Day: April 3, 2019

The future of Humboldt County is dope

Cannabis advocates discuss marketing ideas and the future of weed in Humboldt

The future for Humboldt county is dope and those in the cannabis industry got together to brainstorm ways to market what some consider “the dopest dope you’ll ever smoke.”

A panel of cannabis professionals held a discussion on the future of the industry March 28 at the Humboldt Patient Resource Center’s Connection studio in Eureka. One of the panelists was Siobhan Danger Darwish, owner of Blessed Coast Farms and the first person in the state to receive a growing permit.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Siobhan Danger Darwish” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“We need to capitalize on the name Humboldt and the fact that we have been doing this for generations.”[/perfectpullquote]
“Who has a better story line than Humboldt county? No one, use that guys,” Darwish said. “We need to capitalize on the name Humboldt and the fact that we have been doing this for generations. We need to educate on sun-grown cannabis.”

Darwish stressed the importance of social media and its potential to reach a wide audience. She runs Instagram and YouTube accounts called Grow Sisters where she provides tutorials on how to “grow your own” and other cannabis-related DIY projects.

Dr. Whitney Ogle of HSU kinesioolgy, Brian Willkomm of HPRC, Rachel Moore of Humco Office of Economic Development, Siobhan Danger Darwish of Blessed Coast Farms and Terra Carver of Humco Growers Alliance answer questions from moderator Jess Columbo during a cannabis public education forum in Eureka on Thursday March 28. | Photo by T.WIlliam Wallin

Darwish is “a second-generation, black-market cannabis farmer” and decided to come to the legal side of the cannabis world in 2016. Darwish stressed that the future for Humboldt county cannabis farmers is collaboration.

“Let me come to your farm, I will smoke your product,” Darwish said. “I will tell my 65,000 followers what your product tastes like.”

HPRC held a public forum on cannabis education that included members of the cannabis industry on March 28. | Photo by T.William Wallin

Darwish went on to stress the importance of educating the public about sun-grown cannabis and how businesses and dispensaries should sponsor small farmers. Bryan Willkomm represented HPRC at the panelist table and has said that HPRC has been working closely with farmers since their beginning in 1999. Willkomm said that the future of cannabis in Humboldt county is “bright and beautiful,” but those in power have to step up.

“For a future regulations standpoint, we need a tasting room,” Willkomm said. “I can’t have you sample something without buying $40 of it. So, allowing farmers to have some sort of tasting or events, will really help bring more exposure to our farms and community.”

Mariellen Jurkovich became manager of HPRC in the late 90s and since 2004 the acting director. | Photo by T.William Wallin

Willkomm said he believes the future of cannabis is linked with ecotourism for Humboldt county and that cannabis can be used as an amplifier for those experiences. He went on to say that the county administrators need to focus on transportation access, with an emphasis on airport and road infrastructure to help alleviate the isolation of Humboldt county. Rachel Moore represented the Humboldt County Office Economic Development at the panelist table and stressed the importance of Project Trellis in Humboldt’s cannabis future.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Jaleel Abdul-Ali” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]“The main way to help out in terms of legislation is to vote. We need to let people know that yes, your vote does matter.”[/perfectpullquote]
Project Trellis was implemented on March 12 as way for the county to help farmers negatively impacted by prior marijuana laws. Project Trellis will allow $340,000 in micro grants for farmers as well as $1.19 million in funds for a Humboldt county cannabis marketing scheme with a focus on markets in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Part of Project Trellis is to listen and engage in dialog, so we can help inform the process,” Moore said. “The supervisors are interested in protecting the Humboldt brand. That is an important piece. We are here to be a part of the conversation.”

Professor Whitney Ogle of HSU kinesiology and Brian Willkomm of HPRC discuss marketing and research cannabis in Humboldt County with moderator Jess Columbo during a cannabis public education forum in Eureka on Thursday March 28. | Photo by T.WIlliam Wallin

Jaleel Abdul-Ali, an HSU student majoring in kinesiology, attended the event to offer insight as a patient and consumer.

“The consumer can help out in terms of advocating for the whole industry,” Abdul-Ali said. “The main way to help out in terms of legislation is to vote. We need to let people know that yes, your vote does matter.”

Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Jazz in the most unlikely of places

The Speakeasy in Eureka Old Town holds true to its name

On a rainy Tuesday night tucked away in a dimly lit Old Town Eureka alleyway, a tenor saxophone can be heard echoing off the brick-patterned mural-covered walls. A multistory Billie Holiday painting stands as a beacon of light covering the entrance to the 1920s-style jazz joint, The Speakeasy. Every Tuesday and Friday night The Opera Alleycats can be seen and heard performing covers ranging from Miles Davis’ “So What” to Thelonious Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser”.

This particular Tuesday night the small and cozy New Orleans-style bar is full. Local musicians and bar patrons have gathered solely to hear the quintet wail the not-so-long-ago Bebop style of jazz that hit America with a left hook harder than Muhammed Ali himself.

The Opera Alleycats’, Tim Randals, plasy keyboard at The Speak Easy in Eureka during The Opera Alleycats’ once a week jazz show. | Photo by T.William Wallin

The brass players, keyboardist and percussionist all play in sync on the same level, feeding off their improvisations and individual solos. The trombone player embodies J.J Johnson, a low beat from the percussionist leads his rhythm and after the last blowing exhale all the hands in the bar are clapping enthusiastically.

One wouldn’t think of Humboldt County as a destination for authentic jazz. Typically places like New York, New Orleans and San Francisco come to mind. But if you’ve ever heard jazz in any of these cities than you would be pleasantly surprised to realize jazz is at your front door.

Once you step through the doors of The Speakeasy you are transplanted to when the consciousness of America was widening and bebop jazz could be heard in every dingy dive bar from coast to coast. The low lighting sets a hipcat mood, while the selection of booze behind the mahogany colored bar makes one feel as if they’ve walked into a Humphrey Bogart movie. The only thing missing is the ability to light up a newly packed Camel wide while crossing one’s leg and asking the person next to them for a light.

Brian White blows the trombone during The Opera Alleycats weekly jazz night at The Speak Easy in Eureka. | Photo by T.William Wallin

Trombone player Brian White said that the Speakeasy is his favorite place to play.

“We don’t really make any money, but The Speakeasy is the only place we can play with such freedom and people actually come to just listen to us,” White said.

He is right. Sam the bartender was busy making Manhattans and whiskey gingers for a crowd unable to keep their legs from tapping or their bodies from moving in rhythm to the band.

Sam the bartender makes cockatails at The Speak Eay in Eureka during The Opera Alleycats’ once a week jazz show. | Photo By T.William Wallin

Local musician Anna Hamilton said this is the best group of musicians playing together in Humboldt County.

“I travelled up here from Southern Humboldt because I needed to hear some great music tonight,” Hamilton exclaimed in between sips of whiskey sour.

Most of the band are transplants to Humboldt County, bringing their musical influences with them. White is from Los Angeles and has been in Humboldt for over 20 years. He said he wouldn’t want to play jazz anywhere else besides Humboldt because although he has regular job, he is allowed room to breathe and play what he wants with his friends.

The youngest member of the group is the saxophonist Issac Williams, who was born and raised in McKinleyville. The Opera Alleycats have been playing together for six years at The Speakeasy with most members interwoven into other Humboldt County musical groups.

The Opera Alleycats’, Issac William, plays saxophone at The Speak Eay in Eureka during The Opera Alleycats’ once a week jazz show. | Photo By T. William Wallin

Tonight, the band’s lineup is Brian White on trombone, Issac Williams on sax, Tim Randals on keyboard, Ken Lawrence filling in on bass and filling in for drums is Mike Labolle. They play three sets and in each intermission are out in the crowd, sipping I.P.A.’s and engaging in hearty laughter. Humboldt County being so small and rural, naturally the band and the audience are all good friends.

The band ends on a nine minute ride of Miles Davis’ “So What”. The crowd is aware right as the first key is struck. The keyboard keys start slow and mellow, the bass riff comes in setting the tone, and everyone’s involved by the time the brass comes in. Even without a trumpet player the band is able to summon the feeling of Davis and keep the spirit of jazz alive.

The Opera Alleycats’ Issac William, saxophone, Brian White, trombone, Ken Lawrence, bass, and Mike Labolle, drums at The Speak Eay in Eureka during The Opera Alleycats’ once a week jazz show on Tuesday February, 12, 2019. By: T.William Wallin

After each player gets a chance to express their skills on their individual instruments, they all come together center stage, right toes tapping, lungs filled with inhalation blowing from the Hara outwards.

They all end the night on the same note, with a ringing of a tenor saxophone echoing across the brick-patterned alleyway walls covered in murals close to midnight.

The Opera Alleycats jazz night every Tuesday at 7:30 pm at The Speak Easy in Eureka. By: T.WIlliam Wallin

Wednesday, April 3, 2019
No fossil fuels, no nuclear

RCEA moves forward with 100% renewable energy by 2025

Redwood Coast Energy Authority is continuing its plan to make Humboldt County powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. The board members of RCEA voted in favor to eliminate all fossil fuels and nuclear power 20 years before the state of California’s requirement for 2045.

“We are so excited you consider this resolution,” Wendy Ring of 350 Humboldt said to RCEA board members. “We are joining over 100 jurisdictions in the country.”

Ring is a member of an organization whose core mission is to keep fossil fuels in the ground and reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Ring said of RCEA’s renewable energy resolution that it’s signaling what kind of power we want to buy and allows for more community input.

“I think this is tremendously important,” Ring said. “This may be a little stone in the water but it casts a big circle.”

RCEA was created in 2003 and is a local government Joint Powers Agency. The members include representatives from the County of Humboldt, the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District and the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Fortuna, Rio Dell and Trinidad. Their purpose is to “develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region for the benefit of the Member agencies and their constituents.”

RCEA Executive Director Matthew Marshall said in 2018 the state of California established a policy for renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply called the 100 Percent Clean Energy Act. The plan was to be implemented by 2045 and at their monthly meeting in January RCEA decided to adopt the act by 2025.

“RCEA will develop this strategy and enhance it every so often,” Marshall said. “We align with the county-wide effort toward a climate action plan that city members and the county are participating in.”

Pat Carr of 350 Humboldt is one of these members and is in support for 100 percent renewable energy in Humboldt County.

“RCEA has led a leadership role in recent years for local energy resources,” Carr said.

Part of RCEA’s resolution is considering the different resource mixes and local vs. non-local sources to meet the 100 percent renewable goal. Carr said we are already meeting the goal and that there is plenty of local energy in Humboldt County.

“This resolution is important for our community to think about what is clean energy,” Carr said.

RCEA board member Estelle Fennell agrees with Carr and said there are advantages to local renewable energy and we should have that as the goal.

“I want to stress I want to see as much local as possible,” Fennell said. “I can appreciate local in the resolution and as we move forward I want to see other local projects. We want local businesses and I will support that as long as there is local energy.”

A new renewable-energy project that RCEA is considering is an off-shore wind farm in Humboldt Bay. Last April RCEA entered a multi-year project with CIASO called the Redwood Coast Offshore Wind Project. There are two other potential areas in Morro Bay that could get the project if the lease isn’t granted to Humboldt Bay. This project is still in its early steps with the first study just coming out on the potential feasibility of having a wind farm 20 miles West of Eureka.

RCEA board members Dean Glaster, Michael Winkler, and Austin Allison all voted to move forward the resolution plan to have Humboldt County running on 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. | Photo by T.William Wallin

Executive Director Matthew Marshall said the other three partners are ready to move forward with the conclusion of the study. Marshall said there is a strong team of companies who do this around the world and are interested in doing it in Humboldt.

“Because it’s shallow you can do work in the bay, don’t need crane systems and operations and can tow with a boat the floating structure in an easier and safer way,” Marshall said. “If the study came back and wasn’t feasible we wouldn’t be moving forward but that isn’t what the study said.”

Not everyone is convinced, though. Community member John Shaffer has worked with renewable energy as an electrician for over 40 years and said he disagreed with the project proposal and RCEA should reconsider. Shaffer said off-shore wind farms are too costly and there hasn’t been any credible feasibility study of off-shore wind in Humboldt.

“I strongly support renewable energy,” Shaffer said. “But when so many better ideas are available I do not support uneconomic ones.”

Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Surrender to the moment

HSU dance department puts on its spring performance

The Gist Hall Theater is small, intimate and perfect for the upcoming spring performance from the dance department. “Surrendings” features 11 performances, six of which were choreographed by students, and debuts on April 5.

The performance focuses on aspects of vulnerability, social anxiety and experiences not fully expressed or understood by all. Tatum Olander, a junior majoring in dance, is performing in three pieces in the upcoming performance. Olander also choreographed a piece titled “I see you now,” which touches on aspects of mental health.

“In dance, we get into our heads a lot and focus too much on perfection,” Olander said. “We need to embrace the randomness. My piece is based around what goes through the mind during a panic attack.”

“I See You Now” | Photo by Kellie Jo Brown

Olander said that she wants the dancers in her piece to use their own emotions to express themselves in order to illicit a reaction from the audience. Olander also said that she suffers from panic attacks and under-generalized anxiety and uses dance as a way to express herself and to release emotions. Emotions and social anxiety can manifest in many ways.

For Gabby Connors, it has prevented her from fully expressing her diverse background. Connors is performing in a piece that she choreographed herself, titled “danh tính.” Which is Vietnamese for identity.

“It is a very emotional piece,” Connors said. “It is about being from a multi-cultural background and not knowing where to fit in. The topic of the piece is something that I have dealt with and struggled with. When I got older, I felt more comfortable talking about it.”

Connors said that the piece is a contemporary one, meaning that it is essentially a mix between modern dance techniques and ballet. According to Connors, modern dance came about as a rejection of the rigidity and structure of ballet. Contemporary dance essentially combines the fluid upper body movements of modern dance and applies the structured lower body movements of ballet and establishes a movement of controlled flow.

“The Earth is Where We Make Our Stand” | Photo by Kellie Jo Brown

Victoria Perez, a junior majoring in kinesiology with a dance minor, has been dancing since she was in the eighth grade and said that it has always been a passion of hers. Perez described dancing as a release from the pressures of her major and said there is a lot of overlap between dance and kinesiology.

In dance, one has to focus on intense physical excursions as well as health and proper diet, which Perez said kinesiology has helped in understanding what works best. For Perez, the upcoming performance is about connecting with the audience and generating discussions. She wants the audience to take something with them after the show is over.

“Surrendings is about expressing our vulnerabilities and having an audience there to listen,” Perez said. “We want them to start talking about subjects that they weren’t able to talk about or understand before.”

“Surrendings” will run on April 5-6 and April 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 14 at 14 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students/seniors and $10 for the general public. They are available at the door or at the University Ticket Office.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019