Black Friday in Clallam County

Several retailers reported an increase in sales over last year's Black Friday. A lot of shoppers said they were anxious to get out and shop since they'd spent the previous few days cooped up because of the snow.

Swain's in Port Angeles, JC Penney in Sequim, Brown's Outdoor and Maurices all reported increased sales this year. And Wal-Mart was jammed, of course.

Expansion of Airport Industrial Park

The Port of Port Angeles commissioners have approved $4 million in bonds to pay for expanding the Airport Industrial Park for Angeles Composites Technology Inc. (ACTI). This money is available because of the federal stimulus package. $2 million will come from Clallam County and $2 million will come from Clark County through a state reallocation project.

No taxes will be raised.

John Calhoun, one of the port commissioners, said:

"This will bring 100 more jobs to our area. That is what we are about."

Changes to Port Angeles Waterfront

The almost final draft of the Port Angeles Waterfront transformation was unveiled last week at the Red Lion.

Proposed changes include:

Moving the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center from City Pier to the vacant land just east of the Valley Creek Estuary. That same land might become a landscaped park with beach access. And Hollywood Beach could be expanded.

Property Tax Levy to go up by 1%

Port Angeles' property tax levy will go up by 1% in 2011. This should add about $40,000 to the city's property tax revenue. The increase was approved unanimously by the City Council.

Clallam County Budget Hearings Scheduled for December 7th

The County's recommended budget will draw $1.5 million from reserves, and service levels won't need to be reduced. The recommendation includes salary freezes for the county administrator and the three county commissioners. There won't be a cost of living increase for county employees. Each department head has been asked to reduce their expenses by 3 percent.

Four county employees have been laid off.

On December 7th there will be two budget hearings: 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Room 160 in the Clallam County Courthouse. After the hearings the county commissioners will consider adopting a final budget.

Bus Stop at the New Wal-Mart

Apparently Wal-Mart's new location isn't very user-friendly to transit riders. Who do you think should be responsible for fixing this problem, Clallam County Transit (i.e. your tax dollars) or Wal-Mart?

No Grocery Worker Strike on the Peninsula, Yet

The possible strike by Safeway, Albertsons and QFC workers won't affect Clallam and Jefferson Counties until December 5th, IF they vote to strike. That's the day the union members' contract expires.

Workers in King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties have already voted to reject the proposed contract. A strike in those counties could begin soon if continuing negotiations aren't successful.

Suspended for Wearing "Sex Pistols" T-Shirt

Ooookay.

I would have thought high school administrators had bigger things to worry about. Some interesting comments at the end of the article.

Sequim Wal-Mart to Add Grocery Store

Twelve to eighteen months from now, the Sequim Wal-Mart will have a grocery store. There will also be a remodeling of the existing Wal-Mart building.

About 85 new employees will be needed when the grocery store is complete.

Let's hope the already-existing grocery stores can hang in there.

Business Licenses Nixed by City Council

The Port Angeles City Council voted 6 to 1 (Max Mania was the opposing vote) to cancel the idea of requiring all Port Angeles businesses to purchase a business license. The Council had been considering a license fee somewhere between $30 and $50.

Mike Miller, owner of ASM Signs, presented a petition signed by 72 Port Angeles business owners who were opposed to the license requirement. He said:

"We're just fighting to be alive."

The City Council's reasoning was that the license requirement would create a directory of all businesses in Port Angeles.