Roughly a third of people don’t drive. That might seem like a lot but you probably know non-drivers in your own life. Some people can’t, either because they have some kind of disease or disability that makes driving impossible. Some people can’t because they are too young or too old to safely operate a vehicle. Some people can’t afford to drive, as car ownership is stupidly expensive (the average cost of owning a car is over $1,000 a month). Some people choose not to drive or drive as little as possible, as cars have a large environmental impact, from greenhouse gas emissions to fish-killing toxins in tires.

Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024) and founder of the Week Without Driving, joins hosts Colin Fiske of the CRTP and Tom Wheeler of EPIC on the show to talk about how we can meet the transportation needs of non drivers.

Anna is also giving a free public talk on June 17th at 7 p.m. at the Arcata D Street Neighborhood Center. The talk will cover the nondrivers in every community, the importance of meeting the transportation needs of nondrivers, how communities can work better for nondrivers (and everyone else), and valuing the expertise of nondrivers.

Want to hear more? Listen to Arcata City Councilmember Sarah Schaefer and others discuss their attempts to go carless during the 2024 Week Without Driving.

Considering the longevity and outcome of most other private schools in Humboldt County’s history, the fine reputation and success of the Eureka Business College is more than noteworthy. Continuing with the high standards established by the school’s founder Prof. N.S. Phelps, C.J. (Chan) Craddock piloted the school through nearly 45 successful years before his retirement. The old-timers I’ve talked to have lost track of dates and particulars, but they have been unanimous in relating the exceptional reputation the academy and its graduates enjoyed.

The Eureka Business College had its roots in the Humboldt County Young Ladies Seminary. This was a day and boarding school for young women. The school building, located in the vicinity of Eureka’s Fifth and K Streets, was a large three-story frame building built in the mid-1870s with financial help from Joseph Russ. The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Lathrop were in charge of the school at that time and reportedly established a high standard of scholarship in literature, art and music. After several years the Lathrops left and the school was taken over by Miss Mary and Isabel Prince. These prim and proper spinsters were apparently hard working and capable, but because of low attendance were forced to close their doors. Announcement of the closure appears in the November 11, 1886 issue of The Humboldt Times. In that same issue an advertisement is found for the soon to open Eureka Academy and Business College.

This school, to be located in the Seminary building, was described in the article as being a “boarding and day school for both sexes.” The advertisement was signed by Prof. N.S. Phelps.

Prof. Phelps, already known in the community, gave the school its initial boost into notoriety. As a young man he had taught in the country school at Grizzly Bluff. He later became the principal of the Ferndale Grammar School, a position he held for some time. For the four years just prior to establishing his private school. Prof. Phelps served as Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools. With capable leadership as well as the fact there were no public schools above the grammar level in the area, the time was right. The school experienced phenomenal growth.

After only the first session, the already large building had to be added to and the staff increased. In time, the reputation of the college grew to the point that nearly half of the enrollees were from out of the area.

The curriculum of the Eureka Academy and Business College was impressive. It consisted of five departments; preparatory, academic, normal, music and commercial.

The preparatory department included the work ordinarily covered by the primary and intermediate grades in the public schools. Phelps advertised that he could “… provide a much more thorough and careful training than the public schools.”

The academic department was designed to meet the need for high school level course work in the Humboldt area. At that time parents who could afford to do so were sending their children away for high school. The second issue of “The Academy Record,” a quarterly promotional publication of the school, stated the following in regard to the academic department:

It is our intention in this department to furnish; 1st, an English high school course; 2nd, a thorough course in the modern language; 3rd, to prepare students for any department of the University.

The normal department of the Eureka Academy was designed and established to give teachers of the county and those persons contemplating teaching a place of training here at home. The expense involved in leaving the area for training was prohibitive to all but a few. Prof. Phelps promised that “… the student who satisfactorily finishes this course is grounded in the theory and art of teaching, and is able to demonstrate his ability as a true teacher wherever he goes.”

The department of instrumental and vocal music was a special feature of the school. “The Academy Record” stated, “We have no hesitancy in saying that there is now no private school in California that can boast of as thorough a course in music as we offer in the Academy.” The courses offered in this department included: music theory, chorus singing, individual voice culture and classical piano.

The most extensive and popular area, however, was the commercial department. The course of study included bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, applied grammar and correspondence, commercial law, rapid business penmanship and spelling. The foundation of the commercial department was a teaching method introduced by the first department head. Prof. Charles L. Ellis. This method, called the “Actual Business System,” and is described in “The Academy Record.”

The student upon becoming a member of the school, receives instruction in penmanship until he has acquired a rapid, plain hand, when he enters upon the regular course, and assumes at once the responsibilities of a business man. He is furnished with the necessary blank-books, and a complete outfit of business forms, comprising Notes, Drafts, Receipts, Invoices, Deposit Tickets, Bank and Check Books, Freight and Shipping Receipts, Insurance Policies, Deeds, Mortgages — in short all forms ordinarily used in business, all of which are printed neatly and in mercantile style. He is also furnished with a cash capital of at least $1,000, which he deposits in the College Bank, and takes a Pass and Check Book. He now leases a place of business, and pays the rent, and takes his place among the merchants of the school as a General Jobber. He is instructed how to buy to the best advantage from the different students in the school, for cash, on time, and on note, draft, etc., being careful to make the proper entries in his books for each transaction as it occurs. After having purchased in this way a sufficient amount of goods to begin selling, he solicits customers among the teachers, and sells to the best of his knowledge and skill.

In describing the general atmosphere of the school, the 1890-91 issue of “History and Business Directory of Humboldt County” has this to say:

One of the most pronounced features of the school is to surround the students with the pleasant and refining influences of a well ordered home. Students and members of the faculty occupy the same building, meet at the same table for their meals, and are intimately associated together as members of one large family. Everything combines to make the school a constant object lesson in politeness and good manners to those who have been prevented from acquiring the manners and customs of a polite society.

Within the first few years of the Phelps Academy, Chauncey J. (Chan) Craddock was hired as a teacher. He apparently demonstrated great ability because by the year 1890, Prof. Ellis had left to teach at the San Francisco Business College and C.J. Craddock was given charge of the commercial department. On May 23, 1893 (some say 1892, others 1894) the school burned to the ground in what was reported as the largest Eureka fire of the year.

Shortly thereafter, Craddock reopened the school himself in the upper floor of what became Horel’s Second Hand Store at 312 E Street. Craddock cut the school’s curriculum back to business courses only and called it Eureka Business College. An article in the weekly newspaper Redwood Christian, dated January 18,1901, described the curriculum as including bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting and commercial law and theory of contracts. The article states:

… There are in the school three teachers and nearly three score pupils, with additional constantly coming in, as the course is completed by the retiring graduates. From six to ten months to complete according to aptitude, time and course taken.

While this commercial college is a benefit to our city, to our young people, and the business interests of commercial centers, let us as citizens uphold all such institutions by patronage, a kind word, and our influence.

With the public schools continually increasing in quality and the career options for young people expanding each year, it was no small task for Craddock to keep his school producing. He was reportedly active in recruiting new pupils. A form letter sent to various high school graduates in 1906 read: “Are you satisfied to rest on these well earned laurels? If you are not, perhaps a thorough course in a practical and up-to-date business college would interest you.”

Something that contributed to the school’s success was the distinguished reputation of Craddock himself. He was active in community affairs and local government, and was highly respected in the community.

On June 17, 1929, when Eureka city council members were for the first time, to be selected by popular vote, Craddock won the position of councilman. Third Ward, by a considerable margin. He held that position for several terms. We again get an indication of the reputation of C.J. Craddock and his business college by reading an unsolicited preelection endorsement by local businessman Willard Wells appearing in the June 15, 1929 issue of The Humboldt Standard. It read:

… today it is a general business practice among our business houses when in need of competent office help to call on “Chan” Craddock to supply the students to fill the requirements. Eureka Business College under his management has grown and prospered. Its product has been such as to reflect credit, not alone for his efforts, but has been recognized throughout Northern California as an accredited institution of business education, where the system of teaching business methods in a practical business manner emphasizes the business judgment of its principal.

On the lighter side of “Chan” Craddock, he was reportedly quite proud of the baseball team that he could sometimes work up amongst his students. His team was appropriately called the Eureka Business College Club and when they faced another club Craddock was always in the rooting section.

The Eureka Business College played a unique and influential part in the local history. Many of its graduates were and still are found in the higher levels of Humboldt County’s businesses and institutions, where they continue to have impact.

In 1938, C.J. Craddock sold the Eureka Business College and retired from teaching. A few years later, in 1941, the Eureka City Directory appeared for the first time in fifty years without the name C.J. Craddock. Prof. “Chan” Craddock was gone.

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SIDEBAR: Eureka Business College Rules and Regulations 1887

1. Students must be punctual in attendance, diligent in study, respectful and courteous to their teachers and fellow students.
2. Day pupils must reside with their parents or guardians, or room at such places as the Principal will approve.
3. The use of profanity, tobacco in any form, in or about the institution, loitering or collecting in groups in any of the halls or entrances, defacing the walls or furniture in any part of the building, is strictly forbidden.
4. Regular pupils will not be permitted to leave the school premises at any time without the consent of the Principal or Preceptress.
5. Only persons of good moral character will be permitted to enter or remain in the school.

Additional rules for boarding pupils:

1. Ladies and gentlemen may receive all friends and callers in the parlors at any time not later than 10 p.m.
2. Students must be in their rooms during all the hours designated for study, and must maintain absolute quiet during such times.
3. Each student is responsible for any injury to the walls or furniture in his or her room.
4. Rooms to be open, i.e., unlocked, so that the Principal or Preceptress may see that all are comfortable before retiring.
5. Outside doors will be fastened at 10 p.m., and all students must be in their rooms at that hour, unless by special permission.
6. All the study hours are from 9 a.m. until 12 a.m.; and 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
7. Students will be provided with hooks on etiquette, and will be required to practice politeness toward all at all times, but especially toward one another.
8. All pupils must answer promptly to the appointments of the daily program.

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The story above was originally printed in the November-December 1982 issue of the Humboldt Historian, a journal of the Humboldt County Historical Society. It is reprinted here with permission. The Humboldt County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to archiving, preserving and sharing Humboldt County’s rich history. You can become a member and receive a year’s worth of new issues of The Humboldt Historian at this link.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Nomura.

On July 10, 2025, at approximately 5:52 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and Yurok Tribal Police responded to a report of a possible drowning in the Klamath River near Blue Creek.

The individual, a 45-year-old Shawn Nomura, fell into the Klamath River and was swept downstream from Blue Creek. In response to the Search and Rescue, multiple agencies deployed personnel, boating, and air resources, including HCSO Deputies / Search and Rescue personnel, Yurok Tribal Police, Hoopa Tribal Police, California Highway Patrol, the US Coast Guard, and Cal Fire. The Sheriff’s Office will be coordinating a search through the weekend.

Shawn Nomura was last seen wearing no shirt, gray shorts, and red shoes. He is described as a Native American male, 5-08, 155lbs., Black Hair, Brown Eyes. More information will be released as details unfold.

Anyone with information about this missing person’s case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

(AUDIO) Friday Night Market Report on KSLG

If you were anxiously awaiting your next Friday Night Market fix, tonight is the night! Another long work week ends with bumping shoulders with your fellow community members while partaking in some local shopping.

Megan Kenney, Board Secretary of Humboldt Made and Director of the North Coast Growers’ Association Harvest Hub stopped by the Old Town KSLG studio to chat with DJ Sabina about the bridge between Humboldt Made and NCGA and how that came together to create the Friday Night Market.

Joining Kenney was David Flores, owner of North Coast 3D Printing, a family owned, home-based local business printing beautiful 3D models. From dragons to baby T-Rex, you can find NC3D creations in stores like The Rocking Horse in Arcata, the Toy Box in Eureka, The Legend of Bigfoot Gift Shop and more!

Kenney and Flores also touched on the spirit of community collaboration in vending, agriculture and highlighted Aquilli Metzili, this week’s non-profit takeover. Aquilli Metzili is a farm to table masa cooperative growing milpa - based products.

From the Aquilli Metzili website:

“Welcome to Aquilli Metzli, a community-based cooperative reimagining food, land, and culture on the North Coast.

We’re a group of farmers, cooks, artists, parents, organizers, and neighbors who believe in the power of growing food together—not just to feed ourselves, but to remember who we are. At the heart of our work is Milpa—an ancestral agricultural system that’s more than just planting corn, beans, and squash. It’s about building relationships with the land, with each other, and with the generations who came before us.

Aquilli Metzli is creating a seed-to-table masa co-op, where culture and economy meet in the daily act of making food with love and intention. By working together, we’re building something that’s cooperative, regenerative, and rooted in our own cultural skills and stories. This is how we care for our families, our communities, and the land that holds us.

We envision a future where Latinx and Indigenous communities thrive by leading the way in ecological healing, food sovereignty, and cultural celebration. A future where making masa is also making space—for joy, learning, ceremony, and connection.

This is an invitation: to show up, get your hands in the soil, share a meal, learn something new, and help build a better way of living—together.”

Links:

• https://www.fridaynight.market/
• https://www.fridaynight.market/performance-schedule
• https://www.instagram.com/humboldtmade
• https://www.instagram.com/eurekafridaynightmarkets/
• https://aquillimetzli.com/en/
• https://www.northcoastgrowersassociation.org/
• https://northcoast3dprinting.myshopify.com/

Press release from the City of Arcata:

Arcata, CA, July 3, 2025 – The City of Arcata wishes to inform the public about the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit which helps residents to upgrade old water heaters, saving them hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year while protecting the environment.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, included multiple tax credits and reductions for various environmentally conscious purchases, especially for home improvements through the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. However, the recent approval by Congress of what is commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” makes many of these tax credits unlikely to extend past the end of the year. The City would like to encourage residents, especially those with aging water heaters, to utilize these tax credits and benefits while they remain available.

“If your tank water heater is over nine years old or on demand water is over fifteen years old, its days are numbered” says Arcata Transportation Safety Committee member and local climate advocate, Wendy Ring. “A new heat pump water heater costs less than a traditional gas or electric water heater, saves up to $1,000 per year on electric bills and is the climate equivalent of planting 43 trees.”

Those wishing to upgrade their equipment to a heat pump water heater can currently receive a tax credit for up to 30% of costs including certain labor with a $2,000 cap. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) also offers a rebate for those upgrading to a heat pump water heater of up to $700. More information on the rebate can be found at redwoodenergy.org.

Residents who are interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the IRS’s website, learn more at homes.rewiringamerica.org and contact a local volunteer coach trained and certified by the national non- profit Rewiring America at (707) 845-2466 to ask questions.

Above: 3D map showing the latest Butler Fire perimeter | AG 

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Press release from the Six Rivers National Forest:

Butler Fire Acreage: 3,971

Butler Fire Containment: 0%

Red Fire Acreage: 113

Red Fire Containment: 35%

Operational Update: California Team 1 (CA-CIMT 1) will assume command of the Orleans Complex today at 6 p.m.

• Butler Fire: Last night, crews successfully completed firing operations to gently back the fire down into the Butler Flat area. The operation resulted in creeping, low intensity fire behavior and successfully met the objective to help protect the Butler Flat community and Salmon River Road. Today, crews will monitor fire from last night’s operations. As the fire moves down the Nordheimer Creek drainage, a similar operation may occur if conditions allow and it is safe to do so. A spike camp has been set up for crews working in the Forks of Salmon area. Today, the Butler and Nordheimer Structure Groups will continue to protect communities and infrastructure along the Salmon River Road with hoselays, pumps and water tanks. Crews will continue to work southwest of Forks of Salmon to scout and re-open lines from the 2024 Boise Fire. Preliminary reconnaissance of the southern portion of the fire is also planned today. A safety plan is in place for the Salmon River Road with coordination with Siskiyou County Roads, Office of Emergency Services (OES), Sheriff’s Office, and the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests. In close coordination with operations, county road personnel will be clearing debris from the road to keep the roadway open and safe for users. Air resources will continue to provide critical support.

• Red Fire: The Red Fire is holding at approximately 113 acres with containment increased to 35%. Smokejumpers and crews are continuing to make good progress on fireline construction. They are methodically working around the complexities located at the bottom right side the fire as the terrain drops off steeply into Blue Creek. Air resources are assisting operations for the Red Fire. More Cultural resource specialists and resource advisors have arrived to work with the firefighters in that area.

Evacuations:

• Butler Fire: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has evacuation warnings and orders in place for the Butler Fire. An Evacuation Order has been issued for zones SIS-1703 (no residents), SIS-1704 (Butler Creek, Lewis Creek, Bloomer Mine residents and Nordheimer Campground), SIS-1803-A (no residents) and SIS-1707-A. Zone SIS-1707-B remains under a Warning, but residents are advised to be prepared as the situation evolves.

• Red Fire: No evacuations in place or structures threatened.

Closures:

• Butler Fire: Residents should be prepared for potential traffic controls or full closures along the road between Butler Flat and Nordheimer Campground. Nordheimer and Oak Bottom Campgrounds are both closed.

• Red Fire: No closures or road impacts.

Weather & Fire Behavior: With the marine influence, relative humidities remained in the 60s which was higher than originally predicted. The inversion layer present will play a key role in determining site- specific fire behavior. In the valleys and lower slopes, weather will remain cool and smoky. However, on the upper slopes and ridges, weather will be hotter with more exposure to afternoon north-northwest gusts up to 20 MPH. Temperatures are expected to increase significantly starting today with a heat wave in the area ramping up over the weekend. Residents who are sensitive to heat and smoke are advised to take extra precaution and limit exposure over the coming days.

Fire Safety & Prevention: Increasing temperatures this weekend will dry out fuels and increase potential fire danger. On hot summer days, being by the river or in the forest recreating can provide some relief. If you are in the forest, please use caution with anything that can spark a wildfire! The Six Rivers National Forest is not currently in fire restrictions. However, campfires should never be left unattended and should be dead out and cool to the touch before leaving. Take the time to make sure that trailer chains are properly secured and not dragging before driving. Don’t drive over or park on dry grass. Please report suspected wildfires by calling 911.

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Press release from the City of Arcata:

The City of Arcata is notifying the community that the Steel Waterline Replacement Project is set to begin the week of Monday, July 14.

This project involves the removal and replacement of aging water infrastructure and service lines throughout town. Work extents are spread throughout various locations within City limits. Businesses, property owners and tenants will receive a notice on their door 72-hours prior to start of work and “no parking” signs will be posted a minimum of 48 hours prior to start of work. Temporary water will be provided to affected properties during interruption of service. The City of Arcata has contracted with McCullough Construction for this project.

The first phase of this work will begin along Antoine Avenue, Antoinette Court and Martha Court. In the beginning of August, work is anticipated to begin in the Westwood Subdivision along Wyatt Lane, Stromberg Avenue, Roberts Way and Stewart Avenue. The City will update the project construction website monthly with upcoming dates and locations of work as the project progresses, which can be found at cityofarcata.org/current-construction.

Construction will take place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on some days the contractor may extend work hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Controlled one-way traffic and temporary road closures will occur during hours of construction, however, efforts will be made to maintain pedestrian access throughout the project. Limitations to on-street parking accessibility adjacent to work sites are expected.

The community is encouraged to sign up for notifications on the City’s CodeRED page for announcements and notifications of any active construction projects. If problems are encountered with this project, please contact McCullough Construction at (707) 825-1014 or the City of Arcata Building and Engineering Department at (707) 825-2128.