Kent Myers to Speak at PABA meeting

Outgoing City Manager Kent Myers will be the guest speaker at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.

Country Aire Ready to Move to Larger Location

Today is the last chance to shop at Country Aire's present location at 117 East First St.  At 7 p.m. today that location will close.  On Tuesday, May 1st, the store will reopen at the much larger former Gottschalks building at the corner of First and Oak Streets.

The new larger store will have five times the inventory of the old store, and six times the produce.

City Council Approves Civic Field Bond Measure

The Port Angeles City Council voted to place a $4 million bond measure, for improvements to Civic Field, on the August 7th ballot.  The City Council vote was unanimous.

It's a 20-year bond which will end up costing $5.5 million after interest has been calculated.  At least sixty percent of the voters will have to vote Yes in order for the bond to pass.

Chamber Guest Speaker to Discuss Stocks, the Economy

Tomorrow's guest at the Chamber of Commerce will be Todd Lowenstein from San Francisco's Union Bank.  He will be discussing the stock market and the economy.

Port Angeles Fire Chief to be Interim City Manager

Port Angeles Fire Chief Dan McKeen will be the interim city manager.  He was chosen by a unanimous vote of the City Council.

His contract will allow him to serve for up to 120 days, and he said, "I don't have any intention of applying for the permanent city manager position."

"What's the Number One thing that should be done to improve the North Olympic Peninsula?"

This was today's Speaking Out question in the PDN.  Answers included:

"Diversity of employment.  I have a master's degree but not a lot of openings around here for professionals.  Just McDonald's type jobs..."

"We need more things to draw tourists into town.  The national park is OK but a distance away.  Being in Victoria recently and seeing what's all there, it's a letdown to come home."

"We need more stores in Clallam Bay.  For us to get groceries, we need to go to Forks or Port Angeles.  Also, more things for kids and young adults to do.  We're a very seasonal area."

"Eliminate the random passage of pleasure boats with tall masts through the Hood Canal Bridge.  They hold up people and hundreds of cars and trucks in both directions."

"Jobs.  We have to have more jobs that come with new businesses.  Young people are leaving and the schools are shrinking.  Good paying jobs have left.  We need modern industry."

"A better selection of stores like a Lowe's or more family restaurants.  You're forced into what is here.  I'd like more variety in stores.  Besides, it would help competition."

"A high speed foot passenger ferry to Seattle.  I'd like to go to the big city, and visitors coming this way will help the economy."

"We need more ways out of town to the east than Highway 101 over Morse Creek.  What if we had some catastrophe and the road was blocked?  What then?  We need more alternatives."

Demolition and Redevelopment of PenPly Site

According to the Port of Port Angeles, demolition of the Peninsula Plywood buildings on Marine Drive should begin in about a year.  Port Executive Director Jeff Robb said:

“This is our highest priority.”

The Port expects to be ready to redevelop the site by 2014.

Cherie Kidd Writes Thank You Note to Nippon

Port Angeles Mayor Cherie Kidd wrote to the president of Nippon Paper Industries USA to thank the company for its $71 million biomass project and for its "many contributions to our community."

Her letter also said:

"We look forward to this opportunity to see first-hand your investment in plant upgrades that will help you compete in the pulp and paper business.  I hope you can arrange to be part of this tour so we can get to know each other better. Our friendship and partnership is very valuable to us and we look forward to a positive future and close working relationship.”

Oven Spoonful Hopes to Reopen Soon

Oven Spoonful, located on the same premises as the shuttered Itty Bitty Buzz, is hoping to reopen soon in the same location.  It could be as early as this coming Monday.

Oven Spoonful owner Dave Long and his wife Karen have been negotiating to purchase the equipment at the Itty Bitty Buzz location so they can open as the Oven Spoonful as soon as possible.

The New Transformed Lincoln Park

The new Lincoln Park might include trails for biking and walking, an orchard, ponds and wetlands, according to the proposed master plan.

More maps and drawings can be found here. (Warning!  .pdf file!)

Contract Settled Between OMC and SEIU

Olympic Medical Center and the Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW have approved the 2-year collective bargaining agreement for nurses, dietary workers and service workers.  Most of the union membership and all seven hospital commissioners were in favor of the agreements.

Itty Bitty Buzz Closed; Buzz Closing

The Itty Bitty Buzz in downtown Port Angeles is closed as of this past Monday.  The owner has a buyer and is expecting the business to reopen soon.

The Buzz in Sequim will be closing because the building where it's located is facing foreclosure.

Kent Myers Leaving

City Manager Kent Myers will be taking a new job as city manager of Fredericksburg, Texas.  May 2nd will be his last day as city manager of Port Angeles.  He expects to begin his new job in Fredericksburg on May 9th.

Border Patrol Move Delayed

The Border Patrol's new headquarters were previously expected to be completed in early April.  The completion date is now expected to be late May, with a move-in date sometime in late June.

Hurricane Ridge Ski Area Closed For Season

The Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area is officially closed as of yesterday.  The ski area didn't open this year until mid-February because the winter got off to such a slow start.  The scheduled April 1st closure came even though Hurricane Ridge is now covered with fresh snow and above-normal snowpack.