Maureen Ann “Mickey” LeForge passed away at the age of 86 on March 18, 2025, in Fresno, California. She was born Maureen Boyd on April 30, 1938, the daughter of James Boyd, and Irene Wormhold in New York. When Maureen was five, the family (including her sister Katherine) moved across the country to Los Angeles, […]
North Coast Journal Staff
Posted inLetters + Opinion
A Yay and Boo Hiss
Editor: Re: T. Custodio’s June 26 review of Love’s the Best Doctor at Dell’Arte. My two guests and I enjoyed the Sunday, June 30, show in the Rooney Amphitheater. The review had a “sidenote” that rang true for me. With recent local efforts to incorporate the long-ignored original inhabitants of Humboldt County, it was sad […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Changes at the NCJ
Editor: I was very sorry to read about Thad’s departure (“In Gratitude” and “Editorial Changes and a Fond Farewell,” July 3) from the North Coast Journal. He was a joy to work with at the Times-Standard and his work at the Journal has been wonderful and will be missed. I also enjoyed working with Kim […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
‘Cold Hard Truth’
Editor: As our supervisors develop their five-year economic development strategy and speak of how Humboldt County’s struggles are shared by most of California, let us look at what has happened in California. California public grade school enrollment has declined for the seventh straight year. The number of students from low-income and homeless families has increased. […]
Posted inLifelines
Beth Baker Chamberlin
On February 15, 2025 sudden illness took Beth from us. She passed away, held in a circle of love. Thus embraced, Beth embarked on her next great adventure. Beth’s life started in San Jose but she really grew up on her grandparent’s ranch in the Santa Cruz mountains. Beth’s family heritage on the ranch went […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
‘This Tax Could Kill This Industry’
A substantial tax hike for California’s faltering legal cannabis market took effect July 1, despite an aggressive industry campaign to suspend the increase that won the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom and other political leaders. The excise tax for weed is 19 percent as of July 1, up from 15 percent — the result of […]
Posted inArt Walks + Festivals
First Saturday Night Arts Alive
Experience the vibrant atmosphere as galleries, museums, theaters, bars and restaurants extend their hours for your enjoyment. C STREET ARTS ALIVE FEST C Street (Second and Third streets). Guest artists, musicians, performance groups, food trucks and more. 4TH STREET MERCANTILE 215 Fourth St. Various artists. ART CENTER FRAME SHOP 616 Second St. Sandra Henry, Sara […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
Let them Eat Nothing
Editor: Political commentator Katie Phang got it right when she characterized Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill as the “Bless the Billionaires Bill” (Mailbox, June 19). It takes necessary support away from the less fortunate to free up dollars for the rich who don’t need them. Sherman Schapiro, Eureka Related Stories
Posted inLetters + Opinion
‘For-profit Siloing of Information’
Editor: Sheila Evans’ letter (Mailbox, June 26) mentions outcryai.com, which she describes as a “positive” use of AI. The site is an abusive exploitation of people’s tendency to think that if AI says it, it must be the truth. It presents the point of view of its developers, rather than an “old-fashioned” attempt to get at the […]
Posted inLifelines
Gregory Lee Rael — 1950-2025
Gregory Lee Rael, 75, passed away at his Bayside home on June 14, 2025. Greg lived a life of incredible depth in the outdoors, overseas, and in the courtroom. He was a friend and mentor to many, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a grandfather, a counselor to those who ran afoul of the law, […]
Posted inLifelines
Maria “Nellie” Nunes — 1930-2025
Maria “Nellie” Nunes, a beloved aunt and friend to many, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the age of 95, in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Born on January 1, 1930, in the Azores, Portugal, to Marcial Machado and Clementina Coelho, Nellie lived a life marked by hard work, deep relationships, and quiet grace. She […]
Posted inLifelines
Erika Tomczak, nee Janssen
Erika Tomczak, nee Janssen, a resident of Eureka, CA since 2002 passed away on June 7, 2025 at the age of 83 years. She was an unselfish, kind, brave, sharing person born in Bremen, Germany on May 12, 1942. Her early childhood years were not easy because they were during World War II. The Allies, […]