New Direction
The fall and rise of John Shelter, homeless advocate turned entrepreneur
Cover Story
New Direction
It was a bad day for John Shelter. The slightly stocky, mustachioed 53-year-old was trying hard not to cry. Despite the usual determined glare in his hazel eyes and occasional bursts of infectious guffaw, Shelter almost did cry when a man inside the North Coast Resource Center shuffled slowly by. The man was heading to…
![Hat Heist [Updated x2]](https://i0.wp.com/www.northcoastjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/imageservlet.webp?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1)
Hat Heist [Updated x2]
UPDATE, 3:26 p.m.: Turns out there was only seven hats. So, Mission: Hat Retrieval accomplished. UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: Seven of the 11 stolen hats have been recovered and the alleged perp is in custody. Here’s the news release: After the theft occurred from the museum, staff and deputies immediately began notifying pawn shops, and various…
St Joe’s New Tower
St. Joseph Hospital showed off its new, three-story, 100,000-square-foot Northeast Tower today, a sleek, spacious, modern space decked in the latest medical equipement, soft colors schemes and muted light — except for the operating rooms, of course. In one of them, under the bright bright light, an excited nurse demonstrated the ease with which the…
Occupy the Courts
Pouring rain did not stop dozens of citizens from gathering at 5th and H streets in Eureka Friday at noon to join a nationwide protest marking the second anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that defined corporations as “persons,” and, as local organizers sarcastically put it, thus “entitled by the…
Winter Stages
There’s been a lull on local stages since the holidays, but that’s about to change. Over the next month or so there’s a parade of comedy (including commedia) and drama (classic, modern and contemporary), all beginning with a radio show. This coming Saturday (Jan. 21) Redwood Curtain presents the latest in this locally favorite form…
The Road From The Old World To New Beats
Life is a million forgotten encounters, fleeting moments that move us in new directions. For Beats Antique — a trio of worldly musicians who have been infusing the electronica genre with an Old World sound for the last four years — a million moments converged to create brilliance. Humboldt County has been lucky. Some of…
Too Small to Win
Editor Kudos for an excellent article written by Ryan Burns (“The Debt Divide,” Jan. 12). It is not a “Get Arkley” piece but rather an accurate analysis of the replacement of the human and moral values that have served this country so well with greed and avarice. The American dream of owning one’s home has turned into…
Meet the Marin-onites
Southern Humboldt residents prepared to receive a max dosage of Congressional candidates on Sunday as they gathered for a 10-person, three-hour slog of a debate at the Mateel Community Center. Who wants a button? The pre-debate meet-and-greet served up a when-worlds-collide spectacle. Well-groomed candidates rubbed elbows with the less appearance-concerned among their potential SoHum constituents.…
Think, Sexy!
Listen, Humboldt. I know your New Year’s resolution was to finally sculpt that bangin’ beach bod you’ve been craving others would crave for, geez … how many years has it been now? And you finally got your hands on a P90X set that your overambitious friend gave up on. This is it. Time to become…
Angry Parents, Yes, Gospel Goodness, No
Reviews Joyful Noise. It probably doesn’t come as any surprise that Joyful Noise isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. I keep an open mind, and try not to let skepticism mar my movie-going experience, but I can only do so much. I’m not much for gospel choirs or musicals. Even less so musicals about gospel choirs,…
Im-Plaza-ble
With Halloween and New Year’s Eve come and gone, Will and Bill scheme ways to make the Arcata Plaza safe for statues.
The Name Game
What’s in a name? All sorts of things when you’re talking Wu-Tang Clan. The highly influential hip hop clan of Wu was founded in the early ’90s by three cousins, Robert Diggs, aka RZA (short for Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah, aka Bobby Digital, Prince Rakeem, The Abbot, Bobby Steels), Gary Grice, aka GZA (short for God…
Living in a Modern Way: California Design 1930-1965
California’s population is getting older, and more people are leaving than arriving. That’s the opposite of phenomena that defined California in the 20th century, when good jobs, sunshine and possible stardom attracted millions of California dreamers. There are two photos in this book that tell the growth story: One shows a huge expanse of Los…
Sheesh Wal-Mart
Editor: Hooray for the new Wal-Mart (Mailbox, Jan. 12)! With its redwood-busting megatrucks and record of cannabalizing local trivial businesses, our shopping needs will be fulfilled. Wal-Mart’s wise use of cheap labor, no benefits and cheaper goods are a true icon of the American way! It’s awesome the way they ignored local voters and slipped…
A Walk on the Wild Side (of 101)
Let me admit my bias up front. It is a shame that the railroad right-of-way between Arcata and Eureka is sitting virtually unused, a public asset that is slowly decaying, a unique resource that could serve as the foundation for a wonderful, multipurpose trail. Unfortunately my perspective doesn’t seem to hold enough high cards when…
Self-Cleaning Populace?
Editor: Sorry to hear about the Halloween bash on the Plaza (“Party Totals,” Blogjammin, Jan. 12). Couple of thoughts come to mind — What does it cost the Ferndale Fairground to clean up after the fair? It always looks real messy to me. But a lot of people are usually pretty messy. So what would have happened post-Halloween…
Bay Trail History: I think I can, I think I can
A multi-use trail for this right of way has been studied, analyzed, reviewed and considered for the past decade and a half. There was a Humboldt County Bicycle Facilities Feasibility Study in 1997. In 2001 it was dubbed a priority project by the Humboldt Bay Trail Feasibility Study. The California Coastal Trail plan reaffirmed that…
Study Up on Wind
Editor: It is exciting that alternative, “green” energy is gaining traction in the U.S., California and Humboldt County (“Monster Trucking,” Sept. 11, 2011). I have been involved with some solar installations myself. But as we devise ways to leave coal, oil and nuclear energy in the past, it is important to clearly understand all aspects…
Symbiosis: Evolved Evolution
When science writer John Horgan interviewed maverick biologist Lynn Margulis in 1994, she told him that Steven Spielberg called as he was planning to shoot E.T., asking her if extraterrestrials would likely have five fingers. “You’re making a movie!” she told him. “Make it fun! What the hell do you care? Just don’t try to…
Feasibility Studies
The Eureka City Council considers…
Darling Specimens
It’s apparent that Oakland-based singer-songwriter Zoe Boekbinder comes from a theatrical background. In 2005, she started performing with her sister Kim as one half of a cabaret duo, Vermilion Lies. However, since her 2009 solo release, Artichoke Perfume, Boekbinder has slowly grown from her vaudevillian and musical theater influences, without losing her thespian roots altogether.…
McKinleyville Arts Night
1. Eureka-Arcata Airport. View artwork by Humboldt County artists. 2. Silver Lining, 3561 Boeing Ave., #D. Donna Jean Hooker, creative critters generated out of wire, stone and glass; Mark “Tree” Allen, rustic twig furniture; Good and Evil Twins, ambigram artwork; Music by Chris Parreira. 3. Plaza Design, McKinleyville Shopping Center. John Wesa, screenprints and serigraphs; Live music. 4. North…
A mathematician laments the Rubik’s Cube
I do not care for the Rubik’s Cube,…
Serious About Dance
If you’ve never been to the splendidly refurbished Winema Theater in Scotia, Saturday night is your chance. That’s when the Ferndale Dance Academy presents its third annual Winter Concert, Second 2 None. Deep in the heart of the Eel River Valley, in a hamlet known for its staunch support of the gridiron, hoops and soccer,…
