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Hotel occupancy tax properly used – Asheville Citizen

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Every few years, an editorial in the Citizen-Times is written, bemoaning the fact the hotel industry does not fairly “contribute” to the area economy, often focused on the occupancy tax that is used primarily to promote Asheville as a leisure destination. The editorial on May 30 follows the theme of other editorials in the past, stating that local government should be entitled to a share of occupancy tax increase sought by area hoteliers and approved by state representatives. The article contains phrases such as “our legislators seem to be OK with the concept that taxpayers need to foot the bill for the increased demand on our services” and “tourists can be our lifeblood, but they also take advantage of our services for free.”

A more thoughtful — and truthful — editorial would have noted the fact that hotels already collect sales taxes in addition to occupancy taxes, a portion of which is returned to our community. Therefore, increased tourism translates to more sales tax funds reimbursed to local government coffers. Additionally, a quick check of the county tax site reveals that in 2014 the Renaissance Hotel paid $352,627 in property taxes, plus additional tax on the hotel’s furnishings. The Doubletree Hotel paid $161,545 in property taxes. Further, the assessed value of most hotels have increased over the past several years, which translates to additional property tax revenues to fund infrastructure and other necessary improvements. This is opposite to residential trends in the last revaluation, when many residential assessed values went down or were stagnant. As such, a reasonable analysis would conclude the success of the hotel occupancy tax, used to promote the area as a leisure destination, actually increased the value of area hotels, thus increasing their property tax contribution. Hotels ARE taxpayers, and significant taxpayers at that.

The Citizen-Times recently ran an article about a study done by the Hospitality and Tourism Department at Western Carolina University. It stated there are nearly 10,000 jobs directly related to tourism in Buncombe County. A check on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows that in April, there were 27,300 people making their living in the Leisure Hospitality sector of the greater Asheville MSA (which includes Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties). While there is always going to be a portion of the area population that complains about service jobs in hospitality, my experience as a former hotel manager is that the industry also provides a proper venue for dedicated employees to attain supervisory or managerial positions, and unfortunately, the presence of these type of jobs is often used as a scapegoat for the fact the Asheville area is challenged in many ways to attract larger industry such as that found in the South Carolina Upstate.

The point is, these thousands of area residents with hospitality jobs live here. They rent or own their homes (both of which contribute to the local tax base), they shop here (more sales tax revenue) and use doctors, dentists, veterinarians, etc. (increasing non-hospitality jobs).

The local hotel industry decided years ago to share a portion of their self-imposed occupancy tax increase with projects that help the community but also can attract tourists. These projects include the Grove Arcade, soccer fields and City/County Plaza, to name just a few that have been funded over the years. With another self-imposed increase in the occupancy tax, a portion of which will continue to fund local projects, it is clear more local projects will indeed be funded. This is positive news.

I have great respect for county and city leaders and understand some of them would like to have a portion of the hotel occupancy tax. However, a hotel occupancy tax used for promoting tourism and funding local projects that benefit both citizens and visitors is an occupancy tax properly used. In fact, going back to the WCU study previously cited, without the current level of tourism in Buncombe County, the typical resident would pay $646 more in taxes each year.

In future editorials, I challenge the Citizen-Times editorial staff to include the full magnitude of the positive financial contribution tourism and hospitality has for our economy in addition to stating the case for government control of a portion of the lodging occupancy tax. I no longer make my living in the local lodging industry, but it only seems fair to me the entire story is told.

Michael Kryzanek is a local commercial real estate appraiser whose primary full-time job is as an associate with PKF Consulting USA/CBRE Hotels, which does hotel market studies/financial projections as well as appraisals for proposed and existing hotels around the country.

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Pancake breakfast for LJ Bell set Saturday

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The deadline for all Community Calendar items is 4:30 p.m. the day prior to publishing. To list your event, email Matt Harrelson at mharrelson@civitasmedia.com or call 910-817-2674. Please send an email or call as soon as possible if your event is canceled due to weather.

June 6

COUNTRY BREAKFAST from 7 to 10 a.m. at Spring Hill Wesleyan Church, located on N.C. 38 on Spring Hill Church Road in Hamlet. Plates are $6 for all-you-can-eat. Carry-out plates also available. Funds raised will go for future projects, missions and those in need.

YARD SALE hosted by the Rolling Sandhills Civitan Club will begin at 7 a.m. at the Sandhills Children’s Center campus located at 108 Crow Run, Rockingham. It will be a multi-family yard sale with proceeds benefiting the club, which helps different organizations and projects in Richmond County.

YARD SALE AND HOT DOG SALE from 7 a.m. to noon at New Covenant Christian Fellowship, 120 Hamer Road, Rockingham. Hot dog, drink, chips and cupcake for $3. There will be a lot of items in the yard sale including toddler clothes. All proceeds to benefit the youth program.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST for L.J. Bell Elementary School sponsored by Kiwanis and Hwy 55 will take place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Hwy 55. Plates are $7 for pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice and milk. All funds raised will benefit the Leader In Me project at L.J. Bell. Tickets are for sale at the school. For more information, call 910-997-9834.

PLATE SALE starting at 10 a.m. at Freedom Ministries No. 1 with chicken, fish and barbecue plates with sides for $7 and sandwiches for $4.

HAMLET HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1955 will celebrate its 60th class reunion at 11:30 a.m. at the Hamlet Women’s Clubhouse, 601 Oak Ave., Hamlet. Members can contact Melba Thompson Sims at 910-280-3696 for more information.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL KICKOFF PIZZA PARTY from 5 to 7 p.m. at Community Church, 193 Mill Road, Rockingham. The theme of the Bible school is “Superheroes of the Bible” and will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. nightly June 7-10. There will be food, Bible lessons, crafts and music.

June 7

BOLD MOVES DANCE COMPANY will hold its summer recital from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in Kate Finley Auditorium at Rockingham Middle School. All are welcome to attend.

June 8

THE DOBBINS HEIGHTS CONCERNED CITIZENS will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Dobbins Heights Town Park, 224 Earle Franklin Drive. All concerned residents are urged to attend this meeting. Refreshments will be served.

June 9

PUBLIC HEARING conducted by the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority will begin at 11 a.m. at the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority office located at 101 W. Broad Ave., Rockingham. The purpose of this public hearing is to offer an opportunity for public comment on the Tourism Development Authority budget. All interested citizens are invited to attend.

THE TOWN OF ELLERBE will have a work session on the 2015-16 budget at noon.

RICHMOND COUNTY NAACP will have its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia United Methodist Church, 157 Philadelphia Drive, Rockingham. Everyone is invited to attend.

June 10

TWO-IN-ONE WELLNESS PROGRAM will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays from June 10 through July 15 at the Ag Services Center/Cooperative Extension office at 123 Caroline St., Rockingham. Cost for the entire six-week program is from $10-$50 based on household income. To register for the six-class series, call Alexis Elliott at 910-715-6273.

June 11

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with dinner at 6:15 p.m. and meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

June 12

THE SINGING REVELATIONS from Lumberton will perform at 7 p.m. at East Rockingham Free Will Baptist Church, 189 Airport Road, Rockingham. There will be no admission charge, but a love offering will be received.

FORD’S BLUEGRASS MILL, 134 City Lake Drive, Rockingham, will have a dance every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with different live bands playing bluegrass, country and/or Southern rock. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. Come out and enjoy dancing or just listening to some live music. For more information, call James at 910-895-6253.

June 13

PANCAKE BREAKFAST sponsored by the East Rockingham United Methodist Church Men’s Club from 7 until 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall. The charge is $4 for all-you-can-eat. A sweets and craft sale will be held at the same time.

FELLOWSHIP LUNCH from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at East Rockingham Free Will Baptist Church, 189 Airport Road, Rockingham. Donations will be received.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL for McDonald Baptist Church, 259 McDonald Church Road, Rockingham, will have its kickoff from noon to 3 p.m. for registration. Bible school will then take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. nightly June 14-18. The theme will be “Journey Off The Map.”

June 14

ANNUAL FAMILY REUNION of the descendants of James and Wincey Thompson Blake and their descendants of Richmond and Montgomery counties at 1 p.m. at Blackwood Chapel Church. Bring family information, pictures and food. New book of Pekin stories will be available.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly June 14-18 at Cordova United Methodist Church, 130 Ledbetter St. will be for kids age 5-12. Meals will be served every night. Join them for a week at SonRise National Park, where they’ll discover God’s word. For further information, contact Pat at 910-895-4509.

June 15

ANNUAL SINAI KINGDOM SUMMER CAMP hosted by Mount Sinai Baptist Church is currently conducting registration. The camp will begin June 15, end on July 31 and will be closed during the week of July 6 in observance of Independence Day. The camp is open to young people ages 4-14. The camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The initial registration fee is $45, and the weekly rate is $30. If there are multiple children from a family, discounts will be given. Contact Camp Director Cordelia Steele at 910-417-9552 to arrange a time to complete the registration packet. This packet, along with the registration fee, will need to be completed and received before the young person(s) can attend the camp.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL from 9 to 11:30 a.m. daily June 15-19 at First Baptist Church of Hamlet, 208 Charlotte St., Hamlet. The theme will be “Hometown Nazareth.” The adult vacation Bible school will be taught by Pastor Randy Bishop and will study “Soul Detox” by Craig Groeschel at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

BLOOD DRIVE from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Baptist Church, U.S. 1 N., Rockingham. Contact Betty McRae at 910-895-9842 to make an appointment.

OPENING RECEPTION for the young artists’ art exhibit from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Calvin Little Room of Leath Memorial Library in Rockingham. The exhibit will run from 4 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays from June 15 until Aug. 28. Entries must be received between 2 and 6:30 p.m. on June 8. All events are open to the public. Fore more information and for entry rules, call Peg Andersen at 910-895-6909 or Pat Halligan at 410-596-2770.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly June 15-19 at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church on Mizpah Road in the Ashely Chapel community. Classes are for all ages. The theme for the week will be “Jesus: The True Superhero.” Everyone is invited to attend.

June 16

HAMLET HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1960 will meet for lunch at 12:30 p.m. at Jone’s Cafe on Main Street.

June 17

ROCKINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1958 will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Henry’s in downtown Rockingham.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL from 6 to 7:30 p.m. nightly on June 17, June 24 and July 1 at East Rockingham United Methodist Church.

June 19

HOT DOG SUPPER from 5 until 7 p.m. at Rockingham Wesleyan Church, 618 N. Lee St. off U.S. 220, in the fellowship hall. The cost is $5 per plate for two hot dogs, chips and drink. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 910-895-4436.

QUARTERLY SOUTHERN GOSPEL SINGING featuring Cameronian Quartet, Donnie Gilliam, Southern Redeemed and Stand Linda Jacobs will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. at Joy Free Will Baptist Church, 864 S. N.C. 177 in Hamlet. Light refreshments will be served after the free concert. No love offering will be taken. For more information, call Stan or Linda Jacobs at 910-895-7015 or email csjacobs@bellsouth.net.

FORD’S BLUEGRASS MILL, 134 City Lake Drive, Rockingham, will have a dance every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with different live bands playing bluegrass, country and/or Southern rock. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. Come out and enjoy dancing or just listening to some live music. For more information, call James at 910-895-6253.

June 20

FAMILY FUN DAY presented by Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hoffman Recreational Complex, 106 Thompson St., Hoffman. There will be karaoke, bingo, carnival rides, AAU basketball tournaments, hay rides, food, prizes, entertainment, helicopter rides and much more. Admission for the basketball tournament is $5 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, call 910-281-4476.

BROTHERS LEANING ON ANOTHER CREATING KINGS, a group for young African-American males ages 12-18 in the Richmond County community, will have a meet and greet from 1 to 5 p.m. at Leath Memorial Library in Rockingham. One college-bound student will receive a $500 scholarship. For more information, email tavaresbostic@gmail.com or call 586-967-8396.

June 23

THE WEYMOUTH CENTER will present Casey Goggin, third-place winner in the national Poetry Out Loud competition from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Goggin, a graduating senior at Pinecrest High School, will share with the public a selection of poems that launched him onto the national stage. A reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public. For reserved seating, call 910-692-6261.

June 25

ROCKINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1947 will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Pat’s Kitchen. Rockingham High School upper and lower classes are invited to join. Please call 910-997-6440 by June 2 if planning to attend.

SOUNDS ON THE GROUNDS CONCERT featuring ’90s cover band Groovetown from 6 to 9 p.m. at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. Advance tickets are $5 and $10 at the gate. Children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the Weymouth Center office and Country Bookshop. Bring a chair or blanket to the lawn at Weymouth. Call 910-692-6261 for more information or look on weymouthcenter.org.

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

June 26

FORD’S BLUEGRASS MILL, 134 City Lake Drive, Rockingham, will have a dance every Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with different live bands playing bluegrass, country and/or Southern rock. No alcohol or smoking is allowed. Come out and enjoy dancing or just listening to some live music. For more information, call James at 910-895-6253.

June 30

TOWN OF HOFFMAN SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM will begin on June 30 and run until Aug. 8. The events will take place at the recreation center located at 106 Thompson Road. Registration forms may be picked up at the Hoffman Town Hall building during regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays and noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Contact Rory or Jones or Cynthia Northcutt at 910-281-3606 with any questions.

ACOUSTIC JAM SESSION from 7 to 9 p.m. at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines. All are welcome. Bring your instrument(s) and your own beverage.

July 6

BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES RETIRED EMPLOYEES will meet for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Restaurant.

July 9

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with dinner at 6:15 p.m. and meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

July 23

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

July 24

BLOOD DRIVE by the American Red Cross from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 2116 W. Main St., Ellerbe. Contact Elsie Freeman at 910-817-4720 to make an appointment for a whole blood or double red cell donation.

August 13

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with dinner at 6:15 p.m. and meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

August 27

MASONIC MEETING: STATED COMMUNICATION with meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Hamlet Masonic Lodge No. 532 A.F. A.M., 307 Main St., Hamlet.

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So Far Three Apply for Vacancy on Boone Town Council Before Friday 5 pm …

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By Jesse Wood

The Town of Boone has received three applications for the soon-to-be vacant seat on the Boone Town Council from former mayor and councilwoman Loretta Clawson, real estate agent David Welsh and Jeannine Collins, according to Town Clerk Christine Pope.

Pena, whose last meeting will be later this month in June, announced her resignation in May. She is moving to Greensboro, where she grew up and where her parents live, to be closer to family.

Whoever is selected by the Boone Town Council to fulfill the vacancy will serve until the municipal elections in November.

Loretta_Clawson-2613

Clawson

Welsh is listed as unaffiliated on the State Board of Elections’ N.C. Public Voter Information database.Collins is listed as a Democrat.

Clawson, of course, is long-time Democrat who served as mayor and on the council for a combined 16 years before she retired in 2013.

“I have missed it. I really have. I really needed the break, been a lot of years. 16 is a lot of years and I was tired and needed a break,” Clawson said on Friday afternoon. “But now I had that break and you know me … I keep up with everything that’s going on. I read everything that I can get my hands on and there are a lot of real important issues coming up before the town as it continues to grow.”

Clawson noted that some of those issues include parking, student housing, water, potential consolidation of emergency dispatch and more.

“If they were to vote for me, I would certainly appreciate that and would love to [serve],” Clawson said.

Clawson praised Pena’s work on the Boone Town Council and said that she understood her resignation because of the Pena family wanting to live closer to family.

“That was what was good for them, but I am not going anywhere. This is it. This is my home,” Clawson said.

Welsh

Welsh

Welsh couldn’t be reached as he out of the country, according to a colleague at Coldwell Banker Blair Associates in Boone.

On his application where it asked why does he wish to be a member of the Boone Town Council, Welsh wrote: “I want to be a part of the government process in Boone. I have raised my family and lived in Boone for over 20 years. I love Boone, and I want to be part of it growing in a smart way.”

Jeannine Underdown Collins, owner of Underdown and Associates Inc., is the latest person to apply.

Collins submitted her application on Thursday. According to her application, Collins, who arrived in Boone as a student in 1975, has been a business owner and real estate appraiser in the town for 30 years.

Collins

Collins

Asked why she wants to be on the council, Collins answered: “To serve the citizens of the Town of Boone in keeping with the small town atmosphere but also realizing that we need to be progressive and embrace our amenities of tourism, education and health care that set us apart from other communities.”

The deadline to apply for the vacancy is Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m.

The Boone Town Council are expected to select Pena’s successor at its June 18 meeting.

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Plymouth to host first NC Black Bear Festival

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Posted: Saturday, June 6, 2015 4:01 am
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Updated: 4:30 am, Sat Jun 6, 2015.

Plymouth to host first NC Black Bear Festival

Associated Press |

PLYMOUTH, N.C. (AP) — The town of Plymouth is hosting the first North Carolina Black Bear Festival, which will include an opportunity to see the bears in their natural habitat.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia, reported (http://bit.ly/1LLDiSV) the festival is scheduled for Saturday.

Tom Harrison is chairman of the Washington County Travel Tourism Authority. He says the biggest black bears are in eastern North Carolina, which is also has the highest black bear density.

Harrison says mild winters, abundant crops and extensive forests and swamps are among the reasons for the size and number of black bears in that part of the state.

One of the tours takes visitors to a private farm where people typically see 20 to 50 bears. Captive bears will also be on display in downtown Plymouth.

© 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Plymouth to host first NC Black Bear Festival

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c 2014, WLOS ABC 13 | Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.

WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.

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Bulk TV Reports Record Q1 Growth in Contracted Guest Rooms

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RALEIGH, N.C., June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Bulk TV Internet (Bulk TV), a leading provider of television and Internet solutions for hotels, healthcare centers and restaurants nationwide announces their record year-over-year quarterly sales growth in total new subscriber units, which represents an increase of 293% compared to prior year totals. Entering into the company’s 11th year of business, Bulk TV remains focused on customer-focused initiatives to ensure continued momentum throughout the remainder of 2015.

Bulk TV secured over 38,000 rooms in the Lodging Institutions (LI) segment from January to March, which largely surpassed the 2014 quarterly average of 15,500 rooms. As the company’s surge in organic growth continues, Bulk TV plans to increase its customer base by more than 100,000 rooms by the end of the year while increasing its total number employees by 10%.

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Incorporated in 2004, the company was formed with a mission to develop a competitively priced alternative to cable tailored to meet the unique needs of the hospitality and healthcare markets.  More than ten years later, Bulk TV now provides DIRECTV services to more than 350,000 rooms in thousands of properties nationally, and has been named DIRECTV LI Provider of the Year for the past seven years based on new customer activations and customer retention.

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About Bulk TV Internet
Bulk TV Internet is a leading provider of DIRECTV services designed to meet the unique needs of the hospitality and healthcare industries. Bulk TV Internet provides service to more than 350,000 rooms nationally including free-to-guest television programming, digital satellite TV systems Ruckus wireless network solutions, and Mitel phone systems. For more information, please visit www.bulktv.com.

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WELL DONE, PORT ANGELES! Chattanooga tallied the most votes . . . but we …

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PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles didn’t lose, even though it came in second to Chattanooga, Tenn., in Outside magazine’s hotly battled online contest to determine the nation’s “Best Town Ever” for 2015.

“I could not be prouder of the town right now,” said Lesley Robertson, founder of Revitalize Port Angeles, a Facebook group with more than 1,100 members that was the primary mover in getting out the vote for Port Angeles.

“People have been saying for days that we’ve already won.

“We won days ago. We won weeks ago. When we all decided to come together to do this, we won.”

The final tally announced Thursday night in the contest that began May 4 gave Port Angeles 62,130 votes, or 47.95 percent of the ballots cast by the public.

Chattanooga — which calls itself the “Scenic City” and the “River City” — got 67,432 votes, or 52.05 percent

“People came together in a way that I didn’t even think was possible — and I’m an optimist,” said Robertson, interviewed at a post-contest party for Port Angeles boosters in the newly opened Fanaticus restaurant on First Street.

“We have figured out that this place is really, really, really cool — and we got to tell the world about this.

“There are thousands more people who now know about this place who didn’t know about it before.”

People want to visit PA

Many people commenting on the Outside website said they planned to visit after seeing photographs of the natural beauty of the Port Angeles area and Olympic National Park. Port Angeles is the gateway town to the national park.

Robertson said she already has heard of area inns and bed and breakfasts getting calls from people booking trips.

Thursday night’s party at Fanaticus was a true celebration, Robertson said.

“We’re celebrating the fact that we live in one of the most incredible places on earth, and we have the chance to celebrate that together,” she said.

“We’re talking about how we have to take this positive energy and make use of it.

“We’ve all realized what is possible if we work together.”

PA the western champion

One of four last-minute wild-card entries, Port Angeles won five rounds in a 64-city tournament modeled on the NCAA-style “March Madness” elimination contest before going up against against Chattanooga, the Southern Division winner and a former national winner of the annual Outside contest.

The contest seemed mismatched — Port Angeles, with a population of 19,000 up against the Tennessee city of 170,000.

But Port Angeles — which garnered more than three times its population in votes against the popular Southern city — showed itself to be the Little Town That Could.

It wears the crown as the contest’s Western Division champ, and it will be profiled — along with Chattanooga and 14 other finalists — in the September issue of Outside, a nationally recognized outdoor and adventure magazine.

Fans of Port Angeles outperformed voters backing Santa Barbara, Calif., our sibling city in Kitsap County, Bainbridge Island; Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Bar Harbor, Maine in the contest.

Signs urging residents to vote for their town went up all over — on business readerboards, windows and restaurant tables — as organizations ranging from the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce to Black Ball Ferry Line promoted voting.

Lots of support

Support also came from outside town.

Gov. Jay Inslee, the Sequim-bred Emblem3 band, U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and Congressman Derek Kilmer — a Port Angeles native — tweeted their support.

Western Washington University called for votes on its Facebook page, and the Seahawks called on people to vote for Port Angeles.

Over the past month, visitors to Outside’s website cast more than 1.5 million votes over the multiple rounds in the ‘Best Town Ever’ competition.

Chattanooga, a city of 170,000 whose recreational attributes include its proximity to scenic Lookout Mountain, also took top honors in the competition in 2011.

Criteria for choosing the Best Towns include “top-notch restaurants, vibrant farmers’ markets, friendly neighborhoods, and unparalleled access to hiking and biking trails. In short, the perfect jumping-off point for adventure,” according to the Outside magazine’s editors.

________

Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or at leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com

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Despite petitions urging change of location, Atlantic Beach says Bikefest isn …

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More than 2,100 people have signed a petition seeking to move Atlantic Beach Bikefest to North Carolina, while about 8,500 people have signed a petition saying they want Bikefest to end.

But Atlantic Beach officials say neither scenario has a chance of happening.

“Atlantic Beach’s Bikefest will be Atlantic Beach’s Bikefest, forever,” Mayor Jake Evans said.

Bikefest began in 1979 in Atlantic Beach by the Carolina Knight Riders as a rally for black motorcyclists.

A petition on Change.org that was created about fourth months ago says the black motorcyclists don’t feel as though their presence – or money – is wanted in the county.

“We are literally fighting with this community to give them our money with law suits to enforce federal civil rights laws,” according to the petition, created by a user named Kane Loc from Baltimore. “This proposal is to move Black Bike Week to the neighboring state of North Carolina. We can make a party anywhere we go and have a less stressful time at it.”

Evans shrugged off the suggestion.

“They can do as they please,” he said. “But they can’t move Atlantic Beach Bikefest to North Carolina because Atlantic Beach Bikefest takes place in Atlantic Beach.”

Violet “Heels” Lucas, a motorcyclist and advocate for biker rights who lives in Georgetown, said many people don’t know the history of the rally.

“The people who are signing that petition need to know the significance and the history behind the rally,” she said. “It was started by a local club in Atlantic Beach. That’s a reunion for them each year. You can’t take someone’s rally away from them.”

Cleo Shields, who was a member of the Knight Riders and one of the founders of Bikefest who still lives along the Grand Strand, said it wouldn’t make sense to move the festival – or cancel it – because of tradition.

“It’s a tradition that happens every year that was started by the old motorcyclists in Atlantic Beach,” he said. “How are you going to take something that was founded on Atlantic Beach and move it someplace else?”

He said he felt the same way about canceling the event all together.

“Canceling the rally, I don’t think it will change anything because [the violence] last year in Myrtle Beach didn’t have anything to do with Bikefest,” he said.

Three people died and seven were injured in eight shootings on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach during Memorial Day weekend last year, when tens of thousands of people come to town to take advantage of a three-day weekend at the beach or participate in events such as Bikefest.

Last year, a Change.org user named John Doe created a petition asking Myrtle Beach to end Bikefest. While rally attendees visit Myrtle Beach, there are no permitted Bikefest, or motorcycle, activities allowed in the city limits during May. About 8,500 people had signed the petition as of Thursday.

“Residents of Myrtle Beach live in fear and are prisoners in their own homes,” the petition reads. “This petition has NOTHING to do with race, but the criminal behavior that flocks into our town for 4 days straight, every year.

“The city/county makes little to no money after all of the clean up, the court costs from arrests, the sheer number of law enforcement that it requires and the countless of businesses that are trashed or robbed from.”

Gov. Nikki Haley said last week – and last year – the state would financially help Atlantic Beach develop the town if town leaders forgo Bikefest. Evans said he did not like that any help offered to the town only is offered if the rally is canceled.

“Atlantic Beach is a town in South Carolina just like any other city or town,” he said. “They should be willing to help us anyway.”

Evans said town officials have begun working to put things in place to redevelop Atlantic Beach, which was once a segregated town.

“There are things we have to have to start develop – to lay the groundwork – before anything major can be done,” he said. “We want major developers to come in, we want to boost our local economy, but I’ve been the mayor for two years. These things take time.”

Evans said he didn’t understand why the town had not received any notice from the state before last year’s violence.

“Our 50th anniversary will be next year,” he said. “Before these people got killed in Myrtle Beach during the weekend that Bikefest is held, we didn’t hear from anyone. It took getting somebody getting killed to offer to help.”

Contact MAYA T. PRABHU at 444-1722 or on Twitter @TSN_mprabhu.

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FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval for Sprout Pharmaceuticals …

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RALEIGH, N.C., June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) joint meeting of the Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee, and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee determined by an 18 to 6 vote that the benefit/risk profile of Sprout Pharmaceuticals’ ADDYI™ (flibanserin) supports FDA approval for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, but only if certain risk management options beyond labeling are implemented.



“We are pleased with the positive outcome of today’s Advisory Committee meeting and the confidence that was expressed regarding the efficacy and safety of ADDYI,” said Cindy Whitehead, chief executive officer, Sprout Pharmaceuticals. “With today’s decision, we are one step closer to bringing to market the first treatment option for the most common form of female sexual dysfunction. We look forward to continuing our work with the FDA as it completes its review of our new drug application, including the discussion of a Risks Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).”


HSDD is the most commonly reported form of female sexual dysfunction. The condition has been medically recognized for more than 40 years and is characterized by a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity, which causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty, and is not better accounted for by another disorder or to the effects of a substance. HSDD does not encompass normal (e.g., daily or weekly) fluctuations in levels of desire. Approximately one in three women in the United States suffer from low sexual desire, and one in 10 women (16 million women total) are distressed by it.



ADDYI has been studied in more than 11,000 women, making it one of the most studied women’s health products in history. In three 24-week randomized Phase 3, six-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group North American studies of premenopausal women with a mean age of 36 years, ADDYI consistently demonstrated a highly statistically significant difference over placebo on three key endpoints, including increase in sexual desire, decrease in distress from the loss of sexual desire and increase in the frequency of satisfying sex. Women treated with ADDYI showed significant improvements at every point of measurement in all pivotal clinical trials, with benefits seen as early as four weeks and sustained over the 24-week treatment period. In addition to achieving statistical significance on all treatment success standards, the women in the clinical trials themselves judged their improvements to be meaningful to them. The women in the ADDYI clinical trials were in long term relationships for 10 years, they had HSDD for half of that time on average (4-5 years) and within 6 months ADDYI improved 43%-60% of them.



ADDYI safety is derived from clinical trial data in over 8,500 patients, over 1,000 of which were exposed to treatment for at least one year. ADDYI demonstrated a well-characterized and favorable safety profile. The vast majority of the time side effects were mild in severity. The most common side effects observed were dizziness, nausea and sleepiness.



The FDA is not required to accept the panel’s recommendation, but it will consider its decision as part of the ADDYI new drug application (NDA) review. If approved, ADDYI will be the first FDA-approved treatment for HSDD.



About ADDYI
ADDYI is a novel, non-hormonal drug that has been clinically studied in over 11,000 women. ADDYI is a Multifunctional Serotonin Agonist Antagonist (MSAA) and, if approved, would be the first post-synaptic 5HT1A receptor agonist and 5HT2A receptor antagonist available to prescribers for the treatment of premenopausal women with HSDD. It is believed that ADDYI helps restore prefrontal cortex control over the brain’s motivation/rewards structures, enabling sexual desire to manifest. This is thought to be accomplished by the rebalancing of neurotransmitters that influence sexual desire. Specifically, ADDYI increases dopamine and norepinephrine (both responsible for sexual excitement) while transiently decreasing serotonin (responsible for sexual satiety/inhibition) in the brain’s prefrontal cortex. This is likely accomplished by reduced glutamate transmission. In clinical studies, ADDYI was evaluated for its ability to increase the frequency of satisfying sexual events, increase the intensity of sexual desire and decrease the associated distress women feel from its loss.



About Sprout Pharmaceuticals
Sprout Pharmaceuticals is passionate about women’s sexual health. With a breakthrough concept for women, the company “sprouted” out of Slate Pharmaceuticals in 2011. Based in Raleigh, N.C., the company is focused solely on the delivery of a treatment option for the unmet need of women with HSDD. Sprout is pursuing the FDA approval of ADDYI to treat HSDD in premenopausal women, for which there is currently no FDA-approved treatment. For more information or the latest news about Sprout Pharmaceuticals, visit www.sproutpharma.com.



For More Information:
Amy Rose
Edelman
212-277-3813
Amy.Rose@edelman.com



 





SOURCE Sprout Pharmaceuticals

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