Hold the GLOOM, boot the DOOM

top story in this week’s North Coast News:

The TV news and daily newspapers have been full of bad, bad economic news for the last few months.

Well, here’s some good news: On the North Beach, businesses are reporting brisk sales for the month of February.

At Fusions Gallery, sales were “almost double” compared to February of 2008, said owner Kelly May.

She says there’s a good reason for it: “We had ‘the perfect storm’: winter break, a clam dig, Valentines Day, Presidents Day . . . and good weather.”

The Antique Festival and Chocolate on the Beach Festival also helped lure visitors to the North Beach in February.

“This year Valentine’s Day weekend was a quintuple threat,” emailed Troy Summerill, general manager of the Shilo. “1. Weekend holiday for the ‘lovers.’ 2. Antique Show 3. Presidents Weekend (Monday off for some people). 4. Beautiful Weather 5. Clam dig.

 “Wow, how many times a decade does EVERYTHING fall on a particular weekend! Also, I feel there are a lot of ‘pent-up’ families wanting to get out of town. With the weather we have had, they come here to the coast. 

“I know all the hotels, restaurants and shops have done well this month. Hoping for a good March.” 

An Emergency Medical Services conference at the Convention Center on Feb. 21-22 brought more than 300 people to town, with most staying over. 

Ken Mercer, director of the Convention Center, says he has a very busy March lined up. This weekend is Beachcombers Fun Fair. Next weekend is a Clean and Sober convention, followed later in the month by a Washington Waste Water event that could bring more than 500 people to town.

And the last weekend of March is the Razor Clam Festival.

“I’m very up about March as we will be very busy at the Center,” Mercer says.

And he has a little tip:

“Try not watching the news at night and feel the gloom lift.”