Cover Story
Students Inside
The room is about the size of a large walk-in closet. Its walls are industrial beige, the floor gray concrete. Six cages of diamond metal mesh line a wall, each roughly the width and height of a coffin. The men enter one at a time, each flanked by two correctional officers. Their hands are cuffed…
Is Brunch Dead?
A few weeks ago, iconic pop star and holder of Champagne flutes Mariah Carey declared brunch over. On some level, she may be right. We may be done waiting in line (Mimi would never) to pay through the nose for swanky, Instagram-ready cloud eggs and a pass to day drink. But old-fashioned brunch — the…
Kicking Third Street Gallery to the Curb?
In an email addressed to “Friends” with the subject line “Pawning Off HSU’s Crown Jewels” this week, Humboldt State University’s Third Street Gallery Director Jack Bentley announced his planned retirement at the end of July to pursue other interests. He also shared an Oct. 31 university memo outlining 33 potential cost-cutting measures under consideration, including…
Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse Moved
After several hours of staging and prep, and thanks to several weeks of negotiations, protests and meetings that capped nearly a year of handwringing about how and where to move the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse before the crumbling cliff dumped it into the ocean, a giant crane delivered the monument safely to a truckbed so it…
Music Tonight: Wednesday, Jan. 10
Coming all the way from the land of the January midsummer to the Arkley Center tonight at 7 p.m., Australia’s Tommy Emmanuel is widely recognized as one of the most talented guitarists in the world, joining the ranks of such greats as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges in the legion of solo virtuosic pickers. Melodies,…
Music Tonight: Tuesday, Jan. 9
Dominic Romano plays a solo set in the acoustic guitar-driven singer-songwriter vein. Expect many originals and a few covers when he takes over Phatsy Kline’s Parlor Lounge at 7 p.m. (Price TBA.)
Direct Flight from HumCo to LA Coming in June
Humboldt County residents with the yen to leave the Redwood Curtain will have a new option beginning June 7, with United Airlines and the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission announcing this morning that the airline will add a new direct flight to Los Angeles. “A direct flight to Southern California has been a top priority…
Music Tonight: Monday, Jan. 8
The name is Molasses, but when it plays its bouncy and loud queer punk at The Outer Space tonight at 7 p.m. this Minneapolis band will probably evoke faster moving liquids than the titular sticky sweet stuff (in winter too no less!) Joining Molasses is Marseille, France’s Roxy’s Angry, the continental answer to Bauhaus, The…
HumBug: Winter Butterflies
The winter solstice is passed but I can’t see any lengthening in the days yet. It’s almost not worth waking up for — at least it might seem that way to an overwintering butterfly. I have spotted at least three species flying on recent warm winter days: a painted lady, red admiral and mourning cloak. They’re…
TL;DR: Arts in Corrections at Pelican Bay
Crazy week? No time to read our long form cover story about the arts program at Pelican Bay State Prison? No problem, we got you covered. Here are five things we learned from our visit. And you can always check out the full cover story right here. 1. Several Humboldt residents and programs bring classes…
The Guitar Men
“Busted down in Baton Rouge. Waiting for a train. I was feeling near as faded as my jeans…” Janis Joplin sang it into our hearts but it was another gifted artist who wrote the words. Prolific singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson (pictured), who penned and recorded other hit songs like “Loving her Was Easier,” “Help Me Make…
Music Tonight: Sunday, Jan. 7
The Bayside Grange Music Project continues its Sunday series at the Bayside Grange. Anyone with an instrument is welcome to join, beginning at 5p.m. and continuing for two hours. 7 p.m. to 9p.m. belongs to the wind instrument crowd, specifically those wishing to play in Bandemonium. (Donations suggested.)
Song and Dance on Screen
It’s a new year and that means a new Library Film Series at the Humboldt County Library. The Gotta Dance: Library Film Series happening Tuesdays in January (starting Jan. 9) features classics with kick — an assortment of beloved films with all the romance and dance you can stand. And then some! Lucky for you,…
Music Tonight: Saturday, Jan. 6
The Outer Space hosts two Olympia, Washington, transplant bands tonight at 7 p.m. Sawtooth is supporting a new bandcamp album and has joined up with 100 Watt Horse, who are celebrating a new single on Sleeper records. The resulting “Winter Dang Tour” will light up listeners with a twangy sort of Southern indie sound reminiscent…
UPDATE: Suspect Held in Fatal Orick Stabbing
2nd UPDATE: The stabbing victim has been identified as Vernon James Weatherford, 34. Weatherford’s autopsy is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2018. UPDATE: The sheriff’s office confirmed this morning that a suspect in the stabbing death, Ronald Joshua Loureiro, was booked into the jail yesterday on “charges of homicide related to the Orick homicide and on parole…
Baba Jamal Koram
Award-winning storyteller Baba Jamal Koram returns to wow audiences with his commanding voice, rhythmic drumming and tales from Africa and the African-American tradition (as well as stories from his life) on Wednesday, Jan. 10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Humboldt County Library (free), and again on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at…
Winter Rarities Bird Walk
Spend the day birding with Redwood Region Audubon Society for a special Winter Rarities Bird Walk Sunday, Jan. 7 from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. starting at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary Interpretive Center and ending in the Ferndale area (free). The walk will concentrate on searching for rare birds found on the local Christmas Bird…
Music Tonight: Friday, Jan. 5
It’s still pretty mellow out there during the college winter’s break, so here are two correspondingly low-key joints which reflect that fact. Starting at 6 p.m. at the restaurant in the Victorian Inn, Jeffery Smoller will be playing instrumental jazz guitar sets for your dining and/or wining pleasure. (Free.) A lovely trio and personal favorite…
Interdistrict Transfer Agreement Reached
After several months of uncertainty for local parents whose children are enrolled in schools outside of their home districts, the Humboldt County Office of Education has clarified its policy on interdistrict attendance. In a press release, the HCOE confirmed local superintendents have agreed on some guidelines for transfers. These include an open enrollment period for…
Interior Releases Draft Plan to Open North Coast Waters to Oil Drilling
This morning the Trump administration announced sweeping plans to increase offshore oil drilling around the country, including in Northern California. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke released the draft five-year plan, which would potentially see a combined 47 site leases auctioned off in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Region, Pacific Region and off the…
Attorney General Reverses Obama-Era Marijuana Protections
Just days after recreational cannabis became fully legal in California, U.S. Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions announced Thursday that he is rescinding an Obama-era policy that directed the Department of Justice to take a hands-off approach to marijuana in states that have set their own laws. The policy, implemented since 2013, is known as the…
Relax and Craft at SCRAP Humboldt
Start the new year off with some self care with a fun Community Craft Night: Treat Yo’ Self session Thursday, Jan. 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at SCRAP Humboldt ($12). Relax with friends creating things to help you relax even more. Make candles and bath bombs with materials provided by the folks at SCRAP. Feel free…
Music Tonight: Thursday, Jan. 4
Local DJ consortium Fraktal Productions continues its Thursday night curation at Phatsy Kline’s Parlor Lounge in the Historic Eagle House tonight at 6 p.m. The Parlor Lounge becomes the Laidback Lounge as DJ Gabe Pressure takes his turn on the tables to spin down-tempo grooves from the Latin, jazz, funk and house canon. (Price TBA.)
The Weed Gets Freed
Dozens lined up on Eureka’s F Street on New Year’s morning, waiting to become the first people in Humboldt County to legally purchase recreational cannabis. Laura Montagna was the first in line, having shown up at about 10 a.m. — two hours before Eco, then the only state licensed dispensary in Humboldt County, was slated…
Clarification
The “Year of Trump” piece in Dec. 28, 2017, cover story detailing the “Top 10” stories of 2017 contained some misleading information. The group Power Lunch Humboldt, led by Elizabeth Conner, is the one that has been flooding elected officials’ phone lines. While the North Coast People’s Alliance briefly held such lunchtime calling sessions, it…
Long Distance Voyager
You decide to store your car in a garage, return to it 37 years later, jump in and turn the ignition key. If it starts right away, you deem it a small miracle, right? So let’s give credit where it’s due, to not one but four ignition starts on small engines — trajectory correction maneuver…
The Best of 2017
Years ago now, some friends of mine were at a shooting range taking some target practice. They were alone in the place, except for a pair of women, one of whom was hurriedly re-familiarizing herself with the operation of her pistol because, as she had very openly explained to my friends, her estranged husband was…
A Question of Counsel
Editor: During the Public Defender Fiasco of 2017 — which began when the Board of Supervisors hired the incompetent David Marcus as chief public defender — the board received legal advice from the county counsel, Mr. Jeffrey Blanck (“Don’t Screw This up Again,” Dec. 14). It fell upon Mr. Blanck to guide the board through the…
The Party of Greed
Editor: President Trump and the GOP have touted the recently passed Tax Cut and Jobs Act as a big boost for the middle class (Mailbox, Dec. 21). Well, while U.S. taxpayers will see an average tax savings of $2,000, a true middle class taxpayer might see a savings in the $1,000-range, with lower income earners…
Antiquated Views
Editor: I respond to the Guest Views column by Mark Drake in the Dec. 21, 2017, edition, headlined “The Plaque, The General and 1984.” Maybe it was a slow news week but it seemed like a lot of these varied views that your guest touched on had been expressed the previous week. What is the point? He…
Extraterrastrial
She calls herself a Pluto prancer, planet dancer, starlit spirit enhancer. She moon walks on Mars and tip toes on stars capturing constellations in her vision jars. She strums sun rays for days while moving through a musical Milky Way maze. She gently swings from Saturn’s rings perfectly painting an earth with wings. She holds…
The Gilded Cage
As I write this on Monday, the first day of a brand new year I can report to you, dear readers, that I am sharp of eye and frosty of mind, having bucked my regular New Year’s Eve trend of getting wasted drunk. So rather than sitting in the soggy detritus of another tanked evening…
Champagne for my Real Friends
Ah, the dawn of a new year. For many, that means a renewed vigor for temperance, or at least moderation. Others see a long road to hoe until spring, so we look to vigor in our liquor cabinets. If your 20s have come and long gone, you probably picked up a couple of bottles of…
Trinidad, Do the Right Thing
Editor’s note: The following is the text of a speech given at a vigil at Tsurai and the memorial to people who lost their lives at sea, in Trinidad, California, Dec. 31, 2017, seeking to halt the relocation of the Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse. First I want to acknowledge that we are standing on land that…
Caged Birds Sing
It is easy to be enchanted by the calligraphic grace with which Morris Graves captures the nuance of a bird’s posture. Looking at the print or drawing that results, you discover not just how the feathers are patterned but also how that creature scampers, waddles, barges or hops through the world. In “Hibernation I,” Graves…
Arts Alive!
Presented by Eureka Main Street. Opening receptions for artists, exhibits and performances are held the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 442-9054 or go to www.eurekamainstreet.org. ADORNI CENTER 1011 Waterfront Drive. Gerald R. Rotter, watercolors. AMERICAN INDIAN ART AND GIFT SHOP 245 F St. Cochise Nez, Navajo and Yurok. Music by Cochise…
Farm to Table Flowers
Selecting wedding flowers is a lot like eating what’s in season: Choosing what’s abundant means both better quality and a better price. Put your faith in both Mother Nature and your florist to determine what blossoms to use for the wedding party, as well as venue and reception décor. Choose a color palate rather than…
