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SKOWHEGAN – Despite an injunction directing him not to do it, and a contempt of court suit filed Thursday in Somerset County Superior Court, Maine Vocals founder Don Christen said the annual pro-marijuana festival will be held this month as scheduled.
Skowhegan lawyer Kenneth Lexier, representing the town of Starks, filed the contempt notice after he said Christen violated an injunction put in place by Justice Kirk Studstrup in April. “The injunction prohibited Don Christen and Maine Vocals Inc. from doing a whole host of things,” Lexier said. “Specifically it states he will not promote or sponsor a gathering in the town of Starks that is, or could be, a mass gathering without a permit.”
Starks selectmen denied Christen’s permit two weeks ago on the basis that the application was incomplete and that he said 4,900 people would be there for three days. “That is clearly a violation of the injunction,” said Lexier.
In addition, he said, Christen has been promoting the festival on radio and through newspapers and posters.
Christen said Thursday that the festival will be held as planned because he does not require a permit as it does not meet the town’s definition of a mass gathering.
“We have broken up the shows into two shows and decreased the hours to five hours each. We are also limiting participation to 700 people,” Christen said Thursday.
By staying under the Starks mass-gathering definition of 12 hours and 2,000 people, Christen maintains he does not require a permit.
The pro-marijuana festival, which some years boasted attendance of more than 7,000 people, will be held in Starks Aug. 15-18, said Christen. More than eight bands have been scheduled and Christen said overnight camping is offered. Starks officials have maintained for years that the festival overwhelms the town of 500.
“When more than 700 people show up, are they going to turn them away from the gate?” Lexier asked. “And where are all those people going to go between shows?
“I guess it becomes a matter of credibility,” Lexier said.
The motion of contempt and the Vocals’ appeal of the permit denial will both be heard in Skowhegan Superior Court at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8.
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