Specials today

*At 1 p.m. on April 1, the Friends of the Roundabout will gather at the 4-way stop sign for a 10K race; the first runner to complete 1,000 laps will win a GPS.

*City workers, doing prep work for the LID, were digging early on the morning of April 1 when they uncovered several zoning codes and minutes from old city council meetings which had been missing for years.

*Effective April 1, the Copalis Beach colorful character “Pancho Villa” will receive $225,000 in Federal stimulus money; the funds will enable him to up-grade his roadside signs. Rather than the hand-made ones, he will have a billboard-sized one, with electronic imagery. Al Carter sponsored the legislation.
*Mayor Dean Bunkers, in an effort to help the City’s budget, will offer his services as Mayor to Moclips, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and/or Copalis Beach. This Wednesday only, he will discount his rates by 20 percent.

*On April 1, the Fire Department will inspect businesses, and charge a fee of $5 for each match, lighter, candle or other flammable substance found on the premises.

*Clams Against Dumb Digging (CADD) meets this Wednesday at noon, Chance a la Mer beach approach.

*Wednesday at 2 p.m., Grays Harbor Civil Court hears the case of an Elma man who is suing the City of Pacific Beach. “I’m a recovering choc-aholic, and I was doing just fine until last month, when I innocently took a drive up to the coast . . .”

*The Museum of the North Beach invites all to comment by noon, April 1, on whether the museum should shift its focus to UFO’s, Bigfoot and the paranormal, “or stick with the Depot theme.”

*A water drinking contest will be held at 5 p.m., this Wednesday, at the North Coast News office. Whoever can drink an entire 6-ounce glass of water from the NCN faucet will be declared the winner. Grand Prize: one month’s storm drain fee.

*Noisy Neighbors Anonymous (NNA) will meet at 6 p.m. on April 1, in the Library. Please wear slippers, and be prepared to whisper.

*New Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu today demoted himself to Tacoma. “I’m sending a message loud and clear: if I can get sent down to the minors, anyone can,” he explained.

*A new hotline will be opened this Wednesday, for those who have committed a crime and wish to turn themselves in. The toll-free number: 1-888-I-DID-IT.

*In an effort to curb those illegally using public garbage cans to throw away household garbage, several members of City Council will be disguising themselves as garbage cans at beach approaches, all day on April 1. If you are legally throwing garbage away on this day, please cough three times before doing so.

*Due to budget cuts, starting this Wednesday, the Web site www.northcoastnews.com will be available only on the Internet.

Tom “April Fool” Scanlon, tscanlon@northcoastnews.com