Newsweek list with green hue

North Coast energy hogs

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat looks at a recent study by UC Berkeley scientist Evan Mills on indoor pot’s energy usage:

In Humboldt County, average household electricity use last year was 26 percent greater than PG&E’s systemwide average. In Lake County, average use was 29 percent higher and in Mendocino County it was 41 percent higher, according to PG&E.

Sonoma County’s average household consumption was less than 1 percent higher than the PG&E system average.

Download Mills’ report: Energy Up in Smoke — The Carbon Footprint of Indoor Cannabis Production

Isleton city officials summoned over marijuana farm

This will scare the pants off the city of Eureka.

Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully has subpoenaed the entire city brass, from the police chief, mayor and city manager on down to former planning commissioners, to testify today before a grand jury – or possibly face jailing.

The reason? Isleton’s leaders are being summoned because they approved a medical marijuana farm on the edge of town that Scully thinks in some way could violate state law, which would in essence make them a bunch of dope dealers.

Full story.

Dell’Arte to present Mary Jane: The Musical

Marijuana is the Devil’s harvest. So screams Dell’Arte’s promo for its annual Mad River Festival production, Mary Jane: The Musical.  The show will run June 23rd -  July 3rd.

Dell’Arte revels in ferocious play. And we can think of no other ferociously playful issue that is more .topical, relevant and important for our community than Mary Jane. This is not a political piece. This is not a piece that takes one side or the other. Mary Jane is simply a work reflecting all aspects — good, bad, funny and sad — of our marijuana culture.

If you’re inspired and feeling kind, Dell’Arte asks you to join their 215 club to support its Blue Lake school of theater.

Buffy Sainte-Marie concert to benefit CATs

[Press Release]

Award-winning singer and songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie will appear in concert April 30, 2011 at the Eureka Theater to benefit the Organic Planet Fund of the Eureka-based environmental organization, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs).

Her evocative singing style and trade-mark quivering vibrato make Sainte-Marie instantly recognizable to her many fans, including those who grew up hearing her on Sesame Street. For the Eureka concert, Sainte-Marie will draw on her rich repertoire of folk, protest, country and rock songs.

Sainte-Marie achieved national fame crossing over from folksinger and Native American activist to mainstream success as a songwriter. Her songs have been adapted by scores of artists, ranging from Elvis Presley to the Indigo Girls and Kayne West. They include Academy Award-winning “Up Where We Belong” and other much-recorded tracks such as “Universal Soldier” and “Until It’s Time for You to Go.”

The Eureka performance is the only scheduled U.S. West Coast appearance for the renowned artist, who limits her concerts to just 30 each year. It will be her first locally since a standing room only performance packed the Mateel Community Center in 2000.

The Berel Alexander Ensemble will open the concert, with troubadour Alexander and his ensemble playing acoustic original and reworked classics that blur boundaries between folk, pop, soul and jazz.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $32 and at the door for $35. The Eureka Theater will open its doors at 7 pm and the concert will begin at 8. Organic snacks and beverages will be available for purchase and a silent auction will feature organic items. For more details see www.alt2tox.org or contact CATs at 707-445-5100 or buffyconcert@alt2tox.org

Californians for Alternatives to Toxics is northern California’s organization devoted to reducing the use of toxic pesticides throughout the region and beyond. The Organic Planet Fund supports outreach activities of CATs.

More info.

I am the light

He is risen.

Richard Marks’ plea for attention comes to sorry end

Readers will recall that an honest-to-goodness elected official right here in Humboldt County threatened to out your anonymous host here at the Herald.

Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner Richard Marks dangled the fruit right here on this very blog:

I can out Heraldo…..but it will cost. Give me a call. And yes, I can deliver.

He then posted on his blog:

I have been sitting on this for awhile. I was just wondering what you all think.

Turns out the only thing Marks is sitting on is his elected behind.  He now says he was only hoping for $5000 so he could pay someone else to figure it out.

Oh well.  At least he got some attention for his blog — and his penchant for little white lies.

Baykeeper bash sold out

Despite continued attempts by Security National spokesdude Randy Gans to drag the name of Humboldt Baykeeper through the mud, tickets to the group’s Earthday Bash sold out days before tonight’s event.

Happy Earth Day.

Redwood ACLU Questions Arcata’s Anti-Protest Practices

[ACLU press release]

Annual 4/20 pro-marijuana legalization demonstration draws concern

For the first time in a long time, Redwood Park did NOT look like this on 4/20.

The Board of Directors of the Redwood Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union expressed concern today over the pattern of practices by City of Arcata officials in relation to the annual “4/20” marijuana legalization protest in Redwood Park, which falls every year on April 20^th.

In particular, Redwood ACLU Boardmembers and other community members have witnessed a number of peculiar actions over the last couple of years by Arcata Police Department officers and other city staff. These include:

• The erection of roadblocks on public streets leading to Redwood Park; and,
• The blocking of public trails through public parkland leading to Redwood Park; and,
• The shutdown of public parking lots and public restrooms; and,
• The marching of a platoon of armed APD officers through Redwood Park to harass and intimidate college students and others engaged in peaceful protest, barking orders at them concerning the “trampling of foliage” and other nuisance-level complaints; and,
• The ticketing of members of the public in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

“The over-reaction of the City of Arcata to what amounts to a low-impact, non-violent mass action to protest federal law is really uncalled for,” Vice Chair Jack Munsee said. “It’s possibly unconstitutional — you have the right to peacefully protest.”

Redwood ACLU Boardmembers will be on hand tomorrow to act as observers.

The Redwood Chapter, ACLU represents over 850 ACLU members across Del Norte, Humboldt, Western Trinity and Northern Mendocino Counties. Their offices are located at 917 Third Street in Old Town Eureka. For more information, call the Redwood ACLU at (707) 442-4419 or visit redwoodaclu.blogspot.com.

Humboldt Fog is cheese of the week in Evansville, IN

Humboldt’s finest cheese is a scarce commodity in Indiana, but still the Hoosier state sings its praises.  They even offer a recipe for Warm Cabbage and Goat Cheese Salad to go with it.

Full story.