Reggae: Past, Present and Future

more "details," this time from the Dimmick Ranch...

COURT DENIES PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION; TICKETS ON SALE NOW AS REGGAE RISING SECURES RIGHT TO DIMMICK RANCH SITE

Mateel Community Center’s Attempt to Bar Competing Community-Focused
Festival Lacks Legal Merit; Reggae Vibes Continue to Flow Under New Name

PIERCY, Calif.; April 26, 2007 – After a much-anticipated ruling that ushers in a new era for the annual Southern Humboldt community reggae event, tickets for Reggae Rising, a music festival to be held on the Dimmick Ranch, Aug. 3-5, are on sale now.
Long-time producer People Productions and landowner Tom Dimmick have legally cleared the way to move forward with the event and continue to work to address the remaining concerns of the Planning Commission in producing this world-class reggae music festival, benefiting a variety of local non-profit organizations.

The ruling, issued by The Honorable Judge Bruce Watson after a hearing on Monday, April 9, denied the Mateel Community Center's request for a preliminary injunction against Dimmick and the Reggae Rising event. Parties to the lawsuit originally asked the judge to withhold his ruling in favor of progressing settlement negotiations; however, these talks have failed to produce a settlement, and the parties requested an expeditious ruling from the Honorable Judge Watson on Apr. 13.

“The entire Reggae Rising team feels a tremendous responsibility to this community – both the Southern Humboldt community and the broader reggae community. In living up to that responsibility, I have been through weeks of active settlement talks with the Mateel Community Center,” said Tom Dimmick. “The Dimmick Ranch has repeatedly offered the Mateel a yearly guarantee that would have funded its operating budget for the duration of the conditional use permit, but this offer was turned down. I also included payment for the infrastructure on my land and even went so far as to add a one-year deal for 2007 that would allow 2B1 to recover most of the costs it has incurred to date. Yet, the Mateel has refused to recognize the value in a 23-year veteran producer and has over-valued its trademark.”

Dimmick added: “The Mateel Board appears to be interested in a long and drawn out fight over ‘what could have been’ rather than ‘what is.’ In the meantime, we’re moving forward to put on the best reggae festival yet, which will secure relied-upon funding for our local non-profits.”

Dimmick owns the river-side land on which Reggae on the River was held in 2006 and controls the vast majority of parking and camping area necessary for hosting Reggae Rising in 2007. People Productions, a locally owned company, is led by Carol Bruno, who has produced the event since its inception, and employs many of the experienced coordinators who have worked Reggae on the River for 23 years.

The Dimmick Ranch was originally leased to the Mateel in 2005, with provisions for infrastructure development and “Item 10,” which assures that People Productions would serve as the production company for the term of the lease. In hiring 2B1, a new producer out of the Bay Area, the Mateel materially breached its lease with Dimmick.

Reggae Rising will benefit and feature goods and services offered by a variety of Southern Humboldt non-profit organizations.

“We are truly saddened by the deep divide that this entire situation has created within our community. However, this ruling places our focus squarely on the future and the many preparations necessary to make Reggae Rising a positive outcome from what has been a trying period. We look forward to putting the peace and love back into the community and the reggae music festival,” said Bruno.

The entire production team for Reggae Rising is committed to presenting a great community event what will bring attendees the music, food, beverage and merchandise they have come to enjoy in years past. Visit the Web site at: www.reggaerising.com.