Mayor Rob Marlowe
This past weekend was our annual Seafood and Blues Festival, organized by the folks at Greater New Port Richey Main Street.
It had all the makings of a great weekend event: A car show, an art show, a photography contest, boats, music, and (naturally) seafood.
I’d pretty much called it an evening on Friday and gone home when I got a call from a resident on Lafayette Street complaining about how loud the music was. Being somewhat curious, I went back over to the park to see what I could find with the audio meter app on my phone. While the sound volume wasn’t THAT loud outside the park, the volume readings in the concert ring were in the 105 dB range and bouncing up close to 115 dB next to the sound board in the middle of the circle. I didn’t walk up closer to the stage and speakers. My ears were ringing afterwards as it was. To put this into perspective, 80 dB is loud enough to make the cats to hide when I’m playing my records downstairs.
From what I’ve read, prolonged exposure to sounds in excess of 85 dB causes permanent hearing damage. 100 dB is like a jackhammer one meter away and 110 dB is the sound a gasoline chain saw makes at the same distance.
hmmm…
I saw one of the senior Main Street Board Members on Saturday. I suggested that the sound techs they use should be asked to wear their hearing aids in the future when they are setting volume levels.
Other concert events in the park tend to be pretty loud too. I believe there is a business opportunity for someone to sell hearing protectors at future events. I don’t believe we’ve got any Main Street members in that field, so perhaps Main Street could recruit one. In the interim, I’ll dig out my ear plugs before I go to any more concerts.
I recommend you do the same. Disposable Ear Plugs like the ones shown on the left are dirt cheap (200 pairs for less than $30.00).
Volume aside, the music was great. The Bearded Brothers were excellent.
The fish portions that were being served could have easily served two or three people. Talk about a value for your money!
The car show was smaller than some previous years, but there were a number of Pontiac GTOs there. Sweet.
The photography contest, organized by Jim Smetzer at Pasco Camera had some amazing photos.
Likewise, the art exhibit in Peace hall, organized by the New Port Richey Art Gallery, had some excellent work on display. I got to pick a painting for a “Mayor’s Award”. It was hard picking a winner. I could easily picked any of a half a dozen other fantastic pieces.
Speaking of talent, the Thomas Meighan Film Festival will be at the Richey Suncoast Theatre this coming weekend (May 1st and 2nd). Tickets are just $10 for one night or $16 for both. My wife and I have attended in previous years and it is well worth the price of admission.
I’ve written before about how blessed we are to have so many artistic folks living in and around New Port Richey. It is true and this past weekend proved it.
For your calendars… May 30th will be a “Walk with your City Council” event at the James Grey Preserve. The event will start at 8am. I’ll publish more info as I get it.
This Monday (April 27th) is the Environmental Committee’s movie at the library, starting at 5:30pm. I wouldn’t miss this and hope to see you there.
See you around New Port Richey.
Rob Marlowe, Mayor