Cover Story
Protecting the Night
Humboldt’s new lighting ordinance shines a light on dark sky preservation Mark Wilson’s home in McKinleyville was surrounded by farm fields in the ‘90s, making his backyard a prime spot for stargazing. By taking a few steps out of his house, he could bear witness to the depths of the night sky and all its…
To the Ballot Box
Elections office has a suddenly busy schedule Just a few months ago, the local election calendar was wide open. But the ballot-casting landscape shifted in August, with proponents in Blue Lake securing enough signatures to move forward with a recall against one of the three councilmembers targeted, and the California Legislature putting a mid-decade redistricting…
Jeepers Creepers
The eyes are not here There are no eyes here In this valley of dying stars In this hollow valleyThis broken jaw of our lost kingdoms — From T.S. Eliot’s “The Hollow Men” Jeepers creepers, where’d you get those peepers? Well, if you are unfortunate enough to share values with the people currently executing the…
Before the Feast
Cooking for Arcata’s Our Lady of Fatima Celebration Maria Homen peels back the paper covering one of a half dozen metal baking pans to reveal rows of browned and bumpy filhos (pronounced “fee-losh” with the lush rounding of so many Portuguese words at the end) tossed in table sugar. She and the crew of ladies…
A Mosaic Elk at Prairie Creek
Those who wander into the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Visitor Center are in for an encounter with a Roosevelt elk — but not the usual live elk typically found in nearby Elk Prairie. Instead, they’ll find a one-of-a-kind, glass-encrusted bull elk sculpture by Jennifer a’Midi, a local Southern Humboldt mosaic artist. Her 225-pound, life-sized…
Roofman Aims High
ROOFMAN. Putting aside the fact that the early 2000s has been a nostalgia-trip backdrop (which makes me feel old and sad indeed), purporting to be “a true story,” as this movie does, is often cause for concern. It might be a function of my innate formalism or my ongoing, probably misplaced umbrage at the paucity of…
Excellent Issue
Editor: Another wonderful North Coast Journal issue (Oct. 9). Especially liked, “What Else Can We Do?” by Kimberly Wear that has needed information and is very well written (with help from Jennifer Fumiko Cahill). And, of course, “Trophy Burgers” by Jennifer that made me very hungry. And, of course again, Jennifer’s “The Cult of Ictharel…
Blue Envelope
Editor: I want to start by commending the folks near and far working to establish the Blue Envelope program in our community; no doubt this is a huge comfort to many and truly may save lives. However, I cannot help but dream of a police force that has an inherent culture of trauma-informed, culturally sensitive,…
Taking Action
Editor: Thank you, North Coast Journal, reporter Kimberly Wear and managing editor Jennifer Fumiko Cahill for featuring local hero Wind Beaver who risked his life to personally bring humanitarian aid to the two million Palestinian civilians suffering nearly a century of occupation, oppression, apartheid and, now, two years of genocide and starvation (“What Else Can…
Still life with flower
By the greatest of powerHidden from viewThe journey beganTo still life with flower Top of the towerInfinite stepsLast one attainedTo still life with flower Colors blended and pulsedSubtle and strongFrom a distanceA never heard song Out to the edgeEmpty and vastPeak of perfectionThen on past With lingering glowAbsolute peaceLasting foreverThe final release Nothing to distractRiver…
