Whether standing up for justice or standing in line for beer, it’s better to stand for something than fall for anything, except for this pour of Port Townsend Observation Deck News Around Town.

T-SHIRT SAYING OF THE WEEK: "Never waste a good crisis"

PUSSYHAT NEWS: We’ve had big crowds downtown for festivals, races and regattas, community portraits, even for Santa Claus visits. Some of the Port Townsend Peace Movement events when Iraq was a new war drew big crowds. A unique spirit and plenty of pink-shaded “pussyhats” were present Saturday, Jan. 21 when an estimated 1,000 people gathered as part of the nationwide Women's March events. Love it or fail to understand it (the hat part, anyway), the constitutional right of assembly is alive and well in Port Townsend.

SCANNER CALL OF THE WEEK: A JeffCom dispatcher on Monday afternoon reports that a motorist has called to report another motorist on State Route 19. “The driver appears to be smoking marijuana; erratic speed and lane travel.”

RETIREMENT NEWS: An entity named SmartAsset has released its third annual study on “best places to retire” and, of course, Port Townsend makes Washington State’s top 10. Last June, SmartAsset ranked PT No. 6 in cities in Washington with the Most Recreational and Social Opportunities for Seniors. In terms of best places to retire, PT is listed No. 7 based on the criteria of tax (17.4 percent), doctors offices per 1,000 people (2.9), recreation centers per 1,000 people (1.7), retirement centers per 1,000 people (0.4), and percent of seniors (29.8). Gig Harbor tops the overall list (by a wide margin), followed by Sequim, Clarkston, Snohomish, Olympia, Woodinville, Port Townsend, Ocean Shores, Stanwood and Anacortes. No surprise here, including that PT’s tax rate is tied with Woodinville for highest.

ADVICE OF THE WEEK: “It’s OK if a person doesn’t know what they are doing, but it’s not OK when they won’t admit they don’t know what they are doing.”

TRANSITION NEWS: A fella who has witnessed the introduction of at least 30 sets of Rhododendron Festival royalty, regarding how he expects the current outgoing royalty to treat this year’s candidates leading to the coronation program March 4. “I expect there to be a smooth transition of power.”

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I like beer. I like the smell of it,” says a man not shy to admit his favorite boat show on the West Coast is the one where beer goes on sale at 10 o’clock in the morning. There’s a more than fair chance he will check out the 13th Strange Brewfest here in town this weekend.

(Patrick J. Sullivan of the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader leans toward the aroma of a crisp pilsner.)