Sports
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Photos: A Flotilla of Witches on the Bay
Posted By Mark Larson on Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 11:26 AM
A large coven of witches appeared under the Samoa Bridge on Saturday for the fourth annual Witches Paddle organized by Jody Himango and Patty Costanzo. The Dancing Magickal Witches of Humboldt County offered their lively performance first, before more than 40 witches entered the water on their stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and an inflatable raft.
The flotilla of paddling witches headed west against a stiff breeze past the Bonnie Gool dock, the Adorni Center and the Woodley Island Marina before their wind-assisted return to the Samoa Bridge boat ramp.
Himango, who lives on the Samoa Peninsula, was pleased with the number of paddlers this year. Four years ago, her local-event poster for the nation-wide Paddle event invited participants to "Take to the streets and the water. Let's demonstrate our strength and solidarity in a fun, beautiful way." Mission accomplished again in 2023, based on the turnout and the smiles on the participants’ faces. See the slideshow below for highlights of the day.
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Wildwood Days Back in the Saddle
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 6:00 PM
The wild, wild west is alive and kicking at Wildwood Days, happening Aug. 3-6 in Rio Dell (free admission). The Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser has four days of fun for the whole family with a car cruise, an all-day music festival in the park, vendor and craft fair, Soap Box Derby, kids' night, penny scramble, vendors, kids' talent show, street dance, a baby-back rib cook-off, a bocce tournament, a softball tournament, a firefighter’s barbecue and auction,
and lots more. There’s even a wild west reenactment with a shootout. Get the full schedule of events at wildwooddays.godaddysites.com.
and lots more. There’s even a wild west reenactment with a shootout. Get the full schedule of events at wildwooddays.godaddysites.com.
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Fortuna Rodeo Action this Weekend
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Jul 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM
Get ready for nighttime action at the Fortuna Rodeo this week with the best of the best competing against rip snortin’ bulls for big bucks during Bullfighters Only, happening Friday, July 14, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Fortuna Rodeo Grounds. Get tickets online at northcoasttickets.com/events/bullfighters-only-7-14-2023. There’s more bucking excitement at the Bulls, Broncs and Brews event on Saturday, July 15, from 6 to 11 p.m. also at the Rodeo Grounds ($10, $5 child). Music, mud, memories! Get your tickets at northcoasttickets.com/events/bulls-broncs-and-brews-7-15-2023.
For complete rodeo schedule, including the carnival, barbecue, daytime rodeos and more, head over to fortunarodeo.com.
For complete rodeo schedule, including the carnival, barbecue, daytime rodeos and more, head over to fortunarodeo.com.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Crabs Opening Weekend
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Tue, Jun 6, 2023 at 6:11 PM
The Humboldt Crabs were back on the field this weekend with a series against the Novato Knicks. Friday's season opener saw our hometown crustaceans cracked by an 8-6 loss, despite a three-run inning. Saturday the Crabs took another loss with a 2-0 pitchers' duel, but rallied on Sunday to win 8-3 against the Knicks three-run barrage in the fifth inning. Photographer Jose Quezada was at the ballpark. See his photo highlights below.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Play Ball!
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Batter up! The Crabgrass Band is tuning up and the Humboldt Crabs are getting ready to take the first swings of the summer at Arcata Ball Park tonight at 7 p.m. There are no tickets for sale at the gate, so make sure to get your tickets online at humboldtcrabs.com before you take yourself out to the ballpark ($10). Gates open an hour ahead of start time so you can get your hot dogs, drinks and seats, and get your glove on to catch a fly ball.
Friday, April 28, 2023
Veterans Benefit Cornhole Tournament in Fortuna
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 5:33 PM
And now for this week’s event with the best name: Nation’s Finest presents Game of Throws - Veterans Benefit Cornhole Tournament happening Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fortuna Veterans Hall/Memorial Building ($50/team, free for observers). With more than 25 teams competing, the throw down is real. The tourney is family friendly, all ages and all skill levels. The event, benefitting local veterans in need, will have a live DJ, canteen open for drinks, a beer station, Manzanilla Kitchen food truck, auction items and raffles throughout the day.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Photos: Witch-raft on the Bay
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 1:36 PM
Despite a windy, rainy forecast again for this year's third annual
Witches Paddle on Humboldt Bay, an energetic coven of witches showed up with
stand-up boards and paddles in hand to enjoy what turned out to be a breezy,
sunny day. In addition, a quartet of witches showed up at the put-in boat ramp
to provide a Witches Dance sendoff for participants.
Earlier in the week, organizer Jody Himango, an avid weather watcher, had put out warnings on the event's Facebook page about possible cancelation due to high winds but the collective witches' spells came through with good weather. See the slideshow below for highlights.
Just after 2 p.m., the witches paddled out from the Eureka
Public Marina along West Waterfront Drive against an outgoing tide, but with
the wind at their backs. They headed east past the Adorni Center, where the
Party in Pink Zumbathon was raising money for the Breast and GYN Health
Project in Arcata, and the Woodley Island Marina.
After circling around offshore from Halvorsen Park, the witches headed back west to the take-out, assisted by the outgoing tide.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Photos: A Brimming Hat Day at the Races
Posted By Mark Larson on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 4:32 PM
The wild array of inventive and beautiful hats came in useful on a warm, sunny day at the 10th annual Ladies Hat Day at the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale on Saturday. The organizers offered free admission to the fair and an array of attractive prizes to lure the hat wearers to the horserace grandstands. (See the slideshow below for highlights.)
The "Hatagories" for those persons seeking the prizes included: Best Couple or Group; Best Racing Theme; Most Glamorous; Best Youth (12 & under); and, Funniest or Most Outrageous. This year's Grand Prize winner was Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, for her inventive, handmade, massive display of fair food items on her broad-brimmed hat. Other prize recipients included Joanna Nagan for Grand Prize Runner Up; Amber Reiners for Most Glamorous; Willow Seely for Funniest or Most Outrageous; Karen Aldrich for Best Racing Theme; Fun girls with Fungi for Best Couple or Group; Best Youth – Margot and Teddy Nims for Best Youth; and Betty Mack, Juliann Stell, Ceva McWhorter Memorial and Heather Ulrey with Honorable Mentions.
After more than 70 women registered at the entrance, they wandered the grandstand area and posed for free photos at the Forget Me Not Photo Booth. Next the contest participants lined up on the dirt racetrack for the Parade of Hats after the fifth race for review by the judges and horse-race attendees. Then the winners were announced after the sixth race and invited into the winner's circle for photos prior to the last race of the day.
The "Hatagories" for those persons seeking the prizes included: Best Couple or Group; Best Racing Theme; Most Glamorous; Best Youth (12 & under); and, Funniest or Most Outrageous. This year's Grand Prize winner was Carolyn Polasek, of Ferndale, for her inventive, handmade, massive display of fair food items on her broad-brimmed hat. Other prize recipients included Joanna Nagan for Grand Prize Runner Up; Amber Reiners for Most Glamorous; Willow Seely for Funniest or Most Outrageous; Karen Aldrich for Best Racing Theme; Fun girls with Fungi for Best Couple or Group; Best Youth – Margot and Teddy Nims for Best Youth; and Betty Mack, Juliann Stell, Ceva McWhorter Memorial and Heather Ulrey with Honorable Mentions.
After more than 70 women registered at the entrance, they wandered the grandstand area and posed for free photos at the Forget Me Not Photo Booth. Next the contest participants lined up on the dirt racetrack for the Parade of Hats after the fifth race for review by the judges and horse-race attendees. Then the winners were announced after the sixth race and invited into the winner's circle for photos prior to the last race of the day.
Monday, August 22, 2022
Photos: Rising Up at the Klamath Salmon Festival
Posted By Mark Larson on Mon, Aug 22, 2022 at 3:26 PM
The 58th annual Klamath Salmon Festival got underway on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 20, after a two-year pandemic break. The usual Fogust low clouds soon cleared and, thankfully, the only smoke in the air was coming from the salmon barbecue pit — no wildfire smoke blew in from the nearby inland fires.
The Yurok Tribe’s theme for this year was "Rising Up," in recognition of the recent reintroduction of the Prey-go-neesh, or California condor, in Yurok Country and the pending removal of the Klamath River dams. It was magical to see a large California condor replica perched on the parade entry vehicle of the Klamath Boys and Girls Club. I hope someday to see a real condor soaring over Klamath at this event, given the recent release of four of the endangered birds and more releases planned in the future. See the slideshow below for highlights of the day.
The Yurok Tribe’s theme for this year was "Rising Up," in recognition of the recent reintroduction of the Prey-go-neesh, or California condor, in Yurok Country and the pending removal of the Klamath River dams. It was magical to see a large California condor replica perched on the parade entry vehicle of the Klamath Boys and Girls Club. I hope someday to see a real condor soaring over Klamath at this event, given the recent release of four of the endangered birds and more releases planned in the future. See the slideshow below for highlights of the day.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Photos: Witches on the Water
Posted By Mark Larson on Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Participants in the second annual Witches Paddle on Saturday afternoon were invited by organizer Jody Himango to "wear your best witchy water outfit to artistically express the power of women while celebrating Halloween." But those who showed up in the blustery weather under cloudy skies faced the power of Mother Nature and possible cancelation of the event.
"This year, the weather made the planning a bit more challenging," said Himango. "I'm a very dedicated weather watcher so that is part of the fun for me. The timing of the rain finally stopping gave us the perfect break in the weather to go ahead with the event." See the slideshow below for highlights.
