Bored? You won’t stay that way with Port Townsendopoly board game

PORT TOWNSEND — A localized version of the popular board game Monopoly is on sale for the holiday season as a benefit for scholastic programs at Grant Street Elementary School.

The school’s Parent Teacher Association, or PTA, has commissioned 500 copies of Port Townsendopoly, which is being sold for $25 each at the school at 1637 Grant St. and at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., as well as at eight retailers.

The money will go toward art instruction, books, computers, transportation and scholarships, among other school necessities.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“When I was young, the PTA would support fun things in the school,” said Kristy Asbell, PTA president and school volunteer.

“Now, we are buying things that the school can’t afford because the state can’t afford to pay.”

The familiar Monopoly locations are replaced by Port Townsend businesses and attractions.

The businesses’ addresses and phone numbers are on the game board, so it doubles as a directory of local stores and services.

The placement was sold as advertising, with each business paying $300 to $500 to be included.

With game sales and advertising costs, the school hopes to raise about $23,000, Asbell said.

The Monopoly-based game was used as a fundraiser in 2005, and enough time had elapsed that it could be done again, she added.

Last year, the PTA raised $22,747 with an auction, but the event had a high overhead and was complicated to produce, she said.

The PTA contracted with Pride Distributors of Farmington Hills, Mich., which has permission to use the Monopoly copyright for fundraising purposes.

Locations were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with advertisers choosing their position on the board from available space.

Boardwalk, the most prestigious position on the “real” Monopoly board, was snatched up by Carlson and Bothell, a subset of the local Windermere agency co-owned by Port Townsend School Board member Holley Carlson.

“Fate” and “PTA Cards” replace the original game’s “Chance” and “Community Chest,” giving players a leg up or a setback in the game, while “Go to Jail” is represented by a “Caught Speeding, Go to Court” square sponsored by East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.

One of the sponsors of the “In Court” square is attorney Noah Harrison.

When beginning the project, Asbell approached merchants who had participated in the 2005 version, but many could not afford it this year, she said.

To compensate for the lack of a full slate of advertisers, the PTA approached the Jefferson County Historical Society, which provided historical graphics and facts to fill up the board.

As a result, players can learn that President Rutherford B. Hayes visited Port Townsend during his term in 1880 and that the town’s 1850 population consisted of three families and 15 bachelors.

Retailers carrying the game are Henery’s Garden Center, Completely Puzzled, Whistle Stop Toys, Sea Grass, Tickled Pink, the Sand Castle, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Kinetic Coffee and the Northwest Maritime Center.

Each location was given 10 games, and many already have requested additional allotments, Asbell said.

________

Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Boating coach Eric Lesch, at a whiteboard, explains sailing techniques to a youth sailboat class. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Teenagers learning boating skills through program

Nonprofit funded by grants, agencies and donations

Land trust successful with campaign fund

Public access expected to open this year

Mark Hodgson.
Hodgson plans to run for Port Angeles City Council

Schromen-Wawrin, who currently holds seat, won’t run again

Pet vaccination clinic set for Saturday in Port Townsend

Pet Helpers of Port Townsend will conduct a pet… Continue reading

Charter Review Commission to conduct town hall Monday

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission will conduct a… Continue reading

Alexander Hamilton.
Clallam deputies graduate from state training center

Corrections deputies Alexander Hamilton and Cameron Needham have graduated… Continue reading

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Science education

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves lodging tax fund requests

Vacancy on committee brings legal questions

OMC hires family medicine physician

Dr. Calvin Kuo will join hospital in August

Colton Dufour, left, and his mom Cherie Tachell. (Cherie Tachell)
Boy seriously injured following hit-and-run

Condition is stable, but more testing underway for Sequim teenager

Applications open for Forks council seat

The Forks City Council is accepting applications to fill a… Continue reading