Category: Far North

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More roots-rock Americana on tap tonight at the Old Steeple, where Alabama’s relatively young native son Early James will be performing a set of custom tunes which seem older than the maker. In short, James has tapped into the older goods of the deep, resonant human sounds of our cultural traditions and he has the chops and voice to make magic out of that wellspring. He’s playing an appropriately early show as well, starting at 7:30 p.m., when the crepuscular knife edge slices a line into the dark hours that belong to the faithful departed in the cemetery next door ($21.50).

It’s always a good time when Portland’s finest country music rollers and soulful, stardusted cowfolks Jenny Don’t and the Spurs come to town. Extra points a-glowing on the fine stitching and sequins when the group plays the Logger Bar, practically a vacation home by now for this fine act. The 8 p.m. show is early and, while not exactly free, $5 lives in the same neighborhood, so this show gets the Saturday Night Special for this week.

This week we’re looking into upcoming changes in programming at Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Center Arts) due to organizational changes and a big budget crunch. We also have a story about how the Trump administration has removed a crucial report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People from the Department of Justice website. Hit subscribe for weekly updates on Humboldt stories.  …

Dive into the fun at Redwood Discovery Museum’s annual splash fest, the Perilous Plunge, happening Saturday, March 29, from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the F Street Dock in Eureka (free to watch). Cheer wildly from dry land as volunteers jump into the chilly bay to raise money for the Discovery Museum, now celebrating its 30th year serving local kids (don’t worry, awards, applause and hot-tub thaw-outs await plungers post-dip). Catch the parade to the docks at 11:15 a.m., followed by the plunges at 11:30…

Speaking of cumbia music and Latin grooves, if you really want to dance your ass down to a nub with some of the finest beat chugging sound blasters in the country, swing over to Humbrews at 9 p.m. for a hefty dose of Makenu, who have set the marker many times over for the county and beyond when it comes to a proper honking dance party. I’ll sweeten the pot by mentioning that premier ska-filled skankers Checkered Past are also up on the bill, so expect your heels to smoke like dragstrip tires by the end of the night ($10).

Editor: I have an idea about “government fraud” (“Trickle Down,” March 20). For the most part, the fraud is by crooks, not the agencies, who use the government for personal profit. That is “government fraud.” Plain and simple.Louise Bacon-Ogden, Eureka…

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday identified the man killed in a crash on Beaver Slide Lane in Briceland as Whitethorn resident David Taylor. He was 84. According to a press release, Taylor was reported missing on Feb. 18 and was last seen on Shelter Cove Road nearly two weeks earlier. His body was found in an overturned vehicle on March 25 and he was positively identified during an autopsy, according to the release, which states Taylor “died within minutes of the motor vehicle collision of a cervical spine fracture.” “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the many agencies and personnel for their efforts and assistance in searching for Taylor,” the release states Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at (707) 268-2539. …

Who killed Mr. Boddy? Was it Peacock in the parlor with the pipe — or Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick? Find out in Clue , a hilarious whodunnit brought to life at the Van Duzer Theatre by Cal Poly Humboldt’s Department of Dance, Music and Theatre, opening Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. with performances on Friday and Saturday nights through April 5, and matinees at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, and Sunday, April 6 ($13, $11 seniors/students, free for CPH students w/ID). Bring your alibi!…

Here’s another venue that hasn’t gotten much, if any, ink in this column. The Local Cider Bar is hosting a free pajama party at 7 p.m. with music by the DJ crew of Hispanic! At The Disco. Expect a lot of Latin grooves from cumbia to reggaeton and beyond, and, if I might make a suggestion for the sound maestros, consider breaking form a little and playing some theme-appropriate art rock disco glory in the form of Roxy Music’s “Pyjamarama,” a favorite tune of mine with an excellent live version on the Viva! record.

Editor: For the past couple of years, I have had the honor and privilege to be a part of the Veggie Crew, a group of volunteers at Food For People who bag up vegetables for distribution. Even during winter months we get brilliant broccoli, colorful carrots, colossal cauliflower, as well as lesser seen but greatly appreciated parsnips, kale, turnips and chard, all from local farms! Throw in some potatoes and onions, some apples and citrus from out of the area, and you have a fresh and nutritious package. These go out to homebound seniors in Eureka, Arcata and McKinleyville, as well as to our mobile produce pantries which reach isolated areas such as Weitchpec, Hoopa, Orick and Petrolia. Enter the mindless steamroller that is the Trump administration (“Trickle Down, March 20). Funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement has been terminated, money that has been used to purchase 9,500 pounds of local food a month. Not only does this impact local farmers, some who have already planted crops they planned to sell to the program, but also the fine work of Megan Kenney

When someone sits back to tell you about the show they saw at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Van Duzer Theatre — whether it was a ballet company, a house-shaking hip hop duo, comedy (Shakespearean or otherwise), an iconic singer/songwriter or a touring string quartet — there is nearly always a moment of wonder that it happened here at all. We shrug at our luck, that the big-name artists should stop in our remote county to perform at the university between larger gigs. Seldom does anyone disagree. Center Arts, founded in 1980 and molded under the direction of Roy Furshpan, has made the Van Duzer Theatre an anchor venue in Humboldt County, bringing world-class acts to our remote area. Its shift to the state-administered Cal Poly Humboldt Presents caused some concern on and off campus for fear of losing the steady source of performing arts from beyond the Redwood Curtain. Now, amid serious budget cuts, the university’s announcement that it will scale back the upcoming 2025-2026 season and shift to more student-focused programming has some worried the changes will result in a cultural loss for both students

Editor: “Sunshine, If We Can Keep It” (March 20) reflects Benjamin Franklin’s words, in 1787, to a group of people waiting outside the Constitutional Convention. They asked him what kind of government the delegates had decided upon. “A republic, if you can keep it,” answered the 81-year-old Ben, and hobbled off. Franklin had his doubts. Earlier that same day, he had remarked, “It (a republic) can only end in despotism as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.” The NCJ evidently shares these doubts, and places the responsibility, as does Franklin, on the people: “We owe it to each other to engage in every level of government, to pay attention and work to impact the decisions that affect us and our neighbors.” The doubts are well-founded, and journalists are in the crosshairs. As the dean of Columbia School of Journalism stated, “These are dangerous times.” We have excellent local journalism in Humboldt County, and we need to defend it.Ellen Taylor, Petrolia…

Springtime is a honking goose, Hordes of busy bees, Enshelled chicks breaking loose, Leaflets on the trees Springtime is a bursting cloud, Rivers overrun, Lightning striking, thunder loud, Mist pierced by the sun Springtime is a rainbowed sky, Dew on sprouting grass, Bright-eyed bunnies bolting by, Days that longer last That is Springtime in your hand That you lift to your nose And you have helped me understand That love when planted grows Dad Commander (For Bub’s 4th Spring)…

Editor: Facts? In a recent letter, Mr. Scales said he would present some, and then proceeded to provide hogwash (Mailbox, March 20). While I agree with him that the national debt is out of control and needs to be addressed, an important fact he forgot to mention was that in the first term of Trump and his cretinous buddies, the gross national debt grew from $19.95 trillion to $27.75 trillion — a $7.8 trillion increase. And the large tax cuts he gave his ultra-wealthy friends and corporations worked, because they got him re-elected in 2024. Trump and DOGE are not trimming around the edges, they are razing government as we have known it, gutting and disposing of beneficial and necessary agencies and employees for very small savings, all so they can provide more tax cuts for the super rich. Projections are that his proposed tax cuts will decrease tax revenue by around $4 trillion annually, minimally. The national debt is projected to increase by almost $25 trillion over the next 10 years, excluding the Trump tax breaks. Yes, taxpayers should pay their fair share, and

Not Invisible Act Commission report removed as part of Trump administration’s gutting of thousands of government web pages An oversight group, launched five years ago, outlined a myriad of ways Congress could better protect Indigenous people from going missing, getting killed or falling prey to human traffickers, with particular focus on tackling gender-based violence.  Among the recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission were specific protections for foster youth, who end up lost at higher rates than their peers. The commission titled its report Not One More and detailed calls to action for multiple federal agencies — including the Departments of Justice, Interior, Health and Human Services, and Administration for Children and Families. This year, legislators and policymakers were supposed to establish ways to better track the missing and step up efforts to find them, as part of the report’s call for a “decade of action and change.” But on Feb. 18, the 212-page, comprehensive set of findings and recommendations that 41 commissioners worked on for three years suddenly vanished from the U.S. Department of Justice website. “I don’t know who’s going to carry the recommendations out,” said Kristin

Editor: I read Collin Yeo’s article (“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next,” March 20). I applaud the encouragement for love rather than anger. Be sure to address that with Hamas, also. If you and your family and friends were suddenly the victims of an unprovoked attack and massacre, would you boldly preach for more love? If you stood your ground and fought back, resulting in the deaths of many of your adversaries as well as some innocent people that they surrounded themselves with, would that be rightly called genocide? What if the philosophy of your attackers’ is to eliminate your race completely? Who’s genocidal? And what about someone speaking at rallies and encouraging support for those who are attacking you? Any anger at that? Or just more love? When “free speech” reaches the point of being a danger to national security, it should no longer be free.Bruce Cattle, Rio Dell…

Charles Minton, 78, passed away peacefully at home in Arcata, California, on Jan. 15. Charles was born in 1947 in Massachusetts to his parents, Catherine and Augustus Minton. His early life was spent moving from Air Force base to Air Force base; at the peak of his career, Augustus Minton was a major general for the U.S. Air Force. He spent a few years in Palm Desert building houses and eventually earned his nursing license. He then moved to Arcata, California, where he built a life rooted in service and adventure. A dedicated ICU nurse, he spent his career and life helping the Humboldt community with compassion. His life was marked by his passions — skiing, biking and backpacking. An adventurous spirit, Charles was known for his caring nature and his ability to find joy in exploration. As much as Charles was known for his playfulness and the “seize the day” aspects of his personality, he was also deeply committed to peace and social justice. In the late 1980s, Charles was president of the small Arcata organization Citizens for Social Responsibility, organizing successful art auctions

A celebration of life will be held for Mark Alan Whitman at 2 p.m. on March 22 in Blue Lake. The event will celebrate Mark’s life, and allow those attending to make connections with others who knew and loved him. Those who would like to join are asked to meet in front of Mark’s shop, 620 Railroad Ave. in Blue Lake, before joining a serenaded walk to the Mad River Grange (110 Hatchery Road), where they will celebrate a life well lived. Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share and a beverage of choice. Coffee, tea and water will be provided. They are also requested to bring stories to share, and musicians are asked to bring their instruments. The party will continue at the Logger Bar after the celebration, for those inclined to join. …

Following the death of his great friend Arthur Henry Hallam in 1833, the poet Alfred Tennyson began writing In Memoriam AHH, perhaps the greatest elegy in the English language. It would take him 17 years of composing, writing and editing until he finally published it — anonymously — in 1850. While the long (2,916 lines of iambic tetrameter) poem is generally considered to be a literary achievement, it also gives us an insight into the growing conflict between Christianity and geology in the period just before publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in 1859. Tennyson and Hallam met in the spring of 1829 while they were both students at Oxford University, bonding over their love of religion, philosophy and poetry. They both entered the Chancellor’s Prize Poem Competition, which Tennyson won. That Christmas, Hallam visited Tennyson’s home in Lincolnshire, where he fell in love with — and subsequently became engaged to — Tennyson’s younger sister Emilia. Four years later, Hallam died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage in Vienna. He was 22. The famous line, “Nature red in tooth and claw,” is found

The springtime has come again to our hemisphere, and where better in our little chunk of the planet to celebrate the equal split between night and day than in bonny Blue Lake? Specifically, the Logger Bar at 8 p.m., where you can enjoy a solo show by Vanishing Pints and Miracle Show-man Jeff Kelley. …