Port Angeles Farmers Market Written Up in PDN

Today’s Peninsula Daily News has a good write-up of the Port Angeles Farmers Market on page 1 of Section C. (Not available in the online PDN.)

The Farmers Market needs this publicity since they're basically dying out there on the courthouse parking lot. Apparently a lot of people don’t even know the Farmers Market is there; they thought it just fell off the Earth when it got banished from downtown P.A. They're at the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot at Fourth and Peabody.

On top of their reduced number of customers, they had to hold a fundraiser a few weeks ago to pay for the portapotty that they're required to provide.

The article reminds everyone that shopping at a farmers market is not only healthier; it supports the local economy by keeping the money in the community.

According to one statistic (I haven’t seen it online), when you shop at a nationwide franchise, only six cents of each dollar stays in the community. When you patronize a local vendor or mom-and-pop store, sixty cents of every dollar stays in the community. Presumably the statistics are similar for farmers markets and locally-owned grocery stores vs. the national supermarket chains.

So check out the Port Angeles Farmers Market (if you haven’t already been) — Saturdays at the County Courthouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

William Shore Memorial Pool

The City of Forks is without a swimming pool, for all practical purposes. They do have one, but voters have turned down two levies for maintenance and operation of the pool. So it’s closed, with nobody knowing what to do with it.

This same thing could also happen to the William Shore Memorial Pool in Port Angeles. A few days ago the PDN mentioned that voters might have to approve a bond issue this coming November in order to finance repairs to the pool.

With all of the construction projects going on (and other budget-busting expenses), and property taxes going up and up and up, it’s hard to picture the voters saying yes to anything right now.

Do you think Port Angeles will still have a pool after November?

Downtown Bypass for Port Angeles

This idea has been kicking around for about 25 years, but with the nightmare traffic in downtown Port Angeles, the bypass has gotten a lot more appealing. But remember not to call it a bypass; it'll be the Truck Route.

The Port Angeles City Council and the Port Angeles Forward Committee are studying the feasibility. They're hoping for a short-term route that would use existing streets. The long-term route, if it's ever constructed, might connect the Deer Park area with the intersection of Routes 101 and 112.

Larry Williams, who serves on the City Council and Port Angeles Forward, said "we've beat on this issue as far as we can go."

Mayor Gary Braun said "hopefully this study will move the effort forward and it won't just sit on the shelf."

Do you think this is a good idea, or could it jeopardize downtown businesses by siphoning too many people away from downtown Port Angeles?

What To Do About That Pesky Elk Herd

The online poll in today’s PDN is: Should the Sequim elk herd be thinned (culled) or moved?

As of this writing, 26.6% said “thinned,” 8.6% said “moved,” 6.3% said “both” and 55% said “neither.” Presumably most of the people who want the herd “thinned” are California refugees who thought they wanted to get away from suburbia, but later realized they wanted to bring the suburbs with them.

So far this year, eleven elk have been “harvested.” If you went into a gun shop and asked where the harvesting rifles are, I guess they'd know what you were talking about.

The elk problem will probably rear its head in Brinnon too, since that luxury resort near Brinnon was approved yesterday. There's an elk herd in that area, which probably won't fare well when the new improved Brinnon gets stricken with an epidemic of Affluenza.

Casino For Elwha Tribe

The Interior Department has denied the Lower Elwha Tribe's plan to build a casino West of Port Angeles. The Interior Department ruled that the Tribe's application didn't include environmental assessments.

The Elwha wanted to build the casino on the 16-acre site that formerly housed Adventures Through Kayaking.

They might still be able to build the casino, but they'll have to wait at least five years. The Tribe is not planning to build a casino at Ediz Hook (where they own land) or at Tse-whit-zen, the ancestral village along Marine Drive in Port Angeles.

Do you think they should be allowed to build this casino? Or do you think the 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn is enough for Clallam County?

Sobriety Checkpoints on Washington Highways

Governor Christine Gregoire is pushing for sobriety checkpoints at certain high-accident areas. This is favored by law enforcement, citizens’ groups and a lot of legislators from both parties. The ACLU opposes it.

Do you think these searches are an invasion of privacy? Or do you think that when you get behind the wheel of a car you're in the public arena and certain privacy rights no longer apply?

New Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Port Angeles

On January 15th the Port Angeles City Council will select the next Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Port Angeles.

I've lived here 3½ years and I never knew the mayor was selected by the city council and not the voters. I guess it should've been obvious, since I've never seen any posters or banners for Karen Rogers, or “Vote for _____________ for Mayor.”

Any speculation on who they’ll select?