Harbor-Works Meeting this Thursday

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. The location hasn't been selected yet. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss whether to dissolve Harbor-Works.

Port Angeles Citizen Survey Results

The results are in for the 2011 budget priorities survey.

Here's the link. (pdf. file)

Harbor-Works: “If I keep Asking, Begging and Pleading, maybe Rayonier will go out with me”

Enough is enough.

Bomb Squad Called to Port Angeles Neighborhood

Authorities have cordoned off a Port Angeles neighborhood after arresting a 51-year-old man for an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). It happened in the 300 block of Forest Avenue.

The neighborhood blockade also includes the 2400 to 2500 block of South Cherry Street as well as the 300 block of Forest Avenue.

In other late-breaking news (meaning not in today's hard copy of the PDN), the Joyce General Store was burglarized at around 5 a.m. this morning. The burglar was spotted on video surveillance, wearing a black stocking cap, black jacket, gray running pants and black tennis shoes, and carrying a gray or silver backpack with a black triangle design on the back.

Elwha Dam Removal

Today's online PDN poll asks:

“The Elwha dams process has begun. In hindsight, do you think it's still a good idea to remove them and restore the river?”

As of this writing, with 750 votes in, the results are:

Yes — 44.5%

No — 21.3%

Never Did Favor It — 22.9%

Not Sure — 11.2%

New Marketing Theme for Port Angeles

The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce is seeking suggestions for a new marketing theme. The deadline is August 31st.

For the past seven years the theme has been (as you probably know): “Port Angeles, Washington: The Center Of It All On The Olympic Peninsula.” They're hoping the new theme will be shorter, as well as being usable for more than just tourism.

New Location for Border Patrol

I'm not too enthusiastic about the Border Patrol's highway checkpoints, but I don't see what that has to do with their new larger headquarters. There seems to be some opposition (probably not much though) to the Border Patrol relocating to the Fraternal Order of Eagles building.

Lots of interesting comments at the end of this article.

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's Design for Rayonier Property

Salish Village would be the name for the proposed "living community" on the former site of the Rayonier mill. It would be a mix of light industrial, commercial, cultural, residential, lodging, retail, convention and park uses. It would also include a restored waterfront pier, urban farmland and wildlife habitat.

The idea comes from Jamestown S'Klallam tribal Chairman Ron Allen and various architects, planners, environmentalists and residents. Ron Allen said:

"This attempt is designed to say to the community there is a way to develop a win-win proposition. Everybody has their own ideas, of leaving it in its natural state to development. We're just suggesting that we think seven generations down the road, looking into the 22nd century, and needing the latest development techniques."

He described the plan as "a very dense development that allows light commercial and industrial kinds of activities that balance with the cultural site and the creek and estuary."

Employment Situation to be Discussed at PABA Meeting

This Tuesday's guest speaker for the Port Angeles Business Association will be Colette Roberts of Express Employment Professionals. She will be discussing the employment situation locally, statewide and nationally.

The meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. at Joshua's Restaurant.

Survey on Future Harbor and Shoreline Uses

If you have an opinion on future uses of Port Angeles Harbor and the waterfront, you have until Friday to give your input.

Here's the website.

It's a different URL than the one listed in today's PDN; that one didn't work.

UPDATE: They've extended the deadline. You now have until September 10th to fill out this survey.

New Hope for Empty Gottschalks Building

K.O. Erickson Trust, which owns the former Gottschalks building in downtown Port Angeles, formed a planning group last January. This group includes Jerry Nichols, co-owner of Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty; Roy and Mary Gotham; Kaj Ahlburg; Bill Herman, and Ted Simpson.

The group is hoping to open a locally-controlled department-store type of anchor store in this location next summer. First they're looking for a general manager. Jerry Nichols said:

"We're trying to fill it locally. If there are people out here that have this kind of experience [selecting products and overseeing buying], if there's anybody locally who looks capable of doing the job, we'd prefer to go there rather than go to a headhunter."

This store would sell brand name clothing, shoes and cosmetics. Nichols said:

"The store would not be associated with a chain store but it would be able to stand on its own."