Each morning beginning Monday April 21st through Friday April 25th I will sit down with each of the candidate for District Attorney and Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and have a one on one conversation with them. This is not a debate, or a quick soundbite opportunity. I will spend 15 minutes with each of them getting to know who they are, whey the are running, what they plan to do and what is important to them. This is enough time to really get to know the candidates and what makes them tick. 

Monday 4/21: 7:30AM Chris Kerrigan (4th district)  -  8:30AM Arnie Klein (DA)

Tuesday 4/22:  7:30AM Allan Dollison (DA)

Wednesday 4/23:  7:30AM Ryan Sundberg (1st district)  -  8:30AM Sharon Latour (1st district)

Thursday 4/24:  7:30AM Elan Firpo (DA)  -  8:30AM Maggie Fleming (DA)

Friday 4/25:  8:30AM Virginia Bass (4th district)

So before you head to voting booth in June, get to know the candidates one on one. If you miss any of the interviews they will be archived right here for you to download or stream.

The KHUM Open Mic Project is finally here! 

What is it? 

It's like a real open mic, just with a community twist. You should plug a bake sale for your kid's school. You should read a quick poem. 

Think of it like that bulletin board outside the Arcata Co-op. 

How do I do this? 

Read this primer. Then record :45 of sound on whatever device you want, and email it to openmicproject@khum.com. 

What's the catch? 

No catch. This is a social experiment, and we actually believe that the constellation of Humboldt voices is a beautiful thing. It has to jive with KHUM, and it has to be legal.  So get started on your KHUM Open Mic session!

Today at 12:15ish, DJ Mantease returned to the Mid Day Dance Party. WORK! He and the Soul Night DJs get down tonight for Soul Night XXX: The Dirty Thirty at Humbrews. Expect world beat, funk, chicha, cumbia, and deep-crate worldbeat. 

Listen below. Sure, he spins good records. But he also knows a lot about old-timey barber tradition. 

ManteaseWoida

Setlist:

Tunji oyelana - Ifa
Yugo High - Semi Colon
Haiti direct les Animateures - Ti Machine
Marcia Griffiths - Tell me now
Cal Tjader -Tanya
The Tonettes - I'll give to you
Roots Chicha, Manzanita - El Hueleguiso
Semba Brogues - Os Korimbas
Slim Ali & the Famous Hodi Boys- Watoto Nyra
Jennifer Lara - Consider Me
Analog Africa 0 La Motilona - Los Alegres Diablos


Michigan an Smiley - Nice Up Dance
Anibal Velasquez - Mambo Loco
Bunzu Sounds - Zinabu
Bell'a Njoh- Ebolo
Dionisio Maio- Corpim Sabe
Horace Andy happiness


Los Silvertones - El Baile De La Arana
Andre tanker B - Swahili
Za zu Wally Cox +8
George Guzman - Lazy Boogaloo
Ebo Taylor - Heaven
Johnny Clarke - Rebel Soldiering 

Abelardo Carbonó Palenque

Hoptone Lewis Take it Easy

Attention lovers of public forests, trails, conservation and that type of stuff.

Check this press release from the county:

On April 15, 2014, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to accept funds that will allow the County to purchase 1,000 acres of forestland southeast of Eureka to establish a community forest. The community forest will be managed in collaboration with the City of Eureka for multiple purposes including public access and recreation, sustainable timber harvest, and watershed and resource conservation.

The County will receive nearly $6.8 million from the California Natural Resources Agency, State Coastal Conservancy, and California Wildlife Conservation Board to acquire the 1,000-acre property, which is a portion of the McKay Tract owned by Green Diamond Resource Company. The property is situated adjacent to salmon-bearing Ryan Creek, a tributary to Humboldt Bay. Until a permanent name is established, the property will be called the McKay Community Forest.

Continuation of a working forest is essential to financial viability, with revenue generated through timber harvest used to offset management costs. Grants and donations will provide additional financial assistance. The financial plan has been developed based on no new encumbrance to the County's General Fund.

"This project represents a strategic opportunity for a long-term investment in our community," said Rex Bohn, Chair of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. "Redwoods are part of our heritage, and this property is a treasure in Eureka's backyard. It will be wonderful to make it accessible to the public in the near future, while maintaining productive timberland and contributing to economic productivity and local jobs. We're going to use this forest for work and play, and we're going to do it the right way."

The project has been facilitated by The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, which has pledged to provide $125,000 to the County to assist in start-up costs. According to David Sutton, Director of California Land Conservation, "This is an unusual grant for The Trust for Public Land, but we feel it speaks to the importance of this conservation project and the significance of the growing community forest movement in the West, a movement that we have supported since its inception."

The City of Arcata's longstanding community forest has demonstrated how forestland near the edge of town can be managed in a manner that balances public use, wood production, and forest conservation. After purchase is complete, the McKay Community Forest will become the first community forest owned and managed by a county government in California.

The new community forest will depend on active public involvement including trail building and maintenance, donations, volunteer patrols, and other activities. "The public is going to make the McKay Community Forest special," said Supervisor Mark Lovelace. "I'm looking forward to their involvement because that will ensure this project is a reflection of our community."

The property will be transferred from Green Diamond to the County within the next two to three months, however the property will not be open to the public until appropriate access points and trail segments are developed. The timeframe for making the property accessible will depend on fundraising and grant opportunities, volunteer interest, and coordination with neighboring landowners.

Emily and I talked this morning with Doby Class, Public Works Director and Netra Kahtri, Assistant Public Works Director from the City of Arcata about their plan to start Bike Boulevards in the city.

Also discussed is today's vote at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on a plan to purchase the McKay Tract for public use as the McKay Community Forest. It is widely expected to pass. The vote is at 1:30pm today.

Audio

On Saturday, the PacOut Green Team volunteers say they were doing their regular weekly cleanup when they happened upon these shelters dug into the dunes. One shelter even featured a subterranean swing (above).

Interestingly, you can see what looks like a homeless camp in the cleanup area on Google Earth. 

According to Aaron Ostrom [via the group's Facebook page]:

"More photos of the underground homeless bunkers and grave site. I walked on top of the bunker not knowing what it was. I thought it was a sand dune until it gave way a little bit."

Ostrom:

This grave caused some concern, says Ostrom. He says they called they Sheriff's office, who later determined to the grave to be a cat's final resting place.

The PacOut Green Team meets every weekend for quick cleanups around the Humboldt Bay area. 

According to their Facebook page:

"We get together every Saturday at different locations around the county to remove as much litter as possible. Typically our weekly cleanups are 60 minutes long. We understand that people have lives and that time is limited for most people. Prizes supplied by Pacific Outfitters are awarded to cleanup volunteers every week, and everyone is encouraged to join us."

This morning I talked with Cassandra Hesseltine, our Humboldt County Film Commissioner and local film maker George Nelson about Local Film Maker night, taking place tonight at the Lecture Hall at Eureka High School. Doors open at 6:30, the event starts at 7pm. $5 is the admission price. Nelson will show clips of his various work, answer questions and share his experience.

Audio