Category: Life & Arts

The Basement introduces potpourri Wednesdays

Arcata’s re-imagined jazz club and lounge opens for a fourth night

Arcata’s re-imagined jazz club and lounge The Basement is introducing Potpourri Wednesdays, an open format music night where anything goes.

Kicking off the new tradition on April 10 at 8 p.m. is Ghost Train, a Humboldt county band that features a R&B, funk and soul sound with a hint of rock ‘n’ roll.

“We receive so many amazing demo tapes and links to amazing musicians that fall outside the jazz genre,” Basement Manager Toby Tullis said. “Saying ‘No’ just to stay true to our Jazz roots began to feel wrong.”

Humboldt county band Ghost Train will kick off Potpourri Wednesdays on April 10 at 8 p.m. for The Basement. Ghost Train features an eclectic mix of R&B, funk, soul and a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll. | Photo courtesy Ghost Train

Potpourri is more than a mixture of dried petals and spices you put in your living room. Potpourri also represents a medley of music, and that’s exactly what The Basement is after.

In the spirit of medleys, The Basement is open to booking everything from poetry readings to hard rock. The night serves as a viable platform to the many artists in the Humboldt community.

“We really want to be surprised by the types of acts that are out there,” Tullis said.

Photo by Megan Bender

Once home to Abruzzi’s Italian Dining, The Basement has returned the bottom level of the Jacoby Storehouse to its original purpose: a music venue. Eventually, in collaboration with the Plaza Grill, the Basement will feature Dinner and a Show nights.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Russ Thallheimer” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“You can go listen to music but you can also order a drink without having to yell at the bartender. It’s the vibe a lot of places attempt to pull off but the Basement succeeds.”[/perfectpullquote]
“That being said, the process of transformation from one dramatic identity to another does take time and we are excited about making individual changes over a long amount of time,” Tullis said. “We want people to see the details as they evolve and be aware of them as they happen.”

The Basement has been open since around August of last year.

Typically, the Basement is open Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturdays the venue opens up at 6 p.m. but stays open till 11 p.m. They feature local jazz and lounge style bands such as the Front Ear Trio, Julie Froblom, the Duncan Burgess Trio, The Paula Jones Band and more.

Front Ear Trio Saxophone Player Russ Thallheimer closes his eyes as he plays live jazz at The Basement on March 29. | Photo by Megan Bender

Saxophone player of the Front Ear Trio Russ Thallheimer said the Basement is the kind of venue he’s been waiting for in Arcata.

“You can go listen to music but you can also order a drink without having to yell at the bartender,” Thallheimer said. “It’s the vibe a lot of places attempt to pull off but the Basement succeeds.”

The Basement offers the perfect start to a night out. All small plates offered at the The Basement range from $4 to $15 and their specialty cocktails are a flat rate of $12. Bottles of red and white wine are offered for $16. For the first two hours of business the Basement offers a sizzling happy hour.

Because of its musical roots, The Basement offers amazing acoustics at a volume that doesn’t overwhelm conversation. Whether you’re there to get lost in the music or enjoy your company, the Basement has the right vibe.

“From the ashes rise the Phoenix,” Tullis said. “It was time for this space to be reimagined and we found the inspiration in the roots that this was a music venue long before it was an Italian restaurant.”

For more information please visit the Basement website.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019
New art show celebrates ITEPP and historic protests

“Ikyav, Pikyav” highlights efforts by native groups to reclaim power and sovereignty

In the 70s and 80s, local Native American tribes fought to protect their sacred religious sites from western expansion in the form of a road between the towns of Gasquet and Orleans. This fight is immortalized alongside 50 years of the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program’s history in a new exhibit open until May 18th in the Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery, located on the ground floor of the BSS.

The exhibit, named “Ikyav, Pikyav” (or Making, Re-Making), pays homage and celebrates some of the ways that indigenous peoples have reclaimed their sovereignty and power in the modern world.

Brittany Sheldon is the gallery director, she said the exhibit is important because it highlights the constant work that Native groups have done and are doing and also teaches people who were previously unaware of these efforts.

“A lot of the students here come from all over California, and I would guess that they don’t know much about this history,” Sheldon said. “We have a really powerful presence with the Native American Studies (NAS) department and ITEPP, and there’s a really important history of all the things that have gone on with Native American peoples.”

Sashes worn by ITEPP alumni show off the art styles of different native tribes.

The first half of the exhibit celebrates ITEPP’s 50th anniversary as an organization. The group started as a grassroots organization focused on helping Native students who wished to become teachers, but slowly expanded to include students from a wide variety of interests.

Interactive photo murals are on display with a binder where former students and members can share memories about the photos. Several sashes decorated with traditional artwork and worn by graduating ITEPP members hang on stands, separating the two halves of the exhibit.

Alumni Kathleen Brewer thought that the show was important given that HSU is built on native Wiyot land.

“My favorite part was the ribbons, they were so intricate and beautiful,” Brewer said. “It’s great to see ITEPP get recognized.”

The second half of the show was a collaborative effort with the special collection at the HSU library and several NAS classes over the last year to make the G-O Road story more publicly available.

Audio interviews, old newspapers, pamphlets and journals from local activists and artists tell the story of the Karuk, Yurok and Tolowa tribes working together to protect their sacred lands.

One standout visual piece from this part of the exhibit is a large banner created in the 1990s by local artist and activist Julien Lang. The banner says “Fixing the Earth” in bright red letters with the names of many native tribes collaged around the words. The banner was also used by local native groups in multiple protests and demonstrations.

A message from the Institute of Native Knowledge captures the feelings of the native community at the time.

In the end, the road was blocked by the 1984 California Wilderness Act. An earlier Supreme Court decision, however, set the precedent that native lands could not be considered religious grounds, making the victory bittersweet.

Maury Juarez spent an hour perusing the exhibit, and described the amount of detailed information available as overwhelming.

“I’m taking my first NAS class this semester, and I didn’t know much about the local indigenous struggles before that,” Juarez said. “My favorite part was Julien Lang’s talks on the land being alive.”

This exhibit is equal parts art show and educational experience centered around the efforts by native groups to reclaim their power and uplift those who seek an education at HSU.

“It’s not like we’re going to reach this point where everything is perfect and amazing. It’s not the idea of a utopia,” Sheldon said. “It’s the idea of the constant regular work involved in claiming and reclaiming spaces and sovereignty.”

“Ikyav, Pikyav” is open 12-5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and 12-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Sleeping bags on the floor

California students visit HSU to see if they want to attend

Humboldt State University is always looking for ways to recruit students. There is a program called the Preview Plus Weekend where university housing provides visiting students from within the state of California an opportunity to experience the “college life” for themselves. Students are paired up with a host who is an HSU student already attending the school.

The students are paired up with a host to give them the best experience to persuade them to go to HSU. In this program, students sleep on the floor of the host’s room with the sleeping bag they are provided to bring. They have several activities that housing has provided for them for the duration of three days.

Marcella Feathers, a 17 year old from Oakland, California, said that there are too many stairs at HSU.

“But other than that, I truly believe Humboldt State University is the school I am going to choose at the end of the day,” Feathers said. “I really liked my host as well, she actually convinced me come to this school, she definitely made it an enjoyable time.”

Marcella Feathers getting situated in a host’s dorm room.

Hosts also get benefits while signing up for this program, they’re awarded guaranteed housing, free food at the events they attend with the students, and cash. Isabel Brambila, a student from Sacramento, said that she didn’t get the vibe that she wanted from HSU.

“Since I’m from the city, I don’t think this scenery fits my personality,” Brambila said. “I definitely won’t be coming here, I think I’m leaning more towards Sacramento State instead, I just don’t think this school is for me.”

Two students who are being hosted at the college creek dorms, Joseph Guerro Garcia on the left and Isabel Brambila on the right. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

Along with student’s experiences, hosts had some experiences of their own. Daisy Caballero, a zoology major at HSU, said that she usually sleeps on the couch. Caballero gave her bed to her guest so they wouldn’t sleep on the floor.

“It was a really great experience showing the upcoming students the school,” Caballero said. “I think this program helps students figure out whether or not they want to come here because they are literally experience college for themselves.”

Caballero wishes she had known about the program so she could have experienced the school a bit more before deciding whether or not this was the school for her.

“I truly only chose this school because of the price amongst other schools,” Caballero said. “But if I would have known it was going to be so secluded I probably wouldn’t have picked it.”

Students from Bay Area and SoCal area getting ready to head back on the road to make their decisions on whether to come to HSU or not. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

Students who attended the preview plus program will decide whether or not Humboldt State University is their choice of school they want to go to. All students living on campus have a chance to participate in this program and get the benefits out of it as well.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
The fungi among us

Mushroom week is in full swing at HSU

Humboldt State is home to a variety of mushrooms that are sprouting as the rain comes and goes. CCAT held a series of presentations and workshops to further educate more students on mycology this week, and it came with a lot of educational fun facts about mushrooms. The most interesting being the things that can be made from mushrooms.

Casey Albarran, the internal co-director of CCAT said mushrooms can be more than just food.

“There are so many applications of mushrooms that are revolutionizing different things in the world,” Albarran said.

According to students at CCAT mushrooms can be made into bricks, buildings, leather and of course food. They can be medicinal as well. These discoveries of mushrooms have led to so many innovations with what can be made from them. There is still a lot of testing that needs to be made, though. The use of mushrooms traces back to traditional Chinese medicine, and that’s the kind of information that CCAT wanted to display to the students.

Michelle Stone, president of CCAT said that her favorite thing about mushrooms is identifying them.

“It’s kind of like a scavenger hunt without knowing what you’ll find,” Stone said.

Stone explained that with making something like leather out of mushrooms, it would support the vegan movement and revolutionize the industry making leather. She also explained that over-producing mushrooms can be a problem with all these innovations, and the goal would be to create a more sustainable form of production.

“We wouldn’t be able to just completely switch to myco-building, but it’s still an interesting idea,” Albarran said.

Mushroom growing locally in Humboldt County. | Photo by Amanda Schultz

One big thing about mycology is that it is incredibly complex. Just when you think you know a good amount of information there turns out to be a whole new array of facts and information.

JT Abbott, a student involved with CCAT, explained that despite his knowledge on mushrooms that there is still so much he doesn’t know.

“I love substituting my groceries by finding mushrooms, they’re a really fun addition to my forest walks,” Abbott said. “But eat them only if you are good at foraging.”

Mushrooms are notorious for their role in breaking things down in the ecosystem, and it’s myco-remediation that draws so many students to learning more about them.

Ben Nguyen is another student that is apart of CCAT.

“Nothing would be possible without them because they’re the natural digesters of Earth,” Nguyen said.

Friday, April 5, 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
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
Student Spotlight: OhSnap! volunteers on their way to graduation

This week’s Student Spotlight focuses on seniors Victoria Nazario and Alexus Walker

Victoria Nazario and Alexus Walker are seniors who work at OhSnap! and are changing the lives of HSU students by helping fulfill their nutritional needs.

What are your majors?

Nazario: I am majoring in psychology and minoring in journalism.

Walker: My major is biology with an emphasis on cellular molecular.

Why did you choose your major/minor?

Nazario: I came in for biology but was stirred in for psychology by my advisor because it was the easier way out. I tell people I’m more of a journalism major because I dedicate more of my time to journalism. I chose journalism because I feel like it has given me a way to express what I love, which is health and women’s health. I write for El Lenador and typically write about health stories. It has given me a voice to keep in touch with what I enjoy.

Walker: I came in as a bio-chem major but it was too rigorous. I always knew I wanted to go to med school and as I went further in my bio-chem career I realized it wasn’t preparing me for med school, so I switched. Biology with an emphasis on cellular molecular is more hands on.

Where are you both originally from?

Nazario: I’m from Los Angeles, east Los Angeles.

Walker: I am from San Diego, California.

What has been your favorite part about living in Humboldt?

Nazario: Meeting new people. Humboldt County has helped me grow in a way because I have been able to think for myself, and by meeting new people it has given me new perspectives.

Walker: I think due to the fact that I am from Southern California I go to the beach a lot, up here you get the best of both worlds. You can go to the beach but then 20 minutes away there is snow in the winter. There’s fresh air up here, no smog.

What is your least favorite part of Humboldt?

Nazario: My least favorite part about Humboldt State are the academic advisors here. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt but I have had only one solid good academic advisor and he was for students who don’t have a major. I still find myself going to him because I don’t get the guidance I need. As far as Humboldt its really slow paced, I’m used to fast pace.

Walker: Being from Southern California its slow paced here sometimes. I feel like advisors aren’t as helpful up here as they can be. You have to find a niche here to help find your footing. Some advisors are just passing through and don’t take the time with you or build relationships.

Why did you want to get involved with OhSnap!?

Nazario: Because I am interested in all things health. Before working at OhSnap! I was taking a couple of nutritional classes. I know I want to be involved with health and women.

Walker: I’ve always wanted to help people. I’ve always been passionate about food insecurity and helping people learn that there are resources out there. To tell people there is Calfresh out there and to break that stigma that people feel like they have to look down upon themselves because of food assistance.

What’s the most you have gotten from working at OhSnap!?

Nazario: I think it’s really cool we’re here to feed people. Food is very important to students on campus and it’s a really great resource. We get to break the stigma around EBT and Calfresh. I tell my friends all the time to come in and get food. I think it’s very important for students to utilize the resources they have here.

Walker: I have gotten more people experience. When I got to college I was an introvert but since working at OhSnap! I’ve helped people apply to Medicaid and food assistance. I see students around campus and they’re happy. They tell me thank you for telling them about OhSnap! and it feels good to know you’re helping students who otherwise wouldn’t know.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Nazario: To make sure to take advantage of all resources they have on campus. Don’t be scared to ask questions and if your advisor sucks don’t end there, keep going to other advisors because you pay for it. Make sure to get the help you need.

Walker: To use all the resources available. To join clubs and get out a lot. Find yourself. If you’re coming from a bigger city to Humboldt it’s a really good learning experience and you grow a lot and find out about yourself. If someone says you can’t do something don’t listen to them. Keep it simple, don’t give up and work hard. If you need help don’t be afraid to ask.

Friday, March 29, 2019
Educator’s Jobs Fair

The Academic and Career Advising Center hosted its second Educators Job Fair

In the Kate Buchanan Room school districts assemble to search for the next generation of educators.

Amy Martin organized the event. Martin is the Academic and Career Advising Center’s employer relations coordinator. She said the Educator Job Fair was an excellent opportunity for students to connect with career opportunities in the education field. Martin identified a need both locally and in California for educators.

“The Educator Job Fair gives students the opportunity to figure out what they’re looking for,” Martin said. “The fair gives students the chance to fill positions when they have their full teaching credentials, or find a temporary job to get their foot in the door.”

The Educator Job Fair attracted about 30 organizations including school districts and volunteer groups. Martin mentioned one of the districts had come all the way from Iowa.

Gina Short, a representative from Fortuna Elementary School District, looked for applicants for next year’s positions. During the event she collected six resumes and eight phone numbers.

“We met a lot of people,” Short said. “We’re hopeful to call them and follow up as soon as tomorrow.”

The academic and career advising center serves two purposes: academic advising and career advising. Martin said that academic advising helps students figure out appropriate classes, navigate DARS and make sure students graduate on time. Career advising directs students towards opportunities in their field of study and helps students figure out career goals.

Refreshments were provided to those who attended the Educator Job Fair. | Photo by Collin Slavely

Kelly Fortner is a recent graduate of HSU who is now an AmeriCorps CSU STEM VISTA. She helped students check into the job fair. Ninety-nine students showed up in the first couple of hours and another 50 or so were expected.

“It’s good to see networking going on between students and employees,” Fortner said. “Districts who are looking for educators also have the opportunity to connect with and meet the needs of students.”

Thursday, March 28, 2019
Who’s your female idol? (Part 2)

In honor of Women’s History Month, we ask people at Humboldt State who their female idols are and why

Share who your female idols are in the comments to be featured in future videos.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Blotter bytes

Oh man, there must have been something in the air the week before Spring Break. Someone turned himself in for an outstanding warrant, there were multiple fights on campus and on the bus, slit car tires, drunk people on campus and finally, multiple skateboard violations. Oh yeah, and some folks got their pieces seized, bummer! But don’t worry, the week of Spring Break had its own eccentricities.

The Rolling Count:

· Possession charges = 5

· Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 6

Holler hootie hoo!

Monday March 18

· RAAAGEEEE FACE!!— “A vehicle owner who was irate with Parking staff regarding a parking citation was warned and advised of proper complaint procedure.” I get it, tickets suck. However, the parking staff are just doing their jobs, don’t scream at them.

· The circus is in town— “A male who was balancing on a large red ball while juggling bowling pins in the parking lot was asked to move to a safer location.” I don’t know what a “safer location” would entail, but the dude is literally standing on a ball while juggling. I think he has it under control. But maybe not, ya’ never know.

Tuesday March 19

· This isn’t your room, it’s down the hall—So someone in Fern Residence Hall was “staying in a different room than the room which was rented to him.” Dude, just go home. If it smells, tell your roomies to clean the eff up.

Wednesday March 20

· Someone stole a scooter and that is about it for Wednesday.

Thursday March 21

· Open window policy?—Someone was spotted climbing through a window at the Fern Residence Hall. UPD was unable to find the person but concluded, “it was a resident who possibly lost his key.”

Friday March 22

· Take it outside—Someone was warned for skating inside of the Science D building.

Saturday March 23

· Stop it kid!—Literal children called UPD from one of those blue light emergency post things. UPD heard the “voices of children” in the background. Don’t worry, “the parents will admonish their children.”

Sunday March 24

· GHOSTS!!—I freakin’ knew it!! One of the librarians called UPD because she believed “there may be someone on the second or third floor.” UPD showed up… and found someone on the third floor. Dang it, I was psyched for some paranormal activity. One of these days, we will find some legit ghost activity.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Who’s your female idol? (Part 1)

In honor of Women’s History Month, we ask Humboldt State students who their female idols are and why

Share who your female idols are in the comments to be featured in future videos.

Monday, March 25, 2019
The Circus came to town

Children danced to uplifting music as the Humboldt Circus made its way to Humbrews to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Kids of all ages and their parents were invited to participate in a carefree afternoon playdate.

With fun games and freshly-popped popcorn to keep the kids entertained, the parents relaxed as they watched their kids run around a juggler, dancer, and clown-filled Humbrews. Many parents like Hannah Hirschfeld were smiling the whole afternoon knowing they could sit back, keep an eye on their kids and enjoy a cool glass of beer.

“Not many places where you can drink and watch your kids,” Hirschfeld said.

Cornelius Austin (right) performing a juggling act on stage. March 17. | Photo by Skylar Gaven

Even though they were there to entertain, members of the Humboldt Circus had just as much fun as the parents and kids did. The Humboldt Circus came out to play and goof around while providing a fun-filled afternoon for all who entered. Valerie Dominguez, an active member of the group for five years, said that performing in these types of events really brings out the inner kid in her and in everyone else in the group.

“We all have children inside of us so being able to share that with actual children makes it really fun,” Dominguez said.

The Humboldt Circus group is open to anybody with a happy-go-lucky attitude and a willingness to learn on the fly. Members have a great time performing with each other, as evidenced by their overwhelmingly cheerful demeanor. Everyone in the circus considers each other a family of unique individuals.

“It’s basically just a big family that loves being silly together,” Dominguez said. “We love to laugh, we love running around, and we like colors, rainbows, sparkles, we like all of that together.”

Circus member Devon Burt (left) along with kids took advantage of the cool circus toys scattered around the room. March 17. | Photo by Skylar Gaven

Cornelius Austin has also been a member for five years now. At first he had no idea how to juggle or perform, like many others who join. Austin has seen himself grow as he continues to practice and involve himself with the group.

“It’s been a huge part of my life. It’s my community, it’s been my group of artists, it’s helped me grow in so many ways,” Austin said. “Before I joined the circus I had no idea how to juggle, I had never performed, I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Brianna Juarez is a freshman at HSU who has been a part of the group for almost a full school year. She finds this group to be beyond welcoming and has learned from other members that have been excellent teachers throughout the short time she’s been there.

“It’s been so great. The Humboldt Circus is such a great community, everybody is so welcoming,” Juarez said. “When I first came I didn’t know how to juggle or do anything with the hula-hoop but there’s always so many people that are so talented and are willing to teach you new things. It’s really rewarding.”

No former experience in juggling, hula-hooping, or any other skills is required. This fun-loving group is accepting to all who join their community. No matter who you are or how much experience you have, the circus is where you go to learn and be yourself. Devon Burt, another member who was recruited all the back in 2013, has loved every experience this group had to offer. He also said that you don’t need to be an expert in any of the skills that they participate in.

“Anyone can join. You don’t even have to know how to do anything, you can learn while you’re here,” Burt said.

Meghan Dean (blue beanie) making sure things are running smoothly around the venue. March 17. | Photo by Skylar Gaven

The Circus was an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon with family. This has been their third gig here at Humbrews thanks to the pub’s Marketing Director, Meghan Dean. With her love for the community Dean and Humbrews Owner Andy Ardell have frequently hosted shows and events such as these to bring something exciting to the relatively small area of Arcata. Dean hopes to host more family-friendly shows and events in the future. Her friendly presence was seen all around the venue, catering to others needs, laughing with parents and sitting back to observe the cheerful environment.

“I love it. I love doing community events like this, bringing in kids is fantastic,” Dean said. “We are really looking to reach out to the community and have more family-oriented events and more community events.”

If you want to experience something new and want to participate or show support for other local groups make sure to check out the HSU Dance Fundraiser on April 1 held at Humbrews.

“We are always happy to work with HSU,” Dean said.

Monday, March 18, 2019
Review: Adoration of the Old Woman

Culture, true love and ultimate forgiveness all wrapped up in one play

The HSU Theatre Department presented a beautiful performance of “Adoration of the Old Woman” originally written by José Rivera. This was a wonderful story of reconnecting to culture, true love and ultimate forgiveness. The play also sheds light on a country once independent and free now taken over by corrupt governments.

The play follows an old Puerto Rican native at an age “between 100 and 150” named Doña Belén played by HSU student Savannah Baez. Doña is snarky and humorous but also deals with a dark past.

Left to right: Irma Gill as Vanessa, Savannah Baez as Belen. | Photo courtesy of the Theatre Film and Dance Department

Haunted by the ghost of her late ex-husband’s mistress Adoracíon played by HSU student Andrea Carrillo, Doña is in a state of sorrow and has constant lack of sleep. Adoracíon was a beautiful young woman and seeks freedom from the house she seems to be trapped in. The two start off with immense conflict and appear to genuinely hate each other.

Doña’s great-granddaughter Vanessa played by HSU senior Irma Gill, visits Puerto Rico by the orders of her mother, Doña’s daughter. Vanessa comes from a modernized world in the United States and knows basically nothing about the island or its culture.

Vanessa and Doña find themselves unable to communicate because of their language barrier. With the help of characters like Ismael played by HSU student Isiah Alexander and Cheo played by HSU student Victor Parra, Vanessa finds herself reconnecting with her culture as she tries to understand the values of Puerto Rican freedom.

Left to right: Savannah Baez as Belen, Irma Gill as Vanessa, Andrea Carillo as Adoracion | Photo courtesy of the Theatre Film and Dance Department

Ismael is a charismatic guy who enjoys a bit of fun and is also for the Statehood of Puerto Rico because of minor benefits that the states have to offer. Cheo is strongly against Statehood and wants to get rid of American influence that has completely messed up the values of their once-proud country.

His activism shows his passion for his culture, and although he went to college in the states Cheo came back home to fight for his beloved country. This builds up extreme tension between the two childhood friends, causing heated arguments and eventually two incredibly realistic fight scenes. The stage combat was nicely done, and usage of fake blood and makeup provided an amazing touch causing the audience to fall completely silent.

Vanessa soon falls in love with her culture, her grandmother Doña and Cheo who taught her so much about the importance of the freedom Puerto Rico deserves. Cheo and Vanessa share something special, they care for each other deeply and it surely shows through Parra and Gill’s impeccable acting.

Vanessa does her best to take care and speak to her ailing grandmother Doña and after spending much time together, the two relatives grow to love each other. Even a surprise twist at the end expresses the true feelings that Adoracíon shares with both Doña and Vanessa. A heartwarming act of forgiveness was revealed between Adoracíon and Doña, bringing them peace during Doña’s last moments.

Lead by the direction of Robi Arce and a set design built to perfection by the works of the artistic staff, “Adoration of the Old Woman” was a success.

The rate of conflict and emotional hardship along with various amounts of humor to balance the story really had the audience in for a treat. Laughter and occasional “oohs” and “awes” were heard throughout the Gist Hall theatre.

Isabel Sunglao, a child development major in her last year, said that she loved the play and was happy to see it.

“I liked it, it was pretty intense,” Sunglao said. “I loved it though, I’m glad I came.”

“Adoration of the Old Woman” highlights the devastation of losing a country’s freedom. This is taking place and has taken place for many years. Colonization is a method of control that has destroyed many cultures for economic growth and desire.

Amy Beltrán, a HSU senior theatre major, expressed her feelings about the political issues that the play demonstrates.

“I think it is a beautiful story, a very important story politically right now, something that should be talked about,” Beltrán said. “It brings up a lot of issues that are going on with Puerto Rico but also Mexico and all over the world.”

Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Grab a cup and listen up

A cup of Joe and some tunes make for chill Friday night plans

Standing on stage with microphone in hand, raising the guitar to the audience, the starting performer kicked off Northtown Coffee’s open mic night.

“I am the Squirrel. This is my tree [guitar]. Let’s get it on!”

Last Friday night, artists got it on by paying tribute to International Women’s Day before beginning their session. Rio Cerbini, a musician from Eureka, started off with an on the spot prayer celebrating women and their power.

“I pray for peace, more understanding and listening,” Cerbini said. “This place [Northtown Coffee] is a love portal, very freeing.”

Skyhorse performs his favorite song of the night, “Since I Met You Baby”, by Ivory Joe Hunter. Mar. 8, 2019. | Photo by Grace Caswell

Northtown Coffee acts as a space for creativity and support, and unique artists traveled from all over to bring their craft to the stage.

Antonio “Tony” J. Martinez, performed under the name Skyhorse, is a new but frequent performer at Northtown Coffee. He described a magnetic-like energy connecting him to Northtown Coffee.

“An energy brings me and pushes me here,” Martinez said. “Each [heart] beat. Each breath.”

With or without an energy present Northtown Coffee captivated its audience, offeried an experience that’s Friday-night worthy. Performers were drawn to the small stage, some visiting every Friday of the month.

A very familiar face to Northtown Coffee is Squirrel, acting as both a performer and sound assistant he attends almost every Friday, knowing what pleases the crowd.

“Animation,” Squirrel said. “Songs that bring people up, the audience wants to hear something wild.”

Audience members enjoy the live performances and cozy vibe of Northtown Coffee. Mar. 8, 2019. | Photo by Madeleine McCluskey

While energy remains high within Northtown Coffee, a chill and comfortable vibe encompassed the whole building, feeling more like a community. Jose Moreno, a first year social work major, enjoyed Northtown as a first time audience member.

“I would definitely come back,” Moreno said. “It gives you such a lifting experience.”

Northtown Coffee offers many experiences to many people. For musicians it’s a chance to perform and showcase their artistry. For the audience it’s a Friday night featuring live music and cozy coffee smells. Regardless, Northtown Coffee has something special that brings people to the same spot every Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Stories and seeds at a shindig

Toyon celebrates the release of their 65th issue

It has a sky-blue cover with a thick strip of yellow across the top of it that reads Toyon, the ‘Movement Issue’ is out. The publication released their 65th issue with a large celebration accompanying it in the Kate Buchanan room.

For those unaware, Toyon is an English literature magazine that relies heavily on students submitting original work. They have the ability to submit short stories, poetry and anything that falls within that realm of writing.

This is an opportunity to be taken full advantage of since many other magazines charge their writers to have their work published as Deanna Abate said. Abate is a senior majoring in English and has been working with Toyon for two semesters now.

Abate said that something that differentiates this issue with all others is that they as a staff did not clearly define the topic to their writers, they let them define it for themselves.

“We told people it was the migration issue,” Abate said. “And then people submitted their work based on how they defined migration.”

Unlike the rest of the publications on campus, this publication only publishes once an academic year. They receive submissions up until a certain point and while that is going on their editors work tirelessly to edit everything to utmost perfection.

In the 65 issues they have released, the idea came about to start commemorating the past and future issues other than someone just hoarding them in a musty closet.

As the archive editor, Hannah Hosqisson scans all of the older versions of this magazine and then works with HSU’s special collections to upload it to their website so it’s available for anyone to see.

By doing this anyone anywhere can access older or newer versions from the website. Hosqisson is also an English major in her senior year and picked up the task of archiving from the previous archive editor.

Since Toyon has been around since 1954, there is a lot of work to be done to archive everything but it’s worth it according to Hosqisson. Aside from archiving she has also helped them out with their spoken word.

“We did outreach events and held a couple of events last semester,” Hosqisson said.

Look at that, a vending machine made entirely of paper and tape that can dispense art and literature… with the help form someone inside pushing out what the person wanted dispensed. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

Toyon’s issue is full of stories and content in various genres and in particular, this issue was more diverse than usual Hosqisson mentioned. While event-goers perused the newest issue and munched on some finger foods that were being served, Linda K, was behind the swag table giving out freebees. This table was filled with items that you would figure, some mini notebooks, pens, bookmarkers and the always important – stickers.

However, in addition to all of those goodies they also handed out packets of seeds. Originally they were going to give out those simplistic silicon band bracelets, but the staff came together and agreed that wildflower seeds were more ergonomic.

“We thought planting wildflowers, attracting bees, butterflies and birds was a good thing,” K said.

They not only hosted an event to celebrate the various voices written about in the recent issue and the hard work put into it, but they pulled in environmental consciousness too.

“Let’s do something that actually helps the environment,” K said.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Blotter bytes

No new weed incidents to report. However, there was a report of a mountain lion on campus, a guy throwing a brick through his car window and some “suspicious circumstances.” A few incidents of mental health breakdowns also took place. If you are experiencing a tough time and need someone to talk to, reach out to the Counseling and Psychological Services folks at (707) 826-3236. Hopefully the blotter bytes can bring a few laughs to your life!

The Rolling Count:

· Possession charges = 5

· Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 4

Holler hootie hoo!

Monday, March 4

· Aww pretty kitty—A mountain lion was hanging out on the softball field around 8:30 p.m. Don’t try to pet wild animals, please.

· Good guy alert x5—UPD helped with some jumpstarts and locked doors. Thanks!

· Skating is not a crime…yet—Three people were warned for skating on campus. One blew through a stop sign and two “juvenile boys” were “riding tricks on the front steps” of the library.

Tuesday, March 5

· Nothing really happened on Tuesday. A couple people didn’t like stop signs and decided to ignore them and one person had a speeding problem. Maybe Wednesday will have something more interesting?

Wednesday, March 6

· Hit by car—A pedestrian was hit by a car on Plaza Ave. around 5:00 p.m. and was taken to hospital via ambulance. Listen up everyone, make sure to drive slow on campus and to be aware of your surroundings.

· You get the boot!—Two vehicles received “vehicle immobilization” boots due to unpaid parking tickets. A lot of us are guilty of not paying parking tickets (what up Denver, CO!), but UPD can be lenient at times. Check in with them if you get one, or two. But after that you too may get the boot!

Thursday, March 7

· “Suspicious circumstances”—Two people were standing in the parking lot talking and “watching passersby.” So, someone called the cops. Pretty lame…

· Harassment—Someone reported being harassed by an “unidentified male subject.” If you feel unsafe at night, or at any other time for that matter, don’t hesitate to call UPD for a safety escort. The phone number is (707) 826-5555.

Friday, March 8

· Loud noises!—There was a report of a man yelling at women near the Plaza Circle. However, when UPD showed up “no subjects were yelling.”

· Maybe it was a fart?—Someone reported a gas leak near the sculpture lab on LK Wood. UPD showed up and were “unable to locate any issue.” The smell must have “up and vanished like a fart in the wind.”

· Does it look like I’m camping?—Two people were thought to be camping on campus. Turns out one guy was charging his phone and the other was just in the Art B building around 6 a.m. Art is like the news, it doesn’t wait for anyone. Or something like that.

Saturday, March 9

· WTF?—Someone reported seeing “an unknown subject throwing a brick through the window of his vehicle.” Y’know, UPD will unlock the doors for you. You don’t have to shatter a window bro. There is another way.

· Mistaken identity… kind of—UPD arrested a man for 148.9 PC. Which means that he falsely identified himself “as a fictitious person to…evade the process of the court, or to evade the proper identification of the person by the investigating officer.”

Sunday, March 10

· Outside assist—UPD helped the Arcata police look for four people who were “looking into vehicles.” I looked into a vehicle once, I wonder if the cops were called on me?

· Mental health awareness—There were two incidents on Sunday that touched on aspects of mental health. Reports of mental health incidents have gone up in the last few weeks. Reach out to friends or family or the folks in the Student Health center. Also check out the mental health art exhibit outside of the Kate Buchanan room. It is titled Invisible Battles.

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
St. Patrick’s Day traditions

“…usually just get blacked out, drink a lot of Jameson.”

Remember to wear green this St. Patty’s Day to avoid getting pinched! Abel Anaya asked HSU students what their St. Patrick’s Day traditions and plans are. Share your traditions with us in the comments below!

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Feminism thrives without capitalism

“To be truly liberated, capitalism and the patriarchy must be eradicated.”

A thunder of knocking agreement filled Founders Hall 118 on Wednesday by a crowd consisting of mostly students who were eager to hear a debate focused on the incompatibility of capitalism and feminism.

Women from HSU’s debate team presented their speeches in front of a crowded room using the British Parliamentary debate format that consists of four teams where each person is given seven minute to present.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Leslie Rossman” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]“[We] cannot fight the system if we are always fighting just to survive.”[/perfectpullquote]
Kimberly Nguyen, the prime minister, opened the debate by defining the motion and proposing a radical change by feminists, suggesting they should avoid teaching for profit, working with conglomerate media, and selling bestselling books with publishing conglomerates.

“We will not try to solve for capitalism in this debate,” Nguyen said. “Instead, we are only having a conversation about how the two are incompatible.”

After a heated discussion professor Leslie Rossman, who identifies as a socialist feminist, recapped the event reminding the audience that capitalism is an inherently exploitative system and it will continue to sell social movements like feminism for a profit. Rossman continued to describe how capitalism will constantly reproduce scarcity and leave citizens in a state of insecurity.

“[We] cannot fight the system if we are always fighting just to survive,” Rossman said.

Debate coach and professor, Aaron Donaldson was delighted by the crowd turnout and how well the women debated the topic.

“I think they did a great job of showing why our team is so respected in the circuit,” Donaldson said.

Debate coach Dr. Aaron Donaldson and Dr. Leslie Rossman pose for a picture after the Womxn’s Debate that took place in Founder’s Hall 118 on March 6. | Photo by Christina Samoy

This debate prepared the team for Nationals that will take place at Clemson University in South Carolina in mid-April, where they will compete against teams like Harvard and Yale. Sydney Verga, an environmental studies major, highlighted the struggles of competing at tournaments due to budget cuts.

“Last year we got lucky because nationals was closeby at Stanford,” Verga said. “We normally cannot fly to these tournaments because it’s too expensive.”

Many suggest bake sales to raise money for these tournaments, but the biggest struggle they face is reaching out to debate program alumni who they’ve lost contact with over the years. Recently the clubs office recognized them as a club so they are able to fundraise, although the team is finding it hard to raise money.

The Womxn’s Debate was opened by Blue Baldwin who thanked everyone for attending on March 6. | Photo by Christina Samoy

The team spent weeks preparing their arguments, making sure they were charitable to both sides, making sure none of the arguments were off topic. A goal for this debate was to demasculinize the space and make it as diverse and inclusive as possible.

“Capitalism and feminism are really dense topics,” Nguyen said. “We don’t want to mischaracterize anything.”

Typically the debate team finds themselves presenting in small rooms with an even smaller crowd, but the turnout at the event prepared them for larger spaces and skills to become better public speakers.

A crowd of students gather in Founders Hall 118 to support the Womxn’s Debate team held on March 6. | Photo by Christina Samoy

Donaldson was thankful to have the team present in front of peers, friends, and teachers because, it meant that their hard work wasn’t limited to invisible corners of campus and people are caring about the amount of work and research that goes into preparing for events like this.

“It brings a lot of excitement [for] the chance to give a speech,” Donaldson said.

Friday, March 8, 2019
OPINION: What happened on Live from HSU?

Live from HSU Instagram stirred with controversial discussion

Social media can be a powerful platform where people can express their opinions and uplift others or it can be a complete abuse of power. Recently the student-run Instagram ‘Live from HSU’ posted several photos about logging practices and the negative effects on forests. A stream of user comments responded. A mix of forestry students and plenty of science majors defended the logging industry, saying that practices have drastically changed in the past 100 years.

Live from HSU brought this up as an open topic for people to bring different opinions to the table, and that’s exactly what happened. The posts got negative and defensive backlash as they were not backed up by factual evidence.

The question is where does one draw the line when it comes to freedom of speech? When it comes to controversial topics the strongest amount of evidence backs up a claim the most.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Maddy Tervet” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]”I don’t think that using the student-run Instagram was necessarily the best platform to relay his message…”[/perfectpullquote]
When emotion and opinion get dragged in the waters get muddy and people lash out angrily. What came out of one post continued to come out with several other posts. Students spoke out in a way to defend the forestry department, but the account continued to respond in an emotional way.

Maddy Tervet is an oceanography and chemistry major at HSU. Tervet said that she thinks the instagram user at the time had a valid point about these issues not being brought up enough.

“But I don’t think that using the student-run Instagram was necessarily the best platform to relay his message,” Tervet said. “I think that if he’d been a lot less hostile in responding to people’s comments and had done his research before he posted, his message would have been well received.”

The controversial topic about the logging industry is that people are clear cutting land due to historic intensive logging. The thing about the logging industry however, is that it has drastically changed over the years. What students are learning extensively now is how to restore the forests and fix what was done years ago. Sustainably managing the forests is what is being emphasized in the current forestry program.

Colleen Sloan was among many of the forestry majors that responded on their defense to the Live from HSU Instagram post.

“I see space for growth and fixing things that are broken,” Sloan said. “We’re in school to learn and go more in depth, so that what happened back in the day can be changed.”

The ‘Live from HSU Quick Start Guide’ specifically states that the purpose of the Instagram is to show what it’s like being a student on this campus and share about their clubs and activities.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Frank Whitlatch, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]“I think that in a lot of cases he crossed the line a bit, but we really try not to intervene. We don’t want to be controlling [the Instagram], we want it to be as authentic as possible.”[/perfectpullquote]
Students receive a guide as to what they should and should not post at the start of their week and it specifically states, “because you are representing the Humboldt State and the CSU System DO NOT post…” the list goes on to show ‘views on politics or policies’ as one of the things to strictly not post about.

Frank Whitlatch is the associate vice president for marketing and communication at HSU.

“I think that in a lot of cases he crossed the line a bit, but we really try not to intervene,” Whitlatch said. “We don’t want to be controlling [the Instagram], we want it to be as authentic as possible.”

Live from HSU took a student platform and abused its power, discrediting the school and some of its departments. Students took the platform as a way to defend the truth. Plenty, if not all, students responded in an emotional way, but did not fail to back up their comments with data or facts. It was a constant battle when the account responded and continued to make posts with negative rhetoric.

Erik Van Steinburg is a wildlife major and was one of the many students defending misconceptions of the logging industry.

“It’s just not right, a bunch of false statements were said,” Van Steinburg said. “To bash doesn’t make sense. It was emotional based and no facts were supporting [their claims].”

The individual running the account declined to make a comment about the debacle. They took to the Instagram page to call out the journalism department and said that a journalist’s objective viewpoints can be problematic. With this came a new cycle of students and alumni responding all over again.

“Misrepresentation in the media is seldom intentional, but it often happens to people whose viewpoint is radically different from the status-quo,” the individual said in a post.

When emotion fights with emotion, the argument gets nowhere. This was clear as the week went on with several posts ending up the exact same way through the exact same cycle. The posts brought up controversies that should be discussed, but the individual who ran the account lacked the credibility to back up their facts.

A platform like Live from HSU should be used to share a student’s experience here on campus, it can also be a platform where students can have open discussion about a topic they are passionate about.

Students should know full well what kind of power comes with a platform like Instagram, especially when the platform associates with a public university.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Round of a-paws

32nd annual dog expo was full of fur and excitement in the air

A flat brush ran through Tessa’s long, golden locks with her son by her side as they both got gussied up for the 32nd annual dog expo. Amid the rowdiness of the crowd in Franceschi Hall at Redwood Acres dogs of all breeds and colors were gearing up to compete for their first or hundredth ribbon.

Tessa, a pure bred golden retriever, is under the ownership of Susan Hutchinson who has been breeding and training dogs since the 90s.

“I got my first golden back in 1990,” Hutchinson said. “I’m on my fifth generation of golden retrievers.”

This is five generations worth of awards and photos, Susan Hutchinson’s life work displayed proudly on this table. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

Having worked with this breed she has learned a thing or two about how she thinks is best to go about training your dog. Hutchinson has formed a close bond with each of her dogs and that was mainly through training them.

“I’m a firm believer in creating team work,” Hutchinson said. “The more you put in with your dog and create a team, the more you’re going to get out and more of an enjoyment you’re going to have.”

4-year old Samoyed, Lala was having a rough day at the expo, no pun intended. She often gets anxious around crowds but this year she handled herself a bit better. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

She’s not the only one who’s been in this game for a while. Bayard Smith has been participating in dog shows and competitions since 1960 strictly with Scottish Deerhounds. Both Smith and his wife Kris work together with these dogs to train them to compete for agility mainly. Being a dog trainer and handler is no small feat, the Smiths have travelled far and wide for some competitions.

“We’ve travelled all over the country, we’ve been to Ohio, St. Louis, Albuquerque,” Smith said. “It’s usually a four to five day road trip.”

This deerhound had quite the winning history. Owned by Kris and Bayard Smith, members of the North Coast Kennel Club. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

Jamye Weseloh has a smooth collie, Cider, who is just eight months old. With her dog being so young she trains him frequently. Cider’s schedule is jam packed with different areas of training to do, especially since his mind is so elastic due to his young age.

“He’s learning nose work, he’s going to start herding lessons, he does obedience and he does show confirmation,” Weseloh said. “Every day we pick one of those and work on it and then later in the day we do another.”

Australian shepherd, Josie just shy of 11 months was a bit skeptical of photos being taken but finally warmed up to the camera. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

Cider isn’t the only one with a tight training schedule. All of these dogs are expected to be at their utmost tip top shape. Hutchinson and Smith train their dogs every day as well and the weeks leading up to a competition it starts to amp up and become stricter.

“We have them in agility, obedience training, barn hunt and our youngest is in scent work,” Hutchinson said.

Not many owners shared that their dog had been involved in barn hunt so when Hutchinson brought it up she explained what it was for those of us who aren’t regular show goers.

“Rats are encapsulated in heavy casing and they have to find the rat underneath hay bails and then it’s up to the handler to recognize their signal if it’s an empty tube or if there’s bedding or a rat in it,” Hutchinson said.

One can’t expect there to be a dog expo without any dog treats. All naturally sourced were these small to large sized knuckles for dogs to gnaw on. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

Walking around the show grounds there were various dogs who were sleeping on plush beds with blankets and pillows. Well deserved rest after a long days work. Congratulations to all of the dogs who took home ribbons this past weekend.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Blotter bytes

So, this week did not have any marijuana-related incidents. Good job guys! However, there was a stuck raccoon in a sewer grate, some ghosts and a few incidents of actual crime on campus, one involving a man trying to break into a vehicle while someone was in it. Make sure to avoid traveling alone at night and if you have to, call UPD for a late-night escort. They can be reached at (707) 826-5555.

The Rolling Count:

Possession charges = 4

Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 2

Holler hootie hoo!

Monday Feb. 25

· HELP I’m stuck!—“Solo female stuck inside the elevator” in the Jolly Giant commons. Guys, take the stairs.

· HELP that thing is stuck!—Someone around 17 and B streets called UPD to report “a raccoon that appears to be stuck in a sewer grate.” Must have been a chubby bubby.

· Good guy alert—Someone locked their keys in their car and UPD helped them out. Thanks fellas!

Tuesday Feb. 26

· Good guy alert x2—UPD helped with a late-night escort and locked car doors. And that was all that really happened this day…pretty chill really.

Wednesday Feb. 27

· Car troubles—Someone backed into a parked car around Laurel Drive and B Street and that’s all that really happened this day.

Thursday Feb. 28

· Whose dog is that?—A dog was “running loose” near Founder’s Hall. Parking officers caught the lil’ buddy and it was returned to the owner.

· Ghosts again—UPD responded to an emergency call from the elevator at University Plaza. No one was there when they showed up so it has to be ghosts.

· Danger bike—You know that bike that someone puts in the top rack of the skateboard rack outside the library? Yeah someone called the cops on it. Someone called the cops on a bike…locked in a rack…

Friday March 1

· I’m not leaving—Someone refused to leave the Kinesiology and Athletics building at 11:49 p.m., so the custodian called UPD. Late-night swole sessions have to end at some time guys.

· Fun police!—UPD assisted the Arcata Police in breaking up three parties. Freakin’ buzzkill guys. Let us rage in peace.

· Actual crime—Someone was caught trying to steal bikes near the Madrone Residence Hall. The person was arrested and had outstanding warrents.

· Actual crime part deux—Someone stole a bike an hour after the other guy was arrested.

· That is not my post—Someone called UPD because they noticed that there was a Facebook post that they did not make. I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think this is a crime and the person probably didn’t log out of their account or their friend is messing with them. Lighten up!

Saturday March 2

· Fun police x2—UPD helped break up more parties! This one was on 12th Street. Lame!!!!!

Sunday March 3

· Actual crime—Someone was “inside of his vehicle when a male attempted to break [in].” The person fled the scene but was later arrested and had an outstanding warrant. Be careful out there everyone, it seems like crime is on the rise lately. I wonder if it has to do with the lack of sunshine?

· Graffiti—Someone called the cops because “a large piece of plastic… was spray painted” in the forest near Creekview. Really? The graffiti probably made that “large piece of plastic” look better.

· “Suspicious circumstances”—Someone knocked over some bikes at the Tan Oak Residence Hall and someone may or may not have stolen a tire.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Local talent rocks the mic

Food and Drink gives voice to local talent at weekly open mic

Blondies Food and Drink echoed with chatter on Feb. 28 as guitarist Shaun Juan-Rich Merchant took the stage and lightly strummed his instrument.

The crowd grew quiet as he bursted into his first self-written song. This is Merchant’s second time playing at the open mic night at Blondies Food and Drink, located north of HSU on LK Wood Blvd in Arcata.

Shaun Juan-Rich Merchant sings at the Blondies Food and Drink open mic night on Thursday, Feb. 28. | Photo by Benji Goodale

Merchant, originally from Missouri, is an avid artist and musician with a deep passion for his craft. He sees his music as a deep expression of the self that is more than just singing combined with a series of well put together chords.

“The true meaning of life is enjoying the experience,” Merchant said. “My music is channeling these experiences that I have had.”

Jimmy Kennedy, an HSU alumni that now lives in Willow Creek, took to the stage later in the night to perform a refreshing style of guitar known as American primitive. He utilizes metal fingerpicks on all of the fingers of his right hand to play this interesting style of acoustic music.

“I’m drawn to this style of music because of the impression that it leaves afterwards,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said that after 10 years of experience with acoustic guitar he is still learning all the time, and enjoys playing music that requires a lot of particular strumming with his right hand. This style of guitar is much different than the popular style for acoustic that instead relies mostly on the left hand.

The open room of Blondies Food and Drink bustled with members of the community as local guitarist Ian Roberts sets up on stage later into the night. The energy in the air was increasingly jolly as more drinks were poured. Roberts secured a tambourine to his right foot with duct tape and made sure his guitar was in tune before bursting into his three song routine.

“I got into guitar playing and music after ‘stealing’ my first guitar from a dog named Oliver,” Roberts said. “It was basically just Oliver’s chew toy in the living room, so my roommate let me have it after I started to play it one day.”

Ian Roberts performs at the Blondies Food and Drink open mic night on Thursday, Feb. 28. | Photo by Benji Goodale

Roberts said that for him performing music is an experience of catharsis. Performing music allows him to get into the moment enough to open up deep parts of himself and allow for the purging of emotions that have built up inside.

Ben Stoeck, another guitarist that performed earlier in the evening, said that these open mic nights are an opportunity for expression and getting over the fear of performing.

“No matter how excited I feel in the days leading up to the open mic night, there’s always a little voice in my head right before it starts that says ‘I don’t want to go,’” Stoeck said. “It feels great pushing through that feeling and getting up on stage.”

Blondies Food and Drink holds a space for local artists at their open mic nights every Thursday night, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until closing at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Rolling back to the 70s

Radio station KRFH hosted a 70s themed skate night on March 1

Bell bottom pants, tube tops and knee high socks were seen everywhere. The 70s definitely made a comeback Friday night on March 1. The Blue Lake Roller Rink was packed with students, children and other locals who wanted to join in on the lively disco party.

KRFH student DJs played classic hits from the 70s creating an uplifting atmosphere for roller skaters to dance to. Hits like “The Hustle” by Van McCoy, “Get Down Tonight” by KC & the Sunshine band, “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas and of course the crowd pleasing “Dancing Queen” by ABBA came on for more laps around the rink.

Students like second year HSU student Cita Hunter came to support the small KRFH hosted event and to relax with her friends after a stressful week at school.

“I heard about this from one of my good friends, they told me to come down here because they were going to DJ,” Hunter said. “I came here to have a good time with my friends and to have a night out.”

Along with Hunter’s friend, second year student Shelley Magallanes also showed support for her fellow KRFH DJs.

“I belong to KRFH and I wanted to support an event that our group was sponsoring plus some of my friends were the DJs so I wanted to support them,” Magallanes said.

Shelley Magallanes showing off some moves. March 1. | Photo by Skylar Gaven

After a few laps skaters were feeling the burning sensation in their legs. Some skated the whole night, determined to dance until it was over like Magallanes but others had to step away at times to rest their tired feet.

Gliding against a hardwood floor around in a circle served to be a definite workout for second year student Ellena Negrete.

“Roller skating is a lot of fun and great cardio. This was an awesome Friday night,” Negrete said.

It had been a while since some people last put on a pair of skates. Though multiple fell trying to balance themselves on the rolling wheels attached to their feet, skaters still managed to get back up and continued to have fun with those who surrounded them.

Smiles were expressed on every face Friday night, from parents trying to keep a close eye on their energetic kids to college students finally getting a break to chill out with each other in a creative way.

Children and older students sharing the rink as the party goes on. March 1. | Photo by Skylar Gaven

Everyone no matter how old had a delightful time skating around showing off their groovy moves. Magallanes especially had a great time and enjoyed every moment spent at the roller rink. The 70s theme was a perfect idea to get people moving, laughing and experiencing something far out.

“I like the disco era a lot,” Magallanes said. “I like the 70s a lot and I like roller skating a lot so it’s pretty much the perfect combination of different experiences all at once for me.”

Saturday, March 2, 2019