A sign in the window at the New Freeway Hall, the socialist hangout on Rainier Avenue South, caught the attention of KVI's conservative radio host John Carlson last week. The sign, which read "Victory to the Iraqi Resistance," reportedly prompted Carlson to send flag-waving patriots to New Freeway Hall in protest on April 30. Antiwar activists and neighbors defended the hall. "Their message was clear: We are supposed to shut up and fall in line behind the war. If we don't, these militia types promise to make our lives hell," says Chris Smith, a Hall employee. However, "Patriot62," who squared off with the socialists, penned his own report of at his site, www.gbanews.net. "Most popular [among New Freeway Hall defenders] were signs indicating that the Pro-USA demonstrators were 'Nazis' and members of the KKK," he wrote. AMY JENNIGES

The Pelz Pounce

Lefty King County Council Member Dwight Pelz has never been one to mince words--even in letters to the county's own constituents. In an e-mail response to a suburban resident who complained that the Tent City homeless encampment (to be located on county land in Bothell) would destroy what had been "a nice, safe place to raise our children," Pelz ranted: "What you are saying is... 'All the uncomfortable aspects of society should be borne by the famil[ies] and children of South Seattle.' ...Why don't you conclude your thought and say, 'The parents in South Seattle don't care about their children the way we do.' ...Maybe next year when Martin Luther King's Birthday rolls around you should just go to work rather than pretending to honor his message of compassion and justice for the poor." How soon can we get this hothead on the city council? ERICA C. BARNETT

The Skaters Score?

Beth Williamson Miller, executive director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, sent out a panicked e-mail on Monday, May 10. "I have received some inside information regarding the Ballard Municipal Center Park and the decision the Parks Board of Commissioners will undoubtedly make this week [about the Ballard skate bowl]. IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD! The bowl may very well remain," she wrote, imploring Ballard businesses to register opposition to keeping the bowl in a new Ballard park slated to break ground next year. The board is slated to announce its recommendation to Seattle Parks and Recreation head Ken Bounds--who gets the final say on the bowl--on Thursday, May 13.

It's no wonder Miller is worried: Mayor Greg Nickels supports keeping the bowl, he announced on KUOW Monday morning ("I've come to the conclusion it ought to be part of the permanent park. I've let [Bounds] know what my opinion is."). And the parks board has received 1,100 messages of support for keeping the bowl, Miller wrote to her members, noting that just three chamber representatives showed up to an April meeting to oppose it. AMY JENNIGES