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• Photo by Mike "Tofu" Schwartz

Arcata’s I Block Party, the annual fundraiser for the Arcata-Camoapa Sister City Project, celebrates three decades of international friendship and solidarity on Monday, Sept. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. in front of Los Bagels in Arcata (free admission). Enjoy live music from the Lyndsey Battle Trio, Mad River Rose, Samb A More and The Hip Joint. The good times include local micro-brews, barbecued chicken, albacore or tofu, cold drinks and locally made desserts. In addition to music, food and face painting for the kids, there’s a raffle and silent auction with all proceeds benefiting Camoapa, Nicaragua. Something special this year is the arrival of four adults and three teenagers from Camoapa. They’ll be in town, visiting Spanish classes at some local schools and dancing a Nicaraguan Baile Folklorico at the party. Be sure to stop by their table to say hi and check out their Nicaraguan art and pottery. Join the Camoapan guests in watching the film Yellow Bus Goes To Camoapa (about the trip a group of Arcatans took to Camoapa in 1987) the day before the I Block party, Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Arcata Playhouse at 7 p.m. (free). Stay for the mixer and slideshow following the film.

Founders of the project tell us that the good people of Humboldt County have raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in materials and aid over the 30 years, helping fund the rebuilding and equipping of a medical clinic, dental and medical brigades, scholarship programs, preschool programs, and well and water systems. That is indeed something to celebrate.