Peninsula Economy is Good?

This article by Seattle columnist Ron Judd was in the PDN a few days ago. Apparently the post-summer “shoulder” season is pretty lucrative for motels, inns and campsites on the Olympic Peninsula.

The author says that until around 1990, summer crowds disappeared right after Labor Day. For that brief window between Labor Day and the winter weather, locals could enjoy their favorite beaches, parks and campsites without the summer crowds. And now, according to the author: “Consider it over. The window of bearable weather without unbearable crowds has shrunk to zero.”

“...Subpar motel rooms in Port Angeles, on a Wednesday night? Full. Time-worn accommodations at Lake Crescent Lodge? Ridiculously overpriced cabins at Kalaloch and semi-stately suites at Lake Quinault Lodge? Full, full, full.”

He also says every campsite near Kalaloch was full “on a Thursday afternoon. In the rain.”

Well, this must be good news for the local economy. And yet so many local merchants have complained about how terrible business has been all summer. Lodgings are full on a weeknight in late September/early October, and yet nobody is patronizing the local businesses. What's the story?

Shortage of Ammunition for Peninsula Police Departments

I’ve been pretty much avoiding national politics at this site. That’s partly because local issues often cut across the traditional battle lines of Left, Right, Liberal, Conservative; and partly because there are already millions of websites and blogs that deal with politics.

But global/national issues can trickle down to local communities. A perfect example is this story from yesterday’s PDN.

Some Peninsula police departments are reporting a shortage of ammunition. Our military adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan are using over a billion bullets a year, and this has led to a severe shortage of bullets (and the price has doubled) here at home.

So far the police departments in Port Angeles and Sequim haven’t had this shortage. But in Forks, Police Chief Mike Powell said, “We have been waiting for months for handgun ammunition. We were told it was due to the war and that the military service personnel get a higher priority than the law enforcement here in the states.”

Crime has been increasing in most of the country lately, including the Olympic Peninsula. It’s time for us to decide — which is more important: Protecting Iraqis who don’t want our “protection” (whatever happened to all that candy and ice cream that grateful Iraqis would be showering onto our soldiers?) or protecting Americans here at home?

Local Environmental Website

If you're concerned about local environmental issues — and aren’t we all, living here on this beautiful Olympic Peninsula — please check out this local website.

The Olympic Peninsula Environmental News covers environmental issues, events and projects on the Olympic Peninsula, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Hood Canal.

Regardless of one’s political leanings, protecting this unique treasure should be a top concern of everyone who’s lucky enough to live here. The Olympic Peninsula Environmental News is an excellent site for staying on top of the environmental issues that affect all of us. And if you're looking for any local government agencies or environmental organizations, chances are you'll find them linked there.

Check it out.

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