trove, Aug. 3-7; and More Artapalooza, Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

If interested, email Heike Burr.

Host families are still needed for Spanish teens who will live and study in Phinney/Greenwood this July.

This June 29, eight Spanish teens will arrive in Seattle, and be taking English classes at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, while placed in homes around the neighborhood. The teens are sponsored by Andeo International Homestays (www.andeo.org), a local non-profit devoted to homestays and cross-cultural discovery.

We have unfortunately had some last-minute cancellations, and are looking for hosts interested in welcoming a Spanish teen into their home for four weeks this July. The teens come with travel insurance and spending money, speak English, and are excited to learn more about America, English, and Seattle! They will be in class from 9am-5pm during the week, and spend evenings and weekends with families. They will be here in less than two weeks, and we are looking for a few more great hosts! Those interested should visit our website at www.andeo.org, or contact our local coordinator, Brian Crawford, at brian@andeo.org or 206-455-0022 for more information. This could be the summer of a lifetime, that could open doors to life-long friendships!

A garbage truck struck some branches and/or a power pole which took out some power lines on Aurora Avenue shortly after 5 a.m. near North 84th Street, prompting the closure of Aurora Avenue.

It appears the accident also apparently temporarily disrupted power, resetting our alarm clocks right about the same time. Did anyone else have their power go out?

The accident also explains the helicopter one of our readers reported circling near her house. According to this story, KIRO’s was over the scene.

We’re wondering if this is one of the new larger trucks, one of which sprayed natural gas after clipping some limbs in April on Phinney Ridge, and another which totalled a Ballard garage.

The colorful mural in the 57th St. underpass has been hit by taggers again.

PhinneyWood reader JM sent us these photos.

Last year, taggers hit the same mural near the zoo, and the city accidently painted over it, sparking a neighborhood controversy. Cleaning crews with a high-tech sprayer were able to revive the mural to its living color.

This is what a section of the mural looked liked before the new wave of graffiti. (Thank you JM for sending us the photos.)

A train headed to Chicago hit and killed a young man on the tracks at Carkeek Park, Seattle Police say. The accident happened at 9 p.m. on Saturday night. Witnesses report there were a few people on the tracks when the Burlington Northern Santa Fe train blew its horn, but one man didn’t make it off in time.

Thousands of people packed Fremont today for the annual Solstice Parade.

The most popular attraction is the naked and (mostly) painted bikers, who kicked off the beginning of the parade. Complete coverage of the parade and the Fremont Fair on FremontUniverse.com.

Update 11:40 p.m.: Just as firefighters were packing up their gear from the 87th and Greenwood fire, they rushed to a new fire in a house near Greenwood Ave. and Holman Road. There was heavy smoke and flames when they arrived and just when firefighters thought they had the fire under control there was a flare-up. Rob was on the scene and shot this video:

Update 10:45 p.m. Firefighters raced to a fire at the OK Corral BBQ restaurant at 87th and Greenwood just after 10 p.m. They quickly extinguished a small garbage fire in the basement. The large response shut down Greenwood Ave. in front of the Safeway , and traffic has been routed around the area.

Here’s a good look at the fire response in an overhead shot by Nick Collins.

And a cell phone camera photo from Rob on the ground as firefighters wrap up after extinguishing the blaze. No injuries were reported. (Thank you Sarra, John, Cheryl and Rob for the tips!)

The Seattle Public Library is offering a number of author events this summer for the 2009 Summer Reading Program at libraries throughout the city. All programs are free.

Children 12 and under will receive a free paperback book and pass to the Burke Museum after reading 10 books. Children who read 10 books by Monday, Aug. 3, will be entered into a drawing for the city librarian’s popular Breakfast of Champions held at the Sheraton Hotel.

Wallingford author Jennifer Worick will discuss her book, “Backcountry Betty Crafting with Style: 50 Nature-Inspired Projects,”  at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.