Podyallup #101: Thank You!

Episode 101 of Podyallup is for Friday, November 13, 2026. Puyallup dedicates a new memorial flag, local high school football heads into the playoffs, and several events are coming to the Washington State Fairgrounds. I also have an announcement about the future of Podyallup and a little experiment involving two lies and a truth.

Puyallup's America 250 memorial flag

The City of Puyallup held a Veterans Day dedication ceremony for its new America 250 Memorial Flag near Meridian and Fred Meyer.

The project features a 100-foot flagpole and has received more than $65,000 in contributions from local residents, businesses, and organizations.

Mayor Ned Witting described the flag as a symbol of gratitude for veterans and the shared ideals that have shaped the country over its 250-year history.

I haven't seen the flag in person yet, but I'll have to take a look sometime soon.

Puyallup School District news

Glacier View Junior High school psychologist T.K. Beam has been named the 2026 Washington State School Psychologist of the Year.

The district recognized her work supporting students, mentoring future school psychologists, and strengthening special education services.

Several school district events are also approaching. A Spanish and English family reading event takes place November 17 at Barnes & Noble in the South Hill Mall, followed by a multilingual family workshop at the Karshner Museum on November 19.

Thanksgiving break is November 25 through 27.

South Puget Sound League football playoffs

Local high school football teams are heading into the playoffs, and some of the scores from last week were rather impressive.

Puyallup faces Richland after the Bombers' 57-16 victory in their previous game. Graham-Kapowsin takes on Eastmont after winning its last game 76-0. That's quite a margin.

Emerald Ridge faces Kennedy Catholic at Highline Memorial Stadium, and Sumner also has a playoff game scheduled.

Current scores, schedules, and standings are available at spsl.org.

Northwest Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival

The Northwest Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival is at the Washington State Fairgrounds November 13 and 14.

Visitors can browse fabrics, sewing supplies, quilting equipment, patterns, and all sorts of crafting materials. The event takes place in the Mattress Firm ShowPlex, with admission advertised at $15 at the door.

Details are available at quiltcraftsew.com.

Gem Faire

Gem Faire is also at the fairgrounds this weekend, featuring jewelry, crystals, minerals, gemstones, beads, and supplies from more than 70 exhibitors.

Admission is advertised as free with online registration or $7 at the door. Children 12 and under and adults 70 and older get in free.

I'm not entirely sure why registering online makes the admission free while walking up costs seven dollars, but there you go.

More information is available at gemfaire.com.

The Great Junk Hunt

The Great Junk Hunt returns to the Washington State Fairgrounds November 20 and 21.

Vendors will be selling vintage goods, antiques, repurposed furniture, handmade items, and various treasures that someone else apparently no longer wants.

The event also features food, cocktails, and music. So perhaps the business model is to get shoppers a little tipsy before selling them junk.

Admission ranges from $10 to $20 depending on the day, with free parking in the Blue Lot.

Event information is available at thegreatjunkhunt.com.

The future of Podyallup

I've now produced 101 episodes of Podyallup, which was my original goal for the podcast.

Over the past couple of years, I've learned quite a bit about recording, producing, and making something that resembles entertaining radio. Some episodes have featured guests, while others have simply been me talking about whatever comes to mind.

I'm not planning to shut down Podyallup, but I am planning to reduce the frequency of new episodes. I won't be committing to a weekly schedule anymore.

Between teaching, other projects, my Spanish podcast Listen Read Interact, and CI Immersion, I've got a lot on my plate. I also want to make more time for exercise and taking care of myself.

There may be an episode every month, or there may be longer gaps between them. I might also decide to return to a regular schedule someday.

Financial support from listeners will help determine how much time I can continue dedicating to the show. For now, the entire archive will remain available, and there will be more episodes in the future.

Two Lies and a Truth

I've been considering an idea for another podcast, and today I'm trying it out on Podyallup.

The idea is called Two Lies and a Truth. I'll read three news stories, two of which are completely fabricated. Your job is to figure out which story is real.

The format also includes commercial breaks for fictional businesses. A future version might feature one real advertiser alongside two fake ones, without ever revealing which advertisement is legitimate.

For today's experiment, all the advertisements are fictional, and the three news stories concern Puyallup and Pierce County.

Story 1: Remote assignments instead of snow makeup days

The Puyallup School District is reportedly reviewing a proposal to replace snow makeup days with assignments students could complete from home.

The idea would eliminate the need to extend the school year following unexpected winter closures, although concerns remain about internet access, power outages, and whether students could complete assignments independently.

Would this be an improvement, or should snow days simply remain snow days?

A word from The Meeting Exit

Have you ever been trapped in a meeting that should have been an email?

The Meeting Exit offers scheduled notifications designed to provide a convenient excuse to leave an unnecessarily long meeting.

Choose from family emergencies, scheduling conflicts, or unexpected maintenance appointments. Plans supposedly begin at $6.99 per month.

Story 2: Traffic changes near Puyallup High School

The City of Puyallup and the Puyallup School District are working on a traffic circulation pilot program near Puyallup High School.

The plan involves changes to parking, designated pickup and drop-off areas, and traffic routes along several nearby streets.

The City Council is scheduled to revisit a proposal involving a permanent street closure in December.

School pickup and drop-off traffic has been a recurring topic on this podcast. Could something like this actually improve the situation?

A word from Neighbor Watch Parking

Neighbor Watch Parking is a supposed new service allowing homeowners to rent unused driveway space to drivers who need temporary parking.

Imagine renting a driveway near a school, sporting event, or neighborhood where parking is difficult to find.

Homeowners set their own rates, drivers reserve spaces through an app, and everybody supposedly benefits.

Story 3: Residential parking permits in Pierce County

Pierce County officials are reportedly considering a residential parking permit program for congested neighborhoods in unincorporated areas.

Under the proposal, residents could pay $35 per vehicle annually for permission to park on designated streets during restricted hours.

Supporters argue that permits would discourage nonresidents from occupying neighborhood parking spaces. Opponents question why residents should have to pay to park on public roads near their homes.

Three stories. Two lies. One truth.

Listen to the episode to find out which story is actually true.

Value for value

Podyallup is a listener-supported, value-for-value podcast. There are no subscriptions or paywalls. Every episode is freely available.

If you've enjoyed these 101 episodes and would like to hear more, your contributions help make that possible.

You can contribute financially, share the podcast, send an email, or leave a voicemail. Monetary contributions are particularly helpful in deciding how much time I can dedicate to future episodes.

To support the show, visit podyallup.com/donate.

You can also record or upload a message at podyallup.com/voicemail.

Thank you to everyone who has listened, contributed, and helped make these first 101 episodes possible.

This isn't goodbye. There will be another episode. I just don't know exactly when.