Port Angeles Online

Port Angeles St. Vincent de Paul Closing

2009-11-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

After twenty-one years in business, St. Vincent de Paul thrift store will be closing on December 31st. They've been at 112 East 8th St.

That location will be taken over by Peninsula Mental Health. They might turn the location into a crisis center or health clinic.

Store manager Barb Townsend said sales have been in decline for the past six years.

Tim Eyman: “Do As I Say, Not As I Do”

2009-11-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

It’s a moot point now, since I-1033 has been defeated. But in last Sunday’s Seattle paper, Danny Westneat points out something interesting about Tim Eyman. (Item #13 in his column.)

Tim Eyman borrowed $250,000 when he was pushing for I-1033. That’s how much it cost him to hire all those paid signature-gatherers to get his “grass roots revolt” onto the ballot. And Eyman still hasn’t paid back that money.

I guess it’s more fun to preach about thrift and personal responsibility than to actually practice it.

About some of the local races: I had always thought local issues cut across party lines; that they couldn’t be defined in terms of liberal vs. conservative or Republican vs. Democrat. And until Larry Williams’ letter in the PDN last week, I didn’t know there were two distinct groups vying for “control” of Port Angeles.

Thankfully, he warned us about the four city council candidates who were just outside agitators who hate Port Angeles; and he steered us toward the four Good Candidates.

Similarly, the government affairs committee chairman of the Port Angeles Association of Realtors (who’s also the chairman of the Clallam County Republican Party) has been openly pushing for two of the city council candidates.

We probably won’t know the final election results until Friday; maybe later than that. But today's partial/ “probable” results indicate that two of Larry Williams’ candidates will be heading to the city council, and two won’t. One of the P.A. Association of Realtors’ candidates is likely to go to City Hall, and the other one isn’t.

If there really are two opposite camps fighting over Port Angeles, it looks like neither side won.

EdenScapes Now Supporting Local Non-Profit Groups

2009-11-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

When you make a purchase from EdenScapes — in person or online — five percent of your sale can be donated to the local non-profit organization of your choice.

So far, the local groups participating are: Olympic Theater Arts, Port Angeles Food Bank, Peninsula Dream Machines (they donate to Food Bank, Olycap, and P.A. High. School Autoshop) and Sequim Senior Services (Sequim Senior Activity Center).

Click here for more information.

EdenScapes is located at 404 Shore Road, Port Angeles (almost to Sequim).

Expensive City Council Races

2009-10-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

The eight City Council candidates have raised more than $22,000 for their campaigns. That isn’t a lot if you’re used to following state and national politics, but it seems like a lot for a small town.

Judging by the contributors listed in this article, realtors seem to be playing a huge role in backing certain candidates. It’s always seemed like local government “players” have to be former (or still practicing) real estate agents. But I hadn’t realized what a huge role they also play in financing local races.

Don’t forget to vote, if you haven’t already. Ballots have to be postmarked Tuesday November 3rd at the latest.

Inside Truth Revealed by Larry Williams

2009-10-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Outgoing City Councilman Larry Williams had a letter in today’s PDN.

After serving three terms in the city council, his detached objective opinion is that there’s absolutely no truth to the “conjecture and accusations” about “closed-door decisions and illegal executive sessions.” These accusations are nothing more than vicious rumors, based on “the ulterior motives of outside activists who’ve been strategically manipulating city hall.”

All righty then.

Coffee and a Movie at Renaissance

2009-10-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday at 3 p.m., starting today, the Renaissance — 401 East Front Street in Port Angeles — will be serving free organic fair-trade coffee while showing the documentary “Strong Coffee.”

The coffee is grown at Café Femenino, a coffee-growing co-op in the Peruvian Andes that’s wholly owned by women. “Strong Coffee” is the story of how these women got out from under the dominant business practices of that region, and built a prosperous business selling their coffee beans throughout the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Renaissance owner Lynn Keenan discovered Café Femenino at Seattle’s annual Coffee Fest, where coffee growers, roasters and café owners all get together.

Here is the Renaissance website.

Library — Using Furloughs to Avoid Some Layoffs

2009-10-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

The North Olympic Library System might use two 1-week furloughs for library employees in 2010, in order to reduce the number of layoffs. The union which represents library employees has agreed to this, but it hasn’t yet been voted on by the Library Board.

If the Board approves this, all four library branches — Sequim, Port Angeles, Clallam Bay and Forks — will be closed twice during 2010 for one week at a time. Even with these unpaid furloughs, layoffs will still be necessary; but not as many.

In 1999 the North Olympic Library System had 38 employees. This year they have 21.

Mickey's Casino Closed

2009-10-20T01:54:00.000-07:00

Mickey's Casino, formerly at 536 Marine Drive and more recently at 1603 E. Front St. (both locations are in Port Angeles), is now closed as of last Sunday.

The co-owners, George and Joyce Kain, moved here from Wenatchee in 2003.

They had been planning to stay open a little longer, but last Sunday none of their employees, who had heard unofficially that the casino/restaurant would be closing, showed up for work.

George Kain said: "Somebody spread the rumor we were going to close before we announced it to anybody. It was just taken out of our hands."

Mickey's was the only non-tribal casino in Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

Dungeness Wildlife Refuge

2009-10-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

The Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, which also encompasses the Dungeness Spit and the surrounding forest, has a new headquarters which will be unveiled tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m.

There will be a dedication and open house at the building, located off of Voice of America Road northwest of Sequim. This new center doesn’t have a lot of amenities but it has displays and information about the wildlife refuge. The Dungeness Spit is the world’s longest natural spit.

Visitors to the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge will be able to stop at the center to get maps, ask questions or purchase passes.

Bringing the Kalakala to Port Angeles

2009-10-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Steve Rodrigues, owner of the Kalakala, wants to bring the ferry back to Port Angeles.

Between 1935 and 1967 the Kalakala was a passenger ferry between Seattle and Bremerton and Port Angeles and Victoria. In the Seattle Worlds Fair it was the second most popular attraction after the Space Needle.

Rodrigues wants to build a marina east of the Red Lion where he would harbor the Kalakala. This development would also include condos and apartments, retail space and a welcome center for tourists. The Kalakala would be a floating restaurant and center for special events.

Rodrigues has been trying to do this same thing in Tacoma for the past several years, but he hasn’t gotten any funding.

I think this would be great for Port Angeles, if only…

And in other local news, the K.O. Erickson Trust, owner of the Gottschalks building in downtown Port Angeles, has decided to sit back and wait for opportunity to come knocking.

I-1033

2009-10-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here’s a nice bland non-controversial subject that nobody will have an opinion on.

Here are some websites describing I-1033 in case you aren’t familiar with it or want more information.

I’m personally against it, and everybody I’ve talked to about it is against it. But it’s way ahead in the polls.

What say you?

Upcoming Forum on Architects’ Recommendations

2009-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday there’ll be a forum to discuss the recommendations of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for improving Port Angeles. It will be at 6 p.m. in the Port Angeles City Council chambers, 321 East Fifth Street.

Port Angeles Forward will be reviewing the comments from this forum when they prepare their formal recommendation to the City Council.

The report of the AIA, which the city received last August, can be viewed here.

No Taxis Allowed at Gateway???

2009-10-06T17:23:00.000-07:00

According to a letter in today’s PDN, taxis are not allowed to stop at Gateway. Violators are charged a heavy fine.

Let’s see, a $14 million transit center which doesn’t allow taxis to stop there — does this make sense?

Port Angeles City Council Candidates’ Forum

2009-10-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 15th at 7 p.m. there’ll be a forum for Port Angeles City Council candidates. It’ll be held in the City Council chambers, 321 East Fifth Street.

The forum is being sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Clallam County and the American Association of University Women. The forum will have questions answered by:

Larry Little and Cody Blevins, running for Position 1;

Max Mania and Edna Petersen, Position 2;

Patrick Nelson and Harry Bell, Position 3;

Betsy Wharton (incumbent) and Brooke Nelson, Position 4.

The same two organizations will sponsor a second forum on Monday, October 19th at the City Council chambers, 7 p.m. This forum will feature the candidates for:

Port Angeles School Board, Position 1 — Debby Fuson and Sarah Methner;

Olympic Medical Center board of commissioners District 2, Position 2 — Phil Edin and John Miles;

Port of Port Angeles Board of Commissioners Position 3 — John Calhoun (incumbent) and Brad Collins.

This forum will also be discussing the pros and cons of Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71.

And don’t forget about the Harbor-Works forum this Thursday, October 8th, 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room, Clallam County Courthouse.

Farmers Market “versus” Downtown Business?

2009-09-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

This letter appeared in today’s PDN:

“I was shocked after reading the article in the September 11 PDN that the folks who are in charge of running the Port Angeles Farmers Market are looking for exclusive use of the Gateway [Wednesdays and Saturdays].

I remember walking through the Farmers Market when it was on Laurel Street during the construction of the Gateway and hearing vendors call it a waste of taxpayers money. Now they want exclusive use.

The Gateway was paid for by all taxpayers and therefore should be available to those who want to use the pavilion for whatever reason, so long as they pay the rent. I want to know why the farmers market executive director thinks the market’s needs should override the downtown business and events?

I personally do not shop the farmers market because I feel they have a “better than thou” attitude.

Port Angeles City Council, wake up and do not grant an exclusive contract to the farmers market. Remember, elections are coming.”

[sigh] Where to begin? First of all, practically everybody thought Gateway was a waste of tax money before and during the construction. Personally I’m glad it’s here, now that it’s a done deal and it’s up and running. But when it was still in the planning and debating (oh that’s right, there wasn’t any debate) and construction phases, the following would have been the worst drinking game imaginable: Ask people at random what they thought of Gateway — the cost, the purpose, the benefits. Every time you got a positive answer, you could knock back a shot of your favorite poison. You’d still be stone cold sober at the end of your “survey.”

Any business owner (I’m not one myself) will tell you that continuity and consistency are crucial. It should be crystal clear why the Farmers Market vendors want their customers to know where to find them. If they’re at the courthouse one week, Gateway the next week, then the courthouse, then Gateway — they’ll lose customers. Simple as that.

And what kind of conflict could there possibly be between downtown business and the Farmers Market? When the Farmers Market was exiled (or whatever you want to call it) from downtown Port Angeles four years ago, the consensus (well, almost) was that downtown merchants were losing business. The eviction of the Farmers Market meant that the Farmers Market’s customers weren’t coming downtown; they were at the courthouse or wherever the market’s location-of-the-week was. And fewer shoppers downtown meant fewer customers for downtown stores and restaurants.

I too hope the Port Angeles City Council “wakes up” and disregards that letter.

Peninsula Plywood to Start Hiring

2009-09-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Peninsula Plywood’s lease with the Port of Port Angeles is now official. The company will begin hiring during the next few weeks, according to company president Josh Renshaw.

The lease requires PenPly to hire sixty people during the next ninety days.

Port Executive Director Jeff Robb said: “This is a bright day for Peninsula Plywood, for the Port of Port Angeles and for our community.”

The Answer For Youth

2009-09-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is the name of a non-profit organization that will open on October 5th. The group — which goes by its initials, TAFY — will be providing emotional and spiritual help to at-risk young people.

They’ll be located at 711 East Second Street in Port Angeles. The building will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. The group is all volunteers, and they’re reaching out to people in the 13-24 age bracket.

Susan Hillgren is the president of TAFY, and Pam Fosnes is the treasurer. Donations can be made to TAFY at any branch of First Federal.

Tentative New Agreement Between Rayonier and Ecology Department

2009-09-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

A cleanup agreement has been drafted between Rayonier Inc. and the Department of Ecology.

Rayonier received a copy of the agreement two days ago and has 60 days to negotiate the details. Under the agreement, Rayonier would have to finish taking soil samples on its property. They would also have to develop a cleanup plan for the 75-acre property and a portion of Port Angeles Harbor extending about one mile northeast of the property.

The cleanup plan has been delayed because Rayonier and the Department of Ecology haven't been able to agree on how large an area Rayonier is responsible for cleaning up.

Port Angeles Police Department Adds Two New Officers

2009-09-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

A $500,210 grant from the Justice Department will enable the Port Angeles Police Department to add two new officers. This will give them a total of 33 officers.

This grant is part of a $1 billion stimulus package to put more police officers on the street. The program is called Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

The two new officers are Justin Leroux, a former National Guard pilot; and Kori Malone, formerly a Sequim police detective.

Harbor-Works Forum on October 8th

2009-09-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority is planning a forum on October 8th. It’ll be at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 East Fourth Street.

This will be a chance for the public to hear updates on the cleanup and redevelopment plans for the Rayonier site. The public will also be able to provide input to the Harbor-Works consulting team.

Harbor-Works Being Reviewed By State Again

2009-09-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

The State Auditor’s Office is again planning to review whether Harbor-Works was created illegally.

According to spokeswoman Mindy Chambers, the Auditor’s Office has received new information which might change their previous conclusion that had cleared the City and Port of Port Angeles of any wrongdoing.

Port Angeles residents Shirley Nixon and Norma Turner, who filed the earlier complaint about Harbor-Works, have provided the new information which has caused the State Auditor’s Office to re-examine the issue.

They’re alleging that the city and port both violated the state Open Public Meetings Act when Harbor-Works was created in May of 2008.

Much Ado About Signs

2009-09-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

I would’ve thought that creating jobs and maximizing retail sales would be the top priorities here. Apparently there’s a much more important issue.

People’s livelihoods, the local tax base — that’s all well and good. Just be sure to comply with the local sign ordinance. Pennants — and anything else that can flap in the wind — are forbidden in Port Angeles. The only exceptions are for car dealers, and the banners that the city places across First Street and Front Street.

Gateway Tavern owner Vivian Bertelson, whose own sign is in violation of the city’s ordinance, noted the irony. “Technically, the city is the biggest offender.”

Herbert and Maria Lutz, owners of Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, spent $6,300 on a new sign, which would replace an older sign of the same dimensions. Then they found out their sign is prohibited under the sign ordinance, which took effect in 2002.

About three years ago a local merchant complained about too much clutter on the sidewalk in front of one of the antique shops on First Street. This set off a brouhaha of complaints, counter-complaints and confusion.

Aren’t there more important things to worry about?

Corporate Logos on State Ferries?

2009-09-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Washington State Ferry system might try to ease its huge deficit by selling naming rights to corporations. There are twenty-eight ferries which could have Starbucks, Microsoft or any other corporate name emblazoned across the hull or the smokestack.

The state Transportation Commission has hired a consultant — TB-Rogstad Consulting
— to study the feasibility. Their report should be released in about a month.

Traci Brewer-Rogstad said: “We're doing research on potential revenue that could be earned by selling naming rights, and the branding challenges that would face.”

This is also the subject of today’s online PDN poll. “Should the Department of Transportation sell naming rights or logo imprint rights to Washington State Ferries?”

So far, with only 327 votes cast, it’s 45% Yes; 47.7% No; and 7.3% Undecided.

Bike Patrols in Jefferson County

2009-09-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

Some Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies have started patrolling on bicycles. So far they’re using bikes in Port Hadlock, Irondale and Brinnon.

Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez said: “Everything changes when you are on a bike. You hear more, you see more and you make more contacts with people. Also, you move better and faster than on foot or getting out from your vehicle.”

Deputy Brett Anglin said: “It really is a stealthy unit. These things run very silent, quieter than a car for sure. Also, on a bike at night you don't look like a cop. You just look like some guy on a bike. I don't think we have encountered anyone on the bikes who saw us coming.”

So far Clallam County has no plans for bike patrols. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said: “We don't have any bike patrols. To be honest, I don't know of any places where we could effectively use them.”

American Institute of Architects: Suggestions for Port Angeles

2009-09-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

The gist of the AIA report is that Port Angeles hasn’t been capitalizing on the traffic that passes through on the way to Victoria or Olympic National Park. Travelers are not given enough reason to stay in town. (More details here and here.)

The report is available at the city’s website here. There’ll be a public forum on the report; no date has been set yet.

Last summer’s Painting Downtown was one of the Architects’ recommendations.

Other recommendations include creating a waterfront promenade that would encompass the Waterfront Trail and the ferry terminal. They also recommend increasing activities at Gateway, which should bring more people downtown.

They recommend changing the intersection of First Street, Front Street and Golf Course Road to a roundabout. This way you wouldn’t have to make that 150 degree left turn from First Street to Front Street and then try to merge into the traffic that’s barreling down on you.

First and Front Streets would both become two-way streets, but they’d remain one-way downtown (between Lincoln and Valley Streets). This change is a few years away and would require additional funding from the Transportation Dept.

They also recommend re-routing the Truck Route away from downtown. This also is a long way off.