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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS March 25, 2013 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
Mail theft case may be tried in Jefferson
Vamping it up for Forks contest Tongue-in-cheek advice column offers big prizes BY ARWYN RICE PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
BY CHARLIE BERMANT
PORT ANGELES — A very helpful vampire lives in Forks, according to an Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau contest, and he has more in common with advice columnist Jeanne Phillips, who writes “Dear Abby,” than Dracula. Known simply as “Daniel,” he is billed as the North Olympic Peninsula’s very own vampire, and he answers questions from visitors about life as a vampire on the North Olympic Peninsula — from Forks weather patterns to vampiric habits — on the blog “Ask Our Vampire.” The questions and answers aren’t typical tourism fare, due to the region’s connection to a famous vampire romance series and sense of humor displayed by North Olympic Peninsula tourism officials. One website visitor asked Daniel if he lived on the Peninsula in the ’70s. “Do you mean the 1870s, or the 1970s? Either way, yes,” was the answer.
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PORT TOWNSEND — Attorneys in a high-profile mail theft case involving several counties want to consolidate it so that it is tried only in Jefferson County, a deputy prosecuting attorney said. Adam Justin Lysiak, 38, is charged with 12 counts of stolen property in the second degree and one count of possession of stolen mail. He remained in the Jefferson County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail Sunday. Port Townsend Lysiak police say that mail stolen from at least 1,319 people in 11 counties was found in Lysiak’s Port Townsend apartment when he was arrested Feb. 12. Attorneys for both sides agreed to contact prosecutors in all jurisdictions from where the mail was found and ask if they are willing to forego prosecution in favor of trying the entire case in Jefferson County, Jefferson County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Ashcraft said Friday. “Both sides feel that it is best to resolve all the cases in the same place,” Ashcraft said. “We want to avoid finishing the case here and then having to try it again in another jurisdiction.”
Sweepstakes prizes Ask Our Vampire is part of a tourism commission sweepstakes promotion, inspired by Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series of vampire and werewolf romance books set in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles that has driven at least 40,000 visitors to the area since 2008. The sweepstakes contest will award a six-night trip for four to the Olympic Peninsula to a winner chosen at random from those who ask a question of the vampire. The trip includes airfare on Alaska Airlines from locations in the United States and Canada — people living elsewhere are not eligible — a car rental, two nights at the Quileute Oceanside Resort in LaPush, two nights at Lake Crescent Lodge and two nights at the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles. Winners also will receive gift certificates to Forks Outfitters in Forks, a sunset tour of Forks and LaPush from Team Forks, a kayak trip through Adventures through Kayaking in Port Angeles, and meals at two Port Angeles eateries — a local farm-fare lunch at Renaissance cafe and dinner at Bella Italia Restaurant. The trip can be Twilight-themed or simply a visit to the Peninsula’s natural wonders, depending on the winner’s personal preference and choice of local sightseeing options. Other sponsors of the contest are 7
Trial postponed KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Actor Sean Peck-Collier, left, playing “Daniel,” and Mary Brelsford, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau communications manager, are part of the team behind the “Ask Our Vampire” online tourism contest. Cedars Casino in Blyn, Expedition Northwest in Port Angeles and The Pacific Inn, Native to Twilight and A Cozy River House in Forks.
Ends Thursday The contest, which began Feb. 27, will end at midnight Thursday. Forks Visitors Center has registered an average of about 40,000 visitors a year since the first book in the Twilight series was published in 2005, and the last movie in the series, “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2,” opened in
November. No one knows how many visitors never register or pass through the area uncounted, officials have said. The writers behind Daniel consist of Mary Brelsford, the communications manager for the tourism commission, who came up with the contest idea and who answers general questions about the Peninsula; and Marcia Bingham of the Forks Chamber of Commerce, who is tasked with answering Forks and vampire-based questions. TURN
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Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Keith Harper has continued the trial, which was set to begin April 15, until the end of June to provide time to gather the needed information, Ashcraft said. Ben Critchlow, Lysiak’s attorney, did not immediately return a call requesting comment last week. Federal and state authorities also will be contacted to see if they plan to prosecute, Ashcraft said, adding that no decision was reached during a March 13 conference call among state, federal and county prosecutorial authorities. In addition to the Port Townsend police, U.S. Postal Service and the Secret Service have been involved in the investigation. Port Townsend Officer Luke Bogues said the department’s inventory of mail found in Lysiak’s home found the largest number of victims, 696, were Kitsap County residents. TURN TO THEFT/A5
Community Read author appearing on Peninsula Wednesday at the Port Angeles Pam — who takes off on planes, dog Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., and sleds and rafts to Bhutan, New ZeaThursday at the Port Townsend High land and Spain, among other places. PORT TOWNSEND — In Con- School auditorium, 1500 Van Ness. She also embarks on other hartents May Have Shifted, this year’s rowing trips: away from physically Port Townsend Community Read Free admission abusive parents, into that first big selection, author Pam Houston travAdmission is free to both 7 p.m. love affair, into step-parenthood and els through moments of searing events. Houston’s books will be dealing with her partner’s ex. pain, joy and wonder. Through it all, there are close She does this along two lines: her available for purchase and for signfriendships with women, men and ing by the author. relationships and her trips. For more details on the discus- Pam’s beloved dogs. They’re intertwined throughout Houston splits her time between Contents, a non-linear novel in 144 sions, phone the Port Townsend chapters ranging from long to short Library at 360-385-3181 or Port the University of California at Davis, Book and News in Port Angeles at where she directs the creative writto shorter. ing program, and her ranch in ColoThe creator of this unconventional 360-452-6367. Contents tracks a woman very rado. journey is coming to the North Olympic Peninsula for two discussions: like the writer — a heroine named TURN TO HOUSTON/A5 BY DIANE URBANI
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Pam Houston teaches at the University of California-Davis.
Contents May Have Shifted, by Pam Houston.
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