The Shut Out
Why have Humboldt County’s skilled nursing facilities stopped accepting patients?
Cover Story
The Shut Out
Geoff Spenceley speaks with a warm, resonant accent, a remnant of his youth in England. The 93-year-old veteran of World War II has lived in Humboldt County for a quarter century. He has been married to his wife, Queenie, for 70 years. Queenie (her real name, she was born a few weeks before Queen Elizabeth…
#Arcata24HR: A Day in the Life
Local photographer Leon Villagomez recently pulled an all nighter in his Arcata home. As he sat in front of his computer processing photos, the sounds of the night trickled in: a crack of a bat and cheers from the ballpark; a police siren; bits of animated conversation; hoots from plaza revelers. That night’s sounds inspired…
UPDATE: Local Palliative Care Outfit Launches Pilot Program
UPDATE: ResolutionCare has launched its education portion, Project ECHO, in a nine-month pilot program, also in conjunction with Partnership HealthPlan of California. Project ECHO uses a hub and spoke model to ” demonopolizes the scarce resource of a palliative care team,” according to a press release (see the illustration below, and read more about it here.)…
Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain Part III: Sorry, Not Sorry
Although Confederate flags do appear on the occasional barn wall, truck bumper or window, Humboldt County had no real role in the Southern cause. But the War of the States did have a marked effect on the Redwood Coast, according to Humboldt State University history professor Thomas Mays. “During the war, Humboldt was like a…
#Arcata24hr
Follow local photographer Leon Villagomez as he documents Arcata, CA during a 24 hour period.
(UPDATE: POSTPONED TILL TUESDAY) Monday Night Setlist: The Brilliant Kind of Odd
UPDATE: According to the event’s Facebook page: “Somehow related to the stock market glitch, Chinese stock market crash, United Airlines being grounded and The Wall Street Journal crashing this date was fumbled and double booked. The show is still happening but is just happening the next night -The 14th of July. Same time ; same…
HumBug: Giddyup!
Having rained the day before, the sky hung low and menacing over the warm, muggy, quiet clearing. Strangely at that moment there were very few insects in a place I expected to see many. I was reminded of an old jungle movie. The words – “It’s quiet. Too quiet!” – ran through my mind. Where…
Sunday Setlist: Ancient River, Classical Instruments
I don’t even know who books the Little Red Lion, but whoever this mysterious genius is, he or she is bucking the scientifically based indie fan personality trend. In this case, the Southern-psych flavored Ancient River, whose music I just found myself so lost in that I had to double check and make sure I…
They Call the Thing Rodeo
If you love roping, riding, carnivals and quaddin’, then mosey down to Fortuna July 13-19 for the Fortuna Rodeo. They’ve been busting broncs and manhandling mutton since 1921 — that’s 94 years of rough and tumble in the redwoods, partner. The party kicks off Monday, July 13 with a chili cook-off and live music on…
Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain Part II: Stars, Bars and the Backs of Cars
In Part I of this series we explored the hidden, often lonely world of Humboldt County’s online white supremacist community. But, of course, not all intolerance lurks online. We put the call out to the community to share their experiences with racism in Humboldt County, and gathered a lot of comments on one aspect in…
Saturday Night Setlist: Rawk at the ‘bi
Planning ahead? Your full Setlist is here. Rock fans — be aware that the fine sounds of A-town rock’n’rollers Nipplepotamus grace the Alibi tonight. Music at 11 p.m. and the cover’s only $2. See you over cheap drinks. Oh, and 21-and-over, natch. Related Stories
The Reluctant Cyclist, part 3
Look, I was ready, sporting my styley bike pants, pannier packed and motivation high. Unfortunately, my tire was low – and no matter how much I tried to inflate it, the rubber stayed squishy to the squeeze. I ended up lifting the bike into the truck bed – a working tailgate would be nice at…
UPDATE: Names of Firefighters Killed in Crash Released
From the California Highway Patrol: UPDATE: The two U.S. Forest Service firefighters that died in this traffic collision have been identified as 29 year old Dale Alexander Mendes of Willow Creek (Driver) and 19 year old Jason Fritz Price, Jr. of Weitchpec (Right front passenger). Previously: The firefighters ¬— whose names haven’t been released —…
Friday Night Setlist: A Ridiculously Good Time Awaits
Planning ahead? Your full Setlist is here. Regarding tonight – here’s a show will be stupid fun. Not that The Bottom Dwellers are stupid – far from it! – but you’ll be having so much fun immersed in songs ranging from gritty twang to creepy ballad, your mouth will likely spend the evening permagrinned to…
Racism Behind the Redwood Curtain, Part I: The Lonely World of Humboldt’s White Supremacists
She is a dental hygienist, a vegetarian, an animal rights advocate, a mother, a beer drinker and a self-proclaimed white nationalist. Thus reads the profile of one Eureka resident, whose user name is “Fenria.” Fenria is one of the handful of Humboldt residents who posts on Stormfront, a white supremacist website. According to a 2014…
Folk My Life
Groom your beard, bust out the patchwork and take a big swig from that jug. The Humboldt Folklife Society is taking you from dustbowl dirges to thigh-slapping jigs all week. The Humboldt Folklife Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 at the Mad River Brewery with the Spindrifters and Clean Livin’, followed…
Orchestra of Aging
The old bones knock together like wind chimes The body is a flute full of air Played at both ends The lungs are violins The ears percussive In my way of going I leave music
We Know You
Your taste in music says much about your personality – to which you may respond, “Duh.” But science confirms what the average clubgoer may already assume. A study on this matter, by UK-based Heriot-Watt University, is a couple years old but intriguing nonetheless. Find yourself below. Festival alert! Folk fans have high self-esteem, are creative,…
Must be Present to Win
I love good smut as much as the next person — maybe more — but there’s something tragic about porn being our main source of sexual information. Decades ago, young people learned about sexuality from their misinformed classmates. As scary as that was, in some ways it might have been less harmful than what’s out…
Pyramid Scheme
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was an Afghani restaurant in town? My father has some good stories from his 1966 visit to Afghanistan, mostly about food. Despite, or because of, the very high temperatures, the streets of Kabul were lined with tea vendors selling little cups of very hot sweet tea. I fantasize about…
Growing Greed
Greed is dangerous: Don’t turn your back on it. As the environmentalist who incorporated the Environmental Protection Information Center, I also have worked for years, largely through the Humboldt/Mendocino Marijuana Advocacy Project (HUMMAP), in the effort to secure an economic future for our county that is not boom-and-bust. The following generally represents HUMMAP’s views. Our…
Pot o’ Money
Through months of discussion and seven drafts of a proposed marijuana cultivation ordinance, California Cannabis Voice Humboldt has promised that a revenue generating proposal was coming. In a July 7 presentation to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the political action committee delivered, presenting the board with a draft excise tax initiative it says could…
Two Views of Magic Mike XXL
Reviews MAGIC MIKE XXL. I’ve spent the last three years practicing my defense of Magic Mike (2012) as one of the great movies of its time. Yes, it is a man-meat market par excellence, fine; it is a stripper-with-a-heart-of-gold story, after all. And the dancing is pretty great. But what made the movie so good…
The Big Picture at Street Level
Arcata punches above its weight when it comes to art. We’ve witnessed the debut of Lush Newton’s monumental polka-dotted equestrian sculpture and a paradigm-shifting traffic installation that boldly confronted local motorists’ worldviews. Now a fresh crop of wheatpaste posters has sprouted near the plaza. Next time you find yourself on H Street, sashay down the…
Arts! Arcata
Arts! Arcata is Arcata Main Street’s monthly celebration of visual and performing arts, held at more than 30 participating locations in Arcata. Visit www.artsarcata.com for even more information about the event or call (707) 822-4500. ARCATA ARTISANS 883 H St. Betsy Roberts, metal work; John Wesa, seragraphs. Wine pour benefits the Breast Health Project. ARCATA…
Summer of Baby Love
Last summer was beautiful. I know because I watched each warm, blue-skyed day from the couch in my living room. I have lovely French doors in my living room that open up onto my lovely backyard. On beautiful summer days, hummingbirds visit my jasmine vines and I can catch a glimpse of the bay if…
Red Meat Rage
Editor: My viewpoint might be a bit skewed by the fact that I don’t eat all that much meat — but a cover article about local burgers? (“Burger Quest,” July 2.) Is there really nothing of substance happening in this county? And to add insult to injury, an article about burgers with no mention of…
Green Rush Rage
Editor: The outdoor marijuana cultivation ordinance unveiled recently by California Cannabis Voice Humboldt (“Draft Day,” July 2) is a travesty. Marijuana regulation should right the wrongs of prohibition, not institutionalize them. This ordinance would grandfather in all of the illegal grows in Humboldt County that are up to 10,000 square feet in size. It would…
Road Rage
Editor: The trail proposal for Little River crossing took a lot of hard work and I certainly appreciate the effort (“Crossing Little River,” July 2). I participated in some of the scoping and submitted comments during the public process. Generally I like to support trail projects for a lot of reasons but this particular one…
Quinoa Confusion Rage
Editor: Recently photos of one of Wild Rose Farm’s quinoa fields appeared in the June 18 issue of your newspaper (“Making It”) without our prior knowledge. We would like to make clear that we are in no way affiliated with Humboldt Made or the man shown on the cover of the Journal holding a beer…
