Cobain memorial committee gets positive feedback (May 15 2004) By Paula Horton Daily World Writer It's about time something was done in Aberdeen to pay tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. That was the consensus at the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee's first public meeting Thursday night. "I'm really happy you're doing what you're doing," Aberdeen resident Patty Thomas said. "Regardless what he did, he was still talented." Hoquiam resident Tracy Wood, whose 13-year-old daughter Alyssa presented a sketch for a possible tribute sign, agreed. "I think this is a very talented band. I applaud you for what you're trying to do." About 25 people of all ages gathered at Aberdeen City Hall Thursday to hear ideas from the eight-member committee, which formed after a story about Kurt Cobain appeared on The Daily World's Teen Connection page just before the 10th anniversary of his death last month. Cobain killed himself April 5, 1994, in Seattle. "We decided to do this now basically because no one else has done anything," said committee co-chairman Jeff Burlingame, The Daily World's Arts and Entertainment editor. The committee's goals to remember Cobain include a public sign somewhere on the bluff in East Aberdeen welcoming people to town and recognizing that Cobain was born in Aberdeen, developing a park in or near downtown that would include a graffiti wall and building some type of youth center where kids can play music or do art. Initially the group considered pushing to have North Aberdeen Park on Young Street near the Wishkah River renamed as Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, but they are now looking at two privately owned spots in or near downtown that could be developed into a memorial park, said co-chairman Paul Fritts, a member of the Aberdeen City Council. Many people in attendance asked questions about fund-raising, publicity and more and also offered various suggestions. One person wanted to see the Kurt Cobain Memorial Scholarship - given to graduating seniors - strengthened. Another wanted to start an all-ages venue to give teens and others a place to go, drink coffee, play music and be safe. Randi Hubbard, an artist who created a sculpture of Kurt Cobain and has it in her Aberdeen muffler shop, wanted to be sure the committee took advantage of local artists and local talent. There was no one in attendance who didn't want to see a tribute to the rock legend. "I was a little bit surprised that there weren't people here who were against it," Burlingame said. "I thought there would be people here screaming at us." Carl Weber, who moved to Aberdeen about 10 years ago after retiring as a marketing director for a multi-national company, said he was surprised to see Aberdeen hadn't capitalized on one of its most famous natives. "I think it's an ideal thing that we should do," Weber said. "I think there's some money that could actually be brought into this town. "I can't say I agree with Kurt Cobain's lifestyle but his music and his poetry was brilliant," he added. "Elvis Presley was not without his drug problems and we call him the king." Though there are a lot of different ideas out there, the committee has decided it wants to start small, get something accomplished and move on to bigger projects. They want to make sure there's a place for people to remember Cobain, especially those who've traveled a long way just to be able to say they've visited the place where it all started. Leland Cobain, Kurt's grandfather and a member of the committee, said he gets visitors all the time from "all over Europe and all over the United States." He's also received a ton of letters. "I try to answer them all," he said. "It's all about his music and how great he was." Committee members indicated that that's what people talk about, and that's exactly what they to pay tribute to - Kurt Cobain's music and his lasting impact. "We're trying to get away from the negative and focus on the positive," Fritts said. The non-profit committee is accepting donations through the Kurt Cobain Memorial Project at any branch of the Bank of the Pacific. Bank details: Kurt Cobain Memorial Project c/o Bank of the Pacific 300 E. Market St. Aberdeen, WA 98520