Alan Rhodes seems to want to be like Emmett Watson, the late writer about Lesser Seattle. However, Alan seems to lack Emmett's basic charitable view of his fellow humans. Emmett had a sense of humor. Alan confuses his own bitterness for humor.

Alan has what passes for a view in this week's Cascadia Weekly - known to us political junkies as the Trillium Weakly. Alan writes a scathing guide to the Ski to Sea weekend. Alan, of course, is high above the peasants and their annual affair. But there is one item he wasted several inches of type on that I would like to enlighten him about. And perhaps he served a public service by motivating me to write of this. Alan gets morbid telling how impossible it is to find parking for the festival.

If you plan to enjoy the festival in Fairhaven - the It All Ends in Fairhaven festival - then you should know of a very fine solution to finding a parking place. A Park and Ride system runs from noon till 8:30 pm with plenty of free parking at the Western Washington University lots on 21st Street. The WTA runs their regular bus from the bus stop at the "C" lot straight to Fairhaven - a 5 minute ride every 15 minutes. Yes, they put on extra buses because of the heavy use on Sunday, May 25. The bus costs the regular fare - and WTA passes are valid.

This is the 6th year of the Park and Ride. It works. Use has increased each year, with last year breaking 1,000 persons using it. The drop point in Fairhaven is the corner of 12th and McKenzie - one block from the heart of the festival.

I doubt Alan can name any year that a "torrential rainstorm" interrupted the festival, although he writes of that. He even works the word "Nazi" into his article about Fairhaven. Sad. Alan, if you want to take the time to come down to our festival then use the Park n Ride, give me a call, and I'll buy you a drink in the Beer Garden. I'll enjoy a Red Hook draft but they have white wine - as I suspect that is your drink. My treat. Tim Paxton paid it forward a few years ago when he treated me to a much appreciated beer at the festival. You can relate to Tim, can't you Alan? Just ask him. It's a fun party. --++++++

Full disclosure time. For the past three years I have managed the Park and Ride service. It was started by Tim Imus. And it is a tribute to the four agencies I work with that they don't let my activism and sharp opinions get in the way of working with me on this green project. WTA, WWU, CofC and the Fairhaven Association. Alan, it works.