Press Release from the Ranch

The Dimmick Ranch announces 2nd payment to the Mateel Community Center

[Humboldt County, CA January 29] The Dimmick Ranch is pleased to announce that Tom Dimmick will be making the third scheduled payment of $200,000 on or before February 1st to the Mateel Community Center. “We are happy to make this payment to the MCC and know that it will help them carry on their valuable services to our community through their varied and unique programs.” The final payment of $50,000 to the MCC is due in September and will be made on or before its scheduled due date.

The Dimmick Ranch is looking forward to Reggae Rising ’09 to be held July 31st – August 2nd at the historic Dimmick Ranch and French’s Camp on the banks of the picturesque Eel River.

 

Flash from the Past

Someone sent me this clip – mainly because I’m it it. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I only vaguely recall the interview, and don’t really remember the people who did it or exactly when.

I’m told that this is an excerpt from a longer documentary that got lost in the Reggae War shufle. Can anyone fill me on on the details?

 

Reggae on the River deemed success, will continue in ’09

by Cristina Bauss

By all accounts I’ve heard, Reggae on the River at Benbow was a great party. The Journal sent a correspondent who said as much in a review that will run in our next edition. Cristana said she had a great time too and wrote about it in her Nocturnal Nomad blog.  (I borrowed the photo from her without asking- thanks Cristina!)

Apparently the Mateel made some money, and as a result, they’re already announcing the return:

From: Mateel Community Center

Reggae On The River Is Back For 2009 & Beyond

In the wake of a very successful revival of Reggae on the River, held July 19 as a single day rising from the ashes event at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area in Southern Humboldt, the Mateel Community Center is happy to announce that this beloved local tradition is back and will continue to be synonymous with the center’s offerings for years to come.  Although the date and venue for 2009 are still undetermined, plans are already in the works to continue rebuilding this community fundraiser and this year’s event was a beautiful start.

Blessed with perfect weather and a back to the roots vibe, Reggae on the River 2008 was a very special celebration that brought together local families and longtime fans for some great reggae music and a whole lot of healing energy.  Both a financial and spiritual success, the festival will play an important role in stabilizing the community center’s finances, enabling the next 6 months of operations and setting the stage for the continuation of the great Reggae On The River tradition.

Stay posted to www.reggaeontheriver.com for 2009 festival updates, which will be coming soon.  For more information, call (707) 923-3368 and make plans now to join the Mateel Community Center and continue your Reggae On The River experience for 2009 and beyond.

 

The Peace Accord

This won’t be news to most of you. The press release from Mateel V.P. Garth Epling came while I was out of town. It gives some details on the deal made between the Mateel, People Productions and Tom Dimmick to end the Reggae War.

Mateel Signs Peace Accord with Dimmick, People Productions

July 17, 2008

The Mateel Community Center Board of Directors has agreed to drop its claims against Tom Dimmick and Carol Bruno’s People Productions rather than to continue to battle in the courtroom. In return, Dimmick and Bruno will pay Mateel a half million dollars. They will also dismiss all of their lawsuits against the Mateel, its staff and Board of Directors. The Mateel will retain ownership of its trademark, Reggae on the River, kicking off a new era of Reggae this coming Saturday at Benbow Lake State Park.

We feel the need to get on with our lives is important to many people in the community, and that the courtroom drama only continued to hold us all hostage to a future of fighting over a very uncertain outcome. The months of legal battling, the cost of the lawsuit to Mateel donors, and a desire to get on with our real job-running the Community Center, has led us to this difficult decision. Both sides were also motivated strongly by Judge Warren, who twisted everyone’s arms to get us to settle the case. At this point, we feel the settlement path best fulfills our fiduciary duty as the Board of Directors of the Mateel.

We are ever so grateful to the hundreds of community members who’ve supported us through this difficult struggle. It’s been amazing to watch the outpouring of people’s energy to help at the Mateel—something which will need to continue for the Mateel to thrive as a local Community Center. While we believe that the $500,000 isn’t nearly enough, it will help to re-establish a modest reserve for the Mateel, as well as help pay for long-deferred maintenance of the building. But the future of the Mateel no longer lies at the feet of a monster Reggae show—in fact, it remains in the capable hands of the people of Southern Humboldt, and the Mateel will remain strong with ongoing community support.

 

A Civil Action

I was up late the other night, aimlessly channel surfing, when I came across this 1998 movie, A Civil Action that looked interesting. The film is based on a true story. John Travolta stars as lawyer Jan Schlichtmann, who went broke representing families suing companies accused of dumping cancer causing toxic waste.

Something resonated with local events when, at one point in the action, Schlichtmann paused to ruminate:

The odds of a plaintiff’s lawyer winning in civil court are two to one against. Think about that for a second. Your odds of surviving a game of Russian roulette are better than winning a case at trial. 12 times better. So why does anyone do it? They don’t. They settle. Out of the 780,000 cases filed each year, only 12,000 or 11/2 percent ever reach a verdict.

The whole idea of lawsuits is to settle, to compel the other side to settle. And you do that by spending more money than you should, which forces them to spend more money than they should, and whoever comes to their senses first — loses. Trials are a corruption of the entire process and only fools who have something to prove end up ensnared in them. Now when I say prove, I don’t mean about the case — I mean about themselves.”

 

It’s over!

Heard this weekend from several well-places source that a long mediation session before Judge Warren has resulted in a negotiated settlement of the Mateel v. Dimmick and People Productions lawsuit.

A note from the Dimmick Ranch folks confirms that it’s true. “But we are not yet ready to release the details.”

All I can say is, peace is good. Let the healing begin.

More later…

{update – sort of]

Garth Epling writes to say the negotiation session lasted 15 hours, and,

The terms will not be confidential but are not yet final so I can not release any details.
If all works out we will reach final agreement some time in the later part of this coming week.

Take care,

- Garth

 

It’s Official: Reggae on the River 2008 – July 19

What: Mateel Community Center’s Reggae on the River
Where: Benbow Lake State Recreation Area (Benbow, CA)
When: Saturday, July 19, 2008
Who: Culture w/ Kenyatta Hill (above), The Wailing Souls, Katchafire, Warrior King & more!
Why: A keep-the-name-alive-forever fundraiser for the Mateel Community Center

Reggae On The River Rises From The Ashes & Lands In Benbow July 19

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, on Saturday, July 19th, the Mateel Community Center will revive Reggae on the River as a single-day, roots reggae and world music celebration at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area in southern Humboldt. A transitional year for the event, with issues still unresolved in the festival’s ongoing legal dispute, Reggae on the River 08 will be an in-house production offered in a keep-the-name-alive-forever spirit, with hopes to return the festival to 3 day event that will again support the work of both community non-profits and the Mateel Community Center.

In keeping with the paired down theme, the festival will eschew top heavy headliners this year and will feature a deep and top class billing of international talent including Culture with Kenyatta Hill, The Wailing Souls (w/ Ziggy Marley’s backing band); native New Zealanders, Katchafire; Jamaica’s conscious dancehall and roots sensation, Warrior King; dancehall diva, Sister I-Live; and Jamaica’s rising star (and local favorite), Stevie Culture, with more talent TBA. Additionally, the event will offer vendors, a children’s area, delicious food and drink, a beer & wine bar, and plenty of irie vibes on the beautiful shores of the Eel River in Benbow Lake S.R.A.

Don’t miss this chance to support the work of MCC while helping keep Reggae on the River alive. Tickets will be offered soon at the affordable, family friendly price of $45 for MCC members (at the MCC office only), $50 in advance, and $55 at the gate (if available) with kids 12 & under free. They will first be available for purchase at the Summer Arts & Music Festival at Benbow Lake SRA on the weekend of May 31 & June 1 (look for them at the Mateel info booth), and will then be available at local outlets and online at www.inticketing.com beginning Monday, June 3. Advance tickets are advised as capacity will be limited.

Visit either www.mateel.org or www.reggaeontheriver.com for further talent announcements, plus state park camping info, and other festival tidbits. A variety of vending options are also currently available for craft and food booths (with non-profit organizations receiving food booth priority). For more information on vending at Reggae on the River, contact Ashley Wilma at 923-3368 ext. 31 or email her at vendorinfo@mateel.org. To volunteer, or for more general questions about this year’s single day Reggae on the River festival at Benbow Lake SRA, contact the MCC office at (707) 923-3368 or send an email to office@mateel.org. So mark your calendars now and don’t miss the return of this beloved SoHum tradition on Saturday, July 19.

 

Reggae on the River 2008?

Word on the street is that the folks at the Mateel are about to announce a one-day version of Reggae on the River to take place at Benbow Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday, July 19.

Tentative beginning to the line-up (not yet confirmed with the production peeps):

[Update: My source was wrong about Lee Perry. Too bad...] Official release to be posted momentarily.

Jamaican veterans – The Wailing Souls

The mad master of dub from the Black Ark – Lee”Scratch” Perry

New Zealand roots reggae stars – Katchafire

Hot dancehall artist – Warrior King

I’m sure more will be added, included some homegrown talent.

The striped down version of the festival fits with the Mateel’ stated goal to “bring Reggae on the River back to its roots.”

So, does this qualify as the 25th (semi)annual Reggae on the River?

 

PP and hospital reach agreement

This just in from PP (no time to comment)

People Productions and Jerald Phelps Hospital Reach an Equitable Agreement

People Productions and the Jerald Phelps Hospital are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement regarding losses incurred to the hospital E.R. during the 07 Reggae Rising weekend. People Productions made a $3000 contribution to them this week and will give the hospital another $3000 prior to this year’s event to cover added staffing costs. “They have also generously offered us a booth, and help in staffing the booth, something we gratefully accept when we are awaiting a 10% state reduction in our reimbursement funding,” said board president Stephen Bowen. “This is not the $12,000 a year average loss for Reggae weekend” continued Bowen, “but further consideration of the patients responsibility added to our improved ability to collect bad debts and we are satisfied! If later we find we were wrong, we now have a dialogue and we can readdress the situation .Thank you to People Productions, for being the one and only group to address this situation. We wish them well in their venture! Thanks to you and the board for your hard work, to insure a fair resolution to all concerned.”

David Moss of the Reggae Rising Operations Team added, “We are very happy that we have come to an agreement with the hospital. We have always strived towards a good working relationship with the hospital and never intended to cause them extra expense or burden. We look forward to moving forward and continuing to work together with the hospital to make the weekend run as smooth as possible. We value the service the hospital provides to our community and we value a good strong working relationship”

 

What happened at the Planning meeting?

For reasons I won’t go into here, I was not able to attend the Planning Commission meeting noted in the post below. I figured I’d watch it on TV (it’s broadcast live on public access), but I only remembered to turn the TV on at a quarter past 7. By then all the Reggae related testimony had taken place. I did catch the commission’s ruling however.

By a unanimous vote, With four yeahs and one abstaining they approved the report for the 2007 event and approved “the proposed changes to the mitigation measures… on the condition that methodologies for attendance verification be pre-approved by the Planning Director,” likewise for water monitoring. Apparently the expert testimony convinced the commission that the attendance level was not exceeded last year: The commission “set the attendance level for the 2008 event to 14,400 total attendees by adopting the resolution of approval based on staff reports and public testimony.”

[Note: That number, up from last year's 12,400, means $320,000 or more in additional revenue.]

I saw Cristina and Mary in the audience, so I guess we’ll read about it soon, but I’m curious what else I missed. Can anyone fill in details as to how this came about?

[Times Standard coverage here.]

Update: I’m told by someone who was in attendance that a photo analyst from a Willits forestry firm studied the aerials and found that People Productions estimates were very close. It would seem that was all the additional information needed by the commission.

Mateel board member Joe Hiney spoke against approval of the permit, but to no avail. Other Mateel supporters showed up just after the decision was made, too late to testify.

Another thing that came up was the fact that the Mateel Community Center’s name is still on the permit. Planning staff reiterated their previous opinion that the permit runs with the land, and said that next time around (for Reggae 2009) the Mateel’s name will be removed. Presumably the term “Reggae On The River event” will also be removed.