cannabisnews.com: Woodstock '99 Puts Peace Above Love, Understanding





Woodstock '99 Puts Peace Above Love, Understanding
Posted by FoM on July 08, 1999 at 09:37:38 PT
Source: Times Union
ROME -- Control is the word for Woodstock '99 organizers hoping to avoid the surreptitious influx of drugs and alcohol and to regulate the chaos of crowd-surfing, moshing throngs.
Elaborate security measures are devised, including a Peace Patrol and a Peace WallThe 30th anniversary of the historic gathering of "peace, love and understanding'' is expected to lure 250,000 to 300,000 former hippies and children of flower children to the decommissioned Griffiss Air Force Base.Despite some still unresolved permit problems, organizers have devised detailed plans for a mass of humanity that would transform Rome into the state's third-largest city July 23-25.There will be at least 1,250 on-site, unarmed security guards -- a so-called Peace Patrol -- buttressed by 500 off-site state troopers. A strict list of do's and don'ts has been compiled. There will be between 12,000 to 15,000 staffers. And entering the concert will be akin to boarding a plane."It's not to create an obsessive atmosphere,'' said Ilene Marder, regional press director for Woodstock '99, "but control is the word. We want everyone to enjoy this.''Everyone with a $150 ticket, that is.The sans-ticket set made short work of the chain-link fence at the 25th anniversary mudfest in Saugerties. The so-called Peace Wall surrounding the Griffiss Business and Technology Park will be 12 feet high and made of steel-reinforced plywood. The world's longest continuous mural will cover the wall to showcase both nationally renowned and local artists."Woodstock has a history of people not having to pay,'' said Ken Donohue, director of security. "That's not going to happen this time.''Donohue said space is available for up to 200 arrests, and that judges and assistant district attorneys will be on hand to expedite justice. "Don't break the rules. We don't want to get into the law enforcement mode of security,'' he said. "We'd like to help people.''Responding to reports that the concert was in jeopardy because of unpaid fines resulting from permits not being turned into Oneida County offices, County Executive Ralph Eannace said the focus is on settling the difficulties."Although the exact amount of the fines is still not known,'' Eannace said. "The goal is not fines, but a safe event.''Dave Pendergast, spokesman for the county executive, said that organizers have been extremely cooperative and are coming into compliance with the items on the permit list every day. He predicted that the show will definitely go on.Marder acknowledged some problems in securing the permits but said the issue was blown out of proportion. "We have to dot the final i's and cross the final t's,'' she said.In addition to the nearly 50 bands -- including the Dave Matthews Band, Metallica, Willie Nelson and the Tragically Hip -- festival-goers will be inundated with a cornucopia of food, an X-games-like action lounge, an after-hours rave and more than 200 vendors. And in case the cash runs low, an on-site ATM will be available for the vast array of aural, visual and physical enticements.Since the ticket includes access to so much -- including shower facilities and 2,500 portable toilets -- Marder is urging everyone to go minimalist."If you have something that would be embarrassing for us to find, leave it in your car,'' Marder said. As concert-goers pass through the 200 turnstiles, they will be subjected to metal detection wands, and their belongings will be searched for drugs, alcohol, weapons and other contraband, Marder said.Other verboten include any camp stoves, video cameras, umbrellas, animals (except Seeing Eye dogs) glass or metal containers."One thing that makes a crowd unhappy is if a band walks off the stage,'' Marder said. "There's very little that will cause that, but a bottle flying at them will.''Should the rains come, organizers suggest rain slickers. And everyone should bring a tent, sleeping bag and pillows and blankets, because sleeping in a car is also a no-no. There will also be about 2,000 medical staff and 10 medical stations.Unlike at the Saugerties concert, beer will be available to the 21-and-over set. Those looking to imbibe will be restricted to three beer gardens spread throughout the village."Bring a driver's license,'' Marder said. Not only will everyone be carded, there will be a two-drink maximum per trip inside the tent, and consumption will be confined to the gardens.With up to 80,000 automobiles expected, parking and traffic have been a concern for organizers, community leaders and law enforcement agencies. The 2-mile runway along the north end of the site can accommodate up to 60,000 cars, Marder said. Parking facilities and access to the 250-acre, semiwooded campground will be available beginning at noon July 22. The festival gates open at noon the next day.Off-site parking will be available with a free shuttle providing transportation to the gates. For more information go to: http://www.woodstock.com/By MIKE FRICANO, Staff writer First published: Thursday, July 8, 1999 Copyright 1999,Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y. 
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Comment #2 posted by timbudd on July 08, 1999 at 19:39:40 PT:
They have got a lot of nerve. . . 
calling thuis woodstock, it is sad to see what has become of this event. But after all I guess people are willing to trade anything for a sense of security.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 08, 1999 at 10:16:52 PT:
Woodstock '99 Merchandise a Local Click Away!
Albany, New YorkFirm snares contract to sell T-shirts and other goods on Webhttp://www.woodstock.com/A local company snagged the e-commerce contract to provide the T-shirts and other Woodstock '99 merchandise that will be sold internationally over the World Wide Web. Broadway Marketing, an arm of Broadway Sporting Goods Co. Inc., has the exclusive rights to make and market woodstock.com apparel and merchandise, according to Geoffrey Patack, Broadway president. Broadway Marketing will also fill the orders and handle the shipping of the merchandise commemorating the rock concert, scheduled for July 23-25 in Rome.The Internet store is already open at the concert's wide-ranging, promotional Web site, http://www.woodstock.com. The Web store is selling items imprinted with the Web site logo, including T-shirts ($16.95), polo shirts ($29.95), compact-disc holders ($14.95) and other merchandise.Patack declined to reveal the value of the contract for his privately owned company, which was started by his grandfather in 1953.The Woodstock '99 contract "will be our largest e-commerce contract,'' he said, and "will lead to other contracts.'' And the woodstock.com Web site, he said, could stay in business long after the concert is over.Currently, though, the company's e-commerce business is still small, accounting for less than 5 percent of overall sales, he said.Broadway still makes most of its money producing T-shirts, caps, other apparel and merchandise for corporations such as GE Capital and Unified Technologies, and for sports teams. The company also runs a traditional retail store at 80 Fuller Road, site of the corporate headquarters and warehouse.The e-commerce venture, started about two years ago, was a "natural outgrowth'' of the company's core business, Patack said. Broadway already handles e-commerce merchandising for other clients, such as Siena College athletics, and operates its own Internet store at www.broadwaymarketing.com.Patack said he got the concert deal through entertainment industry contacts. A California company that has spawned other Internet ventures, Idealab!, is Broadway's partner in the woodstock.com store deal, Patack said.Broadway now employs 27 people and doesn't anticipate hiring any more to fulfill this contract. The company uses a network of T-shirt makers, and fills orders on a just-in-time basis, Patack said.The company also anticipates signing a representative company to sell Woodstock '99 merchandise to traditional storefronts across the country, he said.Woodstock '99 is being organized by music promoters Michael Lang, John Scher and Ossie Killkenny. By JO-ANN JOHNSTON, Business writer First published: Thursday, July 8, 1999 
Times Union
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