Improving lives one bite at a time

John Chiv/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 09/15/2011 02:40:22 AM PDT

Where can you find reasonably-priced food, good customer service and support youth all in one visit? The Vance Café. Eating breakfast or lunch at the newly opened Eureka eatery is more than just having a good meal.

The Vance Café, located in the historic Vance Building in Eureka, is the latest job training site operated by Youth Ability, a local nonprofit that provides job training programs for young people. Youth Ability has also run the Angels of Hope Thrift store in Arcata for the last six years.

Executive Director Rose Baker, who is well-known for her passion and advocacy for Humboldt County youth, said young people who are struggling to make ends meet need a work history to help bring them out of their current situation.

”Youth in Humboldt County that come from families that face many challenges, including unstable living situations, struggle to get housing, work experience and employment,” Baker said. “Many of these youth struggle to stay connected with their families; they don't have the basic living skills, work history that their peers have and they want to be productive members of society.”

Trying to volunteer or maintain a job is difficult because the youth are conscious of the way they look due to their living situation, and they feel they cannot present themselves professionally. Angels of Hope was the first training program created to provide young people with real-world work skills while allowing them to be trained in an environment where they felt comfortable.

Since traveling to Arcata was difficult for some, a similar program was set up in Eureka.

With so many thrift stores already operating in Eureka, Baker and the board of directors started researching other options. They asked the youth what they wanted and many expressed an interest in the food industry. Two years ago, Youth Ability started looking at locations. At last year's Courage Night, Baker was one of the honorees. After that event, there was a follow-up meeting in the Vance lobby. Baker noticed the space was empty but it evoked for her a “soft and a very good feeling.” In addition to the board getting feedback from the community, they had assistance from the North Coast Small Business Development Center.

There have been other cafes at the same location, the most recent one being The Lobby Café and Lounge. Baker and Youth Ability's board have received feedback about what worked and did not work for these businesses and have incorporated that information into what they plan to offer.

Baker said having a place where families and youth can find entertainment like karaoke or poetry in a non-bar environment was a dream she had for years. Fortunately for her, the cafe's landlord -- Kramer Properties -- is also the landlord for the thrift store and has seen first-hand the progress and benefit of that training program. Baker and Kramer Properties began discussions and the Vance Café became a reality this year.

Any revenue after the café meets expenses goes toward the training program. Youth Ability now has two training centers using the social enterprise model and hopes in the future to have additional programs training youth in recycling and rebuilding materials.

The hours for the café are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Future plans include catering and perhaps leasing space on the weekends. The café uses local produce and strives to use organic ingredients when possible. Most of their takeout containers and utensils are bio-degradable, compostable or post-consumer. Its furniture is recycled.

For more information, call 707-444-8466 or visit www. youthability.org for more information.

Real change and hope does not come from holding up a sign

John Chiv/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 11/24/2011 02:28:37 AM PST

Since my only experience has been with the Occupy Eureka protesters, my remarks are directed at them. Under the guise of First Amendment rights and purporting to speak for 99 percent of the people, all you have achieved with your so called protest is make life harder for the working middle class struggling to stay out of poverty, and even worse for the poor.

So you wanted to get attention for your message? Has this been achieved by the “professional activists” that are leading the rest of you for the cause du jour. When you see the same people at all these protests, the credibility of this being the voice of the people wears thin.

Your group has various activists and different groups latching on and riding the 15 minutes of fame. What exactly are you trying to get across as your basic message besides the usual “blame corporations, the man, it's someone else's fault.”

Your trashing of the courthouse lawn will require funds to fix the damage. This money will come at the cost of services and programs for the most needy. And it comes from people working legitimate jobs to pay taxes. But that does not matter to you, does it? You feel entitled to stop people who work and conduct business at the courthouse; you feel entitled to trash public property that also belongs to the rest of us, not just a few of you.

How environmentally friendly are you? The destruction you have done to the lawn and your illegal camping says you don't care.

You can use your First Amendment rights to “protest” by writing letters, making documentaries, voting in elections and using the resources you have to help out someone homeless or needy. That is action that makes a difference -- signs and empty talk does not.

You can send a message to the banks and corporations by using credit unions or shopping local. And that is your choice. In a free country, I have the choice to bank where I want and shop where I want and work at a corporation. Here's a novel concept. Take responsibility for your life situation and ask for any help you need respectfully. You might be surprised that people will reach out and assist.

The message of 99 percent is a very valid one. However don't just single out corporations and banks; if you truly feel for the masses, let's also talk about the greed in government, and all institutions and bureaucracy.

One of your “leaders” took down the flag on Veteran's Day. Those vets fought for your right to speak freely. I have watched how the police calmly speak to you while many of you antagonize them and snub those of us who don't buy into and support your unorganized, ineffectual selfish protest.

If you had been respectful, I would listen to your message.

You want change? Try using the same time you have standing outside the courthouse to volunteer in a soup kitchen, to clean up the parks, to reach out to a mentally ill or homeless person. Change and hope does not come from holding a sign; it comes from one person struggling to stay strong and providing encouragement to another in a difficult economy and a broken system.

Guest post: What I saw at the revolution

Posted on November 20, 2011 by The Humbug

Since my only experience has been with the Occupy Eureka protestors, my remarks are directed at them.

Under the guise of First Amendment rights and purporting to speak for 99 percent of the people, all you have achieved with your so called protest is to make life harder for the working middle class struggling to stay out of poverty and even worse for the poor.

So you wanted to get attention for your message? Has this been achieved by the “professional activists” that are leading the rest of you for the cause du jour? When you see the same people at all these protests, the credibility of this being the voice of the people wears thin.

Your group has various activists and different groups latching on and riding the 15 minutes of fame. What exactly are you trying to get across as your basic message besides the usual “blame corporations, the man, it’s someone else’s fault”?

Your trashing the courthouse lawn will require funds to fix the damage. This money will come at the cost of services and programs for the most needy. And it comes from people working legitimate jobs to pay taxes. But that does not matter to you does it? You feel entitled to stop people who work and conduct business at the courthouse; you feel entitled to trash public property that also belongs to the rest of us, not just a few of you.

How environmentally friendly are you? The destruction you have done to the lawn and your illegal camping says you don’t care.

You can use your First Amendment rights to “protest” by writing letters, making documentaries, voting in elections and using the resources you have to help out someone homeless, needy. That is action that makes a difference, signs and empty talk do not.

You can send a message to the banks and corporations by using credit unions or shopping local. And that is your choice. In a free country, I have the choice to bank where I want and shop where I want and work at a corporation. Here’s a novel concept. Take responsibility for your life situation and ask for any help you need respectfully. You might be surprised that people will reach out and assist.

The message of 99% is a very valid one. However don’t just single out corporations and banks; if you truly feel for the masses, let’s also talk about the greed in government, and all institutions and bureaucracy.

One of your “leaders” took down the flag on Veteran’s Day. Those vets fought for your right to speak freely. I have watched how the police calmly speak to you while many of you antagonize them and snub those of us who don’t buy into and support your unorganized, ineffectual selfish protest.

If you had been respectful, I would listen to your message.

You want change. Try using the same time you have standing outside the courthouse to volunteer in a soup kitchen, to clean up the parks, to reach out to a mentally ill or homeless person. Change and hope do not come from holding a sign; they come from one person struggling to stay strong and providing encouragement to another in a difficult economy and a broken system.

John Chiv
Eureka

Eating well at the Humboldt Café

John Chiv/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 10/23/2011 02:28:29 AM PDT

What started as a simple change in eating better developed into to a new restaurant in Eureka, the Humboldt Café.

In 2006, Joe Rubio was diagnosed with multiple health issues, and this led to him changing his style of cooking, which improved his health. Having gotten a new lease on life, Rubio moved to Humboldt County from Texas in 2009 and, while figuring out what he should do next, started catering some dinners and then teaching cooking at the Humboldt Wellness Center. People would ask Rubio, “Do you have a restaurant that serves this kind of food?”

After a year of saying no, Rubio decided it was time for him to open an eatery that served organic, healthy food. Aug. 1 was the soft opening for this café, and since the doors have opened, people have been wandering in to the eatery located on the corner of Fifth and G streets.

Rubio's vision for the Humboldt Café is to offer a unique dining experience where music, art and food come together. Menu items include basic café-style food which includes breakfast all day, sandwiches, soups, salads, familiar entrée items and different global items which are all organic with a local farm-to-table specials menu. Thai-style stir fry, pulled pork sandwich with a jalapeno coleslaw and Jamaican jerk chicken stew are just some of the culinary delights to tempt your palate.

Music and art are two other components to the café. Music includes any and all genres.

There is open mic on Tuesdays, Wu-tang Wednesdays will have hip-hop and rap, DJs on weekend nights and brunch music earlier on weekends. Art features local area artists, and the exhibits change regularly.

Rubio plans to offer cooking classes in the future, and fine dining three nights a week is also in the works.

The café has a Facebook page. For hours and other information, call 707-497-6267.

Championing for causes -- and people you represent -- can be done in a civil manner

John Chiv/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 07/12/2011 02:40:33 AM PDT

Councilwoman Atkins, we have only spoken twice, very briefly. It was not about politics, which was good because I got to see the person behind the council dais. We represent different spectrums of political beliefs; however, if we talked more, I hope we could find some common ground.

The Linda Atkins that I chatted with on these two occasions was a friendly, intelligent, articulate woman and I can see why your supporters are so loyal. One of the occasions when we spoke was over refreshments after the new council members were sworn in and before their first council meeting. We laughed and chatted. This should not be unusual, but it may have seemed so to some, because I have been very clear about whom I support politically. I saw our dialogue as the spirit of cooperation essential to move this community forward.

Moments after this pleasant conversation, I watched you turn around and “attack” your fellow council members and others, and it was personal. They are not just my elected representatives, but my family, my friends and my community members.

I am genuinely bewildered at the Linda Atkins I see sometimes at city council meetings and the comments I read from you in the media. The level of anger expressed -- and the disrespect shown toward your colleagues -- has me questioning which is the real Linda Atkins?

The last My Word I wrote got a response from you, in which you called me disingenuous. I never responded, not to you or the personal attacks from certain “progressives.”

Championing for causes -- and people you represent -- can be done civilly.

Most recently, you spearheaded a petition to fire the city manager. Your supporters and those who praised Garr Nielsen brought up money and what it cost the city. Do you think the time you spent on this petition and the meetings in which a loud, disrespectful group of your supporters showed up was in the best interest of the city, and was your time spent on this single issue a wise use of taxpayer money?

After serving on the city council for three years, you know that a majority of the elected city council can terminate the city manager's contract. A former city council member with a grudge and a handful of angry residents cannot. Garr is in Oregon. He has moved on -- why can't the rest of you? Maybe because it isn't about Garr but much ado about nothing to distract people and fuel divisiveness.

Our community seems to have certain angry, bitter people, many who are the very same people who protest anything the city tries to do. It is the same names and faces that show up on a regular basis at city council to complain.

Whether it's Jefferson School or protesting a cell-tower or preventing Teen Challenge from taking over an abandoned building, it is always the same people who have a problem. There are never solutions, always blame, because it isn't about issues; it's about attacking people who they disagree with, and yet those attacked take the higher road every time.

It is about thwarting any real change and taking political pot shots and hanging out at council meetings than actually working to make a dent in homelessness or poverty or creating legitimate jobs that would increase our tax revenue.

The people I voted for have been consistent in their support and acknowledgment of me. They are proud to associate with me, and I don't have money and I don't wear fancy clothes.

How many meetings did it take before you and former City Councilman Larry Glass and the same vocal “majority” reluctantly listened. According to all of you, the Marina Center was not the voice of the people. Measure N passed with 70 percent voter approval this past November.

It's time for a few to stop the conservative versus progressive game. Most of us, regardless of our beliefs, want the best for this community. Think how much we could accomplish if we worked together and moved our city forward.

My Word: All views need to be heard for change to happen

When I moved to Humboldt, I was as politically involved as the average person on the street. I read the newspaper, I watched the news. However, like many others out there, I started to get sick and tired of the tactics employed by a few radicals in Humboldt County to stagnate our community; tired of the elite few claiming to be the voice of the people.

When the so-called “progressives” are against progress and the environmentalists are against cleaning up the environment, people like me take back our power, stand up and say, “enough!”

A year ago, I decided to volunteer for certain campaigns. I sat in on numerous public meetings. I began to understand more about campaign themes, messaging, budgets. I also got to see how “behind the scenes” players involved in Humboldt County politics operate. On Nov. 2, 2010, there was a change. The election is over and there are people, regardless of party affiliation and beliefs, that are ready to work together for the benefit of the community we all call home.

There are others, a small vocal minority, that still don't get that their vitriol and manipulation of the process is polarizing and divisive. They are still in denial that it is such negativity that turned off most voters. They still insist on the same behavior that is counterproductive to the interests of all in Humboldt County. Many of the former political heavyweights who thought they were untouchable are now politically irrelevant.

I am an independent. Extremes in either party are not worth my time. Despite my beliefs, I enjoy respectful discourse with people who have different views than me and I support dialogue that includes all voices. Locally, conservative and moderate voices are rarely heard.

Are the elite few among the “progressives” in touch with the average citizen and their concerns?

Local Solutions and Democracy Unlimited were once thought of as being powerful in local politics. In the 2010 election, Local Solutions provided campaign data and consulting to several candidates including Pat Higgins, Patrick Cleary, Bonnie Neely. Almost every candidate who hired Local Solutions lost their race.

Democracy Unlimited got Measure T on the ballot and passed before a judge threw it out as unconstitutional. When former Supervisor Bonnie Neely took $10,000 from an Orange County real estate developer's corporation, did the bastions of “no corporate money from outside Humboldt County in local elections” publicly chastise the former supervisor? No -- they endorsed her. If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk. It is this kind of double-speak that no longer works.

Someone once claimed that no candidate ever lost a local election with the endorsement of the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee (HCDCC). Peter LaVallee has lost three elections in 10 years. Ron Kuhnel has lost the last two elections in a row. Larry Glass, Patrick Cleary and Bonnie Neely lost.

Since Home Depot was rumored coming to Eureka, Bill Pierson stepped up his political donations to the radical “no growth” candidates, giving over $100,000 the past five years to far-left candidates. I don't know about you, but I have to compete in my field. Competition makes us better. Despite all the money, the candidates that Bill Pierson supported lost.

Voters like me are turned off by the hate and disrespect among the local progressive elite. They are not open to moderate voices that can work with all factions of the community. During the elections, I attended endorsement meetings where these elite fawned over their chosen candidates and rebuffed others. Even after the elections, they chose to ignore the outreach by the newly-elected officials. When the agenda of radicals is defeated, they chose to name call and personally attack elected officials and their families and supporters. I still see these divisive tactics now at public meetings where leaders prey on the genuine causes of community activists in the name of the greater good. Claiming to represent the people, it is these extremist policies and support of far-left candidates that has contributed to unreasonable dependency on government in this area, worsened the struggle of the poor and the working class in this area, and continues to contribute to the crime and blight in this area.

Change in this community is not going to happen until people get involved and all views are heard. For that to happen, people need to feel welcome and safe to voice their varying political and personal beliefs in the media, in local political organizations and at public meetings.