Hard to beat this time of year in Ocean Shores/the North Beach, eh?

Is it just me, or was yesterday’s Town Hall a little . . . weird? Citizens were invited to present “revenue-generating ideas” (or “express concerns”), and about 10 of them did. After each idea, all seven council members were given the opportunity to question the presenters. At times, it seemed more like a trial, than a Town Hall . . .

Citizens presenting ideas included: Al Lizakowski (list of ideas presented at a previous Town Hall); Randy Peck (various ideas, including charging for false fire alarms); Cathy Eggleston (looking for help in working with the Army Corps of Engineers on the Jetty); John Schroeder (lower utility start-up fees to encourage building); Lillian Broadbent (.5 percent sales tax increase to be used for street maintenance); Ed Engel (have an outside promoter for the Convention Center); and Beth Jordan (better utilize the Interpretive Center).

Great nature shots from our man on the lake, Gary Iversen:

The new MIEX filtration system is delivering “high quality water,” and the entire system has been flushed out. So, Locals, how doth it taste?

Daily World story on ground-breaking for a new hospital in Elma, population 3,100 (Ocean Shores population: 5,569):

ELMA — Although most of the site on East Main Street already has been cleared for construction, about 120 people helped toast the official groundbreaking yesterday of the new Mark Reed Hospital & Clinic in Elma.

The city’s ideas to raise revenues: “Ahhh, raise taxes to the Moon?” Sorry, that’s illegal. “Well, how bout we do one of them big fat ‘lid lifts’?” Negative, you’d need voter approval, and that’s as likely as . . . .(fill in your favorite metaphor).

So the stumped City Council is seeking your help: There is a Town Hall for Revenue Generation Ideas 2PM Sunday at Convention Center. It’s up to you, Citizens, S.O.S.! (Save Our Shores!)

Also: The public is invited to voice concerns to the City Council. So, Mr. and Mrs. 289, got any concerns?

Photo of “James Rock” (the one out by Lytle Seafood) taken by Carol Robbins, across the bay from her Ocean Shores home this a.m.:

Any members of this Copalis Crossing “club”? Photo by Skylar Petty:

Lynn “I’m Tired of Politics, This is What the 289 is All About!” Babb, photo of her son, Daniel McNutt and his son, Ronald.

Disclaimer: for amusement only, not to be confused with reality or folded in two and used as a Garage Sale sign; take only as misdirection; if you feel dizzy, stop reading immediately and consult a licensed bartender.

Still no word from Tome O’Scanlinn, the bellicose journalist of our “sister city” Atlantis City (13.3 nautical miles due west of Ocean Shores). He was last seen stumbling out of the Hole World’s Best Pub & Grill & Bar & Tavern, so perhaps he is recuperating from the Hole’s popular 3-for-1 Happy Hour.
I haven’t had contact with Tome since he dumped on my doorstep a ragged manuscript titled Atlantis City II: Death in the Dunes. One hopes he was being metaphoric, as opposed to prophetic . . .
In any case, something about our recent small-town dramas had me digging through a yellowed stack of O’Scanlinn’s Coastal Weekly papers. I recall complaining to him about one of our previous scandals, and he howled: “Any mistakes you people make here, we’ve already done – twice!”
That smacks of a typical Tomesque hyperbole, though it seems there is a good deal of truth to his exaggerations.
Take our recent “two-fer” deals, on department heads: Pay for a Police Chief, get a free Fire Chief; act now and receive Public Works Director duties, at no additional cost to the Mayor; for a limited-time-only, get the Finance Director to run the Convention Center, without paying a penny more!
Turns out, there has been something similar going on in Atlantis City, according to the Coastal Weekly.