If you’ve been following me on the abortion issue, you’ll know I consider the current anti-abortion fever can be explained in one word: misogyny. Very little to do with “right to life” or high-minded morality. Simply note, for instance, that the anti-abortion states are the ones with the least support for single moms and their babies. The US News and World Report recently summed it up: “The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has made clear that women with the fewest reproductive rights also live in states that provide the least support for babies they’re now forced to birth.” As has been noted repeatedly, “pro-life” apparently means caring about life for just nine months, from conception right through until birth. Then, fugget about it.

I want to make the case that the ancient Greeks were the ones who perfected the notion of misogyny, and that’s apparent in their statuary and the virtually 100% percent absence of female genitals. Thousands of statues of men and women have survived from the flowering of the Greek city-states, roughly 2400 years ago, many of which — perhaps most — are nude. While you can find plenty of penises and balls from those days, you’ll look in vain for any lady-parts. Not a vulva to be seen! Instead of regular female anatomy, the goddesses, nymphs and human women from that era are barren and bare, their labia expurgated to nothingness. (Or else they are clothed, unlike, for the most part, their cocksure male counterparts.)

It’s as if the rulers of taste in those days — i.e. men — decided that the role of women was so unimportant that it could safely be ignored. Even giving birth was barely acknowledged: when Apollo defends Orestes, on trial for the murder of his mother, the judge (Athena) is told, “The woman you call mother of the child is not the parent, just a nurse to the seed…The man is the source of life.” (Aeschylus, about 500 BC)

It wasn’t always thus. Feminine statues from earlier times showed the vulva in all its glory. Here (again), for instance, is the famous “Venus of Willendorf,” a four-inch high limestone figure from Lower Austria dated to about 25,000 years ago.

Other cultures didn’t seem to have the same reticence to depict women as they really are. In Hindu mythology, Shakti is the fertility goddess, and her yoni is typically displayed alongside, or being penetrated by, a male lingam, as here.

Much more recently — 2014 — the Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi, AKA Rokudenashiko, was arrested and charged with obscenity for posting a downloadable three-dimensional manko (pussy), scanned from her own body. Two years later, she was convicted and fined nearly $4,000 by a Tokyo court. Meanwhile, an annual festival celebrating the phallus is held annually in Kawasaki, Japan, where representations of erect penises are displayed everywhere in the form of statues, candy and vegetables.

I could go on (and on), but you get the idea. Penis good, vulva bad. Isn’t it time we got over half-baked ideas of the inferiority of women? Starting with rock-solid right-to-abortion laws that can’t be overturned by an ideologically-packed, two-thirds Catholic, Supreme Court, (including three nominated by a president who lost by nearly three million popular votes). The nearly two-thirds of us who support abortion rights deserve as much.

Needed to get that off my chest.

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In July, the Wiyot Tribe finalized the acquisition of a 46-acre coastal property in the ecologically and culturally significant Wiyot place of Mouralherwaqh or “wolf’s house,” which will be prioritized for ecocultural restoration purposes.

The property is located at the present day site known as King Salmon at the base of Humboldt Hill and represents the first forestland to be returned to the Tribe.

Tribal citizens Sheryl Seidner and Hilanea Wilkinson, Wiyot Tribal Natural Resources Director Adam Canter, and Cal Poly Professor Laurie Richmond join Gang Green to talk about this historic rematriation of tribal ancestral territory and what #LandBack means to the Wiyot Tribe.

AUDIO:

“The EcoNews Report,” August 20, 2022.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Reclaiming Mouralherwaqh: Wiyot Tribe Acquires Culturally Significant Forest Land Near King Salmon
  

Press release from the management team of the Six Rivers Lightning Fires:

INCIDENT INFORMATION

Unified Command: Six Rivers National Forest, CAL FIRE, California Highway Patrol, Trinity County Sheriff, and Humboldt County Sheriff.

Firefighters enjoy a visit from Kerith, a First Responder therapy dog. Photo via Inciweb.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

The Lightning Complex Fire is currently 25,832 acres with 81% containment. 1463 personnel are assigned to the incident. USFS, CAIIMT 11 and CAL FIRE continue to work closely together in unified command with a full suppression strategy to protect homes and other structures, communities, crucial infrastructure, and important wildlife habitat. Federal IMT CIIMT14 will be transitioning with CIIMT11 today at 1900.

Fire activity was minimal overnight with the cooler temperatures and increased humidity. Control lines are holding well. Crews continued successful strategic firing operations and improved control lines using dozers and handlines to remove fuels. Unburned pockets of fuel within the control lines continue to burn off and create smoke.

Campbell Fire

Fire crews will continue to strengthen fire lines, patrol, and extinguish remaining pockets of heat inside control lines.

Ammon Fire

Fire crews will continue to strengthen fire lines in the northeast portion of the fire, as well as patrol and extinguish remaining pockets of heat within the control lines. Crews will continue to improve and reinforce fire lines along Titlow Hill Rd/Route 1 out to Highway 299.

WEATHER

Stable weather is expected over the area, with northwest winds up to about 10mph, gusting slightly higher along the ridgetops and where channeled by terrain. Temperatures are predicted today in the 70s and 80s, with smoke free areas possibly getting into the low 90’s.

SMOKE

A strong inversion will continue to keep smoke over most of the area. Some clearing will take place in the afternoon, particularly along the northwest areas of both fires. Please check this link for air quality resources.

ROAD CLOSURES

State Routes 299 and 96 are currently open in the Lightning Complex but may be impacted by fire behavior. Travelers are encouraged to visit the Caltrans Quickmap to check for state highway closures. The beginning of deer hunting season this weekend is expected to increase traffic in the area.

The following roads leading to evacuation zones have been closed (residents may use these roads to exit only):

• Forest Route 7N15 at Six Rivers Forest Boundary Horse
• Linto Creek Road at Saddle Lane
• Friday Ridge Road at Forest Route 6N06 (both roads are closed at this point)
• Titlow Hill Road/Forest Route 1 after Horse Mountain Botanical Area

Because fire personnel and machinery will be building control lines for the Ammon Fire, residents are asked to limit travel on Titlow Hill Road/Route 1 in zones HUM-E052 and HUM-E062 to essential traffic only.

EVACUATION CENTER

The American Red Cross Evacuation Center at Trinity Valley Elementary School is closed but on stand-by if needs change. If further evacuations are ordered or evacuation orders changed, the facility will re-open to accommodate new evacuees.

ANIMAL EVACUATION CENTER

Hoopa Rodeo Grounds
1767 Pine Creek Rd.,
Hoopa, CA 95546
Phone: (707) 492-2851

** The Hoopa Rodeo Grounds has several single pens and larger pens for whole herds. Call directly if you need directions or help transporting your large animals. They cannot house sheep, goats, poultry, or small animals, but they can potentially help arrange for temporary foster placement. If you can foster, please reach out regarding your availability and capacity.

EVACUATION UPDATES

For the latest evacuation information go to Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services or Trinity County Office of Emergency Services. For an interactive map of evacuation zones visit Zonehaven Aware. To sign up for alerts visit this link.

PREVIOUSLY:

• THE CANNABIS CONVERSATION: Humboldt’s Big Play

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It is no mystery that I am concerned about the economy. Inflation, equity market multiples, GDP and the treasury yield curve all indicate that more challenging times are brewing. Here locally, vacant storefronts, declining business revenues and conversations with displaced pot farmers and employees from ancillary businesses paint a similar picture.

As I wrote months ago, Humboldt needs to attract investment and tourist dollars to maintain the economic vibrancy our area became accustomed to during the multi-decade cannabis bull market. Given Humboldt’s largely anti-business, anti-development bias that inhibits capital investment in the region, cannabis tourism stands out as the primary avenue to firm up the local economy.

As our friends from Humboldt State University noted in their 2021 study titled Cannabis Tourism in Humboldt County – Moving Forward, cannabis tourism is “the act of traveling to a destination with the intent to consume, purchase and learn about cannabis in a legal manner.” For those living in prohibitionist states or nations, this freedom is something to be admired and experienced.

And the economic impact of cannabis travel is immense.

A recent Forbes article noted that cannabis tourism is a $17 billion industry and is still in its infancy. HSU notes that post recreational legalization, Colorado saw a significant increase in hotel rooms rented, and prices for those rooms firmed as well. All told, Colorado has seen a significant increase in economic activity with increased cannabis-related tourism. Dispensaries in Illinois are thriving with out-of-state purchases and our neighbors to the south in Mendocino calculated that each kilo of cannabis produced generates significant total economic activity.

Humboldt could use the same, now!

Retail, dining, leisure and other establishments would welcome increased foot traffic and Humboldt is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this new and growing trend.

Brian Applegarth, founder of the Cannabis Travel Association International and Co-founder of Cultivar Brands agrees.

I had the distinct pleasure of talking cannabis travel with Brian recently and found his passion, sincerity and professionalism inspiring. Brian was born and raised in NorCal and returned to the area in 2013 where he experienced his first dispensary visit. He knew then that cannabis tourism would be a big draw and retired from corporate life the following year to enter the space.

Since then, he formed the Cannabis Travel Association, the voice of international cannabis travel, as well as The Cannabis Trail, which shares terroir, craft and cannabis culture with tourists. Through Cultivar Brands, Brian helps destination marketing organizations and others with strategic planning and hosts marketing events for the industry. He believes that cannabis improves the human condition and sees cannabis legalization as a human rights movement in some ways, focusing on sustainability, inclusion and personal freedom.

While areas like Colorado have a significant presence in the tourism space, and others like San Francisco, West Hollywood and Palm Springs have chic urban consumption lounges, Applegarth believes that Humboldt, like Mendocino, offers a unique historical experience that can cement our area as one of the go-to destinations for cannabis travel worldwide. With its back-to-the-land movement, genetics library and long-standing relationship with cultivation, Humboldt is a true place of source with cannabis in its DNA. Moreover, Humboldt’s authenticity, innovation and environmental stewardship are all attractive to global travelers in Brian’s view.

Given this history and the unique cultural experience Humboldt can offer, we should unify in one voice, proudly sharing our cannabis story and heritage with the world. With a coherent, cohesive and thoughtful cannabis marketing program we can attract millions of visitors and much-needed capital to the region.

As I shared in a previous article, I believe Humboldt’s lack of unity in this area is hamstringing our efforts. Fragmentation of the cannabis community, competing views and interests, multiple tourism organizations, and some entrenched anti-cannabis rhetoric are not serving us well.

We need one voice, one unified message that speaks to the diversity of Humboldt, the natural beauty of our region and our affinity for sun-grown cannabis. Pretending to be something we’re not, or ignoring this important component of our heritage is short-sighted and will only hasten the economic challenges we face.

Mendocino formally added cannabis as one of the pillars of its countywide marketing campaign for tourists and Humboldt needs to do the same.

On the policy front, change is also needed for the cannabis tourism industry to flourish. Right now, on-site consumption and sales are prohibited to travelers at the farm level. In other words, travelers can visit a farm and learn about products and processes, but they can’t sample or purchase anything – it’s ludicrous and unfair.

Applegarth advocates for a catering license, which is used in relation to alcohol to allow for compliant consumption at events and consumption spaces. While AB 2844 was unsuccessful in its first pass, Brian wants to get a cannabis catering license back on the ballot which would allow a “licensee to serve cannabis or cannabis products at a private event … that is not hosted, sponsored, or advertised by the caterer.” This could help farms get products in front of potential consumers and could enhance the consumption experience for those coming to our region

Two other issues threaten the success of a thriving cannabis tourism economy in Humboldt. The first is that many off-grid outdoor farms are at risk of going under. It’s a shame too as organic, regenerative farms could be a real attraction for tourists. As Matt Kurth, owner of Humboldt Cannabis Tours, notes: People want to touch the plant and put their hands in the dirt. They want to learn about Humboldt’s history and environmentally friendly cultivation practices. Let’s allow for on-site consumption & sales and give our family farms the ability to engage consumers directly.

Additionally, as noted in HSU’s work on the subject, many of Humboldt’s farms are tucked away in remote locations. Dilapidated mountain roads and lack of ADA compliance will prevent many farms from participating in this potentially explosive economic growth engine. Nonetheless, farms with better access and resources to invest in ADA compliance could serve as the anchors for tourism efforts and could proudly represent the history, heritage and sacrifice that embody cultivation in our region.

I just returned to town from SoCal where I had the privilege of touring the state’s premier greenhouse facility. The scale, ingenuity and resources being deployed throughout the Central and Southern regions of the Golden State should not be underestimated. Production costs in those facilities are a fraction of what they are up in the hills and the products I reviewed had good quality…perhaps not the same outer trichome level as our stress-grown mountain flower, but visually appealing and certainly viable for commercial sales.

Trying to compete with those operations in wholesale markets will be a losing proposition and will bankrupt small farms in the Emerald Triangle. Our best hope is to market love, history, craft and our unique cultivation approach to a growing consumer audience. A cohesive cannabis tourism strategy that highlights the unique and historic experience of farming behind the redwood curtain can help us preserve our heritage and maintain a foothold in a burgeoning global industry. More of the same will lead to widespread farm failure, a large and lasting disruption to the local economy, and a very displeasing change to Humboldt’s way of life.

For my dime, the county should engage a cannabis tourism expert and follow in Mendocino’s path of cementing cannabis in their formal outreach strategies. It would be a real shame to let this opportunity slip away and let other regions monopolize a storyline we were so instrumental in creating together. I applaud our friends in Mendo for their passion, conviction and ability to get things done. I hope we can do the same.

Humboldt has a small window of opportunity to act while our local operators navigate turbulent waters and try to hold on. Cultivation licenses are being surrendered, plots are laying fallow and soon, not much will be left of the local cannabis community. It is in every resident’s best interest to support and embrace the industry that has given us all so much. Failure to create a thriving cannabis tourism program will lead to further degradation of the local economy, declining property values and a sad departure from a heritage that so many admire.

Much love,

Jesse

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Jesse Duncan is a lifelong Humboldt County resident, a father of six, a retired financial advisor and a full-time commercial cannabis grower. He is also the creator of NorCal Financial and Cannabis Consulting, a no-cost platform that helps small farmers improve their cultivation, business and financial skills. Please check out his blog at, his Instagram at jesse_duncann, and connect with him on Linkedin.

James Anthony Test passed away at home in Arcata on May 26, 2022. He was 77 years old.

Jim was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania into an Italian family. His mother was a great cook, and Jim had a lifelong love affair with good Italian food.

His father was a fabricator for a coal mining company and built the family home with the help of Jim’s older brother Tony. Some of this must have rubbed off on Jim because remodeling houses was one of his treasured passions.

He went to Catholic school where he was a crossing guard and enjoyed bossing other kids. One day a girl who didn’t want to be bossed pushed him into the bushes, and thus began a lifelong friendship with Patricia McGinnis.

Jim watched John Wayne movies on TV and aspired to be a tough guy, leading him to the Marine Corps right out of high school. He spent one memorable year in the jungles of Vietnam, a year which spoiled camping for years to come.

While he was proud of being a Marine and felt that it had been a major force in shaping his life in good ways, he came back to the states sympathizing with the anti-war movement, and was one of the Veterans for Peace who famously dug a bomb crater on the HSU campus in the early ‘70s.

In 1975, he met Glenda Martien and together they formed a family with her two sons, Robert and Phil, who were 11 and 14 at the time. He and Glenda were married from 1983 until her passing in 2007. They remodeled three houses together, two in Arcata and one in Fieldbrook. During this time Jim honed his cooking skills and developed a taste for good Italian wine.

From his early years as a crossing guard he went on to careers taking on the challenge of being “the boss.”

For 28 years he was General Manager/Co-Owner of Bug Press, a commercial design and printing company. He had graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Geography and a self-directed minor in Community Planning, and went to work for the Humboldt County Planning Department. He later became Executive Director of the Arcata Economic Development Corporation and then Executive Director of the Humboldt Waste Management Authority.

His civic career included being editor of the Northcoast Environmental Center’s Econews and the Historical Sites Society Newsletter. From the ‘70s to the ‘90s he was a member of many City of Arcata committees and boards. From 1994 to 2002 he was on the Arcata City Council, serving three years as Mayor. He was best known for his ability to listen, for bringing people together to solve problems, and for providing guidance and support with humor and grace.

Jim met Marilyn Page in 2010 and added her family to his gatherings over good food and wine. They moved to Napa, when it turned out all four of their adult children lived nearby. Together they remodeled a house that became another gathering place for family and friends.

He loved to travel and that became a passion in his life. While he loved Italy and of course eating Italian food, one of his favorite trips was walking Inn-to-Inn in the Cotswolds in England.

Eventually, it seemed the right time to move back to Arcata, where together they remodeled his fifth and final house.

Over the years Jim had many health challenges, some related to exposure to Agent Orange. It must have been his sturdy Italian heritage that helped him bounce back from many setbacks.

He built a life surrounded by a large and loving family. He is survived by his wife Marilyn Page, his Martien step-sons Robert (Eddie) and Phil (Sandi), his Page step-daughters Osha (Erik) and Erica (Peter), his grandchildren Lindsay, Julia, Asher, Olivia, Tia, and Taj, his brother Tony Test and his sister Diane Redmond, and nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Glenda Test, his parents Sylvester and Agatha Test, and his brother Alex Test. His sister Vicki Slater passed away one month after Jim.

Jim was a man of few words, but when he had something to say it was worth hearing. He had a playful side that would come out at unexpected moments, making life with him amusing and fun. He was helpful without fanfare, doing what was necessary without overstepping.

Jim was a great source of support to his family, and over the years to his grateful community. He is deeply loved and missed. A celebration of life will be held around the time of his birthday in April 2023.

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The obituary above was submitted by Jim Test’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Our beloved father, brother and uncle Tracy John Cote’ passed away on July 12, 2022 from heart failure. He was 59 years old. He was currently working as a caretaker on a ranch in Shelter Cove, a job he loved very much.

Tracy was born in Eureka, the eighth child of 10 children born to Orville and Janet Cote’. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary and St. Bernard’s High School, graduating in 1981. He held many jobs, including at BMD Building Supply and the Fishing Co of Alaska, and he crewed with several fishing vessels in the Eureka area, but most importantly he will be remembered for his ingenuity and artistic abilities. He could design, repair and build most anything, and many relatives, neighbors, friends and community members benefited from his expertise. He spent most of his working life on these endeavors.

Tracy was not without his struggles but he eventually entered rehab and after completing a program with the North Coast Resource Center, he provided mentoring and peer counseling to other struggling addicts. He volunteered at Arcata community events and went to work for Fire and Light, where he was eventually promoted to a supervisor position in the shipping department.

Tracy was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Janet Cote’, baby brother Richard, brothers Tom and Martin and sister Jean Stoller. He is survived by his loving daughter Brittany Mayo Cote’, grandsons Miguel and Alex, sisters Carolyn Miller, Joan Rinne (Merv), Colleen Carter (Robert), Christine Micheli (Jeff), brother Mark Cote’, 18 nieces and nephews and 24 great-nieces and -nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 with a mass at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 2085 Myrtle Ave., Eureka, and a reception immediately following in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Miranda’s Rescue or Sequoia Humane Society.

Rest in peace, dear Tracy.

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The obituary above was submitted by Tracy Cote’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Tyna Lee Masters was born on October 30, 1943 and passed away on August 6, 2022. She was 78.

Tyna was born in Sacramento. She is survived by her sister Judy C. Otis of Prairie Grove, Arkansas and her nephew Michael Gillespie of Lincoln, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her only husband, Kenneth M. Masters; her mother, Tyna Violet Rimbey (former Westhaven postmaster), who passed away in 1995; and her aunt and uncle Hazel and Slim Bathurst.

Tyna started school in Trinidad Elementary then went to Arcata High and attended Humboldt State University. After that she went to work for Pacific Telephone and Telegram in 1964. She retired in 2012 and served 48 years with the phone company. Her title was Communication Tech, and she loved her job. Her hobbies were wood-burning and leather-crafting. She loved to rollerskate when she was young, and she obtained many medals.

Tyna loved guns and target shooting. She also taught and NRA safety course. She was still a member until her death. She received many shooting medals. She also loved landscaping with building a bridge, pond and pathway.

Tyna loved animals. She made friends with raccoons, skunks, foxes and deer. She also raised horses in her younger days. Tyna and her friend Chuck nursed her dog Paula back to health after the dog broke her neck in a bad fall from her pickup truck. It took two months before Paula could stand and walk.

She also had a pet raven called Apples. Tyna loved animals, she wasn’t picky about what type of animal. She would always say animals were the best friends you can have — they love you for you, not for your money, or if you were a butthead. It was true agape love.

Tyna was cremated at Ayres Cremation in Eureka. No funeral was requested by her.

“I doubt if I will ever be missed but I have had a wonderful time here on Earth.”

— Tyna

Sleep well my dear friend ,as you have touched my life and were the most honest lady I have ever met. I will miss you dearly — Chuck, Euvee and Snicker the cat. You truly touched our hearts.

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The obituary above was submitted by Tyna Masters’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.