Marge McBride, who moved to Ocean Shores way back in 1966, working for the original real estate company before opening her gallery, will be the special guest at tomorrow’s Readers Input Group (“RIG the Paper”). It meets Thursdays at 10 a.m., at the Library. Open to all.

Special guest star for this week’s Readers Input Group (a.k.a. “Rig the Paper“): Dave Creighton, to answer any questions about 2007/the McEachin era of City Council and government. The meeting takes place Thursdays, 10 – 11 a.m., at the Ocean Shores Library.

*Note: As he is a working man, Creighton cannot 100% guarantee he will be there, but is going to do his best.

Readers Input Group (“RIG the Paper“) meets Thursdays at 10 a.m., at the Ocean Shores Library. All are welcome. This week’s topics: What happens April 1? (when the 3-month “stays of execution” end for the Library/Convention Center Interpretive Center); more history of Ocean Shores ideas; “What’s the County doing for us?”; feature ideas, etc.

*Note: Original posting was erroneous, re Convention Center.

The Readers Input Group, a.k.a “RIG the Paper,” meets this week, usual time and place: Thursday at 10 a.m., at the Ocean Shores Library.
This week’s agenda includes a history committee, to help target key dates, figures and stories of Ocean Shores’ first 50 years.
Also: ideas for profiles/features, and “How to Survive Winter on the North Beach.”

Readers Input Group (a.k.a. “RIG the Paper“) meets Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Ocean Shores Library (!!!). This week’s agenda: “It Happened in 2009.”

Readers Input Group (aka “RIG the Paper) meets Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Ocean Shore Library. Agenda: Where to meet, once the Library is “mothballed”?; nominees for Ocean Shores/North Beach Person of the Year; “big events of 2010 list”; Christmas/seasonal ideas.

Readers Input Group, a.k.a. “R.I.G. the Paper,” meets Thursday, 10 a.m., at the Ocean Shores Library (ironically enough). Agenda:

*Any “Hail Mary” ideas to save the Library/Interpretive Center? Other comments on the 2010 Recommended Budget?

*Should the “comments policy” of northcoastnews.com be altered, or more strictly enforced? (Currently, only the most blatant violations are being deleted.) Should commenters be required to use their real names? Should there be a word limit (as in Letters to the Editor)? Or should this digital sandbox referee just “let the kids play”?

Readers Input Group (“R.I.G. the Paper”) meets at the Library at 10 a.m. (If power out, meet at Convention Center.) Agenda: What you’re thankful for, this Thanksgiving (feel free to post comment below if unable to make meeting); weather preparation; Top 10 North Beach Storms (nominees); other story ideas for the local weekly . . .

Readers Input Group (“R.I.G. the Paper”), meets Thursdays at 10 a.m. at the Ocean Shores Library (R.I.P.?). This week’s hot topic: Can the budget be balanced, without closing the Library and Interpretive Center? Bring your red pens and pencils . . ..

Of about a dozen people at the Readers Input Group meeting (Thursdays, 10 a.m., Library, open to all), I’m guessing I was in the minority, as I voted for Prop. 1/Lid lift/EMS levy (circle one). I was in the extreme minority in general, as this was LOUDLY voted down. At my invitation, councilman Garland French came by to talk to the group about his take on an EMS Utility (originally presented as an option to council by Chief Jim Hodges, about a year ago). French said he sensed a couple weeks ago that Prop. 1 was in danger, and started researching EMS utilities; Aberdeen, Hoquiam and Montesano have them, a monthly fee that goes for emergency services. He said he realized an EMS utility would be controversial: “You know it’s going to be political, people thinking ‘You’re just working around the vote of the people . . .’”

Even so, he thinks a utility can be enacted quickly, as an EMS stop-gap: “you don’t need new ambulances . . . just maintain where you are now.”

But how to make this seem like a legitimate alternative, and not just a lid lift in disguise?

French agreed that tax payers must be shown that this isn’t an “end around,” but a solid, short-term fix. He said he and Mayor Dean Bunkers spoke on the phone this morning, with the idea of forming a committee that would include at least one citizen, to look at a potential EMS utility.