Your President of Positivity stands in awe of Eureka City Schools Assistant Superintendent Michael Davies-Hughes, who will soon embark on a 12-day, 3,000-mile bike trek across the country as part of Race Across America. Yikes! While that all certainly sounds silly exhausting, the journey is also an opportunity for Michael to raise funds for Hopecam, which provides technology to help kids battling cancer stay connected to family and friends.
Learn more about Michael’s efforts here. And have a great Humboldt week!
Drive north from
Dorchester on Britain’s A352. Six miles along, glance to your
right…I’m pretty sure the first thought that comes to mind will
be, “Shit! That dude’s hung!” With his 26-foot-long erect
penis, you’d be right; the Cerne Abbas Giant, who is “only” 180
feet tall (think two city blocks), sports perhaps the largest phallus
in the world. He’s certainly the main claim to fame for the nearby
village of Cerne Abbas, although a microbrewery there is said to
offer a couple of decent ales worth going out of your way for. Their
labels apparently take full advantage of the well-endowed chalk giant
who watches over the local scene.
Last time I was there,
I heard two theories about when the giant was created. One is that it
dates back to Roman times, the naked figure supposedly reminiscent of
Hercules, as suggested in the mid-1700s by antiquarian William
Stukeley (the guy who put Stonehenge on the map). Trouble is,
Hercules is traditionally shown with a club in his right hand and the
skin of the Nemean lion (his first labor) draped over his left.
Where’s that pelt? Sure enough, a resistivity survey about 30 years
ago found evidence of what could once have been an animal skin
hanging from his left arm.
Photo: Roman-era fresco of Hercules. Museo Archeologico di Milano. Giovanni Dall’Orto, via Wikimedia. Used with permission.
The other main theory
is that it’s much more recent, i.e. 17th century, created on the
orders of a local landowner who objected to the politics of Oliver
Cromwell, “Lord Protector” (i.e. dictator) who ran the country
following the execution of Charles I. Apparently Cromwell was
sometimes lampooned as a latter-day Hercules (for reasons I haven’t
been able to track down). So which was it — 2000 years old or 400
years old?
Neither. Just this
year, the results of “optically stimulated luminescence” tests on
samples of undisturbed chalk showed that it was originally dug into
the chalk hill sometime between AD 700 and 1100. These tests, the
best to date, are pretty cool. They measure the amount of nuclear
radiation absorbed by soil samples since they last saw daylight. It’s
not super-accurate (200 years each side of AD 900 doesn’t sound too
precise), but it ruled out the two main contenders. Putting it around
the 10th century, at the end of the “dark ages,” has historians
arguing about who created it — and why.
About that erection.
Turns out, it his penis wasn’t that long a hundred or so
years ago. A drawing of the giant from 1784 shows him with a navel —
which at some point got integrated into the head of the guy’s
penis, which (according to one scholar with too much time on his
hands) brought it down in length from the equivalent of nine inches
to six inches. Which makes me feel better.
In case you’re
wondering what this has to do with anyone living on the west side of
the Atlantic, you have to appreciate this photo, showing a Y-fronted,be-donutted Homer outlined in water-based biodegradable paint as a
publicity stunt for the opening of The Simpsons Movie, July
2007.
Summer in Humboldt means it’s time to enjoy our outdoor beauty, hit the rivers and beaches, hike in the mountains and do some camping. Now there’s something else you might want to add to your Insta-worthy summer bucket list: llama packing!
On this week’s episode of Humboldt Holding Up Keagan Trischum — co-owner of Luna’s Llama Adventures — teaches us all about llamas and why they make great hiking companions, whether in the mountains, woods or on the beach. Topics discussed with Trischum include:
The four llamas of Luna’s Llamas — Tango, Axel, Angel and Bon Bon — and where they came from
How to book a llama for an adventure or just a visit
An undesignated pathway showing disturbed Humboldt Bay owl’s clovers | from the City of Arcata
As the weather gets warmer and folks start enjoying more time in Humboldt’s beautiful outdoor areas, the City of Arcata would like to remind you of a couple of important things: you should always stay on the designated trails and beware of ticks!
“Recently, visitors at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary have been cutting across sensitive habitat on
an undesignated footpath along Butcher’s Slough, west of the log pond,” states a press release from the City of Arcata. “This beautiful and sensitive area
is habitat to a rare plant that only grows in Humboldt County, known as Humboldt Bay owl’s clover
(Castilleja ambigua ssp. humboldtiensis). Humboldt Bay owl’s clover is considered to be a threatened
plant that grows exclusively near Humboldt Bay, and it needs plenty of undisturbed room to grow in
order to survive.”
In order to help protect the owl’s clover and other native species, Arcata’s Environmental Service Department urges you to stick to the designated trails in the Arcata Marsh and the city’s other outdoor spaces.
And protecting wildlife is not the only good reason to stay on the trails when you’re out hiking. You will also be protecting yourself from ticks!
With the warmer weather comes the increased chance of tick bites, which can potentially lead to Lyme disease. Here are some tips from the City of Arcata and the CDC on how to protect yourself and your pets from these bloodsuckers:
Ticks are tiny bugs that attach themselves to the skin of people and animals and feed on their blood. While many
ticks are not harmful, some can make you sick. The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) is the only tick
found locally that can transit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
a western black-legged tick | Image from the CDC
Avoiding tick bites is the easiest way to avoid tick-borne illness, and the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommends the following precautions to prevent tick bites:
Avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass or fallen leaves, and stay on cleared paths and designated
trails when you are out hiking.
Wear protective clothing outdoors. If possible, wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Use tick repellents that contain 20 percent or greater DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 directly on exposed skin,
and follow all product label instructions. Caregivers should apply repellents to children, avoiding hands,
eyes and mouth.
Always check for ticks on your body, clothing, and pets after spending time outdoors.
Young ticks are very small (about the size of a poppy seed), so get help from a friend or family member in
your household or pod to inspect those hard to reach areas.
Check extra-carefully for ticks on areas of the body where hair is present.
Speak to a veterinarian about the best tick-prevention methods available for your pets.
If you find a tick on yourself or a pet, please follow these steps:
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible. Make sure the
entire tick has been removed, including the head. Avoid pressing on the insect’s abdomen, and this
increases the risk of transmitting the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease.
Place the tick in a container that closes tightly, write down where the bite was located and the date when
the tick was removed, and store it in the refrigerator. The tick could be useful if you develop symptoms of
tick-borne illness.
If you develop symptoms such as fever, chills, a rash at the site of the tick bite, or unusual aches and pains
up to 30 days after experiencing a tick bite, consult your medical provider and let them know you were
bitten by a tick. Bring the tick to your medical provider for testing. With an order from your doctor, the
Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory will test the tick for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
For more information regarding ticks and other tick-borne diseases, please visit the CDC’s website at
www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html.
Caltrans
is making progress on Last Chance Grade, removing multiple
alternatives from further consideration. By cutting down the number
of alternatives to study, Caltrans has cut the project
planning budget and has lopped considerable time off the
timeline. (Enviros are also happy because the highest risk
alternatives were among those on the cutting room floor.)
On
this week’s episode, Jaime Matteoli, Last Chance Grade project lead
for Caltrans, joins Gang Green to talk about how Caltrans was able to
reduce the alternatives in the project and why the public should feel
confident about the decision.
With great sadness, our family
announces the passing of Phyllis Darlene Brown. Mom’s wish for her
final days was to be at home with her family. Mom passed peacefully
in the early morning hours in the comfort of her home surrounded by
her family on March 4, 2021.
Mom
was born in Fortuna on August 14, 1933. Later her family moved to
Eureka, where she grew up on B Street. Phyllis was a Karuk Tribal
Member and spent many summers with her family in Orleans on the
Klamath River. She and her sister, Theaetta, were very close and
spent a lot of time together. When her sister passed, it was very
hard on Mom and left a big emptiness in our hearts.
Mom
worked at Challenge Creamery in Fernbridge for many years, the Times-
Standard Newspaper for a short time and then began working in the
liquor business in 1972 working at McKesson Wine & Spirits and
Jalco as Office Manager until her retirement. She worked with a great
group of co-workers who became friends.
Phyllis
gave her life to service. She was a sixty-year member of Beta Sigma
Phi. She was a current member of California Gamma Epsilon Masters and
held all offices and participated on all committees in some capacity.
She always offered her home to hold meetings or gatherings for social
events. She was active in Council of Beta Sigma Phi and was a mentor
for newer chapters.
Mom
joined Quota International and enjoyed being a Quotarian for
twenty-five years. Quota participated in Relay for Life which was
close to Mom’s heart because she was a Breast Cancer Survivor for
22 years. She also looked forward to the Halloween Dances at the
Elks. Mom was in charge of calling Merv George and arranging his band
to play at the dance.
The
lifelong friendships that Mom made in Beta Sigma Phi and Quota were
very special to her. She met her best friend Toni Stone in Beta Sigma
Phi 60 years ago and became forever friends. Thank you to Kathy
Fredrickson for coming to our home and reciting the 60 year Beta
Sigma Phi ritual to both Mom and Toni (by Facetime). It was truly a
special honor for both of them.
Mom
always looked forward to spending time with her family. She enjoyed
spending many Thanksgivings in Portland and spending Christmas at
home hosting her annual brunch. Family meant everything to her.
Phyllis
is survived by her daughters Cindy Pettit (Daniel) and Kris Smith
(Harley). Grandchildren Nicole Pettit and Kyle Pettit (Lisa), great
grandchildren Kya Hulcy, Katie, Kody and Trinity Pettit, Cloey
Shackelford and Malaysia. She is also survived by sister-in-law Doris
Hickerson, niece Lynn Carrico (Russell), nephews Randy Carrico
(Deborah) and Dean Hickerson, numerous cousins and close friends that
were like family to her. Mom was known as Grandma Phyllis, Grammy and
Grams to so many.
Phyllis
is preceded in death by her parents James and Ethel Quick, her
husband Tom Brown, sister Theaetta Goodwin (Howard) and her
sister-in-law Beryl Carrico (Gene).
Phyllis’
care for the last thirteen months was challenging but was made easier
by the support and constant attention of granddaughter Nicole and great-granddaughter Kya.
The
family would like to thank Kelley McBeth and family for supporting us
and taking care of Mom and Rylee Rose for loving Grams and making
sure she always had what she needed. Thank you to our family and
friends who came over to visit Mom and for the flowers and cards she
received.
We
owe a special thank you, to Dr. Allen Matthew and his wonderful staff
for all the care, support and time they spent with us. Mom thought
the world of you and appreciated everything you did for her. Thank
you to Hospice of Humboldt for the professional care and time
provided to Mom and the support that was given to the family.
In
lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to the Humboldt
Area Foundation, Angel Fund for Kidney Patients, 363 Indianola Road,
Bayside, CA. 95524 or Hospice of Humboldt, 3327 Timber Fall Ct,
Eureka, CA. 95503.
A
memorial is scheduled for August 14, 2021 1:30pm at the Lodge, 445
Herrick Avenue in Eureka.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Phyllis Brown’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our
wonderful husband, father and grandfather on May 15, 2021, just
three days short of his 96th birthday! Ralph was born in Fairplay, Colorado and lived most of his life in Humboldt County. He
served in the Navy from 1943-1945. He was very proud of his
service to his country. He worked in the lumber industry for many
years, including 20 years as the superintendent of Cal-Pacific
Redwood Company in Blue Lake.
When Cal Pacific closed all their plants, Ralph obtained his general
contractor’s license and started a backhoe, excavating and trucking
business. He was happy to employ his grandson, Rick Estes. They
often made trips to the Bay Area together. Ralph was often up by 3
a.m. to start with a load of lumber to San Francisco and arrive home
late in the evening just to get up and do it again the next day. Ralph
worked until he was 86 years old and was always happiest when
working, sitting around was not his forte.
Ralph built his family home in 1958. He worked full time and
built the house after work and the weekends. He also obtained his pilots license and enjoyed flying for his
relaxation. He was an active member of the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church and was chairman of the building committee for
the Arcata! Mckinleyville SDA church.
Ralph is survived by his loving wife Jo Evelyn, his son Jerry
(Patti), his daughter Dolores Estes (John), his grandchildren Rick
Estes, Leann Estes, Melanie LaPorte, Brandon Miller. He was a
great-grandfather to six.
There will be a family celebration of Ralph’s life at a later date
and his ashes will be scattered at sea.
Ralph was a WELL LOVED MAN.
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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ralph Miller’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.
