Seattle starts cannabis farmers market

Seattle Times: As at most farmers markets, table after table came stocked with goodies, touted for their locally grown, healthy, organic qualities. Baby boomers in berets mingled with twenty-somethings in dreadlocks, eyeballing potted plants, pasta, pizza, cute little cupcakes and Mason jars full of green buds — lots of jars.

This was not your grandpa’s market. It was the first Cannabis Farmers Market in Seattle. And an estimated 600 medical-marijuana patients strolled through the doors of the Little Red Studio in the South Lake Union neighborhood to partake, organizers said.

Full story.

Yes, master

In puppet government news, the Eureka Arkleyville City Council will consider Tuesday sending a letter to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors seeking a halt to the General Plan Update process.

Of course they are.  Developer overlord Rob Arkley wants the long-overdue GPU stopped until every elected seat is filled with a butt that will do his bidding — much like the City of Eureka.

The letter would express “the City’s concern about the County’s General Plan Update process and request the Update be placed on hold to allow for the creation of Citizen Advisory Committees, which will assist in making the update process more inclusive.”

Committee members would be chose from a list of Arkley supporters, no doubt.  But no worries — it ain’t gonna happen, to borrow a phrase. This is just another Arkley muscle flexing exercise.

However, the request may put Supervisor Virginia Bass in the difficult position of having to either go back on a campaign promise of completing the GPU quickly, or defying her supreme leader.

Tap into your tap

HSU students promote tap water over bottled water.

The argument would be 100% sound if it wasn’t for the addition of fluoride.

But don’t let that be an excuse to go ignorantly about your water bottle habit.  Those plastics leach cancer-causing chemicals into your thirsty bod in addition to polluting the planet with a material that will virtually never break down.

Keep it up

Promises of “hybrid Journalism” from the North Coast Journal appear more and more impotent.

First, the alt-weekly lost its “web guru” Hank Sims after surprising him with a demotion new job title that was less prestigious than the one he held for some six years, which the publisher gave to an old friend.

Now the Journal blog is being attacked by spambots. Need to learn how to pick up the ladies?  Make more money?  Maintain an erection?  Visit any number of comment threads at the NCJ to learn how.

Westsiders host movie fundraiser Saturday

Planned Parenthood to rally at courthouse Friday

The never-ending Republican war on abortion rights is casting a wide net this week by going after federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Abortions account for only a small percentage of services provided by Planned Parenthood, but the GOP loves unborn zygotes sooo much that non-wealthy people outside the womb can be cast aside as collateral damage.  Health services — like early cancer detection — are only for the financially privileged, apparently.

[From Six Rivers Planned Parenthood]

This past week the US House of Representatives has taken steps to eliminate all federal funding for vital reproductive health services including birth control, std testing & treatment, life saving cancer screenings and abortion care – with a very specific attack on Planned Parenthood.

At a time like this, people NEED access to the health services & education that allow them to control their body and plan their family. Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading providers of this care.

WE’RE SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED! Let’s send a message that Humboldt County cares about these issues and that we will not be silent!

JOIN US for a Rally this Friday, February 25th at 4:30 pm at the Eureka Court House, 825 5th Street, Eureka.

We will have signs and information for you.
This is WAY too important to sit by.
Thank you for your support!

Hard freeze coming to the coast

The National Weather Service predicts a hard freeze will hit the North Coast in the wee hours of Friday and Saturday.  The projected temps are 10-15 degrees below normal for this time of year, according to NWS.

Based on usual patterns in the blogosphere, the Humboldt Herald predicts Fred’s Blog will call the cold snap proof that global warming is a hoax.

JEFF MARSEE: Outta here

College of the Redwoods Prez Jeff Marsee will take a job at San Joaquin Delta College, according to a report from Stockton, and say goodbye to his contentious days in Humboldt County.

So where does this leave the CR’s interest in Jefferson School?  CR staff is scheduled to tour the former elementary school site on Thursday.

Westside residents in Eureka are not impressed with CR’s — and specifically Marsee’s — inconsistent message about whether it’s interested in buying Jefferson.  The residents have been clear that they don’t want CR in their neighborhood.  Below is an email sent anonymously to the Humboldt Herald this morning.

Nearly 1 year ago, Jeff Marsee President of College of the Redwoods said at a public meeting at Eureka city hall, “If the community doesn’t support us coming to Jefferson, we won’t come”.   Again, about 4 months ago at a CR board of Trustees meeting, Mr. Marsee  said he would stay out of the way and allow the Community to realize their vision. But obviously he was busy behind the scenes interfering with the process and lobbying the new council’s support for the CR proposal.

Just because the City Council did not support the Communities Proposal does not mean that vision is dead.  In fact, it is now even better, stronger and has nothing but unyielding positive support from an ever-growing majority of Eurekans.

Mr. Marsee needs a reminder.  We are the Community and We Do Not Support CR’s Proposed Intensified Use of this Neighborhood Facility!

There will be a public tour of Jefferson School Thursday at 1:30. Come see how well the community’s vision of a Multi-Use Community Center, Elementary Education, Literacy Services, Community Meeting rooms and a Commercial Kitchen fits the building and see the proposed area for the community gardens and visualize ” a Green PARK where CR’s Black PARKING LOT is proposed. Remember how well children’s and neighborhood resources fit in this site and how sorely they are missed.

Let’s share our vision with the CR facilities coordinating team, the visiting public and rally support for this Community Project. Thursday 2/24 1:30 Jefferson 1000 B Street.

[h/t eurekaTS]

Salzman threatens Arcata with lawsuit

[Press release.]

Contending that Arcata’s panhandling ordinance is unconstitutional, resident Richard Salzman informed the City Council that he intends to file a lawsuit unless the ordinance is amended.

As written, the ordinance makes it a crime to merely hold up a sign asking for money. By denying citizens constitutional right of free speech, Salzman contends the City Council overstepped its authority.

“If first they silence the poor and the homeless, and I say nothing, who will speak up when they try to silence me?” Salzman asked.

He noted that the section of the ordinance against “aggressive panhandling,” including blocking one’s path, any physical contact or yelling, would be left unchallenged by this legal action.

(see attached)

People Challenging Corporate Power

[Announcement from DUHC]

EUREKA – People Challenging Corporate Power, a study group hosted by Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, will have its first meeting on Wednesday, February 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Duck House, 1402 M Street, Eureka.

Convening five times, bi-monthly, for informative readings, lively discussions and potluck dinners, this study group will examine the power and privilege of large corporations, and how concerned citizens can challenge the status quo and assert the people’s rights. Sessions titles include “Corporate Personhood,” “People’s and Worker’s Resistance Movements” and “What Does Democracy Look Like?”

Visit http://www.duhc.org/events/people-challenge-corporate or contact (707) 269-0984 to register or for more information.