cannabisnews.com: Starks Receives Application from Hempstock Planner Starks Receives Application from Hempstock Planner Posted by CN Staff on July 02, 2002 at 07:38:51 PT By Betty Jespersen, Staff Writer Source: Kennebec Journal Donald Christen, the founder of the Maine Vocals, signed and delivered his application for a mass-gathering permit for Hempstock to the town of Starks Thursday, getting it in just under the wire of the required 45-day filing deadline. Hempstock is set to be held Aug. 15-18. If the application is denied, Christen has a tentative deal with a landowner to move the event to Farmington. Christen, the founder of the marijuana legalization group Maine Vocals, did not deny the site is off of Savage Road near Clearwater Lake on the Industry town line. Christen said he has already submitted a state mass gathering permit application for the Farmington site to the Maine Department of Human Services. Farmington is in the process of drafting its own mass gathering ordinance that would be required for events with continued attendance of 750 or more people for six or more hours. Large events sanctioned by nonprofit groups, such as Farmington Fair and the American Lung Association's Bike Trek Across Maine, would be exempt A public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. July 9 at the Farmington Municipal Building and a special town meeting will be held at the end of July. The Farmington ordinance, modeled after Starks' ordinance, requires a permit be submitted no less than 45 days prior to an event, effectively blocking Hempstock from being held there in August. Christen said the Starks application was so complex he needed an attorney to help fill it out. "I don't know how they think they have the right to put someone through so much trouble to get a simple permit to gather when it is a right permitted under the U.S. Constitution," Christen said. Assistant District Attorney for Somerset County Everett Fowle said Friday the issue is not ideological: "This is not a question of anyone being against concerts or people's right to express themselves . . . Our concern, first and foremost, is the right of the citizens of Starks to have a good night's sleep." "This is a lawful ordinance . . . and Mr. Christen does not have a constitutional right to keep people up all night. There is also the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that is adversely implicated when loud music goes well past midnight," Fowle said. The Vocals historically carry out their operations "without any consideration of the residents of the area," he said. Christen said the music is not unreasonably loud and he turns the volume down when anyone complains. Starks officials have said their ordinance amounts to common sense health and safety measures and that it was enacted because the yearly festivals that attract thousands threaten to collapse the town's infrastructure. Last year, after the Vocals held a major festival in Starks without a permit, the town brought a lawsuit against Christen and the Vocals. In response, Christen charged the town was harassing him and that the ordinance was unreasonable and unconstitutional. In April, Somerset County Superior Court Justice S. Kirk Studstrup ruled Christen had to obey it since the threat to public safety of an unregulated gathering outweighs any injury the defendant might suffer. He said if the ordinance was challenged in court, the town would likely prevail. The attorney for the town of Starks, Kenneth Lexier of Skowhegan, and Starks Selectwoman Cynthia Kimble were unavailable for comment. Christen said his events are a source of tourism dollars. They arrive with tents and recreational vehicles and spend money at area gas stations, restaurants and convenience stores. "Some people plan their vacations around my concerts and that is very heartwarming. There aren't many festivals where people can come and camp and have a good time, listen to music and not be bothered," he said. He said he plans on holding a two outdoor concerts in Norridgewock this summer, a rock and blues festival July 19-21 and a concert featuring the rock band Jackyl Sept. 6-8. "It's not a bad idea to keep people here in vacationland," Christen said. Source: Kennebec Journal (ME)Author: Betty Jespersen, Staff WriterPublished: Monday, July 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers IncContact: kjedit centralmaine.comWebsite: http://www.kjonline.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Maine Vocalshttp://www.mainevocals.org/Vocals Ignore Ordinance http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10383.shtmlPownal Home To Concerts Promoting Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9520.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on July 02, 2002 at 23:21:36 PT I have a dream to paraphrase M.l.K., One day, some time down in future, in the year of 2010, FoM announced a CannabisNews gathering in Washington D.C. Millions showed up. There were no chaos. Music filling in the air and the birds sang along. Sweet smell in the air. No race were denied the access to the gathering. Everyone smiled.Everyone hugged each other and said, " I knew you!"...Cops mingled in the crowd, there's no hint of hate.Only love.. with the sweet smell in the Air..I have a dream..ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 02, 2002 at 20:09:17 PT Fourth of July Hemp Coalition - Washington D.C. Thursday July 4th, 2002 Washington, DC The 33rd Annual Rally, Parade, Concert & Picnic to End Marijuana Prohibition Demonstration Update Band Equipment & Organiztion Sales Material can be brought to the site on July 3rd from 7:00PM, our sound man Ronnie, will be on site to watch over peoples equipment. This is the best time to bring down equipment. If you come on July 4th, you need to plan when you can bring your stuff in, from 6:00am and until 10:00am the Mall will be closed for a security sweep. Everyone must leave the Mall at this time, and then come back through the security checkpoint at 23rd and Constitution Ave NW after 10:00am. http://www.fourthofjuly.org/index.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment