Fate of Renowned Autumn Mural Hangs in the Balance T


By Nicole Contosta Staff Reporter


he Bella Vista Town Watch met tremendous resistance to a proposed zoning vari-


ance at its most recent monthly meeting. The request? Developer Jim McIlhenny wanted to add two parking spaces for the single dwelling house he would like to build at 631 S. 9th


Street. The house


would be constructed where a nine-car parking lot now stands. But the fifty neighbors protesting the project did not necessarily take issue with the zoning request for two parking spaces on the proper- ty’s lot. That’s because they don’t want anything constructed that would shroud the Autumn Mural facing it. Part of a series of murals depict-


Renowned Autumn Mural at 9th & Bainbridge may be forever shrouded by a single-dwelling home. Photo: Nicole Contosta Center City Philadelphia’s Community Newspaper continued on page 2 October 26, 2011 WEEKLYPRESS


David Dye Celebrates 20 Years Of World Cafe T


By Nathan Lerner


hese days, it has become commonplace for radio sta- tions to radically revamp


their formats. In many instances, this becomes an ominous por- tent of divesting the station’s on-air hosts of any modicum of control over the content of their programs. Somehow, WXPN’s David Dye has managed to buck these dis- quieting industry trends. The Mt. Airy resident is celebrating 20 years of his nationally syndi- cated show, World Cafe. It fea- tures a distinctive amalgam of live music and interviews. A native of Glen Falls in up- state New York, Dye grew up in Swarthmore from the age of six. He matriculated at Swarthmore College, where he initially ma- jored in biology, before switch- ing to history. Dye recalled, “I think I always


wanted to do radio and was banging on the door of my col- lege station on the first day of freshman orientation. That year, my roommate saw an ad that WMMR was looking for DJs and dared me to apply.” He contin- ued, “About six months later, I got a call out of the blue to do an interview and got the prized Sunday morning 8 a.m. to noon slot. I was in heaven.” At the ten- der age of 19, Dye made his on- air debut. He conceded, “I was incredibly nervous. Time was the only thing I used to over- come my fear. The more I did it, the less fearful I became. As any DJ will tell you, we all still have dreams about messing up.” Back then, WMMR was a free- form progressive station, which granted wide latitude to their DJs, even the inexperienced col- lege kid. “On the air, I was al-


continued on page 2 David Dye. Photo: Joe del Tufo www.WeeklyPress.com FRICK See Page 15 for details.


Fairmount Water Works Han- dles Flood Waters Swimmingly


By Mark Brakeman For the Weekly Press / UC Review


B


eing surrounded by water all day, every day, imposes a different perspective on


flooding. It’s just more of the same, much more. During last month’s Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the river that flanks three sides of the Fairmount Water Works Interpre- tive Center (FWWIC) invited itself inside, but the center’s staff had prepared for the Schuylkill’s intru- sion. On Wednesday, October 19, at the


continued on page 5


NUTTER’S MOVING HAULING


Moving • Hauling • Cleanouts


215-989-7176 ADOPTIONS


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