Unspoken Dangers
Most Doctors don’t warn pregnant patients about environmental risks
Cover Stories
Unspoken Dangers
SAN FRANCISCO – When Dr. Darragh Flynn sits down with her pregnant patients, she preaches healthy habits: Don’t smoke or drink, eat nutritious foods and take vitamins. She also advises them to avoid gasoline fumes, pesticides, certain types of fish and some household cleaners and cosmetics. “It’s only for nine months,” she tells them. “Let someone else…
Toxins in Humboldt
North Coast Journal Editor Carrie Peyton Dahlberg asked Dr. Cherrie Andersen, an obstetrician and gynecologist who practices in Eureka, to give us some of her thoughts on environmental risks during pregnancy. North Coast Journal: What are some of the most common environmental health threats to pregnant women in Humboldt? Dr. Cherrie Andersen: Humboldt’s traditional…
Making Wood Sing Images
Go here.
Speaking Yurok in the LAT
The Los Angeles Times writes about a new Yurok language program at Eureka High School, launched last fall, making EH “the fifth and largest school in Northern California to launch a Yurok-language program” and “marking the latest victory in a Native American language revitalization program widely lauded as the most successful in the state.” The…
In review: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Our dance columnist Stephanie Silvia filed this review of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Tuesday, Feb. 5 performance at HSU’s Van Duzer Theatre: The members of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago move like they were born to inhabit choreographer Ohad Naharin’s sensual and emotive movement landscape. Naharin, artistic director of Israel’s lush Batsheva Dance Company, reworked sections from earlier…
“Congress, Tear Down These Dams,” Says SF Chron
On Monday, the Associated Press published a story outlining the results of a U.S. Geological Survey study, which examined the likely effects of removing four dams on the Klamath River. The upshot? It’s a good idea. As AP reporter Jeff Barnard explains, federal scientists believe the $1 billion dam-removal project would restore the ecosystem, improve…
Vincent Van Gogh Painting Stolen in Eureka
Vincent van Gone! OK, it wasn’t by van Gogh it was of van Gogh, painted by local artist Rachel Schluter. But lame either way. Press release from the Eureka Police Department: On 2/5/13 EPD took a report of a stolen 2’ x 2’ oil painting on panel of Vincent van Gogh. It was painted in…
The Caspar Inn: A Eulogy
Sad news made the Facebook rounds yesterday: The beloved Caspar Inn will be closing its doors at the end of the month. Music/booze lover, frequent patron and NCJ contributor Jennifer Savage offers the following obituary. -AG For decades, the Caspar Inn delivered everything an old roadhouse should: rockin’ bands, good whiskey, better-than-decent food and bartenders…
Well, We’re All Just Marijuana Growers Now Aren’t We, Humboldt?
You know how when you travel anywhere and mention you’re from Humboldt how some people give you that snarky, knowing look and put two fingers up to their mouth to smoke that imaginary blunt? Yeah. That’s going to happen to you a lot more. But why? Well, on Feb. 20, no less than the Discovery…
Cannabis Comedy
I met Ngaio Bealum waiting in line to buy a slice of pie at the Mateel. He was telling jokes at the Emerald Cup, definitely an appropriate venue for someone known as “the cannabis comic.” When he mentioned that he had a show coming up in Arcata, we vowed to keep in touch and later…
From My Greasy, Dead Hands
Will critiques Andrew’s new comrade
Athletic, Eclectic Dance
Humboldt County audiences are in for a dramatic evening when Hubbard Street Dance Chicago takes the stage at the Van Duzer on Tuesday evening, Feb. 5. These dancers are contemporary titans. Hubbard Street is a spectacularly trained repertory company, commissioning dances from many diverse choreographers, differing from most major modern companies, which generally work…
Tyson ‘Stellar’
Editor: Regarding the recent article on the arrival of the new Eureka city manager, (“Eureka’s New Boss,” Jan. 17), former Councilman Larry Glass added a “pot-shot” at former Eureka City Manager David Tyson’s departure. “It’s a really big change,” said Glass. “It’s almost like Gaddafi leaving Libya.” Somebody must be pretty bummed out that their…
Remember, Part One
That scrawny bucktoothed Two parted-down-the-middle Braids sprawled in the strung-between Two weeping willows hammock beside the Bug murk- filled concrete bird bath Too skinny girl I used to be. Lying in that slung too low hammock Out in front of Nanaʼs aqua trimmed White brick house in Hickory And the whippoorwills would sing loud…
Taking Issue on Guns
Editor: I am writing to address the firearms articles featured in the Jan. 10 edition of the Journal (The Gun Issue). Terry Robert’s response letter, in the Jan. 17 edition is correct as far as it goes. Some more clarification is in order. The Second Amendment is not about hunting, gun collecting or target shooting.…
Guns and Poetry
Editor: Some recent NCJ articles have re-ignited two of my favorite pet peeves. 1) Barry Evans on “Homers Wine-Dark Sea”: Aside from the etymology of “op,” why has this epithet traditionally been translated as “wine-dark” rather than “wine-colored” or “wine-looking”? “Wine-dark” seems like a wonderful metaphor for describing the degree of opacity one “sees”…
Britishism Invasion
A recent column in the BBC News magazine about the invasion of Britishisms into American English (Sept. 26, 2012) reminded me of an old Rolf Harris story. Harris was a popular Australian singer-humorist a few decades back, and he was trying to explain the Yorkshire word “gormless” to his audience. It’s like this, he…
Correction
Last week’s review of Silver Linings Playbook (Filmland) lamented that actress Jacki Weaver was not nominated for an Academy Award when, in fact, she was. The Journal regrets the error but is happy on Ms. Weaver’s behalf.
New Skin
Got an unsightly bare patch of skin the cool kids make fun of? Ink up that epidermis when the annual Inked Heart Tattoo Expo returns to the Blue Lake Casino, Wednesday, Jan. 30 through Sunday, Feb. 3. Now in its third year, the event features numerous tattoo artists, vendors and addicts, as well as other…
Survival Revival
I tell you what: Some people got everything; some people got nothing; some people got hopes and dreams; some people got ways and means. We’re the survivors, yes, the black survivors. –from “Survival” by Bob Marley. Reggae icon Bob Marley turned political in his 1979 masterwork Survival, an album that includes the title track quoted…
Downtown Fortuna’s First Friday
Downtown Fortuna’s First Friday, Feb. 1, 5-8 p.m. features local artists and musicians. Further information at fortunadowntown@sbcglobal.net. BARTOW’S JEWELERS 651 12TH St. Photography by Adam Foster. CUDDLY BEAR 751 10TH St. Fernbridge Band acoustic jam night – anyone welcome to join (7p.m.) EEL RIVER BREWING COMPANY 1777 Alamar Way. Jewelry by Stephanie Hahner. FORTUNA ART…
Making a Splash
Water. The planet is covered in it. Our bodies are made up of it. Here in Humboldt County, we get more than our fair share in the form of rain, rivers and the sea. When it comes to water, one thing’s certain. Whether it’s for drinking, cooking or bathing, whether it’s bottled, boiled or…
Arts Alive! February 2013
First Saturday Night Arts Alive! Opening receptions for artists, exhibits, and/or performances Feb. 2, 6-9 p.m. Call Eureka Main Street at 707-442-9054, for more information or go to www.eurekamainstreet.org. 1. EUREKA INN 518 Seventh St. Music by The Trouble, 9 p.m. 2. HUMBOLDT ARTS COUNCIL at the Morris Graves Museum of Art 636 F St.…
To Phrase a Coin
David Mamet’s plays of the 1980s were warily praised as uncomfortably kinetic portraits of mostly white men jostling on the precarious edge of the American dream. His 1984 drama about a cutthroat band of real estate salesmen, Glengarry Glen Ross, won the Pulitzer Prize. But it was his 1977 Broadway debut that first ignited controversy…
Cheers for Charters
Editor: We are fortunate to have so many educational opportunities for our children (“Charter School Rift,” Jan. 24). The list of charter schools in Humboldt County is impressive. It seems to me that the Fortuna community is experiencing some growing pains in this area. It sounds like Redwood Prep. School is providing an exceptional learning…
Reincarnating the Pulp Mill
Sometime in mid-February the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District is slated to consider whether to buy the long-dormant Samoa pulp mill and try to coax it back to life. And this time, it could be a green life. If the deal goes through, the district could potentially turn about half of the 156-acre…
You Live Here. Run.
When people are all, “You live in Humboldt? Why?” you know how you go into your spiel about our majestic, rocky coastline and big ol’ trees — “nature,” essentially. We got really good nature, you assert. Yeah, haven’t been spending that much time out in it, have you? It’s cold, it’s wet. We get…
Bring Out Your Dead
Reviews MOVIE 43. A frenzied ruffian (Dennis Quaid) buffaloes his way onto a Hollywood studio lot by forcibly fellating a security guard (off-camera, in the movie’s only nod to decorum). He then proceeds to hold a meek, confused executive (Greg Kinnear) at gunpoint so he can pitch his movie: Comprised of a gaggle of…
Embryonic Fingerstyle
He’s best known as the guitar player for the seminal San Francisco hippie rock band Jefferson Airplane, and as one of the founders of the acoustic blues combo Hot Tuna. But when he was in high school in the 1950s in Chevy Chase, near D.C., guitarist Jorma Kaukonen played the rock ‘n’ roll music of…
