End of Jazz In The Olympics Festival
The Festival had been scheduled for April 1st through 3rd of this year. The event was canceled because they won't be able to use the Red Lion, as they had planned.
Festival Director Gary Sorenson said he won't try to schedule the event for 2012 because:
"You can't jump-start a festival. It's tough to get people back."
Festival Director Gary Sorenson said he won't try to schedule the event for 2012 because:
"You can't jump-start a festival. It's tough to get people back."
Labels: Jazz in the Olympics
posted by Tom Harper at 7:15 PM
38 Comments:
Was it canceled in 2010 too? Can't remember, but it seems like it was...
no leaders no vision -- the new slogan for port angeles.
Thanks Chamber for f'ing up another good thing that was handed to you. Way to go, losers.
Port Angeles . . . the Paragon of Medicrocy!
Good, it was a joke anyway, just like the crab festival
The Chamber is pathetic. A bunch of overly-cautious, do-nothing lunch-eaters.
Here's a tip, PA Chamber members: Ditch your current director, who lives in SEQUIM, not PA. And who does brilliant things like hire his unqualified niece to help handle YOUR money and (ha ha ha) vision. Russ needs to go, now. He's a joke. An expensive, destructive joke.
When I read this story, I couldn't help but see it as the continuing decline of Port Angeles. Sorry for the negative cast, but hard to over look if you look at it in the context of what has happened over the last 15 years.
The Tallships festival canceled for this year, and now the Jazz on the Olympics, for this year, also. Why? No money. Not enough interest. Not enough patronage.
Cars used to be backed up and parked overnight on Railroad ave. and Lincoln, waiting for the ferry to Victoria the next morning. Those people slept in local hotels, and ate/drank at local establishments. That faded away years ago.
Yes. The leadership in this town is really lacking.
Port Angeles ... why not settle for fourth best?
Too bad JFFA isn't the one cancelled...nuthin but a hippie-fest.
The only people who go to those things are unwashed hippies. Good riddance!
Unfortunately, the Jazz Festival catered to a predominantly geriatric crowd who prefered a toned-down version of traditional jazz. The festival always seemed stiff and stodgy. There was no outreach to younger people, no outreach to ... anyone, really. No wonder the JItF fell apart last year.
What a bunch of negative people!!!!
On top of that they don't know what their talking about or don't know, nor care about the history of some of these events and the amount of money it brings to our community.
The "unwashed hippie" remark is that same I heard when the
Farmers Market was on Laurel St, hmmmmmmm wonder who that might be, that fine clothing store on the corner? Or some of their close friends?
As to Russ, Yes he does need to be replaced!!!
PDN has just denied the Coho Ferry will be sold until 2015. That gives us 4 years to do something. Why in the hell was the majority interest given to the University of Oregon? The next question, how come the PDN hasn't gone to any of the regent's meetings to find out the real scoop, instead of asking the "President and CEO" (who I assume would be the minority owner, because the university is the majority owner)
The PDN in it's lack of journalistic skills never ASKED Mr.Burles how much of an "owner" he was.
Meanwhile, why would the University of Oregon keep such a white elephant (to them)? Makes no sense.
Me thinks the denial is no denial.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101221/news/312219986/rumor-control-coho-owner-not-looking-to-sell-ferry
"The "unwashed hippie" remark is that same I heard when the
Farmers Market was on Laurel St, hmmmmmmm wonder who that might be, that fine clothing store on the corner? Or some of their close friends?"
You Edna-haters need to get a life.
Glad to hear about the Coho. I hope it is true.
"Unwashed hippies" fits in both cases. lol
I'm tired of seeing all the filthy mouth-breathers greasing up our downtown.
They're the same kinda leeches who want to destroy any kind of industry - get a job, taxpayer-sucking leftists!
glad to hear about the Coho, hope it is true? What that it's LEAVING, or that it's going to be for sale? or that the PDN wouldn't know how to report a story if it was a rat biting them in the ass.
Funny, Edna never came to mind!
"taxpayer-sucking leftists!"
I guess this applies to the Nippon mill, and most of the employers in the US, including the defence industries like Boeing, that seem only to be able to survive with taxpayer subsidies. And, don't forget the farmers, with all their taxpayer funded "supports".
You know. "Corporate welfare."
Oh, and how about the foriegn countries the US taxpayers fund? How much taxpayer money went into Iraq and Afghanistan, to support what?? Yeah, I thought so, a bunch of "taxpayer-sucking leftists!"
I saw on the TV news this morning that 1 in 7 Americans are on food stamps.
"glad to hear about the Coho, hope it is true? What that it's LEAVING, or that it's going to be for sale? or that the PDN wouldn't know how to report a story if it was a rat biting them in the ass."
Yes, I do agree that the PDN story was very lame. It left many more questions than it answered. Interestingly, Burle did not comment on whether there ARE plans to sell the Coho, at some point. He did not comment on any possible negoitations for the near future.
But, I am glad that it looks like the Coho is not going away, soon.
"But, I am glad that it looks like the Coho is not going away, soon."
What are you talking about? SOON could be 4 years from now? What sort of short sighted thought process is that? That is exactly why this town is in the dumps.
Newsflash: 4 years is a very short period of time. We should be planning 5-10 years out. Do we? NO! We are knee jerk reactors in this country, now. We won't get upset until the Coho is SOLD and gone, and we're crying in our rootbeer (because who will have the $$ to afford beer).
The PDN does more of a disservice to this area than any other entity. They print half-news and slanted news, and happy news. They overwork their reporters, and overcharge the merchants (for advertising).
But, it is the least of our problems.....
Merry Christmas, Libs!
"Merry Christmas, Libs!"
I assume you are talking to the Libertarians.
I'm assuming by Libs you mean Librarians......
Happy Festivus, nazi swine.
Anon 12:48 said "What are you talking about? SOON could be 4 years from now? What sort of short sighted thought process is that? That is exactly why this town is in the dumps.
Newsflash: 4 years is a very short period of time. We should be planning 5-10 years out. Do we? NO!"
You are right, of course.
So, do you think the State/Feds will cough up the money to buy and maintain the 60 year old (or older?) Coho ferry? Just buying the ferry and its' holdings is one thing, but all the employees have to get their annual salaries and bennies, too. Or, will this be a repeat of what happened in Port Townsend with their ferries? (Their ferries were about the same age as the Coho)
Will the current "cut government spending" crowd support such a "socialist" move by the government, essentially "nationalizing" a private business? Or, will they continue with espousing that "government should let private business do what they do best", and allow Asian buyers to purchase the Coho and move it to China?
who in the HELL said anything about the feds/state buying the Coho?
What about the city finding a buyer? What about something like what was done with the pool? How about a consortium of investors? What about getting the University of Oregon to do some kind of structured deal to aid a local buyer?
The thing is -- the feds and the state aren't going to help us here. We have to learn how to stand on our two feet and think with our brains.
"What about the city finding a buyer? What about something like what was done with the pool? How about a consortium of investors? What about getting the University of Oregon to do some kind of structured deal to aid a local buyer?"
As much as I admire and applaud your ideas and approach, I think that no private entity will touch an operation like the Coho. Any perspective buyer will do their "due diligence", and see that tourism is declining in the area. That with insurance, international public transportation regulations, annual maintenance, and more, that the numbers just don't work.
Even Jack Harmon of the Victoria Express is open about his desire to move his operation from Port Angeles, and sold off one of his ferries recently.
I hope I'm wrong. But, I don't think so.
Unless, you're interested?!
"Any perspective buyer will do their "due diligence", and see that tourism is declining in the area."
I just don't get that about this town. The possibilities for a mixed economy is tremendous. And yet... construction of new business is stagnant (Super Walmart excepted), the natural resources are under-utilized, we've got things like the zip line and skiing in the parks, both of which should be no brainers, falter for years.
Why is tourism declining? Sure, we're way out in the middle of nowhere, but so are a lot of destination places. We've seen better days, but so have a lot of places and they've turned themselves around. So why not us?
Unfortunately the people who should be asking that question have their fingers over their eyes screaming "la la la we're the greatest place ever good things will happen any day now you'll see la la la!!" over and over again.
Our Chamber of Commerce is led by people who believe that the best new slogan for the Port Angeles area is: "The Authentic Northwest".
Need we say more about why the local tourism industry is floundering?
We have a bunch of competing groups supposedly promoting business and tourism -- none of them could figure out how to sell ice cubes in Death Valley.
We have an abundance of "city leaders" who have only been interested in projects if there were kickbacks and backroom deals for THEM.
We have a populace which is largely uneducated and rather self-involved (with shopping at Walmart, watching American Idol, and eating obscene amounts of food). We still have the "us v.s. them" which includes local v.s. moved here, and what ever flavor Christian v.s. not/something else. (We still have the lingering idea that tourism is somehow BAD, while logging is noble.) We have bad news -- flushed babies, and dad's who brand their kids, women who embezzle from the city -- but nothing positive (no pie eating contests, no "largest" anything, no civic pride, no special event). Our festivals are old and dusty, or dead. Our vision is about as enticing as a toothless meth head.
But, try and do anything...two problems. 1.) you get "we tried that, didn't work" from the majority, 2.) difficult to find corporate sponsors because of the "nothing positive" listed above. "Never heard of the place".
In other words, we don't work BECAUSE we don't work together. Not the various promotion groups, not the leaders, right down to not the individual cliques and groups that live in this town.
Find a way to turn that around....start with flushing the chamber and the tourism councils and the downtown association...flush out everyone, and start with a new culture. Then, come up with ONE THEME, one concept, one vision that we can all get behind -- and get EVERYONE backing this, promoting this. Even the city. Get some positive news -- something that doesn't shout "we're second rate".
....We could have tourists here in droves, if we make a 3-5 year plan, and stick to it.
Ahh, forget it, whats on TV?
"Why is tourism declining? Sure, we're way out in the middle of nowhere, but so are a lot of destination places. We've seen better days, but so have a lot of places and they've turned themselves around. So why not us?"
Because Port Angeles is UGLY!
Really, I'm not trying to be negative. Look around.
Sure, there are pretty places, once you get out of town. But, even from town, looking up into the hills, you mostly see clear cuts and other results of the logging biz.
The harbor has oil tankers and smokestacks. Downtown has pawn shops and junk stores.
What does Port Angeles have to offer that is worth driving 250 miles round trip for? The ONP? Okay, but think about it. If you live in the Seattle area, is Mt. Rainier National Park closer? How about exploring Mt. St Helens?
Skiing? You think that there are no closer skiing places for the I-5 folks than Port Angeles?
Tourism has been declining steadily, for years, for a reason. You're right. In part because civic leaders have consistently chosen "industry" over aesthetics for years.
Again, think about it. If you're going to spend your hard earned dollars, and limited vacation time somewhere, how many of you choose a run down, ugly dive with limited things to do?
"Authentic" would be a Logging Festival...perhaps we need that!!
"So why not us?"
I'll give you a big clue - this place has an incredibly bad vibe to it.
There are no interesting, charming buildings like downtown P.T. has (and I'm not saying P.T. is a paradise. All the old, interesting stores have largely disappeared as investors from Seattle and elsewhere have bought up the properties and raised the rents. How many "northwest/wool" clothing stores does any one town need?). Most of the Victorian buildings have bee torn down or obscured under ugly 70's era "modernization". Few antique stores worthy of the name,most businesses are hanging on by a thread and have a desperate feel to them and there are plenty of empty, delapidated store fronts or gaping, weedy vacant lots. Downtown sure looks appealing!
Another factor is the Lee Hotel. Why a public housing project was allowed in the downtown core is beyond me. At least it doesn't look like a prison but it casts a pall over downtown. Another great addition are all the half-way houses on the hill above downtown. When a small town becomes flooded with the mentally deficient, the morally dodgy and other human detritus, it's on the way out.
The tweaker commune under the Laurel Streets stairs is a real bonus to downtown. Seriously, do any of you people actually walk those stairs ... recently or ever? The foul smell of human excrement, the trash, the tarps and sleeping bags and tweakers sitting on the benches or roaming around downtown aggressively panhandling - this would not be tolerated for a moment in a town that actually cared about how it presented itself.
The Coho ferry terminal looks welcoming, too. It's like you're about to catch the last train to Buchenwald or Belsen. All that's missing is the search lights, concertina wire and snarling guard dogs.
Port Angeles is a town with diminished expectations, a place where people are willing to settle for fourth best. Clone Max six times, bring every "progressive" from California, hire architects from hither and yon - and nothing would change. This town has a bad vibe and, from what I can tell, it always has had it. The bad vibe is like the black mold that infects most of the rental houses around the courthouse area - it's eaten into the very fabric of the town.
I've lived in many places in the U.S. and while none of them were perfect, none of them were as hopeless as this place!
""Authentic" would be a Logging Festival...perhaps we need that!!"
Sounds good... except we've been trying to get a logging museum open for years with no luck. Oh well, Sequim has a logging festival, so people can go to that instead.
Well that's the really frustrating thing... We COULD have a destination ski lodge. We COULD have a nice downtown. We COULD have a mixed blue- and white-collar economy. We COULD have a vibrant tourist trade. We COULD be a biking, kayaking, sports destination. We COULD have a zip line. We COULD have a logging festival. We COULD have an economy that grows, or at least remains stagnant, instead of falling year after year.
We COULD be a LOT better than what we are. We've got the natural resources, we've got a talent base (before they leave town in frustration that is), we've got a beautiful area.
Instead we have in-fighting, dozens of separate little kingdoms trying to be king. We've got a downtown that is skewed more towards government programs for the poor and disabled than retail and entertainment. We have little vision besides a vague notion of being a "tourist town". We have no follow-through on what plans we have. We have an aging, inefficient infrastructure without the will to re-build.
But we have this arrogant pride, and I guess that's all this town needs.
'I've lived in many places in the U.S. and while none of them were perfect, none of them were as hopeless as this place!
6:34 PM, December 25, 2010'
Yeah, I was just talking with my significant other about moving from here, earlier this morning.
Life is too short. No need to put up with living in a place like this. Lots of other choices in this great country.
We have too damn many festivals. And most of 'em are magnets for croc/birkenstock-wearing, crappily-attired, slouching, spineless, weak, stenchy liberals.
Good riddance. Move to PT.
Sally,
you are an idiot
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