by Sadie Shields 

Students and community members recently came together in the Library Fishbowl on Monday, Oct. 20 to co-create a zine for the Campus and Community Dialogue on Race (CDOR), an initiative known for fostering conversation on equity and inclusion. The themes centered on concepts of rest as a right. In addition, there were also themes of boundaries and centering the self. 

A zine — a self-published, small-circulation magazine — has long served as a grassroots medium for self-expression and activism. Participants collaged with magazines, newspapers and stickers creating one cohesive zine. Through collage and sketching, they created a story. This collaboration marked the first CDOR event of the academic year. The event not only sparked creativity, but also encouraged healing through shared storytelling.

Sage Brislen, a senior rangeland major, helped organize this event through College Corps. They focused on providing support and making sure the logistics of the event ran smoothly.

“I think events like this that encourage artistry, creativity and connection are vital to building community,” Brislen said. “I think often art is not appreciated or prioritized because of some severe environmental pressures, but making a space for activities like this is really important for us as humans. Especially at CDOR, because it’s a great way to connect with others.”

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Barley Lewis-McCabe

An earthquake is inevitable — you can’t control where or when it’ll strike, but you can control how you respond. 

“If an earthquake happens, someone’s gonna be caught with a torch in their hand,” jewelry student Lily Wolf said during an impromptu earthquake drill in the Cal Poly Humboldt Jewelry Lab. 

Oct. 16. saw California’s annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Shakeout is a yearly statewide earthquake drill that happens on the third Thursday of October. The drill is asynchronous, and people are encouraged to drop for cover no matter where they are or when it is. This coincides with our university’s safety week, placing earthquakes fresh in the minds of students.  

Geology Professor Amanda Admire spoke about the unique seismic conditions seen in Humboldt County.

“We live in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States outside of Alaska,” Admire said “We also live along a convergent boundary known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone. So, it has the capability of producing significant earthquakes, but then we also have other faults in the area.” 

The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) is where the Juan De Franca plate slides underneath the North American Plate. The CSZ is a part of the Mendocino Triple Junction, which is where three plates — the two aforementioned and the Pacific Plate — meet in Cape Mendocino. This causes a significant build up of pressure which will someday release into a large-scale earthquake that is expected to be catastrophic. 

Jewelry lab studio monitor, Sophia Portolese, talked about how the lab handles unexpected threats due to the potentially dangerous nature of the work

“We are really on top of general safety, and safety within the tools that we use every single day,” Portolese said, “I don’t think we think enough about larger hazards that are out of our control. So, I wanted to bring the ShakeOut Drill to the studio.” 

Coinciding with the ShakeOut, portolese led a spontaneous earthquake drill which consisted of her walking up to different artists as they worked and asking, “What would you do if there was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake right now?” while weaving through large tables, demonstrating how she’d get low to the ground or under something sturdy. 

“When a tank falls over, it doesn’t just explode,” Portolese said. “It torpedoes, and creates almost like a fire tornado.” 

The safety measures that we would use in our homes are different than what they do in the jewelry lab, but, according to Admire, doing anything is better than nothing,

  “The important thing is we want to build your muscle memory for this,” Admire said. “We can’t schedule them for any specific time. All we can really control is how we’re going to respond to them. 
So, the more you take time to practice for these events, the better your response will be and the better off you’ll be during one of these events.”

Barley is the photo editor and an untraditional reporter who focuses on social change and stories with a real human impact. If you’d like to reach him for whatever reason email bl258@humboldt.edu.

by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez

Inside the campus Great Hall, community members gathered to celebrate the annual Mid-Autumn moon festival, a traditional Chinese celebration meant for family reunion and moon honoring on Friday, Oct. 10.

This festival originated in China over 3,000 years ago during the Shang dynasty. However, it wasn’t until the Song dynasty that it became an official celebration. It was mainly a time for harvest celebration and imperial ceremonies dedicated to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. Mythologically, it is tied to two stories: the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess and Jade the Rabbit. The legend says Chang’e was hero Hou Yi’s wife, who, after bravely shooting down nine of the ten suns in the sky, was given an immortality pill as a reward. He entrusted his wife with the pill, but after disciple Peng Meng tried to steal it, Chang’e decided to swallow the pill instead, making her ascend to the moon. Jade the Rabbit, her companion on the moon, ascended as well after being rewarded for sacrificing itself to the fire for the Jade emperor.

The event was organized by the Asian Desi Pacific Islander Middle Eastern & North African Center for Academic Excellence (ADPI-MENA) on campus. The event featured a few activities: traditional Chinese calligraphy teaching, origami, a wish tree, lantern and fan making and decoration, traditional food and desserts, and a dance performance by the local White Lotus organization. Head Coordinator Sean Masuda explained that they started doing the Mid-Autumn Festival annually for the past few years and he thinks it’s a very important opportunity to build connections and share culture.

“It’s important to create a community as Asian Americans or as Asians on campus,” Masuda said. “We’re such a small population here, so it’s important to have and find community within ourselves at Cal Poly Humboldt. This event is open to the general public, one for Asians to feel welcome and included, as well as to share our culture with others and teach people and have other people learn and experience what Mid-Autumn festival is.”

The dance performance featured two Hmong and Lao dances, and it was performed by girls from the local organization. They wore traditional attire and executed classic hand movements in sync with the music, captivating the audience. Lucky and Bao Syphanthong are the couple who organized the dances: the first one was a typical Lao dance that’s usually done at parties or at New Year’s to celebrate getting together, and the second one was more of a mix between Hmong and Lao cultures. However, both songs had a mixture of traditional and modern elements, which made it more fun to plan and perform.

“It was very fun and challenging to implement elements of different cultures,” Bao Syphanthong said. “Because the first one is a Lao dance, but at the same time, there’s some modernized elements in it. As you can see, the girl was rapping in the part of the bridge. However, with the hand movements, you just have to be very careful with respect to the culture. You don’t want to modernize it, you just want to keep the hands, just to match the song.” 

Shane McDemas, a second-year transfer majoring in chemistry, decided to come to the event after seeing a flyer about it in front of the ADPI-MENA office. He said it sounded like a great opportunity to find out more about an event he had never heard of before.

“I’m not really like in the ADPI-MENA group or anything, but I did think it was super cool just seeing so many people like coming together for this cultural event, and everyone just seems to be having so much fun,” McDemas said. “I think my favorite thing about it is that it’s such a good community-building event — seeing so many people show up and everyone’s enjoying themselves, it’s a great time.”

Carmen is a freshman journalism major whose passion is to write stories for newspapers. She is a writer and photographer, and likes to read and take walks through the forest in her free time. She can be reached at cr433@humboldt.edu 

by Sadie Shields

For students interested in performance or composition, the applied music concentration requires an audition. Students in this pathway receive four years of private lessons to prepare for audition-level performance. Composition students receive coursework and, in some cases, individual instruction to prepare a portfolio. The applied concentration culminates in a senior recital.

The music teacher preparation degree is intended for students pursuing public school teaching careers. Like the applied track, it requires an audition, typically at the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students often audition after their first semester. A music minor is also available and popular across the university. Additionally, a proposed minor in music production, which includes instruction in recording technology, beat-making and related journalism-radio coursework, is expected to launch in Fall 2026.

The program also emphasizes the importance of music and the arts as essential components of human development. While some students specialize in music, members of the department like department head Cindy Moyer also value those who pursue it recreationally. 

“It’s really good that we have engineers who also are going to make music for fun and that we have people who are excited about being consumers of music and knowledgeable about it, just because it enriches their lives,” Moyer said.

Students graduating with music degrees pursue a wide variety of careers. These include performers, composers, conductors, music educators and more. 

Alumni have found success in diverse fields, with one recent graduate winning a Grammy and another contributing to a Star Wars movie soundtrack, according to Moyer.

The music program emphasizes transferable skills such as long-term goal setting, problem-solving, time management and collaboration. Students learn how to break complex tasks into manageable parts, persist through frustration, and prepare for high-stakes performances. Collaborative ensemble work also teaches students how to make artistic decisions together in a constructive, respectful environment. These skills are broadly valued across career fields. One alumnus, for example, now works for the CIA analyzing data patterns, attributing much of their analytical ability to their background in music performance.

To support students in career readiness, the department offers a career skills class. It focuses on resume development, cover letter writing, and preparation for both performing arts and non-arts careers.

While the program does not currently offer formal internships, faculty occasionally assist students in securing off-campus opportunities, particularly in the commercial music industry. The university also hosts summer music workshops — some for pre-college students and others for amateur or professional musicians — which serve both as educational experiences and recruitment tools.

A defining feature of the Humboldt music program is its inclusive and collaborative culture. Non-majors are fully welcomed and often excel within the program — winning competitions, performing as principal players in ensembles, and even presenting senior recitals.

Mechanical engineering major and freshman Sean Hartzell joined the beginner guitar class with minimal technical training. 

“I played guitar a year or two prior to this, mainly because my cousin got me to play it, and then some of my friends are in this class. I [was] like, ‘I might as well come to a class and see how it is,’ and I just joined,” Hartzell said. 

Sierra Carrere, a senior and cultural anthropology major, has been a musician and singer for over 30 years, and she still finds she is learning new stuff every day in her beginner class. 

“What I like about this class is how the teacher really breaks it down slowly. So, even though I’ve been doing music my whole life, I’m still learning new things every day with her and in a really slow way,” Carrere said. “And, I actually almost failed music theory in high school, and she’s making music theory makes sense. I’m really appreciating that, and it’s so much fun.”

Unlike many competitive conservatory environments, the Humboldt music community is known for its supportive atmosphere.

 “Our students are super friendly and super supportive of each other, even though they have widely different skill levels,” Cindy Moyer said. 

The program also offers beginning-level classes for students who have never played an instrument. Instruments are provided during instruction, allowing students to explore new creative outlets without needing to invest in their own equipment.

From aspiring professionals to curious beginners, the Humboldt music program offers a welcoming space to grow artistically and personally.

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Sadie Shields

The music shop on campus has been repairing instruments for music majors since 1913.  Nowadays, the music shop manages an encyclopedic collection of over 500 instruments. This includes all standard modern orchestral strings, woodwinds and brass, as well as baroque and rarer specialty instruments. The music department supports a large program and offers opportunities for those pursuing careers in music education or for students interested in music for personal enrichment.

While the shop is open on campus, they prioritize the needs of music majors and students enrolled in music courses. To rent out an instrument, students need the permission of a teacher or faculty.

  “Some instruments, such as 88-note keyboards, require an appointment,” Adrian Carcione, the piano technician at the shop, said. “The instrument technician is available in the shop for approximately four hours each day.”

Carcione performs a wide range of services, including comprehensive repairs, reconditioning and rebuilding, depending on the available budget. With a collection of 62 pianos, ongoing tuning and mechanical adjustments are a regular part of maintenance. While the shop is not authorized to repair privately owned instruments for-profit or use university resources for that purpose, staff are happy to help with small tasks such as string changes if students provide their own supplies. These informal services are offered freely and with enthusiasm.

Sophomore music major Andrew Shaver has utilized the shop in the past.

“I’ve gone in there to get a bass. I needed one, so I asked Adrian, and he gave me the code. I’ve never fixed an instrument there, though,” Shaver said.

While Shaver did not get his instruments fixed there, Gladys Arechiga, a designer and former student, talked about her past as a music major and how the rental system worked when she was a student.

“I was a music performance major, and my instrument of choice was saxophone. My experience was pretty good,” Arechiga said. “I pretty much had an instrument for like, three years. If there was something wrong with the instrument, I would take it in and [they] would fix it for me.”

Although there are currently no official student positions or work-study opportunities available at the instrument shop, students are welcome to observe technicians at work. Those interested in expanding their involvement in music are encouraged to consider a double major or minor, or to join any ensemble of their choosing. Piano classes are open to all students and are beginner, intermediate and advanced. 

“See you at Music B room 145,” Carcione said.

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Ryan Diaz

Wounded Animal showcased their funky folk-style music live from the bowels of Gist Hall in the LIXX lounge on Thursday, Sept. 25, with a spin on various genres. Local LIXX is a weekly show every Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. that features local artists and bands live on air.

“The genre I’ve landed on is bard-core. It’s folk and punk, but not what people mean when they say folk-punk,” Ethan Rubin said. “As I am writing songs, all those different styles and genres that I’ve learned over the years surface, letting those boundaries be more permeable.” 

Rubin began Wounded Animal as a solo project in 2019, but often collaborates with other local musicians. Rubin collaborated with Polimana and Norm Crawford around the time he relocated to Humboldt County in January of this year. 

Rubin, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Boston for his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Boston University. Afterwards, he pursued his master’s degree in education at Cambridge University in England and his doctorate in education at the University of California, Irvine, which ultimately led Rubin to California. After living in Southern California, he and his wife relocated to Humboldt County for work. 

Rubin has been a musician since he was young, which started with classical violin at age six. Rubin plays the viola and does vocals for Wounded Animal and was joined for this recent on-air performance by Polimana, who plays the fretless gourd banjo. The name, “Wounded Animal,” originates from a deeper concept that inspired the chosen name. 

“When I originally named the project, I was looking for something that sounded cool and had the aesthetic,” Rubin said. “I think it is the perspective of the project; a lot of storytelling, different characters, something about the human condition there.” 

He also derives inspiration from fellow musicians. 

“My biggest musical influences are other people I play with,” Rubin said. “A lot of my music is thematically and stylistically driven by curiosity. There is something interesting about everything.” 

Polimana is most recently from San Bernardino and plays their music at venues and on air, and has performed some of their own projects on KRFH before for LIXX.  Polimana’s music is similar to Wounded Animal’s, but with a few key differences.

“My music is more like a sort of progressive, fuzz, bedroom-folk project,” Polimana said. 

Crawford is from Chicago, but has been local to Humboldt since 1993 and has played bass since he was 14. He plays with a few local bands but does not do any solo work, and joins in on Wounded Animal often.

 “The music scene in Humboldt is great, we have a really rich and diverse group of people,” Crawford said. “Bard-core is a mix of a bit of folk and punk rock, mixed with a little theatrical literary Shakespearean, almost. It’s intellectual.”

Rubin has only recently incorporated vocals into his music as he began to understand the physical constraints of the viola that allowed him to sing and play simultaneously.

“[Singing] wasn’t something I took seriously until around the time when I switched over to viola,” Rubin said. “I wanted to prove that I could be a fully self-sufficient singer-songwriter just with fiddle and vocals, that was the challenge that started things off… I have to figure out how I can physically do this; often, it’s the constraints of my instrument that shape the way I write. I have to let the instrument guide me.”

Bard-core isn’t something you come across every day. It’s a unique interpretation of various genres with a blend of folk, punk and theatrics that has made its way to Humboldt and adds character to the local music scene. 

“I’ve really valued the music and community I’ve found here in Humboldt,” Rubin said. 

Ryan Diaz is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt and a second-semester reporter with an ambition to work in the public relations field after graduation. He is also a DJ on KRFH 105.1 FM and krfh.net, hosting a weekly show on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m..

by Mia Costales

The rumble of drums echoed throughout the square — the deep boom gave the already living organism that is the North Country Fair a pulsing heartbeat. A sea of Samba dancers draped in sparkling fabric twirled by the onlookers, swaying their hips and waving their arms to the beat. Booths wrapped all around the Arcata square. Some were filled with homemade pottery, baked goods and paintings, while others handed out political pamphlets, hot dogs and bouquets of flowers. Arcata locals, families and Cal Poly Humboldt students wandered around the square as the festivities rang on around them. 

This past weekend marked the 51st annual North Country Fair. On Sept. 20 and 21, local vendors, bands, performers and community members took to the Arcata Plaza to celebrate Arcata’s lively community and participate in a weekend of zero waste. The North Country Fair is a Humboldt County tradition, spanning back to 1974 and typically takes place the third weekend of September. In 2007, a group of community organizers dubbed, the “Same Old People,” banded together to form an official non-profit group and dedicate themselves to upholding the original spirit of the first North Country Fair in 1974. The Same Old People have been committed to organizing the event ever since. 

Director Alex Ozaki-McNeill worked with co-director Jessy Preciado and the Same Old People several months in advance to execute this year’s fair.

“Our theme this year was ‘Rise Up’ and is captured beautifully by artist Lynn Jones of Lynnoleum on our poster,” Ozaki-McNeill said. “The theme is chosen more than six months before the event, and it has felt more and more appropriate this year. The board of directors, affectionately called the “Same Old People” felt that it conveyed a similar message to ‘resist’ but in a more positive, uplifting way. The idea was that together, we rise up, as a community, hand in hand.”

One of the defining factors of the North Country Fair is its commitment to zero waste. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own plates, cups and utensils or use the reusable cutlery provided by the fair. Plastic bus tubs were dispersed throughout the square to serve as  dumping grounds for any dirty dishes. The fair relies on volunteers to monitor waste stations and direct people to the correct waste bins. Walking and biking to the event were also encouraged over driving to decrease emissions.  

Breann Burgess, a Cal Poly Humboldt environmental student and Humboldt local, shared that this year’s fair was even more packed than in previous years.

“As an environmental education and interpretation major, I loved the booths based around our local non-profits like Redwood Rising and Environmental Protection [because] I could network and meet people,” Burgess said. “I love seeing the community come together for events like this and I love how much local artists are showcased at the North Country Fair.” 

The All Species Parade and the Samba Parade were the pinnacle of the fair, drawing in people from all corners of Arcata and its surrounding areas. The All Species Parade, which took place on Sat., Sept. 20, embraced Arcata’s unique connection to our fauna and encouraged those participating in the parade to dress up as their favorite animal. On Sun., Sept. 21, the annual Samba Parade was the highlight, featuring Samba de Alegria and Samba do Mar Humboldt.

Another highlight of the North Country Fair is its family friendly activities. Several booths catered to children and families with activities such as face painting, games and even a DIY fort building station complete with cardboard boxes and markers. 

“It is a fantastic time for really eclectic local artisan goods, new good music you’ve never heard about, happy uplifting people and vibrations,” Kol Wannigman, a North Country Fair security personnel, said. “Good food, good fun and happy family vibes.”

The North Country Fair is a quintessentially Humboldt event and it is deeply ingrained in the fabric of our quirky community. Thanks to a couple eccentric people back in the 70s, hundreds of Arcata locals can proudly say that they’ve experienced the love and community that is the North Country fair.

“To steal [or] paraphrase from another artist, Catlin Blair, “The North Country Fair feels like a giant hug from the community,”” Ozaki-McNeill said. “This quote lives rent free in my head. And again with the theme of this year, it is incredibly meaningful to help pull off a large scale event that uplifts artists and makers in our community and that together we ‘rise up.’”

Mia is a journalism major and the Editor in Chief of The Lumberjack. She hopes to give a platform to underrepresented communities through her writing and provide the public with thoughtful and informed stories. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading and playing the violin. Contact her at mdc140@humboldt.edu.

by Dylan Jewett

by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez

Students crowded around tables as music drifted through the University Quad on Sept. 11, where club leaders promoted their organizations at this semester’s Club Fair. 

With more than 100 active clubs each semester, from academic associations to cultural organizations and hobby groups, the fair showcased a wide range of opportunities available to students. 

According to Clubs and Student Activities Coordinator at the Office of Student Life Mary Lisa Wood, the objective of the Club Fair is to encourage all new and incoming students to explore the programs they offer.

“Students staying in school and completing their degree are really impacted by the sense of community and belonging that they feel on our campus when joining a club,” Wood said. “We’ve had students come back and say some of their lifelong friends were people they meet through the clubs that they’ve joined”

Clubs this semester spanned sports, religion, music, art, culture and leisure activities. The majority of them featured activities and projects designed to spark student creativity and introduce students to new interests.

  One of the standouts was Danza Azteca, a cultural organization that focuses on sharing indigenous dance through demonstrations. Their goal is to bring their traditions and medicine closer to the student body and community in Humboldt. 

Another remarkable club was the audio recording club, which provides a space for students who want to practice recording their instrument or even their band. They take pride in being the only club that has a studio accessible to students, where they can record and produce music, or just to learn more about audio equipment in general.

“I think students really appreciate having a free space to record their music or practice recording using an actual on-campus studio,” Gavin Kingsley, treasurer of the audio recording club, said. “I think it’s very valuable for musicians or audio engineers to have the space to do that.”

Also standing out for its creativity was the circus club. They describe themselves as the most colorful club on campus, a place to let go and be your full silly, goofy self without restrictions or hold-backs. Cal Parr, a member of the group, explained how the club’s weekly ‘playtime’ helps students de-stress and reset.

“A lot of students really need a break from the very structured academic mindset, which I feel like play time, which is what we do every Friday, is really about taking away that stress,” Parr said. “It helps to just give yourself a breath of fresh air from that. That really helps the student community, just like, have a good time and enjoy being here.” 

Daniel Gibson, a freshman mechanical engineering major, highlighted the importance of joining clubs and social activities during college years, as he believes it’s a great way to find community and make friends with shared interests.

“I definitely think being in a club makes you feel a lot more interconnected with everybody,” Gibson said. “Because if you’re just here on surface level, and you’re not really intertwined with any of the people, you don’t really feel like you’re meant to be here. But if you’re in a club, you have a group of friends that have the same interests as you, and I think it’s super cool that there’s an opportunity to find that here.” 

by Will Bishop

Thursday night marked the return of longstanding KRFH 105.1 program Local Lixx, an artist spotlight dedicated to both local and not so local acts. This year, Arcata’s own Kept kicked it off. It was an intimate affair — just the band, some techs and a handful of eager music fans crammed into a small room nested deep within the subterranean underbelly of Gist Hall.

When entering the space there’s a perceptible pressure shift from the sterile halls surrounding it. Immediately you’re met with posters of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. It’s like stepping into an especially cool teenager’s room — one that’s really, really obsessed with wires.

Kept immediately demonstrated that they’re all about movement. Their style is nimble and explosive, evoking acts like Palm — a group they cited as one of their main influences — and their pop-inflected math rock experimentation. Hypnotic looping melodies that drift you through space interrupted by sudden abrasive punches of noise and dexterous fills. At times, the guitar cuts in so heavy on distortion it’s like radio static from an otherworldly transmission. This tension between melodic, almost jazzy passages and blasts of angular noise is the core of their sound and makes for a transfixing live performance.

The band consists of Elinor Carbone on vocals, Sam Oetinger and Jack Hallinan on guitar, Vivian Dawn Spear on bass and Eli Featherstone on drums, with Featherstone being an active student at Cal Poly Humboldt majoring in Early Childhood Development. They’re a playful bunch, always joking around and keeping things loose — a stark contrast to their coiled and precise musical style.

It’s only the band’s fifth show, having made their debut May 30 of this year, and yet there’s a real self-assuredness to their presence. Early in the performance while technical pains were still being resolved, Featherstone and Oetinger launched into an improvised jam while the rest sorted out an audio issue. Little things like that really project an all around confidence that’s rarely seen in a group so new.

Toward the end of a song, Featherstone’s headphones fell down over his eyes, and he swiftly embraced the opportunity to mime being a robot. During their post-show interview, Hallinan sat down on an amplifier, only to quickly be sat on by Dawn Spear. 

They’re supportive and quick to compliment each other. 

“Eli goes crazy, nasty hard, Carbone said, in regards to Featherstone’s drumming.

It’s a great dynamic to watch, especially in this environment where one could easily fool oneself into thinking that they’re sitting in on a very polished band practice.

Kept’s EP, This Much I’m Certain Of, can be found on your streaming platform of choice. Tune in every Thursday at 8 p.m. for more Lixx and remember: hot girls listen to KRFH.

Will Bishop is a Cal Poly Humboldt journalism major. He is prone to writing essays about things that bother him, and fictional works about things that also bother him but in different ways. A highly bothered individual, and a lover of cinema, music, and large trees/rocks. He can often be found in the woods, dancing to bring down the sky.

By Serah Blackstone-Fredericks

Rain has arrived in Arcata! With it comes the reminder that seasons shape not only the land, but also the rhythms of our lives.

This is my first true gardening season in Arcata, and I am discovering how much there is to learn when tending both food and flowers in a new climate. Volunteering with friends on local farms has shown me the “do,” and the “maybe do differently next time,” that comes with hands-on practice. Each misstep is its own kind of teacher, reminding me that gardening — like rest — is not about perfection, but presence.

One joy this fall has been planting a new tea garden. For years, I have grown most of my own teas and finally creating a small herbal arsenal in my own backyard feels like a long-awaited exhale. Tulsi, chamomile, mint — each one a gentle ally, teaching me to slow down, harvest thoughtfully and steep what the season offers.

If we want to tether ourselves more firmly to earth, to time and to place, gardening is a good start. I began years ago with only a small patio in Walnut Creek, where I trellised plants upward with twine and anything I could find. A friend noticed my growing passion and built me two planter boxes, which I still cherish today. They remain a reminder that community and care are as much a part of gardening as soil and seed.

I invite you to try a new hobby this season, or to return to an old one, and to notice the rest it offers you. 

If you have questions, feel free to write to me directly at sb625@humboldt.edu. And if you use Instagram, you’ll find a post with a QR code where you can send in your gardening curiosities.

By Serah Blackstone-Fredericks

Right near my house in Arcata, there is an Italian plum tree that has absolutely delightful and juicy plums, bursting off the branches. Instead of letting them all go to waste, I mentioned it to a friend, and fellow baker, who sent me a recipe to try. I loved it so much — my bestie came over and we baked it to bring to a friend’s potluck. The subsequent eve, I baked it again just to enjoy at home as a snacking cake with my daughter. This recipe is based off of Marian Burro’s famous New York Times recipe, Original Plum Torte.

I love baking as it grounds me to place and space. I stress baked through my twenties and it saved me so many times that now, I always appreciate it when it finds me again. When I am covered with more flour than soil, I can tell I am quite overwhelmed and should seek out ways to re-center and return to myself a bit. 

The start of the semester is a whirlwind. I invite you to explore a new possible hobby that you can enjoy for yourself and share with your friends and loved ones for many years to come.

My personal philosophy, having been raised in Berkeley, is to use what is available and in season. Baking with the seasons forces you to be present with what is around you and what is abundant. It can stretch your mind towards the possibilities of how delicious things can truly be with minimal effort. Seasonal baking is a force to be reckoned with. 

This recipe is pure simplicity in one bite. It brings a joyous celebration for the abundant finale summer offers before the season changes and we shift inwards towards hibernation and rest — or, dare I say, finals. As someone who enjoys growing my own food, foraging and feeding those I love, there is nothing better than enjoying fruit off a local tree — and it’s free, an added bonus for us broke college students! When foraging, it is imperative to be certain what you are identifying. If you are unsure, ask a few people, or sign up for a foraging walk!

Arcata has many places you can find fruit and safely acquire things to try and bake with for free. As always, please do your research about which local plants are safe to consume and if you are unsure err on the side of caution. 

You will need:

A springform pan (or any pan you have around)

One stick of butter

½ cup of sugar

A tsp of salt and a tsp of baking powder

2 eggs 

24 small plums (12 halves)

⅔  cup of whole wheat flour

⅓ cup of cornmeal Some sugar for dusting the plums.

And to coat the pan in butter, leave the excess — more on that below.

I am someone who loves my sweets and I find most things have way too much sugar. I am usually inclined to add less as I find that most recipes are too sweet for my preference. If you find it is not sweet enough, make it again and add a bit more sugar to see what is your preferred sweetness.

Preparation:

Start by adding your dry ingredients together and mixing them until well incorporated.
Then add your two eggs and gently cream them in, either with a whisk or a spatula. Use your hand tool for this, not a mixer, to avoid overmixing. 

After this, you can add in your butter. If you planned ahead and set your butter out beforehand, you can skip this next step. If you are like me and don’t set the butter out, just melt it low and slow over the stove and then gauge the temperature of the butter. I would not let the butter start to bubble as it starts to separate then burn. Once melted low and slow, give it a beat to cool and add it to your dry ingredients. Do not wash that pan you just melted the butter in as you can use the residual butter to coat your pan. 

Mix, mix, mix and then use the excess butter to coat your baking pan.

I use a springform pan, but use what you have around and work with what you got. 

For the fruit, wash and halve the plums. Once you have 12 halves, put them in a separate bowl and toss them in sugar. You can add a splash of lemon too, but plums — like many stone fruits — bake bitter so I might recommend you see how you feel about the recipe first.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 C), and let it come to temp. You can bake this in a toaster oven too. I solely bake in my convection oven. 

For assembly, pour the batter in the bottom. It will not be a lot and that is alright. Just roll with it and move the pan around until it reaches most of the edges.

After this, add your plum halves face down, so the skin is facing towards you.

Once the oven is ready, pop it in and bake it for an hour. I accidentally baked one at 355 and it came out fine. Any temperature standard for a cake should bake it fine.

It may look a bit under because of the plums in some areas. If you have not baked before, text a photo to someone who does and ask, “does this look done?” They can tell you yay or nay.

When done, take it out and let it cool.

A dear friend suggested trying this as an upside down cake, and while the plums are bountiful, I think I’ll give it a go!

Bon appétit! Enjoy your new favorite summer snack!

By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal

Sarah Zareen Nakhoda, a third year Cal Poly Humboldt environmental education major from the South Bay Area unwinds at the end of her busy days with the help of her sketch pad and some cannabis. 

This is when she gets in the perfect mindspace to create her unique vibrant, bedazzled and bold pieces. From custom lyric books to redwood fashionista fairies and bejeweled lampshades, she proudly donates 100% of proceeds from her art to help aid Palestinian families. 

Coming from a creative and artistic family, Nakhoda got her start in sketching in high school, when she would create darker, emo inspired art that reflected the place in life she was in.  

Once she came to college, she began to feel happier and her art reflected that, as almost all of her pieces are vibrant and some, if not most, are bedazzled. 

“It’s a way for me to express myself — I’m not really that good at writing, but a picture says a thousand words,” Nakhoda said.

Nakhoda donates proceeds directly to Palestinian families’ Gofundme’s she finds via social media.

Her motivation for donating 100% of proceeds was her way of turning her passion and as a way to give back. She understands that with the economic state of the world right now, it may be hard for most people, especially fellow students to support and donate financially. She has been able to find a fulfilling balance, turning her passion into a way to make a meaningful impact. Despite not profiting financially, she explains it doesn’t feel like a loss, but a privilege to be able to use her talent and creativity to help others. 

“Art can show people’s feelings in ways that writing can’t,” Nakhoda said. “I think it’s really cool to see all this street art fighting for what’s right.” 

She plans to keep creating and encourages anyone to reach out if interested in supporting her art and this cause. This summer she is more than willing to take commissions of any vibe or color scheme. She works with any budget and is willing to ship within the U.S. 

Contact @artbyszn4palestin333 on Instagram for commission inquiries. 

Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a 3rd year Journalism major from Fresno, CA who enjoys spring, wired earphones, unemployed friend activities and lavender matcha.

By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal

What started off as a jam sesh between close friends during the COVID-19 lockdown turned into the resurgence of the infamous Titlow raves — possibly the coolest underground festival scene, at least in Humboldt County. Their last and biggest event to date in October 2024 had four stages, over 40 artists and over 1,300 people in attendance.

Collin Wick is the founder of Eclectic farms, Humboldt County’s main collective combining art, music, cannabis and community. 

Wick has been around music his whole life and enjoys being involved in multiple projects. After touring around Europe and South America, he returned to Humboldt County and started his cannabis cultivation farm, Eclectic Farms. 

During the pandemic, he began to have jam sessions for those who lived on the farm. As restrictions were lifted, there were still hardly any gigs, which led him to open up his home to more artists to share their craft.

Post-pandemic, more and more people would come to these jam sessions. As they expanded, they then began to put DJs outside onto the deck to give them a separate section to shine while still keeping the original intimate jam session going on inside. 

As these events grew bigger, so did different areas along the property as they opened up different sections of the house, which then evolved into building stages and spaces for interactive art. 

At these unique and one-of-a-kind raves, you could find both local and international musicians, DJs, performers and artists. This collective has birthed music groups like Makenu, and held space for up and coming artists, such as KRFH’s DJ Princess Tornado. Some performances they had have been aerial and silk dancers, fire dancers and live glassblowing and painting. 

“Being able to connect so many people and have everybody really love the vibe, to do that has really been special for me,” Wick said. “It gives a lot of meaning to be able to actually connect people and provide an experience that’s really enlivening.” 

Now, they are working with visual artists to create a 360 visual tube greenhouse, constructing a medical attention area to ensure safety of patrons at their larger events and collaborating with Humboldt Comedy to host a space that will allow attendees to enjoy live comedians in between music and dancing.

June 14, July 12, Aug 9, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 are upcoming event dates for this year. Volunteers, musicians, artists and performers are welcome to contact them for more information on how to collaborate. 

More details on @Eclecticfarms and https://www.eclecticfarmsart.com/

Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a 3rd year Journalism major from Fresno, CA who enjoys spring, wired earphones, unemployed friend activities and lavender matcha.

By Ursula Newman and Nick Escalada

Are you overwhelmed by the stressors of the 21st century? Maybe jaded by the mundanity of scientific understanding? Or, perhaps, numbed by the security of modern medicine? Fortune favors you, my faithful compatriot! On Saturday, May 3, a collection of student-led clubs organized Cal Poly Humboldt’s inaugural Renaissance Faire in the university’s football stadium.

The event was spearheaded by the Archery Club, who put together the faire’s premiere attraction of good old medieval target practice. The club laid plans for a faire at the end of last semester, with ideas having circulated even further back. Their coordination came to fruition just in time for an end-of-the-year extravaganza. Guests delighted in slinging arrows at the club’s giant targets after some safety instruction and were supplied with quality longbows, quivers and wrist and finger guards.

Archery Club Captain Juli Suzukawa expressed their gratitude for the tight-knit community the club provides them.

“It’s a really safe space for me. I’ve been in the club since my freshman year and I’m a grad student now, so it’s been a while,” Suzukawa said. “I feel like it’s a space where people can be themselves and be comfortable.”

Attendees were encouraged to show up and show out in their best medieval attire with a $1 discount on admission. Outfits ranged from traditional frocks and corsets to elf ears, wizard hats and dagger hairpins. A few swordsmen brought model blades to the gathering, and a small training circle quickly convened where stances and techniques were exchanged.

Musketeers well-versed in the art of the foil also made an appearance from the Fencing Club. Riley Chestein, the club’s volunteer coach, explained the fencers’ objective for the day.

“We’re using today as kind of a casual practice. [We’re] doing some practice — we call them assaults,” Chestein said. “That way people have something to watch, we get some practice in; it’s a win-win situation.”

Other festivities on the field included juggling, hula hoops hoisted into the sky and un-lit fire pole spinning by the Humboldt Circus. An impressive dance performance by Ballet Folklorico de Humboldt, as well as heated bouts of tug-of-war occurred throughout the day. 

The university’s chemistry club, Free Radicals, workshopped the most spectacular reactions they could stage for an extensive alchemy display. 

“Usually we do it in the lab, so I had to find certain demos that the school would approve safety-wise,” Club President Andrew Jenkins Cruz said. 

Jenkins Cruz presented several magic tricks, including color changing liquids and a gummy bear sacrificed to the fire in hot potassium chloride, a substance used in rocket fuel. The result was a firework-like display of light and smoke, all contained within a test tube.

Great revelry was had by all, with spirits high and mirth aplenty. As the evening drew to an end, the new experiences of the day left attendees hopeful that this gathering may become a new Cal Poly Humboldt tradition.

Nick and Ursula are devoted town criers for the Humboldt academy. They are part-time minstrels of the lute and harp respectively, and dabble in swordplay and sorcery.

By Alexis Blue 

Shordie Shordie, a Baltimore-born rapper turned West coast sensation, is set to perform in Arcata on May 8. An accomplished music artist, Shordie Shordie has shown range in his music style from rapping to singing and more recently, riding the line of R&B and pop. 

Shordie Shordie’s first hit in the music industry broke through in 2018 with Bitchuary, from his debut solo album Captain Hook — a now two-times platinum record, curating more than 260 million streams. According to his Warner Records Inc. biography, Shordie Shordie is the first rapper out of Baltimore to earn a platinum plaque and has accumulated over 1.5 billion catalog streams with his discography. 

A celebrated artist, Shordie Shordie is known for his top tracks: Bitchuary, Save a Little, Bonnie & Clyde, Long Time, and Both Sides (featuring Shoreline Mafia). Now on his Breath of Fresh Air Tour, Shordie Shordie is scheduled to perform in Arcata. He will take the stage at the Arcata Theatre Lounge on Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. General admission is only for those 18 and older, with tickets set at $34 and Meet & Greet tickets at $140. See you at the show!

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach, and playing soccer.

HIFF steals the spotlight in another show-stopping debut

By Julia Kelm and Ariana Wilson

The Humboldt International Film Festival (HIFF) has entertained audiences since 1967, showcasing a wide range of independent and alternative short films, hosted by Arcata’s Minor Theatre.

Cal Poly Humboldt has been inviting filmmakers from all over the world to enter their short films into the festival since its beginning, making it the longest-running student-run film festival in the world.

Films were previewed and judged by Cal Poly Humboldt student volunteers and HIFF club members from Sept. to March. Once film submissions are closed, finalists are narrowed down until finally being deliberated upon by the co-directors, Adrian Anderson, Zoe Reed and Jett Supler, as well as faculty advisor Nicola Waugh. 

Thanks to them, we get to see these marvelous independent films on the silver screen, where we otherwise may have never gotten to see them.

The festival lasted four days, starting on Thursday, April 24, and ending on Sunday, April 27. 

Each day of the festival featured a different film style, excluding Sunday, which consisted of the award-winning films of various categories. First was narrative, then documentary, animation and ending with the best of fest films.

A standout film featured on Friday was Sunchong, directed by Yoontaek Hong. A 14-minute film from the U.S. that follows an 89-year-old Korean immigrant who volunteers at a senior center and reflects on his life’s journey with his beloved late wife. 

Sunchong stood out for its message of never taking the people we love for granted. Even though it’s painful to mourn our loved ones who have passed away, it’s still worth it to love and to be loved. In the end, our memories and love are all we will ever truly have to ourselves.

Sunday’s Best of Fest was a sold out event as people from all over the world gathered to pay homage to the effort and art of independent film. If you didn’t get a chance to see it for yourself, the best animated film award went to Father’s Letters, directed by Alexey Evstigneev. The use of paper elements, and traditional mediums like pastels and pencil elevate the captivating collage style. 

Father’s Letters is set in 1934 and follows a young girl and her imprisoned father, Professor Vangengheim through the letters they shared over the remainder of his life at the Gulag Archipelago. Elya’s father sends flowers and spins the tale of his imprisonment as an expedition to preserve the innocence of her childhood, shielding her from the reality of the Stalin regime.

Reg flags blow in the wind as hundreds of people flood the streets. Elya runs alongside the crowd, her small stature weaving swiftly through the legs of the much larger adults. 

Elya sends a care package with winter boots, a dictionary and other books. Behind barbed wire, her father gets caught outside of his cell writing a letter to Elya — his last letter to his daughter. His effort to escape is no use and he is executed in the yard, feet covered in old boots.

The community of independent film is unlike anything you can experience at a box office opener. Film festivals recognize films like polished souls, and audiences walk into the theater acknowledging the respect and care essential to coexist in the space.

Film is a beautiful art form that can be made in so many alternative ways. It’s rare we see experimental film styles on the big screen. 

Getting to see an independent film — something that never quite gets the recognition it deserves — was an amazing experience. If you missed this year’s festival, don’t fret, as there will be another year to experience this always unique theater-going experience.

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

Ariana Wilson is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in scientific diving. She intends to merge her passion for the environment and conservation with her love of journalism as a science writer in the future. This semester’s goal: write one story per section.

Zeparella’s tour stop in Arcata was an emotionally evocative experience

by Emma Wilson

Zepparella, a female cover band of the famous Led Zeppelin, performed at Humbrews in Arcata on Friday, April 25. After their opening song, lead singer Anna Kristina thanked the audience of at least 200 people for coming out and welcomed them to the venue. 

“Hello to all, hello to all the love, hello to all you beautiful people from Humboldt, and from those of you who have come far and wide to be here — because I know some people traveled some distances to be with us today — we really appreciate it!” Kristina said. “Oh my goodness, Humbrews, we can not wait to come back to you. You know there’s a special mojo here, and we feel it every visit!” 

My heart was filled by how each of the band members had something memorable and nice to say about each other. Kristina started off by showing her love for bass player Holly West and Gretchen Menn on guitar. At the end of the night, Kristina continued the positive affirmations towards Clementine Moss, the drummer. This was the female empowerment I didn’t know I needed to hear. 

Zepparella regularly stops on tour a couple of times a year in Humboldt County, typically in Blue Lake. They formed as a band in 2005 in San Francisco and have toured all over the United States. As they played, it made me feel like I was finally fulfilling my need of living in the 60s or 70s. I imagined I was watching Led Zeppelin live for the first time, which I have never been able to do. Instead I was watching Zepparella, a very inspiring female band that was just as talented and beautiful. 

As a die-hard Led Zeppelin fan, this experience filled me with so much glee and dopamine. Their performance of Good Times Bad Times, which is my favorite Led Zeppelin song, hits all the marks in life, and expresses the importance of one’s good and bad times in life. 

Each band member also did their own breathtaking solo. I got lost in the passion and determination each player embodied. Kristina started off the solos with just a harmonica and microphone, where she went on for about six to eight minutes. The solo went into a rendition of Bring it On Home —  she did, indeed, bring it home! 

Moss soloed the famous Moby Dick, rocking out for about five minutes. She drummed with strength and dedication — I never wanted it to end. I felt the beat in my soul, and the long bangs in her face made her look like a true rockstar. 

Now let’s talk about the beautiful bass player Holly West soloing Immigrant Song. It was so impressive, especially since her eyes were closed for the majority of the solo. I was mesmerized as she made it look so effortless! 

The last song they played before their encore was Whole Lotta Love. As they all took a bow holding hands and closed out their set, West gave me the set list that had been laying on the floor for the whole show. 

I highly recommend that the next time Zepparella comes to Humboldt County, you see them, especially if you’re a 23-year-old that has never been able to see Led Zeppelin and never will. The experience is uncanny, and they really put a Whole Lotta Love into their performance. Especially as a women-led band covering a genre that is very male-dominated, having women represent this band that I have loved forever and seeing it taken over by women brings me empowerment and love within my heart. 

Emma Wilson is a journalism public relations concentration major with an environmental ethics minor. Wilson enjoys learning about every inch of the world and making collages in her free time. She is also Editor In Chief of The Lumberjack.

By Ursula Newman

Flower, hash oil, gummies, oh my! Having trouble choosing? Start with local and environmentally conscious. Supporting third party certified cannabis farmers is the thing to do when in Humboldt County.

The process to get a license and begin cultivating cannabis legally in California can be long and costly. Regardless of the size of a license, there are a number of requirements that are true to all farms. Applying with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the local water board, completing pesticide registry and county inspections are typical requirements. Farms have to get a wildlife survey, archaeological survey, and biological survey to check for rare plants. By ensuring that cultivation sites meet these requirements, California is working to protect the environment throughout the legalization process. 

There are third party certifications that cultivators can get after they are legalized by completing additional regulatory inspections. These certifications show their commitment to environmental and ethically sound practices. The main certifications are Sun+Earth certified, O-Cal — organic equivalent through the California cannabis system — and Dragonfly Earth Medicine (DEM) Pure. When products are on the shelf in a dispensary, these certifications help the cultivator and their brand stand out. 

Herb & Market Humboldt located at 427 H street in Arcata is a dispensary that aims to uplift farms that are going the extra mile. If interested in shopping for cannabis with those values weaved into their practices, Herb & Market Humboldt is a great place to start.

What are third party certifications?

The owner and founder of Herb & Market Humboldt, Chrystal Ortiz, is a board member at the Sun+Earth organization. Her cannabis farm, High Water Farm, was a part of the pilot program that helped to create the standard for the Sun+Earth certification. Sun+Earth certifies that cannabis is grown under natural sunlight without toxic pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, and that the farms support healthy soil ecosystems for their crop.  

“Sun+Earth was founded by a collective of experienced cannabis growers, industry leaders, and environmental advocates. We saw an opportunity to raise the bar for cannabis cultivation and create a trusted symbol that consumers could rely on,” the Sun+Earth website reads.  

“The Sun+Earth certification is the top-tier, it basically uses the National Organic Program as its baseline,” Ortiz said. “There’s emphasis on human empowerment, so a farm worker and labor pillar, and then there’s a community engagement pillar, where people have to be engaging in their community and volunteer in whichever way. A lot of people are growing food for the food banks, or people are volunteer firefighters and coaches, things like that.”

O-Cal is another certification that was launched more recently, and it means organic, through the California Cannabis System. Because cannabis is not federally legal, you can’t use the term organic. This certification shows that the product is comparable to organic. Ortiz explained that this certification is designed to retire as soon as farmers can have a standard organic certification that is federally recognized. 

Dragonfly Earth Medicine Pure, or DEM Pure, is a more peer-to-peer-based certification that is widely recognized. Ortiz explained that people like it because its farmers certifying each other’s practices. The certification covers regenerative and biologically intelligent practices, and shows that farms are being mindful cultivators on the land as well as in their community.

Other certifications are still up and coming. Matthew Johnson, a professor in the department of wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt, along with Jackee Riccio of Cannabis for Conservation, developed a Wildlife Conscious certification process. Johnson said that farms that already have a certification such as Sun+Earth will then be able to get the Wildlife Conscious certification if they implement certain wildlife specific enhancements on their farms. Those enhancements include things like lowering noise pollution, establishing native hedgerows, nest boxes, and making sure there aren’t things on the farm that will kill or inhibit movement of wildlife. 

Johnson pointed out that the two main ways people view the relationship between wildlife and agriculture is that agriculture is destroying wildlife habitats, or wildlife is threatening farmers. 

“I’m really interested in a third pathway there, and that is the idea that farms and wildlife can not only just coexist,” Johnson said. “They can actually mutually benefit each other.”

Only one farm, Mattole Valley Sungrown, is currently certified, and several others are in the process. 

What value do these certifications bring? 

Daniel Mar is a lecturer in the cannabis studies department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and the environmental stewardship lead for the program. Mar explained that the value of these certifications depends on two things — the practices being implemented at the cultivation site, and the consumer engaging with the product. Shopping for certifications such as these is a part of responsible consumption, in more ways than one. 

“If we don’t protect the small farms, which are the ones being inherently more environmentally sound in their practices, then we’re kind of running those good practitioners out of the market,” Mar said. “Then at the consumer end, you have less of a choice because those products aren’t available, the industry itself ran them out of business.”

Industries are guided by where consumers spend their money. Mar says that they need consumers asking for those products, which would shift the market and incentivise even more farmers to adopt those practices and get those certifications. 

When it comes to the retail space, Ortiz said that these certifications are a big talking point that helps products sell. The amount fluctuates, but they try to keep around 75-80% of the store’s offerings locally based. When she designed Herb & Market Humboldt, it was an extension of advocacy for small farmers. The store houses a farmers market-esque booth space, and Ortiz has hosted several events for farmers to come and sell their products directly to customers.

“We need more Herb & Markets in the world that have a core principle in their business model, which is connecting the consumer to where the product came from,” Mar said.

Find out more on instagram @iloveherbandmarket for details on their upcoming 4/20 events and to get clues for the 21+ glass egg hunt on Easter.

Ursula Newman is a journalism major and Humboldt local. You can find her all over town doing all kinds of things, and talking to all sorts of people.

By Ursula Newman

Even in Humboldt where coastlines may look pristine, the fight for ocean health is alive and well. The Surfrider Foundation’s Humboldt chapter is a major force in that fight. They’re inviting students and community members to get involved through education and action.  

Founded in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation began as a group of surfers concerned about Surfrider Beach in Malibu, Calif. Their favorite surf break was facing environmental issues caused by increasing coastal development. 

“The Surfrider Foundation believes that getting outside and engaging with the natural world, especially the ocean, waves and beaches, is inspiring, supports healthier lifestyles, improves productivity and ultimately creates a better culture.” their website reads.

One of the co-founders of Surfrider Foundation, Tom Pratte, majored in coastal environmental studies here at Humboldt State University. One of the first major victories for Surfrider as an environmental nonprofit was the work they did in the second largest Clean Water Act-related case in U.S. history. This lawsuit filed in 1989 against two oceanfront pulp mills in Humboldt resulted in significant reduction of toxic discharges. Both mills closed down several years later. 

What does surfrider do?

Jessie Cretser-Hartenstein is the current chair for Surfrider Humboldt and an associate professor in the journalism department specializing in public relations. The chapter is volunteer-based and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. She explained that because of our smaller population, industry pollution has been a bigger problem than individuals. 

“We do a lot of policy work for environmental policy and programs in addition to beach clean-ups, and some more local boots-on-the-ground efforts,” Cretser-Hartenstein said. “When there are specific agenda items in local government, we also do things like writing public comment letters and showing up at city council meetings to have our voice heard on environmental issues that affect our oceans and waterways here in Humboldt County and beyond.”

Recently, the Surfrider Humboldt chapter has been active as a watchdog on local projects, such as the Redwood Coast Offshore Wind Project, which has Vineyard Offshore and RWE Offshore Wind as its main developers. Nordic Aquafarms, a fish farm in development here in Humboldt is another project Surfrider is monitoring to ensure they have as little negative environmental impact as possible.

Nationally, Surfrider engages in litigation and advocates for strong environmental standards. They contributed to the banning of single-use plastic bags throughout California. The Humboldt chapter certifies ocean-friendly restaurants and gardens in the county, performs water testing as part of the Blue Water Task Force and hosts educational outreach at local grade schools. Regular events such as beach clean-ups and movie nights are a great entry point for engaging with environmental work. 

They encourage everyone to make more sustainable choices, like avoiding single-use plastics and supporting green businesses. 

Student involvement through the Surfrider Club

Surfrider Humboldt relies on people who are passionate about the environment getting involved. Ryan Diaz, a junior studying public relations and communications at Cal Poly Humboldt, is the media and communications intern for Surfrider Humboldt. Recently, Diaz revived the Surfrider club on campus, which faded in 2019.

“All up and down California, and [nationally], there are countless universities and high schools who have taken initiative to create a Surfrider club and expand its mission,” Diaz said. “It’s a vital part of our activist network, and it’s what keeps our oceanic conservation messaging, concepts and ideas alive.”

Diaz said that the first meeting had a really good turnout, with students looking forward to beach clean-ups, Earth Day celebrations and partnerships with other clubs in the near future. Cretser-Hartenstein, who is also faculty advisor for the club, explained that they’re getting active on and off-campus.

“We’re doing education and outreach to inform other students on campus and throughout the community about ocean conservation, and also just doing fun stuff as well, like getting out to the beach and actually enjoying the beautiful coastline that we have here,” Cretser-Hartenstein said.

Getting involved/upcoming events  

The chapter’s popular event Ocean Night is hosted every month at Arcata Theatre Lounge. Coming up on April 24 at 6:30 p.m., they will be showing the documentary Corners of the Earth, and an episode of Maps to Nowhere.

“Sometimes, it will be a pretty hard-hitting environmental documentary, and sometimes it’s just fun and uplifting films about how different people recreate and utilize our beaches and our oceans,” Cretser-Hartenstein said. “It’s a really good community event that’s education and outreach-centered, but also just a fun time for like-minded folks to get together.” 

Secretary of the Humboldt chapter Kate Russell is also involved with event planning for things like public meetings and movie nights. 

“One of the easiest things [students] could do is come to one of our chapter meetings,” Russell said. “The club members come to our meetings, and you can meet everybody and get a sense of what we have planned out for the year.”

Individual action adds up, especially when it’s a local effort. The Surfrider Foundation provides a way to make change with environmental issues that the community cares about.

“We implore all of our population in Humboldt County to get involved,” Diaz said. “Students are the grounds of our society and the next generation that is going to be making those hard-hitting decisions and choices that impact our future.

The club welcomes all students, no experience necessary. They will be hosting a beach clean-up on April 27 at 9 a.m. at the North Jetty.

More information can be found @cphsurfrider, the official Instagram for the club. You can find out more about Surfrider Humboldt on their website and Facebook, @surfriderhumboldt.

Ursula Newman is a journalism major and Humboldt local. You can find her all over town doing all kinds of things, and talking to all sorts of people.