Celebration in Downtown Port Angeles

We've all spent months fuming and complaining about the downtown sidewalk construction and the traffic jams. And now TGIF. Thank Goodness It's Finished.

That's the name of the celebration in downtown Port Angeles this Saturday, May 3rd. If you've been avoiding downtown because of all the hassles, now it's time to come back.

Saturday's events will be at First and Laurel, starting at 2 p.m. Carnival games, hot dogs being grilled, ribbon cutting ceremony, free cake, drawing for a grand prize (harbor cruise aboard the Victoria Express).

At 6:30 p.m.: the beer garden opens and there'll be a street dance (music by DJ Dizzie Richie).

Click here for complete details.

Jazz In The Olympics 2008

Don’t miss Jazz in the Olympics this weekend in Port Angeles — April 25th through 27th. Spring is here (according to the calendar anyway) and this is a great way to celebrate.

Concerts will be held at Vern Burton Center, the Red Lion, the Eagles Club and the Elks Lodge. Performers include:

51st Eight Jazz Band
Buck Creek Jazz Band
Bob Schulz’ Frisco Jazz Band
Bryan Shaw’s Hot Shots
Grand Dominion Jazz Band
High Sierra Jazz Band
Holotradband
Louisiana Joymakers Jazz Band
New Black Eagle Jazz Band
Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band
Wolverine Jazz Band
Jim Buchmann

Click here for complete scheduling details.

Clallam Transit: Increased Bus Service?

With gas prices through the roof (and don't hold your breath waiting for them to come down), this seems like the perfect time to start using local transit.

Unfortunately, if you commute by bus, there has to be a bus that arrives at your workplace at the time you start work; preferably not an hour early or five minutes late. Or, employers could allow their employees to flex their work hours around the bus schedule. As long as it's the same number of hours, what's the problem? As radical as that idea might sound, there are areas where employers actually do this.

In yesterday's PDN (article not available online), this point was made by two commuters: one who lives in Port Angeles and works in Forks, and one who lives in Diamond Point and commutes to Port Angeles.

Fortunately, Clallam Transit has hired a consultant (Perteet Inc. of Everett) to come up with ways to adjust the bus schedule around riders' needs. According to Terry Weed, Clallam Transit general manager, the consultant should be making recommendations in late 2008 or early 2009.

Clallam Transit received a petition signed by twenty people who work in Forks and would like a more convenient bus schedule. If you have suggestions for how to improve the bus service, you can send them to:

Clallam Transit System
830 W. Lauridsen Blvd.
Port Angeles, WA 98363

Forks Recall Dismissed by Judge

A judge has dismissed the recall petition against Forks Mayor Nedra Reed. Judge Ken Williams ruled that all charges were legally and factually insufficient and that "further proceedings in this matter are not warranted."

As I've said in earlier posts, I have no opinion for or against Nedra Reed or the recall drive against her.

But this area seems incredibly prone to having petitions and votes getting squelched by a higher authority, whether it's a judge, city council or city attorney. It brings to mind the anti-fluoride petition (which I also have no opinion on). Certain Port Angeles "Powers That Be" are just scared to death of letting the people vote on this issue. What are they afraid of?

Religious Fanaticism: Alive and Well in Washington

If you want to see some religious wackos, you don't have to travel to the Deep South or the Middle East. We have our own homegrown holy rollers right here in Washington.

I haven't paid much attention to the recall controversy in Forks, but Mayor Nedra Reed has received this unsigned letter:

"For furthering the cause of Satan and destroying the cause of Christ,
By supporting sexual harassment and pornography,
For protecting and supporting moral and spiritual bankruptcy,
For each and every lie you tell and support,
For the hypocrite you are,
Here's your nail."

And with that a nail fell out of the envelope.

Yeehaw! Bring on the snakehandlers!

This person or group has a right to send nasty/insane letters (although Forks Police Chief Mike Powell is investigating) but the other 99% of us have the right to be appalled. There are some sicko people out there.

Port Ludlow Online

Port Ludlow might be taking a step into the 21st Century. At yesterday’s Port Ludlow Chamber of Commerce meeting, members were pitched the idea of a “digital village” for Port Ludlow.

The idea comes from David Pike and Dean Mosier of Port Ludlow. Mosier said: “Just imagine if you could sit down at your computer and go to just one site for your entire community. This is that site.”

The website would be for business owners, residents and visitors. It would be a virtual storefront for merchants and their customers, and there would be access to local forums and bulletin boards, classified ads, news and weather.

The Chamber of Commerce hasn’t approved the idea yet, but most of the members at yesterday’s meeting were interested. If Port Ludlow adopts this website, maybe the idea will spread to other communities on the Olympic Peninsula. People could patronize local merchants without having to fight their way through traffic and construction projects.

Tim Eyman Rears His Head in Sequim

Washington’s favorite anti-tax crusader might be taking on the Sequim City Council.

In the few pictures I’ve seen, Tim Eyman looks like that dufus comedian who was on several Seinfeld episodes; the one who kept saying “I’ve been working out. I’m huge!” and “the best, Jerry! The best!”

Eyman has warned Sequim against increasing the vehicle license fee. I’m against runaway spending by city councils. Where was Tim Eyman when the Gateway Project was being considered? Why doesn’t he get involved in the Bubble Building fiasco?

I think storm drains and functioning sidewalks (the current issue in Sequim) are necessary. But a $14 million bus stop? Increased funding for a shrinking school district? Tim, where are you?