HCDCC Chicken by the Sea, Crabs Baseball, Steelhead Baseball and weekend stuff.

The HCDCC hosted Chicken by the Sea was a great success. Hundreds of people and a great Trinidad atmosphere. Assembly person Patty Berg and State Senator Patricia Wiggins were there. Other local politicos past and present were introduced. Wes Chesbro was announced and took the opportunity to grandstand his potential run at Berg's seat if legislation is not changed to allow term limits to be lifted. If she can not run, Wes was asking for people to sign pledge cards asking for early endorsement and pledges. The "Friends of Wes Chesbro" endorsements can be sent to PO Box 11613 SANTA ROSA, Ca. 95406. (No, I did not sign one. Early in the game ya know.)

Evergreen Pulp sponsored a day with the Humboldt Crabs last weekend. I worked to cover June Sullivan so she could watch her son "Hop" Sullivan play. Many Evergreen workers were there and the Crabs won. But they did not play Hop. Why? Got me. He was leading the team in On Base Percentage and had the 4th highest batting average on the team. It seems that local players get lost in the shuffle for out of town players who are not that much better. Seen it play out since the 70's. That is why I do not frequent their games now.

Why did Brad Botkin go off on the Humboldt Steelheads? Times-Standard Online - Where's the drama? They have beat the Crabs 3 times in the last two years. Why rain on their parade? The Steelhead team is playing in Weaverville this weekend against the Redding Tigers and will hopefully pull in a big crowd for the Trinity County baseball fans.

We have a serious void for players 20 years and up who want to play competitive hardball. The Steelhead had to cut many players to get down to 30! And the Eel River Hardball team that I have played for has more players than they can handle. Maybe a few more teams can form over the winter.

Lots of people out this weekend at the Farmers Market in Arcata and many ATV people were camping and enjoying the Samoa Dunes. Oh yes, the surfers are out in force.

Democrats host Chicken by the Sea in Trinidad.

The Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee will be hosting the annual Chicken by the Sea Event this Sunday from 4pm to 6pm at the Trinidad Town Hall. $15 dollars is dirt cheap for this event. HCDCC - Welcome to the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee

This event has be ongoing for 19 years now. It was held for years out here in Samoa at the Women's Club, but changed venue after I left the HCDCC to organize for the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) in the late 90's. In 2000 the town of Samoa was bought by Dan Johnson and Lane DeVries. Maybe that is why the change of place. Maybe someone out there knows?

Shane Brinton on front page of TS and ER!

Times-Standard Online - Effort afoot to bring John Edwards to Eureka & The Eureka Reporter - Home



Hey out there! It would be great to have a actual contesting presidential candidate visit Humboldt County in the heat of an election! Copy and paste this address and help make it happen! http://www.humboldtforedwards.org

Humboldt County now $5.57 an hour behind the National Average.

The average hourly pay in Humboldt County now stands at around $11.81 an hour. The average hourly worker in the US now is at $17.38 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Home Page.

But we pay more for gas. We pay more for goods and services. Our crime index is almost twice the national average. Our cost of living index is over 20 points higher than the national average. http://realestate.yahoo.com/Neighborhoods/detail.html?csz=Eureka,CA

Things are not getting better for our young adults....they are getting worse. I sure hope this is taken into account during the next elections. When do we hold our representatives accountable? Who is to blame? Things need to change drastically here in Humboldt County and Northern California or we will be exporting more of our decent potential young workers.

We are seeing a drastic change in our demographics. Our schools are consolidating and are declining in enrollment for the first time in decades. This is not happening overall around the state. Why is this happening to Humboldt County? Are we becoming a retirement community? Do we need to change county planning strategies to account for the future? We are nearing a crucial time of decision making. Any other observations?

Tammy Falor revisited. $300,000 of Humboldt County tax payer dollars gone!

Ex-Humboldt County Counsel Tammy Falor was given nearly $300,000 dollars as a "gift" from Humboldt County tax payers through the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (BOS). The payment was basically a "payoff." We will never know why our tax dollars were given away. It would take the average wage earner in Humboldt County nearly 15 years to make that same "gift" amount. And the BOS still has no accountability? Times-Standard Online - Suit on payout to ex-counsel dismissed

Bonnie Neely, chair of the county Board of Supervisors, expressed pleasure at the court's decision. But why should she be happy with the general public being left out of the Humboldt County spending process? I am surprised there has not been more public outcry over the way our tax dollars are spent.

The sad fact is that in a few days this will be a forgotten rant.

Richard Mostranski teaching US Troops.

The other Richard is travelling the Mediterranean on US ships teaching our troops Political Science. Richard was Campaign Manager for Nancy Flemming's close election loss to Bonnie Neely in last years 4th District Supervisor race. He led an underdog candidate to within a few hundred votes of a huge upset. Richard also helped my campaign and I count him as a good friend and confidant. The Bulldog is currently in Marmaris, Turkey. Marmaris Marmaris Turkey

Mike Thompson pissing me off!

I do not want to be labeled as a hypocrite in this issue. Campaign Unavailable Yes, I have hunted in the past, and do partake of the meat of game kills. But, I do not support the idea of killing for just sport or trophy bagging. Especially for game on the verge of being labeled as endangered as the Polar Bear are. Polar Bear I do not know if the NRA or the Safari Club are yanking Mike's chain or how he is justifying his position, but his vote leans way to the right on this issue.

Weaverville softball. By Marks!

Ray Wolfe Construction Wins Tournament

Weaverville, Ca-Tournament most Valuable Player Matt Socha hit 2 home runs and scored 4 runs in leading Ray Wolfe Construction of Arcata to a 18-6 victory over R-CO Builders of Eureka in the championship game of the July 4th Celebration Weaverville Invitational Tournament on July 1st 2007. Line Drive from Fortuna garnered 3rd place and Trinity Softball finished 4th.

Clint Crane of Mt. Thunder from Redding won the Home Run contest, hitting 6 out of 10 pitches out of the park.

HSU alumni quarterback Jacob Kadle was named Most Valuable Pitcher. Other Tournament selections were, Bobby John Davis and Wes Winn from Trinity Softball, Mike Johnson and Ira Martin of Line Drive, Eric Younger, Byron Gardner and Steve Fusi of R-CO Builders and Dan Nord, Jared Harpe and Dan Sutherlamd of Ray Wolfe Construction.

I sent these results to both local newspapers. It was a great fun for everyone. Weaverville does all it can to make it all entertaining. Street Dance, Rodeo, Demolition Derby, Fair, Arm Wrestling, Horseshoe Pitching on and on.........fun in the sun.

I want to personally thank Kelly Jackson, the Director of the Weaverville Douglas City Parks and Recreation for her help in coordinating the Memorial and 4th of July Softball tournaments. I would not be able to direct these tournaments without her help.

Redding and Chico most affordable.

Over 35% of the people in Chico can afford to buy a house and over 27% of Redding residents. That is according to new affordability index reports. What are we over here in Eureka? 12%? I wonder why the huge disparity. Check out Redding.com.

Paris Hilton to buy an i-phone?

TG Daily - Is the iPhone the Paris Hilton of phones? Who cares? Many obviously. Hilton opens up on drugs, jail and God - CNN.com

Are Americans just this shallow to care this much about an elitist socialite? Maybe I am missing something here.

Tsunami drill on the sand hill.

The resident Samoa sand dwellers had a tsunami drill that was covered by media nation wide as the first ever for California. The USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the LA Times covered the event. I took "Smokey," our 8 year old 12 pound Pomeranian to the drill and he had issues with all the other dogs there.

The turn out for the neighborhood was fantastic. It will be interesting to see how the media plays it. BOS members Bonnie Neely and Jim Smith were there to evaluate the process. Mr. Smith said he was hoping to have the same type of drill for King Salmon and Fields Landing constituents.

Mary Beth Wolford was there and participated with other Peninsula School district employees in walking the emergency evacuation area.

We passed on the Samoa Cookhouse meal afterward, as we have participated plenty on that.

$45 dump run. And prices go up in July. Garbage profiling in Humboldt County?

I recently had a renter move out of a house Robin and I own in Henderson Center. They left "stuff" that needed to be hauled to the dump. We made a dump run with our old 85' Ranger. It is pretty small, but we managed to have $45 dollars worth of junk in the truck! And soon prices are going up, so if you need to get rid of stuff, do it by July 1st!

Speaking of peoples garbage. Here awhile back Robin had some things she wanted to take to the old Salvation Army. She used the Ranger and they turned some of her stuff away. She went on another Salvation Army run with her PT Cruiser and they came out to the car to help her unload. Economic Profiling or Garbage Profiling in Humboldt County? Say it ain't so!

Tsunami Mania! Drill for sand dwellers.

Tsunami means "Harbor Wave." Tsunami - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia You would think they would use another name to describe it. How about "Big Wave?" Any better suggestions?

The people in Sand Land have been well informed of the drill and are expected to participate. It should be pretty interesting to see what happens.

The Eureka Reporter - Article & Times-Standard Online - Tsunami drill another Humboldt first

A Dynasty takes a fall. Tomaso's Softball.

Yesterday I was corrected that the Tomaso's Softball squad had won 5 straight Blue Lake wood bat titles. We were in the hunt for number 6. We were undefeated in the Championship Tournament and had to be beat twice to be dethroned. The Bombers of Arcata did just that, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 7th inning in a great softball game at sunny Blue Lake. No championship T-shirt this year. Maybe next year.

Mary Beth Wolford hired as Superintendent/Principal of Peninsula Union School District!

Mary Beth is taking over our humble school district at Samoa! I see this as great news. She had experience galore, and will hopefully shepherd in a new era of expansion here on the peninsula. We have huge room for growth here in Samoa and Fairhaven with potential projects on the table. Hopefully many new young couples will be raising their children here on the sand! I will help Mary Beth in many volunteer capacities and am really happy she will be here! Good news!

(Update: I guess my blog was read by local media, and they called Mary Beth for the news. The Eureka Reporter - Article Times-Standard Online - Former councilwoman takes school post

I love the part about her wanting to repair the Ball Field. And guess what? Today a Danco crew was at it working on the field! Good things happening. And we need good news here in Sand Land!)

What is your sign?

The other day I stopped at the light at 4th and Samoa Blvd. A usual solicitor had his cardboard sign up, but it was different than most days. It said "FU" but spelled it out. I wondered what his real message was for the day. Maybe just a Bad Life Day? If I was to just make a sign up and sit at this corner as a message that I would want to convey, what would I do? My favorite is "United we Bargain, Divided we Beg!"

And isn't that the truth? I have witnessed the power of collective bargaining. And it is good for the workers.

The Chronicle has a great story this weekend about the IWW Industrial Workers of the World One Big Union !ong history. Historian completes a labor of love -- 'The Big Red Songbook' The Local Joe Hill Band and other labor bands are about as progressive as you will find.

College of the Redwoods still unfair to labor.

I filed charges back in October against College of the Redwoods for stopping an organizing attempt by the cafeteria workers by firing the lead organizer. Reporter Cerena Johnson did the right thing and interviewed the worker in question instead of just questioning me on the subject. If you decide to organize your workplace, you are protected by law to do concerted activity without the fear of reprisal. The National Labor Relations Act NLRB :: National Labor Relations Board protects your right. In the public schools sector your rights are protected by the PERB. Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) But it is a long drawn out process, and the college school systems have lots of Lawyers who deal with these cases everyday. It was my first experience as an organizer filing charges with the PERB. Lesson learned. It was more of a he said-she said case than fact finding mission. I kept filing proof, and they systematically ignored testimony and physical evidence. Luckily the worker is employed elsewhere. The Eureka Reporter - Article

Great day for celebration in Humboldt County.

The Oyster festival was in full display today. Many people and lots of food and drink. (Loved the Oyster call of the lady from Kansas calling in the Rocky Mountain Oysters, and the Madonna impersonator (Shucked for the very first time!) I really enjoyed the Earl Thomas band. He is just great entertainment. He called the youth of Humboldt "Saplings.". A Humboldt County Jewel. Saw Chris Kerrigan enjoying the Arcata crowd. Thousands of wind blown attendees.

Robin and I then went to Blue Lake to be at Al Clark's 50th birthday party. Al and I have have been either playing against or playing softball with each other for years. Al owns Blackberry Bramble Barbecue and Catering and Blue Lake Video for many years. Hundreds of eclectic personalities were there and Al jammed with harmonica with some of the bands that were there.

The first band was the Fickle Hillbillies. This was a great band with old time organ sounds and a Grateful Dead type rhythm. Very enjoyable easy to listen stuff. Just nice to hear.

The second Band was Riverside Blues Band and they started set with old Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Hendrix, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Then they finished their set with Blues. A very young band. Very fun to watch.

The third band was the Rubber Neckers. They seemed to have the most people dancing and rowdy, but I just could not get whether they were Indie/Punk/Loud/Alternative/Noisy. They were all over the place to me. Energetic? Yes. Scattered? I thought.

The closing band at the party was Kulica. They were just awesome. Some young girl all of about 11 years old sung "All along the Watchtower," kind of weird, but she was great! The whole set was classic Kulica. Robin and I own a couple of their recordings.

Happy Birthday Al! What a great party.

Time for a new vehicle.

Currently my wife and I own a 2002 PT Cruiser with around 110,000 miles, a 1998 Mercury Tracer with around 210,000 miles and a 1985 Ford Ranger with about 176,000 miles. It is time for me to probably purchase a new rig. I have had my eye on the Dodge 1500 truck for a while or a Toyota Prius. I have always been pretty much a US car person, but we have come to a time where Fords and Dodge vehicles are made in Mexico and Toyota builds in Fremont California. Anyone out there know much about the Prius? What is the best car on the road currently?

Roadkill and Tomaso softball!

This is the first year I have been eligible to play seniors league softball. Steve Harris and I decided to help the Humboldt Classic Softball League by forming a new team. The Operating Engineers/Mercer Fraser/Samoa Athletics and Steve Harris are sponsoring the team. Team Roadkill is 0-6 to start the season. We have had one game where we were up by 7 runs and lost and then we were up by 6 and lost. We have had more hamstring/quads/groin pulls than I thought humanly possible. But! It is all in fun!

Tomaso's woodbat team in Blue lake has won the last 3 championships but are in trouble this year. A 5-3 record will put us in the middle of the pack. But again, all in fun.